Summary:
Courier Six bids farewell to her chapter at Hoover Dam, intent on seeking new adventures with the Happy Trails Caravan to quell the uneasiness in her soul.
Suffering horrific wounds inflicted by the collapse of their tower, Drew is barely alive. Dug out of the rubble by the damage crews, his survival hangs by a thread.
Olivia discovers Vulpes Inculta is a spy in the NCR ranks and helps to apprehend him. She gains favour with Colonel Moore, who helps her pay off her debt to Drew.
Slave survivors from the Legion Camps are found and brought to Camp McCarran, promising a joyful reunion for some and a mournful reminded to others.
Bull and bear over at the Dam, at each other's throats. All lose in different ways.
A Dam of corpses, towns of corpses… scattered across the sand
A rain of blood will flood the desert and not purify it.
As the sun began to rise over the serene canyons by the Colorado river, the full extent of the damage to the Dam and its cost on human life was revealed. Bodies of both NCR and Legionaries lay sprawling on the cold and bloodied cracked earth and concrete, staining them in a deep crimson red. Six couldn't shake the words from her discourse with Legate Lanius… they hung around her head like a heavy cloud. The battle for the Dam was over, but this was a mere interlude, a respite in the war between the Legion and the NCR. With Six and Mr. House's intervention in the battle it was also a hollow victory for the NCR; and Six couldn't help but feel empathy for them. She'd helped them, fought alongside them… now it felt as if she had betrayed them. Walking through the crowd of people all busy with getting their equipment out of the facility and collecting their dead comrades so they could give them a proper burial, she felt some of them throw disapproving, indignant glances her way. She didn't even have her trusted companion Boone by her side to offer some solace.
The rumble of old-world vehicles pulling in by the main entrance brought her out of her own lamenting thoughts and back to the real world. She watched as the drivers and passengers got out and helped the soldiers load one of trucks with bodies and the other with equipment. It was going to be slow going and although Mr. House's upgraded securitrons kept a watchful eye on the NCR's comings and goings, they did nothing to help.
"Six?" a woman's voice called from the main entrance to the Dam and Six's gaze darted hopefully, searching the crowd for the individual who called out her name. "Six! Hey, over here!".
It was Olivia, the freed slave who they encountered at Camp Forlorn Hope. Immediately Six's grim features brightened and she waved as the woman made her way through the crowd of busy soldiers to her.
"Hey… Wow, you're a Private?" Six's eyes widened as she examined Olivia's uniform and rank.
"Yes, I signed up shortly after you left Forlorn Hope", Olivia gave a curt nod, her eyes squinting in the bright morning light.
"Of all the things I could have guessed happening, you joining the NCR army was not one of them", Six nodded in approval.
"I couldn't sit by and do nothing knowing others were going off to fight the Legion, especially knowing that my little brother is still out there. Some part of me was hoping that I could somehow find him in the midst of battle and save him… Pretty crazy right?".
"Not at all", Six's features softened in sympathy, "Have you had any luck finding him?"
Olivia's brow furrowed and she shook her head, "No, thankfully… I've spent all of the evening checking the fallen, there's no sign of him. I'm still hopeful that he's alive".
"Maybe check the medic centre? I'm certain there are some Legionary soldiers who have survived and are being treated. But you better be quick, they'll be shipped off as POWs back to NCR territory for interrogation".
Olivia nodded in agreement, "Yes, of course. I'll make my way there shortly".
Six smiled happily and reached out her arm for a handshake, which Olivia accepted proudly.
"So… what next? Will you be sticking around for a while?" Olivia asked curiously.
"I dunno", Six shrugged, "After today I don't think the NCR will be ready to forgive and forget my actions for a long time. Might be a good time to step away for a bit, let the dust settle".
"Really?" Olivia's gaze turned to surprise, "I'm sorry to hear that… where are you planning on going?"
"I received a radio transmission not long ago from Happy Trails Caravan, just before I got word about the battle at the Dam. Think I'll join up and test my skills as a Caravan guard".
