Heulwen: Don't feel sorry for a review like that at all! Its reviews like that that really help me. My goal in life is to become an editor for a publishing company as well as a published writer, so everything, even the littlest bit is helpful, but an in depth review like that is awesome! It really helps me get a grasp on what people like, what they don't like, what's working in terms of the story. And about the mind games between Scarlet and the Legion, and specifically between she and Vulpes, even sometimes I wonder what the hell will happen. I believe that's the funnest part about writing this story is that the end is a mystery to even me. Oh, and thank you for the Gaius love. He really is a complicated and special individual. In life I'm a shades of grey kind of person and even though the Legion are capable of horrible things they are still human. I want to touch on that, both the good and bad in this story.

NukaColaQueen: Thank you much. I hope to keep making it better and better!

Charbear1020: Thank you, once again for your lovely review. One of the best things a writer can hear is how their story has personally drawn in their reader.

And for all those that have alerted or favorited me you are all appreciated, too. Writers are nothing without their readers, even the silent ones.

Without further ado, I present chapter 8...

Chapter VIII

First Place in the Arms Race

He watched from a distance as she moved through the fort. It always amazed him how she could seem so untouched by what was around her. In Nipton she had been deaf and blind to the pain of the crucified men and now she ignored slaves like they didn't exist. It was a curious feat, mostly because he could tell she was the kind of woman who hated slavery, but if a stranger had been asked at that moment what he thought of her he would have said it didn't bother her either way. She didn't even show signs that she was catching any of the sideways glances that some of the other legionaries were giving her. Those glances were full of many things: disgust, hatred, shock, but also lust. There was no doubt that the Courier was a beautiful woman. By her actions it led him to believe that she was not aware of this. Most of the time he could not tell if her hair was gold or if it was red, and when the sun was high and hit at just the right angle he would have sworn that it was both. And who really had violet eyes? Yes, it was genetically possible, but it was so very rare. Who was she, this messenger, and why did Fate set her in the Legion's path?

Why did Fate set her in his path?

Scarlet was not like any other woman he had ever met, including the other dissolute he had been forced to walk among when he was out in disguise. In many ways the women of the wasteland were all just as broken as Legion slaves. Some of them just fought the emptiness inside by trying to act tough, or paint themselves with pre-war beauty implements to hide their ugliness, and many constantly wore that snide expression of self-indulgence and greed as if the world was obligated to wait on their every need. She was none of those things. In fact, despite the bold flair for dramatics she was prone to show at times she preferred to wrap herself in a humble ambiguity. It was refreshing to see a women that was not only strong but down to earth. Yes, women were supposed to be lower on the hierarchy in the Legion, and from what he'd experienced in life, for a good reason, but they were boring. It didn't take any talent to get what you wanted from slaves, but from her…

Below him awaited a challenge that filled him with an excitement he had not felt for a long time. She would not just bow to him or the Legion, not easily. It would make the moment that she did that much sweeter, that much more victorious. He would not rip her strength from her, the Legion would need that, but he would tear away the ridiculous ideologies she'd been fed her entire life until she was seeing the world through their eyes. And it would be beautiful.

-X-

Gaius was a soldier, plain and simple, so when he had finally shown Scarlet everything there was to see about the Fort and told her the minimum she would need to know about each area he was happy to take her back. She thanked him with a smile as they began to make their way back up the incline to Caesar's tent. "That was most informational." She said. "I don't feel so lost now."

"Don't feel bad about getting lost. Just like any other unknown terrain it just takes time to get used to." He lifted his eyes and caught the form of Vulpes standing at the top waiting. "Well, this is where I leave you. From the looks of it I would surmise that you have something to talk about. He looks rather focused."

Scarlet followed his gaze, her body hesitating for just a second before continuing on. She had known he had been there and had probably watched her the entire time she had been with Gaius, but that didn't change the fact that being under his predatory stare was more than just overwhelming. "See you around."

When Gaius left her the weight of Vulpes' attention crashed upon her shoulders, constricted her chest with an unfamiliar and unpleasant pain. She had to force herself to take a deep breath as she approached him. By the way he was studying her she knew he must have Caesar's answer already and that knowledge washed over her in the form of panic. Those ten steps to him were the longest she had ever taken in her life and the entire time she could feel the thrumming of her heart.

Then he smiled. It was more of a smirk than an honest, light-hearted, friendly smile, but it was better than the icy displeasure that was his customary expression. In an instant the weight was lifted, and in its place that gentle warmth was returning. It began in her chest and radiated out throughout the rest of her body. It was anticipation, excitement, hope. It was all the things she was prone to feel in his presence, both frightening and wonderful. Gaius had tried to warn her to ignore it. For a while she thought that maybe she could. That had been before. Now all she wanted to do was close this space between them so she could examine the colors in his eyes while he spoke to her about her future – and hope to whatever God really existed that he never noticed.

Because if he figures it out you're fucked.

"By that expression on your face I can assume that you're the bearer of good news for once?" She inquired. With that fantastic warmth flooding her veins her bravery was back and she felt confident that she could take on anything, including whatever answer he had for her.

