Layla could tell Veronica was antsy about going back to Elder McNamara. She couldn't really blame the other girl; she'd asked Veronica not to mention the whole 'NCR wants us to kill everyone' thing. She'd told the scribe she was working on a plan.

The truth was she had no clue what to do. The last time someone had asked her to blow up Hidden Valley, it hadn't gone well for anyone. This time around, she'd decided that no matter what, no one was going to die over it.

They'd gone back to the 38 after a few days at Camp Golf. Raul had gone home. Veronica needed to go home to deliver some holotapes. ED-E had wanted to go, but Layla had been wary of getting him around Lorenzo again. Mainly because he might try to get another bug in the robot. She'd told Boone to stay home and finish recuperating, but that hadn't gone very far.

The Elder was at his desk in the command room when they entered. Looking up, he gave her that same guarded smile he always did. His expression got a little colder as he saw Boone enter.

"Is there something you need?" McNamara asked, and Layla fidgeted. She had hoped going to Hidden Valley would give her an idea, but nothing had come yet.

"Oh," Veronica said suddenly, "We found these…" she stepped up and handed the man a stack of holotapes they'd found on Brotherhood scouting parties out in the Mojave.

"They were all dead," the scribe continued with a frown. McNamara looked at them with a somber expression, and Layla bit her lip.

"Is there anything else you guys needed…?" She could imagine the looks on her companions' faces, but it seemed like everyone needed help in this desert. And it was a nice way to buy some time to think.

"Well…" The Elder frowned. "Normally I wouldn't trust an outsider with something like this, but Veronica does vouch for you." He looked to the scribe, and she nodded. "There is the matter of our scouts in the field."

"They have holotapes your Pip-Boy should be able to pick up," McNamara continued. "I need you to get their reports. After the other parties went missing, they were told to hold their position and maintain radio silence. Mention that I've sent you, and ask 'If the bears are still hunting.' They should give you their reports."

Layla nodded. "We'll head out now."

*.*.*

They found the first scout, a twitchy knight named Samson, on a rock near the NCR correctional facility. He'd nearly shot at them, but Veronica had managed to talk him down. Unsurprisingly, the man had thought Boone was an NCR assassin coming after him. Once he heard the passcode, he'd calmed down.

"My report's all here," Samson said, and Layla noticed him still occasionally giving Boone a cautious look. "This facility had been taken over by the prisoners. The NCR waited too long before taking it back. Long enough so that most of the convicts escaped."

Layla bit her lip. "But they did take it back, eventually. And they totally blew up the fence in the process." Samson gave her a strange look, and she noted Veronica and Boone doing the same. She couldn't help but smile at the memory.

"I was there. I'd been doing a little undercover work for the soldiers stationed outside of Primm. Once we got an idea of what the Powder Gangers - that's what the convicts started calling themselves," she said to Samson. "Once we knew what they were up to, I helped a group take the prison back. I mean, I barely did anything personally, but it was still awesome to watch."

"You went undercover?" Boone said incredulously. Layla leveled a mock glare at him.

"Yes, and Lt. Hayes said I'd done an excellent job," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. The sniper was undoubtedly thinking about the last time she'd done 'undercover' she'd almost cried when a ranger threatened to arrest her.

"It was one of the first things I did after I caught that case of head-bulletitis in Goodsprings."

Now the whole group was giving her a strange look.

*.*.*

"Elder McNamara sent us-"

"Why the hell did the elder send one of the gofers, an outsider, and an NCR goon?" the scout said testily before Veronica could finish. She noticed Boone giving him the same annoyed look she was. The scout had always been a bastard.

"It doesn't matter, Phil," she shot back, hands on her hips. "He did and we have the pass code, 'Are the bears still hunting?'"

The scout glared at her, but dug around in his armor, producing a holotape.