"I see", Olivia's shoulders slumped slightly. She was hoping that the Courier would stay a while longer, "You'll be missed".
"Hah! Nah… I won't be surprised if after a week or two I'm completely forgotten", Six shifted on her feet, feeling uncomfortable with Olivia's sentiment. Given everything she'd done, she had a hard time believing that anyone would miss her; especially with Boone's abrupt departure with the first transport that left the Dam. "But enough about me! What's next for you? Will you be staying on in the NCR ranks? Going to chase the big promotions and become General one day?" Six tried to steer the focus away from her and onto something else.
"Tell you the truth, I'm not certain myself", Olivia sighed, "Although I've been given a field promotion for my actions here, I don't know if I even fit in".
"Well, the fact that you got a field promotion your first time in battle tells you all you need to know. But if you feel it's not for you, the courier business is always looking for new blood", Six grinned and tipped her Stetson hat.
"I think I'll pass on that one", Olivia chuckled, "So… Guess I'll be seeing you round?"
"Yeah… Definitely", Six grinned, "You take care now".
The two women bid each other farewell and while Olivia went back inside the Dam to look for signs of her brother, Six stood to the side a while watching the procession of active soldiers, feeling a lump in her throat grow; she couldn't shake the bitter feeling that an end to a chapter in her life had come. It wasn't like anything she could have imagined; there was so much death, such destruction that Six couldn't help but wonder if she did things a bit differently what the outcome of today would have been like. If she'd been more honest and more open, Boone would most likely have remained by her side. Instead she was alone… again.
With a weary and forlorn sigh Six grabbed her gear, slung her pack over her shoulder and left the Dam following the winding road down the hill, checking the map on her PipBoy from time to time to make sure she was headed in the right direction.
'Maybe getting away for a bit will clear my head… Let House deal with the politics for a while, until the dust settles', she thought, trying to cheer herself up. It worked for a spell, just until she reached the bottom of the hill and her mind began to drift over her actions and the decisions she made up until this point. What started off as a simple delivery service all those months ago changed her life, and the lives of many in the Mojave, in a way Six never could have predicted in her wildest imagination. As she made her way down the weathered road, she couldn't help but wonder what other adventures and horrors awaited her on her travels with the Happy Trails Caravan…
The makeshift medical section inside the Dam was a chaotic and bloody mess. Hallways were littered with bloody bandages, medics rushing from patient to patient, the floors were bloody and slippery and the injured and dead were all clumped together in a cacophony of pained yells and pleas for help from the survivors.
"Oh my God…", Olivia whispered, her eyes wide with shock at the grim sights at her feet. As soon as she walked into that section, she had to cover her face with her sleeve to shield herself from the stench of blood and sweat intertwined with an astringent odour of medicine and antiseptic. Some soldiers reached out to her, their hands grabbing at her feet, begging and pleading for help… but all she could do was promise to alert any doctors to them and carry on moving forward.
Her eyes scanned for any signs of wounded or dead Legion soldiers but there were none; it seemed that this area was sectioned off for NCR personnel. Catching sight of a medic nearby who was furiously working to stop the bleeding on an unconscious soldier's leg on the floor.
"Excuse me, medic… Do you know where I can find the Legionary survivors?"
"Get that doctor's bag and give me a hand!" he demanded, pointing to the worn-out leather bag sitting on a steel trolley a couple of feet away.
Without hesitating, Olivia obeyed his command and knelt beside him, handing him the necessary tools and drugs he requested so he may carry out his work. Olivia tried to avert her eyes from the wounded soldier; his injuries were so grim that it was making her feel faint. The medic worked quickly though, and soon the bleeding was stopped, the soldier's wounds were disinfected, and he was quickly bandaged up ready to be sent to a hospital back in New Vegas territory.
"The POWs are being treated and processed down the hallway, other side of the building", the medic answered, getting up on his feet with a grunt and quickly moving on to the next injured soldier, "Not gonna ask what business you got there, but would sure appreciate another set of hands once you're done".
