Miranda's plan to keep Jessica from Caesar's bed was somewhat successful, he asked for the girl less and began to request Miranda's presence in his bed more often. They had moved camp a few weeks later to begin the push back to the Mojave. The old Caesar's camp at Fortification Hill still stood a stark reminder of the failure of the old Legion. Caesar has sworn that he would not fail, like his predecessor had. Miranda stood by Caesar's side, he held her arm in his as he pointed out The Fort.

"My men will clear out any Securitron forces that remain and we will reclaim what is rightfully ours. We will spread across the Mojave and take New Vegas, then I will have the personal pleasure of finding the Courier and having her head on a pike at the gates to the Strip." He said to her, as he gestured to the horizon. Miranda nodded, "My Master's army will strike down those who resist, and all the Mojave will bend down to his rule." She said softly. Caesar smiled and patted her arm.

"Yes, my dear, that they will, and I will have you by my side when we take the Lucky 38, Vegas is Rome, and I will conquer it as my predecessor couldn't." Jessica had been relegated to a secondary position within Caesar's 'household', with Miranda taking up more of the personal needs of Caesar, she had become more of a servant to Miranda than a pleasure toy.

Miranda and Jessica still had a plan worked out, Jessica had more time now to get things organised for their escape plan, everything was in place, and all they needed now was a time when Caesar was not in the camp.

Thankfully, the time came one evening, Caesar was out touring the new front lines when the word came from their contact to get ready to escape.

Miranda and Jessica cut each other's long hair, they placed the long strands over small pillows, covering as much as they could, they made 'bodies' out of more pillows and blankets before they changed into simple slave clothing and snuck out of the tent by lifting the bottom of the wall.

Their hearts were racing as they moved about the encampment, if they were to be discovered, they would surely be adorning a cross before the dawn, or awaiting Caesar's wrath, Miranda though that a Cross would be much more preferable.

They reached the rendezvous point, where there were five other slaves and two soldiers waiting, they were waved across to the shore of the Colorado River. There was a rope leading into the water and across to the other side. One of the men guided the girls to the rope. "Follow that as quietly as you can, there are still guards about but they will change shifts very soon, good luck." Miranda went first and made sure that Jessica was following her. it took almost forty minutes to cross the river and they were both exhausted when they reached the other side where more men were waiting to help them up.

They were handed new clothes and told to dress quickly. The two women happily discarded the slave rags. One of the men who stood guard looked at the tattoos upon the women as they changed, "Oh shit, you're Caesars women?" he shook his head, "Hide as best you can, try and get to the NCR if you can, he won't stop until he finds you." Jessica paled in the dim light,

"Don't worry, we don't plan on being anywhere near the Legion." Miranda assured him. he tossed his head away from the river, "Get going, the longer you're here, the more chance you have of being discovered, and then we're all fucked." Miranda helped Jessica up and they moved quickly into the night.

Back at Caesar's camp, their disappearance had been discovered. Caesar flew into a rage, he ordered that his two slaves be found and brought back to him alive, putting high bounties upon their heads and sending several groups of men out to track down the two women. He worked fervently on his plans to get across the Colorado River and into the Mojave. The missing slaves, especially Miranda, never far from his thoughts, thoughts of what he would do to them when he had them back foremost in his mind.

The moon was their only illumination as they made their way through the Mojave. They reached Novac in the early hours just before dawn and rested within the shadow of the big dinosaur.

They awoke to birdsong and the movements of Brahmin in the nearby corral. Jessica sat in the shade of the Dino and they spoke quietly.

"I don't know where I'm going to go," She admitted, "I don't even know if I want this baby, Miranda, how can I bear the child of Caesar, and if it's not his, how can I bear the child of the man who raped me?" she asked, her face a paragon in misery. Miranda looked at her, "This is your baby too, I can't tell you what to do, but I don't know what I would do in your position myself, but you have to decide if you are going to have this baby, or…" she said, leaving the though unfinished.

They walked south, through Nipton, which had taken a turn for the better and was now resettled. A lone Cross and a memorial carved with a laser was the only indication that the Legion had massacred an entire town, leaving only four people alive after running a 'lottery'. Miranda had heard there was work there and had a thought to stay. Jessica seemed to be undecided; she went quiet when Miranda asked her if she wanted to stay. "Sleep on it, we'll decide in the morning." She said to her. Jessica was gone when Miranda awoke, there was a note left on her bedside table.

Miranda, Thank you for your friendship, I must continue on my path alone. My dearest hope is that I can bring myself to choose to keep my baby despite its parentage; I am still not sure what to do. So I am heading to the NCR through the Mojave Outpost. I would rather you not follow me, lest Caesar's men who are working in the NCR controlled regions find us both. I don't want to be his plaything ever again. I appreciate everything that you have done for me, for us. Your sacrifices for me will never be forgotten. Again, I thank you.

-Jessica.

Miranda read the page again and folded it up. She then went to the local bar, where she had heard there was work.

"I hear you're looking for someone to help out around here?" she asked the man who owned the bar.

"Yeah, cooking, cleaning and helping to care for my two girls. There's going to be some bar work involved as well, you got experience?" he asked. Miranda nodded, "Yeah, I used to work a bar until there was a change in management." He looked her over,
"Right, what's your name?" He asked her.

"Angie." Miranda replied, "Angie Williams."