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Josh Walked from the building and down the street, his mind rampant with ideas of who would want to kill him and why, being a mercenary and a ranger he had made quite the host of enemies. His leather jacket was blooded from the fight with the men; he whipped it off quickly and loaded another shell into his revolver. The noise of footsteps head his way made him quicken his pace. He turned down an alley, a few homeless people stood up from beside their makeshift beds and grabbed sticks, knives and on had a hammer. Josh already knew that one flash of his revolver and they would back down, the tactic worked again.
His fast walking pace luckily put him away from the scene of the conflict and any of the NCR MPs and King Gang members that served as law enforcement for Freeside and the strip. The former ranger found himself back at the Wrangler, his home for the moment. He opened the wooden door and stepped in, the sounds of the band, people, and the other sounds found in a bar accompanied him into the run down casino. He looked around the room, his adrenaline rush was still going and his suspicions had been raised quite considerably due to the last twenty minuets. He saw a few men who would be threats if they weren't drunk. He sat at a table in the corner, his sight was such away he could see the entire room, and every door. He removed his hat placing it on the table, a waitress walked up to him, wasn't one he recognized considering at this time of night he was passed out upstairs or at one of the strip casinos.
"Can I get you anything babe?" The waitress asked him her hips cocked suggestively. Josh looked up at the waitress checking her out, for weapons.
"Ill take a bottle of whiskey, and a gecko steak" Josh said looking foreword at the stage watching the band play. A large figure sat down next to him, he couldn't see the person really well since it was his left and his eye on that side was missing.
"Can you add a vodka and iguana to that as well" the person who now occupied the other seat at the table that Josh was sitting at said in a heavy Russian accent. The ranger turned to see the last person he expected, an old friend.
"Nikoli Brezhnev" Josh said holding out his hand "it has been to long Moui Droog"
The Russian man smiled and took the hand of his friend. Nikoli's Russian heritage showed in him, his accent was gathered from his parents when he lived in a vault that was dedicated to Russian heritage Americans, he resembled the pre-war actor Dolph Lundgren.
"So how has everything been Josh?" Nikoli asked, leaning back in his chair.
"Well, for the most part. Working as a merc has been profitable" Josh said to the Russian.
"You know what I meant, Josh please I know you more like a brother than a friend" Nikoli said.
"It keeps me up at night, Nikoli. It's been fourteen years since her death and the nightmares haven't got in less frequent" Josh said. Nikoli nodded his head.
"I see, and the fact that Vulpus was saved didn't help" Nikoli said.
"No, it doesn't" Josh said his hand balling into a fist "I would give anything to kill that bastard" Josh slammed his fist into the table.
"What's wrong Josh?" A women's voice asked from his side. Josh turned to see Jess standing next to him, her work outfit on. The Daisy dukes and short cut tank top reviled a lot of skin and left little to imagination.
"Who is this Grimm?" Nikoli inquired his voice as full of charm as his Russian accent would allow. Jess looked at the man that Josh had as company at the table, her eyes looked concerned.
"Nikoli, meet Jess" Josh said. She held out her hand for a hand shake but instead Nikoli took her hand and kissed the top of it.
"Charmed Miss Jess, my name is Nikoli Brezhnev. I am at your service" the Russian said, Josh rolled his eye. I forgot how suave Nikoli must always be with the ladies Josh thought as he rolled his one eye. Jess blushed a little; she had grown use to the kind treatment from Josh and the Garrett's but being a prostitute she was usually treated poorly.
"Charmed Mister Brezhnev" Jess said, she looked down at Josh her hands on her hips "Now tell me what is wrong, Josh" Josh patted his lap for the girl to sit down in, she did her worried expression on her face the whole time. She gets so worked up about me Josh thought as her weight landed in his lap.
"Well, about forty minutes ago I was ambushed by ten men" Josh said to both Jess and Nikoli "They where hired by a King known as Frank Fenix"
"Oh my god, are you okay?" Jess asked her eyes wide. Nikoli started to laugh at the comment.
"What?" Jess asked the chuckling Russian.
"It would take more than ten poorly trained mercenaries to kill Joshua Grimm" Nikoli said.
"Thanks Nikoli, Me and this scumbag go way back Jess. He was part of my team of rangers back in the day" Josh said "After his vault was raided he grew up with me in the hub, we watched each others backs for a long time"
"Please don't bring up ancient history, there is a more pressing matter to attend and that is the attack" Nikoli said "I have a hunch that he was a middle man, not the man after you"
"You are correct, perceptive as always" Josh said "he has information I want though about who did hire him and through him the men who tried to kill me"
"So? Just leave it alone Josh you don't need another way to get yourself killed" Jess said poking the rangers chest.
"Look Jess, I can't let this go. What if they attack me again, or even find out about me and you and go for you?"