"I'll try", Olivia gulped, wondering why these people weren't getting more help here, "Aren't there other medics that could help? You look extremely understaffed".
"Yeah you'd think eh?" the medic grunted as he worked quickly on a dispirited looking soldier with one side of their face bloodied, a trail of crimson running down his right as he pressed soaked gauze on his ear…or what was left of it, "There are a dozen of us tending to our own folk in this section, I suspect my other colleagues are scattered elsewhere in the facility. We just need more assistants to help us, anyone will do… and we've been too busy here tending to the wounded to bring it up with the higher ups".
"I'll spread the word that you need help, divert people to your section", Olivia nodded.
"Much appreciated", the medic answered brusquely as he carried out his work, his gaze focused on suturing the soldier's wounds properly.
Olivia was about to leave when two soldiers rushed in carrying a gravely injured soldier on a makeshift gurney. Something about the scene rooted Olivia in place; she couldn't take her eyes off the poor soul lying lifeless on the gurney. It was as if he was made of stone; his clothes, skin and much of his hair were all the same powdery dark grey colour…except for some dark auburn strands around his ears. When she looked closer at his profile, Olivia felt as if the world had opened underneath her and a darkness swallowed her whole.
It was Drew…
By late afternoon Six managed to arrive at the Grub 'n Gulp rest stop in one piece. Tired and parched from her travelling, she made her way to the nearest stand and ordered a couple of bottles of purified water, a box of Mac 'n Cheese to have for later and a squirrel-on-a-stick to get her through the rest of the trek to New Vegas.
"Will you be needing anything else?" Fitz asked as he tallied up Six's bill.
"No, I think that's it", Six answered, but when she'd finished packing her items and was about to leave she remembered that she wanted to call ahead and see if the job opening in the Happy Trails Caravan was still available. She'd planned on radioing ahead up at Hoover Dam but with everything that had happened it completely slipped her mind. "Actually, do you have a radio I could use to send a message?"
"Sure do", Fitz nodded and got out the microphone from the dusty radio underneath his counter, "What frequency did you need?"
"Erm, not sure", Six opened up her PipBoy to check the radio frequency she needed to send her message, "I happened to stumble on the signal a few days ago. Happy Trails Caravan…?"
"Ah, I know the one now. Didn't know old Jed Masterson would be looking for new recruits this late", Fitz dialled the radio in and handed her the microphone, "Here you go".
"Thanks", she gave Fitz a grateful smile and accepted the microphone, leaning down to send her message since the wiring was too short to hold it up, "Happy Trails Caravan, this is Courier Six. I heard your radio message requesting help for your journey to New Canaan a few days ago. Is the position still available?"
After a few moments of gentle static over the speaker, a familiar voice answered her call.
"Hello! Good to hear someone heard my message. Yes, the position is wide open if you want it. We will be heading out in two days. Will you manage to arrive in time?"
"Thanks Jed, that's great to hear! Yes I'll arrive with plenty of time to spare. I'm actually at the Grub 'n Gulp stop now", Six answered, feeling relieved that she was able to catch them before they left, "I can come by tomorrow morning and we can hash out the details if you'd like?"
"That'll be swell. We are currently at the Horowitz farmstead. Do you require directions?"
"No, I should be fine. I passed by that farm once or twice", Six answered, remembering how she and Boone had cleared the Viper Gang from that farm less than a month ago. Not long after it became a popular location for caravan traders to use it as a resting stop.
"Alright then. We'll see you tomorrow morning", Jed answered and Six returned the microphone to Fitz, thanking him for letting her use it.
"Anytime, ma'am. Stay safe out there and keep your gun close to you. We've been getting some distressing word back from other caravans who have crossed through into Zion about attacks from tribals".
"Appreciate the tip, I'll be on the lookout", Six tipped her worn Stetson hat in thanks before leaving.
