Sergeant Dan Reyes watched with contempt as their vehicles rolled away, heading west towards California. He had been 'transferred' by Mojave Command to Primm. At least they had managed to kill the fucking ants that decided to inhabit the highway leading from Primm, allowing caravans to start rolling towards New Vegas again.

That had been two days ago. Now, with the ants killed, the caravans could start to get rolling again. With Lost Hills under NCR control and the Brotherhood of Steel retreating south towards the Glow, reinforcements were arriving from California to the Mojave Outpost and NCR High Command had decided to allow Hayes, the commander in charge of the Primm situation to receive a squad from the battalions moving in to relieve the existing occupational forces.

There were even rumors that the Veteran Rangers and the Heavy Infantry Corps deployed in Baja to push back the Empire would be deploying to the Mojave as well in order to push back the Legion. The fighting had died down recently due to a ceasefire agreement along the lines of the old border minus Baja.

The Mojave division of the New California Republic was going to become stronger.

Lieutenant Hayes was originally supposed to be using his understrength platoon to dislodge the Powder Gangers from the Correctional Facility, but then some...assets as described by the chain of command had taken care of it. Now, with the extra squad and the dozens of troops now milling around on the side of Primm controlled by the NCR, they were waiting for the order to attack.

Of course, there was the incident with the tall man with the tri-beam laser rifle and the killing of Sergeant D'Arthur and his men by him and another party, but NCR commanders had assured the Primm garrison that the matter had been quote, "taken care" of. Dan was sure it was a bunch of bullshit, but whatever. He had a job to do.

But first, he and Santos were going to go hunting.

"Sergeant, three Powder Gangers patrolling near the bridge, armed with repeaters and pistols," Arturo Santos called out, his hunting rifle adjusting to follow them. As it turned out, Santos was a farm boy from out near Klamath, and was a pretty decent shot, nearly as good as a First Recon sniper. It was going to be tough to lose the FNG to those fuckers out there that relied on distance, but it was for the best.

"Well if you can take the shot, take it," he ordered. As the two were crouching near the window of a half-destroyed bakery overlooking the bridge leading into Primm. Three squads of troopers were gathering to attack across the bridge, but first they needed a decent account of the opposition. That was what Santos and Reyes were doing.

"Can't. Bastards are covered by the gas station. Can't take the fucking shot!" Santos swore. Soon a rifle shot cracked and whistled past Santos head. Both men dropped to the ground as fast as possible. Both had both seen action, though Reyes had much more experience than Santos. Another shot cracked, the supersonic bullet shattering a glass window, and then another. Whoever was firing was stupid or blind, because he couldn't see that Santos and Reyes were down and taking cover.

Immediately a service rifle answered back, 5.56mm rounds hitting steel and brick. Someone shouted and bullets started sparking. The rifle that had tried to kill Santos started up again, another round slamming into the building.

"Move Santos! See if you can see where that bastard is firing from!" Reyes shouted and Santos started army crawling towards the window where there was still glass remaining. The shooter continued to fire and Reyes heard a shout of pain. It came from their side and Reyes swore, knowing that it was probably a fucking newbie. More fire was beginning to be exchanged and soon the entire town was being lit up by small arms.

"Sarge, I can see the bastard firing. He's got a nice sniper rifle, but his aim is shit!" Santos shouted with glee. Resting his rifle against the window pane, he took careful aim. Reyes crawled nearby, wincing as glass exploded downwards as the unseen shooter continued to fire upon the NCR. Fucking Powder Gangers...where the fuck is that shooter?

Soon another rifle barked but it wasn't the sniper's. It was Santos and he pumped his fist up in the air.

"Got the bastard! He was on the rollercoaster, but he decided to stay in one spot. Good enough for me!" Santos gleefully said. From his spot, Reyes rose and saw two Powder Gangers lying dead on the street. Three more were running to and fro the left side of the town, skirting around the Vicky and Vance Casino, while two more were huddling near the gas station.

