Chapter 82: Control Freaks
The Judicial Marshals gathered outside the entryway, their guns trained on the heavy and cracked door. Acting commissioner Floyd Wilson was on the line with California, explaining how the hostage situation had been proceeding and requesting an update on the communications line they had been demanded to set up on behalf of the rogue mercenaries for the safety of the Senator. Jake Freeman was screaming at Emma and Brodie as they argued back and forth about how to escape their predicament, now that their trucks were now under the custody of the lawmen waiting outside. Bad MFKA was leading the immediate line of defense between the now shattered doorway to the landing area and the rest of the facility, an act that would prove to be a bloodbath if shots were exchanged. Elsewhere, near the command center of the station, Senator Feng Ziyi sat bound to a chair as a mercenary gave her a drink from his canteen.
"You know, I was wondering how much a Senator will go for, ransom-wise, you know," one of the other guards thought aloud.
Ziyi hadn't said a word since she had been captured, not in the two days since she had become their prisoner. There had been no threats, no torture, just a woman restrained and cut off from her allies. She finished her drink and remained seated as if she had any other option. Thanks to the ghoul woman, at least, she had been permitted some privacy to use the restroom and had been kept well and away from the increasingly temperamental Jake Freeman.
"A ransom, are you serious?" his partner spoke. "What do we need money for? We need to get the hell out of here first, you idiot!"
"These Californians probably got their folk insured," the first merc stated. "I mean, why wouldn't they?"
"And just who is supposed to pay out the insurance, genius?" the second merc argued. "Shady Sands? Shi-Frisco? Not sure you noticed, but neither of them are really in a position to start throwing around excess caps. You know, with the invasion and all."
"…They might not have the money," Ziyi finally spoke up. Both mercs turned to look at her. "But I am insured. I'm a public servant, if anything happens to me, there would be a crisis. California would be rather invested in keeping its politicians alive. But those aren't Californians waiting for you out there, you know?" she added with a sense of light derision at the end. That should get them talking.
"Told you," the second merc sighed. "Ain't no one can or willing to pay to get us out of this."
"…Well, not necessarily," Ziyi finally stated. Both mercs looked at her. "…I happen to have a significant business relationship with the Van Graff family. My liaison, Jarrod, is well-connected with both my administration and his family's enterprises. I am, after all, their best customer, and the Van Graffs are ones who do not want to see their investments go to waste," Ziyi smiled. There we go.
"…I could use me a new plasma caster," Merc Two thought aloud.
"Well, how are the Van Graffs going to get us out of here?" Merc One asked.
"Well, they might not be able to help all of you, but maybe one or two and a friend…" Ziyi offered. Got em.
Emma sat while Brodie watched Jake pace. The guy was muttering to himself and to that securitron that had kept following them ever since escaping Vegas. Brodie figured he had gone crazy and was waiting for Emma to give the word to sell him out to the marshals and hope for some kind of generous deal.
"…I should be home with the wife and kids," Brodie finally muttered to himself. "One full week a year I get for vacation and I'm spending it with you idiots."
Emma glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "…If we can't pull a fast one, I doubt we'll ever see HQ again. I'm thinking we won't be collecting that bonus anytime soon."
"Fuck the bonus," Brodie hissed. "I don't want to get shot or bombed, that's my vision of success. I'm tempted to just raise the white flag and…"
Jake pulled out his pistol and pointed at the huge merc leader. "YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY, HIRED HELP?!"
"You got a plan?!" Brodie roared as he chambered a round in his shotgun. Emma got between the two, lifting her cane as she hollered to Bad MFKA for help.
"So, I got a whole list of contacts in my wallet. I know the guys the Van Graffs don't think I know who work with them. Caravan houses, brahmin barons, trade unions, the military. If I can use these connections, I can get you two some cushier gigs," Ziyi offered. Might need to sweeten the deal a little more.
"…I thought Emma searched you?" Merc One asked.
"She found my alternate wallet. It just had some coupons for a noodle shop and a movie theater along with some basic ID. My real wallet is here," Ziyi announced as she held out her leg, motioning to her shoe.