Seeing as she had time to kill before heading to meet Jed in the morning, she decided to head to New Vegas. House kept a room for her in his casino and last time she was there she'd left some supplies and weapons for safekeeping, much of which could be useful for her trip. If she kept up her pace she would arrive just before dinner, which would give her some time to have a conversation with Mr. House. Given how things had concluded at the Dam, she had quite a few updates to bring to his attention, as well as to try and talk some sense into him before joining up with the caravan. The last thing she wanted to happen before she went galivanting off into the wastes was for another war to start, this time between the NCR and New Vegas.
As the hours passed and the Dam was cleared up of NCR equipment, most personnel and the fallen, Olivia stayed by Drew's side watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. Drew was alive, but he was in awfully bad shape. Since they brought him in to the medical wing on the gurney, the medics were working on him for what felt like an eternity; there were a few moments when Olivia thought he was past the point of saving… though even now he was not out of the woods.
Drew had suffered internal bleeding, most of his ribs were fractured, his left leg was crushed from the knee down, and he had a hairline fracture on his sixth and seventh thoracic vertebrae. He was up in one of the towers when a Legionary enemy fired a missile at their location, causing the roof to collapse and burry him and his partner Williams under concrete rubble. Williams was found dead lying on top of him, her body crushed by the debris. If it wasn't for her body shielding him from most of the rubble, Drew would more than likely have perished.
"Hey, I've been looking all over for you", a gentle and familiar voice whispered a few feet away from Olivia, startling her. She almost jumped, turning to see who had managed to sneak into the room, but it was just Theo.
"Oh, hey", she sighed, rubbing her sore eyes, "Sorry, did I miss anything out there?"
Theo shook his head, "Nothing important, no". He took a few hesitant steps toward her and glanced at Drew who was still lying on the metal table. "Friend of yours?"
"Yeah", Olivia stood up and stretched, hearing a few clicks as she did so, "How are you doing?"
"Hmm… Alright, all things considered", Theo shrugged. His leg was still bandaged up in the same gauze she'd used when they were in battle; it was looking a little dirty and worn.
"Here", Olivia took out a fresh roll of gauze and some tape from the medicine cabinet and handed them to himi, "You should change that. Don't want it to get infected".
"Thanks, I'll try to change it before we leave", he accepted it gratefully.
"So… what's the word out there?"
Theo heaved a heavy sigh; he looked even more exhausted than she did, "We've done our best to pack up our belongings… Those securitrons are keeping an awfully close eye on everything we're doing, making sure we don't steal anything that might belong to the Dam. They're demanding we leave before nightfall but they're not even lifting a finger to help us".
Olivia nodded in acknowledgement and continued to listen to Theo give her an update on the current status; it was a welcome respite from the troubles that were weighing on her mind. Drew was going to need a carer for a while, at least until he got better. Just before they finished attending to his injuries, the medics warned her that there was a high possibility that he wouldn't be able to walk again or have feeling from the waist down… He was a cripple and would more than likely spend the rest of his life bedridden…
"Olivia… you okay?" Theo's voice roused her from another bout of reflection, and she'd realised that she didn't hear a word Theo was saying.
"Hmm? Oh, I'm sorry Theo… I'm fine, just zoned out for a bit", she smiled up at him and forced herself to push through.
"No worries, it's been a long day", he smiled back at her.
"Please continue. I promise not to zone out on you again".
"Well, to keep it brief, we've shipped all our equipment back, the last transport for the injured is on its way from New Vegas and should be here in about half an hour so your friend here will be taken to the hospital in New Vegas. All able bodied personnel who are able to walk unassisted will have to make their way back to McCarran on foot, so make sure to pack some water and supplies. It's going to be a long walk", Theo finished.
"Thank you Theo", Olivia gave him a curt nod, "I guess I'll see you at the front for our march back then".
Out of the corner of her eye, Olivia caught a glimpse of a soldier walking past the open doors of the medical bay and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. He wore the NCR bandolier armour, though his scarf was pulled down. There was something about his profile and the way he moved… his thin lips, angular jaw, sharp nose and those dark goggles that covered his eyes…
"What's up?" Theo asked, turning to look in Olivia's direction.