"There's my report. This camp-" he nodded towards Forlorn Hope, which was partially visible from the vantage point on the ridge overlooking the valley between it and Nelson, "was in a stalemate with the Legion for a very long time. They're in better shape now, but they would have been in a lot of trouble if reinforcements hadn't shown up."

"That's probably true," Layla spoke up as she surveyed the valley. Looking back Phil's way, she frowned. "How is it no one at Forlorn Hope has seen you? There are even rangers in the sniper posts now."

"They're not as observant as they'd like to think," the knight sniffed.

"Maybe they just don't think you're a threat," Boone grumbled. Veronica couldn't help it when she snorted; Boone was hilarious when he was pissed off.

"They're probably distracted," Phil bit out, then looked Layla's way. "Between the Legion attacks and how often you show up and disrupt everything, I'm not surprised they didn't see me."

Now Layla was giving him an offended look. Veronica sighed heavily.

"Let's move on," said the scribe. "We don't want to keep Phil here from his important job: staring at an empty valley."

Phil glared at her as they left.

*.*.*

"Last one," Veronica said as they made their way up a ridge overlooking a small, ruined town. "He should be right over here."

Sure enough, there was a man in Brotherhood recon armor at the edge of the cliff. He turned to face them as they approached. The man kept his hand loosely at his side near his gun, but didn't make any threatening moves.

"Veronica?" he said incredulously, squinting in their direction. "What are you doing here?"

"Picking up your report," the scribe answered, then turned to Boone and Layla, "This is Davish, pretty much the only scout without a stick up his ass."

"Layla," the Courier said, smiling politely. "He's Boone." The knight nodded to them, looking amused at Veronica's description. The mirth faded a moment later.

"I'm afraid my report isn't going to be a pleasant one," Davish explained, then gestured past the cliff. Boone saw they were overlooking Nipton. He remembered hearing that the town had gone silent. That hadn't been long before Layla had shown up in Novac.

"The people here were brutally attacked. Almost ever man, woman and child killed by the Legion," Davish continued. "That this could happen so far west speaks poorly of the NCR's control of their borders."

Boone frowned; that was an understatement. It irritated him to hear it from someone outside of the NCR, even if it was accurate. Glancing over, he found Layla staring out at the town. Boone could see crosses that had been made by telephone poles lining the main street. Luckily, there weren't any bodies on them; Layla looked upset enough as it was.

"At any rate, here's my report," Davish said as he handed Veronica a holotape. "Elder McNamara will surely be interested in what I've witnessed."

"Thank you," Veronica said. "We'll get this to him."

For a moment nobody moved. Boone noticed Layla was still staring out at Nipton.

"Layla?" Veronica said, making the other girl jump.

"Oh! Let's go," she said, blushing. "Uh, thank you Davish."

The scout nodded, and they made their way back to the road. The sun was starting to dip below the horizon. Veronica frowned.

"We'd probably better camp for the night," she said. Boone nodded, and started looking around for a good spot. There was a blown out building that used to be a Jackal hideout. It wasn't much protection, but one wall was better than no walls, and he seemed to remember there was a fire pit as well.

"Hey, are you okay?" he heard Veronica ask. She was facing Layla, who still looked dazed.

"I'm fine," the Courier said, rubbing her forehead. "I'm sorry, just thinking."

"You're sure you're okay?" the scribe pressed. "What is it?"

"I… It doesn't matter. It was a long time ago," she said cryptically, then looked around. "We're stopping for the night?"

Veronica nodded, hands on her hips. Layla started for the Jackal hideout before she could be questioned further.

*.*.*

The man with a dog on his head was beckoning to her. It was a hood made from a wolf skin, she was pretty sure. The town was on fire, there were dying men tied to crosses along the street, and the group she was nearly certain had caused it stood in the center of the destruction, waiting for her.

She thought for a moment to turn and run. If she just kept running all the way back to the Mojave Outpost, or at least until she got within Ghost's sights, she'd be okay. But the men who were still staring at her looked a lot stronger than her. Even if she was faster, they had dogs. She couldn't outrun dogs.

