He's standing too close, she realises to her irritation.
She had first met Vulpes in the ruins of Nipton. The thick, dark smoke from the tire fires calling like a beacon. The man in charge, wearing a dog head and a proud smirk, regards her as one would an interesting trinket found in an unexpected place. Agnes is thankful for her googles, hiding her from his sharp gaze. So far across the river, she muses, surveying the carnage. Agnes reminds herself to stand tall as the man approaches. His satisfied smile and smooth voice remain with her during her travels throughout the Mojave.
Vulpes surprises her in New Vegas as she rushes out the doors of The Tops, chasing after that bastard, Benny. A firm hand around her upper arm spins her around, her startled gaze landing on an amused grin. His face is not immediately familiar but his voice is.
"Looks like your man got away," Vulpes says in amusement as she glares at him. "No matter, I have a much better proposition for you. Come with me."
Shaking off his hand, she follows Vulpes from the crowded sidewalk to a empty alley. Boone follows closely.
"Tell your dog to go away," Vulpes growls, his eyes set on her armed shadow.
Agnes bows her head at his angry tone before realising her mistake, catching the evaluating gaze he gives her.
"No," she spits, angry at his interference. "Work around it."
The man gives her an unfriendly smile, reaching into his suit jacket.
"As you wish," he says, pressing something cold into her palm as he steps into her space.
Agnes makes herself stand still as he places his mouth to her ear, his hand lightly touching her hip. To another, it would appear to be an intimate encounter but Agnes feels like a molerat stuck in the gaze of a viper.
"The mightly eyes of Caesar are upon you," he says lowly.
Despite the heat, Agnes feels her skin breakout in goosebumps at the sensation of his breath upon her ear. The man gives a smug grin at the display.
"He admires your accomplishments, and bestows upon you the exceptional gift of his Mark. My lord wishes to see you."
"Why?," Agnes asks, staring into his sky blue eyes.
The man shrugs, "You will have to come to the Fort to find out."
He looks back at Boone, who stands at the mouth of the alley.
"I would recommend you leave your dog behind, lest something happen to him."
"What about me?," Agnes asks.
"The Mark will grant you safe passage," he replies easily, his hand resting more comfortably on her hip.
Agnes nods before stuffing the medallion into her pocket.
"Tell your lord, I will consider it."
The man steps back with a smirk.
"I wouldn't keep him waiting," he advises.
"Duly noted," Agnes retorts. "Are we finished?"
"We are here but I'm certain we will meet again, Courier," he says.
Agnes goes to move past him but is stopped. He pulls her hand, lightly placing a kiss upon her knuckles.
"Mars be with you," he purrs, his eyes burning into hers.
"And with you," Agnes responds before she could stop herself.
Vulpes pauses for a moment, giving his head a subtle tilt before flashing a charming smile and walking away. Boone stares him down as he passes by but is completely ignored by the agent.
Agnes returns to Boone, who gives her a hard look.
"What did he want?," he asks tightly.
"Nothing," she responds, wiping her hand on her trouser leg.
"Come on," she says. "I gotta go talk to House."
Much to her chagrin, House advises her to take up Caesar's offer and actually pay the tyrant a visit. Agnes works hard to mask her distaste.
Agnes and Boone leave New Vegas the next day, assisting the NCR under the guise of working for Mr. House. Boone is die hard NCR and she could use the caps. She hides the golden medallion in a pouch kept around her neck, a place for her most valuable possessions. At night, Agnes thinks of the agent that gave it to her and the Man that he serves.
After a month of wandering the wasteland, it becomes apparent that the Legion has set on a foothold in the Mojave. The pair come across more scouts and small squads of young soldiers, children really. All feel the bite of Boone's rifle, their bodies left out to bloat as warnings. Burned out settlements and sacked caravans litter the areas that border the Colorado River, slowly creeping westward. Agnes hears tale of Camp Searchlight and finally sees its otherworldly glow in the early morning light. It's odd knowing that she had met the monster that created it.
Boone is oddly calm as the pair peer down on the Legion held Cottonwood Cove. Its a perfect spot, hidden from the ground yet with great visibility. She watches the soldiers below as they go about their duties. Boone is eager to attack, despite being only a party of two. Agnes is not feeling suicidal and tells him as much, she doesn't need to look to feel his disapproval. The pair quietly slip away to report their findings. They argue that night.
