Chapter 14

Grand Ring

"And the challenger has been defeated in a crushing loss! Liotty has been broken, and he isn't getting up! Oh the humanity…" the announcer bellowed. Sure enough, two medical personnel entered the ring to stretcher out the combatant from the ring. The crowd, with two exceptions, roared.

"Pretty sloppy, if you ask me," Boone offered.

"I didn't," Natalie stated, flatly.

The ring prepared itself for the next fight. As the dust was swept over, a generously endowed, scantily clad woman entered the ring.

"Ladies and gentlemen, and most importantly gamblers, may I present to you tonight's main event. In one corner, it is the biggest, baddest arachnid this side of the Colorado river, The Albino Reaper!" she announced, as a giant white Radscorpion made its way into its container.

"And in the other, he is the two-week survivor of some of the most dangerous, vicious, and cruelest monsters that the wasteland has to offer! He is your reigning Beast champion, may I present to you…DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG!"

As she finished, an extremely reluctant Nightkin made its way to his cage. Natalie bit her lip, bracing herself for what was about to happen. The previous fights were sanctioned, had rules, and generally stopped before they went too far. Beast fights, however, always fought to the death. While she didn't generally give a shit about Radscorpions, she was bothered about how people didn't regard the Nightkin as a human. Sure, generally super mutants weren't regarded as humans by anyone, but they were still sentient, and deserved to be treated as such.

After the ring girl exited, the bell rung, the cage doors were opened, and the two combatants began their brawl. The scorpion was at least larger then the average Radscorpion by a half, and its tail could easily brush the top of the Nightkin's head. The Nightkin, to his credit, managed to bob and weave his head to avoid the creature's strikes. The Radscoripon managed to pressure its prey towards the side of the wall, and when the back of the super mutant touched, the creature lunged in for the kill, slamming its body against the wall. The super mutant managed to bound away from the abomination unharmed.

Growing discontented, the audience began jeering the super mutant, cajoling him into trying to take a risk. Natalie was getting impatient as well, only with the entire deal before her. These people were asking for blood, and the thought never seemed to cross their mind that maybe the creature placed its own well being over their amusement. Boone just sat in silence, still as unreadable as ever.

Dog managed to kick up some sand into the Radscorpions face, forcing it to back off. Dog then proceeded to punt the Radscorpion in the eyes. Before he could back away, the Radscorpion latched on to his leg, and immediately pierced his leg with its tail. The roar of the crowd drowned the Nightkin's howl out. Natalie stood up and promptly excused herself the stand. Boone reluctantly let her have some space.

Truth be told, Boone was not that much more interested in the fight either, but he had come to recognize the attitude Natalie was beginning to display. The doubt, the second-guessing, and the self-loathing that came when one realized the limitations of their ability. He had spent more then a few evenings cursing himself for his inability to protect someone when it mattered the most. Though he believed it would be wise for Natalie to gain some perspective towards her mission, that didn't stop him from empathizing with her frustrations. As the Nightkin began pummeling the bug into the dust, Boone promptly began cutting through the crowd as well.

Backing away from the crowds, Natalie took a stroll through the backways of the dock to get some air. As the howling of the crowd began to soften, Natalie finally felt like she had room to breathe. Kicking a rusty can into the ocean, she could do nothing but fume over her helplessness. Stuck defending someone who didn't deserve it. Written off by the rest of her organization. Unable to in any way stop an innocent creature from getting killed. In less then a month, she had already failed nearly every value that the NCR Rangers held dear.

"C'mon, sweet thing, you wanna show me what you've been doing when you're off the clock?"

Natalie perked her head up. The sound was coming from one of the storage areas near the water. Putting her hand on her pistol, she gingerly pressed her back against the wall while she slid herself towards the opening of the warehouse. Peeking inside, she saw the announcer girl being pressured against some crates by a man wearing silver combat armor.

"Tommy, I told you, I'm not some hooker! Back off!" the woman snarled.

