Fitcher Here: Just want to say thanks to the people who decided to watch this fic. Means a lot that people seem to like it and are bearing with me. I know it's a bit boring to start with but hopefully thing will kick off in the coming chapters.
Enjoy.

CHAPTER FOUR
THE MAN COMES TO TOWN

By the time Saoirse arrived at the Mojave Outpost's bar every muscle in her body ached. She had asked herself several times why she had bothered hoofing it out to the edges of the Mojave border to get a prisoner a pardon so he could play sheriff. So far she hadn't come up with an answer other than, 'it felt like the right thing to do' which was a pathetic excuse in general.

The Major in the main building hadn't been the most understanding of people. It had taken her several tries to convince him that giving the ex-con Meyers a pardon but after explaining that it would free up supplies he reluctantly agreed. He'd even agreed to send the news down with the next supply cache to Hayes. It would save her trailing all the way back and give her an extra two days to catch up with the daisy suit.

She collapsed into a stool in front of the doors, not bothered to move to any others. Her jumpsuit was filthy with blood stains and streaks of dust and dirt. She'd need to find something else to wear soon, but at the moment she didn't care. After ordering a Sarsaparilla she ran her hands through her hair, wild and full of sand, and started massaging her head. One drink then she'd go and look for a bed before she passed out.

Helping Primm, heading to NCRCF, finding Meyers only to need a bloody pardon before he'd do anything. Didn't help when a bunch of Viper gang members ambushed her on the way. ED-E had managed to get rid of most of them, and once they'd cleared the highway patrol house out, she had a place to lay down. That still hadn't gotten rid of the fullness in her head. It wasn't necessarily painful, just irritating. There was too much stuff in her mind that she needed to think about.

Helping Primm, helping Meyers, remembering her past, finding the daisy suit and now clearing the road for Jackson. She'd brought it upon herself, her doppelgänger had reminded her of that many times, but now all she wanted was for all the voices and thoughts to go away and leave her in peace, if only for a moment then she could go back to helping.

At least that had a satisfying ending.

"Looking for trouble?" Saoirse snapped out of her daze at the sound of the tired voice. The woman sat beside her, eyes glazed over ever so slightly.

"Sorry." Saoirse said, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"I didn't realise I was staring."

"Better be sorry. Don't like being stared at unless it gets me a free drink."

Saoirse frowned and leaned closer."You all right?"

"Oh, I'm fine as a fucking daisy. What do you think?" She looked down at the bottle in front of her, leaning her head in her hands. "I'm fucking pissed off and drinking isn't helping me forget anything. Hey!" she shouted at the bartender. "You watering down my whiskey or somethin'!"

The bartender waved her away. "Keep drinkin' Cass before I decide to cut you off."

"Just try. Son of a bitch." Cass said, hiding her head in her arms.

Saoirse pursed her lips and leaned forward, considering whether or not she could continue the conversation. The woman looked like she needed to talk. What would the harm be?

Her doppelgänger laughed and blew out smoke from her cigarette.

(You said the same thing about talking to those Viper gang members and that got you a bullet in the arm.)

(Shut up!)

"You trying to forget anything in particular or just for fun?" The red haired woman looked up and glared like a grumpy child.

"Lost my caravan."

"Sorry."

"Unless you're the bastard who burned the driver and cargo to ash, there's nothing to be sorry for." She grumbled into the bottle

"Everything?"

"Even the pack brahmins." she paused and frowned. "And the whiskey. Not sure which one pisses me off more."

"Don't sound like raiders to me."The woman sighed. "Probably Legion. They don't like women at the best of times, never mind when they're in a position of power, even if it is just a caravan. I'd heard they've been trying to cut off the NCR's supply lines but I didn't think it was this bad. The fucking government red tape's got us locked up tighter than a New Vegas virgin. Just try arguing with Jackson about it."Roads aren't safe" he said. No shit you washed-out old fuck up I didn't need a Brotherhood Scribe to tell me that."

"I've met him. Nice impersonation."

She snorted. "Yeah. I think its a rule of being a NCR soldier. You stay with us long enough you'll see the worse outcome of everything. Lost your gun? A legion soldier must have taken it and because of your failure the Legion will win the next battle of Hoover Dam. Wayda go hero!"

