"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them." -Mark Twain

-o-

The world was twisting and writhing in a greenish, beige and black whirlpool. Hydra's body was warping and her bones were dissolving, an iron grip on her shoulder. It didn't hurt, but was profoundly unpleasant, like being incinerated in acid and reassembled at the same time.

As soon as it started it was over, and she and Vulpes were both gasping outside the gate to the Strip. Hades whined and nosed the ground, rolling over the scratch his back.

"I have not travelled like that…" Hydra put her hands on her knees, retching. "In a long time."

"What…" Vulpes was trying to cover the fact that he was in even worse shape than her. "In the name of Mars was that?"

"Science. Horrid stuff, no?" Hydra almost grinned and held up her wrist, stretching.

She took a few deep breaths and started down an alley, counting her steps. After fifty paces, she knelt at a paving stone and lifted it. Underneath was a hole dug into the ground, containing a set of folded clothes and a comb with a few missing teeth. She brought them out and, checking to make sure the alley was clear, promptly stripped down and began tugging on normal clothes. Vulpes made a choked noise and she looked up to see him turning away.

"Men…" She muttered with a quirk of the mouth, zipping her halfed leather jacket over some warm, red jumper-like thing that showed her scarred midriff. After getting dressed, she combed her hair and immediately ruffled it up again. "Now," She passed a hand over her face and smiled. "I have to make a visit to the Old Mormon Fort."

"You have an assignment to do." Vulpes turned around hesitantly, and seeing that she was dressed, faced her. "Neglecting your duties is not going to raise your status in the Legion or with Caesar."

"Oh, please, Vulpes." Hydra waved a hand, strutting past him in a demeanor so radically different that he couldn't be sure a different person ran in and took her place while his back was turned. "You really think it takes me two weeks to do these missions you give me? The longest took a day, and I spent half of that on my arse. Unlike you, I actually spend my time making connections so people don't think I'm some Legion sociopath. I am, of course, but that's the point."

"I am still in Legion garb." Vulpes said dryly. "Would you like to parade me through Freeside as such?"

"Oh, right," Hydra walked back to the hole where her things were stashed and removed a man's suit and hat. She tossed them back at him. "Get changed, quickly now. I'll be at Fort. If you get bored, go to the Lucky 38 and hang out at the Presidential Suite. If anyone asks, tell them Cotton sent you."

"Cotton? It is no wonder the Legion doubts the skills of a woman."

"It's short for Cottonmouth. Like the snake. I find it to be an appropriate cover name considering my usual title. See you at the Fort."

-O-

"Arcade, dear, how are you?" Hydra walked up to her friend, arms out. The doctor looked up from his clipboard as she approached, and briefly embraced her. He looked down at a happy Hades and gave the dog a scratch behind the ears.

"Hi, Cotton. How are you? Haven't seen you around these parts in a while. I need my monthly dosage of sarcasm." He smiled at her.

"Oh, you certainly know how to treat a lady." Hydra chuckled, rolling her eyes. "I'm fine, you know, despite the whole apocalypse thing."

"There it is! I feel much better now. Oh, there's that crazy boy." He grinned at Hades, who bounced and circled around him. "So, what brings you back down here? Back to test some experimental drugs?"

She laughed, knowing he was only partially joking. "I was popping in to see how you crazy kids are faring without me. Looks like you're not having any life-threatening issues?"

"Not yet." He corrected with a grin that could only be described as mischievous. "Oh, someone came looking for you the other day. At least, we think he was looking for you. He continually asked for a woman who had been a courier carrying the Platinum Chip. He was a ghoul, huge guy, at least seven feet. You know him?"

Hydra blinked, images flickering behind her eyes. "No, I don't know who it could be. Where is he now?"

"He went looking for you on the Strip, I think. I'd be surprised if he got in, because then he must be very rich, very violent or very clever. And I think we'd have heard if someone started slaughtering all the Securitrons outside."

Hydra chuckled again, and caught a figure in the corner of her eye. "Oh, Arcade. This is my good friend, um…Vincent. Vince, this is Arcade Gannon, one of the doctors here at the Mormon Fort."

Arcade smiled politely and shook Vulpes' hand. "Good to meet you, and good luck. This one's a handful."

"Yes, I've gotten that impression." Vulpes glanced sideways at his charge, who pursed her lips and looked back to Arcade.