"I don't know. I thought I saw someone...", Olivia's voice trailed off and she started walking out of the medical ward, following the NCR soldier several feet behind.
"Excuse me", she called out, but the man paid her no heed. In fact, he picked up the pace and Olivia almost had to jog to keep up with him, "Hey, you!"
"Yes what is it?" the man answered irritably but refused to stop, let alone turn around to face her. As soon as she heard his voice though, she knew there was no denying who this man was.
"I need to speak with you", Olivia demanded, "I know who you are".
The man slowed to a halt and turned to face her. Olivia didn't say a thing, she simply stood her ground a few paces away from him and watched his reaction. If she had blinked she would have missed it, but the man recognised her.
"I don't know what you're talking about", he answered and turned on his heel to walk hurriedly out of the base.
"Stop! Stop him! That's Vulpes Inculta!" Olivia called out, her voice echoing down the corridor as Vulpes wound a corner and began to sprint at full pelt.
Olivia followed close behind, feeling her heart pounding in her ears. As their chase passed through the more populated main entrance, several NCR soldiers were roused to her calls and sprang to action, launching themselves at the enemy spy and tackling him to the ground. A wave of satisfaction and relief spread through her as she watched the soldiers pin him and bind his arms behind his back while Vulpes squirmed and kicked, trying desperately to get away.
"Get off of me!" Vulpes spat, "I'm an NCR soldier! This woman is deranged, she's trying to attack me!"
"Oh really? This fine lady here?", one of the soldiers mocked him, "You'll forgive us if we don't take your word for it pal".
"What the hell is going on here?" Colonel Moore stepped out of one of the meeting rooms with her advisers close by, her stern eyes examining the group of men on the ground and Olivia standing over them.
"Colonel, I have good reason to believe this imposter is Vulpes Inculta", Olivia answered her commander's question.
"Are you certain?" the Colonel's gaze narrowed, focusing on the suspect lying at their feet before turning back to Olivia.
Olivia marched up to him and roughly pulled his dark tinted goggles and helmet off, revealing all his features and eliminating any doubts she had.
"Absolutely", Olivia answered, receiving a glare full of daggers from the still struggling Vulpes.
"Very well. Secure him and take him for questioning. He is to be placed in the Vertibird, I'll have some questions for him on the way to McCarran so we can resolve this matter", Colonel Moore ordered the three soldiers and kept a watchful eye along with Olivia as they secured him with handcuffs and dragged him to the Vertibird pad, one soldier on each arm and the third staying close behind in case they needed assistance in subduing him.
Moore waited until they were out of earshot before turning to her aides and requesting she be given some privacy to speak with Olivia in the meeting room before they carried on.
Olivia followed the Colonel inside, wiping the beads of sweat that had rolled down the side of her face on her sleeve. Her heart was still pounding in her chest when Moore pulled up a chair for her and sat on the opposite side of the short table.
"Please", she motioned for her to have a seat with her, to which Olivia complied. Her keen eyes glanced Olivia over, as if deciding what to make of her. "Well, just when I thought we had enough excitement for one day, you've quite literally dropped an unexpected parcel at my feet".
"I'm sorry?" Olivia said, unsure of what the Colonel meant.
Moore lent forward, resting her elbows on the table, "We take accusations very seriously here. If you are mistaken, now is the time to tell me".
Olivia's brow furrowed in confusion, "Ma'am, I don't understand. Why would you think I am mistaken?"
"It's not the first time I've seen a fellow soldier attempt to accuse a scorned lover and get them demoted or kicked off the force", the Colonel's gaze was transfixed on Olivia, watching her every reaction, "I'm trying to see whether that's the case here".
"What?!" Olivia's voice rose, a feeling a disgust spreading through her body in waves, "I know you don't know me, ma'am, but I am not a liar!"
"Hmm… Then how do you know that was Vulpes Inculta, the infamous Legionary spy and leader of the frumentarii when even our own intelligence does not have a profile on him?"