"You hide your wallet under your foot?" Merc Two asked.
"My subordinate designed it for me after she got tired of beating pickpockets at gunpoint. It's innocuous and well-designed and quite capable of serving me well in emergencies," Ziyi explained. Mercs One and Two looked at one another. "…Ok, then," Merc One said as he took off Ziyi's shoe. Sure enough, feeling around inside led him to a secret compartment. Slipping it out, he examined the wallet. "…Is this deathclaw?"
"Yes," Ziyi nodded.
"Seriously?" Merc Two spoke up. "That has to be expensive as hell!"
"It was," Ziyi nodded. Worth it.
"Why?" Merc One asked.
"…To make a point," was all Ziyi answered. Fuck you forever, Johnny.
As Merc One opened the wallet, a photograph fell out from the folds. As he reached down, Ziyi began to blush. "Uhm, that's really personal and I'd appreciate it if you…"
"HOLY… check it!" Merc One told his companion as he shared the photo. The image was of a gorgeous blonde woman, naked from the waist up, smiling as her arms covered her chest while her vault suit had been peeled down to the waist.
"Wouldn't mind digging through her tunnels, eh?" Merc Two nudged his friend. "Who's she?"
"…That's Sarah Weintraub," Ziyi explained. "She used to be my… well…"
"Your girlfriend?" Merc One answered early.
"…I mean, we mostly just fooled around for a few years. Me and her and sometimes..."
"You who and what?" Merc Two replied, disbelieving.
"It's really not important, anyway, if you two could just give me my contacts I…"
"No, no, no, no," Merc Two shook his head. "I want to hear the full story."
"Please, I assure you, it isn't nearly as interesting as you would think," Ziyi pleaded. The accordion holder within the wallet finally gave way, and a litany of lewd photographs tumbled down to Merc One's knees. The two mercenaries stared at the collection before simultaneously turning their attention to Ziyi. "…This is so embarrassing." Right where I want you two. "…Well, where do you want me to start?"
Outside the station, Floyd Wilson was approached by one of his deputies, holding a brick-like communicator as the Marshals looked over the outline of the facility before them. "Can this wait?" Acting Chief Wilson asked as two of his men took inventory of their breaching charges.
"It's from Cali, sir. The staff of Senator Feng would like a word with you," the deputy replied.
"… Goddamn shit… thank you, Deputy Smiles," Wilson acquiesced as he took the comm line. "Wilson speaking."
"What is the status of the Senator?" a clipped female voice asked over the line, her tone blunt and humorless.
"We're working on getting that answered right now," Wilson replied.
"You need to put me on the line with her as soon as possible. Shi-Frisco is on the verge of panic as it is with Senator Feng MIA for so long. Now that the Wild Khans have been driven off, the local council very much is demanding to hear from her."
"Ma'am, as much as I sympathize with your local concerns, we've been dealing with a fair share of our own!" Wilson countered.
"Sir, my only request is that before any action is taken, I be given a chance to speak to the Senator! As soon as the line is secured, pass me to the belligerents and let me talk to my boss. After that, feel free to do as you need."
"Listen, ma'am, while I appreciate…"
"It's Burke, Marshal Chief. Vana Burke."
"…Ms. Burke, while I appreciate your contributions, your boss's safety is my utmost priority, and the only way I can guarantee her safety is via."
"Let her talk."
"…Pardon?" Wilson blinked in surprise.
"…Senator Feng Ziyi is the best negotiator on the West Coast. Perhaps you are unaware of this, but she's the primary reason there is still a West Coast after the War of the Glorious Cause. If you are looking to keep her safe, then the best thing you can do for her is give her the ability to talk. To you, to me, to them, let that woman talk."
