Thanks for the alerts and faves, everyone!

Heulwen: Yeah, I'm realizing that as I play (about the shortness), but I'm hoping to use some personal liberties to extend the plot-line and add more story for it in my fic. I haven't determined how long I want this yet, but I am hoping for it to last long enough for the personal story between Scarlet and Vulpes to progress in a realistic manner. Hope you continue to enjoy.

Chapter II

No Mercy for Swine

Nipton, Approximately One Month Ago

The man formerly known as the mayor of Nipton was screaming, tears of horror running down his reddened face. Through his blubbered words it was apparent that he could not truly grasp his crimes, and instead continued to beg for his life stating that he had helped the legion, and hadn't he positioned the NCR and the vile Powder Gangers into their places so that he and his men could take them? Vulpes Inculta knew there was no hope for men like Joseph Steyn to understand their predicaments. Steyn had been given a chance to make the right decision, but had not.

When he had first appeared in Nipton, dressed like any other wasteland citizen and calling himself "Mr. Fox" he had spoken privately to the mayor, not only revealing his true allegiances, but testing Steyn's as well. He offered a hefty reward to the mayor for his aid in trapping the NCR and the Powder Gangers and the man's eyes had lit up when he'd heard the amount of caps. That gleam had sealed his fate and now he was being dragged towards it.

The smell of burning rubber filled the air with a sickening odor. A breeze spiraled in around the buildings and caught the smoke, wafting it up into the night and mixing with it the smell of blood and death. He hoped that the outside world would stumble upon this macabre sculpture of justice soon, perhaps along with that smell it would also help to sicken their souls as well and underline what happened when you allowed such shame and wickedness to creep into your lives.

Steyn tried to grab hold of Vulpes' hand, a pleading sob bursting from him as he was dragged. The leader of the Frumentarii snarled and slapped it away while kicking the prone man in the back, Steyn's face slamming hard into the dry earth. Not only was the ex-mayor a greedy sleazebag but he was also a coward. Men like him made Vulpes ill. "Take care of him." He barked at his soldiers, "And quickly, I wish to leave this place as soon as possible."

The men nodded and told him that it would be taken care of. With that promise Vulpes turned, arms crossed behind his back, and marched over to the steps of the Nipton town hall where two men were crouched between more of his men. Much to his chagrin they were both powder gangers. He hated to see the two men who had won his little lottery be no more than common criminals, but the rest of the town's inhabitants hadn't been much better. The first was a black man he'd heard called Boxcars. What a foolish name. He was the second place winner. The first was a glasses-clad man called Swanick. "Gentlemen," he greeted, malice creeping deep into his tone, "it seems today is your lucky day. You've both won the greatest gift of all – your life. Congratulations."

Almost as soon as the words were finished he reached down and grabbed Boxcars off the steps and hurled him down onto the ground.

"Hey, man, what the fuck! I thought you said we won!" The man demanded.

Vulpes sneered. "You have won, but in your case you were granted a second place ticket. You will leave here with your life, but you will also endure great pain before you're allowed to go. This pain shall be a reminder of what took place and may you never forget it." He swung his fit and slammed it into the man's face, causing him to spin and land on his back.

Boxcars groaned and rolled over onto all fours and when he lifted his face in an attempt to climb to his feet Vulpes saw the blood that ran from his nose, down across his mouth, and finally drip off his chin into the dirt. Before he had a chance to right himself Vulpes landed a kick to Boxcars' side, hearing another delightful issue of pain as his target crumpled at his feet. He grasped both hands behind Boxcars' back and placed his boot there and jerked; the snap as one of them dislocated echoed around them and the sound hung in the air like something tangent before dissolving into the wind again. To end the onslaught Vulpes gripped the man's arm and yanked him up again, pressing his foot against the man's leg at just the right angle and…

CRACK!

The powder ganger screeched in agony and Vulpes let him fall. "Take them both to the entrance of the town." He ordered his men. He watched as they were escorted (Boxcars, dragged) away from him. In the back of his mind he noted he could no longer hear the mayor screaming and realized that he had probably succumbed to the flames he'd been thrown into. His mouth curved into a cruel smile, thinking how ironic that even before death the man should get a taste of what it was going to be like in Hell.