"Oh, is that right? You have any idea how lucky you are you came when you did? Two beautiful pieces of ass like the two of you would've been passed around by the old guard until they got sick of you and sold you two off to New Reno! So the way I see it, a little gratitude is in order," the man said, while grabbing the hem of her pants.

The woman viciously slapped him, prompting the guard to backhand her against the crates. Natalie slowly pulled out her revolver, cocking back the hammer. Looking in, she could see an energy weapon slung over the creep's shoulder, indicating that she would be outgunned in a shooting match. If she could get the jump on him, and convince him to back off…

A hand suddenly placed itself on her shoulder. Before she could cry out, another cupped her mouth. Turning her around, she came face to face with a pair of familiar shades. Placing a finger against his lips, Boone sneaked a peek inside, immediately sizing up the situation as well. Lifting his rifle off his shoulder, Boone pulled back the lever, and took up a position behind Natalie. Scarcely hiding a smile, Natalie made her entry into the building.

"NCR Ranger! Take a step back and leave the woman alone!"

If the guard was surprised by the sudden appearance of two NCR soldiers, he didn't let it show.

"Forget it, you two. This is Shi-town business," he answered.

Keeping his rifle trained on the guard, Boone cautiously approached the woman, tapped her on the shoulder, and slowly led her away from the guard.

"Yeah, I'm real sure your boss is going to be thrilled to know how her men amuse themselves," Boone said pointedly.

"Save me the lecture, mom. I don't need your approval. You both know that the NCR has no authority here, so I can only begin to imagine the story you're going to tell your superiors after I tell mine I was assaulted," the thug stated.

Nattie could scarcely begin to comprehend the audacity of this thug. The Shi as of late didn't have the most sterling reputation in the NCR, but they at least kept up the pretense of respectability. This guy, on the other hand, was just like every other thug that the Rangers had the privilege of busting, with the exception of being the enforcer to a pseudo-government.

"Hate to break it to you, pal, but I'm not with the NCR," Boone corrected, with a mocking smirk.

"Oh really? What, did you get that getup from a surplus depot?" the thug heckled.

"Not with the NCR anymore. My new boss is actually much scarier," Boone added with an uncharacteristic smirk.

The woman, still rubbing her cheek, shot a glance at Natalie while she was keeping her revolver trained on the thug. With the barest hint of a smile, Natalie nodded towards her as she exited the shelter, and for one critical second, broke her line of sight with the thug. Immediately seizing the opportunity, the thug grabbed the energy weapon slung over his shoulder and immediately pointed it towards Boone and the girl.

Natalie, her training kicking in and the mantras of Hanlon drumming in her ears, instinctively brought up her own revolver. In the fraction of a second, which lasted an eternity, Natalie took aim and fired. The bullet sailed through the air before contacting the man's teeth, before breaking through them and hitting the throat. The man's finger tightened around the rifle trigger as it shot off a beam that grazed past the two retreating figures. Elsewhere, a crowd erupted in applause.

Steel Palace

It was almost high noon when Lars and Cass made their way back to the Steel Palace. They had spent the night elsewhere, and while it rubbed Cass the wrong way that she had wasted so many caps on their rooms, both felt better for it. As they re-climbed the stairs, both of them continued to dwell on last night.

Last night had been a long one. Two people with a tendency to avoid heart to hearts sat by themselves and tried to talk. Their usual instinct to drown themselves in drink temporarily suspended, they chatted with one another. As the hours passed, they came to an inescapable conclusion; it could never work out. No arguments, no shouting matches, no screaming for Yes-man to throw the other out of the casino, then to dump her belongings out from the top floor. Just a simple agreement.

They had walked to the Steel Palace in silence. Once they reached the top, the guard promptly opened the door, ushering them to the lobby. A meek young woman sat behind the desk, After a moment of recognition crossed her face, she promptly stood up and bowed slightly towards the two."