"Think that's a bit of an overreaction."

She scoffed. "Welcome to the NCR. You must be new here."

"If your caravan's gone why are you still here?" Saoirse asked. "Shouldn't you be running round the Mojave by now?"

"That's what I thought. But Jackson won't let me head north. It's not safe...and even though my caravan's gone, my caravan papers are keeping me here." she looked up suddenly. "You didn't come here looking for work did you?"

"Well...I'd hoped-""Forget it kid. You're more likely to find work in the Divide than here. Go and find the Crimson Caravan branch, south of Vegas if you're desperate. They can help you out."

Her eyes narrowed. "Y'know? You're not that bad. Or at least you haven't started a fight with me or run off. What's your name kid?" Saoirse held out her hand.

"Saoirse Song."The woman took it.

"Rose of Sharon Cassidy. Just call me Cass though. Everyone does. What are you here for anyway apart from non existent work?"

"Um..helping I guess. I'm a courier."

"Sounds exciting." she replied, not sounding excited at all.

"It has it's ups and downs."

"This is the Mojave kid, so get used to the downs."

"I'll remember that. Thanks Cass."

"Don't mention it. Might as well give some words of wisdom out. Not like I'm good for anything else right now."

"What can you tell me about this place?"

"Isn't exactly vacation material I tell you that. From this point you're supposed to be able to head north but when you get here you get stuck. Its either drink your sorrows away or stare at that giant fucking dick outside."

"I-I think I might have missed that"

Cass sighed. "It isn't really a giant dick, but it might as well as be." she put on a faux serious face and spoke in a low voice that dissolved into her own as the anger grew. "'How can we show the Mojave that we can protect it? Should we protect our roads? Look after our people? Of course not! Lets just build a giant fucking monument. That'll show them we have the balls to look after the place without actually doing anything'."

"Bitter?" Cass snapped to attention. It was like all the alcohol had rushed out of her system, leaving her completely sober and sane.

"If the Republic put as much effort into protecting the East as they put into those two assanine giants outside, then they'd be worth that monument. Statues of two men shaking hands covered in blood. Don't seem to be nothin' to brag about."

"Covered in blood?"

Cass sighed, all her fire gone."I'm speaking figurative. There isn't any blood on their damn hands. There might as well with the amount of people that have died to secure this region only for them to fuck everything up." she frowned and stared at Saoirse. "I'm surprised you don't know any of this. I thought it was like Mojave 101."

She looked down at her sarsaparilla and gave an embarrassed laugh. "I-I can't really remember much about this place. If anything."

"Must have had one hell of a party then. Thought I'll give you some free advice. Stay away from any men in red skirts, wielding machetes. They have a habit of murdering and/or raping anyone with a vagina."

"I-I-I'll keep it in mind. Is there anywhere to sleep round here? Feel like I haven't slept in days."

"Through the back. Just lay down in one. None of them are owned you just sleep were you fall."

"See ya Cass. And thanks."

"Take care kid, and good luck." Saoirse headed for the bunks. Cass took another drink from her bottle and shook her head. "You'll damn well need it."

Saoirse arrived back at the Outpost the next morning at around eleven am. She'd left to clear the road for Jackson at nine am and the trail even to the bridge was long enough to keep her from getting it finished quickly. Ant goo and desert sand covered her a vault jumpsuit, and for the second time since she set off she realised she'd need to get different clothes. Although comfortable, the jumpsuit was too covered up and warm to wear in the heat. That and the fact it hadn't been cleaned in days.

She was making her way to the bar when she noticed Cass sitting outside, beside the plank leading up to the roof of the building. She was lounging against the wall, two empty bottles of whisky beside her and another half empty in her hand.

"Hey there kid." Cass said from underneath her hat, when Saoirse got close.

"You're outside." Saoirse stated.

"Too early to drink in a bar." Cass replied, taking a swig of her whiskey bottle.

"Yet your drinking whiskey?"

"What? I said it's too early to drink in a bar. That's why I'm drinking outside."

"O-okay."

"What about you? Where were you this early?"

"Just finished clearing up the road for Jackson."