-X-

The business in Nipton was through. Vulpes and his men had conducted one last sweep of the town and its surrounding area to ensure that they had not missed anyone and then prepared to leave. He left a small pack of legion guard dogs within the town hall for anyone who happened by so that they might get a small taste of the horror that the town had gone through before death. If that person or persons survived they would speak of the dangers of Nipton and how it had been torn asunder by the righteous army of Lord Caesar. Yet, as he was leaving the town hall for the last time he was surprised to see there was already a witness, and she was walking right down the street towards them.

Her boldness was admirable, especially surrounded by the pained whimpering of the dying men on the crosses to her left and right. She didn't even seem to notice them, or if she did she ignored them. He ordered his men to stay put as he walked down the steps towards her. She hadn't even bothered to arm herself. Before he could speak she opened her mouth, an almost conversational cadence issuing from her lips, "I will guess that you're not Nipton's welcoming committee, because if you are with the tourism department I can assure you that this isn't the way to get repeat customers." Her eyes flickered to the hanging men, finally acknowledging them.

Vulpes could not contain the deep chuckle that rumbled in his throat. "Oh, I would not concern myself with the fate of these degenerates. In fact it seems that Lady Fortuna has smiled upon us with your presence, for now you can return from whence you came and spread the word of the lessons that were taught here."

The woman pursed her lips in thought, "and what lessons would those be?"

He went on to explain the debauchery that took place in the town of Nipton. It had been full of thieves, gamblers, and prostitutes. "They had been willing to sell out their own for a handful of caps," he explained, his voice full of admonishment as he lifted his hands to indicate the town. "Even as we dragged off their so called loved ones," he sneered at the term, "they did not fight us, but begged for their own lives. We did the world a favor by wiping out their sickness."

"Its seems that they got what they deserved then." She told him, her violet eyes moving from his head to his feet and back up again. She was studying him as he was studying her. "I admire the poetic quality of your justice. It has a certain… purity to it."

"I appreciate your understanding of the events that took place here. Not many could enjoy the fine details of it." Vulpes replied. He did not allow his surprise at her acceptance show, but he would definitely remember it. "Remember, tell others what you've seen here. Vale." He turned away from her and threw up his arm to indicate to his men that they were moving out. As they walked out of town he did not look back, yet could feel the eyes of the mysterious witness upon him the entire time.

-X-

Fortification Hill, Present

This was the woman that Caesar had invited here? Despite the rumors of her accomplishments Vulpes could see no evidence of them in her stature. She waltzed in without a care in the world and proceeded to not only insult the Legion's ways but also dare to order Caesar around like he was just another wasteland thug. The worst part was having to keep his mouth shut as Caesar took it all in stride, even smiled at the little bitch like it was a game. By the end of the conversation he had even agreed to almost everything she had demanded. They shouldn't have had to give in to her wants, for they had the chip and even though they might not have known what was down there, or had this woman's knowledge of Mr. House himself they would have managed, or they could have gotten the information out of her. She was small and delicate in appearance; it wouldn't have taken long to force her to break under the interrogators methods.

Even as his thoughts drifted across possible torture methods Caesar was telling Gaius to escort their mouthy little guest to the bunker. Vulpes hoped she would get the job done and leave, or maybe Caesar was really just playing a game with her and once she had finished what he had asked of her she would be nailed up on her own cross or taken down to be made a slave, the thing she claimed to despise most of all.

The woman disappeared and Vulpes' thoughts were interrupted by Caesar's voice. "Vulpes, you seem upset?"

"I am not questioning your judgment, Lord Caesar, for I know that you do not have to explain every bit of your plan to us, but this woman, this Courier, does not seem to have any respect for us." This was a disappointment indeed, for when he had learned that the Courier was the same woman who had complimented him at Nipton he had thought she would more than understand about other Legion practices as well.

"In time I believe she will come around." Caesar confided.

"Why is she so important?"

