Joseph pulled a stool up to the makeshift bar's counter. The 188 Trading Post was not the most luxurious place, but it was stocked with supplies. He called for a shot of vodka and the bartender nodded. Normally he wouldn't be venturing this far into NCR territory. However, when going incognito, he was nearly undetectable. He was nothing if not good at his job. He'd been assigned to watch troop movements and supply routes in the area, but he needed a drink and a rest every so often.
He knew what his superiors would think of him drinking alcohol. Such substances were outlawed within the ranks of the Legion. Joseph knew, though, that he was important enough he could pass off the drinking as another device to remain concealed without much trouble coming from it. The bartender set his drink on the counter, and he downed the shot. Vodka, to him, felt like a sort of liquid fire. He enjoyed the feeling of its heated tendrils spreading through his body.
After his second shot, Joseph noticed three new travelers. A tall, dark-haired man, a redheaded woman wearing a cowboy hat, and an eyebot. He couldn't quite place his finger on where he'd seen the man before, but he recognized him somehow. He ignored the thought, and began planning out his movements over the next few days. He dug through his pockets for a scrap of paper to write on, and found a folded paper that was a little worse for wear from being in his pocket.
He unfolded it, and upon reading it, his eyes grew wide. He quickly folded it back up, concealing it from prying eyes. It was a bounty letter, signed by Caesar himself, and the bounty was for a person very near to him now, a man responsible for the death of Vulpes Inculta. He now knew where he'd recognized the tall dark-haired wanderer from. Joseph returned the note to his pocket and thought on how he would need to go about this. 10 Aurei was a fine reward indeed. Taking one more profligate's head to Caesar should pose no problem.
Antillicus was mildly interested in the outpost, noting its small size. "It's little for a 'trading post', isn't it?" Cass nodded as they passed the makeshift bar. "It's better than the Dino Bite gift shop, that's for sure," she said, and he chuckled in agreement. Antillicus exchanged polite nods with a woman wearing a cloak and a power fist as they walked past. "I bet she's got some supplies," he remarked, pointing towards a woman near a broken-down truck at the other end of the overpass.
Cass let Antillicus go trade and approached the bar. "One shot of whiskey, please," she told the bartender, laying a few caps on the table. He nodded and poured her a glass, setting it down on the counter. She scooped up the glass and toasted The Strip in the distance. "Viva New Vegas, I guess," she said, before emptying the shot. She returned the glass to the bartender and thanked him. She walked over to the railing on the edge of the overpass and waited for Antillicus, hoping they'd be able to find some clues here.
After trading off some excess ammo they couldn't use and purchasing a scope for his hunting rifle, Antillicus met back with Cass. "Where do you think could we find information around here?" he asked as he gazed at the spire on The Strip. Cass shrugged. "I'd try the bartender. They notice things like that." He nodded. "Makes as much sense as anything. Let's ask him a few questions."
As they approached the bar, the bartender spoke. "Can I get you anything?" "I suppose, but what I need is information," he replied. "There's a very special person I'm looking for." "I see..." said the bartender. "And who might this special person be?" Antillicus leaned a bit closer. "I'm looking for a woman named Grace," he said. "We think she spent some time around here."
The bartender's eyebrows furrowed. "I remember that name...say, I remember you and her hanging out around here for a while. You were awful secretive though. She came back a few days ago and told me she wouldn't be around much more 'cause she was heading to The Strip." Antillicus nodded. "Well, thanks, I guess," he said as tossed a few caps on the counter and walked away.
Cass followed him. "Well, at least we're a little closer," she said. "Not by much," he replied. "I was hoping there'd be more for me here. Something...tangible." Cass set her hand on his shoulder. "It's better than nothing," she reminded him. Antillicus sighed and nodded. "I suppose you're right. We should get moving, The Strip's still a while away and we don't wanna be stuck out here after nightfall." Cass nodded in agreement and replied. "Let's go, then. Lead the way."
Joseph watched the marked wanderer and his companions walk off towards the Strip. Following them there would be a bit more dangerous. He left a few caps on the counter for the barman and stood up. He straightened his slightly stained suit and hat and walked to the railing of the overpass, watching them for a while. When they'd traveled far enough, he began tailing them.
He was careful to avoid being noticed. He'd had much practice at following targets in his years as a frumentarius. His assignments required him to have a wide range of skills, from hand-to-hand combat to firearms use to assassination. Those skills would serve him well in the goal he set for himself: to take the head of the wanderer.
As Cass and Antillicus walked, they made small talk about nothing in particular, managing to hold a conversation. Cass finally asked a more important question. "What are we going to do once we find this 'Grace' woman?" Antillicus wore a thoughtful look. "I'm not quite sure," he answered. "I guess she'll know what to do when we find her."