"Only enemies speak the truth; friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty."

- Stephen King

Lanius silently sat a top the cliff face looking down at the Southern Passage; he knew it wouldn't be long before he would see Vulpes Inculta take his leave of Zion. He reveled in the thought of the man traipsing back to the Fort, heart broken and fury ablaze. "I needn't take leave yet," He sneered, "Vulpes Inculta will bring forth his own demise at the Fort, because he has finally been burnt an Achilles heel, after all these years…" He grinned looking down at the girl, "You." He paused, "I've put up with his arrogance and ego for far too long." Turning back to watch the passage, what Lanius did not expect to see was Vulpes leaving accompanied by Joshua Graham. Turning his head he glanced down at the unconscious Courier who lay on the rocky floor.

"It's funny isn't it little girl." He began speaking as he turned back to watch Graham and Inculta, knowing that his words were falling on deaf ears, "Everyone thinks I'm an uneducated monster and everyone thinks you're the intelligent savior. Blind fools." Laughing coldly he turned back to her, "You can't save anyone Courier, all people need do is look around you. I've seen your so called good deeds." With one last glance down over the Southern Passage to make sure the men had continued on he stood moving over the floored girl, his dark shadow cast over her almost lifeless body. "Where should we start? Sending ghouls to their doom in space? Or how about how your poor decisions ended in Goodsprings attracting unnecessary attention from powder gangers? We could look at you're manipulation of factions, that really impresses me." Kneeling down he continued, "There are two sides to everything, but you don't seem to realise this. All this good you do does just as much bad and that damn Inculta, I wouldn't call it encouraging, but he's certainly not helping your little screwed up head." Tash's eyes fluttered while Lanius continued to speak, "It wouldn't surprise me if you are nothing more than a pawn to him." Lanius went silent, standing and straitening up before turning his back to her, "But, if it's games he wants to play-" Quickly moving and hoisting the Courier over his shoulder once more, Lanius headed back into Zion.

"It's a game we'll play."

"No doubt he's heading directly to Caesar, Lanius is an efficient man who likes to get things done promptly." Vulpes spoke as the two men paced hastily through the dark Southern Passage towards the Mojave. Joshua remained silent.

"What you've done…" He shook his head, anger still evident in his eyes, "She far from deserves.", Vulpes mouth twitched as he chose to reply.

"You see her as some frail little girl." He grinned, "But then I suppose, if monsters like her and I didn't pass as normal, we'd be extinct by now." Graham brought his fist crashing against the Fox's jaw, causing a loud crack, before pulling him closer, both hands gripping the front of the mans legion armor.

"People can repent." He snarled through gritted teeth, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord-" Graham quoted. Licking his bloodied lip Vulpes brought his eyes back up to Graham's.

"I wouldn't want her to repent. I want her back the way she was, I want her back as the devilish nightmare she was. I loved her kind heart, don't get me wrong, everyone loves what they don't understand, but that Hyde side of her-" Vulpes gave a long whistle, "That REALLY got me going." Graham growled at Vulpes, his growly deep and chesty,

"You should be careful what you wish for." He stated angrily, pushing Vulpes away as he took a few steps backward, "I don't know what has happened to her but something's going on." The Frumentaari remained silent, "Do you even know why Caesar wants her… more curiously, why he wants her ALIVE?" Vulpes mouth moved, as if he was about to speak, but no words formed, Graham's words ticked over in his mind quickly as his eyes steeled under the realisation that he truly knew nothing about what his Lord had planned, the man he followed without question.

"I'm following Lanius back to the Mojave, I have to get to Fortification hill before he does. I must talk with Caesar" His voice was cold, his eyes determined,

"I will accompany you. " Vulpes Inculta cocked an eyebrow.

"What could possibly be in the Mojave for you? Of course, other than unnecessary trouble, I'm sure Caesar will be thrilled seeing you alive and well." Vulpes crossed him arms staring the ex-Malpais awaiting an answer.

"Nothing that will get in the way of your plans, you needed worry." Vulpes scoffed then mockingly laughed at the Graham; undoubtedly he now had the man's attention. Slowly Vulpes stepped closer to him sneering more the closer he got.