Nelson is crawling with Legion. After a short skirmish, it's back in NCR hands with the bodies of the Legion bastards thrown from the cliff. Boone smiles as the Commander praise him while Agnes smiles at the reward she receives. Her friend has the nerve to chastise her for taking the money.
"I can't survive on praise and good remarks," she snarks.
She can tell he wants to say more but doesn't.
Agnes spies the Commander talking to Boone in low tones that evening, catching her name more than once. Her partner approaches her after midnight, loaded on whiskey to deliver a message, the NCR wants her to join them on the campaign against the Legion. They want her to be the face of the resistance. She refuses to talk about it.
In the morning, Agnes gives the Commander a few choice words about using Boone in attempts to sway her. She firmly states that she will not join the NCR, that she will remain a free agent and will do as she pleases. The Commander warns her with a sneer that the Bear has a far reach.
"Duly noted," she replies before leaving Nelson with as much loot as she can carry. Despite his disapproval, Boone carries a fair bit of her gear as they go off to the nearest trading post.
As loyal as Boone is, Agnes can feel him slipping away.
With every kill, he gets a bit cockier. She's concerned that it will give him an inflated ego and get them both killed. The tipping point comes sooner than expected.
..
He let the kid run.
Working as his spotter, Agnes watches horrified as the young soldier, a baby faced boy runs for his life only to be cut down.
Boone shot the Decanus first, taking delight in the ensuing chaos as the young soldiers scrambled for cover in the stark desert. He picks them off, one by one, until the last soldier throws down his weapons and runs wildly across the flat terrain. Boone watches, waiting until his target is almost out of reach before pulling the trigger.
"Gotcha," he smirks.
In the past month, Boone had become a scourge to the Legion, killing all those that he sees.
"That makes thirty," he crows.
Agnes is less than pleased as she surveys the bodies.
Boone has taken to collecting ears, the NCR paying five dollars per grisly token.
"There is no honor in killing children," she growls.
The Decanus appearing to be the only adult with the others clearly young teens. Boone eyes her horribly before putting his tally book away.
"What's the matter with you?," he barks. "You suddenly feeling sorry for the enemy?!"
"They're just children," she replies coldly.
"Yeah, children that will grow up to become stone cold killers, rapists, and slavers."
"They're all slaves," Agnes yells, pointing to the lifeless bodies. "The NCR paints them to be willing participants but they are not. They are conquered people forced into this. Can't you see..."
Agnes suddenly finds herself on the ground, Boone standing over her, breathing hard, fists clenched tightly. Her cheek stings.
"I don't care," he growls. "They come over here, attacking my people, taking them away. I won't stand for it. As long as there is breath in my body, I will fight. All you see is are caps, what's in it for you. You don't understand and never will."
Agnes grits her teeth. The sting of his betrayal hurts more than anything he could ever say. She rubs her eyes, surprised to find tears. Boone seems surprised too as his anger dissipates, seemingly unnerved by the tears.
"Agnes," he begins, his tone softer.
"Fuck off," she growls, getting up from the dusty ground. Boone offers her a hand, only to have it slapped away.
"I don't need your help," she says thru clenched teeth, standing on her own. "Don't fuckin' tell me, I don't understand. I understand quite well."
They stand for a tense moment before Boone sighs.
"Well fuck," he mutters under his breath, before pulling his knife and slicing the ear off the dead Decanus. Agnes walks over to another body, rolling it over with her foot. She removes the helmet, exposing a round face with fine dirty blond hair.
"Rest easy, child," she whispers before rifling thru his meager possessions, taking anything of value.
...
That night, Boone breaks the news that he is going to rejoin First Recon and offers to escort Agnes back to New Vegas. The trip back goes by quicker than expected and soon the pair stands before the towering Lucky 38. Boone fidgets with strap, his nervous habit, as they make small talk.
"What are you going to do?," Boone asks.
Agnes shrugs her shoulders, "I don't know, I'll figure out something."
Boone sighs, "Go home Agnes."
"I can't," she growls.
"I worry about you," he continues. "I'm worried that.."
"What?," she interrupts. "That I'm on the wrong side?"
He says nothing.
"Stay with me," Agnes offers. "We can stay here and be safe. House has a plan, it'll work."
