Chapter XIX:
Boulder City
Gideon
My feelings as we made the long way down to the bottom floor were strangely mixed. I was relieved at both of us making out of here alive and satisfied at winning this day against rather ridiculous odds. But those feelings passed very quickly as a sense of foreboding settled into my bones. Another piece of my past revealed in fragments that I did not understand but all the while dreaded. And now a warning from Arcanum about things that hadn't even happened yet.
Scared wouldn't be the right word. Whatever comes; I'll deal with it one or another just as I have everything else. No… I think I'm just tired. Not just physically or mentally, which I am don't get me wrong; but also of the miles and miles of utter knee high bullshit I've been wading through ever since I got dug out of the ground.
I'm just hoping that tonight it all ends.
"You okay, V?"
Veronica had been strangely quiet the entire time down and I don't think it's just the morphine wearing off.
"Yeah it's just… I don't know I just…"
"Who is he?"
"Hmm?"
"This Elijah. You asked Arcanum if he was alive or not."
She didn't answer at first. As we continued walking along the ruins of this pre-war apartment complex; her face went through many different stages. What I mean by this is that she was happy and sad and then neutral; over and over again for about a long minute. Like she was reliving her memories. Finally she answered; sorrow lain in her voice:
"He was my mentor. But he was more than that. When my parents died, and hell even before that, he was like a grandfather to me. He—everything I know about tech, how it works, how to preserve it, how to push its limits… all came from him. I used to beg to follow him everywhere he went, watch him work."
"He sounds like a good man."
"You wouldn't have liked him."
"What do you mean?"
She stopped in her tracks and turned to face me.
"If he could, he would've made the Brotherhood machines. Order them around with the push of a button. No backtalk, no questioning his orders. His vision."
"I wouldn't mind doing that to some folk."
"Gideon…"
"I'm just kidding. But I think I get what you're saying. There was only him and the mission. Right?"
"Not really the mission. More like his mission. He and the Elders back in California couldn't agree on anything. See they were cautious about technology. They wanted to learn its limits and how to preserve it. Elijah wanted to know how to push its limits, advance it several steps along the way. He was driven. To some it was inspiring. The suit I'm wearing was a product of that vision."
"So what changed?"
"He did. He convinced the Elders that we needed to secure the Mojave and its secrets before the NCR did. It was dangerous. We were still at war, and losing more and more ground every day. We didn't need to spread ourselves even further out than we already were. But Elijah said that what was here could change everything."
"Helios One?"
She nodded.
"My parents were close to him. Told him that it couldn't be defended. But he just kept saying that there was something there, something that we could use against the NCR. Of course, he never told any of us what it was or how he would use it. So we set up camp. The NCR took the dam and soon they had Helios surrounded."
"How'd you get out?"
"I wasn't there. I was with Mac and the others exploring a—"
She froze midsentence and looked at me strangely.
"You can trust me, V."
"I do but it's just—"
"Look, I gave Boone the same talk a few nights ago. You don't need to keep secrets from me. I'm not the type that'll blab them to someone else without permission."
"So you're not an asshole?"
"I try not to be."
She nodded and continued.
"There's an old pre-war bunker system codenamed Hidden Valley. We'd found it, thought it would make a perfect base. Turns out we were too right."
Her face enveloped in sorrow. Tears streamed down her face as her voice broke:
"My parents, my friends… Christine… they—"
"Hey it's okay."
I grabbed her and cradled her in my arms. I could feel her sobbing heavy in my shoulder. I stroked her hair comfortingly as I soothed:
"It's okay. Let it out."
And she did. For a long drawn out couple of minutes. And when she came to, her face was a mess. I offered her my shemagh scarf but she shook her head:
"Elijah wasn't among them."
"He escaped?"
"Yeah. I mean he wasn't the only one. Hardin, Ramos and others managed to fight their way out. But none of them had seen Elijah. When the battle began he just disappeared. But then a couple of days later I got a message from him. He—the only thing familiar about it was his signature. I…I don't want to say he sounded delusional but… he was angry. But not in a way I'd ever seen before. He… he honestly scared me."
"When a desperate man loses everything…"
"I guess. He said that the Brotherhood was doomed. That he'd come and save us all."
"How?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know. He just said he was looking for something from the Old World," she paused at this, "wipe the slate clean."
That sent alarm bells in my head. The look Arcanum gave me…oh God.
"What if he's found it? What if he's found this slate wiper?"
"That was over five years ago though. If he'd found it, I think he would've used it by now."
"I guess we'll see soon enough."
"Yeah…both of us."
"C'mon, it's a problem for tomorrow. Let's go join the others."
"So what happens now?"
"Now we go talk to some Khans and hopefully my quest will be over and I can finally get a proper night's sleep."
"Yeah," she chuckled, "you look like you could use it."
"So could you."
Kowalski
I'd avenged my brother. I'd avenged Sarge, Johnson, Carter, Donny and everybody else the Legion bastards had murdered in this town tonight. I'd done what I'd promised. But here I am, standing before the black wall entitled the hundred names of the soldiers who died holding the Legion here all those years ago. Men who had died so that others could live.
My hand ran across the wall. Across the chiseled letters, until I found his. James Walter Kowalski. I should've felt proud. I should've felt… felt something.
Something other than… cold. I felt hollow. Like anything happy had been drained from me and I was just standing here like some kind of zombie. Why? I'd done this for them.
Why did I feel worse?
"Because we're not built for revenge, nino."
I turned to see Raul standing behind me.
"What, you can read minds too?"
"No. But I know the look."
He then stepped to my side and stared at the wall.
"A lot of hombres valientes died here. And they honor them with this."
"This? This tells of what they did! What they died for!"
"You think so?"
"What, you think it's not good enough?"
"Esta cosa," he ran his hand against it, "is just stone. It has no meaning, no mourning to it. It's just a piece of faded stone en un cien anos will be remembered for being just that. A piece of stone. It's memory that honors the dead. Gives what they did here meaning. It's what you're doing here, right now, luto y recordando su perdida, that truly tells the weight of them. Because otherwise the world forgets, and we go back to what things were."
