Happy Leap Day, people! Do something fun on your extra this year :D

Something was off. Layla could sense it. It didn't take long in a small town to get a feel for the place. She gazed out along the main road from the saloon's porch, watching people go about town as the afternoon continued. Everyone seemed to be hurrying more than usual.

Jackie had the day off. Smithy had shooed her out and told her to relax. She'd taken his advice and lazed for a while on the porch.

The Courier noted with some interest that Dr. Dross had emerged from her building. The doctor didn't often leave unless someone was hurt. She wasn't rushing, so Layla figured she wasn't on an emergency call.

"Afternoon, sweet cheeks," she heard Lansing say as he ambled up to railing. Layla fixed a glare at the man. Finding out he was involved with the Frontiersmen hadn't been much of a shock, but now she had to deal with him directly.

"Lansing," she said icily, "shouldn't you be at work?"

"Trouble at the quarry," the man said simply, making Layla frown.

"Oh? Is that were Dr. Dross is going?"

"What? Oh, no. She's going to Primm," the man answered.

"That's a long way to go on her own."

"She does it every now and then. Something about the old guy who runs the courier place."

Layla actually had to bite her tongue to keep from asking about Mr. Nash. Lansing didn't seem to notice as he continued.

"I guess the old guy's poorly, needs be seen regularly and only wants to see Dross."

Now that was confusing. Mr. Nash was healthier than a horse, and certainly didn't care about who tended to him if something came up. Layla herself had treated the man for a coyote bite once.

She couldn't question Lansing about it, but the whole story was very strange. She figured it could be just Lansing screwing up the facts, but she'd have to check in with her old boss when she got done with this mission. Just to be sure.

"Anyway," Lansing said with a smile, "that isn't why we're off today. There was a little trouble with the equipment again."

"Oh, that's too bad," Jackie said, going back to watching the town.

"Yeah, so…" The man made a point to look around before speaking to her again. "I know you're supposed to be in the dark about what's going on… but I can let you in on a few things."

Between the way he'd said that and the way he was looking at her, she felt like punching him. She didn't bother hiding the venom in her voice.

"I'm sure I'll find out when I'm supposed to." Sure, she could have tried to goad it out of him with some flirting, but she wasn't going to play the creep's game.

"Sure you will." He climbed over the railing in a quick, smooth motion. Before she could retreat, he leaned in close.

"You showed up at a real good time, baby," he said into her ear. Jackie grimaced and tried to sidestep him, but he put his hand against the wall behind her, blocking her way.

"Back off," she growled at him.

"Hold on, you're gonna like this," he said and leaned in. "We've got a bomb all ready for that NCR base on the Long 15."

"I… You what?" Layla aborted the kick she'd been winding up for Lansing's crotch. The man was smiling broadly.

"I knew that'd get your attention." He leaned in again. "We're gonna sneak up tonight and plant it right under those fucker's skirts."

Oh shit. She had to do something, besides getting away from this creep before whoever was on duty blew his head off; if she could get herself on this mission, she could sabotage it.

"Kreeder wants you to come up to the base tonight," Lansing continued, further surprising her. "Be at the quarry at seven."

She nodded, then noticed the man had looped an arm around her.

"Lansing, let me go or I'm going to-"

"Give up the ice queen routine already," he said with a toothy smile. "Kreeder isn't going to like hearing we don't get along."

"I don't care. Let me go."

"Is there a problem?" a voice said from their side, startling them both. Looking over, Layla had to keep the relief from her face wen Merritt stepped onto the porch.

Lansing let her go quickly. "It doesn't concern you."

"I'm afraid it does," the ranger said sternly, looking at Layla. "I need a word with you concerning yesterday."

Remembering herself, Jackie stuck her chin out. "Am I under arrest?"

"No, but you need to answer a few questions for me. If you want me to arrest you, I will."

"Fine, let's go," she said poisonously. She glanced at Lansing, who grinned at her.

"Remember; seven o'clock tonight."

Stepping off the porch, she followed as Merritt led her down the road.

"What was that about?" he asked quietly.

"We need to talk, now," Layla answered. "We've got trouble."

The ranger opened the door to the sheriff's office and held it for her. Layla walked in to find Juarez, but not O'Bann in the room.

"Sheriff," Merritt said in greeting, and the other man nodded. Layla bit her lip, trying to think of a way to mention that she need to speak privately with the ranger.

"Juarez knows about our arraignment," Merritt said, circumventing her worry.

"Oh… I didn't know that," Layla blurted out. She shook her head. "Listen, Lansing just told me what the Frontiersmen are planning."

"What is it?" The ranger looked surprised.

"They've made a bomb. They're bringing it up to the NCR base on the Long 15."

The ranger looked grim. "We're going to have to stop them." He shook his head. "This couldn't have come at a worse time."

"Why?" the Courier asked, not liking the apologetic look he was giving her. "What happened?"

"Boone and Mitch never came back to base yesterday. They've missed their surveillance and wiretap shifts."

"W-what?" She looked at Juarez. "Has there been any sign of them?"

The sheriff shook his head. He looked like he was about to speak when the door to the building was violently thrown open.

"Juarez!" Mayor Williams cried, "Kate is missing."

*.*.*

Ranger Morton knew this was going to happen; the mission was falling apart. He did admit that it was just bad timing with the bomb. They had to respond to it, but it would probably end in them eliminating the group instead of getting a chance to get more information on other terrorist cells.