Boone shakes his head, "Ain't nowhere safe as long as the Legion is around. And you know that once the Legion is mopped up, the NCR is going to deal with House. One way or another."
They stand for long moment before Agnes hugs him suddenly.
"I'm going to miss you," she sniffs.
He doesn't say anything but she never expected him too. There's only room for one woman in his heart.
"Killing them won't bring her back," she says.
Boone closes his eyes, giving his head a subtle shake.
"I know," he replies softly.
"And you dying won't make up for anything either," she continues.
"It'll be a start," he mumbles under his breath.
"Dammit Boone," she curses. "Stay with me, we can work this out. Please."
He gives her a long stare before pulling her into a tight hug. Agnes clutches onto him like a drowning woman.
"Take care of yourself," he says. "Go home Agnes, get away from here. I don't need to worry about you too."
Boone leaves before she can reply.
Agnes trashes an entire floor of the hotel as she bounces between rage and despair. If House noticed the destruction, he says nothing, only asking why she hadn't left to go to the Fort. Before Agnes can give a biting response, House mentions the high probability of finding Benny there. She leaves the next morning.
...
She's damn near assaulted at Cottonwood Cove, nothing she says seems to make a difference. The men stopping when her ripped blouse reveals the shining Mark of Caesar. One soldier has the sense to beg for her forgiveness, his reward a quick death compared to the suffering the other men earn. The man she had met in Nipton smiles brightly as her attackers groan and cry in suffering.
"My apologies," he offers smoothly, kissing her knuckles at the base of the crucifixes. "I hope they did not harm you. Some times the men just won't do as they are instructed. I blame their superiors," he says, taking a jab at the Centurion within earshot.
"Come Courier," the agent says, placing his hand across her lower back, "let us leave. There is someone that I would like you to meet."
Sitting on a red covered throne is an old man, quite possible the oldest man that Agnes has ever seen. Despite his age, there is an unmistakable air of power. Caesar studies her like one would study a Brahim at the market. Agnes fights to not kneel under his steady gaze. Instead, she bows deeply and remains until the he bids her to rise.
"I have been waiting for you Courier or should I call you Agnes Tutor of Arizona?"
Agnes freezes at the mention of her name.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, she thinks. This is bad, really bad.
Agnes gives a nervous smile. "I beg your pardon, my liege, but how do you know of me?"
Caesar smiles a wide, toothy grin.
"I believe that Mars has set you in my path, he begins. The priestesses have been praying to Mars since we set foot on this side of the river. Last year, Mars spoke of a messenger of the earth, one that would led me to victory. Imagine my surprise when word began to spread of a Courier, shot and left for dead, rising from a shallow grave to wreck havoc upon the Wastes."
Agnes swears internally.
"Of course, i was disappointed to find that the Courier was a woman," he adds nonchalantly. "But none the less, still very intriguingly."
Agnes's mouth hangs open at what she is hearing.
Caesar believed that Mars had caused her to come to the Fort, that she would deliver the Mojave to the Legion on a silver platter.
"You're kidding?!", Benny laughs from his position on the floor. She had forgotten all about the rat bastard, too wrapped up in the fact that Caesar knew her name.
"This dame is supposed to be the one to help you?!", he crows. "You know she works for House and the NCR."
Caesar makes a brief motion with his left hand. The closest guard gives Benny a firm kick in ribs, telling him to keep quiet.
"Much better", Caesar smirks before turning his attention back to Agnes.
"So, Agnes Tutor of Arizona, citizen of the Empire, will you assist us in our time of need?"
All the noise drains from the world.
Oh. My. God.
Agnes is suddenly aware of how long she had been standing there mute. Her heart hammers as she begins to stammer.
"I beg your pardon, my liege but my reason for being here is of a business matter," she says akwardly.
"Oh?"
"I'm here on behalf of Mr. House. Benny has something that belongs to him and I am to retrieve it and bring it back."
"Tell you what, to sweeten the deal, I'll let you decide on what to do about that profligate over there," Caesar says, gesturing to Benny. "I'm sure it will be very satisfying to get your revenge. After all, you've come so far."
Agnes gives a very toothy grin at the Chairman, enjoying the concerning look on his worried brow.
"Thank you for the very generous offer; however, I'm only interested in what he was carrying. What happens to him afterwards is of little concern to me."