"Well, we'd better be off." She said brightly. "So nice catching up. Maybe I'll meet that ghoul while I'm on the Strip. Ta!"

"See ya later, Cotton." The doctor waved at them. Hydra took Vulpes' arm and started out of the fort.

"How did any of that benefit us?" Vulpes asked her, leaning down to talk quietly as they passed the Kings.

"It benefits us greatly." Hydra muttered back. She stepped over a large gash in the concrete pavement. "We now know that a skilled doctor is still alive, and more importantly, that someone is looking for me." As they approached the gate to the Strip, she waved to the main Securitron, who allowed them to pass.

The city was gleaming and cheerful as always, the opposite of the depressed, crime-ridden Freeside. People in fancy clothes strutted the streets like primped peacocks and painted hens, chins up in confidence after gambling and drinking to their hearts' content. Prostitutes advertised the Gomorrah with sultry voices on the street corner. The Lucky 38 was relatively dark, but just as inviting as the other casinos. New Vegas really was the eye of the storm—things were bad, but much, much better than the rest of the Wastes.

"Vault 21, was it?" Hydra mused. "I never much cared for it. Made me feel very…paranoid."

"Old world technology." Vulpes said with no lack of scorn.

"That must be it."

They walked through the secondary gate, revealing the flashing Tops and the classy Ultra-Lux. There was group of women dancing naked in the Ultra-Lux fountain, and several NCR officers and Securitrons were attempting to talk them out. From their threats of expulsion from the Republic, the women were apparently also officers—very, very drunk officers. They ran out of the fountain, giggling and coaxing the men. The ladies ran right in from of Hydra and Vulpes, leaving wet footprints on the pavement on their way to the Tops. The distressed NCR officers ran after them, yelling in panic.

Hydra chuckled at the scene. "Is that why the Legion doesn't include women?"

"I suppose that could be a factor. Although that scenario would end up very unfortunately for the women involved." Vulpes gave her a pointed look, and she laughed.

"Do not worry, bone vir. I am not an idiot. I know better than to run around the Fort naked with a population of mainly men. I actually have to know better than to run around fully dressed with a population of mainly men." They stepped through the third gate, which led to Vault 21.

The low, nondescript hotel wasn't nearly as flashy as the others. It was for tourists who didn't have the caps to afford even the Tops. The inside was covered in old pro-Vault posters from before the bombs fell and other such memorabilia. Coffee mugs, jumpsuits, terminals, you name it.

A blond woman was working behind the counter, and looked up. "You two need a room? Finest Vault experience you'll ever find."

"Oh, no." Hydra giggled. "Just seeing the sights, you know." She grinned stupidly, but put her hand on her belt, at her machete.

"Oh, I see." The proprietor nodded nervously and smiled fakely. "Please, go on ahead. Enjoy the Vault!"

"Thanks so much!" Hydra tugged Vulpes along, letting go of his arm and walking purposely down to the underground Vault. The halls were low and cold, made of steel. It was clean, though, cleaner than most of the wastes. It took some serious wandering around to find the room that Martina was renting out. It was clear which was hers as they approached. Three Gomorrah agents were crowded by the door, advancing on the girl with guns drawn.

Hydra didn't hesitate in drawing her machete. She walked up to the agent that looked to be the leader and tapped his shoulder. He turned, irritated. "What do you want? Can't you see we're dealing business here?"

"I want you to leave and never come back." She threatened.

"Oh, yeah? And why should I listen to you, lady?"

She nodded back to Vulpes, drawing her machete just to make a point. "We're with the Legion. You want the wrath of Caesar on the Gomorrah?"

"Okay, okay." The agent put away his gun and held up his hands. "We didn't know she was with the Legion. We'll leave her be." He beckoned to the other agents, and the three men walked out.

Martina looked at them, calming down from her clear terror, hugging herself. Hydra raised a hand in greeting, and a flicker of recognisation flashed in her eyes. She quickly bowed, twice for each of them. The two left the Vault, nodding to the blond woman as they went. To keep up appearances, Hydra took Vulpes' arm once they got back out onto the Strip.

"Is that truly all I had to do?" She asked him once they were outside. "That was insultingly easy."

"I know, but I knew you would carry it out with ease." Vulpes replied, opening the gate to the main section of the Strip. "It was an assignment that would…well, keep you busy while we investigated your loyalty. Caesar has, apparently, found a more satisfying solution to that."