"War never changes."
He nodded. And I felt even colder inside.
"Why… do I feel like this? I—I killed the men who taken their lives. Avenged those who'd fallen. Why?"
"Porque son are still dead. Revenge… doesn't bring them back. No matter… how much you wish it would."
I felt the bitter sorrow in his voice. The pain there.
"What happened to you?"
"I lost mi mundo. My life and everyone that gave it meaning. And vengeance… it did not give it back. Y todo lo que hizo fue asegurarse de que nunca se sentiría otra vez… well until now."
"Why now?"
"People I can care about."
He then looked to the direction of the other buildings.
"You asked me why you feel sorrow. Because revenge is hollow. The only way to live with it sin comer is to find others que te ayudaran your burden."
"I…" I stared down at the ground, "I don't think I can."
"Then don't fight for vengeance. Fight for justice. Lucha por los who cannot themselves. And in time; encontraras proposito y you will find peace."
I nodded somberly.
"Now come on," he smiled, "the others are waiting."
Monroe
The ruined plaza in front of our position had been quiet for the last ten minutes. For the fifteen minutes prior to that there had been nothing but gunfire and explosions as the damn apartments were being blown apart. I'm still surprised they're still standing. Then I spotted movement ahead and I raised my weapon.
"Identify yourself!"
"LT!"
I smiled slightly as Jake Kowalski came into view. I'm glad he'll be making it out of here tonight. Mama Kowalski doesn't need to lose another son.
"Hiya son, how you fairin'?"
"Could've been worse. I—well, I think I should give these to you."
Before he even had them in hand, I knew what they were. Castellone had saved my life more times than I could count. I just hope he and everybody else who'd fallen tonight would find some place better than this shitstain. I patted Jake's arm and smiled at him:
"Go ahead and head inside. Joe's serving something I can't describe, but he'll at least have some coffee."
"Thanks LT."
Then I looked past him and I spotted a man wearing a red beret.
"You must be Sergeant Boone."
"Lieutenant Monroe."
"Son, I want to thank you. My men will be able to live another day after this, and so will Jake here."
Then I spotted a Ghoul right next to him. I flinched slightly but then I saw his eyes and I relaxed. Ferals don't have pupils.
"And who are you?"
"Raul the Mechanic and occasional Gunfighter with severe cataracts!"
"Huh."
This guy's not military.
"Where's the rest of your unit, Sergeant?"
"I'm retired actually. And they should be coming out any minute."
"Retired? Don't mind me asking but what are you doing out here then?"
"We heard you have some Khans locked up!"
There was another man approaching flanked by a woman wearing a brown robe. This guy though… his eye was cold like a snake. I felt a shiver of cold sweat run down my neck. And when he got closer I could tell he wasn't exactly new to this hellhole.
"You're with him?"
Boone shrugged:
"More like I'm with him, sir."
"Name's Gideon Maddox. This is Veronica-"
"Ma'am," I curtseyed.
"And you've already met Raul and Boone."
"So what's your business here, Mr. Maddox?"
"I'm a Courier with the Mojave Express. Three weeks ago the Khans shot me and stole a package I was delivering. I've been chasing them ever since."
"Quite the poesy you've gathered, Mr. Maddox."
"You haven't seen its full membership," Veronica smiled.
"Well, from the looks of it already I wager they'll be quite interesting."
"Speaking of which."
He turned and cupped his hands over his mouth:
"Hey Cass! You in there!? Come on out, we're getting bored over here!"
"I'm comin'! Keep yer damn shirt on!"
A minute passed and I wasn't wrong. There a damnably fine lookin' woman shouldering a bloody Bazooka and a mortar! Then there was the strangest looking robot I've ever seen. It looked like something out of a Captain Cosmos movie.
"New toys, Cass?"
"Hey the shitheads tried ta kill me with 'em, girlie. Cost me and ED-E here quite a bit of pain. Figure we needed some reimbursement!"
She then tossed her cargo along with a very big duffle bag onto the floor.
"Where the hell do you keep finding duffle bags?"
"Dunno, Gid. They just keep showin' up all over the place."
"Hmm, un dispositivo parcela conveniente por un escritor lento!"
"The hell did he say?"
"Don't ask."
"Well, Mr. Maddox, I must inform you that any and all military equipment left behind or taken from the enemy must be taken into custody by the Quartermaster Office."
"Ya gotta be shittin' me. Look, LT, I just had to drag this shit down four separate flights of stairs, most of which had been blown ta shit so—"
"So considering the fact that they aren't actually here and you've more than done your fair share savin' my men and I's personal and respective bacon's, I must also inform you that the Q office rarely conducts investigations in missing contraband."
"You sneaky bastard," Gideon grinned. I smiled back.
"You've more than earned it."
"So Lieutenant, what can you tell me about the Khans?"
Jessup
If some asshole was to ask me things could've gotten worse: I'd shove the barrel of my Three-Five-Seven down his fuckin' throat, then piss on the remains. That fuckin' weasel Benny sold us out; got MacMurpy killed and now we've got a whole fuckin' army out there waitin' for us to poke our heads so they can blast us. Papa had been right from the start. We never should've taken this fuckin' job 'cause it's brought us nothin' but fuckin' misery. This was supposed to be a simple gig: grab a package and get this pretty boy back into Vegas without his boss noticing!
But things have been goin' wrong from the start. And now here we are. Originally, we were planning on simply waitin' for the Legion to kill these Fed pricks and we'd be on our merry way and even getting our hands on Benny. But the shooting stopped a while back, and we knew why. We confirmed that when we grabbed these two worthless sacks of shit.
I've dealt with these Fed's before. Don't like to send their boys home to mama in a body bag. They'll cooperate, mebbe even let us out.
"Jesse!"
"Whachya see?"
"It's the Fed's. They're moving on the outskirts."
"Shit. Bethe, grab one of 'em and bring him out here!"