"Is that so? '" Vulpes speaks, cocking an eyebrow. "You chase a man across the Mojave, baying for his blood and now that he lays at your feet, the very man that shot you and left you for dead in a shallow grave, you suddenly don't care."
"I didn't say that. I would have caught him on the Strip, had you not interfered," Agnes says tightly, eying Vulpes fiercely. "My personal wishes are irreverent, I am here to serve Mr. House's interests."
Much to her dismay, Caesar chuckles.
"You speak the truth Courier. Your wishes may be irreverent but mine will not be ignored. Your family resides in Legion held lands?"
"Yes, my liege."
"Your brothers even serve in my army."
"Yes, my liege."
Agnes jumps when Caesar claps his hands.
"Fantastic," he says. "Then its settled."
"My liege, I really must insist..."
Caesar freezes her with a look.
"We'll talk about this later, he says with an air of finality. Right now, we have more pressing issues to deal with."
The tent falls silence, waiting for Caesar's instruction.
"Did you know that we found that that worthless profligate by the old building at the edge of camp? He was attempting to gain access when he was discovered. I always knew there was more to that building than what met the eye. Your first task is to find out what is in the building and destroy it."
Caesar turns to a bearded man standing beside his throne, motioning to the Courier. The man approaches, holding something shiny in his hand.
The Platinum Chip.
Agnes takes the oversized chip, its cool surface covering her palm. She was quite familiar with it, having walked with it all the way from California. Many times she had looked upon its reflective surface, her favorite being under moonlight. How it seemed to glow in her hand.
"Thank you, my liege. I will do as you request," Agnes says, bowing low.
...
Deep in the bowels of the underground bunker, Agnes' mouth hangs open at the sight before her.
Row upon row of Securitrons stand, awaiting orders. A great idea begins to form, causing a mischievous smile to grow upon her face.
Caesar is delighted that Agnes had successfully completed her first task. Vulpes could care less based upon the looks he was giving as she knelt before his Master. When presented the opportunity, Agnes elects to fight Benny in the arena.
...
"You jumped me out in the desert but let's see how you do without your goon squad." Agnes growls as the pair face each other in the arena, both armed with machetes.
"As you want it Babycakes," Benny smirks, removing his shirt. "I gotta warn you doll. I was a mean tribal before I became an upstanding citizen. "
"Benny, hate to break it to ya but you never were an upstanding citizen."
Benny gives her a predatory smile before advancing.
Agnes had to admit that Benny was a decent fighter but years of soft living became evident as the Chairman began to tire.
Benny falls to his knees, his side an oozing mess. It was clear that he would die soon from blood loss.
"We had a good run, didn't we doll?" he says to air.
"Until you double crossed me," Agnes replies, standing just outside of his reach. Despite looking tired, Benny still had his machete.
"Nothing personal," he says slowly. "Just had to the tie up the loose ends, is all."
"You could have just robbed me, you asshole."
Benny gave a weak chuckle, "House would have never gone for it. He's too smart, would have figured it out."
Standing behind him, Agnes fists a hand full of damp hair, pulling his head back.
"Any last words?"
"Check my room," he breathes, looking up at her. "You can have it all."
"Bye Benny," Agnes says flatly, drawing her machete across his bared throat.
Benny spasms in her grasp as he struggles to breath before finally falling still. Releasing her grip, his body falls face down into the dusty arena, bringing forth applause. Agnes looks around to realise that her killing of Benny was a spectacle to the camp. Legionaries stand all around the perimeter, witness to her revenge. Uncertain of what else to do, Agnes raises her arms in the air and gives a cry of victory.
Agnes is escorted to Caesar's tent, still covered in dust and sweat. Benny had cut her a few times but nothing serious from what she had quickly checked. Nothing that a few Stimpacks couldn't fix, she tells herself.
All she needed to do now was thank Caesar for the opportunity and run like hell back to the safety of New Vegas.
"Stay the night," Caesar commands. "We still have much to discuss Courier."
Agnes searches for a reason, any reason to excuse herself.
"Ah, my liege, thank you for your, your gracious offer but I feel that I have already taken so much of your time."
"Nonsense," Caesar says easily. "I see a mutually beneficial partnership in our future."
"Thank you but I have no training, I'm afraid I wouldn't be much help," she offers hesitantly.
