Colt, back against the cold steel wall and his knees folded up, buried his face in his hand. He had just woken up from his unconscious slumber and his entire body ached with pain because of the abuse he suffered at the hands of Hardin and that damn electrical prod he used to knock Colt out. The pain shooting through his skull and face was so unbearable that he had to keep his sunglasses and hat off of his head just to soothe the agony his skull was enduring. Even then, the pain was still extreme; the fresh bruise on his eye sent a jolt of pain at the slightest touch, the two cuts on his left cheek, one that streaked down from his right eye to the middle of his cheek and the other cut that streaked up from the corner of his mouth, and the other cut that stretched from the bottom of his right cheek and streaked across his face, crossing over his right eye and his nose and ending in the middle of his forehead, was always searing hot with pain because of the cold air that flushed in with the slightest breeze and, the final injury, the his lower jaw constantly ached because of the loss of a tooth. His clothes weren't any better; the sleeves of his faded blue button-up shirt were stained with blood he wiped away from the cuts and the rest of it was stained with dried sweat. The sadistic interrogation left him scarred and further deteriorated his personal hygiene. The Brotherhood didn't even bother to treat his wounds or even allow him to clean up, making him keep the painful reminders of the interrogation.

Even though he suffered from physical pain and the lack of personal hygiene, the worst part of his detainment was the emotional trauma he was suffering; knowing that he would probably never leave this place and he would probably never see Cass again… it practically broke him… McNamara's words just kept echoing in his mind, I guess you're not leaving this place then… he couldn't help but doubt his escape… his heart ached to see Cass, but it seemed he would never see her again…

The door hissed open and, once again, the ghoul, whom Colt finally identified as Nikolai Betkovsky, one of the main founders of the Stallions, stepped in with a serving tray. The ghoul tried to look at Colt, but Colt kept his head down, avoiding anyone's line of sight. Nikolai, just as Colt, had a few scrapes and bruises; one or two bruises on his cheek, where Colt had repeatedly struck with his fist, and a few cuts, including one large one across his forehead, which littered his face. As the battered ghoul continued to look around at the prisoners, two power armored individuals entered, obviously ordered to protect Nikolai as he issued the prisoner their mediocre food. The guards took up positions on the door's flank and Betkovsky began handing out the meal, going along his normal path. He quickly gave Veronica and Boone their platters and then came to Colt where he just froze, staring at the man on the floor.

Nikolai bent down, setting the food down next to Colt, "He really beat you, didn't he?"

"Yeah," Colt answered bluntly, not looking up for a single moment.

"You're looking for Aleksander?"

"Hey! You're not here to have a conversation with them!" One of the guards yelled at Nikolai, obviously agitated that he was keeping them from going about their daily duties.

Nikolai turned to the guard, "Vy zdes ne sporit so mnoĭ! S prosto stoyat i zakryl yebesh vverh!" The guard didn't say anything and just looked at Nikolai. Even though his face was covered with a helmet, Colt could tell he was confused and didn't understand a fucking word Nikolai just said. Nikolai chuckled at the guard, "Exactly; just stand there and shut up," He turned back to Colt, "Now, you're looking for Aleksander, right?"

Colt, finally, looked up at Nikolai, his eyes cold and hard, "Yes."

"You know," Nikolai continued, setting aside the serving tray and taking a seat on Colt's right, folding up his legs and resting his elbows on his knees, "I've known Aleksander for a long, long time. We were in the same unit together when we served in the Red Army; me, Aleksander, Vladimir, and Mikhail, all in the same squad while in the Spetsnaz. Aleksander was the squad leader, and a damn good one at that, Mikhail was our explosives and hand-to-hand specialist and he was the squad's designated sharpshooter, Vladimir was an expert in psychological warfare and tactics, and I was the expert in negotiations and any and all technology we found.

Besides what our expertise was or what our specialties were, we fought for one thing and one thing only… our families and friends… Aleksander especially… Every time we went to war, when everyone would moan and complain, Aleksander would always go with a smile on his face and his family photo in his pocket. He knew he wasn't in the military for his country and its interests. No, he was it for his family and everyone else's family. Hell, we were all in the military to protect our families and fellow citizens. Even our 'enemies' were in it for their families and Aleksander always showed them much respect for that, closing their eyes and apologizing whenever he killed one. He was a wonderful man, friend, enemy, human being…"

"What happened to him? What caused him to hate the NCR and anyone associated with it? What caused him to murder my family?" Colt asked, turning to Nikolai. A tear cascaded down the old ghoul's face.

"The Great War," Nikolai answered, wiping the tear away, "Aleksander knew the War was coming; he continually watched the political tensions and conflicts of the world, watching them escalate into full blown wars and the like. Aleksander warned us that something big was coming and he warned us to fortify our basements into a bunker or buy a ticket into one of the Vaults, but we didn't listen… the bombs dropped in 2077 and Aleksander rushed his family into their bunker. Thankfully, I didn't have any family… my mother and father died years before and I never married… but Aleksander had his family to protect and worry about and that's what he did.