Not too far away to hit with his service rifle, he placed it on the window and looked down the sights. He settled his sights onto one Powder Ganger, one that looked like he still had his baby fat. He couldn't be more than seventeen. And Reyes, twenty-eight, had the power to kill him. Without hesitation, without even thinking that this man could have been wrongfully imprisoned or was just rolled into it, he pulled the trigger softly.

Just under three seconds later the round entered the young criminal's chest, easily brushing aside the hardened leather the man wore, and exploded outside his chest. It was gruesome and when his friends looked at his body, one of the nearly vomited. Reyes pulled the trigger twice more, hitting the stricken Powder Ganger once and missing once. The man died within seconds, not able to withstand two 5.56 rounds to the chest.

He heard Santo's rifle's bolt slide back and then slide in, injecting another round into the chamber. The young trooper breathed in and held his breath, before pressing the trigger easily. The rifle slammed against his shoulder and a heavy caliber round from the rifle sped out. Thunder flashed and smoke poured and another Powder Ganger was killed with a hole the size of his fist in his forehead. This is vengeance you fucking traitors.

"Unit 27, move forward. Unit 28 and 29, approach from the west and east. Enclose these gangers in a ring of steel. Unit 30," Reyes's unit," provide covering fire for Unit 27."

That was Monroe. The unknown sniper had sparked the battle and his actions were making the Powder Gangers pay for it. Reyes had thought that Monroe was another version of General Lee Oliver, the "Let's Wait and See" attitude the lieutenant had struck Reyes a bad way. But it seemed that he could be redeemed because he was taking advantage of the chaos.

Chattering assault rifle was soon heard from the west, signalling Unit 28. Those lucky fuckers were hardened veterans just returning from the campaign against the Brotherhood. Lost Hills had been holding up for nearly two years, before the NCR finally had enough and just attacked the bunker itself, driving the Brotherhood out of it. The newly arrived squad actually had decent equipment, unlike the unlucky sons of bitches that had been in the Mojave for a while.

Two Powder Gangers unlucky enough to be caught between the NCR troopers now swarming across the bridge were brought down by inaccurate fire from said troopers. More and more NCR troops were moving into the town. It was time to liberate this town from the grasp of the Powder Gangers.

Two Powder Gangers were peeking out of windows in the buildings just east of the casino. Santos fired once, missed, and then fired again. Reyes spotted another one running down the main street, firing his pistol wildly. He was most likely high on Psycho. Shifting his gaze, his rifle barked once..then twice. The rounds sliced into the tendons of the right arm of drug user, before the other shot grazed his shoulder. He kept coming though, his pistol firing once more. A NCR trooper went down with a round slamming into his breastplate and Reyes growled with rage. No fucking convict would ever kill his brothers in arms, even if they were a bunch of vehicle stealing jerks.

"Reyes, move your men towards Primm. Your squad is going to be clearing the Vicky and Vance Casino," his radio spoke to him. Reyes growled. He only had one fucking man! The rest of his men were heading towards Camp McCarran to link up with the rest of their unit. Of course we're being asked to do the fucking impossible.

"Santos! Get your shit! We're heading into town!" Reyes growled, grabbing his rifle from the floor and his pack. Santos took one more shot and then booked it as well. The two headed towards the exit of the building when an explosion rocked the town, throwing him and Santos to the ground. His head hurting, he was lucky that the helmet took the brunt of the impact.

"What the hell was that? Report!" his radio demanded. Another voice responded.

"This is Unit 27. Powder Gangers just detonated a cache of explosives near the edge of town. Sergeant Lee's men are all dead except for one. We're moving in. Heavy resistance. Out."

"Goddamned Powder Gangers. Almost as bad as the Legion. Santos! Get your ass up and let's go!" he ordered and the new trooper quickly oriented himself and they rushed ahead, crossing the bridge.

It was chaos. At least half of the town was under control of the NCR, though the brisk fire coming from the hotel windows dominating the main street of Primm kept them from actually attacking the Bison Steve Casino. Brown fatigues were stained with blood as a trooper unhooked a grenade and lobbed straight into an open window, thunder and smoke the only result.