She handed him to me and when he tried to wriggle out I smacked him on the head.
"Don't do anything stupid, sucka. Or I'll put one in you. Don't wanna have to kill you, but don't you go and do something I don't like, ya hear?"
I then marched him out with the Thee-Five-Seven behind his head.
"Hey shitheads! We got two of your boys over here! You come any closer and we'll kill 'em both! Ya hear me!? Now we don't want no trouble! We just want outta here! Ya let us go, you get your boys back and we'll be outta your turf by sundown tomorrow! You got one hour or we start sending over fingers!"
I then marched him back inside. Chrissy gave me a funny look.
"We ain't gonna actually do it? I got no problems wackin' someone who crosses us, mebbe get a little nasty with 'em if they piss me off. But look at 'em. They're kids, Jesse! Just kids!"
"Maybe, but these pricks had no problems killin' our kids or our old ones back at Bitter Springs."
"Don't mean it's right! Look, Papa mebbe sidin' with those skirt wearing sadists, but we ain't like them! We don't torture folk."
"Chrissy, it ain't gonna come to it. They care too much fer their own. They'll talk before they see 'em squeal. I just had to show them we're serious."
Gideon
Things had gotten complicated and not in a remotely good way. The Khans had taken the two troopers Monroe had stationed to watch them. What made things worse was that they were in a very good position. It was a brick building with one exit surrounded by low height ruins and level fields for about thirty feet in any direction. There was cover on the right side with still standing walls and ruins, but that was too far to launch an assault.
"This is going to be tricky."
"Dicey is more like it," Cass replied, "these guys are serious. They'll go out shootin' if it comes to it and they'll take the two troopers with 'em."
"What does Monroe want to do?"
"Nothing for right now. He knows he can't shoot them out without putting his men at risk."
"So why don't we wait for el Calvario? Let them handle this."
Boone shook his head:
"Can't. Benny's a Chairman which means he'd have diplomatic immunity."
"Yer shittin' me."
"They'll scoop him up and dump in right on the strip."
I nodded slowly, eyeing the building across from us:
"Which means we need to nab these guys before dawn."
"Why not just send me in," Veronica piped in, "they probably couldn't take me down. I get in close, bring ED-E for backup…"
"And have Monroe's men shoot you in the back?" Boone countered, "They're on edge. I don't need to add you to the body count."
"You don't need?"
"I'll go."
They all looked at me strangely.
"They know me."
"They shot you."
"Technically Benny shot me. But look, these guys want out. I'm not NCR. I can talk them out of killing the hostages, maybe talk them into surrendering."
"They won't go for that."
"They'll have to," Boone answered, "Monroe doesn't have the authority to release them. This ends either with handcuffs or bullets."
"Why don't you go in? You got cover. Solo acampar en las simbras and pick them off from afar."
"No."
"No?"
"If it comes to it, I will. But if it doesn't…"
"When did you start feelin' merciful?"
"As I said, I have to make up for my sins."
"But for these guys?" Veronica exclaimed, "They're drug peddling scumbags!"
"Drug-peddlin', maybe. But scum, girlie? Scum don't have a sense of honor. Plus, where do ya think all those prescribed meds, and I ain't just talkin' psycho and the like, come from? Those goodie-two shoes at the Mormon Fort get their stuff from the Khans. Stimpacks, rad-away… all good stuff that've saved a lot of lives. Scum don't do that."
"Didn't realize you liked them too."
"Girlie, there's a difference 'tween like and respect."
"And besides," Boone added, "most of my former squadmates back in Recon were Khans."
"Okay, okay, I get your points. Much as I don't like them."
"Good, because we need to get a move on," I interrupted.
"So what's the plan Bossman?"
"I'll walk in, and hope they won't shoot me on sight."
"That's a terrible plan, jefe."
"It is. But it's the only one I got."
"I can still cover you there," Boone pointed out the spot Raul had suggested earlier, "Should give me a clear line of sight on the front door."
"That's a two-man job. Anybody volunteering to cover my ass?"
"That'll be me!"
We all spun around to see Private Kowalski running out of the ruining towards us.
"Kid, you've done enough for one night."
"Sir, with all due respect I haven't. I know these guys, and I want to help anyway I can."
"You're learning Chico," Raul smiled. He nodded simply:
"Somebodies gotta fight for those who can't themselves."
"Alright," I interrupted, "Kid, you'll go with Boone. How much time do you need to get set up?"
"Five minutes."
"Alright then. I'll be walking out in five then."
Then the two disappeared out of sight.
"Are you sure ya want ta do this, Gid?"
"Got no other choice. This ends tonight."
"But what 'bout Benny? He might start takin' shots at you."
"If he does, then Boone will drop him. The Khans aren't stupid. They know they can't shoot their way out. The last thing they'll want to do is kill a negotiator."
I then plucked my handguns and other respective weapons from their holsters and sheaves and handed them to Cass.
"Dunno, jefe. Desesperados tend to do stupid things. And you're walking in unarmed."
"I'm not going to be totally unarmed," I smirked, and V smiled in response. Raul shook his head.
"Pistolas tend to beat punos, Boss."
"Not always," Veronica smiled.
"So says la senora vistiendo armadura de poder."
Boone
We low crawled the majority of the way to the target spot. Kowalski is a fast learner. He was practically moving in my footsteps with almost as much silence. He might've made a good Ranger. Maybe he still will.
"You were at Bitter Springs, right?"
I froze.
"Drop it, Kowalski. This isn't the time or place."
"I know what happened there. What Recon had to do there. Is that why you don't want to drop these guys?"
"How much did you eavesdrop on us?"
"Enough to know you clearly care for Veronica. And that you don't want these Khans dead."
"If you know, then why are you asking?"
"If it came to it—"
"If it comes to them or Gideon and your men, the choice should be obvious. Now stow it and let's keep moving."
"Yes sir."
"I'm not an officer."
Gideon
The alarm on my Pip-Boy went out. I nodded.