"That is why you are here, then. Hm…" She looked to the left, at the red-and-yellow flashing Tops. "Would you mind? Someone I need to say hello to, again."

Vulpes did a good job at not looking annoyed. "Very well. Who is it this time?"

"The man who shot me in the head." Hydra pushed open the door.

The usual receptionist grinned at her, teeth nearly gleaming. "Hey, baby doll, you know the drill."

"Couldn't you make an exception for lil' ol' me?" She batted her eyelashes, but taking off her weapons, knowing no amount of flirting, persuasion or bartering would help.

"Sorry, baby, you gotta obey the rules like everyone else. Same goes for your date here." He nodded to Vulpes, who handed over his own machete. "Thanks, you two. Have a good time."

"You seem to be on familiar terms with most of New Vegas." Vulpes observed, looking around the casino. "That itself is…unexpected."

"Why, did you not clearly see the blooming social butterfly beneath this tough outer shell?" Hydra smirked and shook her head, keeping her voice down. "Clearly the Legion needs to improve their intelligence gathering, bone vir." Her cheeky grin widened. "Or I am just very, very good."

"It could be both."

"Oh, stop it." She looked across the casino to see a familiar figure in a classic checkered suit, talking to someone and accompanied by Chairmen as always. "Ah, there he is! My very own Death on two feet." Hydra walked over to Benny, who looked up at her.

"Hey, pussycat. Been a while, how ya been?" Benny smiled that cheeky half-smirk. "Takin' care of yourself?"

"Always, Benny. Staying out of trouble, I hope? You wouldn't want me coming down here to keep an eye on you all the time, would you? I have more jobs than just babysitter."

"Hey, runnin' half the Strip ain't easy, sister." He joked, and jerked a thumb at the guy he was talking to. "Look at this fink, for instance. Keeps askin' after you, 'course, I don't know where you are most of the time."

Hydra gave the bloke a look up and down. He was very tall, at least a foot above her, and she wasn't really short. He was a ghoul, and had little scraps of ginger hair still clinging to his head. Lean muscle was exposed in the torn patches of skin, and he stood with the stature of a predatory animal. He seemed sort of vaguely familiar, like he'd passed her in a crowd somewhere, but she couldn't place where. Hades sniffed his leg but didn't seem put off, so she put on her best smile and held out her hand.

"Yes, I've heard you've been looking for me!" Hydra greeted. "I'm Cottonmouth, but you can just call me Cotton. Everybody else does. And you are…?"

"Charon." The ghoul answered after a short pause and shook her hand. "I…have some things to discuss with you."

"Oh, I'm afraid I've only just stopped in to say hi to Ben here." Hydra gestured to Benny, but shrugged and beckoned. "Well, I suppose I can talk and walk. Come on, Vincent and I were just about to leave the Strip. Good seeing you, Benny."

"You too, pussycat. Don't go getting into too much trouble." The Tops owner patted her shoulder as she left.

"You know me." She replied cryptically, calling over her shoulder. Benny waved a hand and shook his head. She and Vulpes got their weapons from the receptionist, who also gave Charon back a large shotgun.

The three walked out calmly but wordlessly, Hades trotting along beside them. Hydra led them across the street to the Lucky 38. The inside of the casino was almost empty, except for a few Securitrons. Hydra called the lift and waited for it to come down. It was an awkward silence. The doors dinged open and they stepped inside. She hit the button for the Presidential Suite and the doors closed again. This silence was awkward as well, and she sincerely hoped that Vulpes was on the same mental wave as her, and didn't just kill the ghoul. It seemed she was correct, as when they stepped into the suite, no one pulled out a weapon right away. Hades ran inside happily and made a beeline for the bedroom to roll around on the bed.

"Let's use the kitchen." Hydra suggested, and led the men to the room. A long dining table was set up with empty glasses and plates. She sat down, and Vulpes took the seat beside her, looking impatient. Charon sat across from them. "So, why have you been looking for me?"

"Do you remember me?" The ghoul asked.

"No."

"I thought not. What do you remember of D.C?"

"D.C?" Hydra still kept up her persona, though it was slipping, as she grew irritated. "Can't say I've ever been there."

Charon looked at least a little surprised. "You mean you remember nothing?"

"Nothing of what?"

