The march home was longer than necessary due to the women. We dropped them off at Cottonwood Cove and took the boat to the Fort.

The mission was successful, but it was too long. The recruits should be ashamed to have worked at a pace Mars would punish for.

The boat swayed through the river. Some recruits were currently spilling their stomachs over the side. They were weak. This is what the Legion is turning into: Vomiting, squishy toddlers. They will never strike fear into the population.

It seemed as if the boat ride would never end. As if I'd never see Sennia again. Hear her laugh. Touch her.

I soon found myself thinking of her more than in a friendly manner. It was shameful, I know it, but she was too beautiful. I had to fight back the thoughts in order to keep my arousal at bay. I couldn't be seen with an erection on a boat full of men. That would only start supporting dissolute suspicions about sexuality in the Legion.

The boat docked at the Fort and as I stepped off, something didn't seem right. Something was off. I must report back to Caesar before investigating.

As I walked up the hill and into the main gate, I could hear crying. It was a women, that much was obvious. I followed the crying and I saw a form huddled in the corner of a tent. I bent down to get on their level.

"Please, just stay away from me. I can't take it anymore. It hurts."

I stopped short. My breath caught in my throat. My mouth felt like it was full of cotton. It was Sennia. Something had definitely happened to her.

"Sennia? It's me. Look at me. What happened to you?"

She looked up with tears in her black eyes. She had a bruise on her cheek from something hitting her.

"Otho," she stated rather flatly. "He... did things while you were away."

My hands clenched in rage. He broke her. She was different. He took that away from her like it was his right. I laid my hand on hers. She wrapped her other around me and I pulled her closer. She crawled into my lap like a child. I stroked her hair for what felt like years. I didn't mind it at all.

"I'll take care of it."

She looked up at me. I pushed my goggles up to look at her. I kissed her on the forehead and she laid her head on my shoulder.

I would kill any man who hurt her. Otho wouldn't be hard. He meant nothing to me. It wasn't long until I could hear her lightly snoring. She was so beautiful. Even when she was sleeping.

I had to report back to Caesar, but for the moment, even he could wait.

An hour had passed and Sennia showed no signs of waking up soon. I carried her to my tent while no one was looking and put her on my cot. I pulled the blanket over her and kissed her forehead again. I turned to leave as I heard her stir in the blankets.

"Vulpes?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you so nice to me?"

I thought it was obvious what my feelings were towards her. I stood near the opening of the tent and looked her in the eyes.

"At the risk of sounding like a hopeless romantic, I love you." I left before she could say anything. I had to get the hell out of there. I walked to Caesar's tent quickly. I was already very late.

"What took you so long?"

"I ran into some trouble. I shall inform you that the mission went according to plan. A message will definitely be sent."

"I heard it went well. What kind of trouble? Everyone else from the mission seems to have gotten here just fine and on time." He looked at me accusingly.

"It was more of a trouble here."

"Well, don't leave me in the dark."

"It's... Otho. It appears I will have to take care of him."

"What has he done?"

"Treason. I overheard him talking on the radio in the station to NCR."

"What the hell did he tell them?"

"He's too ignorant to know that he told them things they already knew. He told them about the Howitzer and the Khans."

He looked away for a second and looked back, "Take him out."

"As you wish," I smiled.

"You always were a bastard, you know?"

"So I've been told. Ave, true to Mars."

"Ave."

I didn't even try to sneak. I wanted this to be as public as possible. I stopped right in front of the arena. Otho looked at me nervously.

"Legionaries, mark my words! Gather around and witness justice!"

I grabbed my blade and wrenched it in his stomach. He screamed in agony.

"'What has he done to deserve this?' you might ask. Otho, please elaborate. What have you done to deserve this?"

He didn't speak up. I pulled the knife across his stomach causing him to scream more.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear you. Could you try that again?"

"It wasn't rape if she... she fucking liked it."

I twisted the knife and jerked it upwards.

"Wrong answer."

He wasn't going to live much longer and the fun will be over.

"I raped her. I fucking raped her!"

"I know. Say it louder. Hurry up. You're dying."

"I raped her!"

I kicked him behind the knee. He dropped to the ground and I pressed my knee to his back.

"Open the gate. Get some rope. Hurry."

I dragged him down the hill and to an empty cross.

A recruit handed me rope and helped me hold him up as another recruit tied his wrist and ankles to the wood. I stepped down to admire my work. It was missing a special something. I yanked my knife out again and pressed it to his face, carving into his flesh.

"Thank you, gentlemen."

They were genuinely horrified of me. Good.

I wiped my knife off on my tunic and headed back to my tent. I found Sennia still in my bed. She had fallen back to sleep. I would never in a million years dare to disturb the rest of a goddess. I would just sleep on the floor.

As I was slowly falling asleep, I heard Sennia whisper to me "I love you, too, Vulpes."

I smiled and shut my eyes once more.

"That's nice to hear."

"Oh, I thought you were asleep." She was giggling out of embarrassment.

I was quiet for a brief moment. "I'm glad I wasn't."