"Good luck, Mr. Maddox," Monroe shook my hand, "if we hear shootin', we'll come runnin'."
"Don't worry, sir. I've got more than enough protection."
As I started walking out, ED-E zoomed in front of me and beeping like a whining dog. I patted his metal hide and smiled simply.
"It's okay buddy. I'll be back."
Monroe then called out:
"Attention Khans! We're sending over a negotiator to talk to you! He is unarmed! But if we hear shooting, we will come in there and we will kill you!"
"Okay, let's see if this'll work."
I was about 50 or so feet from the brick house. A walk should've been no less than a minute. But trust me, it felt like an hour. Every step, my guts got tugged just a little tighter. Oh, I've dealt with worse than Khans tonight, but this time I'm going to have to leave my fate and the fates of others to luck.
I will never trust the value of luck. Because in the end it has no allegiance. I got to about 15 feet from the building when I spotted movement behind some rubble in front. Then a harsh voice called out:
"That's close enough! Say yer peace!"
"No!"
"Wha—wait what!? You got a death wish, or somethin'!?"
"Not particularly! But I'm only gonna talk if I can see the hostages! That means you need to let me come inside or this turns into a shooting war!"
"We'll kill the hostages, man!"
"And then they'll kill you! Is that what you want?"
I stood there like a goddamn deer in the headlights for about a minute before finally someone else shouted:
"Conner let him in! Guys got balls. I'll give 'em that."
Okay let's not do anything stupid guys. I walked to the patch of rubble.
"Holy shit!"
I froze.
"No fuckin' way! You're dead! Benny shot you!"
I gave them the biggest fucking grin I could manage.
"Yeah that's right. He shot me. But I came back as Ghost! I'm here to haunt your sorry asses! Whooo!"
"Oh cut the shit, deadman! And get your fuckin' hands in the air, or we'll make sure you're dead!"
I was half tempted to call out to Boone and have him prove a point. But I don't need to waste my ace in the hole just yet. So I did just as they said, and two of them came out; both women wearing torn jeans, leather jackets and vests, Mohawks and carrying SMG's and a couple lever-actions: and then dragged me under the cover of the rubble.
Boone
"Shit," Kowalski cursed next to me.
"Just give 'em a second."
Gideon
They tore off my jacket and started to frisk me.
"Told y'all I'm unarmed."
"With you, we ain't taking any fuckin' chances."
I turned to face the speaker. Oh yeah, this guy's clearly the leader. He was taller and paler than the rest, wearing studded biker leathers and a ridiculous sized Mohawk. Plus a sawn-off pointed at my groin. Still I chuckled a little:
"Gotta ask. Whachya use for that hair of yours?"
"You tryna get yerself kill again, funny man?"
"No but I'm curious."
"Conditioner I got from Freeside. Turn around."
I did and they then checked my pockets. And a few other things.
"You got a nice ass fer a mailman."
"Hey I try."
"Yer a funny guy. Shame Benny had ta shoot you and make you a cripple too."
"Quit fuckin' flirting Bethe. Stand up."
I did and they then pushed me through the door. The windows on either side were blown out and the room was completely open. I turned and I could see the ruins twenty yards away. I then returned to the front and I spotted Ackerman and Gilbert. They were tied up and gagged, and had a mean looking guy with one of their Service Rifles covering them.
"Here take a seat, mailman."
They then shoved me onto a chair. I then looked around and noticed one particular person missing.
"Where's your boss?"
"We're askin' the fuckin' questions here, wiseass."
"Okay I've run out of patience," I then cupped my hand to my mouth, "oh Deadshot!"
Literally one second later and a hanging chandelier light went crashing to the floor following a loud bang. They all scurried to cover and I just sat there with my arms crossed, a big goofy grin on my face. Eventually they all got back up.
"That was a First Recon Sniper parked about twenty yards out who will shoot off your fingers if I ask him to. Now, where's Benny?"
"Not here. That weasel turned on us, got Mac killed," I noticed a body in the back, "took off and ran while we were getting shot at!"
"Why?"
"We were supposed to meet with a contact. A frumentarii who has access to the Strip. But things went south when he saw Benny and Benny saw him."
"Let me guess, he wanted the Platinum Chip?"
He nodded.
"We weren't gonna hand him over, though. I made that clear. When we Khans make a deal, we keep it. But he went back out on us and now we're here and that little rat is probably laughin' his ass off at us back at the fuckin' Tops."
Shit. I practically facepalmed at that one. If Benny's in Vegas… then there's no way of getting at him. He's out of my reach and all the shit I'd to deal with has been in vain. Goddamnit.
Still, I've got a job to do right now.
"Okay let's talk about what we do right now."
"I thought I made that clear. We walk or they get it."
He pointed his revolver at the hostages.
"Let's go over your options then."
"No fuckin' options! We walk or—"
"Do you wanna lose your fingers?" I asked with a grin. Yup, that shut him up.
"Look, you've got exactly two options here. One, you try and shoot your way out in which you all die from lead poisoning. Two, you surrender."
"Surrender!? Are you fuckin' kidding me!? We got hostages! We'll walk."
"No you won't. The LT outside doesn't have the authority to make a deal like that."
"Then we wait for someone who does!"
"And then what? You know how the NCR operates. How more than anything else they don't want to be perceived as weak. So the idea of you getting away with taking two of their own isn't exactly the most appealing option."
"It's either that or we kill their boys."
"Oh the LT outside of course wouldn't agree to that. But do you really think that a full bird colonel, who is more than likely who they'd send down here to talk, would really give an honest shit about two scrubs who knew what they were signing up for? And if you do kill them, then they can chalk this up as justice for two brave men murdered in cold blood."
"That's fucking cold."
"It's the truth."
"If they come in here, then we'll kill more of 'em. We'll make those fuckin' pigs pay."
"Easy to talk tough when they're not at your door. If you try to fight, if you try to go out like Davy Crockett in the Alamo, they will kill you. And if you live, they'll execute you. And in both circumstances you accomplish exactly nothing."