"…So I'm on the phone, I'm listening to my finances guy go on about the fiscal year for the community medical center, and keep in mind I'm still sitting on Kayleigh's lap while we're petting each other something heavy, if you get what I mean," Ziyi grinned as Mercs One and Two hooted in delight over the story. So far she had explained about three of her most memorable encounters with her ladyfriends, who included various members of her staff at one time or another. Kayleigh in particular held a special place in her heart as she had been the first person Ziyi had ever been intimate with, an act that was so special to Ziyi that she even forgave the other woman for secretly recording it to potentially blackmail Madame Zhang's right-hand woman, on the condition that she surrendered the recording to Ziyi for the now Senator's personal and private use. Looking back, Ziyi began to regret falling out of touch with Kayleigh and Kirsten, despite them both having moved to the Boneyard five years ago.
"So, while my back is on the desk and Kayleigh has her mouth full, I'm holding my hand up to my mouth and trying not to squeal while my guy is finalizing next year's budget!" Ziyi continued.
"And Kayleigh, she's the tan chick with the big tits, right?" Merc Two asked as he looked down the list.
"Fifth from the top," Ziyi nodded. "Every free moment I had twenty years ago was spent with Kayleigh or Sarah. And, well, you already know about me and Sarah's playdates with the Governor," Ziyi grinned sleazily. I swear, Sarah, this will all be worth it.
"Ain't you ever, y'know, just been with the Governor?" Merc One asked.
"The thought never crossed my mind," Ziyi shook her head.
"What? You never thought about experimenting with a guy?" Merc Two asked with a laugh.
"Well, I did try that once, but I kind of didn't really enjoy the experience," Ziyi admitted as her subconscious demanded that she shut up.
"What, not romantic enough?" Merc Two heckled.
"Kind of didn't have a choice," Ziyi explained. STOP TALKING!
The smiles on Merc One and Two began to recede. Ziyi leaned back in her chair with a smile as she took another sip from the canteen with her recently unbound arm. "…You guys ever been to Fort Tandi?" she asked. "Before it got torn apart by the lizards?"
"…No," Merc One replied, confused.
"So, after Madame Zhang beat the shit out of me and had me exiled, I wound up on my own for a few days. Pretty much all I had on me at the time was a gun that I was gradually working up the courage to use on myself. Of course, that was before I met two folks who looked after me." She grimaced at the memories. "The one guy was named Johnny Guitar, who is an asshole that I will not elaborate on." Her face then began to soften. "…And the other was named Veronica Santangelo."
"…Hey, wasn't there some Brotherhood scribe who worked with the Governor before, y'know, he became the Governor?" Merc One asked.
"One and the same," Ziyi said. "Together, the three of us resolved to make our way to Vegas. And, well, after we ran across a pack of deathclaws, I got separated from my group. Fortunately, I was found by a bunch of NCR troopers. Unfortunately, those "troopers" turned out to be frumentarii who had taken over Fort Tandi under everyone's noses. They took me back and… well…"
"…Can I go?" Merc Two asked, standing up and visibly uncomfortable.
"Oh please, I thought we were having fun with my sex stories," Ziyi spat venomously. "Which part would you like to hear about next? The part where he chained me up in the cellar or the part where he tried to drag me into the barracks?"
"Look, I just wanted to have a little fun, but this… I didn't sign up for this," Merc Two pleaded.
"And you think I had a choice?!" Ziyi taunted. "At least they didn't care for anything I had to offer above the waist when they held me captive! No, you guys just want to hear a bunch of smutty stories and get a bunch of money I don't have on hand! That's my value to you people, isn't it?!"
"Hey, lay off him!" Merc One interjected. "He didn't know!"
"Oh, so you two are just guilty of holding me against my will, not being insensitive or anything!" Ziyi sneered. "So, anyway, where was I? I'm sitting in the office thinking I'm safe and worrying about Veronica and- no, just Veronica, and suddenly my handler comes in and slams my head against the desk and grabs my shirt and tears it-"
Merc Two ran out of the room while Merc One picked up another piece of rope. "You stop talking right now and this won't go in your mouth," he demanded.
"…Yeah, I heard him tell me pretty much the same thing," Ziyi giggled without humor.
"…What do you want?" Merc One finally said. FINALLY!
