June 20th, 2280

02:00

The Lucky 38

The Lucky 38 would be even more deserted than usual tonight. With the rest of the team already away at the Gomorrah, it was only the Ultra-Luxe team that would be returning to the hotel. After Knox had explained everything and Marjorie had been obliged to release them all from White Glove custody, Veronica had assumed that they'd all retire for the night after their long and trying day. Instead Arcade had disappeared back to the Mormon Fort after giving Ava one final, cursory assessment and Knox had departed for the Gomorrah immediately to check up on Boone's team. So that left Veronica to drag the still shaking Ava back to the Lucky 38 all by her lonesome.

Not that she'd be complaining. Taking care of Ava was kind of a given in their relationship. After resisting the mighty urge to slap Arcade across the face with a metal gauntleted hand, she'd calmed down enough to hear his explanation about what had occurred. Sure it was experimental and untested. Sure it was just a theory. Sure Ava had only vaguely agreed to it. And sure, they'd all abandoned her to somehow corral Ava. No, she wouldn't be complaining about this at all. Or at great length. Nope. No complaints.

"Come on now, we're so close," Veronica chided as Ava stumbled into another garbage can, knocking it over with a clatter. Ava jumped at the noise and lurched back towards Veronica, clamping her arm in a death grip. "Yep, it's a scary garbage can," Veronica said, giving a slight tug to pull Ava along after her. They were maybe twenty meters from the Lucky 38's front door and with any luck she could flag down… "Victor!" she shouted at one of the securitrons guarding the door. "Help. Please," she requested, holding Ava's body against her side.

The cartoon cowboy flickered onto the robot's screen and he rolled forward. "Well, howdy there, cowgirls! How are we doing this fine evening?" he greeted as he approached, tipping a claw at his screen.

"We're just great, Victor!" Veronica greeted with faux brightness. "That's why Ava still has dried blood on her face and why I'm carrying her. Because we're great!"

Victor chuckled, unable to register the blatant sarcasm. "I am pleased as punch to hear that! Anything I can do to-"

Veronica cut off the robot's offer with a scathing glare and said, "Oh just shut up and help me with her!" Victor's tinny voice cut out and he held his arms out to take Ava who shrunk back behind Veronica and away from the robotic limbs. Veronica sighed in frustration as Ava watched the securitron warily, suspicion etched into her face. "You're not going to let him carry you, are you?" Veronica asked with a groan.

Ava slowly shook her head, her eyes never breaking away from observing Victor.

"Great. Victor… get the door please." Veronica threw one of Ava's arms over her neck and followed along after Victor as the robot pulled open the Lucky 38's front doors. "You… have to go to work tomorrow… I… will be sleeping… alllllll day," she huffed with the added burden. "And you are totally taking me out for a fancy dinner at the Ultra-Luxe after this." She dragged Ava into the elevator and propped her up against the wall. Sweat dotted her brow as she slouched against the metal panels. Veronica reached across and tugged an errant strand of hair out of her face. "You look like, well, the dress looks great still, you… not so sure. Eh, who am I kidding? You look great too."

Ava shivered again and her eyes settled on Veronica momentarily. Veronica thought she saw Ava's lips quirk up into a small smile, but it was gone in a flash and she'd gone back to shivering against the wall.

Their room was only several doors down the hall from the elevator, but the dimly lit hallway presented its own challenges. Ava was content to remain motionless against a wall, but every time Veronica tried to get her to take a step forward she'd pitch full-bodied towards the opposite wall. But she'd made it this far and Veronica wasn't about to cave and let her sleep in the hallway. Ignoring the number Arcade had pulled on her head, the rogue White Gloves had left plenty of bruises on Ava if the massive black and blue splotches starting to appear on her back were any indication.

With much cajoling and prodding, Veronica eventually managed to propel Ava along the wall and to their door. To her surprise, Ava entered the room of her own volition as soon as she'd unlocked the door and then promptly fell face forward onto the mattress. "Oh no you don't!" Veronica exclaimed as she marched forward. "After everything you've been through tonight, you're not wrinkling that dress now!" She grabbed at Ava's shoulders and tried to pull her up, but Ava had become dead weight.

"Really!?" Veronica asked with her hands on her hips and her lips pursed. "You think I'm going to fall for that? Because I'm not. You're not sleeping in the dress." She started pulling the dress down Ava's shoulders, but discovered soon that Ava was in fact not faking and had quite seriously fallen asleep. She gave a quick 'thanks' to the heavens that she had so much experience stripping corpses for loot. At least Ava was still warm and only smelled slightly of blood.

With one more final tug, she got the dress around Ava's ankles and quickly hung it up in the closet with care before returning to the bed. She sat down on the edge of the bed and fell backwards so she was lying next to Ava. "Sorry," she apologized, "But I'm not fighting you into your PJs, so I hope you're okay with sleeping naked. Because I'm totally okay with it." With no response from Ava other than light snoring, Veronica threw an arm over her girlfriend and rapidly fell asleep as well.