"So what's the alternative, uh? Go to prison!"
"You can get out of prison. But you cannot get out of death."
That stunned them considerably. I saw this utterly defeated look on the leader of the group which within seconds infected everybody else in the room. Then he did the one thing I was hoping he'd do for the last couple of minutes. He took out a cigarette and started to smoke. It was a clear sign of him trying to deal with his stress, and with the forlorn look in his eyes, he knew he was in a no win scenario.
"How do we know this LT will keep his word?"
"Have you killed anybody?"
"No. We knocked out these two, but no we haven't."
"Then there's your answer."
He took a long hard look out the door before he shook his head and sighed.
"Okay. We'll do this yer way."
He then approached the door and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Alright! We're comin' out!"
"Throw out your guns first! Then release my men!"
He looked at me, and I nodded.
"Do what he says."
"Better be right about this."
"Me too."
One by one they placed their weapons on the ground and slid them over to the middle of the street. After that, the cut the soldiers bounds and they slowly walked out.
"Hey, thanks for saving our asses," one of them said.
"Just doing my job."
Once everybody filed out I followed. There just ahead was Boone and Kowalski waiting for me.
"Nice work."
"Nice shot."
"Well I aim for perfection."
I smiled at that.
"Thanks for covering me."
"And thank you for giving them a chance," he then starting looking around at the dispersing crowd of Great Khans, "where's Benny?"
"He's gone."
"Vegas?"
"Yup. I've just lost my window to get him."
"We'll find a way, Gideon."
"Somehow I don't think so, Boone. C'mon, let's go join the others."
I got about twenty feet before I saw ED-E coming at me like a bat out of hell. This time I was ready though. As he came at me, I sidestepped to the side and he zoomed right past me.
"Too slow, buddy!"
"Bzztpzing!"
He then tried to get me again and I ducked below him.
"Oh look at that I'm too fast for you! Can you catch me?"
I got my answer when he tackled me to the ground.
"Sneaky!"
He then started laughing again.
"Ya okay Jerkface!"
"Never better Tipsy Danger!"
"Har har, don't make me get my Bazooka!"
She then offered me a hand and I took it readily. I looked over their shoulders at the Khans, who were one by one being handcuffed and being sent over to sit in a little huddle. I headed over to the LT.
"Thanks for gettin' my men out, Mr. Maddox. I owe you big time."
"So what happens to them now?"
"For now we'll hold 'em here till the higher ups send some Rangers to pick 'em up. They'll probably spend a week in lock up before they get traded over. So I'd say your work is done."
"Good, I haven't had a proper night's sleep for a while now."
"Did you get your package back?"
"No. The guy they were transporting took it and ran. I'll catch up with him sometime soon I guess."
"Well if you ever need my help, don't ever hesitate."
"Thank you, Lieutenant Monroe."
"Call me Johns."
"Sir!" one of the troopers came running with a backpack portable transceiver, "We got command on the line!"
"That was fast. We didn't even put a call out."
He then took the radio.
"This is Monroe."
"Lieutenant, this is Colonel Moore. I understand that you have half dozen Khans captured?"
"Yes ma'am. We're holding them as we speak."
"Good. I'm on my way."
"Ma'am, we didn't put out a call about us capturing the Khans."
"I'll be there shortly. Out."
"That was unusual."
"You tell me. I figured we'd have to wait until dawn for the brass to show."
I shook my head. I had a bad feeling about this. I turned and headed back to the rest of my people.
"So kiddo," Cass asked, "I hear yer plannin' on headin' home."
"I was," Kowalski answered, staring towards the ruins of this dead city. Then he strangely looked at Raul, "I think I might be staying for a little bit though. More needs to be done."
"I'm glad, Chico," Raul smiled, his hand on his shoulder, "I might've actually missed you if you'd gone."
"So what's the word, Gideon?"
"Dunno, Boone. A Colonel Moore is coming down to see these people. I think she's been expecting them."
"Moore," Boone grumbled darkly. I was about to ask, but his face and tone changed so quick I didn't get the chance as he continued, "She'd have to be. The Brass never does anything fast unless it's with a purpose."
"Ya don't think she's after Benny too?"
"The Khans said their contact was a Frumentarii, until he demanded they hand him over."
"Which led to all this," Veronica added, "so yeah I wouldn't be surprised."
She gestured to me and Boone and pointed over a ways away. I looked at Boone and he shrugged. We walked over.
"What is it, V?"
"I can't stay here."
"Why's that?"
"Because of Moore," Boone replied, and there it was again: a hint of spite in his tone, "she's something of a war hero in the higher ups. Earned her Full Bird fighting the Brotherhood and the Great Khans."
"Oh great," I groaned, "So you think she might recognize you?"
"We called her the Red Bear for a reason," there was a note of fear in her voice, "She—well, really hates the Brotherhood."
"Okay. Stay out of sight until this is over."
She nodded, but as she turned to leave Boone grabbed her softly by the shoulder.
"Do you need a—uh, well, an escort?"
She smiled slyly at him, narrowing her eyes slightly as she replied:
"I think I'll be okay, Mr. Shades."
She then took off into the distance. I turned and smirked at what I thought to be the most stone-hearted man I'd ever met.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"Really? That didn't look like nothing."
"What are you implying?"
"Well don't get me wrong I certainly think she's an attractive woman."
"It's nothing like that. I'm making up for—"
"My own sins. Yeah you've said that, and I think you're starting to use that as an excuse. And again, that ain't necessarily a bad thing—"
"Do you have something better to do?"
I laughed at that, and jokingly patted him on the back.
"C'mon, Romeo."
"Call me that again and I'll shoot you."
"Wait, you got that reference?"
"I hate that play with all that's left of my soul."
"Hey me too. Well maybe not with all my soul."
That's when we heard tires on the pavement. We turned and through the night we spotted headlights, and after that a really big Deuce-and-a-Half pull right up to the plaza. Seconds later, we heard aloud thud as something heavy hit the ground, followed by subtler thumps, one after the other,that caused the ground to shake a little like a herd of Raffalo's prowling out Kansas way.