"It's the Courier isn't it?" Now Vulpes let out a full laugh, amused, yet still as sinister as always while he further invaded Graham's personal space. Gently he leant in, whispering callously into Joshua's ear.

"Understand that she is mine. If you so much as touch her…" Graham didn't need to look down to know Vulpes had his machete pressed against his manhood.

"I only want to help her. Something, for someone so enamored with the girl, you failed to do. And unlike you Inculta, I know when to keep it in my pants." From the look on Inculta's face and the snarl he received, Joshua had hit a nerve. "No, something does not add up with this…Edward wouldn't go to these lengths for nothing. His patience is minimal. I don't understand why he hasn't killed her yet with all this trouble she seems to be causing him." He glared at Vulpes,

"I'm leaving." Vulpes spoke as he pushed past Graham to make a start for the Mojave, "Now" he emphasized, "If you still intend to join me, move your feet."

"Very well Inculta, let us go." As Joshua moved quickly to keep up with the fox, grabbing onto his forearm. "One last thing." Pausing in his strides, Vulpes tilted his head toward Graham as the man continued to speak, "If you intend to head to the Fort, please take me to her comrades. She spoke to me about them and I have a strange feeling they can fill in some gaps." Vulpes looked agitated as he responded,

"You can find them alone. I can tell you where they are but after that, it's your problem." Graham's hand released the Frumentaari's arm as they continued on.

"Very well."

Boone stepped up the old escalator as he headed for where was posted. It was Boyd who noticed the ex-recon man first and taking a few steps away from the interrogation room door, she greeted his approach.

"Well, well, well Craig, to what do I owe this… pleasure?" As he approached nearer, he raised his glasses up eyeing Boyd.

"I need information. Something I hear you might be the person for." Boyd laughed her boyish laugh, "The Dam, you stayed behind, correct?" Boone's voice was straight edged, a man with a mission. The Lieutenant raised a brow,

"Always straight to the point. You never change soldier." She expressed. Lowing his glasses back down Boone's face was as stoic as ever. "You're not NCR anymore," He found it hard to decide between speaking diplomatically and speaking his mind at her comment. Of course he was no longer NCR, he had seen what they were capable of. Being in NCR territory he knew the better option, but the incident after the Dam had him riled up, amongst a sea of confusion only his guilt stood out to him clearly. After all, had it not been he who had swayed the young Courier to walk away from the Legion which lead to her gaining infamy with them, had it not been he who had shouted and bellowed at the young girl about pride and dignity. His own voice sliced through his thoughts,

"Did you, or did you not stay behind Boyd?"

"I did." She replied sharply, causing a long silence between the two of them.

"Why?" Boone questioned with his voice was almost interrogative, behind his shades his eyes showed his impatience. The lieutenant stared at him, if he had come sooner maybe she could have spoke to him, but now.

"I'm not at liberty to say." She saw the sniper's jaw clench, they were both walking on thin ice. He stepped closer. Keeping his anger at bay was a challenge on any normal day, but when it came to the Courier that control was weak. Ever since the two had become comrades he took every care to ensure her safety, no matter the cost.

"I'll ask once more. Why did you stay behind?" She shook her head at his question, "If you're hiding something Boyd, I'll break you open and find it." The words he spoke came through clenched teeth.

"Just back down Craig, you're well out of your depth." Words that had meant to be a warning for his own safety came across as a threat and Craig Boone moved with haste and fury and Boyd saw it quick enough, pulling her gun on him, Boone stopped in his tracks.

"Stand down soldier!" She barked, gun pointed at his head.

"You're a real ring-a-ding broad, you know that?" She smiled at him through glassy eyes, "A shot to the head and you're still trying to save me. You must have a platinum heart baby." Benny coughed and spluttered as drops of red appeared from his mouth, he could feel the warmth on his hand as she held it tightly in her two smaller ones. "It's about time you got out of here, you know what the Legion do to people who are insubordinate…"He choked and spluttered more as the blood ran down from the corner of his mouth.