Patrons of the Gomorrah were used to a wild and raucous atmosphere within the casino's smoky corridors. There was always something to push boundaries and force visitors into unknown and exciting territories.

But tonight there was a different feeling to the house. An undercurrent of unease that couldn't be put to rest with drugs, or alcohol, or the company of one of the many Gomorrah 'hirable companions'. The Omertas could sense the upset nature of their casino, but no one could pinpoint the cause. Was it the ghoul desperado lurking in one of the corners? Was it the man with the cold eyes and the beret looking down on the crowds from the second story? Or perhaps it was the woman in the leather jacket and cowboy hat that was chatting up the floor manager? No one could quite say who or what was causing the uncomfortable shift in environment. They could only tell that it was off. And it only grew worse when he arrived.

The Courier turned his weapons over without fanfare. Or at least, he turned over those that could be seen. The man working reception had a brief moment of recognition, but before he could look again, he was gone, disappeared amongst the crowds. And none of the Omertas were there to see it. They were all too busy watching the old ghoul, the NCR sniper, and the woman pulling their boss to the bar.

Knox couldn't help, but smile as he walked unhindered through the crowds. He wasn't sure on the specifics of what Boone and his team had been doing for the past twelve hours, but the results were spectacular. None of the Omertas were paying close enough attention to the people entering the casino. Which meant Knox was invisible. A hard thing for him to enjoy in the Gomorrah. The Omertas had spent far too much time ensuring that Knox was watched whenever he entered to be practical for an investigation. So having some of his other companions already in place to observe the casino and secure him an unobserved entrance was an absolute must.

Now it was just time to retire to the room they'd rented and wait out till the morning and let the suspicion die down. Raul looked up from under the brim of his sombrero and rose from where he'd been leaning against the wall to follow after Knox several steps behind. At the bar, Cass tipped her drink at them as they passed. Boone watched from above and made his way over to the elevator to join them. A gaggle of gamblers tried to follow him, but he stood with his arms crossed as the elevator doors opened. "It's full."

The gamblers looked over his broad shoulders to only see two other people in the elevator and plenty of free space, but none of them were about to start a fight with the quiet and terrifying man in the First Recon beret.

Knox chuckled softly and rubbed his weary eyes as the doors slid shut. "Always the people person, Boone."

"That's why you're around. To make friends," Boone replied.

With another chuckle, Knox gave a nod of assent. "True enough, I suppose. Will Cass be joining us?" he asked. Boone remained impassive, but Raul nervously rubbed the back of his neck. Knox looked between them cautiously. "You're about to tell me something I don't like," he said.

"Cass is chasing down a lead," Boone said. "She's approaching Cachino for information." The sniper stood rigidly as if he were giving a report. Which only made Knox more nervous.

"Approaching how?" he asked with caution, already dreading whatever answer Boone gave him.

"I believe she intends to seduce-"

"Nooooope," Knox interrupted as loudly as he could, squeezing his eyes shut tight. "Nope, nope, nope. Do not even think of finishing that sentence."

"For the mission, eh boss?" Raul asked with a shrug trying to show some levity. He returned to silence when Knox shot him a withering glare.

"Whose fucking idea was it?" Knox shouted. "No wait, of course, it was her idea, wasn't it?"

Raul tried to shrug again and gave as noncommittal of a grunt as he could manage, but next to him Boone nodded sharply in answer to Knox's question. "Way to go, esse. I'm sure he really wanted to know that," Raul growled at him from the corner of his mouth.

"And you let her try it?" Knox shouted again, his rant going unbroken. "How is that a good idea?"

Boone remained at military attention as Knox raged at him, staring past Knox and at the elevator wall. "It seemed like a valid tactic. High chance of success." His eyes broke away from drilling a whole in the wall to meet Knox's. "If I'd known it would be such an issue for you, I would've prevented it."

Knox jabbed a finger into Boone's face and looked like he was going to shout at him some more, but the words came out as an angry gurgle. His hand flexed in front of Boone's face like it wanted to strangle him, but just quivered impotently. Knox's frustrated noises ceased and he slowly wagged his finger at Boone. "You. You, you, you," he said, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Just why wouldn't it bother me?"

Raul watched the tense situation escalate as Knox homed in on Boone. The elevator shuddered to a halt as more passengers tried to get on. Raul stuck an arm across the doorway. "It's full," he said to the people waiting. His voice brokered no argument.

The doors slid shut as Boone answered Knox. "Well, it's not like you two are together anymore."

Knox's face contorted in rage and he pulled his hat off in frustration, resisting the urge to crush it in his hands. Raul almost expected him to punch Boone. He looked at the sniper and to his eye, he expected to get punched too. But the strike didn't come as the elevator shuddered to a halt once more.

"It's fucking full," Knox yelled at the empty hallway. Raul sidled out of the elevator past him.

"Our floor, boss." Knox gave him a shrewd look before storming past. Raul waited for Boone to step out and said, "You sure now is the best time to be pulling this sort of thing?"