Caesar thought for a moment, turning Vulpes' question over in his mind. "That is a conversation that is too complex for this time. Trust that this Courier will become very important to our endeavors and if it takes a little honey to draw her in then so be it."

"I see." Vulpes answered, his head bowed for an instant in respect. "If trust is what is required then trust is what I shall do. However," he added, "I will be keeping a close watch on her."

Caesar smiled knowingly, "I thought you might."

-X-

Even in the dead of night the Fort was full of life. Slaves bustled here and there, cooking, cleaning, and carrying their master's things. The soldiers themselves were also out and about, at least the ones that had night duties. She and her guard escort passed through a training area where two of the legionnaires were testing their fighting skills on practice dummies tacked up on wooden posts. Legion dogs roamed freely around the grounds and she noticed that not only did they seem to be taking up the position as guards as well, but many of the soldiers would stop to pay attention to them, much like pets. It was a strange sight in her eyes. Of course, not all of them held affection for the creatures, but the ones that did left an impression on her. She would have liked to think the Legion was nothing but an army of cold monsters, little more than fleshy robots, and something so human had washed away that thought like a flood clearing out a dam.

"Here is the bunker." Gaius informed as they rounded a small building. "I shall wait for you and take you back to Caesar when your mission is complete."

"Uhm, thank you for showing me the way." She told him. "I hope I can get this over and done with so you won't have to wait long."

Scarlet turned and entered the building. Upon entering she was greeted with three more soldiers. One of them was holding a bag full of her weapons and equipment. "Orders were to have these returned to you for the duration of your trip inside. They are to be handed back once you exit of course."

She enjoyed the weight of her things in her arms as they were handed to her and she smiled. "I understand."

They pointed her to the terminal where she was to place the chip. She stood beside it for a moment before inserting it. There was a hum as a door was unlocked somewhere and the metal doors on the floor opened up, revealing a stairway into the bunker below. Here goes everything. She thought heading down into the unknown. Passed the stairs was a small antechamber and she could already feel the air change that meant the place was full of radiation. With a curse she dug through the bag and found one last Rad-X and popped it into her mouth. She doubted it would last the entire trip but it was better than nothing and she had a couple of RadAways left that would clear up most of the damage upon exit. She'd just have to remember to administer it before she went back up to the top or they'd be confiscated once again.

Past the antechamber was another room, but this one seemed cleaner and held a large terminal much like the one in Mr. House's penthouse. His face adorned the screen, but also like the penthouse it was only a likeness and not a transmission. She walked over to the smaller computer terminal hanging on the wall beside a door and checked it. Apparently there would be robots, and lots of them down there. Another negative. She hated robots. When the door wouldn't open she mumbled and walked back over to the House-face terminal and pressed the button to engage conversation.

Seconds later House's voice came over the speakers. "I did not expect to see you here so soon, but apparently you have made it through to the bunker under the Legion's camp."

"You wanted me to come here?" She shouldn't have been surprised; she really shouldn't have.

"Of course. I knew you would have to sooner or later."

She mumbled some more. She really couldn't wait to get this shit over with so she could forget about this bastard. "What's down here anyway?" She might as well know what she'd be destroying.

Mr. House went into his explanation of the bunker and how there was a system that would awaken an army of securitrons ready to do his bidding and completely flush out the NCR and the Legion from the Mojave, thus cementing his leadership over the area.

Oh yeah, fuck that shit. Scarlet thought, but now she could see why Benny had wanted to come here. Too bad for him he hadn't been invited. Deep inside she felt like a child and imagined herself sticking her tongue out at him and pointing at him while laughing at his misfortune. It was the least she could do after everything he'd put her through.

"Yeah, yeah, great plan, House." She told him, impatience lining her voice. "Could you hurry up and open the door so I can get going. There's radiation down here and I don't have time to dawdle."

"Very well." House replied. As the door slid open he added, "I do hope you make the right choice. No doubt you've had others trying to lead you astray."

"I guess we'll just see how things go, won't we?" She smirked over her shoulder. He had admitted that he had no control over what was passed that door so it wasn't like he could send anything after her if he got pissed off. He said nothing more as she headed down the stairs into the metallic coldness.

