Hey guys. I know it's been a while, but I'm back! We're going to try to get back on schedule, which means hopefully posting twice a week until the story is complete!

Speaking of which, welcome to Act 3.

Arcade was in California.

Of all the things that could be bouncing around Boone's head, that was the one he latched onto. Arcade was in California. The sniper had dealt with plenty of doctors, especially since he'd joined the military, but he'd never really liked any of them. Doc Mitchell wasn't so bad, but Arcade was the only doctor he'd liked or trusted completely.

Given the man's background, that was kind of funny.

Boone was following the billowing smoke to where the Boomer's plane had crashed. Layla had been on it; she was going to need a doctor, if she wasn't… She was going to need a doctor. And Arcade was in California.

It wasn't a good thought, but it was better than all the others he could be thinking. Focusing on the rushing in his ears wasn't enough, he had to-

The sniper crested the hill overlooking the crashed plane. It wasn't completely engulfed in flames, like he'd feared, but the machine was badly mangled.

There may have been some part of him cautioning him to wait and make sure he wasn't about to run into a ball of flame when he opened the plane's door. If there was, he ignored it as he ran for the entrance anyway. He grabbed the handle and pulled, ignoring the burst of pain as the metal burned his skin.

The cabin was full of smoke. He ducked his head down and pulled his undershirt over his nose. He could see bodies on the floor. None of them seemed to be moving, and Boone could see a few of them were charred, either from the fire or the explosion that had downed the plane.

All other thoughts stopped when he noticed the body at his feet. It was smaller than the others, but burned beyond recognition. Layla's pistol was clutched in its hand.

*.*.*

The hollow feeling was probably shock. Boone had felt the sensation start in his chest and permeate his entire body. But he was thinking clearly; at least enough to go over what they'd found. It had been swirling through his head for the last few hours.

The Lady had a five-person crew. When they'd put the fire out and removed all the bodies, there were seven. Five Boomers, one stowaway… and Layla.

The extra body had been a mystery until they'd searched him and found a ripper, a bottle of foul-smelling liquid, and not much else. No tools, no money, no personal items at all. He clearly wasn't a random saboteur, but it was the bitter drink that gave him away; he was a Legionary. Undoubtedly a frumentarius.

The snakeskin-handled gun Joshua Graham had given her had been the only thing they'd been able to salvage from her. Everything else had been burnt to all but ash. The roll of duct tape for 'emergencies', the white, flowered dress for 'real emergencies,' her ancient, beat up Vault 13 canteen, the letters and papers she kept on her, the 1st Recon beret Boone had given her the day they met, all gone. Not even her Pip-Boy had survived.

The Boomers were still tending to their dead, burying them in the cemetery at the back of the base. The Legionary's remains had been dumped over the fence for the nightstalkers.

Mother Pearl had offered to have Layla buried with the Boomers, but Veronica made the call against it. Layla had told her once she didn't like the idea of rotting. The condition the courier's body was in would have probably upset her, so they'd gathered her remains and finished burning them.

Boone watched where the last traces of ash and smoke had disappeared. The numbness was still there, but this wasn't like Carla's death. As he felt Veronica's arms wrap around his waist and Raul's hand clasp his shoulder, he realized there was something different this time; he wasn't alone.

It didn't make the numbness go away, and he knew it wouldn't make the pain any better when it came. But it was a lot easier to bear knowing he wasn't alone this time.

ED-E started playing 'In The Shadow of The Valley' again. He'd hovered after the last of the smoke once Layla's body was gone. Boone had thought the robot would keep going after it, but the eyebot surprised him as it turned around and flew back to them. Since then he'd buzzed around Boone, occasionally beeping sadly between songs.

Veronica had started sobbing against him, so he worked an arm around her. He was surprised he hadn't joined her; he wasn't holding back, but nothing came.

"What are we going to do now?" the scribe asked quietly. He wanted to give her an answer, but the future was too hard to think about right now.

"Who's trouble are we going to get into now?" came from Raul. Boone looked at him; the ghoul had a stricken expression he'd never seen on him before. Seeing that look finally cracked the numbness.

He'd thought it'd be sorrow that would assault him; he was surprised when the first thing he felt was anger. No, something beyond anger. The Legion had taken both of the women he'd loved. Layla had helped him avenge his wife. Together they'd killed two of the Legions' leaders. Boone would take care of the third for her.

"We're going to stop Vulpes," Boone blurted out suddenly. He saw both Veronica and Raul look at him, so he continued. "And clear Layla's name."

He felt Veronica nod against him, and both turned to look at Raul as he laughed.

"I think the boss would be happy to know we've graduated to your trouble, Boone."

Veronica snorted a laugh against him, then let go while she wiped her face. She looked like she was about to speak, but a shout from behind interrupted her.

