"You must be scared for Titas to leave. Some of the other legionaries might take an interest in you again", Reyes said to Siri.
"Not really. It's nice to not be constantly doted on.", Siri said with a guilty smirk on her face. "How are you holding up?"
Reyes sighed, "I fell like men are always watching me when I'm not in the Brahmin pin."
"That's because they are", Siri said, "have any of them grabbed for you yet?"
"No"
"Good", Siri said, "you may want to get one's attention though." Siri hated herself for suggesting it. Had the legion really broke her that much?
"Why!?"
"I know how it sounds, believe me, but it might be easier to just please a kinder one. The other legionaries seem to leave girls alone when they've been "claimed"".
"Siri, you may have gotten lucky with Titas, but I doubt I could find anybody here who wouldn't just beat and rape me every chance they could."
Siri looked at Reyes in the eyes. She, herself, couldn't believe what she was about to suggest.
"What about Starved dog?"
Reyes broke into hysterical laughter. She looked at Siri who wasn't laughing. She stopped laughing.
"Oh come on! I'd have a better chance at charming a Brahmin!", Reyes argued.
"I'm not saying charm him. Just get his attention enough that he keeps you close."
"And how should I do that, exactly?", Reyes asked sarcastically.
"Take care of Melody", Siri said, "She is one of the only people he seems to care about. Why do you think he brought you here? He wants her to have a mother."
"A mother? Me?! Why not you? You were already taking care of her while I was fighting the legion"
"If I had to guess, I'd say he probably doesn't want me to because he thinks I'm a coward. Starved dog is a simple man. He values strength and steadfastness more than anything else. He probably saw you commanding troops while spying on your position and figured you'd be a good example for Melody."
"Are you serious! So the whole reason I'm here is to look after a little girl and make her tough."
"I'm not a hundred percent sure but yeah. That's why you need to stay close to Melody and be her guardian. She's a sweet girl so it shouldn't be that hard. You'll only have to till we escape anyway."
...
Titas watched as Starved dog argued with the Vexillarius over how they should attack bitter springs.
Titas just quietly stood behind Straved dog as the two argued. He tried to think of the best way of escape the fort. Siri had convinced him to bring the slave girl, trooper, and docter with them. It would be much harder with a large group, but she insisted they needed them.
"We are not attacking in waves", Starved dog argued. "I have been given command of this mission and I will not waste men on a bloody suicide charge."
"I have been serving Caesar since you were just some tribal, boy! The recruits will use up the enemies ammunition before the rest of us attack."
To the side the three recruit decani watched silently as the two decided their fate. None of the three were even out of their teens.
"We must hold our position after taking it. We will need every man!"
"I agree", said the standrad bearer, "but we need our more experienced men more. They shall find glory and honor in their deaths."
"Fine then", Starved dog said. The vexillarius smiled. "You shall lead the recruits yourself."
"What?!", The Standard bearer shouted in rage.
"If you are so sure of your plan than you shall lead the recruits while I lead the rest.", Starved dog said as he stared the older man down.
The vexillarius was silent.
"No? Than I guess we will go with my plan of attack.". Starved dog turned turned to the recruit decani, "You will attack from the south with two veteran legionaries, mongrols, and the vexillarius attached to your squad. Your two squads will join with my squad as we attack from the west. Understood?"
"Yes sir!", All three said.
"Good."
...
That night they prepared to attack. The two groups split and prepared to attack.
They charged in behind the mongrols. Most of the dogs were slaughtered but they distracted the enemy long enough. The camp was defended by no more than a skeleton crew of NCR troops. As they pushed the NCR back into the camp, the legionaries drew their blades.
"Forward!", Starved dog shouted as he barried his machete into the neck of a NCR trooper.
The refugees began to panic. Some fought with whatever they could get their hands on. Some tried to flee. Others tried to surrender in desperation.
Mass chaos soon broke out. Fighting turned man to man.
In the chaos the NCR commander rallied her troops and countered attack in an attempt to escape. They took every refugee they could as the managed to breakthrough. One legionary stood in their way machete in hand.
He was shot in both arms and a leg. The NCR commander ordered him to be taken prisoner and carried with them.
...
"Don't bother chasing them down.", Starved dog said loud enough to be heard over the screams of the wounded.
Starved dog breathed deeply as the fighting ended. The last of the enemy were killed. Those who surrendered were bound at the wrists and ankles. They would soon be legion slaves.
"Titas?", He asked.
"Yes?"
"Check the dead. I want a body count done as soon as possible."
Titas began to count the dead and wounded as he walked over the bodies. The entire ground was wet with blood.
Starved began ordering men to reinforce the defences and to prepare a funeral pire for their dead and a mass grave for the enemy's.
Titas found Julius up against a large rock. He had a bullet wound in his arm. It must have hit a vain; it was bleeding extremely fast.
"Julius!", Titas rushed toward his friend.
"Those profligates took Burning ant!", Julius said through pained tears. "It took three bullets for them take him down while I'm dieing to one."
"We'll get him back!", Titas said as he frantically poured healing powder on Julius's wound. "You aren't gonna die!"
"It won't help. I'm bleeding out too quick", Julius said.
"Since when have you been a doctor? You'll be fine.", Titas said with determination in his voice even as Julius was beginning to faint.
"Promise you'll get him back", Julius said.
"I swear", Titas said as he cradled his dying friend.