"How about you untie me and I can get around to making sure we all get some kind of win out of this day?" Ziyi asked.
"I can't… wait, you're going to help us?" Merc One asked.
"I think there's been enough bloodshed, don't you think? Besides, your friend seems like an ok guy for a mercenary. Reminds me of a friend of mine back in Shi-Frisco," Ziyi continued as Merc One finally undid her binds.
"…You were telling the truth, right?" Merc One asked.
Ziyi turned to him, annoyed. "No, I just made up the worst point of my life for fun," she bristled.
"It's not that," Merc One shook his head. "I was just wondering if the… Fort Tandi… stuff… had anything to do with why you've been sleeping around so much ever since?"
"That's just…" Ziyi hissed before pausing. …Maybe? I mean since when was the last time I had sex to have sex? I mean, why does anyone need a body count my size? Why do I? Am I an addict? Or do I just really need warm bodies next to me to feel safe? Am I just trying to replace Veronica? Or am I just afraid of being lonely?
She felt a hand press against her back. Merc Two had regathered his courage and offered some support to the senator/hostage. Merc One nodded as he took up her flank. Together, the three of them marched down the corridor.
"-AND ON TOP OF THAT, I DEMAND A VERTIBIRD, FULLY LOADED WITH AMMO AND FUEL!" Jake screamed into the receiver as he waved his gun haphazardly around with his other hand. While Emma barked useless orders at the mercenaries and Brodie kept his head on a swivel over any nascent thoughts of mutiny, Bad MFKA just sat in the corner and waited for all the shouting to be over. To pass the time, he thought about the last time he had been happy, when Abacus sent him to scare some debtors into paying back their interests. He got to feel strong and nobody got hurt. This venture was supposed to be over days ago. Now it felt like years. The doorway opened and Senator Feng Ziyi, flanked by her two impromptu honor guards, entered the room.
"WHO THE FUCK LET HER OUT OF THE CHAIR?!" Jake screamed as he pointed his gun directly at Ziyi.
"Made any progress?" Ziyi asked, casual in her insolence. Jake glowered at her. "Yeah, Vana doesn't take well to being screamed at, especially when there's nothing you can do to hurt her. She's been asking for me, right?"
"MOTHERFUCKA, TAKE THE SENATOR BACK AND BIND HER RIGHT THIS TIME! BREAK HER LEGS IF YOU HAVE TO!" Jake snarled.
"…I hate that name," MFKA stood from his position and advanced towards the Senator. Reflexively, Mercs One and Two got between them.
"You do that and you won't be any further out of the hole you're in," Ziyi shot back. "Let the hostage talk and I'll break the stalemate."
Jake fumed as he stomped up to her, practically shoving the muzzle of his pistol up her nose. "…You mention anything about your situation, like where you are and how many guys we have, anything that you think can help pull one over on us, and I will paint the wall with your brains."
"I assure you, this will purely be a business call," Ziyi smiled. "Just stand back and think about money."
Emma handed her the receiver as Jake began pacing like an angry mountain cat. Ziyi took a deep breath. It's now or never. Holding the receiver to her ear, she began. "…Hello, Vana."
"Ziyi, I can't believe you would put me in this position. I have been holding down your fort for months during your vacation and I have done nothing these days but talk to the military and assure community leaders that we aren't going to be sacked by the Khans and Speckreed Jr. is lobbying for a special election committee in your absence and Jarrod is overwhelmed killing the tabloid stories about what you've been doing in Vegas while the Khans finally got pushed out of Redding and why the hell did you send your bodyguards home early when-"
"Breathe, Vana, breathe," Ziyi assured her fixer.
"…Are you Ok?" Vana asked.
"…I'm fine," Ziyi answered. "Vacation kind of ended on a sour note, but it was good for me while it lasted."
"I imagine being held hostage would put a damper on your fun," Vana snarked.
"Well, before that, there was an incident with Ms. Heilong that put her in a bit of an awkward situation. Long story short, I think Speckreed will finally have his scandal to stick to me," Ziyi reminisced, sadly.