"Holy shit," I breathed. These guys were wearing power armor. Imagine a really big seven-foot-tall super steroid knight-in-shining-armor wielding M-60's like they were toys. The helmet itself looked like an armored gasmask. Now we could hear the whine of servo's as they thundered their way forward. Something weird I noticed though was that they were each wearing what looked like massive batteries with dozens of cables running through their suits on their backs.
"Heavy Troopers," Boone answered, "salvaged armor from the war with the Brotherhood. Had to jury rig a new power system for them."
"Huh."
The four of them marched forth, creating a perimeter around… well, us. We headed back to Cass, Raul, ED-E and Kowalski. They were on edge too, especially Cass. She still had her Bazooka and M-79 in hand.
"Easy Cass."
"Don't tell me these guys ain't makin' you nervous too?"
"Walking Tanks, Senora. We'll need more than just that."
One of them turned to stare directly at Cass, his weapon at the ready. She glared back, her hands messaging the Bazooka. My hand went institutionally for my retrieved weapons, as much as they would do. Then suddenly the cab door opened and someone else stepped out. As whoever approached; the Heavies stepped aside. Then one of them bellowed:
"Colonel Moore would like to speak with you, Sergeant Boone and you, Mr. Maddox!"
I looked at Boone and he looked at me. We both shrugged and we marched over to where the LT was standing. As the figured approached, he straightened and saluted:
"Colonel Moore."
She saluted back.
"Lieutenant Monroe. Are these the Khans in question?"
"Yes ma'am. We managed to—"
"And these are the men who helped bring them in?"
"Uh, yes ma'am, but how—"
"We've been monitoring the situation."
"Then why weren't we sent reinforcements?" he asked, subverting a sudden flash of anger in his eyes, "My men and I would've been killed if it weren't for—"
"These men were transporting a priority target. We were waiting for the right opportunity to apprehend him."
"You mean you used my men as bait?"
"That is privileged information, Lieutenant. Be happy you've received this much."
She then spun on her heel and stepped towards us. She was a tall woman, maybe just a few inches shorter than me. She had red hair, though a few shades lighter than Cass's and a fairly angular face with a hard look to it. She had narrowed green eyes that seemed to size me and Boone up within literal seconds; a cold intelligence locked within them that scared me.
"Sergeant Boone, I haven't seen you since Bitter Springs."
"And the testimonies… Ma'am," he growled, his eyes narrowing. There it was: the hatred in his eyes. The real dangerous kind of hatred. And to this, she smiled very coldly.
"Yes, I remember."
"I'm assuming you two know each other?"
"I briefly commanded a task force that involved the First Recon, including Sergeant Boone here. And you're Gideon Maddox, Mojave Express Courier?"
"I see I have a fan."
"You've left a trail of bodies behind stretching back to Goodsprings for the past month," she smiled simply, "and when a man pisses off the Wolf's Head himself and lives… well, that certainly gets our attention."
"Who's we, Colonel?" Boone questioned.
"Privileged information."
"Okay, well answer me this then. Why are you looking for Benny?"
"Benny Reeves is the Chairman of the Tops, one of three of the biggest families in Vegas, and one we know who works closely with Mr. House. So when he decides to shoot a courier hired to carry a package sent from the ruins of Sunnyvale IT Center and the Legion decides to send an entire raiding party just to get him…"
"You get interested."
She smiled this creepy plastic smile. If this were any other time, I'd probably put one to her forehead. Easy Pete's words about snakes hit me home.
"Your file said you were smart."
"I have a file?"
Again the plastic smile.
"So what do you want with us, exactly?"
"I want to know what Benny took from you."
"Can't. Company Policy #34A signed by your Foreign Affairs states that no employee shall divulge the contents of any packages delivered. Besides, I make it my business not to get involved with whatever it is I'm carrying."
"Except when a man shoots you in the head?"
I gave her a deadpan stare.
"You wouldn't happen to know where Mr. Reeves is exactly."
I looked at Boone and he gave me a I don't know either look. She shook her head and sighed.
"Mr. Maddox, I wouldn't make this any more difficult than it needs to be."
"I don't know what you mean."
"Like the fact that you have a Brotherhood scribe hiding in that building over there," she pointed directly behind us, "or that robot of yours can be confiscated by the Navarro Accords?"
My hand cleared the leather from my holsters.
"You threatening me?"
"No, Mr. Maddox, I'm threatening your people. And clearly you can see you are extremely outgunned, even with Ms. Cassidy and her strange arsenal of explosives."
"So you apparently know everything."
"No not everything."
Shit.
"He's not here."
"Obviously. Do I need to send a man to retrieve the scribe?"
Okay good. She doesn't know who she is. But I can't win this bluff match.
"The Khans said he panicked when he met their contact. Got them in a firefight and took off in the confusion. He's probably in Vegas by now."
"I see. The Khans wouldn't happen to know any more precious details?"
"How would I know?"
Again the plastic smile. Except this one looked a bit sadistic… oh shit.
"Lieutenant Monroe, are the Khans secured and disarmed?"
"Yes ma'am, they're ready for transport."
"Sergeant Barnes," she called to one of the Heavy Troopers, "you may proceed."
"Yes Colonel."
And then they raised their M-60's on the handcuffed Khans.
"What the fuck!? We fuckin' surrendered!"
"Colonel, these men are my prisoners!" Monroe roared, stepping between her and the Khans, "they surrendered lawfully and are protected by—"
"Don't quote laws with me, Lieutenant. By Section 3b-sub-c, enemy combatants may be dispatched if they are associated with acts of espionage."
"We ain't no goddamn spies!"
"And besides, the Great Khans are allied with the Legion, perpetrating in raids and the distribution of narcotics. This will serve as an example."
"Colonel this is unlawful con—"
"I am acting with the full authority granted to me by the President, Lieutenant. Do you really want to stop me?"
"Colonel Moore!"