Caesar chuffs, "Come now Courier, your little display in the arena tells me otherwise."
Agnes opens her mouth to object but is stopped by Caesar's upraised hand.
"Stop! Enough of your excuses."
Agnes bows her head at his tone.
"Take our "guest" to the healer, then show her to her lodgings for the evening. The hour is late, you'll never make it back to the city walls in time. The Mojave is not a place for a lone woman to wander, even if you are the infamous Courier."
Agnes has the sense to bow before being escorted from Caesar's presence. Following the mohawked guard, the pair briskly walk down to the lower level of the fortification, past curious soldiers and slaves. They stop before a tent, the sole occupant being a dark skinned woman with closely cropped hair.
"Got one for you Siri," the guard says gruffly, ducking his head to enter the tent. Agnes admires how his spiked hair barely scrapes the canvas ceiling, briefly wondering if such thing as are purposeful.
The woman gives a small smile.
"Hello Lexi, is this the woman that fought the arena?"
"The one," the guard confirms, removing his sunglasses, returning the smile. "She is our honored guest for the time being. Caesar would like for you to tend to her wounds. Someone will be by later to pick her up."
The guard turns to Agnes, who had been looking around the tent while half listening to their conversation.
"Do not leave this tent unaccompanied," he tells her sternly. "It could be detrimental to your person to do so. Am I clear?"
Agnes nods her head. "Yes, I understand."
The guard nods back, satisfied with her answer. He winks at Siri before donning his sunglasses and striding out of the tent.
Siri rolls her eyes, releasing a small ugh once the guard was out of earshot.
"Friend of yours?," Agnes teases, having seen the eye roll.
Siri purses her lips before responding, "He keeps the others away."
Agnes quickly mumbles an apology, her face heating up. Siri nods, patting a stool sitting in a beam of sunlight.
"Come over here. Let's gets a good look at you. Take off your shirt."
Agnes does so as requested, taking a seat on the wooden stool. Removing her blouse, she notices the torn shoulder and ripped collar.
"Those bastards," she mutters under her breath as she folds the blouse, placing it on her lap.
"It's been a while since I've seen a free woman," Siri says softy as she listens to Agnes' heartbeat. "Is it true that you are a Legion citizen?"
Agnes snorts, "Word travels fast around here."
The healer smiles, "Soldiers are the worst gossipers."
"Yes," Agnes breathes. "I am from Arizona."
"What are you doing here?," Siri asks.
Agnes sighs, "Good question."
For so long, Agnes had dreamed of killing Benny. An eye for an eye. "An eye for an eye, leaves everyone blind" her Father used to say. Agnes now understands, her quest for vengeance has delivered her into the hands of the Legion, the absolute last place she wanted to be. A small voice pops into her head,
"You did this because he left you. You acted out in grief, you didn't care what happened to yourself."
The women fall silent as Siri begins to probe the cuts on Agnes' arm.
"Nothing too serious," Siri confirms. "But you're gonna need stitches."
"Stitches!,"Agnes cries, "just puta Stimpack on it and let it go!"
"No Stimpacks here," Siri says flatly. "Only herbal remedies, when I can get them."
An amused grin grows across the healer face.
"Are you afraid of a little pain?"
"No!," Agnes says quickly. "I..I just got used to using Stimpacks is all."
Siri scoffs before moving away to a nearby table. Agnes watches as she pours water into a small cup. From a tall chest of drawers, the healer pulls out a small bag.
"Take this," Siri says, handing over the bag and the cup of water.
"What is it?," she asks, smelling the bag.
"It's what we have instead of Stimpacks. You dump it in your mouth, swallow with water. Do it quickly otherwise..."
Agnes erupts in a fit of coughing, fine white particles fill the air, twirling around in the sunlight.
"Oh my God, Siri. That is awful!," Agnes gags.
Siri laughs, refilling Agnes's cup.
"If medicine tasted good, it would be called candy."
"What's in that?"
"Mostly broc flower and xander root."
"Really? I know a man that would be very interested in what you make."
Siri gives her an incredulous look.
"His name is Arcade Gannon and he is a Doctor with the Followers..."
"Keep your voice down!," Siri hisses. "Don't ever speak of them while you are here!"
Agnes once again issues a quick apology, bowing her head.