They were lucky Merritt had been able to keep the Mayor from kicking them out of town; Williams had jumped to the conclusion that their missing snipers were to blame for his daughter's disappearance. Morton was fairly certain whatever had happened to the snipers had befallen the girl as well, but he knew they weren't the cause.

Given the timing, he wagered the Last Frontiersmen were involved. He might have suspected the powder gangers, but he was fairly certain Merritt had taken out the regional leader during the attack on the mayor's party.

He didn't like this; too much was happening all at once. Granville's acceptance into the terrorist cell, the plans to bomb the Long 15 military base and the disappearances had all occurred on the same day. His gut told him something wasn't adding up, but he couldn't figure out what.

"Albert, are you going to be all right by yourself? I can have Team Two stay…" Merritt said as he slung a grenade launcher over his shoulder while 1st Recon gathered their things. Morton shook his head.

"You'll need them. I smell trouble."

Merritt gave him a grim smile, and Morton noticed Lieutenant Gorobets approach.

"You're the only one listening on Layla… If something goes wrong, you're going to have to help her." He said the last part stiffly, which immediately rankled Morton.

"Listen you hot-headed Neanderthal, I know my duty. If something-"

Gorobets looked like he was going to jump at him over the table, but Merritt got in his way.

"Albert knows what he's doing, and he'll respond if there's trouble," He said to the lieutenant. Gorobets didn't look convinced.

"If something happens, I'll take care of it," Morton finished.

"What about Boone and Mitch?" Corporal Betsy demanded. "What if they need help?"

"We still don't know where they are," Merritt said evenly. "We do know the Last Frontiersmen are planning to set off a bomb at a base where fifty people are stationed. We can't let them achieve their aim."

The woman glared at him for a moment, then looked away. All of 1st Recon was tense since the disappearance of Team Three. Morton hadn't voiced any opinion, mainly for his face's sake; but if he had to guess, the missing men were either going to be used as hostages, or they were dead. Considering the Frontiersmen's plans, he'd guess dead.

Soon, preparations were complete, and the snipers left. Merritt lingered until he was alone with Morton in the building.

"If something does come up, get Juarez to help you," he said.

"I know what to do," Morton said testily. "Be careful, Merritt."

The other ranger gave him a grim smile, then left the office. Morton sighed and headed up to the listening station. It was just turning seven. The Courier would be meeting up with the terrorists soon.

Unplugging the headphones, he sat down as the sound of recorded footfalls filled the room. Granville had been quiet since she parted with Merritt. They'd listened in as she'd gone back to the saloon, though they'd only known she had by hearing the owner speak to her.

The girl had picked up the habit of announcing what she was doing to the microphone for the benefit of those who were listening. All they'd heard when she got to her room was the sounds of equipment getting resorted.

"Oh… hey Lansing," the Courier's voice crackled flatly over the radio, breaking Morton out of his musing. The ranger groaned; of course it would be him leading her alone to the base.

"Hey sweetness, let's go."

"So where is it?" the girl asked as the sound of crunching gravel came over the radio.

"Not far, one of those 'hiding out in plain view' things," Lansing answered.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't worry, baby, we'll be there soon." There was more crunching, then Granville made an unhappy sound.

"Oh, we're not going up that creepy mountain are we? I heard it's haunted."

"It used to have super mutants, but they're long gone," said Lansing. "Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Even Morton was getting disgusted with the man's terrible advances, but the Courier had managed to identify where they were going: Black Mountain. They'd never even considered the abandoned radio station.

There were more sounds of movement as the two made their way up the mountain.

"You're gonna like what Kreeder's got for you," Lansing said eventually.

"Oh yeah? Give me a hint," the girl responded.

"He wants to test you loya-"

The feed suddenly burst into static. Frowning, Albert went to the equipment to see if he could regain the signal. After a few fruitless moments, he frowned. Black Mountain had a lot of radio equipment. It would be simple to jam frequencies…

Morton shook his head as he ran to grab his hat and his assault carbine. He was right; it was a trap.

*.*.*

Layla felt her stomach flutter as they reached Black Mountain's gates. It may have had something to do with the large amount of radiation they'd just walked through. She'd have to get a hold of some Rad-Away; after the last time she nearly died from radiation poisoning, she wasn't looking to have it happen again.

She had to give it to the Frontiersmen; the radio station was an excellent idea for a base. People avoided it because of Tabitha's warnings and the radiation, and all the buildings made for a good hideout.

Lansing led her past the 'prison' building of the complex and to the supply building, where Kreeder was leaning against the door.

"Jackie, I'm glad you made it," the man said as they approached. "I've got something for you to do."

"I'm ready," she replied, feeling her stomach start to clench. If 1st Recon and Merritt couldn't take care of this bomb situation from the outside, she was going to have to do it alone. That would probably mean fighting everyone off and defusing the thing herself.

"Good," the man replied. "Think of this as your first and last test. If you do as you're asked, you'll be a full member of our group."

Layla nodded, and the man moved to the door.

"Excellent. Right this way."

He opened the door, and they walked through. The storage room was still as maze-like as it had been the last time Layla was here, and still full of junk. This must have been where they were making the bomb.

At least that was what she thought until she turned the last corner to the back of the room.

Mitch and Katie were tied to chairs in the corner, next to a generator that Dr. Dross was tinkering with. She looked up as they entered and smiled.

"Ah, are you here to help, Jackie?"

Layla couldn't respond as she stared at Boone, who was stripped to the waist and tied to the table near the generator.

"Yes," Kreeder said behind her. "You'll be assisting Mary with getting some information out our subject here."