-X-

"Goddamnit!" Scarlet cursed. Her back slammed against the wall as she spun back around the corner to shield herself from the protectron that was at the bottom of the stairs. The frigid metal stung the laser burns on her back and she let out a seething hiss. Trying to ignore the pain she begun to reload her weapon. She'd used all of the ammo for the plasma rifle she'd found as well as all the plasma and pulse grenades in her stock. The only gun in her arsenal at the moment that seemed to be doing any good was her favored .357 pistol and it was a pain to keep using because she was running out of ammo for it as well and the reloads were painstakingly slow. At least that's what her mind was telling her. Perhaps it was the impending doom that was clomping up towards her.

The worst thing wasn't even the weapon situation; it was her lack of medical supplies. She'd used a lot of her stash on the way to Cottonwood Cove due to her bad luck and once inside this radiated death trap she'd been bombarded constantly by robots, causing her to dip further and further into her bag. Now she was down to one last stimpak and she was afraid to use it in case she received a wound even worse than she had now. On top of that she could feel the radiation creeping further into her bones and it churned her stomach with sickness. She was glad that she had at least not eaten that morning or she might have been throwing up by now.

The protectron gave another one of its computerized warnings and she twisted around the corner and aimed for its head unit, "I don't think so, you big piece of scrap metal!" It took three shots at the angle she was at before it crashed down the stairs and landed in a heap at the bottom. Peering at her pip boy screen she saw that there were three more of them below. She reloaded again and hurried down the steps. She flung herself around the corner there and fired again, taking off that protectron's head in two shots. She enjoyed the way the metal tore from its body and went flying into the wall behind it. Score!

She skirted around the mass of metal pipes and equipment in the center of the room and dropped to one knee as she both avoided a laser blast but also shot up into the faceplate of another protectron. The glass smashed upon her bullet's impact allowing her second shot to smash its inner workings. Another clattering crash resounded. Two down in the room, one more to go and it would be cleared. She could hear it's metal feet clodding along and she hurriedly reloaded a few more rounds before it turned the corner, allowing her to easily dispatch it.

Robotic voices broke out behind her and she realized there was another room there she didn't notice and two more protectrons were coming toward her. Before she could move a laser struck her in the back and she fell forward, crying out in pain. She grasped a frag grenade and tossed it into the room. The explosion knocked one of them back, allowing her to take out the first one and reload before it made its journey towards her. The blast had torn chunks of metal from its body and she sneered. "Cakewalk." Aim. Fire. Gone.

She collapsed onto the floor and breathed a sigh of relief, sure that she was safe at least for the moment. Her stomach growled in protest and she was reminded that she hadn't eaten. In addition her head was really pounding now from the adrenaline and lack of food. Her blood sugar was dropping rapidly and she cursed. One box of sugar bombs lay in the bottom of her bag and she thanked whatever divinity was watching out for her and popped a few handfuls in her mouth before shoving it back inside. She didn't have time for the whole thing, but maybe this would hold her until she was finished with this hellhole.

-X-

Three of the four doors led to generator rooms. The last one led up a stairway passed a turret. She slapped her hand back on the button and the door slid shut. She didn't want to go that way. If she was considering turning on the army of securitrons, maybe, but she was just going to destroy the generators for Caesar and be done with it, right? She bit her lip and thought about this some more. Despite her hatred for robots she knew having something like that under her belt would grant her all kinds of security and control in her life. That was priceless. But that doesn't matter if you die getting there, does it! Her rational side screamed.

She had to decide. Now. Once she had blown the generators and left she couldn't return and change her mind. If she was going to activate House's computer she'd have one chance. Her head dropped into her hands. After a moment of considering her options she leaned back and banged her head on the wall a few times, screaming out in frustration. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK!"

