A/N: It appears that the end is near for this story. Thank you for all the alerts, favs, and reviews. They mean so much to me.

Chapter 19: Array of Love

The building was filled with the noises of the ants' exoskeletons crunching up in a final movement. A slight ringing bounced of the concrete walls. It was an irritating sound.

I jumped down from the ant pile with a loud thud. My leg was still sore but I no longer needed the crutches. I limped over to the light switch and smashed the button into the wall. The lights hummed as they slowly lit up the room. I could finally get out of here.

I rummaged through the ammo boxes and the shelves. I was not surprised to find multiple bundles of explosives. I pocketed the bullets in my pouch. I sighed and I turned around to leave the ant habitat.

My footsteps were heavy as I climbed up the stairs and out of the station. As I stepped outside, I shielded my eyes from the lowering sun.

I hobbled down the pavement and into the cafeteria. Children ran around rampant. I slouched down into a chair and rested my head in my hands. Sennia was just a day away. But I still had about a week left here.

The scraping of a chair on the floor across from me brought my attention back to now. Pearl sat across from me with her hands clasped together on the table.

"I took care of the ant problem." I mumbled.

"So I heard. I also heard that you corrected Loyal on his own technology."

"Was I not supposed to do that?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It's not that, it just gives me hope for the outside."

"Is there anything else you need?"

"We do need help with our solar panels. Some were destroyed recently. Do you know anything about fixing arrays?"

"I know a little. I could try that later. Maybe tonight."

"You are pushing yourself too far. Is there any rush to get away from us?" She asked, smirking.

"Actually, yes. I have a fiancee to take care of. I miss her. I could have died getting here and she wouldn't know." My stomach clenched at the thought of her reaction to my passing.

"You seem like a nice boy. Where did you say you were from again?"

I cleared my throat. "I am from Caesar's Legion."

"I believe I read a book about that a long time ago. Why don't you tell me about it?"

"A lot of people don't agree with our ways of doing things. They completely disregard that we save them from their own self destruction. Whores. Drug addicts. Gamblers. Sinners. They don't see the big picture. We are paving the way to a better world where we are self sufficient. One where we don't rely on the Old World to provide for us."

"It seems like the outside is very disturbing. Where did the Legion come from? Are they from the New Vegas area?"

"We formed in Flagstaff in Arizona. I will take my fiancee there after the war and I can keep her safe." My eyes drifted to nothing as I thought of Sennia free.

"Who is this fiancee you speak of. Are they good to you?" Pearl smiled.

I looked to her and genuinely smiled back. She's beautiful. Sweet. Strong. Her name is Sennia."

"That's a nice name. What does she look like?"

"Big black eyes that are like looking into a mirror. She's breathtaking to look at. Her hair is long and black. It's straight as wires. It's like silk, too. She's... amazing. Her skin is tanned but still manages to be soft. She's just... too much for me."

"I can see you really love her just by the look in your eyes just now. I can tell she's gorgeous. She sounds like an old girlfriend of mine. That was years ago though. Oh my, excuse my ramblings." Pearl chuckled lightly.

"God, I love her so much. I need to get home as soon as I can so I can protect her." I physically hurt from being away from her for this long.

"If you can fix those arrays tomorrow, you can go home right after. You have already heard of our history, found Lindsay's bear, and taken care of our ant issue. You are such a sweet boy." Pearl pinched my cheek from across the table.

"I was sent here to form an alliance. I will do what I was told. I will do whatever you need of me."

"Oh, sweetie. We will help the Legion when you need us." Her face wrinkled when she smiled brightly.

"You really mean it?" I blinked in surprise.

"Of course. You should eat and go straight to bed. You have a long trip tomorrow. You can make it there by nightfall if you finish the arrays early."

"Yes ma'am."

She stood up and left the table. I called over the cook and ordered beef stew to see if it stood a chance against Sennia's.

It didn't hold a candle.

The morning air was cool on my skin as I stepped out of the hangar. The sun was just coming over the mountains and everything seemed so serene. The arrays gleamed in the light as if beckoning me closer.

I picked up a spare tool box and headed towards the arrays. As I got closer, I could make out several holes in the screens.

After multiple scrapes of glass and shocks, the arrays were repaired.

I dumped the tool box on the shelf in the hangar and gathered my things in my bag. I slung it over my shoulder and it didn't take three steps out the door to be stopped by tiny hands.

"You're leaving today?" Lindsay looked up teary eyed.

"I have to find my princess, Lindsay. She might be in danger." I ruffled her hair and stepped around her.

"But I thought I was the princess." She whined.

"You are a princess, but my princess will soon be a queen. She won't be my queen if I don't get back to her. You don't want to keep the nice princess from becoming a queen, do you?"

She looked down at her feet. "No."

"I will visit sometime and I might bring my queen then. You can meet her."

"But I don't want you to leave." She pouted, clinging to my leg.

I knelt down on the ground. "She needs me right now. I miss her very much and I want to see her very badly. She could be hurt or scared."

She nodded. "I understand. You'll come visit, right? And you'll bring the queen?"

"Yes, Princess Lindsay."

She smiled sadly. "Let me walk you to the gate."

I humored her and let her lead my to the gate. The gatekeeper stopped me.

"You're welcome anytime."

"Thank you."

"Be safe."

"I will."

I set off on the long journey to the Fort. I could hitch a ride on a returning patrol if I'm lucky. The sun was getting higher in the sky and I could feel the wasteland baking around me.

I took to the river but not too closely as to avoid lakelurks. My leg ached from the strain but I ignored it for now. After hours of continuous walking on rough terrain, a small raft appeared on the bank.

It was empty and seemed to have been there for awhile. I stepped in it and found only one paddle. Of course. Nothing could be this great without a catch.

I pushed off the sandbar and got to rowing. The water rushed around steadily. The sun was about to set in the next hour. I would have to hurry and be careful of the NCR scouts.

As I could see the outline of the Fort on the horizon, a shot rang out and my raft began to sink.

Of course.

I threw myself over the side of the raft and turned it upside down before it could sink. The tide would lead me to the Fort within the next half hour or so. I could pretend to have drowned. Now all I needed to worry about was a lakelurk dragging me down to the river floor.

I grabbed each side of the raft and sat still as the water pushed me further. Orange light shined through the bullet hole and onto my face. The water was cooling down to hypothermia rate temperatures.

Twenty minutes passed before I was sure that the attacker had decided to give up. I took a deep breath and dunked under the water. I swam down the river for thirty seconds until I had to come up for air. The Fort was only yards away.

It was silent. Something didn't seem right about it. There was always noise. I dragged myself onto the bank and rolled into the sand from exhaustion. I crawled quietly behind a tent. I snaked around it to see a wheel of a securitron roll by. I pressed myself to the canvas of the tent.

I had to get to Sennia. I need to make sure she's safe. I don't care if I have to run away with her to get her away.

The Second Battle at Hoover Dam has just begun.