Trying to calm herself down, she weighed her options. She was vastly outnumbered, had nowhere she could run, probably nowhere she could hide before they got her. Couldn't run, couldn't fight, she had to try to talk her way out of this.

Willing herself to stop shaking, she walked up to the wolf-head guy. He was wearing dark goggles; she couldn't see his eyes. It was so much harder to know where you stood with someone if you couldn't see their eyes.

She stopped far enough away from him that she could at least make one desperate attempt to run if they did decide to kill her. The man looked at her. Even without seeing his eyes, she could tell he was sizing her up.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to lash you to a cross like these degenerates," Wolf-head said. Layla stiffened; the man's voice was quiet and dangerous. Just the sound of it immediately put her on edge.

"You're coming here is fortunate," he continued.

"Why?" Layla managed to speak, but hadn't been able to keep the tremor out of her voice. She couldn't talk her way out of this; they were going to torture her and kill her and there-

"I want you to observe the lesson here…" he continued.

Oh God, he was going to kill her. She should have listened to her mother and never left California. She should have at least listened to her brother and hired a bodyguard. But how the hell was she supposed to afford a bodyguard making courier money-

"…And when you leave, I want you tell others of what you've seen."

"I… what?" she sputtered. He wasn't going to kill her? "What lesson?"

"Where to start?" Wolf-head said, sounding amused. "That they were weak and we were strong? But that isn't what was important. This town was punished for its disloyalty. They were willing to betray those they sheltered. Even when they were given their punishment, their only thoughts were of themselves… even as 'loved ones' were put to flame."

Oh Christ, this guy was insane. She glanced at the other men, and found them either staring at her grimly or nodded at what Wolf-head said.

"This was a town of whores, willing to service any who came. Any passersby, profligate soldiers, even men of the Legion, such as myself."

"Y-you're Legion?" She'd never seen a Legionary before. Suddenly all the warnings she'd been given about them came to mind. Most pointedly her ranger brother's just as she was leaving Shady Sands for the Mojave.

'If Legion soldiers find you, you run. And keep running until you're somewhere safe. The Outpost, one of the ranger stations, McCarran or Golf, doesn't matter. Just don't talk to them, don't try to fight. Run.'

"Yes," the man answered, smiling at her and she had to keep herself from recoiling as he did.

"This is unforgivable." She heard herself say. She had to say something, at least try to put on a brave face, but going by the knowing look Wolf-head was giving her, it must not have been very convincing.

"As are all crimes," he replied in the same calm tone. "If you feel so strongly about it, attack me. Then you'll feel nothing at all."

Now he was just playing with her. Some stupid part of her riled at his goading, but she wisely made no hostile move. The Legionary smiled further.

"Spread my sermon to the other profligates; Caesar will take the Mojave." And with that, he turned and started walking away. The other Legionaries followed him, taking their dogs with them. Layla watched as they left, too stunned to move.

A groan from behind interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to face the crucified men. She couldn't save them; they were too far gone to be healed. But she could at least put them out of their misery. As she reached the first one, she pulled her old 10mm from her holster and pointed it at the man, her eyes filling with tears.

*.*.*

The Courier tossed and turned in her sleeping bag, groaning. Layla was having a nightmare. A bad one by the look of it. Veronica had noticed her sleep was more troubled in the last few weeks. Her 'trip' to the Big Empty had only made them worse.

She moaned again, then whimpered. The scribe couldn't stand hearing it anymore and turned her way, only to find Boone reaching for her already.

"Hey," he said giving her a gentle shake. "Wake up." He shook her again, and Layla gasped raggedly as her eyes opened.

"W-Where?" she sputtered, eyes unfocused as she looked around frantically. "What…?"

"It's okay, you're safe," Veronica said soothingly as she moved to her side. "Calm down."

The Courier sat up, rubbing her forehead with a shaking hand. She took a few moments to breathe, and her eyes started focusing on them. The Courier took a look at their concerned faces and looked suddenly embarrassed.