She laughed without humour. "Well shit. Ain't that just like the NCR to get 'civilians' to do their work for them."

"He can't help it if he's short staffed."

"You know what I mean. I don't blame Jackson just the fucking people he works for. Was it as bad as he said or was it all just hysteria to get us scared?"

"It was okay. Although I'd been expecting raiders not giant ants."

That got her attention. "Giant ants? Jackson's been keeping us locked up in the Outpost due to giant fucking ants! From the way he went on about it I was expecting Legion or-or-or Super Mutants or something. Not fucking ants!" she pointed at Saoirse. "You don't even have a scratch on you. I could have gone and cleared the roads myself!"

"Well there were a lot of them." she explained, trying to backpedal. "ED-E did most of it though. Probably would have died if he hadn't been there."

"Ack! Stop trying to make me feel better." she waved a hand at her. "I will give you that thought. It is a strange fucking robot. Be careful 'round any Brotherhood members you see running around. They might kill you for that thing."

"Some already tried to kill me and yet here I am."

"Sounds like a story."

"For another day perhaps. When I'm not covered in ant goo and Mojave dust. There wouldn't happen to be any more work round here. I just know I'll be low on caps after I buy some new clothes."Cass shrugged.

"I don't know. Seems to be a lot of attention on Nipton though. Word is that one of the snipers on the nest on the roof spotted smoke coming from the East."

"Sniper on the roof?" Saoirse mimicked, looking up the plank.

"Yeah. Her name is...Ghost or something..." Cass snorted. "Fucking scary ooooooh. Guess it's cause you'll never see her till you're dead. Maybe she thought Caesar himself would piss and run when he hears it."

"I heard that Cassidy." A woman in a rawhide hat stood at the top off the plank, her arms crossed.

Cass laughed and threw out her arms. "Do I look like I give a shit, Ghost?"Ghost growled under breath and turned to Saoirse.

"You. Yeah you in the stupid ass jumpsuit. You looking for work?"

"Yeah."

"Then it's your lucky day. If you don't mind walking a bit and your eyes are good."

"What is it?"

Ghost sighed and looked down. "I think there's trouble in Nipton. No traffic from there on the roads and while I can explain that away. The smoke from the town I can't. I'm sure it's been hit. What I need to know is if they survived it. Might be Powder Gangers with all that smoke in the air."

"Sure." Saoirse said. "I can leave this afternoon."

"Thanks." Ghost breathed. "I appreciate it. And you Cassidy." Cass made a face and downed more whiskey. "I'm getting you cut off. No more whiskey for you."

"Fuck you Ghost. You can't do that."

"Who's the Ranger here?"

"Son of a bitch!"

Saoirse smiled."See ya Cass."

She was starting to really hate the Vipers. They didn't stop to think or consider that the girl with a robot following her and a 10mm on her hip might be able to defend herself and not to bother attacking. If they hadn't began shooting everything would have been fine and both parties would have lived to see the next day. But no, they shot and ED-E went into full attack mode. Before she could even dive behind a wall and ready her gun, ED-E had dispatched half of the group. Not that it worried them or made them stop.

Several bullets and three dead Vipers later, Saoirse collapsed against the wall and pulled out a Stimpak for her leg. She was thankful that she'd forked out enough for some leather armour. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world but it protected her from most of the bullets and knives heading her way.

She sighed as the Stimpak kicked in, the cool feeling as her skin knit back together with every minute that passed. Pushing herself to her feet she hefted up her backpack and whistled for ED-E.

She smelt it before she saw it. The smoke in the air was pungent and bitter, reminding her of the stench her skin made after a bad burn. Her stomach swirled with the Med-X, making everything spin for a moment. Then she heard shouting.

"Yeah!" A man was running towards her, spinning and jumping like a mad man while he screamed in joy towards the sky. "Who won the lottery? I did!" he stopped when he reached her and grabbed her into a forceful hug.

"Hey!" He let her go without warning and stared up at the sky, taking in a deep breath.

"Oh! That air! It's like booze!" Saoirse watch in horror as he collapsed to the ground and began to kiss the broken concrete. She could smell smoke on him, but no alcohol so she was sure he wasn't drunk. She wasn't sure what he was.