They hid in that bunker for years, surviving off of food and water rations stored in the basement… until, one day, a leak sprung in the bunker and radiation flushed the entire room. His wife, son and daughter were all killed by the radiation, but he was turned into a ghoul and survived. He blamed the old countries for his family's death and the suffering they caused him… he had every right to; it was their fault, their resource grabbing ways that brought upon this Hell we now live in… Aleksander just hated them for it…

Soon after his family died, Aleksander left the bunker and found me, Vladimir, and Mikhail holed up in a fortified bar in Vladivostok. There, we formed a plan to get out there and to somewhere Aleksander thought was safer; America. Aleksander always respected every aspect of the United States of America, except for the government, of course, and he thought… he knew it would be safer there than in Russia and he was right. It was horrible in Russia… a freezing winter covered the entire country and the surface was plagued with horrible mutated monsters. Not the Radscorpions or Deathclaws you Americans have… these monsters were much, much worse. Thankfully, we found an old Soviet submarine pen, in Vladivostok's ports, with an old Soviet nuclear submarine. We clambered in and, through trial and error, managed to get it out and underway to America.

We arrived years later and built a new life in the newly instituted Boneyard. During the decades we stayed there, Aleksander noticed just how unforgiving and deadly the wastes were. So, to protect the people from the hell brought on by the old countries, we formed the Stallions to help make life worth living. Aleksander has been suffering all of his life and it seemed that helping people was his way to end the suffering. He was always happy to help those in need, no matter the cost. Finally, after a few more decades of gaining a reputation that preceded us, we received a visit from President Tandi of the New California Republic. She came to ask us for help in the NCR's war with the Enclave and, against my better judgment, Aleksander agreed… but on the condition that Tandi promises that NCR will never give up its values and never revert back to the ways of the resource harboring and possessive old countries. Aleksander was hell bent on keeping the Old World out of the new… and never having to suffer what he went through again or letting others suffer the same fate.

Years later, Tandi died and so did her promise to Aleksander. After Tandi's death, we began to see a change in the NCR… and our leader. That," Nikolai held back tears, "That's when it went downhill. Aleksander, he was so desperate to end his suffering and to keep the Old World at bay that he decided to declare a state of war with the NCR… to keep them from becoming like the old countries and making this world into that of the old. That's when I left... I heard it just kept getting worse for Aleksander and the gang after that.

I eventually found out that Aleksander slowly went insane and decided that, if he couldn't help the people change their possessive ways and embrace their values… then he would make them and show them they're wrong. I don't know what made him think that… violence is never the answer to anything and it only makes things worse… I'm truly sorry he murdered your family, but he has been suffering for so long… he was just trying to end his torment and keep others from suffering the way he did…"

"So," Colt began, a tear coming to his eye, "He wanted to keep people from suffering by killing them? Well, he didn't keep me from suffering… he caused me nine years of it and he continues to make me suffer by keeping someone I care deeply about away from me… he's caused me so much physical and emotional pain…"

"I'm sure he is not without grief for doing so… he may be an out of control idealist, but he isn't heartless and I'm sure he's still in agony over it all."

"Well, the only way I see to end both of our suffering, and the suffering of hundreds of other people, is for him to die… but," Colt's voice turned to hopelessness as he remembered the strong possibility of never leaving and all of the torment that he's endured on this journey, "I'm beginning to think that this suffering will never end… the farther I go along this road, the more the torment keeps piling up… I'm just about broken…"

Nikolai nodded, understanding everything Colt was saying, "You're right; killing Aleksander may be the only way. I just wish I could help… but all I can really offer is advice that's helped through some situations in my life."

"What advice?"

"It's actually lyrics from a song before the War," Nikolai explained, standing up and looking down at Colt, "If you're going through hell, keep on moving and don't slow down. I should know; I've been in situations like you are right now, I've been down to my last match… but, the good news is that there's angels every where around you, holding out a hand to pull you back up on your feet… you just got to take their hand and keep on moving through the fire… you'll eventually get out."

With that, Nikolai picked up the serving tray off the floor and strode to the door. He waved for the power armored guards to follow and they all left the cell, leaving the prisoners in a dim and silent room. Colt pushed aside the plate of food and glass of water, clearing a space. Then he placed his hat underneath his head as he lay down on the floor, trying to sleep. There was nothing more for him to do; he didn't have an appetite and he didn't feel like talking to anyone else… so, he just lay down and thought for a moment.

Nikolai knew the pain Colt was going through and felt for it. It was obvious he wanted to help Colt and Aleksander both find peace and he knew the only way was for Colt to get out of this damned cell and find Aleksander and put him out of his misery. Now, Colt didn't know if Nikolai felt he should actually help Colt, but he sure hoped he felt that way…

Then, Colt began to think again about his chances to get out… slim to none. He still believed there was no way for him to get of the bunker and find Aleksander… he was still almost broken…

But then he repeated Nikolai's words in his mind, If you're going through hell, keep on moving…

Nikolai was right. Colt couldn't give up… not now. He just had to keep moving through the pain and suffering and, eventually, he'll get out of the fire… he just had to keep going, no matter the cost.

Colt fell asleep moments later, Cass' pendant in his hand. He did not want the next day and another grueling interrogation session to come, but it was going to regardless and, if it did, he would just get through it and keep on walking… and he'll keep a look out for those angels who are going to pull him back up on his feet.

A/N: Here's a translation for the sentence Nikolai says:

Sentence: Vy zdes ne sporit so mnoĭ! S prosto stoyat i zakryl yebesh vverh!

Translation: And you're not here to argue with me! So, just stand there and shut the fuck up!

Now, I'm not too sure if the translation is right... if it isn't and you know the correct translation, please, go ahead and tell me and I'll make changes. Oh, and yes, I felt it was asolutely necessary to put a mention of one of my favorite songs ever in this story since it fits in so well. Anyway, thanks for reading and, by all means, review and tell me what ya think! XD