Approaching the flap to Varrus's tent, Marius heard muffled cries of terror. The poisonous rage curdling in his stomach began to burn all the more. How DARE this dullard already be trying to slavish his piggish lusts on her? Shocked at his own anger Marius paused a moment, noticing to his shock that his hand was already gripping the hilt of Veritas, his machete. What in the hells was it about this one? He had seen countless slaves in his day used and abused far worse than anything this intellectual pygmy could devise. What was it that made this worse? Swallowing his growing rage, Marius slipped into the tent silently only to be greeted with the sight of the NCR Sergeant naked and struggling against the attentions of Varrus. Veritas was in his hand without him even realizing it. So devoted to his attempted rutting was Varrus that he hadn't even heard him draw his blade. How dare this grotesque, putrid filth lay a hand on her? Marius thought furiously, He's no better than the profligates we fight against. Clearly the only thinking this fool could accomplish was with his cock. This would not do. No… this wouldn't do at all. Standing there in disgust, Marius unintentionally caught the struggling Aurora's eye. With that, the entire tapestry unravelled. For a brief moment, Marius was again Alex, watching an angel dancing with blades that seemed to only half exist. It couldn't be. Not here. Not now. Marius felt like a marionette, as if his strings were being pulled by gods unknown.

Silently moving behind Varrus, Marius claps a hand over his mouth and presses Veritas against the swines throat. Whispering harshly in Varrus's ear Marius says "I came here to offer you a great boon, and I see you doing this. You are no better then the filth we fight against. How long has she been yours? Five minutes? Ten? You sicken me Profligate." Leaning even closer, speaking with a silky tenderness at odds with the situation Marius adds "It is a pity that you drew a weapon on me. A puny, pathetic weapon as it's wielder it would seem. But I'm afraid Varrus, that I have to defend myself" Unflinchingly Marius pulls the Centurions head back, slitting his throat with as much care as slaughtering a pig. Blood sprayed, hot and vibrant red from his severed jugular and carotid arteries, pulsing from him in time with his pounding heart, clothing the screaming slave in a new gown of crimson. Letting the lifeless and grossly twitching corpse of the Centurion drop to the ground, Marius faces the enormity of his actions. He had just murdered another Legion Officer in cold blood. Exhaling a breath he feels he had held forever, Marius looks at Aurora clammy saying "I think we need to talk"

he trembled before the tall form of the Frumentarius who had interrogated her, blood dripping from his blade, and from her naked body, her eyes filled with terror, fearful for what he might do to her, his calmness made her more fearful than anything else of him, but that one moment when he had caught her eyes, there was a connection of recognition there, one that she felt was familiar. "y...you just killed him..." she gasped softly,

did. If there were any justice in this foul world, I would be able to kill him a dozen more times.

She covered herself as best she could with a bloody arm, only working to smear the blood of the downed centurion across her bosom and stomach in a gory pattern of little atristic value. "Why... what do you want with me? she asked, thinking that the second question was mroe poignant right now

I was going to come here to ask a favour of the swine. It would seem I no longer need to ask.

She sat up, shoulders haunched a little, "So, I suppose I'll be put up on a cross for this, then? blamed for a death that I didn't cause." she said looking at the body of the man who had owned her for an hour

No. No you won't. I have need of you. Serve me well, and your time will be comfortable. Betray me in any way, and you know what I will do to your compatriots.

Aurora closed her eyes and nodded, lowering her head, "Yes, Master." she stood up away from the desk and cast about for her undergarments. she quickly picked up her bra and underpants, slipping them on as discreetly as she could, before she looked at her torn and useless slave rags. "What can i do to assist you, master?" she asked him, sullenly, knowing that she had no way out of this

You have supplies to deliver to Camp Guardian of course. It wouldn't do to be late.

Aurora nodded, again, forced to betray her own. "Yes, Master, may i ask how I am to get there?" We will set out once you are cleaned up and back in uniform. We will set down long a days journey from the Camp. That will be long enough for your cover story of being the sole survivor of a Legion attack to be believable.

(Marius looks as if he wants to say something but doesn't know how)

The familiarty of this man before her came back, she knew him from somewhere, but she could not place it, though it was hightly unlikely that she had met him before, he as after all, Legion, "Yes, Master." she said, she moved her arms around to her shoulders, hugging herself slightly for a little comfort, she still trembled, and the tang of blood was growing stronger. "What about him?" she asked.

He was a traitor clearly. One of you NCR dogs, trying to infiltrate us. He drew a weapon, so he had to be killed.

she scowled a little at the words 'ncr dogs' buit pushed the emotion from her face. She nodded, "Yes, master, as you say." she picked up the torn slave rags and coverd herself up with their rent cloth, it did little to hide the blood that had run down her legs when she'd stood up. "I am ready when you are, Master." she said softly, not wanting to look at the bloodied ground at her feet, nor the corpse that cooled upon the floor

You will follow me to my tent. You can clean yourself there while I track down your uniform.

Aurora nodded, "Yes master, if it helps, and if you recall, my last name was Cosgrove..." she offered as she stood before him, ready to follow him back to the tent where she had first met him.

(walks her through the camp to his tent. It's very subdued. A cot, wash basin, table, chairs, and stacks of books) Please, clean yourself and I will return with your uniform. I may be a bit, I will also need to "expose the traitor in our midst". I shall return. Try to make yourself comfortable, but do not leave.

Aurora nodded, "Yes, Master, Thank you Master." she watched him leave and looked around the tent, simple furniture and a small collection of books adorned one table. she turned tot he basin and quickly stripped her clothes, washing as much as she coiuld , the blood from her body. she cleaned the basin, and settled on the floor, she lay down to wait him, using her arm as a pillow. she thought on the strange events, a near raping, a rescue from a man who only sight to use her, and now, she was awaiting his return so she could be used to betray her people. she sighed and closed her eyes in an emotionally exhausted sleep