"You cost us everything!" Raquel cried as she stormed over. There were angry tears in her eyes and she shook with fury when she came to a stop in front of them. Boone couldn't think of anything to say; that plane had been everything to the Boomers, but Layla hadn't brought the Legionaries with her.

"You cost us our dreams, our future!" the woman yelled. "We've lost everything because of that idiot courier!" The master-at-arms looked like she was about to launch herself at them.

Hearing her insult Layla surprisingly had no effect on Boone, but Veronica took a step forward, pulling back her arm. Raul grabbed the scribe's shoulder, but she broke free and kept moving.

Boone saw Raquel start to reach for the gun on her hip, and the sniper immediately drew his own sidearm. He didn't care if the Boomer was just blinded by anger, he wasn't going to let her hurt any of his friends.

Just as he started raising the pistol, he heard someone start shouting at them.

"Put those weapons down!" Mother Pearl cried, sounding disappointed and angry at the same time. Raquel froze, then dropped her hands to her sides. Veronica let Raul pull her back a step, and Boone didn't even notice he'd lowered his weapon until he looked down.

The old woman came marching over with Loyal. The Boomers' funeral must have finished.

"I know we're all upset, but turning weapons on each other won't bring back our dead," Pearl said, sounding kind and firm at the same time.

"But the Lady!" Raquel cried. "And five of our people. We can't-"

"They didn't cause this," the elder interrupted. "We did with our carelessness. And baring our teeth to trusted allies when they are just as hurt won't help. Only our enemies will benefit from that."

The rage that had twisted Raquel's face melted away, and a look that bordered sorrow and shame took its place. Mother Pearl reached out to the woman, squeezing her shoulder. The master-at-arms turned away, starting back toward the cemetery without a word.

Mother Pearl turned back to Boone, Veronica and Raul. She looked sad, and even older than she was.

"We have banished all outsiders from our base. We have learned from our mistake."

Uncertainty hung in the air at that; Boone wondered if that meant she wanted them to leave. But Pearl moved forward to clasp Veronica's shoulder as the girl looked like she was fighting off tears again.

"You are not outsiders. We called your our brothers and sisters before, and that has not changed." She let the girl go, then moved to Boone, surprising him as she pulled him into an embrace. He'd stiffened at first, but the gentle, grandmotherly gesture dulled the anger that had been clouding his head.

"You are our family from shared battle, and now from shared loss. You will always be welcome at Nellis."

*.*.*

"So what's the plan?" Raul said, looking over to Boone, who sat across the picnic table at the Grub n' Gulp. They had stopped at there for dinner and to restock their provisions before moving on.

The sniper looked up from the ornate pistol in his hands. He'd been staring at it since they came here. His plan to avenge Layla was going to be a little tougher than he probably realized. They had no clue where Inculta was, or even his exact plan. The ghoul didn't want to point that out. Boone didn't need to hear it.

The Boomers had been a lot kinder than Raul had expected, at any rate; there had been a point when he expected their bodies to be dumped over the fence with that Legionary. Instead, they'd been invited to stay at Nellis as long as they needed.

But they hadn't stayed; none of them wanted to be hidden away while the people who'd killed Layla and destroyed her reputation were still out there. Vulpes didn't know Layla was dead. Hopefully he wouldn't find out for a while. Raul had the bad feeling that once he did, he'd move his plans faster, not having to worry about the courier or the unified force she brought with her.

The sun was starting to set; they'd have to find a place to stay soon. Boone had spent most of the afternoon staring at the table, or Layla's gun. He wasn't allowing himself to mourn, instead focusing on his anger. He'd done that with Carla; the man had admitted as much in the past. If he kept it up, his unacknowledged grief would twist him again, and the ghoul knew Layla wouldn't have wanted that.

He was about to speak, tell Boone that they needed to take some time to process what had happened, but he saw the sniper's face change. Raul knew that look: grim determination. Veronica seemed to notice it as well, and she cringed. Boone was an intimidating guy when he looked neutral. When he was angry, he was scary.

"Get your stuff and start walking out of here," he said quietly. "Now."

Veronica and Raul quickly gathered their things and left the table, heading for the road.

"What's he doing?" Veronica asked, sounding worried.

"I don't… Oh." Raul said as he saw Boone coming their way.

"'Oh?' What's 'oh?'" Veronica asked.

The sniper approached them with a man in a garish suit. The man didn't look happy, and Raul could see Boone's machete pressed against his side.

"Uh…" Veronica sounded shocked. "Did we just kidnap someone?"

"Not just anyone," Raul said, glancing Veronica's way. "You never met Benny in person, did you?"

"Benny? You're Benny?" the scribe asked as both men joined them.

"Yeah, hi," the former Chairman said sourly. "Nice to meet you."