"Ni Hao. My name is Lady Ziyi. You two must be Miss Cassidy and Mr. Perez? Madame Zhang thanks you for your service Ms. Cassidy, and you shall receive the payment immediately," she began, pulling out a bag of coin.

Cass took the bag, opened it slightly, and pulled out a silver coin. She bit into it and established its authenticity. Smiling, she nodded to Perez, and was about to leave when the young woman cleared her throat.

"Is there something wrong?" Cass asked, impatiently.

"Oh, nothing, it is just… Madame Zhang has wished to speak with Mr. Perez for quite some time. She was wondering if he could spare a moment of his time and speak with her," Ziyi explained.

"Really? And, uh, why has Madame Zhong waited so long to get in contact with me?" Lars asked, skeptically.

"Madame Zhang is usually very busy with other matters, leaving her unable to exchange pleasantries with other city leaders. Regardless, she has wanted to get in contact with you for some time, and would very much appreciate an audience with you," Ziyi insisted.

"Perez, the jobs over. You don't have to work for me anymore. I'll get Raul and the others and we'll wait for you at the Golden Gate. Fair enough?" Cass asked.

Lars thought it over and then nodded. "Deal, see you in a little bit," he finished.

After Cass left, Ziyi promptly removed herself from behind the desk, and after grabbing the package, beckoned Lars to follow her to the elevator. Stepping into the box, the door sealed, and the two made their way to the fourth floor. The elevator was conspicuously slow, and Lars figured that a little conversation would pass the time.

"So… you aren't from here, are you?" he asked.

"…Whatever do you mean, Mr. Governor?" Ziyi asked.

"You don't seem like someone who has spent a lot of time in the wasteland, I mean. You seem like someone who grew up in a Vault, I mean. Which one? 13? 15? Vault City?" he asked.

"Oh… no. I'm from a bit… farther away…" she trailed off.

The door opened to reveal a large, plain wooden room. The walls seemed to be made of paper, and the only light came from a handful of lamps hanging from the ceiling. Across the room sat a lone figure. Lars and Ziyi both exited the lift and approached her. When they reached the center of the room, Ziyi promptly fell flat on her face, placing the box in front of her. Lars wondered whether or not she slipped.

"Rise, Ziyi, and leave the box where it is. You may leave, and do not forget to tell our new friends about that other matter," she ordered.

Lars couldn't help but wince. And here I thought Cass was a ball-buster, he thought to himself. As the other woman left, Lars took a good look at who was sitting across from him. She was wearing some kind of… silk? She was just a little older then the other woman, and she was a little on the short side. But it was the eyes that held his attention. Those few people he was afraid of? The one thing they all had in common was their eyes. Icy cold, dead, and without anything that resembled warmth or life.

"Governor Perez, I have been looking forward to this moment. Please, may I offer you some tea?" Zhang offered.

Lars reluctantly accepted. Sniffing the contents of the cup, he gingerly took a sip. Not bad, very sweet.

"I'm afraid that I must apologize for waiting so long to get in contact with you. I know Ziyi must have told you I've been busy, but the truth is that I haven't found the proper opportunity to make your acquaintance, Governor Perez. I have so very much wanted to meet with you," Zhang said, smiling.

"Mmm," Lars murmured, pouring himself another cup.

"I don't mean to pry, but I've so very much been wondering about your ambitions. I mean, most people aren't ambitious enough to challenge the might of three armies, and even fewer are able to come out victorious. Of all the people in this world, very few are quite as fascinating as you are, Mr. Perez. The NCR is rather boorish, and the less said about the Legion, the better, but you… I believe that you are someone I can actually talk to, wouldn't you say?" said Zhang, trying to smile warmly.

"What do you want?" Lars said, bluntly. "I appreciate ass-kissing as much as the next guy, but I really don't want to wait for you to beat around the bush. If you want a loan, talk to Yes-man. If you want to gamble, come over yourself. If you want a good time, promise me you'll bring along your friend. But I have a headache and I really want to go and lay down for a bit."