"More than just good news, I hope." He replied. "After discussing the matter with Caesar he has decided to accept your terms and agrees that it would be most beneficial for both parties."

It was Scarlet's turn to smile. "That is more than just good news. It's great news! Has he said when I am to begin?" That morning the thought of doing the Legion's dirty deeds had not been a pleasant one, but for the moment she was overcome with her victory of actually coming up with a plan that worked. She would consider everything else later. Right now was celebration time.

"In fact he wants you to return to him immediately for your first order, however, there is one other thing you should know."

"That is?"

"He has also instructed that you be accompanied by a member of the Legion to be your teacher. It is his way of honoring your wish to learn more about us. I have been given this job."

Scarlet's brain short-circuited. In one moment she felt many different emotions all at once, and almost every single one of them were contradicting each other. On one hand she was busting with joy that she would get to spend more time with the mysterious Legionary, perhaps even learn how to read him. On the other hand she wasn't much for having companions. She was a loner, and despite that she could get along well with people for a short period she had learned traveling with others became intense and stressful. Working with Vulpes was either going to turn out very well or explode into one big mess.

"Well… that's…" Finally she recovered and nodded her head, a soft smile curving her lips. "I am honored to have such a distinguished soldier at my side."

"Let us not keep Caesar waiting then. He is eager to get you on your way." Vulpes swept his arm to motion towards the entrance. In that moment he seemed delightful and charming. If she hadn't already seen the atrocities that he was capable of with her own eyes she would not have believed it. His ability to shift gears from hardened killer to charismatic gentleman was astounding. He was the leader of the Frumentarii after all, and she could see why he was good at his job. As the flap of the tent snapped closed behind them she wondered if that was something she should be worried about or not.

-X-

Caesar wanted them to go talk to the Boomers, who, like their name suggested, blew up anything and everyone who came within a certain radius of the air base they'd made their home. It wasn't the first time Scarlet had heard about them, in fact this wasn't the first time someone asked her to go talk to them on their behalf. Apparently Caesar and the NCR thought alike. When Ambassador Crocker had asked her to do the very same favor she had turned him down flat, not only because she had been busy trying to get to Benny at the time, but also because she wasn't a fan of the idea of being blown into fleshy little bits. Yet now Caesar was sitting there asking her to do it, and asking her in a tone so casual that he might have been wanting to borrow a cup of sugar.

She shifted her weight onto her hip, one arm crossed just below her chest as her hand held the elbow of her other arm. Her right hand drifted up thoughtfully to touch her lips as she considered the emperor. "How do you propose we do this? No one has ever accomplished getting through to see them – at least no one who ever lived to tell about it."

"That is for you and Vulpes to decide. However, you are a little luck charm it would seem. I have a good feeling you'll make it through." He was so damned sure of himself.

Her mouth twitched and she bit down on the urge to tell him that there was a big difference between a bullet to the head and an artillery shell dropped on one's ass. Instead she let the twitch melt into a smile and nodded. "Where there is a will there is a way. There is just something everyone else is missing. We will definitely find it."

"That's the spirit." Caesar seemed pleased with that answer. "Return when you have spoken to them about becoming allies. If they appear that they will be a problem for us dispose of them."

Scarlet's eyes flickered between Caesar and Vulpes at the last request. She hadn't even met the people yet and was already being asked to kill them if they resisted. Of course, what else should she have expected from a dictator. She didn't know if she could promise a thing like that.

"Is that going to be difficult for you?"

"If they're going to be unreasonable the only option would have to be to kill them, wouldn't it?" She answered. She supposed that was right. If the Boomers couldn't see some kind of logic or if they attacked then she and Vulpes would have to defend themselves. It would be a reluctant but not impossible decision. At the end of the day right and wrong didn't mean too much if you were dead.

-X-

"Goddamnit, I was hoping I wouldn't have to return to the Strip again this soon." Scarlet was fuming, her legs drawn up beneath her as they made the journey back to Cottronwood Cove. Lucullus' gaze flickered over her for a few counts at her sudden outburst and then back onto his task at hand. She gave a deep sigh as she rooted through her bag to find the slip of paper with Ambassador Crocker's "official request" written upon it. The NCR was a paper bureaucracy and insisted upon keeping everything documented, orderly, annoying. With a cry of victory she pulled out the folder and crumpled sheet. "Eureka!"

Vulpes was watching her with something akin to curiosity, but closer to what you might see in a biologist studying a wild creature in its natural habitat. Since he'd returned to his tent and packed his belongings for his long-term trip he'd fallen into his pensive silence again. However this time around Scarlet didn't feel as uncomfortable with them due to their familiarity. Actually having someone around that thought before he acted was refreshing, if not calming. It was much different than the panting, barking, drooling furface that usually accompanied her every move.