"I didn't mean it like that," Siri says, patting Agnes' leg. "I just didnt want you to attract more attention. "
"How can I possible attract any more attention," Agnes snarks.
"Just be careful in the camp. Don't go anywhere alone if you can help it."
"I carry the Mark of Caesar, his will protects me, " Agnes says, sounding more like she was trying to convince herself of its abilities. The dark blemish encircling her right wrist was proof otherwise, another reason to avoid fooling with the Legion.
"Just be careful," Siri repeats.
...
Dinner is a simple affair. The thin gold collars on the women that attend the table prove difficult to ignore as Agnes catches herself staring at their down turned faces. She sits across from Vulpes and beside Caesar, who entertains her with stories from his childhood, eventually explaining how the Legion was conceived.
"No way was I going to let myself be killed by idiot tribals, all because our captors couldn't fight. Ridiculous! So I showed them the way. We obliterated those bastards, killed every last damn one of them. I became their War Chief and from there it just grew."
Agnes dislikes how cavalier Caesar was being about the tale. In thirty years, Caesar had carved out his Empire, terrorizing, pillaging, and enslaving thousands, and now stood posed to gain more, so much more. She knew he wouldn't stop until they reached the Pacific Ocean. This man, this one man had changed the lives of thousands of people.
Agnes feels eyes upon her and looks to see Vulpes staring at her intently. She returns his gaze until Caesar says something interesting.
"I used to admire the Followers," he says. "Their lofty goals of bringing knowledge back to the Wastes, like Prometheus bringing fire to Man, to bring back what was lost. Despite all their lofty pursuits, the Followers have one major drawback. "
"What is that?," she asks, feeling prompted to respond.
"They're a bunch of pussies!," Caesar laughs. "All that information and knowledge, not the first bit of instinct. With all that knowledge, one could rule, reshape the world as you want! But that's not the Follower way," Caesar mocks. "What is the point of having all that knowledge and not utilizing it? Instead they want to nurture the sick and infirm. The weak," he spat. "Blah! Why save something that was never meant to survive!"
Agnes controls the urge to roll her eyes at his tone.
"But enough about me, let's talk about how you are going to deliver the Mojave. As a citizen, it is your duty to assist..."
"My humblest apologies but I am not the kind of woman that likes to serve two men at the same time. I do best with just the one," Agnes explains. "My current contract is with Mr. House and..."
"Especially to an empire that has been so gracious to you and your family," Caesar overspeaks her.
Despite her best efforts, Agnes is certain she just made a face. Gracious and Legion do not belong in the same sentence.
"My liege, Agnes begins smoothly. I am here at the behalf of Mr. House, to serve his interests and as such..."
"We are at war, Courier," Caesar growls, slamming his fist on the wooden table. "Willfully assisting the enemy is treason! A grave offense, one punishable by immediate execution. I have more than enough information to have you crucified," Caesar says easily. "Your crimes against the Legion are well documented. The simply fact that you have been assisting the NCR is treason."
"Of course, you would be made an example of," Vulpes adds. "Mr. House nor the NCR will left a finger to help you. They will simply find another patsy and leave you to rot."
Agnes says nothing, not liking how any of this was going.
"Tell me Courier, what motivates you?," Caesar asks. "Revenge? Wealth? Power? Family?"
"My family has nothing to do with my actions here in the Mojave,"Agnes says tightly.
"I'm glad you said so," Caesar smiles. "As you know, family is very important to the Legion."
Vulpes produces a large paper packet, placing it before Caesar, who begins to open it. Several black and white photos are produced. Agnes's mouth falls open in disbelief at the images of her family that lay before her.
Her eldest brother, Adam is working in the fields, along side his wife Meredith. A close up of young Max. A picture of the girls, Aria and Miranda, her youngest half sisters, tending to chickens. An image of the family at the dinner table, obviously taken through the window. Pictures of her older brothers, those taken to serve the Legion: Mark, Matthew, and Peter. It's been years since she last saw them. All looking tough yet tired in their uniforms. The final image was of her younger half brothers, Cygnus and Felix, wearing uniforms like her elder brothers; Cygnus with a split lip and Felix wearing a faint smile.
Agnes wonders if Peter inquired into why they were having their picture taken. He was always the inquisitive one. They used to have day long adventures in the woods that encircled their childhood home. How she cried when he was taken away by the Bull.