Olivia was outraged with the Colonel's suspicions that she had to stiffen her body to stop her muscles from shivering with anger.
'This woman doesn't know you, doesn't know what you've been through. Take a breath an just explain it to her', a voice in the back of her mind said, slightly quelling her frustration.
"Colonel, I realise that you're saying this because you don't know me, but let me explain. My name is Olivia, I recently enlisted into the NCR to fight the Legion. Before my life in the NCR, I was a Legionary slave. Several months ago I was able to escape when a Centurion attempted to drown me in the Colorado River and my body was found by a couple of 1st Recon Snipers… But, before that, I was given as a gift to Vulpes Inculta by Caesar himself… to be his personal slave. That is how I know that man to be Vulpes Inculta".
That got the Colonel's attention.
"I see", she said, arching her eyebrows in curiosity.
"If you still do not believe me, you will find my story is corroborated in my personal file, with full reports from the 1st Recon Snipers I mentioned and Major Polatli himself", Olivia added.
For a moment the Colonel was rendered speechless.
"Well… That is all I needed to know", the Colonel nodded and Olivia saw that any suspicions she had about her were alleviated, "I apologise for questioning your character and your word Private, in my line of work one has to be vigilant on all accounts given to ensure there are no…misunderstandings". She slowly rose to her feet and reached out her arm for a handshake. Relief swelled through Olivia as she rose out of her chair and accepted the Colonel's hand.
"I understand and… I accept your apology".
"Thank you for your excellent work and your service", the Colonel surprised Olivia with a formal salute, "If there is anything you should need, you need only say".
Olivia knew exactly what she wanted to request.
"That is truly kind of you Colonel. There is one thing…a favour I would like to return…"
36 hours later
The morning meeting with Jed went well and meeting the rest of the team was interesting to say the least. From first impressions, Jed Masterson seemed like a genuine and honest man, though Six didn't know how she felt about the people he'd put together. There were five members not including Six, two caravan guards who seemed competent enough…and then there was Ricky. What in the world was Jed thinking hiring someone the likes of Ricky?
'It's probably why he sent out a request for another caravan hand', she thought to herself. That idiot couldn't tell the difference between a PipBoy and a pocket watch. It was fortunate that Six stumbled across Jed's transmission, otherwise they would have been stuck with a moron who couldn't guide them to where they needed to go.
The update meeting with Mr. House the previous evening went as expected as well; Six had to argue her case on several points, which took some time, but she eventually got House to relent and see reason. House's original plan would have resulted in a disgruntled NCR after several months of being taxed ridiculous sums just to use the power supplied by the Dam and HELIOS One, and would have meant sever taxes on NCR civilians who barely had enough to survive as it was. If she'd left things the way they were, it would have been a disaster by the time she got back. Now with almost all political wrinkles smoothed out, Six felt that it was time to move on… she just wished she could have fixed things between her and Boone.
'He's probably at Camp McCarran by now, waiting for a new assignment', she thought with a glimmer of hope.
'Don't kid yourself. He's made his wishes clear to you. Give some time for things to cool down, then try to patch up your broken friendship', a voice in the back of her mind warned her; she knew it would be foolish to ignore it.
With a final check of her supplies and gear Six collected her backpack and exited the Lucky 38, hoping that the next time she was back in New Vegas that she would get a chance to mend the damaged bonds between her and her companions.
A steady ping echoed every second in the dimly lit concrete room, a rhythmic count of Drew's heartbeat as he lay fast asleep in a hospital bed with Olivia sat by his side keeping him company. They were in a windowless room that felt utterly suffocating for Olivia and, no doubt, for many of the wounded soldiers that were relegated to this "recovery" room. After hours of surgery, one would think that better accommodations would be provided for the sick and injured. Olivia's gaze flitted to the other wounded soldiers in the room, the majority of which were ones who had fought at the Dam. Many suffered debilitating injuries that would affect them for the rest of their lives in ways none of them could predict… She wondered if they had anyone, friends or family, that would help them through these tough and uncertain times they faced.