"A-are you okay?" she asked. He rolled onto his back and put his hands behind his head, lounging in the sun.

He laughed."Okay? I just won the lottery! I've never felt better! Oh my God, just smell that air!"

"What lottery are you talking about?" He jumped up and looked at her as if she was the crazy one.

"The lottery lady! The only one that matters! I won and those other losers lost!""Maybe you should sit down for a minute." she said, reaching over to lead her away from the burning town.

"Hell no I've got some living to do! I won the mother fucking lottery!" And with that he ran off, jumping and screaming in joy as he went.

Saoirse blinked and shook her head.

"Come on ED-E." she said, readying her 10mm. He beeped and hovered behind her. "Be careful." A cold chill travelled down her spine and her nose crinkled at the pungent smell of smoke and burning flesh wafting through the air. Fires blazed around her, while red flags bearing the mark of a golden bull stood strong amongst them. Some part of her brain told her to turn around. She'd already seen and heard enough to know that Nipton hadn't made it and yet there was still that tiny sliver of hope that someone had escaped and she wasn't walking through a ghost town.

Bodies lined the main street, strung up on electrical poles like an offering to the heavens. They were all Powder Gangers. Her chest clenched and throat closed up. Her doppelgänger sauntered into her vision, still smoking.

(They deserved it then.)

(No one deserves that.)

(Not even the ones who strung them up?)

She looked to the end of the road. Around seven men stood at the steps of the main hall, each with a dog. They didn't notice her presence, too preoccupied with the tied up Powder Ganger in their mists to notice her

(Back away missy. This ain't your fight.)

(I told Ghost I would check)

(Fuck Ghost. You're not getting shot in the head again. I won't let you.)

The voice was stronger than usual, and louder like it was gaining strength in her mind. Ignoring herself, she stepped closer to one of the strung up Powder Gangers. With a glance at the men who still hadn't noticed her, she pressed her fingers against his wrist, trying to find a pulse. It was faint, but it was there and that was enough. When she reached up to untie him he gasped as if he hadn't had air in hours. Glassy eyes wandered around the horizon before landing on her, his head lolling from side to the side. His lips were cracked and blood dribbled from a gash in his head. He'd tried to fight back.

" ...me" It took a moment for the words to sink in. He couldn't possibly mean it. Kill him? Kill him. That's what he said wasn't it?

(You killed a bunch of Vipers on the way here. What makes this any different?)

(He's asking me to. No one ever asks to be killed.)

With a heavy heart she raised her 10mm and aimed for his head. Better to make it quick.

"I'm sorry." she said. "I am so so sorry." And with that she shot him. The men at the end of the road turned in her direction at the sound of the gunshot, but she didn't acknowledge them. She wouldn't until she was done.

She went down the row of crucified men, shooting each one. None of them would make it unless they got a doctor within five minutes of being let go and there wasn't one for miles. This was the only mercy she could give them.

Even if her doppelgänger was laughing themselves to death in the corner.

(Finally got yourself a backbone Si?)

From the corner of her eyes she saw one of the men move to stop her but the one in the dog's head stopped him with a motion of his hand. He was the leader. If she was lucky he wouldn't kill her. Holstering her 10mm, she approached the men.

"You were trying to give them relief." the leader said, curiosity evident in his voice. "Amusing."

Saoirse wasn't sure how to reply."Who are you?" she asked.

"The flags and crucifixes didn't give it away?" he asked with a sinister smile. She didn't know where it came from. It was like the words had been waiting for her and her mind knew just how to use them.

"I've had bout of amnesia lately. Forgetting things seems to be the main symptom."

"I am Vulpes Inculta and don't worry. I won't have you lashed and strung to a cross like the rest of these degenerates." he stopped and looked her up and down. "It's actually useful that you happened by." he crooned.

He stepped closer to it, too close for comfort but she didn't move. She refused to be intimidated.

"I want you to witness the fate of the town of Nipton." he explained, circling her with his hands clasped behind his back.

"To memorize every detail. I want you to teach anyone you meet the lesson that Caesar's Legion taught her today." he stopped behind her, speaking over her shoulder. "Especially any NCR soldiers that you come into contact with."