"I don't want you to kill anymore I told you that. You should lets this go before it does kill you" Jess said her voice raised in anger.
"We won't kill anybody Miss Jess; just go snooping around for any clues. Besides we won't go tonight. I need my rest and so does he" Nikoli said in his accent "Now we can talk about the plan in detail latter, for now lets just enjoy seeing old friends and some refreshment"
"Ok, fine but im not dropping this Jess I wont risk anything happening again" Josh said "So tell me how you have been Nikoli"
Jason Jaggers was sitting in his usual chair; his eyes looked over the screen of a terminal that displayed a message from his good friend General Hsu.
Jason:
The president is coming to Vegas to discuss this with you in person; he feels that this needs his involvement. The legions return to power is most troublesome and while he doesn't like the idea of killing millions, the idea of being conquered is even less appealing. However the senators and his opponents in the government would never sanction this, they are too liberal. The president wants to see a full plan and anyone involved in it when he gets here, in person. The plan can not in any way implement the NCR or his involvement. Consider this message top secret, news of another legion would cause mass panic and the idea of using a nuclear device to destroy it would cause some people to go just as crazy.
General Hsu
"Yes man, destroy any evidence that this message exists, I don't want anyone to find out about this" Jason said.
"Yes sir" the Robot said from the corner.
"And have Alfred get me some scotch and milk" Jason said. The Ruler of the strip set his hands on the terminals key board and sent a message to General Hsu through the McCarran network. He then activated a video chat program and clicked on an item labeled "Hidden valley, Elder Victoria". The sound of a phone ringing filled the room till there was a click.
"This better be good Jason, I was enjoying my sleep" Said a very disgruntled Victoria Santiago. Her face for someone who was around sixty still had the completion of some one in their forties, except for her hair which was now snow white. The effect of old age and a strange radiation mutation she picked up awhile back while leading a patrol thought the Mojave when McNamara was still Elder.
"I am in need of your assistance in a very serious matter" Jason said.
"What matter is so important that you had to wake me up at three in the morning?" Victoria said.
"The Legion is back to full strength" Jason said "thank you Alfred"
"You are welcome sir" said the robot in a programmed stereotypical English accent.
Jason took a sip of the drink, the women on the other side of the video chat stared at him. The video chat network was a creation of the Brotherhood and Jaggers for quick communication with each other but expanded to include both the SS patrols and the brotherhood. The two often worked together towards the same goals, and the result of the network was a tactical advantage over any enemy that they faced.
"I assume you need more than that, my dear" Jason said "The legion has been backed by an unknown source, one with tech the level of the Enclave when the appeared on the east coast in DC" Jason said. The Brotherhood Elders eyes grew wide and she got closer to the screen from her seat.
"You now have my undivided attention" Victoria said.
"I have a plan to deal with this more directly than I have already been" Jason said taking a drink "However a more direct action is required"
"With that tech and the if I my guess is correct, the legion has better training, then I agree" Victoria said "I don't care if the Brotherhood is known for this, and you have my full support"
"Good, some of the things we need you don't have others you can make" Jason said.
"Such as?" the elder asked.
"First, a nuclear device that can be broken down into enough parts for a small team to carry second is enough men to attack multiple bases rapidly without traveling over land. The attack must be done as soon as the weapon goes off so that means power armored solders that you have plenty of" Jason took a drink "the legion will be confused from the sudden communication block, the bases closest to the capitol that are going to be assaulted wont have any energy weapons or power armor, the EMP will insure that"
"I see what the problem is, we don't have that sort of rapid assault capabilities" Victoria said "but the east coast Brotherhood does, I can get a message to them using the satellite network that the brotherhood managed to infiltrate after we exited our vaults"
"Do it, without this part it is pointless to go foreword" Jason said "and as for the device, what can you tell me?"
"We have one that can be broken down but I don't know your definition of a small team" Victoria said.
"How many parts is it?"
"Ten, including the uranium and explosives" Victoria said to the Ruler of Vegas.
"Then ten is the number of our team, we have NCR backing on this but only through funds if we need any from what Hsu tells me"
"Great, looks like the Brotherhood gets to play hero" Victoria said "ill talk to you when I hear from the east" The screen went black and then went back to the network interface; Jason clicked on one for a SS team leader currently in Freeside.
"Yes sir?"
"Bring me Joshua Grimm"
Josh and Nikoli walked down the stairs of the wrangler, the two rangers had gone over the plan and hoped that any violence could be prevented for their own sake and Jess's worries. The Casino was packed as always as the two made for the door, the band playing covered their conversation.
"It is simple we go in search his residence and get out, hopefully we wont need to interrogate but it my come down to that" Josh said.