With Olivia helping to capture one of the most wanted men in the Legion, Colonel Moore was deeply gratified and gave her an opportunity to repay the debt that she owed to Drew. Olivia made two requests: one was to give Drew the best treatment to help him heal and recover from his injuries, and the other was one of a personal nature – to be allowed to attend the interrogation of Vulpes Inculta so she could gain some information about her brother and family. Now, Drew was recovering from a successful surgery that helped repair most of the damage his poor body suffered during battle. Colonel Moore even paid the hefty price for a regeneration implant to be embedded in his body, which doctors were optimistic would help heal the damage to his spine and allow him to regain feeling in his body. He would need round the clock care for several weeks though, and physiotherapy to get him back on his feet, but he was going to be ok.
'One problem at a time, Olive', she told herself, giving Drew's hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
"Don't worry Drew… You'll be better in no time", she smiled down at him, watching him and he slumbered.
A few hours went by and Olivia was beginning to feel drowsy, when she heard the distant rumble of one of the transport trucks pull into the base.
'Wonder what's going on out there…' she mused as she kept her ears open. The longer she waited the more it felt like the noise was rushing toward her. With a muffled grunt she stood up on sore legs and shuffled to the doorway to examine what was going on.
Doctors were rushing to the exit with their medical bags in hand along with NCR soldiers.
"Olivia?" a familiar man's voice called from across the hallway, shifting her attention to his direction. It was Six's companion, the 1st Recon sniper.
"Boone? What are you doing here?" she asked, walking up to meet him.
"Helping the wounded, you?"
"I'm here with Drew. He was gravely wounded during the battle. I'm keeping him company in the recovery ward", she nodded, "Do you know what's going on?"
"Hmph, no", Boone's brow furrowed as he looked on at the people rushing out of the building, "We should go check it out".
Olivia agreed and they both made their way through the main doors of the airport; what they saw happening in the main grounds felt almost like a miracle.
Three trucks filled to the brim with Legionary slaves… women, children, and some elderly and sick men cautiously made their way down and followed the doctors and soldiers who were escorting them to the medical tents they had set up outside. Olivia's eye was drawn to the sight of an older woman dressed in tattered rags and a heavily pregnant young woman by her side, walking hand in hand with tears streaming down their faces. Even after all the unkind years that she had to endure, Olivia recognised her mother and sister who she thought were forever lost to her.
"Mother?! Hannah!" she called out and rushed forward, seeing their heads turn to see who was calling for them. "Mom!"
"Olivia?" her mother's meek voice called out from the crowd, but it was Hannah who spotted her sister first.
"Olive!" she called out, pulling their mother out of the crowd to be reunited with their long-lost sibling and daughter.
Tears streamed down their faces as the three women were finally re-united, hugging and kissing each other's cheeks, holding each other as if the world depended on it.
"Olivia! My dear… My daughter…", he mother sobbed, feeling the features on her face. It was then that Olivia noticed her eyes… she was blind.
"Oh mother… What happened? What did they do to you?" she whispered.
"Don't worry Olive, those bastards didn't do this", Hannah shook her head, "It's cataracts. The doctors here should be able to able to sort it".
"And you Hannah", Olivia looked her pregnant sister up and down, "You…. You're…"
"About to pop? Yeah", she chuckled.
"Keep moving, this way please", a soldier beckoned them to one of the medical tents and Olivia followed them, keeping a close eye as they allowed the medics and doctors to have a look at them and remove the collars around their necks.
Olivia's mother was booked in for surgery in the morning to remove the cataracts that had left her blind for many years, and Hannah was checked over and her due date was estimated to be in two weeks. Olivia stayed close by listening closely to everything the doctors said about their treatments before they were discharged and given temporary sleeping arrangements in one of the tents outside.
"I can't believe you're really here", Olivia's voice was filled with wonder and happiness, "I tried to find you for so long after we were taken… I'd almost given up hope".
