July 4th, 2280

07:00

188 Trading Post

The morning began with the sunrise. Knox had barely waited for the first rays of dawn to start warming the cracked desert earth before he was rousing Boone and Raul.

"Up and at 'em," he cajoled, lightly kicking each of them in the leg and dropping fresh cans of water by their heads. "Places to be and people to shoot at those places. No time to waste."

With a crack of his neck, Boone rolled slowly to a seated position. Next to him, Raul groaned and tried to roll further over, but was blocked by Knox's boots.

"A man your age only has so many waking hurs left. I think it's time to use them." Knox stuck a hand out to pull the ghoul to his feet which the withered old man begrudgingly accepted and allowed himself to be hauled upright.

With a grimace, Raul stooped over to grab his sombrero from where it lay in the dirt. He snagged the can of purified water and straightened up. "At this rate, boss, I'd prefer to utilize all my remaining sleeping hours." He clicked the tab on the can and took a sip. "Preferably all at once."

Knox chuckled and turned away to start walking, leaving the other two to catch up behind him. "That's called death, amigo! Ain't no one got time for that today!"

Raul snorted as Knox started walking. He took another slow sip of water and glanced down at Boone who was still seated next to him. "Well… shall we?" The sniper nodded and hopped to his feet. He unclipped his sunglasses from the collar of his shirt and started after Knox. Raul trudged along behind.

It was nearly a full hour before anyone said anything. They all preferred to enjoy the momentary cool of the morning in tired silence. It took an overly ambitious bloatfly buzzing towards them exploding in a gooey mess of maggots and bug innards to break the quiet.

"I suppose that was excessive," Knox said with a small grin as he spun his pistol on a finger and back into his holster. He smirked over at Boone and Raul who each had their guns drawn and smoking as well. "But hey everyone's reacting quickly this morning."

"Better now than at the ass-crack of dawn, pendejo."

"What was that?"

Raul cleared his throat with a wracking cough and shook his head innocently at Knox. "Nothing, boss. It's a beautiful day. Happy to be here," he said as Knox continued on along the highway with a shake of his head. "Boone's happy to be here too," he yelled after him. Raul chuckled when he received no reply and slid his revolver back into his belt. Next to him, Boone was reslinging his rifle over one broad shoulder as they both continued their trek.

"Boss is a bit tense about this, ain't he?" the ghoul asked.

"The Legion wants to assassinate the head of the NCR and it looks like the Republic is giving them the exact opportunity they need," Boone replied from behind his shades. His tone, as always, was stern, but Raul wasn't particularly offended. That's just how the sniper was.

Raul shrugged and poked the brim of his sombrero up a little with a thumb. "Not like it'll matter much in the end. Legion and the Republic have to go." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Boone looking at him. "Oh come on," he said, "You left them. You're picking now to be worrying about where you should be?"

"Old loyalties die hard."

With a snort through the hole that used to be his nose, Raul shook his head in amusement. "Give it a few more decades and you'll wonder why you ever did anything for anyone."

"Is that what happened to you?" Boone asked in all seriousness.

The barb didn't even phase Raul. He just grunted an affirmative and said, "Yeah. And then that bastard pulled me out of retirement!"

"I can hear you," Knox called over his shoulder, but he didn't slow up his pace or seek to join the conversation further.

Boone observed Raul for a few moments while the ghoul drained the last water from his can before tossing it to the side of the road. "You're not nearly as jaded as you try to convince everyone," the sniper surmised.

"Yeah, but don't tell anyone. It ruins the whole crotchety old man trick I've got going," Raul replied flippantly. "People love it."

"I'm sure the raiders you put into the ground are falling over themselves for it," Boone mumbled before being sharply jabbed into the ribs by Raul's bony elbow.

"Dios mio, was that a joke?" Raul asked with his eyebrows raised and a grin on his face. "This whole Kimball business does have you out of sorts."

"…Yeah," Boone said uneasily. Shaded by his glasses, Boone's eyes were unseen as they locked on Knox's back. Their conversation had ended with finality, but little catharsis. Knox had always had secrets, but he'd never simply refused to give further information and told Boone to leave it. He'd never simply given him an abrupt cut off of an order like that before. It was… jarring. But the Courier had spoken and he'd acquiesced.

Next to him, Raul had continued to ramble. "Well, I'm sure your ranger panties will get un-bunched as soon as we un-fuck the situation. Or we don't. Honestly, I don't get why we even bother on this one. War if we do, war if we don't."

A small smile quirked up Boone's mouth at Raul's assessment. "War is coming, but we control when," he said evenly. "A presidential assassination? That'd kick everything off too heavy too soon like… like a match on a powder keg."

Raul fixed him with a mischievous smirk that was unbecoming of his advanced age. He nodded his head at Knox's back. "A powder keg, sure, or like leaving Ava in a room anywhere."