"Its fine by me, I don't care ether way" Nikoli said "We have our objective"
"That is true" Josh said "besides I don't mind beating a man who sent someone to kill me"
"So you and Jess…" Nikoli said in his heavy Russian accent. Josh looked at his friend and opened the door to the street.
"Ill tell you on the way" Josh said walking out the door, it shut behind him. A man however heard the conversing of the friends and fallowed them out the door shortly afterword after speaking in to a pip boy on his wrist.
The two men walked down the street at an easy pace to avoid drawing attention to them.
"Jess was what got me back on my feet after a serious nose dive" Josh said "it was late one night and I was staying at the York motel in Westside. I ended up drunk in a ditch when she found me, I was in bad shape"
"That is truly surprising that you would ended up like that Josh" Nikoli said as the two came to the intersection that had the gate between upper and lower Freeside.
"You lose your entire family and see where you end up" Josh snapped at him "anyway she nursed me back to health; she has such a kind heart. I got to knew her, I told her everything about me and eventually we started to get more involved then being just friends" Josh said.
"And the fact she sleeps with other men doesn't bug you?" Nikoli said.
"I understand it's her job no matter how vile, besides she only works two or three nights a week. It bugs me though but me killing men for money bugs her just as much"
"I doubt she only works three nights a week for you Moi Droog" Nikoli said chuckling as he opened the door to the Kings School of Impersonation. The entrance room was somewhat empty, except for a king at the counter and another on one of the benches that lined the room; it was obvious the two served as a night guard.
"Can I help you two" said the man, his eyes narrowed at the two former rangers.
"Yes we have a message from the Mojave express for one Frank Fenix" Josh said laying a holotape on the counters top.
"Ill make sure he gets it, now scram" The king said.
"You see the thing is that this needs to be delivered face to face, the sender requested it. Something about for Frank to see and hear only" Josh said.
"Frank is not in his room right now" The king said "but if you want I will take you to his room to put it in his room"
"That would be fine" Josh said.
"Hey Bryant ill be right back once these two deliver this also important message" said the king earning a grunt from the one on the bench "you two fallow me"
The three men walked through the old building, the closed doors muffled the sound of snoring. The halls where darkened from the lack of decent lighting but the stairs where well lit as the men walked up the creaking wooden structures. The three stayed quite out of respect for the sleeping men around them. They came to a door labeled 207.
"Here you are boys, now slide it under the door and get out" the gangster said facing Nikoli as Josh placed the holotape on the floor, the king watching him the whole time. Just then Nikoli snapped his fingers, the gangsters head shoot up. In a split second Josh got the man in a choke hold a knocked him out. The kings eyes bulged and he tried to yell but couldn't from the restriction of airflow through his voice box. Josh nodded to Nikoli and the Russian man went to work picking the lock of the door. He snapped one of the bobby pins and muttered some curses in Russian under his breath. He tried again and the door swung open.
"Nothing I can't unlock with force or charm" he said quietly smiling.
"Your funny, you know that" Josh said dragging the unconscious king into the room as Nikoli closed the door.
Frank Fenix opened the door to the building where his home resided and stepped through the door.
"Hey Frankie, some couriers are here with a message fors ya" Bryant said.
"Message, I wasn't expecting a message" Frank said and then walked off for his room.
"Yeah, well that happens. If you see Joey tells him to get back down here" Bryant said. Frank Fenix was suddenly suspicious of what was going on, I worked to hard to get here for Caesar I am not going to fall now he thought expecting the worst, if they find any of the holotape my cover is blown!
"Josh, found something" Nikoli said pulling something from a desk drawer, It was a holotape. Josh looked at it, something on it drew his attention but he couldn't make out what it was. The sound of a door handle creaking drew the two ranger's attention as their focus suddenly shifted from the holotape to the door as it swung open to revile a man wearing black pants and jacket with a white shirt. His hair done up in the usual king fashion, he drew w revolver and aimed it at Nikoli.
"What are you doing, you fucks?" Frank Fenix asked.
"Frank put the gun down" Nikoli said in his Russian accent. Frank glanced around and saw the unconscious Joey. His eyes grew wide and the rangers dove as Frank fired of a shoot from the weapon. Josh drew his own weapon, not his usual revolver but a silenced ten-mil. He cranked out two rounds in rapid succession, Franks chest erupted in blood as the slugs smashed into him at only ten feet away.
"Out the window Josh!" Nikoli said as he ran at the glass pane. He dived out it quickly followed by Josh who still had the Holotape in his hand. The two landed rolling to absorb the impact only to be tackled by some unknown people.
"You are coming with us you two" said a voice right before black blindfolds went over the ranger's eyes and cuffs around their wrists.