"We were sent to another camp some distance away, but when the war broke out there was hardly any able bodied man left in the camp… so, we found our opportunity to escape and took it", Hannah answered, rubbing her sore neck where the slave collar had left a mark on her delicate skin.
"By dawn the following day we were near Caesar's main camp. The others saw it burning and we thought the NCR had finally attacked and destroyed Caesar's Legion, but as we neared we were stopped by military robots and taken to the main entrance of the camp where we found other slaves that had fled", her mother added.
"We were lucky though. That close to Caesar's camp and no Legionary soldiers? The NCR must have really done a number on them to make them flee the way they did", Hannah smiled wryly, "After that we were brought to the Dam. The NCR personnel called up their transport trucks and that's the
"That's incredible!" Olivia smiled up at them both, wiping fresh tears off her face, "I can't tell you how elated I am to see you both. I feel like I need to pinch myself to believe this is really happening".
With a cheeky smile Hannah obliged and gave Olivia a rough pinch on the arm.
"Ow!"
"Do you believe it's real now?" Hannah asked, embracing her sister.
"Yes… It's real. You're really here".
After her brief catch up with her mother and sister, Olivia made her way out of their tent to grab some food and drink for them all at the mess tent. As she made her way through the line, she saw Boone sitting sombrely at a table alone, taking absentminded sips of his coffee. Although he tried to hide it, Olivia could see that he was despondent, so with her haul of food and beverages collected on a trey she made her way to him.
"You alright Boone?" Olivia asked tentatively.
"Fine", he answered flatly, keeping his gaze averted.
A few awkward moments of silence passed by as Olivia wondered what else she could say that might cheer him up. Boone was an unusual individual; she couldn't really understand how or why someone like him would go to great lengths to isolate himself from others.
"If you say so … I'll leave you be then", she added, shuffling past other tables.
"Are they alright?" she heard him ask behind her.
"My family?" Olivia turned to face him and received a nod, "They're safe…now. And relatively healthy, given what they've been through these years".
"Hmph", Boone sighed in acknowledgement and took a pensive sip of his drink.
"Are…do you have someone you're waiting for? A family or friend that was captured by the Legion?" Olivia asked.
Boone's mouth pursed and Olivia could see the lines around his eyes deepen; judging by his reaction Olivia sensed that he had lost someone dear to him, and she regretted prodding him.
"No… They're dead", he stated simply before returning his attention back to his drink.
"I apologise, I didn't mean to pry", Olivia stammered, feeling her face flush at her foolish probing, "Have a good evening, Sir", she said with a hurried salute before returning to the tent where her mother and sister were bunked, leaving Boone to continue sitting alone in silence.
A bright crescent moon hung overhead as Boone stood at the watch tower surveying the area outside of McCarran. The day had been long and he was exhausted, but sleep and respite eluded him. He found his mind frequently wandering, lingering around old memories of New Vegas and the time he met her… when he met Carla.
'Those were better, simpler times', he thought to himself as he looked through his binoculars.
'What would have happened if you didn't pull the trigger?' a voice in his mind egged him on.
"Stop it" he whispered, feeling a lump growing in his throat.
'Would you have seen them today? If you didn't pull the trigger, they'd have still been alive… They could have been on that transport today'.
"Enough!" he seethed through gritted teeth, "No sense thinking about the past. What's done is done".
'Hmm… Maybe… Learn from this mistake. Don't let there be a next time', the voice warned him.
Boone gripped his binoculars so tightly he could feel the blood drain from his fingers. Although he tried everything to deny it, today was incredibly difficult for him. He couldn't deny that he did find himself looking out for Carla in that wave of rescued slaves that arrived today, but no one came…nothing changed for him. That fact was agonising torture, but he vowed that the next time he saw someone trapped or enslaved by an enemy, no matter how dire the situation looked, he would stay his hand and find a way to help them. Mercy killing was a resort he could no longer stomach.
There was no doubt in his mind that, sooner or later, his time would come… and when it did, he hoped that Carla and their daughter would be there to welcome him in open arms.