"Of course, I can respect that," Zhang acquiesced, smiling a little too widely. "I only wished to meet you about your city. Tell me, what future plans do you have for Vegas?"

"Well, I am planning on expanding a little ways north. There are a few settlements up north past the mountains that I'm thinking of bringing under my banner. We could use the revenue, and I figured they could use the peace of mind," he answered.

"So, are you looking for another Hopeville? Is that it?" Zhang asked.

Lars practically choked on his tea. How…

"Oh, after your little stunt at Hoover Dam, I have become very interested in discovering the real you. I had to ask around, talk to some individuals, and then I had to separate fact from rumor. It was an exhausting effort, but a rewarding one as well. I know all about Hopeville, Mr. Vega. I also recognize what New Vegas really is to you. All that city really means to you is a way to make up for the destruction of your original founded settlement, correct?" she asked, as casually as someone reciting a menu.

Lars glared at the woman coldly. "Who did you ask?" he asked, as softly as a distant thunderstorm.

"Oh, a few people who are generally knowledgeable. I have lots of friends, Perez, and my friends all want the same thing," she said as she leaned in. "We want you to surrender New Vegas."

"And just how are you going to make me do that?" Lars asked, just now beginning to realize how woozy he was getting.

"That redhead, what's-her-name, nevermind, not important. Apparently, her caravan consists of a bunch of your friends, doesn't it? Well, I've hired some less than reputable individuals to hunt them down. Not to kill them, you understand, but to bring them before you so I can show you the price of insubordination. I figured that I would start with the sniper, then the ghoul, then the super mutant, then finally take my time drawing out the last breath of that old woman you seem so fond of," she said, completely emotionless.

"You'll… you'll find that they aren't so easy to kill," Lars slurred as he stumbled to get on his feet.

Zhang smiled as she rose to hers. Standing up, her head could brush the bottom of his mouth, and she seemed very fragile. Lars, focusing on the obstacle in front of him, threw a punch straight towards her temple. Unsurprisingly, she was able to dodge it. Lars himself nearly tripped after he shifted his own weight. Zhang, however, took a peculiar stance, and as Perez prepared to throw another punch, shot out her arm. Her palm slammed against his chest, and for a brief second, time seemed to stop. A sharp pain shot through his chin, and we woke from his haze on his back.

"I understand that you are quite a gifted fighter, Mr. Perez. Your ability to still stand after taking that much sedative is a testament to that notion. Unfortunately, I will have to abandon any chance of a spar. You simply know too much," Zhang taunted.

Through the dreamy haze, Lars finally made the connection. Those ships that the Brotherhood called about; they belonged to her!

"Who…who are you…" Lars muttered as he stumbled onto his knees.

Zhang looked down at her fallen opponent with a mixture of scorn and pride. "I am Gōngzhǔ Zhang Xiao, and the Glorious Cause is mine to wield."

Fairmount.

"Raul, open up, its time to head out," Cass hollered as she knocked on the door. With no response, she proceeded to knock on Lily's door.

"Lily, wake up. Time to move." Nothing.

"Boone, I know you don't sleep in." Guess he didn't.

"Natalie, you still want to put up with Perez?" Evidently not.

Cass was left to impatiently tap her foot in the middle of the hallway. Her three hired hands were nowhere to be seen, and the unofficial greenhorn was AWOL, as well. Well, wonderful. Nothing she could do now but get down the lounge and think up a proper tongue lashing for when she finally found those sorry SOBs.

As she made her way down to the lounge, she thought of what she was going to do next. Perez was going to have to go home, but he could make the trip back himself. There was the matter of her next job, but until she could receive word of it, her crew had to generally sit on their asses for up to a month.

Sitting down at the bar, she asked the barkeep for something strong yet cheap. Settling for some whiskey, she briefly took a glance around the bar. Lots of tourists, mostly people who wanted the escape Vegas provided but didn't want to wander too close to Legion territory, she figured. As she took a swig, she thought back to her conversation with Lars last night. After an uncharacteristically mature conversation, they both came to an agreement. It made sense, so there was no reason for them to keep beating each other up about it. So why was she still thinking about it?