And now she sits at the table of the Bull himself, feeling the press of his boot on her neck.
"What would you have of me?," Agnes sighs.
Caesar smiles mightily.
"Glad that you have come to your senses, Courier. You have made the right decision. You will be working with my best agent," he says, placing a hand on Vulpes' shoulder, who looks at Agnes as if she were his next meal.
"I'm told that you have already met," Caesar continues.
"Unfortunately so," Agnes mumbles under her breath.
To her surprise, a contract was laid out before it. Agnes scans the document, dismayed to find it written exclusively in Latin.
"I can't read this," she announces, pushing the document away.
Vulpes grins eagerly, "You can't read?"
"I can read, " Agnes says firmly. "I can write too, just not in Latin."
Vulpes says something in Latin, most likely a snide comment based upon the toothy grin that spread across Caesar's pompous face.
Agnes shakes her head, "I have no idea what you just said."
Vulpes doesn't elaborate, only giving her a smirk.
"I'm not signing anything I don't understand," she says firmly, leaning back in her chair.
Caesar chuffs in amusement.
"Got spirit doesn't she," he comments to his spy master.
Vulpes sniffs, "It's good to have spirit but it's discipline that wins the day."
Agnes stands, irritated at her treatment.
"Thank you for the lovely meal," she says to Caesar. "I am willing to "assist" your cause but I will not sign a document that I do not understand. Perhaps another document can be drafted in English or a translator can be provided. "
Caesar begins to chuckle as Vulpes cracks yet another smirk. Agnes fights to keep her face neutral while Almighty Caesar continues to laugh, her hands tightly gripping the back of the wooden chair. Had this been the Wastes, she would have laid the bastard out.
"Woman sit down," Caesar orders, still smiling. "Vulpes will be happy to assist you with the document."
Agnes sits down as directed, tightly clinching her fists under the table as her anger swirls. Caesar stands, to which Vulpes rises as well, fixing Agnes with a firm glare. Catching the hint, she stands.
"Take care of this one," he instructs Vulpes. "She is the key to our success, a gift from Mars."
"I will do my best," the spy replies, bowing his head.
Caesar gives a benevolent smile, once again clasping Vulpes by the shoulder.
"I expect nothing less than perfection," Caesar responds. "Take note, Courier. Vulpes is the product of years of training and dedication, you can learn a lot from him. Listen well, he will not lead you astray. If you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to."
Before Caesar can leave, Agnes calls out to him.
"May I keep the pictures? It has been many years since I have seen my family."
Caesar gives a slight smirk before giving a lazy flap of his hand.
"You may, I have no use for them."
"Thank you my liege," she says, bowing her head.
"A gift," Caesar says. "Welcome back, my child."
The golden collared women escort Caesar into the chamber behind the throne. One of them draws the fabric close, briefly making eye contact with Agnes. She gives a slight shake of her head and is gone. This subtle action brings forth a depth of emotion that Agnes is unprepared for, causing her to sigh and hang her head.
Agnes listens as Vulpes begins translate the document.
"I get paid?"
"Unless you'd rather continue to rob the dead," he quips.
"Will I be released from my contract?"
"Depends," Vulpes responds.
"On what?"
"Depends on if you don't die first"
"Ha ha, very funny," Agnes says dryly.
"You trust my translation? ," Vulpes asks at the end of the lengthy document.
Agnes sighs, "What choice do I have?"
"Sign here," he says pointing to a space at the bottom.
Agnes signs her life away. Vulpes signs as well, gently fanning the ink dry.
"Come Courier, let me escort you to your lodgings."
"Agnes, call me Agnes," she requests.
"Little lamb," he smirks.
"Just Agnes."
"Alright, Just Agnes," he says with a grin.
...
The camp looks different in the evening, the pathways illuminated by flickering lamp light. As they meander past the rows of tents, Agnes catches the vibe of Freeside after dark, a place rife with uncaring people and desperation. A loud cry from a nearby tent startles her, causing Agnes to bump into Vulpes. The impact forces him to step in a puddle of unknown origin. Cursing loudly, Vulpes removes his foot from the dark liquid. Agnes offers a sheepish grin, quickly apologizing as men come out of the nearby tents at the noise. Seeing the men, she stands close to Vulpes. The Master Frumentarii orders the men back into their tents before grasping Agnes tightly by her upper arm and dragging her away. They walk the rest of the way in silence, his grip unrelenting.