"No time like the present," Boone said deadpan. "Besides I thought it appropriate to bring it up. We were in private. It seemed a good time for… man talk." Boone nodded as if everything he said was justified and followed after Knox.

Raul couldn't help but chuckle. "Man talk… guess that's why Arcade isn't here."

They quickly caught up with Knox who was impatiently tapping his foot next to the room they'd rented. He scowled them as they approached. "Boone! You of all people," he accused, "Are willing to start poking your nose in someone else's personal business. After the months you told me to butt the fuck out of yours!?"

"Didn't like the way things ended between you and Cass. Didn't seem right."

Knox looked at Boone in angry exasperation. "It didn't seem right? Which part? The part where she started drinking again? Or the part where she got me arrested?"

Raul edged in between Boone and Knox, once more afraid that the two were going to come to blows. "Boss, I think what Boone is trying to say in his own not so verbal way is that… none of us were that happy to see how things ended between you two."

"You're ganging up on me now? Really!?"

"Look, boss," Raul said with his hands held up defensively, "Are you saying you're entirely okay with how things shook out? She was your corazon. And maybe you overreacted a little bit. Just a bit, you know. I'll, uh, just stop talking now." Under Knox's harsh glare, Raul petered out and slapped Boone on the shoulder. "All yours again."

Knox made a cutting motion with his hand before either could say anything. "Let me get this straight," he said. He pointed at Boone. "You thought you'd take advantage of an emotionally charged opportunity during a highly dangerous mission. And you," he said, shifting his point to Raul, "Thought, 'yeah, I'll help with that'. Is that about right?"

"I wouldn't say it exactly like-"

"Yes."

"Way to let him down easy, hermano."

With a pained grimace, Knox threw his head back. "Look. Cass and I split up. End of story. Whatever you think is still there, isn't. It's not. Gone, dead, destroyed, whatever. So this little plan to somehow goad me into doing… something? It's not going to work. Got it?"

He finished speaking. His breath was heavy and his eyes flicked between the two men just daring them to say anything else. After a moment, Boone said, "So you're okay with Cass seducing Cachino."

A muscle spasmed in Knox's jaw and one of his eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He twisted around on his heel and marched furiously towards the elevators. Raul looked after him in surprise and glanced at Boone. "Where is he- WHERE ARE YOU GOING!?" he shouted after his boss.

"YOU WANTED ME TO DO SOMETHING!? WELL, THIS IS ME DOING SOMETHING, MOTHERFUCKERS!"

Raul continued to watch in awe as Knox disappeared into the elevator, flipping them the bird with both hands over his shoulders. "I- should we- should we follow him? I really don't want to follow him," he stammered and looked up at Boone for some input.

The sniper didn't meet his eye, but instead turned back to the hotel door and inserted his key. "I think we're going to need our weapons," he said, unlocking the door and disappearing inside.

Raul hesitated for a moment, nervously fishing for a cigarette in his pocket. He pulled one out and lit it. After a deep drag he sighed. "I don't remember young love being this difficult." He took another long pull before following Boone into the hotel room.

Cass allowed herself to be pulled along by Cachino down the deserted hallway. It had taken an entire day of flirting and more than a few drinks poured into the Omerta floor boss, but he'd finally decided to take her up to his room.

"You know I wasn't so sure about you earlier, but damn girl," Cachino gasped as he fumbled for his keys and Cass rubbed up against him. "Enthusiastic isn't a long enough word. Lucky I got something plenty long for the both of us."

She smiled thinly at him. Screwing this guy over was going to be so rewarding. Well… after the actual screwing of course. But hey! That's what alcohol was for. Cass bit the inside of her cheek. That's what alcohol would be for except she was cutting back. She could do her job and not be drunk.

Cachino finished unlocking his suite door and gave her a sleazy smile. "Well… shall we? I figure you don't want to be-" He stopped midsentence and his eyes widened as he glanced over Cass's shoulder. "What the fuck?" he said softly. "None of my guys saw-" Cass started to turn around to see what Cachino was looking at as he said, "Courier! What the fuck!"

"Knox?" Cass said in outright confusion. But even before she finish turning to see him, Knox was stepping past her, one foot planted firmly and a fist driving forward into Cachino's jaw. The Omerta dropped with the force of the blow and slumped to the floor with his lights out. Knox gently shook his fingers out as Cass repeated Cachino's words from a few moments ago.

"What the fuck!?"

Knox didn't answer verbally. He took Cass's face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. Any surprise or shock Cass could have felt disappeared as her brain went dead. This was Knox. And he was kissing her. He broke away and Cass lurched towards him, not wanting the kiss to end. It had been so long since she'd been this close to Knox. She blinked owlishly at him, her mind failing to think of something to say. Knox smiled softly at her.

"Hiya, Rose. You mind helping me tie Cachino up? I don't think he'll be too happy when he comes round."

Apologies for the week late update here folks. Had a hell of time getting this chapter written. Thus it's a little shorter than usual. But fear not, we're back in the swing of things. And we're in the Gomorrah! That's fun, right? Special thanks to EthanTheRenegade for beta-reading this chapter. See you all next week!