While she was left to ponder her thoughts, she eventually came to the realization that the guests in the bar were beginning to nervously file out. As she turned to look behind herself, she found herself looking at a rather greasy individual. He was wearing shades, a leather jacket, and what looked like a smirk. Upon closer inspection, she realized that that smirk was actually a rather fresh scar. Three other similar yet unscarred individuals also entered the room, as the bartender also decided to take a sudden smoke break.

"You, you're Cassidy? My…"employer" very much wishes to speak with you," the lead goon said, gently rubbing the stitches on his face.

"I told Bishop I'll pay him back, so tell him I got the message," Cass said, dismissively. Secretly, she was looking for the fastest exit.

"Don't be cute. You're coming with us," the thug snarled.

"All right, all right. I'll go. Just let me finish, OK?" Cass asked.

The thug snorted and seemed to accept the term. Cass raised the glass towards him, downed the entire contents of the glass, and then proceeded to chuck the glass right towards his head. Dodging it, the thug drew out a sword, with his lackeys following his lead. Cass, grabbing a bar stool, bolted towards a window on the other side of the room. The lead thug leaped upon her, bringing down his blade upon her head. Using the stool to parry, Cass promptly slugged him across the stitches, before leaping through one of the closed windows. As she crashed through, she felt a sharp, searing pain connect with her left shoulder.

Tumbling to the ground, Cass gingerly yanked a throwing knife out of her shoulder. Looking back, she saw three of the thugs preparing to follow her out the window. Cursing herself, Cass promptly darted towards a back alley, hoping to lose her new fans. As she cut through the back ways, she realized that her seeping wound was leaving a trail. Taking refuge behind some waste cans, she tore off some of her undershirt in an attempt to create a makeshift bandage. Desperately wishing she had some alcohol, she braced herself for another sprint. As she did, she immediately ran into another figure.

"Boss! We've been looking all over for you!" Raul exclaimed.

"Nice to see you aren't dead. I take it you've met my new friends?" Cass asked.

"Yeah. Lily and me ran into some of those vagos last night. I thought they were just some bored kids, but they've been a lot more persistent than usual. Lily managed to scare them off, but I saw a group off twenty wandering around, so we decided to bounce. The guards won't do anything to stop them for some reason. What gives?" Raul asked.

"No idea, but we are going to have to skip town. Get Boone and Hale, we are leaving," Cass ordered.

"Boone and… I thought they were with you?" Raul gaped.

"No, last I saw them, they were… dammit! This is wonderful! Have you seen Perez?" Cass asked.

"Not since last night. Look, boss, they can all take care of themselves, and you really aren't in any condition to fight. Lily is waiting for us, so we need to get the hell out of dodge," Raul insisted, grabbing her hand.

Cass wanted to protest, but the ghoul was nothing if not experienced. Hating herself, she followed her friend through the back alleys. A few minutes later, they met up with Lily, who similarly had not seen either Perez or the two younger members. Cursing herself, Cass ordered her two remaining caravan members to head south. Once they got out of the city limits, they would be able to breathe, and then they could plan to reconnect with their lost members.

EXCERPT FROM THE WEST COAST WASTELAND SURVIVAL GUIDE 2282 EDITION

Yakuza: Descendents of survivors from the pre-War Japanese crime syndicate; the Yakuza are raiders known for their skill with melee weaponry. Known for their commitment to honor, the Yakuza are one of the more "down-on-their-luck" raiders on the west coast. After decades of attempting and failing to establish themselves in New Reno, the Yakuza as of late have seemed to abandon any pretensions of "criminal legitimacy" like the Bishop or Wright families, settling to hire out their skill as assassins and enforcers to the highest bidders.

Happy Mothers Day, everyone!