"What was it about?" Veronica asked. "Your were having a bad dream, right?"

She nodded and started chewing her lip. After a moment, she sighed and answered.

"Nipton."

Veronica frowned. "Yeah, what Davish saw was pretty nightmare worthy."

Layla sighed. "I was there, right after it happened. I walked into town just as the Legionaries who did it were leaving."

"What?" Boone asked, looking grim. "When?"

"I was on the way to Novac," she answered. "I was alone. Vulpes let me live so I could tell people what he did. Scare tactics," she grumbled.

"Vulpes was there?" Veronica cried. "And he just let you go? I bet he regrets that now," the scribe said.

"Yeah, probably," Layla said, picked at a fingernail nervously. Scooching closer, Veronica put an arm around her. The Courier smiled half-heartedly at her.

"Well, I think I'm done sleeping for a while," she grumbled. "If you guys want to get some more rest, I'll keep watch."

"Nah, I'm good for now," Veronica said, and she saw Boone nod. Layla had only been asleep an hour anyway. The Courier grinned a little, then looked out along the road.

"… What is that?" she said, pointing down the road. "Is that coming from the Mojave Drive-In?"

Boone was already on his feet, rifle scope up to his face. "Looks like the projector's working again."

"I thought you guys took it apart?" Layla said, confused.

"We put it back together, thinking it might be the only way you could come back…" Veronica said.

"Well, let's go see what it is," Layla said, standing. She frowned at the faces she got from both Veronica and Boone.

"I.. can't tell you why. But I'm pretty sure nothing will happen. And if something does happen, I can fix it," she said confidently.

Boone glanced Veronica's way, and she shrugged. "If you're sure," she said to the other girl.

"I am," Layla replied a she put out their fire. Soon they were approaching the Drive-In. Boone had taken point, hands on his rifle. Layla looked completely unconcerned, and Veronica figured she knew what she was talking about.

"Hey, it's actually playing movies now!" Layla said, pointing to the screen, where a robot was walking with a group of spacemen.

"Neat," she said, then looked around for a working speaker. Once she'd found one, she sat down next to it. Boone was still prowling around for trouble.

Veronica rubbed her arms, it was freezing at night without a fire. She sat down next to Layla, and the other girl moved in closer. Boone came back from his patrol and sat on Layla's other side, and they all huddled together for warmth, watching the movie.

"Remind me when it's the future to not wear metallic miniskirts," Layla said as a teenage girl pranced onscreen.

"Oh man, I can't wait until the metallic miniskirt future," Veronica responded. Boone snorted.

Soon the captain of the space crew was starting to figure out the scientist's and his daughter's terrible secrets. Veronica felt Layla's head sag on her shoulder and she looked down; she'd fallen asleep.

Grinning, Veronica stretched her arms, shifting Layla's head in Boone's direction in the process. The sniper looked down as her head settled on his shoulder. He didn't make a move to wake her or change her position, and soon he and Veronica went back to watching the movie while Layla slept between them.

*.*.*

They reached Hidden Valley by midmorning and delivered the holotapes to McNamara. They'd probably have been there a lot sooner, but neither Veronica or Boone had woke Layla at daybreak. Shaking away the thought, she focused back on the Elder as he installed the holotapes into his station.

"I'm going to have to study these reports… Thank you for bringing them," he said to them. "If you're still looking for something to do. Please go see Knight Lorenzo. He's got a… sensitive matter that needs to be addressed."

Layla bit her lip; she hadn't seen Lorenzo since broadcasting to him that she was deactivating the bug he'd put in ED-E. She hoped he wasn't cross about it.

"Um, okay, we'll do that," she answered, and McNamara nodded, looking at the display before him. Soon they were walking into Hidden Valley's workshop.

Lorenzo caught sight of them and walked over.

"Well well well, if it isn't 'Love-them-and-leave-them?" he said, crossing his arms over his chest. Layla put her hands on her hips.