-X-

Radiation exploded out from the broken generators and warning klaxon started up all through the bunker. Scarlet scurried from the last generator room and hauled ass back to the stairs that led upward. She knew that she couldn't stop now. Her Rad-X had worn out a long time ago and with the radiation levels rising as steadily as they were if she remained here any longer she'd be overcome and die down here. She was determined not to die before she saw that look on Caesar's face when she stumbled out waving victory in his face. "So you're army couldn't do it, Caesar?" She could hear herself saying, "amazing what a woman could do when men fail!" She chuckled weakly as she staggered across the room she'd battled two protectron and a turret in. In the darkness the light shining through the door at the other end seemed like the door to heaven.

She tripped over one of the protectron's arms and went sprawling on the ground. For a ten count her body didn't move. Scarlet was sure she was done for, every muscle aching, head exploding with agony, nerves tingling. As her eyes slipped closed she saw his face again, those sneering lips and narrow eyes full of intelligence… and malice. Vulpes Inculta. The man she'd came all the way to learn more about. The man who had destroyed a town in the name justice. The man who had looked at her like she'd break just walking down the stairs to this bunker when Caesar had asked her to do it. Fuck shoving surviving this place in Caesar's face, at least he'd asked her to do it (implying he had some kind of faith in her abilities); she wanted to see Vulpes' expression, and all those other soldiers, too.

Screw dying today.

Her eyes snapped open and she pushed herself to her knees, and then hauled herself to her feet. On her arm her pip-boy gave a warning beep, letting her know her radiation level had raised above safe levels and she now had radiation sickness. Ignoring it she pressed on. Not even a minute later she was climbing the stairs up to the terminal room where she'd talked to House. What she didn't expect was the barrage of lasers from a turret in that room. The pain clouded her eyes as she was thrown forward through the doorway into the small antechamber. Fingers felt around on the ground until she found a jagged piece of debris and with a throw she hit the control panel beside the door, closing it was a clang of finality.

Then everything was quiet.

A giggle burst from her mouth as she lay there staring at the ceiling. She was alive! Hot damn, she was alive. It was hell pushing herself back up into a sitting position, but once she was leaned against the wall she felt a little better. She found the last stimpak and the radaway immediately and began the radaway drip before jamming the stimpak into her leg. The warm wash of healing liquid rushed through her veins. It wasn't enough to fully heal her, but it would be enough for her to walk out of here without looking like she was a weakling. Once the radaway was finished she jerked the needle from her arm and tossed it across the room and got to her feet. Grabbing her bag she headed for the stairs that led back up to where the three legion soldiers were waiting. "See you later, old friends." She told her guns.

-X-

"It's done, Caesar."

The Legion's leader looked pleased, even downright celebratory. "Excellent job." He told her. "And now that you've done this for me I shall repay you by allow you to decide the fate of the man who left you for dead."

Scarlet turned her head to look at Benny. Decide his fate? "What do you mean?"

"This man snuck into our fort and impersonated a member of my legion. He is not leaving here alive. I feel that after everything he has done to you, and what you've done for us it is only right that perhaps I let you decide the method of his death."

Her heart fell and her throat was suddenly dry. She hated him, but she didn't know if she could be responsible for his death. She wasn't that kind of person.

"The first option is crucifixion. It is obviously the most painful and torturous. The second method is a battle between yourself and him in our arena. The last is merely your choice to outright kill him where he sits."

She swallowed hard and looked at him again. His eyes were full of fear, and instead of reveling in it this time she felt overwhelmed. As much as she might like to let him go and let everything be done with she had a feeling that wasn't an option. Not only would she lose points with the Legion (perhaps even make them her enemy), but they were so pissed at Benny they'd just kill him anyway and then she wouldn't even get a say. Crucifying him wasn't a thought. He wasn't a bad enough person to deserve that. Yeah, he'd shot her in the head, but ("I'm not a fink, I look people in the eye when I kill them…") there was something a little honorable about the chairman.

She took a breath and then spoke to Caesar. "I think I would like to just kill him, but I want to talk to him first. I want some answers about what happened."

"If that is your wish." Caesar said.

Scarlet excused herself and walked over to the man and knelt in front of him. She would have to be careful with what she did as to not give the legion the wrong impression. Her hand lifted to stroke the side of his face with her knuckles. "Well, hello, Benny." She greeted.