Jason sat looking out of the large window in front of him; he stared at the horizon like a hawk. He half expected at any moment the legion to come pouring over it. The sound of the elevator drew his attention, and then sound of footsteps approached him. His vision shifted to the four members of his Secret Service or SS as they were referred to by most of the citizens of the wasteland. The SS member wore their standard armor, a reinforced version of the Chinese stealth suit. The men forced the two captives in their awaiting chairs and removed their blind folds. Josh and Nikoli blinked a few times and then looked at the man who had ordered them brought before him. Jason Jaggers ice blue, almost robotic eyes gazed at them, almost as if he could see into their souls. Josh shifted uncomfortably.
"Please show some hospitality and remove the handcuffs" Jason said. The Armored men did as instructed and then stood back at attention behind the two rangers.
"Leave us, be you have other assignments to carry out" Jason said. The four men nodded, the suits stealth field activated and the four seemed to disappear from sight. The sound of the elevator a few minutes later confirmed that they had indeed left.
"Alfred get our guests some refreshments and bring a holotape reader" Jason said "you are obviously wondering why you have been brought here"
"Yeah, it is a big deal when the SS tackles you and then you end up in front of the ruler of where you live" Josh said.
"I would assume so, however that is not our topic for discussion tonight" Jason said pulling a cigar from his pocket and placing it in his teeth "Would ether one of you two have a lighter on you?"
Josh grabbed his light from a coat pocket and light the mans cigar for him, the device licked shut. Jason took a deep inhale and let out a cloud of smoke that made a fog around his head. The robot named Alfred came wheeling up to the men and presented water to the rangers who grabbed it and drank it down.
"Go ahead and plug in the holotape and lets find out what Frankie was hiding" Jason said. Josh took the holotape and plugged it in to the device that Alfred had in his other hand.
"Agent Lupus Fenix, you have done well infiltrating deep into the Mojave society, however Vulpus whishes for none to be ready to oppose him. Your new mission is to find away to take out the list of people on this holotape, send this back once your objective is completed, Hail Caesar Vulpus" said a voice from the speaker. Josh's eyes grew wide at the knowledge that he had just absorbed.
"You have been brought here because you are my best option for the mission I have" Jason said.
"Yeah, well why not use the SS?" Nikoli said.
"My men are currently busy investigating other matters, besides I don't have the man power to do this" Jason took another hit from the cigar "my men are good but their goals are elsewhere to help this entire mission but you are what I need to carry out the main objective, kill Vulpus Caesar. He has reformed the legion and now rules New Rome. The Legion he commands is better equipped and better trained than ever before, it threatens the NCR, the Mojave and every free man. I can not sit by waiting to get attacked to justify a war like the NCR congress and President, so I have decided that I need the best to carry this preventive strike out, that is you Joshua Grimm" Jason said pointing the burning coal at the end of the cigar at him "you are the best ranger the NCR has ever had, along with a natural leader and a personal stake in this, Vulpus has your daughter"
"What, she is alive? My Sarah?" Josh asked him on the edge of his seat now.
"Yes, he as raised her as his own, she goes by the name Antigone" Jason said "I will give you anything you want in my power that is to give"
"Wait how would we get a nuclear bomb to the New Roman capitol, it's all the way in Utah" Nikoli said.
"First you will need a ten man team, no less. I have taken the liberty of gathering the locations of the other four of your team" Jason said picking up a envelope and handing it to Josh.
"Second, you have a week to do so and return to me" Jason said "now name your price and I will see that it is meet when the job is done"
Josh sat in his seat deep in thought, this can't be happening, my luck is not this good. I could use this to get everything back and make a life for me and Jess. No more mercenary work, no more prostitution and I can get Sarah back.
"What are you thinking Josh?" Nikoli asked him as he looked at his friend questing.
"How about you, what's going through your mind" Josh asked.
"A lot but I know the price for this is not possible, so I would rather do this and die for something then die for nothing" Nikoli said.
"What are you talking about?" Josh asked him.
"I didn't want to tell you because I just found out myself, I have lung cancer" Nikoli said "the Followers at the old Mormon fort told me I have less than a year to live"
"I am sorry Nikoli, I can not cure your cancer" Jason said to the Russian.
"I know" The old beaten ranger said, s single tear rolled down his cheek "I once took a oath to defend the free people of the world, and to fight tyrants anywhere, anytime not matter what. I swore loyalty to death to that creed; my price is that you give me the chance to die for that and this mission will do nicely. Im only in if Josh is however"
Josh looked at the Russian friend he had grown up with; his heart went out to him for his plight. His resolve then became set, Josh looked up at Jason.
"I want you to give me, my daughter, and Jess Monroe a new home and two hundred thousand caps when I return" Josh said.
"Consider it done Mister Grimm" Jason said smiling at the ranger.
"Then I am in, I will kill Vulpus Caesar"
"Excellent" Jason said tapping ashes from the cigar into the ash trey in his chairs armrest.
Please read and review, till next chapter.