"Yeah, well thanks for bugging my robot," she answered. Lorenzo merely laughed, much to the Courier's relief.

"What do you want?" he asked mock-impatiently. "We're busy here."

"Elder McNamara said you needed help with something," Veronica said. "You getting too senile to fix the leaky faucets?"

"Oh ha ha," Lorenzo said, then suddenly adopted a grim face. "Actually, it's the air filtration system."

"What about it?" Layla asked.

"It's about to blow. We need parts or we're going to have a real big problem."

"Oh shit," Veronica grumbled. "How long has this been going on?"

"We discovered it a few weeks ago…" Lorenzo said. "I need several HEPA 20 cartridge filters, a reverse pulse cleaner and a differential pressure controller," he explained. "We've sent people looking, but they haven't come back… Why are you looking at me like that?"

Layla was grinning as she set her pack down and opened it. "Veronica, you've still got the pulse cleaner thing, right?"

"Yeah," the scribe said as she pulled the part out of her robe. Layla found the differential pressure controller a moment later.

"Are six HEPA filters going to be enough?" she asked. Lorenzo looked at her like she'd sprouted a new head.

"Why the hell would you have all this on you?"

Layla shrugged. "Well, it came in handy. You're actually damn lucky I grabbed some of this… We weren't going to get back into Vault 3 for a while…"

Lorenzo shook his head in amazement as they piled the parts on his workbench.

*.*.*

"Well, now what?" Veronica asked. "Are you going to tell me you plan now?" she asked Layla as they walked Hidden Valley's halls. The Courier bit her lip.

"Um… the thing about that is-"

"Veronica, can I have a word with you?" A large man in power armor approached them. Layla recognized him; the head Paladin. Harden. She was pretty sure his name was Hardin.

"Yeah sure," the scribe said. Turning back to Layla, she looked like she was about to speak, but the paladin beat her to it.

"If your friends would like it, Paladin Vargo here could give you a tour of the bunker," he said, not sounding particularly happy. Layla was pretty sure she'd never win over some of these Brotherhood types, but the offer was pretty civil of him.

"That would be nice," she answered, trying to maintain a polite air. If most of these people had a problem with her, she wasn't going to give them any ammunition by being rude. Another power armored paladin stepped forward from Hardin's side and approached them. She saw Boone stiffen out of the corner of her eye. Before she could ask him what was wrong, Vargo turned and started for the stairs to the lower level of the bunker.

"Try to keep up," he said, and Layla quickly walked after him. Boone followed with a noticeable frown on his face.

*.*.*

"These are the supply closets…" Vargo murmured as they continued. Layla slapped a smile on when he looked her way. She'd hoped this tour would be a little more interesting than the bowels of the facility, namely the storage areas. They stopped in front of a door, which Vargo motioned to.

"If you go in here, I can show you one of the more interesting features of our storage."

Please be something interesting and not just a jury-rigged force field on a crate. Stepping in, Layla found they'd walked into a long room. There were crates along the walls as far as she could see. The back of the room was dark.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to ask what was stored in here, she heard a grunt from the dark end of the room. Vargo didn't seem to notice, and she tried to peer into the darkness.

"Is someone in here?"

There was another grunt, this time more frantic. She moved to the point where it was too dark to see and turned on her Pip-Boy light. A man in a ranger uniform was bound to a chair with an explosive collar around his neck. The plating on his armor had been removed, but the name stenciled on his shirt was still visible.

"Ranger Dobson?" Layla cried, then turned to Vargo to demand an explanation. When she did, she saw that three more paladins had entered. More worrisome, two of them had explosive collars in hand.

All four paladins charged at her and Boone.

Today's chapter was brought to you by head cold-based sleep deprivation and the Number 4! We will be finishing 'Loose Ends' next Wednesday. Then we move on to 'Patriots.'

Everyone have a good/safe Halloween! Don't get sick on candy!