Suddenly Kowalski ran past us and was in front of the homicidal bitch, his face desperate and pleading.
"Ma'am, my brother served under you at the Battle of—well, here. His name is inscribed in the monument not fifty feet behind you."
"Yes son, I know. I had that wall built."
"Then you know what those men died for then! They sacrificed their lives so that things like this wouldn't have to happen anymore! We're not raiders and we are sure as hell not the goddamn Legion!"
"Are we?"
"I've seen what they do to their prisoners! My squadmates were almost crucified tonight! We are not like them and we can't be like them!"
"Oh and why is that Private? See as evil as the methods of the Legion are, they work."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean!?"
"In less than a few decades, the Legion has conquered a territory half the size of ours whereas it took us centuries to reach that point. They raised an army of fanatical devotion and managed to defeat the most professional army next to the goddamn Enclave. All because they had no problem doing this."
She then drew a side arm on the Khans. Before I could even move or breathe, Boone had his drawn on the back of her neck. Everybody froze. The whole fucking world froze. And now the man who'd saved my ass for the last couple of weeks had M-60's pointed at his head.
"Uh—Boone," I croaked, "what are you—"
"You are not killing them, Moore."
"Adding Treason to Cowardice are we?"
"I'm done watching you murder people."
"Me murdering people? Last I recall, those who follow orders, not those giving them, are the ones truly guilty of whatever crimes are committed."
"You think your hands are clean of everything you ordered my men to do? You're dead wrong."
"I see. Barnes, order—"
"Bruja, you say one more word and this loco woman will blow you to Kingdom Come!"
I spun around to see ED-E and Raul covering Cass who had the Bazooka pointed right at Moore. Now they had M-60's pointed at them. No. Please God no, not like this!
"Boone, this isn't going to help us! They will kill us and then them! We will die for nothing!"
"I'm not letting her kill them, Gideon. I'm done being an executioner to people like her."
"People like me are the only reason the NCR exists."
"And people like you are why it's dying."
"Boone we can't win this Mexican Standoff!"
"I'm making up for my own sins."
"BOONE STOP!"
Like the calm before the storm, Veronica's voice cut through the lot of us and left us all stupefied to the stop. And like a Reaper coming to collect souls she waded through the mass of gun pointing scared shitless folk until at last she was standing right next to Boone.
"Please," she pleaded softly, "Boone you have to stop this."
"Ah there you are. I was wondering—"
"And you, shut up!" she snarled, "You say one more word and I will punch your fucking head from your shoulders!"
"I can't Veronica," Boone faced her, "I just can't."
"I know. I know how much you've lost. Trust me, I know all too well. I know the darkness, gnawing away at your heart until there is nothing but a hollow shell. To the point that the memory of our loved ones turns to poison. That you wish you could forget them… so that you would know peace. I know, Boone. I know."
"You—" Boone's voice cracked, "You don't know what I've done."
"I don't care. I lost my family. I lost the one person I could truly love. But I've found you all. People who actually cared about me without judgment, and whom I care for in return. I am not losing any of them. And I am not losing you."
"Veronica…"
"Put the gun down."
My heart felt like it was gonna burst. The air felt like somebody had turned it into ice. My gut boiled like a roaring ocean. My brain kept shouting at me that we were all going to die, right and right now. That everything I loved was going out with me too.
Then, quite slowly, Boone's weapon dropped to his side and he stared out in utter pain first at me, then at everybody else, and then down at V. They stared at each other for a long moment before he did the one thing I never thought he would ever do. Tears streamed down his cheeks, his eyes looking like they were going to burst. He collapsed into her arms, V cradling him softly; tears strolling down her face too. I marched over and then embraced them both in as much of a hug as I could give.
"Well that's all very tender."
My head turned the bitch. I wanted to kill her right there and right now. She smiled back at me and I felt the urge to leap at her and tear her goddamn heart out. Before I could though, I felt an arm hold me back. I turned to see Cass, her face just as desperate as V and Boone's.
Don't do it, she mouthed. I felt ED-E at my shoulder. He was blocking my path from her.
"Now Lieutenant, take your men and clear out. Sergeant Barnes?"
"Yes Colonel. Men!"
I heard the clamor of weapons and men moving.
"You're all gonna fuckin' pay for all this!"
"Ready!"
Raul appeared at the front of our group hug and he started to nudge us away.
"We don't need to see this."
"Aim!"
"Carla please forgive me."
"Shh, it's gonna be okay. It's all gonna be okay."
"Fire!"
My brain blocked out the rest. I was conscious of moving, but I couldn't feel it. I was aware of a clamor of noise, but I couldn't hear it. And when I came to… it was already too late. The execution squad was filing out back to the truck and Moore was staring at us.
She was staring at V.
"Veronica!" she called. V turned around and stared back at her, "I'm more than certain we'll be seeing each other again very soon!"
"OH NO YOU FUCKING DON'T!"
I had my .45 drawn as I marched right up to the monster that I really wanted to fucking kill but I knew that I couldn't, not yet. I stopped right at strangling distance.
"If you come after my people… if I so much as even feel your goons from a mile away… I will tear your entire fucking life apart, piece by piece, and raze anything that gets in my way to the ground."
"Knowing you, and what your file says about your—experiences… and your allegiances… well, I have no doubt in mind."
She then spun on her heel and marched back to the Deuce-and-a-Half. As she mounted the door, she called out to me:
"We'll be watching you, Mr. Maddox. You've proven very interesting."
And then she, and the truck, were gone into the night… just as they had come.
I crashed in the door to the apartment room the Lieutenant had given us for the night. I threw my gear onto the bed and spotted a chair just sitting there for no reason. I kicked it across the room and it shattered to a million pieces.
"What the fuck was that, Gid!?"
Through clenched teeth, I snarled.
"I've had a long night, Cass."
"So has everybody else."
"You don't fucking get it do you?"
I spun and faced her in the doorway, my fist clenched tight.
"Get what exactly?" she asked back, not even budging an inch.