They arrive at a darkened tent.
"Wait here," Vulpes bites, entering the canvas structure.
Agnes watches him stride inside and after a moment, a soft light shines from within. Vulpes reappears to beckon her in.
The tent is small but with two people, the space is tiny compared to the grandeur of Caesar's accommodations. In the lamplight, Agnes can see his wet foot, darkened from the filth of the puddle.
"I'm really sorry about your foot," she offers. "I didn't mean to do that. I have some water if you want to wash..."
"You always startle so easily?," he interrupts.
"No," she begins. "It's just that Siri told me something that has me a bit concerned."
"What?"
"Apparently some of the men in camp have taken a notice in me and..."
"Do not worry about them," Vulpes says in a firm way.
"But this morning at the Cove," she says.
"That was a fluke," Vulpes says tightly. "It will never happen again. Caesar's word is law. Those men have been punished and word has gotten around."
"I would feel better if I had something to protect myself," Agnes says quickly.
Vulpes eyes her before nodding.
"Okay, you may have one weapon. As long as its not a gun or anything similar," he amends.
"I have a knife, it's has a pearl handle and..."
"That's a rather small knife," Vulpes grins.
"It was a gift from my Father, it means alot to me."
To her surprise Vulpes pulls the knife from seemingly out of thin air.
"It looked valuable," he offers as explanation, handing the blade to her. "Some of the guards can be like crows, interested in the shiny objects."
"Thank you," she says, wondering what else he had of hers.
"Sleep well, my lamb. Tomorrow will be busy day. "
...
All eyes were averted as Vulpes escorts the Courier out of Cottonwood Cove.
As they pass the glowing green fog that covers Camp Searchlight, Vulpes brags about how he captured the town with only two expendable recruits.
"Two recruits killed fifty seven NCR dogs in less than five hours," Vulpes finishes with a proud smile.
Agnes finds the act of smiling after such a statement chilling. She had heard the NCR side of what happened and had even seen the damage first hand during a job with Boone. As Vulpes drones on about his accomplishments, Agnes thinks about Boone, wondering what he was doing at that very moment.
"And that's when I killed President Lincoln," Vulpes said proudly.
The oddness of his statement bringing Agnes back to the Mojave.
"What?!," she sputters, turning to look at him.
" I knew you weren't listening, " he smirks. "How are you to learn, if you won't pay attention?"
Agnes feels her cheeks flush at the feeling of being scolded like a child.
"My apologies," she mumbles.
...
"How did you know?," Agnes asks from across the fire, after setting up camp.
Vulpes merely smirks, making her scowl.
Him and that damnable smirk, she thinks.
"Keep making that face and it might stick," he teases.
Agnes relaxes her face, releasing a long sigh.
"I thought I'd never be found out," she says.
Vulpes once again smirks.
"It really wasn't that hard. Just had an agent follow you around, study your behavior. Once it was discovered that you were sending money to Arizona, that's when it got interesting. Caesar found it hilarious, a Legion citizen working for the NCR."
"I wasn't working for the NCR!, " Agnes huffs. "I simply took their caps, is all."
Vulpes gives her a stern look, "Could have fooled me, didn't you and that dog help clear out Nelson, a Legion held camp? Your pet sniper killed over fifty soldiers while you looted their still warm bodies. I'd say that you most definitely have benefited from your NCR affiliation."
Agnes looks away.
"Fine," she spits. "They're a bunch of hypocrites. Selling their own importance as saviors while planning on enslaving the local population, no better than the Legion."
"No better than House," Vulpes challenges.
Agnes has no response.
"Doesn't matter, they were done with me anyway. I turned them down, refused to be the face of their "Mojave" campaign. Like anybody outside of the desert gives a shit. "
Vulpes grins. "They couldn't control you, so they wanted to control how others saw you. Oldest trick in the book."
The pair fall into silence, only the crackling of the small fire and crickets filling the void.
"You really believe that Mars sent me?," Agnes asks.
Vulpes shrugs, "Caesar believes and that is enough for me."
Agnes shakes her head in disbelieve as she lays back on her bedroll.
"I forgot how backwards the Legion really is."