They dashed in, hitting the dirt. Reyes was not the best for this. He was armor damnit. He should be fighting against the Brotherhood of Steel not the blue fuckers and certainly not the red ones. He was born and bred to fight from a Humvee, commanding men and vehicles. One of these days he was going to meet up with the fucker who took away his beloved Lion and punch them in the face.

They ducked behind the second largest building, a massive casino that rose from the ground. The Powder Gangers were putting up a much tougher resistance than he thought they would. They were better armed than intelligence thought they would be, and already four NCR soldiers were dead and a dozen were wounded. He turned the corner and came face to face with a Powder Ganger with a lit stick of dynamite.

Santos and Reyes pointed their rifles and pumped the fool full of bullets. The idiot fell back, the stick of dynamite fell from his hands and the two NCR soldiers leapt back, the explosive detonating. Hahahaha! Fucking fool!

Reloading his rifle, he poked from the wall and saw the glint of a scope. Recoiling, he heard the crack of the sniper rifle and bullet nearly sawed his face off. Fucking snipers.

"Santos. I need you to work your magic. I'm going to boost you. Head into the casino and kill that fucking sniper!"

The rain had finally stopped. All around him, the dead were silent, the alive were silent, and the wounded were screaming. The last droplet, the life for the hundreds of acres of crops, had fallen.

Zephyr looked around, his assault rifle dropping from his hands. They had finally driven the raiders from the capital, from their oasis in this godforsaken wasteland. The river was safe. Oasis was safe. The Fortress...and where she lingered...was safe.

His job had finally been complete. He looked. His mother looked back.

Then...the gunshots. A full ripple of automatic fire flared from the west; and hit his mother in the chest. Blood spilled. He screamed. The rain began to fall once more as he plunged himself back into the fight.

Zephyr screamed. His head full of sweat, he started to get up, only to be restrained by something. His hands were bound by ropes and he pressed against them. He started to struggle, but he couldn't break the bonds.

"Well. It seems that you are awake," and Zephyr turned to see a man in a brown uniform, a metal breastplate, with a cigarette between his fingers. "I am Captain Ronald Curtis of the New California Republic Army, intelligence."

The man's voice was kind, but it revealed an edge to it. Zephyr noted it right away.

"You see, in my business, it is my job to notice these...incidents. The killing of Sergeant D'Arthur and his men raised some questions. Who are you...Zephyr Shimazu? You're a war veteran from up north, that much is clear...but why did you kill those men? What is your purpose?" Captain Curtis demanded. Zephyr recoiled from the questions. Zephyr Shimazu? Who am I? Who the fuck am I?!

"I don't know."

What?! You killed NCR soldiers and you don't know why you killed them? Do you know what this means between the New California Republic and the New Oregon Confederacy?" he asked dangerously. "Especially with the war going on between your country and the Washington Empire? Do you really think the Confederacy needs a new war right now? Do you?"

"I don't know."

Ronald Curtis looked at Zephyr.

"I don't know what Vulpes Incultas sees in you. You kill four men and you don't know the answer to it. You're a coward. A true coward," and the intelligence officer smirked. "Lucky for you, Vulpes wants you out. To free you and that other degenerate in the prison. Silus must not be enjoying this."

The tension in the air was thick. Ronald Curtis, as Zephyr guessed, was not who he said he was, that much was obvious. He didn't know anything about the current state of events. Helios One. The NCR. From here to the fucking ocean. What the fuck did I do?

"Captain! How is the prisoner?" said a new voice, this one tired, as if he had faced trials and hardships all his life. A NCR officer, with a colonel's rank on his beret, stepped into the dark and unlit room. A match lit up and a cigarette was ignited, giving Zephyr a flash of what the two NCR officers looked like.

"Colonel, he is not talking. Claims he doesn't know why he killed the men. I had Ranger Stella and her men go back to Ranger Station Charlie," Captain Curtis said to his superior. A sigh escaped the lips of the NCR officer.