"So much for a bobby pin and a stealth boy… Who's going to help me rule Vegas now?" she laughed lowly, sadly and Benny made a poor attempt to join in with his own laugh.

"You know what the say about the best laid plans of mice and men, baby doll. Now I need you to run!"

"I can't just leave you here, what if they catch you?"

"Catch me? Hell pussycat, I'm already as good as dead."

"But…"

"You need to leave! Go while you still can," Benny's coughing had started coming in more violent attacks, a tear dropped from her face onto Benny. Standing she turned heel and fled, handgun drawn. They were after her, crawling out of tents and shadows, weapons drawn, vast, sharp, - their eyes focused on nothing but Caesar's orders. They were like beasts trained to their master's voice. There was no time to morn the Chairman, no time to think of what to do. After much running she had almost made it out of the Fort, almost. It had been Vulpes and a few lower soldiers that had caught up with her and she could see the stern blue in his eyes, like a net catching her. She had gone behind his back and she knew he might have to pay the price. She started running, rushing for a cheap way out. Down the cliff-face she thought. She had no time, no time and no defense and nothing to do but scream for her comrades and scream and screamandscreamandscreamandSCREAM. They were too far now and she feared her own death. Vulpes shook his head slowly at her. Tash was clambering onto jagged rocks, she would climb all the way down to lake mead if she had to, When she moved her attention to the Frumentaari climbing down after her instead of where she was gripping with her hands was when she lost her balance and her grip. That was when he caught her wrist in his larger hand. Vulpes saw her mouth words to herself, Abandon hope, all ye who enter here. She knew deep down this man wouldn't let her fall, the love he felt for her was only rivaled by his love and loyalty to Caesar. If she stayed for him, she'd be crucified and she knew, even if he chose to pretend she wouldn't, they both knew.

So she let her hand and wrist go as limp as possible, carefully bending parts to allow it to slide through his pincer like grip. He wouldn't let her go, not like this. Yet he felt his grip slowly sliding up her hand, and then he held onto nothing and down, down, down she went. Falling, bound for the icy, cold lake below.

"No." His voice sounded void of expression, monotonous and lacking emotion. For Tash, there was a crack against her head, and then there was nothing but black.

Caesar sat on his throne, head propped up by his arm as his other hand held a bloodied checkered jacket. His eyes seemed vacant as his mind ventured through a jungle of thoughts.

"Ave, true to Caesar." Lucius made his way into the tent, "You wished to see me?" Caesar moved his eyes to look over Lucius while the rest of his body remained motionless. Again, Caesar looked to the jacket clenched in his hand before moving his gaze to settle upon Lucius.

"Where is he?" Caesar sounded angry, calmly so.

"Crucified. Over by Cottonwood Cove Overlook, Lord Caesar." Lucius' reply was instant, careful not to incur any of Caesar's wrath.

"Tell me, it was you, was it not, who interrogated the Chairman about the chip he carried." Caesar spoke slowly, testing.

"It was." Another instant reply from Lucius.

"You were also charged with guarding him, correct?"

"Correct."

"Then who do you suppose I am to hold accountable for his escape." Finally Caesar was reaching the point for which he had called the Praetorian, now Lucius knew he needed to defend himself, not with a weapon, but his words of truth and loyalty to his Lord.

"My Lord. I do not take no responsibility for this, but I did everything I could to keep him under my watch."

Caesar's fist slammed down on the arm of the throne; "I do NOT care about the chairman-" His rage was evident now in his voice, "You let the Courier out of your sights!" Caesar seethed, "You know why she was important, you alone were given a demonstration." His voice had become thunderous. The praetorian took a moment to think on his words before replying to the infuriated leader before him,

"I was not the one in charge of watching the girl my Lord." Caesar's interest peaked wondering where Lucius was taking this. The guard glanced away mumbling to himself. "Who was-" for a moment there was nothing, and then he turned back abruptly, a frustration crinkle between his brows "I know exactly whose custody she was under..." Cocking his head Caesar gave a hand motion for the man to continue.

"It was Inculta."

Tashtastic: Just a quick update to get the story moving along, you have my apologies I had intended it to be a bit longer but I needed this out the way to progress...