"Come on, doll, you gotta help me." He pleaded.

"How ironic of you." She spat.

"I'm sorry, okay, but I told you why I did what I did." He reminded her.

"Yeah, right before you sicked your guards on me, you prick."

"I really am sorry. I really thought you were there to kill me. I was wrong, wasn't I? You really did want to help me. I fucked up."

"You have no idea how much." She admitted, her voice softening a little. "I'm sure you heard I'm supposed to kill you. I don't really want to do it, but its this or crucifixion and as much as I hate you right now I can't…" She closed her eyes tightly. "I can't do that."

"Thanks, I guess." The life was gone from his voice. It was apparent he was beginning to accept his fate. He'd backed himself into a corner and this time he wasn't getting out of it.

"Is there any way you would prefer to go?"

"As an old man, in bed, with lots of beautiful women." The corner of his mouth twitched up. He was trying to joke, but it didn't last long before he fell into solemnity again. "Whatever it is just make it quick. I don't want it to hurt."

"I understand." She said. She then rose to her feet and trying to sound as cold as possible she regarded Caesar again. "I want to kill him with the gun he shot me with. Did you find any weapons on him?"

"We did find a gun." Caesar said slowly. It was obvious he was a little hesitant at letting her have a gun in such close proximity.

"All I need is one bullet." She answered. "I'm a good shot."

He nodded at Vulpes and the Frumentarius walked over to that side of the tent and opened a box. Inside it were the things that had been taken from Benny. She saw that gun, the one that had gleamed in the moonlight the night she thought she was going to die. Vulpes removed all the bullets but one and came and laid it in her hands. His eyes caught hers before he completely let go and she understood that look perfectly. He'd be making sure she would use it as she said. She smirked at him and took the pistol and turned.

When Vulpes returned to his place beside Caesar she knelt next to Benny again, her hand grabbing the back of his head and twisting his hair in her fingers. It was soft and felt like silk. "I'm sorry." She whispered in his ear.

"Her name's Maria." Benny stammered. Somehow Scarlet knew he was talking about the gun.

"Maria." She repeated. "All right. You know, Benny, in another life we might have been friends." As she pulled back she let her lips brush against his just once. The view of him was shielded by her body so she knew the men behind her would not know what she had done. The look of shock on Benny's face took only moments to melt into softness.

"Here's to another life then, dollface." He told her. Tears shimmered in his eyes. She'd never seen a man cry before, and she always thought she'd find it funny, but now that she was seeing it she found nothing comical about it. It was breaking her heart.

She raised her hand, the gun pointing directly at his forehead. For an instant she closed her eyes. Before her finger pulled the trigger the stopped and opened them again. "You know, this man told me once that you look someone in the eyes when you shot them. It's a man I'll always remember."

The tears spilled across his cheeks.

She fired.

It took everything she had not to turn away from his falling body, the expression in his now-dead eyes. She had killed many other people since her journey in the Mojave. This was the first time it had ever felt like murder. She bit her lip hard to keep herself from crying and gripped the gun until her knuckles turned white to keep it from shaking. Moments passed before she was able to lower it and turn to face Caesar and his Praetorian guards. By then the cold cruelty had returned to her eyes.

"How does it feel to finally have revenge?" Caesar inquired.

"Like a million caps." What she didn't add was that those million caps were smeared with blood and she could never spend any of them, not just because they were figurative, but also because if she did she would probably lose her soul.

Woof that last scene was hard to write, I almost cried! Even though he kind of was a little bit of an ass I liked Benny so killing him makes me sad. It was necessary however, and it will be a very important event in Scarlet's life. This chapter was much longer than I originally intended but I had what needed to happen at the beginning and the end in my head and I didn't want to split the chapter, so apologies if its a little much. R&R!

Next Chapter: Scarlet finally gets to rest for the first time since that morning and she and Vulpes have a conversation. Also Caesar asks another mission of her, and this time its to kill Mr. House. The catch is she won't be going alone. (If I can fit everything in this next chapter it shall have all of that!)

Until next time.