It took Layla a few moments to throw off the shock of seeing Vulpes Inculta. He was dead. Or least he was supposed to be. Though she knew she shouldn't be surprised that the rat had survived getting thrown off Hoover Dam into the Colorado river.

She'd been told up and down that the frumentarii had been wiped out; all the Legion movement they'd seen had been Gaius Magnus and his troops. If Vulpes had been alive this whole time, why hadn't he been running things?

There were pressing matters right now, however. Like the smiling securitron staring at her on the screen. Vulpes had disappeared from view, so she took the opportunity to talk to the securitron.

"Yes Man!" Layla cried, "whatever he's told you to do, stop! And don't listen to him!" The Courier had no clue if either of those commands would work, but she was panicking. Yes Man would obey anyone within hearing distance, and he could control All of the Lucky 38's machinery and software. There was a nuclear reactor somewhere in this building.

And then there was the matter of the securitron army Layla had left dormant at Fortification Hill.

Yes Man was still pointing his cheery face at the screen, but hadn't reacted to Layla's cry. Just as she was about to call to him again, Vulpes Inculta reappeared on the screen, looking smug.

"I've cut the audio from your side," he explained. "You're no doubt aware of the robot's formatting."

"Shit." She glanced at Raul and Boone. They were standing close by, their eyes scanning the room, probably expecting something to jump out at them at any moment.

"You, as always, are proving difficult to deal with," Vulpes continued. "You were supposed to be apprehended before you got to your hearing. But the NCR officials will still see what you're about to do as an act of war."

"What are you talking about?" Layla demanded.

"You'll undoubtedly start noticing a change on the Strip."

Horrified, Layla ran over to the wall of windows and looked down. It was somewhat hard to make it out, but she could see people running in the streets.

Then she saw a securitron roll over and gun down a fleeing group. There were MPs and NCR soldiers firing on the robots, but most that attacked were either shot down or ripped apart by the grenades the securitrons lobbed at them.

The robots didn't seem to be just killing; most of the people in the streets were getting herded into the casinos. Layla ran back to the monitor bank.

"What are you doing with those people?" she cried. Only when he grinned in response did she remember that he shouldn't be able to hear her.

Probably can read lips, her brain whispered.

"You've just declared martial law on the Strip," Vulpes said, "And taken all of its NCR residents hostage. The acting governor should be a potent bargaining chip in the least. And speaking of chips… " He held up the Platinum Chip. "You truly were foolish to leave the keys to your fortress lying around."

Layla's covered her mouth with her hands, horrified.

"I'll be reestablishing the audio connection in just a moment," he continued. First…" He turned to Yes Man.

"Finalize the programs we've discussed, then destroy yourself."

"Are you sure, buddy?" Yes Man asked. "I can't help you if I'm all dead!"

"Do it."

Judging by the irritation in his tone, Layla guessed that the Legionary had probably grown tired of the robot's demeanor. Most robots, however, were programmed to preserve themselves against this kind of thing.

"Well, if you insist!" The face on the securitron's screen flickered, then the monitor filled with numbers.

"Goodbye, cruel world!" the cheerful voice crowed as the screen flashed brightly, then darkened. Layla stared at the screen in horror.

"He… You killed him," she eventually sputtered.

"You can't 'kill' a machine," Inculta said, sounding amused. "Though I don't find it surprising you'd be overly sentimental about such things."

Realizing the audio connection was back, Layla spoke again.

"I thought Gaius Magnus was in charge of Legion," she asked. "Aren't you the highest ranked now?"

That caused the first crack in the frumentarius' smile. A neutral look settled over his face before he spoke again.

"The Legion is dead. I am its knell."

"What's your plan?" Layla asked. She didn't like his tone; his usual smugness was gone, replaced with a cold seriousness that was unsettling. Layla started to think he'd finally lost it completely, but there were other matters to worry about now.

"You're not going to just kill everyone on the Strip, are you?" she demanded. There'd be so many people out there, never mind Swank and Marjorie and all the NCR officials at the embassy.

"They will not be harmed, so long as they do as they're told," Vulpes said as a grin slid on his face. "The Three Families have been disarmed, I assure you. And they will be the first to die if there is trouble. But worry about yourself for now; it's what I've learned profligates do in times of crisis."