"Understood," Vana stated as she reached into her filing cabinet. Protecting Ziyi's reputation was paramount to her, whether it involved extortion or execution. A few threats to the right people and Heilong would keep her pretty mouth shut like a good girl.
"Vana, you shut that cabinet right now!" Ziyi snapped. She waited until she heard the door click shut. "…It was my fault and I intend to fix it, but first, there's something I need you to take care of," she continued as she felt Jake finally lowering his gun from the back of her head.
"…Ma'am?" Vana asked.
"…I need you to get Form 86-T from Gwen, tell her I said hi by the way, and fill in my information. You have all my stuff on file, and make sure it gets to Shady Sands before the evening. After that, you can send out the press release and from there you'll know what to do with the money," she exclaimed as the mercenaries began to quietly celebrate.
"…Are you sure?" Vana asked, her voice filled with an unfamiliar hesitance.
"…I'm sure, Vana. It'll work out, trust me," Ziyi smiled.
"…I hope so. …It's been an honor," Vana finally stated.
"My only regret is that we've never slept together," Ziyi smiled. "But you and the others have been nothing but fun. Tell Angie I said hi and I think it's time we see other people."
"…As you wish, ma'am," Vana nodded.
"Love you. Oh, and if anyone above is listening in, the lizard guarding the wall can go home now. Bye," Ziyi replied as she snapped off the receiver. The mercenaries let out whoops and hollers. Emma jumped onto Bad MFKA's back and cheered. Brodie looked like he was on the verge of tears while Jake's stress fell away into a fit of hysterical laughter.
Mercs One and Two both looked at one another. "…So, how's this 86-T thing supposed to get us out of here?" Merc Two asked.
"Well, for starters, 86-T is the form that turns me from a public servant into a private citizen," Ziyi explained.
The dawning realization first hit Merc One, who turned to Merc Two with his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. "…What?" Merc Two shrugged, confused. Merc One leaned in to whisper to Merc Two. "…WHAT?!"
The celebration came to a halt. All eyes were on the Senator as she lifted up the borrowed canteen and gently tilted it towards her mouth with her fingers. "Y-you, y-y-y-you just-" Merc Two sputtered.
"…I quit," Ziyi smiled. "Senator Feng Ziyi is now Feng Ziyi, California emigrate, taxpayer, and unemployed nobody." She took a moment to look at her watch. "…In about six hours or, oh who am I kidding, it's Vana, in four hours from now news of my resignation will hit the Senate and the presses, whichever is at work first. After that, this national crisis will then turn into an issue of a dumbass tourist who wandered into the wrong part of town. The NCR will be forever grateful that I won't be dipping into the exchange fund for political prisoners."
"…But… that stuff you said about the money…" Brodie got out in shock.
"To be divided up and sent to various worthwhile organizations. Veterans' groups, medical charities, housing developments, orphanages, animal welfare, my friends in the redlight district, I'd be lucky to have a hundred caps to my name when all my pledges are met," Ziyi grinned.
"…And how is this supposed to help us get out of here?" Emma asked.
"Well, you guys are really out of other options now. Personally, I'd surrender, but if you'd rather go out in a "blaze of glory," I'm sure the Marshals outside will oblige you. The only thing I'd be good for in this situation is as a meat shield, but honestly, I can only really stop a bullet once and by the time word gets to Vegas about me having quit, there's really nothing stopping you guys from getting bombed even if I'm still a hostage. Right now, my dying would be a shame, but not a disaster."
"…You really got this whole thing figured out, don't you?" Jake stated, softly and calmly.
"…Are you going to pistol-whip me or whAAGH"
Ziyi's words died in her throat as chrome indeed slammed against the side of her head, sending her glasses to the floor as Jake grabbed her by the collar and slammed her face onto the table. "GOT ANY LAST WORDS, YOU BITCH?!" Jake snarled as he shoved the gun into her face.