"Put him back in his cell. It's obvious that the amnesia is still there. Damn it. I'm going to see if the doctor has anything for it."

"Yes sir. Let's go prisoner."

As the colonel left the room, Zephyr heard something open. A grate it seemed. Looking up, he saw a woman dart out of the ceiling. Dark hair, scarlet eyes. Red armor. Her. Why is she here? Who the is she?

"It took you long enough," Curtis said, smirking. The woman just rolled her eyes.

"Well Picus, Camp McCarran is nearly forty miles away from Primm. It's a day's march and noting the fact that I didn't have a helicopter ride or the fact that I'm not stationed here may or may not have hindered me," the woman bit back. Zephyr's eyes darted from her to him. It was clear that she was the woman from his dreams, the one that saved him.

"Calm woman. Where is Crassius and the rest?" he asked, his voice curious.

"Heading back towards Cottonwood Cove. I need to take this man back to Primm. The NCR has started the assault on Primm and I need to make sure that Zephyr is there to witness it. So far as I can tell, the prisoners have locked up the main casino tight and I need Zephyr to break it. To bring the NCR to trust him."

Curtis almost laughed.

"That's your plan? To place Zephyr under the very command of the garrison where he killed their men? Juno, I understand you are a new Frumentarius, but this is ridiculous! What would your father say if he heard that Vulpes and I allow you to do this?" he asked plainly.

"What would my father say if he heard that you disobeyed a direct order from the future Empress of the Legion?" she retorted back.

"He would laugh and carry on with his day. Either way, I think I have a much better solution for Zephyr to gain the trust of the NCR," Curtis waved off her retort as if it were nothing but dust in the wind.

"And what is that?"

Curtis looked at Zephyr and smiled. He then switched into another language, one that Zephyr couldn't understand.

"Major Dharti is having problems with the Fiends. I understand that we are using them to attack Camp McCarran once we Legatus Lanius is finished with the pacification of the Denver Devils...but if he kills Violet and Cook-Cook, then we will be fine. Violet is nearly useless, with her dogs, and Cook-Cook is a fiery maniac who does nothing but rape and kill. We are Legion. We do things with purpose. Driver Nephi is needed for Motor-Runner's strategy and Motor-Runner, of course, cannot be killed. But Violet and Cook-Cook are expendable and...problems."

"How will you convince Colonel Hsu?" Juno pointed out.

"I am his most trusted advisor. He will listen to me. Besides, he already has sympathy for the boy,just like you. Otherwise, why would you save him?"

Zephyr noticed that Juno's face went red with that last statement.

"Enough! I will not debate about this. Inform Vulpes when you have managed to free the degenerate. I will be waiting in...Primm. I'll be there in Primm. Just get the job done Picus."

The woman glared at Zephyr and then climbed back into the vents, shutting the grate behind her.

"Women. Zephyr...you will not reveal what you saw here. I will get you freed. If you do reveal what happened here tonight I will deny it and I will kill you in your sleep. The Legion doesn't forget its enemies and neither does it forget its friends. Rest tonight Zephyr...for you have a busy day tomorrow."

And the intelligence officer left, leaving Zephyr to think about the day to come.

So, Zephyr will be fighting the Fiends but for a much different reason than what most people write about. I'm trying to make this story as different as I can but still remain faithful to the overall plot of the game. It's a loose novelization like I said earlier. And no, this is not a dead story. We'll be revisiting Zephyr and Juno will arrive in Primm in the next few chapters. Dan Reyes will be a major character and will have future actions that will help in defining who Zephyr is. I'm also trying to paint the Legion into a more grey area than what Obsidian did. They are still rapists and slavers, no denying that, but there is a certain purpose to it. One that I will keep hitting once we get Zephyr out of Camp McCarran. Like I said, not condoning what Caesar and his Legion have done...but as Picus said, there is a purpose. I'm not done with this story so expect something within the next ten months.

Farewell.

-DeathBladeVI