"Everything… that I have done… for the past month…has been for fucking…nothing."
"That is the biggest crock of bullshit I've heard in my entire life!"
"YOU DON'T FUCKING GET IT!"
She didn't even flinch. Her face was ironclad. I continued:
"Benny's gone. He's in a place I can't get at. He's surrounded by an army in a place you can't even take a pocket knife to! Do you know what that means?"
"No why don't you fucking tell me!"
"This entire month has been pointless! Wasted!"
"And when the hell did you become so goddamn selfish!?"
"SELFISH!?"
"You heard me. Yer gonna stand there and tell me that all the folks you've saved, and the folks we've saved, and you pulling Boone, Veronica, Raul and me from the brink has been for nothing!? That you fixing ED-E was fuckin' pointless too! What, ya think you did all this for revenge!? You ain't like that Gideon!"
"You don't even know me!"
"I know enough! I know yer the kind of man who helps people just for the sake of helpin' 'em!"
"And look where that's got me!"
I turned away and started to move towards the bed.
"DON'T YOU FUCKIN' WALKING AWAY FROM ME, GIDEON MADDOX!"
I stopped in my tracks.
"You think this is over!? That the big quest that's had you cut your way from your way from one side of the Mojave to the other is done!?"
"Because it is."
"What? You fuckin' givin' up!?"
"WHAT ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO DO, HUH!?"
"WHY DON'T YOU FUCKING THINK WITH YOUR GODDAMN HEAD FOR ONCE!"
That did it. I spun around and grabbed her by her shoulders and slammed her into a wall.
"Don't you fucking dare…"
"Dare what, ya dumbass?"
I didn't answer. I just continued to stare at her hatefully, my breath coming out hot and fumed. Her eyes locked onto me with the same hatred that I was giving her. We glared at each other for an eternity. The only noise in the room was our contorted, writhed breath.
And then something changed in her eyes. And then my whole world was consumed by her. My head went spinning for a second before I pulled her off me.
"Whoa, what are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doin'?"
Then she grabbed me by my arms and threw me onto the bed. Before I could even think she was over me and my mind went to utter bliss. It took me a full couple of seconds to break through and get her off me so I could speak:
"Wait… wait just a second…"
"Fer what?"
"Back at the Outpost… you told me… you told me that you didn't want—"
"Well I changed my mind," she smiled down at me, "it's taken me gettin' almost killed fer me to realize what I want. What I really want. And I want you."
My brain, my body, my soul… was all amiss. I couldn't think straight. My mind told me this was wrong. That I couldn't. That I shouldn't.
But my heart told me that it didn't fucking matter.
"You know something?"
"What?" she whispered. I smiled softly.
"I've wanted this since you tried to gut me back at that bar."
She smiled at me, and my heart soared. She closed the distance and I closed my eye. She tasted like an explosive cocktail, utterly sweet and filling. My hand stroked through her hair. I felt her fingers work through her shirt buttons.
And for the first time in anything I could remember, I let myself delve into that sweet darkness and let things take a natural course.
Veronica
"So unscrew this?"
"Yeah. And then pull on the switch."
"Okay… got it."
The suit's hydraulics and joint servos released with a loud hiss. The suit and armor clattered to the floor. And for the first time in exactly three months my skin felt the cold pinch of actual air. It felt… refreshing… but obviously pretty damn chilling. Then I realized I wasn't wearing any clothes.
"Whoa I—"
"Here."
Boone took off his long coat and wrapped it around my shoulders, covering me up. I smiled tiredly at him.
"Thank you Boone."
"Least I can do. And I wouldn't wear that armor for a bit."
I nodded. My body felt entirely sore. It hurt to move even a little. Looking down at my bare body and you could see why. I was covered in bruises and welts, not including the stab wound in my shoulder.
As it turned out, the wound had been all that serious. While the suits armor hadn't fully stopped it, the knife had only gone in maybe an inch, maybe a little less. Which is why I decided to go with stitches instead of a stimpack. A stim is like any other drug. Use it too much and your body becomes dependent on it.
Better to suffer a little rather than never heal naturally ever again. Boone pulled out his medkit and retrieved a thread and needle.
"When were you combat medic?"
"Seen enough wounded to learn a thing or two. Here, bite down on this."
He handed me a piece of leather. I took it and bit down on it.
"Okay on three. One…"
He poked the needle right through my wound. The pain of me being stabbed haunted me for the next minute as I bit through the leather, holding back my scream and digging my hand into his shoulder. Finally he pulled the thread and we're finished. I let myself fall onto the bed, panting softly.
"Son of a bitch."
"Yeah," he messaged his shoulder, "you've got quite the strong grip."
"Sorry," I smiled at him, "combat training."
"Yeah, I know."
We were silent for a while before I of course got tired of Mister Sandman and his awkwardness.
"So… that was a lot of shit."
"When did you start cussing?"
"Just now."
More silence. This time he broke it:
"Are you gonna ask me about—"
"No," I replied, sitting up and running my hand over his craggy face, "not unless you're comfortable about it."
"I don't think I'll ever be comfortable about it."
"I understand."
He nodded; his eyes grieved and battered staring into my soul:
"Yeah you do."
"Whatever ghosts are haunting you, whatever demons… you don't have to face them alone."
He nodded again.
"I know. But I'm not ready… to face them yet."
"Hey, I get it," I soothed, running my hand over his ear and through his cropped hair, "take as long as you need. I'm perfectly patient."
"You'd have to be," a ghost of a smile passed by his lips, "Putting up with my crap for the past week."
"Hey I've dealt with a hellovalot worse than you, Mr. Brooding Red Beret Killing Machine."
"Clearly you hadn't been to REPCONN."
"The rocket test site?"
He nodded.
"Whole place was taken over by Ghouls wanting to go settle up in outer space. Plus a Mutant who talked to a deer skull."
"That's sounds exciting! Tell me more."
"It's a long and convoluted story."
"I've got nothing but time to kill."
"Well, it all started with Manny…"