"What lesson did you teach?" she asked. "How not to decorate your town?" she bit her lip the second she said it, praying to whatever was watching her that the man, Vulpes, wouldn't kill her where she stood.

"What lesson? Now where to begin? That they are weak and we are strong?" he asked, ignoring her comment.

"That much was known already. But the...true depths of their moral sickness. Their...dissolution," he spat, "Nipton serves as the...perfect object lesson."

"What did they do that deserved this?"Vulpes stepped forward so he stood beside her and looked at her as if analysing her. As if trying to figure out what she was thinking.

"It was a town of whores." he said simply. "They served whoever was able to pay. Profligate troops, Powder Gangers and men of the Legion such as myself. They didn't care who it was. Their greed and dissolution was so great that I was able to convince them to lure profligate troops into a trap and it was only once I sprung it that they realised they were trapped inside it too."

A shiver went down her spine at the sound of his voice. Liked he was enjoying the fact he'd just slaughtered an entire town.

"You took them all?"

"Each one of them were guilty. I herded them into town and told them their sins, the foremost being disloyalty." He stepped closer, talking into her ear. "Did you know that when Legionaries are disloyal some are punished and others are made to watch? No? Neither did the people here. That's when I announced the lottery."

"Even when supposed...'loved ones' were dragged away to be killed they clutched onto their ticket and did nothing to save them. Do they sound deserving of the life they had?" Saoirse pursed her lips. She had no idea what to think.

"I..." she trailed off, the previous bravery running for the hills, leaving her leaving her unable to find the right words. What could she say to appease him that wouldn't taste like ashes. "I admire...the purity of the Legion's justice." she stared his directly in the eyes and didn't waver. She wouldn't. It was the only thing that would wipe the taste the words had left in her mouth.

Vulpes smiled and she realised nothing she could have said would have convinced him. He didn't believe her for a second.

"It has a stark beauty to it I'll agree. Now go," he demanded. "and teach people of what you learned here. There will be many more lessons in the days to come."A large explosion went off behind her, making her flinch away from Vulpes and turn to her robot.

ED-E floated towards her, beeping as if proud of the fact he blew up three radscorpions.

"ED-E." she sighed, voice trembling. Vulpes didn't seem so exasperated, in fact it was the opposite. He appeared intrigued.

"What is this?" Vulpes leaned toward ED-E to get a closer look.

"Nothing." she said simply, and the words sound stupid even to herself. Vulpes looked at her, his lips upturned.

" I-I-I mean..." she breathed out. "It's a robot." Before Vulpes could say anything one of his followers spoke up.

"Your...robot," he spat out the term like it was dirt, "is in the shape an eye. I don't like it."

"Where did you find it?" Vulpes asked, ignoring his soldier. She opened her mouth the say Primm but thought against it. What if he decided to go after the town for giving her ED-E or to search for more. The town had already gone through enough, it didn't need a Legion raiding party thrown into the mix.

"In some abandoned house on the side of the road." she said. "Fixed him up and now he follows me."

"You fixed it?"

"Yes. I like technology. It interesting."

"Then we agree on something. I would recommend you keep...'him' out of sight. I wouldn't want a Legion messenger to get shot down by a member of the Brotherhood."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Make sure you do. Vale." He turned and headed out of the town, his men following and Saoirse let out a breath. He was gone. She wasn't dead. That was a good sign.

"Before I leave," he called, catching her off guard, "what is your name?" he asked. "Just out curiosity."

"Um..." she cleared her throat, words becoming dry. "Saoirse." she said.

"It was...enlightening to meet you Saoirse." She didn't let herself relax until they were out of sight. There was no need to let him give her another heart attack. Letting out a breath she turned to ED-E and shook her head.

"I'm going to kill you ED-E." ED-E bleeped in reply. Bloody snarky robot.

"I'm being serious. You're a dead robot when I find one that doesn't blow up radscorpions when a scary man is trying to intimidate me."

He beeped again."You'll also be useful as scraps. At least they won't shoot Radscorpions when someone is trying to scare me half to death."

ED-E beeped again and Saoirse sighed. "Just don't do that again. You're lucky that Legion guy didn't realise how valuable you are. Doubt they would have let me go if they did."