"I can still hear you!"


Freeside

16:00

The corners of Freeside that the NCR squatters had occupied stood out from the rest of the district like a sore thumb. And not because they looked bad. In fact, they were looking nicer than most parts of Freeside itself.

Rows of military green tents were erected. Sets of latrines and shower houses were constructed near the rears of the camp and no one seemed to be lacking for food or clean water. In fact most seemed perfectly content.

Ava and Veronica watched as one man strode into the camp, a bundle tucked under one arm. He arrived at one of the tents and sat to open it. Inside were bottles of water, Nuka Cola, and packages of meat and other rations. It was enough food that any savvy Wastelander could make last a week. Ava could speak from experience on that.

And yet it looked like the man was about to down it all then and there in one sitting.

Ava's stomach growled. Next to her, Rex cocked his head to the side in confusion as Ava pressed her hands flat to her belly and glared at it in irritation.

"You're impossible," Veronica snickered.

"It's not my fault," Ava protested against the noises of her traitorous stomach. "It just kind of happens whenever I see food."

"Well, it sounds like you could use a bite to eat," a voice chuckled from behind them. Veronica and Ava twisted their heads around to see a smiling man approaching. He stopped just short of them and extended a mocha skinned hand to shake. "I don't think I've seen your faces around here before. Are you citizens of the NCR?"

With a glance at Veronica as the scribe pulled her hood just a little bit tighter over her head, Ava quirked up the corner of her mouth. "As a matter of fact we are," she replied brightly. "Just arrived here from California." She grasped the man's hand in a firm handshake.

He laughed lightly again as his eyes flicked from Ava to Rex to Veronica who was still trying to disappear into her hood. "Well, you don't look like you're around here, so I guess I can believe that. Are you new to the Mojave or only New Vegas?" he asked.

Ava bobbed her head back and forth as she deliberated on her answer before finally settling on saying, "I guess you could say I'm pretty new to the Mojave." Out of the corner of her eye she could see Veronica cover her mouth with a hand to hide the smile breaking out on her face. "I'm just trying to find my way around," she continued. Veronica had to turn her back on the conversation as Ava's helpless traveler routine appeared to be far too funny for her.

But the man seemed to buy it. He beamed a genuine smile at them and clasped his hands happily in front of his chest. "That's just great news. It's always wonderful to have new folks from the NCR around here." He shook his head and placed on hand on his chest. "But where are my manners! You don't even know where 'here' is!"

As Ava watched with a bemused expression, the man spun around with his hands spread wide, gesturing at the camp around them. "This is one of several camps the NCR has established for citizens in Freeside." He pointed at the ground. "Which is where we are now."

The gears in Ava's head started turning as the man continued to talk about his role as a missionary and the good work that the NCR camps were doing… for citizens that is. "So it's a military effort?" she interjected as the man continued to sing the Republic's praises. "You handing out supplies and food?"

He stopped with a good-natured shake of his head. "Oh no, no. Well, yes. It is a military operation. But I'm just a volunteer," he explained. "To actually receive supplies or a bite to eat, you'd have to go to the aid station. We can't keep everything stored here." He glanced about and lowered his voice. "You know… what with the locals."

This bit caught their ears and Ava and Veronica perked up. Veronica turned back to face the conversation as Ava leaned in closer to the man. "Are their problems?"

The missionary waved his hands wildly and shushed her, once more glancing around despite there being no one, but NCR squatters in the vicinity. "Lower you voice, lower your voice," he cautioned. "I'd hate to see two good citizens like yourselves get into trouble."

"What sort of trouble?" Ava urged, wheedling for more info.

"They're… they're called the Kings," the missionary whispered. "And they are the worst type of people. A bunch of thugs attacking citizens and stealing their supplies."

Ava's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she processed this. "And why wouldn't they just go get their own supplies?"

Confusion etched on his face, the man looked at her utterly flabbergasted. "Miss… they're not citizens."

"Ah," Ava said in mock realization as the man nodded enthusiastically. "That makes sense."

He seemed relieved that she seemed so understanding. Ava could imagine why. Freesiders in general, and the Kings in particular couldn't possibly be thrilled at the prospect of food being handed out only to NCR citizens.

To Ava's surprise, it was Veronica who spoke next. "So, if we were inclined that is, where would we go to get a meal for ourselves?" The missionary's eyes darted to her and for the first time seemed to more closely examine the hooded young woman causing Veronica to look away from the conversation again.

Quickly though, Ava jumped in and reiterated with a nod, "Yeah, we'd like to partake and all that."

The missionary looked back to her, once more ignoring Veronica and nodded along with her. "Of course, of course. That's all understandable. All you need to do is-" He caught himself and both Veronica and Ava nearly groaned out loud as he stopped talking. He chewed his lip and wrung his hands as he looked at them. "Goodness, I'm so sorry, but… well, ordinarily I'd take your word at being citizens…" He trailed off, still wringing his hands.