"Why are you trapping us in here?" They had to get out of here, and if she kept Vulpes talking, he might just slip up and tell them how to do it.

"You will be kept in the penthouse for now. The NCR will be made to believe you have orchestrated this coup, and I can't have you telling them different."

"The NCR won't believe she's doing this," Boone said stiffly from her side, "not after what she's done."

"I'm sure you'll be amazed how little your people hold to their loyalties," he practically purred. "I've read some interesting articles about the traitorous actions she's engaged in."

The courier felt her stomach start wringing itself out. He was right; with everything that had been happening lately, a lot of people in the NCR government would readily believe she was trying to take back New Vegas.

"For now, you are still useful. I'll be along to collect you soon," Vulpes said, then nodded to someone off camera.

She wanted to question him further, but the monitor went dark and the room was suddenly silent. Boone and Raul had started moving the moment the transmission ended, but Layla kept staring at the darkened monitor.

Someone touched her arm and she jumped. Boone's face was grim as he looked at her.

"We need to get ready for them," he said.

"We can't get out of here?" she asked, hoping either of the other men had thought of something.

"Both elevators are sealed," Raul said as he walked over. "We can try breaking a window, but it's a long drop. Even if we figured out a way to lower ourselves, we'd just land on a pile of hostile securitrons."

Layla nodded dumbly, still unable to believe what was happening.

*.*.*

"She is frightened," Blood Moon said as they cut the feed to the Lucky 38. Vulpes wanted to revel in that fact alone, but the feeling came up hollow.

"We have given her ample reason to be so." He turned his gaze back to the men gathered around him. "Go. You all know what you have to do."

The group scattered, except Blood Moon and Alerio.

"The longer we wait, the more prepared they will be for us," Vulpes addressed them, allowing some of the irritation to reach his voice. Layla Granville was supposed to be safely tucked away already. He'd cursed his foolishness at allowing a group as unreliable as the Powder Gangers to apprehend her. He would correct the mistake himself.

"The sniper and the ghoul were there," Alerio said, even though it had been obvious. "There were all armed."

"On their way out," Blood Moon guessed. "It won't be easy getting to them."

"Fortunately, our forces have recently increased," Vulpes said as he looked down at the deactivated securitron at his feet.

"I'm not going to miss that fool machine," Alerio said, making Blood Moon bark a rare laugh.

*.*.*

"Don't stand near the elevator," Boone said as he watched Layla pace. The courier looked at him and nodded, then walked over to the sitting area and settled on the floor.

She wasn't taking this well; she'd been so happy when they'd gotten back to the Mojave, especially after they'd spoken to Colonel Hsu. It had seemed like things were finally calming down.

He knew her, though; she'd bounce back. She just needed some time to get what happened through her head and accept it.

Boone was looking at the furniture, deciding where to start stacking it, but his eyes wandered back to Layla on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest. He walked over to the sitting area and sat next to the courier, putting his arms around her. She pressed herself to his chest without a word.

He wanted to tell her something that would help, but he couldn't get his thoughts straight enough figure out what to say. That kind of thing would never come easily for him. Instead, he just held her.

Layla's even breathing against him was rhythmic and soothing; eventually he felt his eyelids start to droop. He shook it off. As much as he wanted to just sit there with her, they had to be practical.

"We need to be ready," he said, and felt Layla nod against his chest. They started to untangle from each other when Boone thought he heard a clang.

"Elevator's moving," Raul said from the other side of the room. The sniper was on his feet in an instant. He'd thought they'd have more time.

"Get into the back of the room," he said to Layla as Raul jogged over. "We'll start moving-"

"Wait," Layla said, making a confused face as there were more clangs. "It's not the elevator car."

"What?" Boone asked, not really sure what that meant. He saw Raul giving a thoughtful look in the direction of the door.

"She's right; whatever that is, it's not someone riding the elevator."

"ED-E" Layla called, and the robot chirped as he flew over, "Scan the door, quickly."

The robot twilled a series of beeps as he moved to the elevator. After a moment, he zoomed back, and Layla checked her Pip-Boy.

"Not securitrons," she said. "There'd be more radio signals."

"Could be Legionaries," Boone said, though he'd been sure the frumentarius would send a few waves of robots after them first. Either way, he wasn't taking a chance.