Oh Rex, I hope you're doing all right. She bit her lower lip in thought. When she had received the Mark from Vulpes she had decided to take Rex up to see Doctor Henry again, this time armed with a replacement brain and a request. At the time she didn't know how the meeting with the Legion was going to go so she asked if the dog could stay for an extended period of time, and at the end of said time be taken back to the King if she had not returned. The brain doc explained that if she wanted to wait until Rex was ready for full action to give about two to three weeks, which gave her plenty of time to return for him. It had only been about a week at this point and she was beginning to miss his wagging little butt more than she had anticipated. His absence though was a godsend for the moment, seeing as she didn't want to go traipsing in Boomer country with a rambunctious hound that might take off at the drop of a hat (or the sight of one).

Scarlet smoothed the crinkled paper flat and handed it to the Frumentarius. "It's a request from the NCR. It has to do with the Boomers. I believe this is something that needs to be dealt with."

He took the paper from her and read it, folded it back up, and handed it back. "So the NCR is interested in the Boomers, too. They're not stupid then. What do you propose we do about this problem?"

Good, he had seen it, too. There was hope for this partnership after all. "Well, you've probably already got enough spies working in and around the NCR, but considering the jobs they've been trying to get me to take I might be able to infiltrate a little differently. As much as they're trying to use me and my link to House they're also treating me like this magic pill that if they tolerate I'll give them some kind of super powers in my service."

"Hm. It is unfortunate for them, for I'm sure they'll find you a hard pill to swallow."

"Oh! Clever." It was a relief that he had some sense of humor. He would need it to work alongside her. Still smiling she continued her suggestion, "If I just head over to the Boomers and work this deal and the NCR finds out I've been over there – and they will, nosy bastards – they might begin to think differently about me. It would be difficult to do any kind of productive work with them on my ass all the time, so I'll just let them think I'm helping them. I'll go talk to Crocker, tell him I changed my mind," she flicked the paper in her hand, "and we'll be on our merry way. Everyone's happy."

"Except maybe the Boomers and the NCR when they find out that you're lying to them." Vulpes pointed out.

"Who's going to tell them? You? Caesar? Hey, Lucullus, are you going to run over to the NCR and tell Crocker I'm a lying whore?" She tilted her head up at the man.

"I would never call you a liar." Cursor Lucullus said cheekily, obviously implying that while he would not call her a liar, whore was somewhat up for grabs.

"Oh you burn me with the whip of your words, ferryman!" She gripped her chest like she'd been stabbed in the heart.

"Very well, we shall return to the Strip and talk to the Ambassador." Vulpes agreed. He wanted to tell her that she thought like a Frumentarius, but thought it best to keep that to himself for the time being. There was no use in getting ahead of himself. Yet he would not ignore that she had a sharp mind and so far that sharp mind was serving the Legion well despite her continued assurances that she didn't know if she wanted to help them or not. You play hard to get, Courier, but we both know where your heart resides.

-X-

Scarlet thought that Ambassador Crocker was going to fall over himself as he leapt to his feet and went about bidding the pair entrance to his office and exclaimed that they must, "please sit down!" Vulpes found the scene all rather amusing and attempted to cover his smirking sneer with the guise of a friendly smile. The Courier had become a celebrity for these people. Her harrowing journey after the miraculous resurrection was already becoming something of legend across the Mojave. The Courier was a heavenly saint he had heard some say, and maybe it was talk like that which gave the NCR hope that she was a messiah that could lead them to their salvation. If the Legionary had his way, Caesar's way, then the woman standing at his side would be working against Crocker and his men very soon.

Then they would see that she was no messiah, but rather a messenger, and her message was a very clear one. In a world that had turned upside down enough for a woman to survive a point blank bullet wound to the head and being buried alive anything was possible. The ground would quake from the profligates' trembling and Vulpes would savor the moment that the NCR saw their previous symbol of hope standing opposite of them.

"No, really, Ambassador," Scarlet said, and she had one hand lifted to indicate a no. "We will not be long, I just came to inform you that I have decided to go speak to the Boomers up at Nellis."

Crocker's attention was full now. "I thought you said that you would prefer not to do anything so dangerous."

"Well, that was a month ago and since then I've found myself capable of many things I once believed impossible. I know my limits and I would like to at least try to make contact with them. I felt that you deserved to know my intentions before I just up and headed out that way."

"You have the Republic's thanks." Ambassador Crocker said. "If we can implement the Boomer's artillery with our troops then we have drastically improved our chances of finally driving the Legion out of the Mojave. And as our strength grows we should be able to follow them into their own lands and begin to wipe them out for good. You have no idea how important this is going to be for not only us, but the good people of the wasteland."

The ex-Courier reached out her hand to shake Crocker's, "then I believe I should get to work. The sooner I get to Nellis and begin to negotiate on the Republic's behalf then the sooner we can introduce those ignorant savages to some real civilization."

"My dear, have I told you I like your style?"

"You have now." She cracked a sly smile before withdrawing her hand back to her side and turning towards the door. "Until we meet again, Ambassador."

Manipulation, thy name is Scarlet.

Next Chapter: Up In the Air - As difficult as getting into Nellis is going to be its gaining the inhabitants' trust that will take everything in Scarlet and Vulpes' arsenal. (The beginning of a 3-4 chapter arch dealing with the Boomers.)

As always, review.