"But with all the trouble," Ava concluded for him, rolling her shoulders almost menacingly. Veronica quickly linked arms with her, realizing Ava's subconscious body language wasn't intentional even as the missionary took half a step back.

"We understand," consoled Veronica. "Whatever, you need."

"Thank you for being so understanding," the man said. "I've had several people lie and claim to be citizens just to take advantage of our program." His eyes widen in incredulity as if people trying to obtain free food was unheard of. But his eyes brightened and he smiled warmly. "However, I've come up with a fairly simple way to tell who's lying. You up to taking a little test?" he asked, his hands held out openly.

"Yeah… no problem," Ava lied even as her brow furrowed. Test? What sort of test? It's not like she was some expert on the NCR. She'd never even heard of them until several months ago.

"This'll just take a few moments," the missionary reassured her, catching her look of consternation. "And it's all stuff that any real citizen of the NCR knows," he said. Which didn't particularly reassure Ava at all. "Okay, first question. What animal is on the NCR's flag?" he asked. "A two-headed bear, an eagle, a two-headed snake, or a two-tailed lion?"

"Two-headed bear," Ava said quickly, the words shot out of her mouth in excitement. She'd seen the flag before. If the questions were all like this, it'd be easy!

The missionary nodded slightly and gave her another smile, "Fair enough. Next question…" Ava waited eagerly for another low balled question. "What was the original name of the NCR capital?"

Fuck.

Ava stared at the missionary for an awkward second. She felt like the seconds were ticking away as the man waited expectantly. But she had no idea what the hell sort of place had been the NCR's capital. Last time he'd given her options! What the fuck!? She couldn't even multiple choice guess her way out of this like she'd done back in school in the Vault.

"Shady Sands."

Both Ava and the missionary's heads whipped to Veronica as she quietly chimed in. She cleared her throat as the man shook his fists in congratulations to her and Ava openly gawked. "The capital is Shady Sands."

"Right you are!" the missionary cheered. "Okay, final question. Who was the most popular president in NCR history?"

Watching Veronica like a hawk, Ava waited. And sure enough after a moment, Veronica shrugged and muttered, "President Tandy."

With his hands clasped happily together, the missionary congratulated them, "Well done, well done indeed. I just knew you two were NCR citizens. Just head to the northwest part of town, by the old train station. We start handing out supplies at six every night." He grasped their hands firmly and shook them even as Ava kept staring at Veronica who kept looking away as if nothing had occurred. "There'll be some guards by the door, but just remember that the password is 'Hope', and they'll let you by right quick."

One more vigorous hand shake later and the man moved on away from them as more people walked into camp.

"I… suppose we should get going then. Don't want to be late," Veronica chirped and tried to take a step away, but Ava rapidly tightened their linked arms and locked steps with Veronica, so she couldn't escape.

"Forget being late," she whispered. "Where did you learn all that from? Was it Knox? Did he teach you that stuff? That's all vague, boring shit!"

"Weren't you like a student in a preserved pre-war society once? Didn't you learn a bunch of vague, boring shit?" Veronica asked, trying to change the subject.

But Ava wasn't having it. She waved her hand dismissively. "Forget that. Why do you know all that stuff? Who's the president now?"

"Kimball, but I-"

"Haha! Look at miss smarty pants," Ava laughed as they continued down the rows of tents back towards Freeside proper. "Who's my little NCR expert?" she cooed and pressed a kiss on Veronica's cheek.

Veronica tried to squirm away, but Ava wrapped her arms around her and refused to let her go. "It's not that special, I swear!" she insisted. "My family is big on the whole know thine enemy thing. So I picked up on a few things… I guess. Paladin Ramos kind of drilled it into me whenever I'd listen."

Chuckling, Ava loosened her arms and they kept walking towards the edge of the NCR squatter camp. "Well… I'm still blown away by you and your brain, so I'll keep singing your praises thank you very much," Ava said as she stumbled into her. Next to her Rex was bumping wildly into her leg. Ava looked down at the cyberdog who was staring off into the distance. After a second, Ava swung around Veronica to walk on her left instead of her right. Rex kept weaving off towards the wall of tents, but Veronica paid him no mind even as Ava watched him go.

"Scuse me for a second," she murmured, eying the robotic animal. "I'm about to do something weird."

Under her hood, Veronica's eyebrows crinkled in confusion. She liked to think that she was rather well attuned to her girlfriend's rather bizarre inconsistencies, not that she ever warned her about them like now. So it was rather surprising as Ava pulled them further to the right with a slight stumble and unlinked their arms.

Then she threw her hand out into the space between two tents.

And pulled someone back out.