Stepping back to the sitting area, he helped Raul turn over the heavy coffee table, then looked back to the courier.

"Stay here with Raul and ED-E," he said to Layla. "I'll watch the door."

Layla looked like she was going to protest, but didn't. Instead, she hunkered down with the ghoul.

Boone positioned himself at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the elevator door. If hostiles came through, he could snap off a few shots and retreat back to the others. He wanted to kick himself for not getting a barricade set up.

He quickly slid his bag off his back and dug out the power glove Raul had fixed for him. It was supposed to short out electrical wiring; even if there were no securitrons in the elevator, they'd be facing them soon enough.

Handling his rifle was awkward with the bulky power glove on his hand. Just as he considered taking it back off, there was another loud clang from the elevator.

The door made a loud, creaking noise, then opened a crack.

"Will one of you assholes help me?" came a cry from the door. Immediately recognizing the voice, Boone leapt to his feet and ran up the stairs. Grabbing one side of the door, he pulled has hard as he could.

It took a lot of effort, but he was finally able to wrench the door opened with the help of the one hand clutching the other side. Once the door was open, he reached in and helped Cass into the room.

"Cass?" Layla cried from behind him as he reached back into the elevator shaft. Cass held onto his waist to anchor him as he helped Veronica up.

"Oh my god, am I happy to see you," the courier said as she joined them, throwing her arms around the scribe just as she got her feet on the floor.

"Not so hard!" Veronica cried as Layla squeezed her.

"What the hell is going on?" Cass demanded as Raul and ED-E joined them.

"You remember Vulpes Inculta? Head of the Frumentarii? Techincally the highest ranked Legionary left? The one who's supposed to be dead?" the ghoul said as he looped an arm around the caravaneer.

"What about him?" Cass asked, sounding suspicious.

"He didn't stay dead," Layla grumbled. "And he has Yes Man."

"Can't we just fix what he did?" Veronica asked. "If we can get to Yes Man, we can just have him undo it."

"Yes Man is dead," Layla said, "and the only one who really knew his programming was Emily." Her face twisted into shock. "The Outpost! He must have attacked it to get to her!" she cried.

"And he managed to frame the Brotherhood while he was at it," the scribe said sourly.

"What happened to you?" Layla asked, looking at Veronica like she'd just realized the girl was there.

"Elder McNamara put us back in lock down," Veronica said with a grimace. "I managed to sneak out. And I probably shouldn't go back until we get this all fixed."

"We need to get out of here, now," Boone said. They could catch up once they were safe.

"Okay," Cass said as she disengaged herself from Raul. "We got up by-"

"Oh hey, I knew it!" Veronica said as she looked at Cass and Raul.

"Focus," Layla said. "That's old news."

"It is?"

"Focus," Raul said. "How did you two get up here?"

"We climbed the stairs to the 28th floor," Veronica said, back to the matter at hand. "There's an ladder bolted to the wall of the elevator shaft."

"Can we get back to the suite?" Layla asked. She didn't like the idea of Vulpes rooting through her underwear drawer while she was gone.

Cass shook her head. "The only way in is the elevator."

"Someone could swing down through the elevator shaft," Veronica pointed out.

"There's no safe way to secure a rope," Boone noted.

"And I'm too old to put on a Zorro mask," Raul said. "Is there anything vital in the suite?"

"There's a lot of guns and supplies, but otherwise…" the Courier said after thinking a moment. "And my letters from Joshua."

"Who?" Veronica asked.

"He's a friend, one I don't want Vulpes knowing is alive," Layla answered quickly. Boone noticed she'd been evasive to the others about the Burned Man and her friendship with him. She probably thought they wouldn't approve. That made sense; if he hadn't been there when it all happened, he wouldn't have been happy to hear it.

"He probably already knows," Cass pointed out. "It was his spies Caesar kept sending to get slaughtered."

Layla looked unhappy, but nodded. "We should go. I don't want him in there, but there isn't much we can do about it."

"Back down the hole then," Veronica said. Layla peeked into the empty elevator shaft. Some of the color drained from her face.

"Great."

Thank you all for reading. Just a note: Someone asked on Layla's Ask blog for the story of what happened at Black Mountain. Black Mountain Blues can be found at "layla-the-courier" on Tumblr. This is the 'official' version for my series.