Charon looked at her, and seemed to notice the bullet scar in her forehead. A glaze of realisation came over him, and he sat back in his chair. "I see." He reached to his belt and set a folded piece of paper on the table between them.

Hydra grabbed it and read it over. "'Whomever holds this contract…' What is this?"

"My contract." Charon explained. "You purchased it from the previous holder in Washington, D.C. I am under oath to do whatever you wish of me, and two years ago you left on a job to deliver a Platinum Chip. You told me that if you did not return in one year, I was to find you."

"So that is why you have come looking. Intriguing." Hydra folded the paper. "You knew me before this?" She touched her forehead.

"Yes. Very well. I was your…bodyguard for three years."

"How do I know you are telling the truth?"

"Why would I walk across the country to lie to you?"

"Fair enough." Hydra held out her hand. "You may call me Hydra. This is my superior officer, V—er..." She actually trailed off, and switched her language to Latin to speak to Vulpes. "I am not sure if I should tell him your name. You're even more infamous than I, and there is more than likely a bounty on your head."

"Tell him what you wish. He cannot kill both of us at once." Vulpes answered in the same language, and they turned back to Charon.

"As I was saying, this is my superior officer, Vulpes Inculta." Hydra tilted her head slightly to him. "Now, about this contract. Am I still the holder after two years' hiatus?"

Charon hesitated. "I'm not sure. No one has ever not held the contract before, and I'm not permitted to read it."

Hydra scanned through the tiny, faded and cursive handwriting. "Here," She pointed to a section in the second paragraph. "It states that if no one holds the contract for a full year, it negates to the last person who held it." She rubbed the tallow paper. "So, you are mine now, correct?"

"Yes." Charon answered obediently.

"And you will answer any questions I ask you?"

"To the best of my ability."

"Why did I leave to the Mojave for the courier job?"

"The money." Charon answered immediately, causing Hydra to smirk. "We needed caps and you saw it as an opportunity."

"Yes, that sounds like you." Vulpes added, getting a bark of dry laughter from her.

"Thank you kindly, bone vir." She stood and brushed off her arse of dust, and tucked the contract into her pocket. "Charon, what was my name before?"

"You called yourself Venom, although I believe your true name was—"

"What is with me and snakes? That would be a psychologist's dream." Hydra cut the ghoul off before he could go further, though why, she didn't know. "Come along, boys. Charon, refer to me as Cotton while on the Strip, and to Vulpes as Vincent."

"As you wish." He intoned back in a voice that said he had repeated those words many times.

"We will not be in the Strip much longer, anyway." Vulpes said sternly, and Hydra nodded.

"Yes, I have no more troublesome social visits to make. Now, if you would both hold my shoulder, we can—"

"No." Vulpes said immediately. "Nothing you say will convince me to use that…thing ever again. We can walk back to Cottonwood Cove."

"But…"

"Keep in mind, Hydra, that I am still ranked above you, wherever we may be. And we will be walking."

Hydra sighed. "Of course, bone vir." She gave him a small bow and salute, just as a show of respect. Charon looked shocked, but said nothing. Hades joined up with them as the lift opened and they piled inside. Hydra led them back through the Tops to retrieve their weapons, and then back to Freeside. She counted her steps again to find her and Vulpes' armour under the pavement stone, but didn't put it on. She tossed Vulpes his armour and took hers, and pushed the stone back into place.

-O-

"Ahh." Hydra sighed, adjusting the hem of her tunic. Neither she nor Vulpes had bothered putting on the armour plates, as night was falling quickly. "Much better."

She sat by the small campfire they had going, and Hades crawled up to lie in her lap despite his size. He yawned as she scratched his ears, and Vulpes scoffed. "The softest mutt in all the Legion."

"He is, but I'm stuck with him." Hydra lifted his lips to reveal large, pointed and stained teeth. She made a growling noise, and Hades shook himself away. "He can't even pretend to be mean. Stupid dog."

She looked back up to the mildly amused Vulpes. His eyes were blue, she realised. A very interesting, pale blue, like how she imagined frost would look. It was quite dark, and his irises were like rings of light against the shadows. And then she realised that she had been staring for far too long than appropriate, and he was watching her.

"Yes?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Hydra shook her head and looked away. "It's nothing." With Hades already dozing off on her lap, she decided to leave Vulpes the first watch. She curled up next to the hound, and in the red Mojave dust, she dreamed of memories.