Her fist was clenched in the black stained denim lapel of a man with meticulously coiffed up hair. Ava yanked him out of the shadows where he'd been lurking and pulled him over her shoulder, neatly flipping him across her back and into the ground with a loud thud.

The man landed with a cry as Ava planted a foot on his shoulder and cranked his arm back, keeping him firmly in the dirt.

"Pacer…" Ava panted as she twisted his arm further, eliciting a cry of discomfort from him. "What on earth could you be doing here?"

"Well, hey there, baby," Pacer grunted from his face down position in the dirt. Ava pulled his arm another notch and Veronica could hear something pop as she fretted at the edge of the scuffle.

"So that was the subluxation of your humerus from your glenoid," Ava explained as Pacer groaned in pain. She leaned down over him. "In other words, I dislocated your shoulder. Piss me off again and I'll start telling you the names of your finger bones… as I break them. Why are you following me?"

Through teeth grit against the pain, Pacer spat out, "Some girl comes round the King's place and next thing you know is talking to these NCR tools? That's mighty suspicious and the Kings will never deal with trash from the NCR! Feel me?"

Ava seemed to think on it for a moment. Next to her Veronica was shifting from foot to foot still trying to get a bead on who this guy was and why he was pinned under Ava's heel. After a few seconds, Ava unlocked her fingers from Pacer's wrist and stepped back off his shoulder, shoving his face into the dirt as she moved back.

"I'll say this once, Pacer. If the King has me talk to the NCR, that's the King's business and the Kings can butt out." Pacer's eyes threaded in confusion even as Ava slowed and stumbled on her own words. "The Kings, the King's…" She stomped on Pacer's back again. "Try to keep following me and I take your arm home as a souvenir. If you're lucky."

And with that she stepped cleanly over Pacer, beckoning Veronica to follow along. The scribe darted after, skirting around the now dust covered man as he pushed himself to his feet and jumped after Ava.

"Now, look here, missy!" he said, his voice raising as he reached for Ava's elbow. "You don't get to throw down with a King and walk away scot free." He fingers brushed her elbow, but she spun away and threw a wide haymaker towards his chin.

Pacer blocked the punch with his own arm and jabbed at her chin, but Ava was too quick and ducked below his strike. As she stood back up she jabbed him three times in quick succession in the chest, knocking him back half a step.

He caught himself on his heel and tried to push forward once more, throwing all his weight into one punch, but he could have been standing still for all it mattered. Ava jumped into the air and planted both her feet in his chest and kicked out, launching him backwards into the support struts of one of the tents as she neatly sprung backwards onto her hands and flipped backwards over onto her feet.

"There. Now you've mildly inconvenienced me," Ava taunted, her fists raised, daring Pacer to come at her again.

His jaw twitched in anger as he read the situation. Ava alone would clearly outmatch him and Veronica was stepping up next to her, her own fists up and her power glove clacking into position with a hum of electricity.

Pacer disentangled himself from the tent wall and snapped the lapels of his jacket in an effort to rid himself of some of the dirt and dust. "Why you little-" he snarled, but stopped as Rex ambled in between them. The normally slow cyberdog seemed to swell up even bigger as his hackles raised and the blue glow from his brain case turned an angry red as a horrific snarl rained from his muzzle. Pacer warily stepped back from the dog and fixed Ava with a stone-cold glare. "Just because the King's dog happens to like you, doesn't mean you get the run of this place. NCR and Kings? Don't mix. Get it?" He carefully stepped around Rex and past Ava. "And you and I? We don't mix either."

"Insoluble."

Ava's interjection broke Pacer's tirade and his mouth hung open. "Insolu-what now?"

"Insoluble," Ava repeated as Veronica stifled a snort. "It means we don't mix."

With his eyes narrowed, Pacer spat at her feet and turned away, his hands thrust deep into his pockets as he walked. "We'll settle this later," he called over his shoulder. "Baby."

Veronica caught Ava's arm as she took a step after him, her eyes alight and her mouth pressed into a pissed off line. "Let him go," she chided. "You already kicked his ass once. Let him preserve some small measure of dignity that his hair hasn't already robbed him off."

With a little more prodding and pulling, she gently eased Ava away in the opposite direction Pacer had departed in.

"Besides," she said. "You and I have to go get a free meal. Sound good?"

Ava's stomach growled, followed by a matching howl from Rex.


A/N: Tada. Another one. Not much more to say than that. My apologies about sparse updates. Trying to get back into the groove. Fuck my muse, I don't need her. Going to sit myself down and force myself to write. Inspiration is easy. It does all the work for you. My goals for DMH is dedication through determination. Time to write goddamnit! I plan on seeing you all real soon.

Things are going to be coming to a head soon. But when? Where? And between who? It's gonna be good. Because ladies and gentlemen. We're about to reach the end of the beginning and then it's into the nitty gritty of the beginning of the end.