Through her blurry eyes, Ziyi could see the frantic motion around her. Mercs One and Two in particular seemed to be pointing their weapons at Jake, while the rest of their comrades protested in their confusion, some pointing their weapons back and others arguing about what to do. Ziyi, however, had been waiting for this moment since the first time Jake had pulled a gun on her. Leaning forward, she clamped her jaw around the muzzle of the gun as she glared back at Jake. Do you think I'm scared to die?! Pull the trigger, asshole!
That action caught Jake off guard. This debauched sexhound of a politician and Gomorrah's best customer for about a decade was staring at him and demanding that he stop the threats and get on with it. She was supposed to be begging with tears in her eyes and offering him as much of the world as she could give him. This didn't make sense! None of this made sense!
"EVERYBODY, QUIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET" a loud siren blared through the antechamber. All eyes then turned to the securitron as it looked over them from its static screen. "…Jake, my friend, all this belligerence… it's all simply so unnecessary. There's still a solution to your predicament, you just need to calm down and let me help you."
Jake pulled his gun away from Ziyi. "…You've got a plan?" he asked, his voice beginning to sound hopeful.
"It is multistage and complicated, but I am certain that the outcome will maximize the benefits for everyone," the machine stated as it approached the young mobster. "I just need you to let me take over for a moment and do what needs to be done. Can I trust you to help me with his, Jake," the securitron gently draped a robotic hand onto Jake's shoulder.
"…Whatever you say, Mr. House," Jake nodded in a somewhat enthusiastic sense of hope.
"Thank you, Jake," Mr. House replied. "First things first."
The metal claw clamped directly over Jake's neck, barely giving him time to react, let alone panic. It was really the most humane way to end this particular dilemma. Exerting all available force, Jake's neck cracked in half a dozen different ways. As the securitron released his former "ally," the body fell to the ground as blood leaked from the man's eyes, nose, mouth and ears. As the static on the screen began to clear, the impassive face of the Old World tycoon looked out over his audience. "…Everyone except you two," he motioned to Ziyi and Emma, "are to hold up behind what's left of the entry door. Do not fire upon the Marshals, I will punish anyone who fails to obey this order," he stated as the seals to the compartments on his shoulders unlatched, exposing his rockets. Reluctantly, Brodie and Bad MFKA lead the mercenaries out of the chamber, leaving only the three behind alongside the corpse with the shattered neck.
"…Senator Ziyi. Or, I suppose Ex-senator would be more appropriate now," The machine that called itself Robert House began.
Ziyi picked her glasses off the floor. "…I would say I'm glad to make your acquaintance, but considering my current circumstances…"
"I must apologize for not intervening sooner. Such hospitality is beneath my fellow Hero of the West Coast," House stated.
"…Judging from the confused look on the lady's face, I take it you weren't involved with the coup?" Ziyi assessed.
A static sigh of content emitted from the machine. "Logic and reasoning, how I've missed it for so long. I was only aware of it after it had been initiated. And while this RMX was undoubtedly a dangerous entity, I couldn't pass up a chance to, however indirectly, witness the Governor brutalized," the machine chuckled.
"So, you're not on their side," Ziyi sat before the securitron. "Why defend them, then?"
"…You said we have four hours until news of your resignation becomes public?" House stated. "During that time, I would like to propose a negotiated settlement. For you, me, and them, for the sake of mutual benefit."
"You already used that line," Ziyi replied, pretending to be coy.
"…I think you'll like what I have planned," House responded.
Atop Hoover Dam, Padre Hex once more rushed the deathclaw. This beast, no, this warrior had stalled his advance for hours, the two of them locked in mortal combat for the better part of the afternoon. As he swung his warclubs against the jaw of the deathclaw, Padre Hex resolved that he would devour this one's heart the moment he felled the beast, forgoing his usual mealtime rituals. On the eastern bank of the dam, the surviving prisoners stood and watched the melee blankly, their exhaustion evident amongst them all as they wordlessly stared at the fight before them.
Johnny felt his skin tear open and heal immediately as this stunted mutant kept rushing him and refusing to die. Ever since he was young, Johnny hated working this hard for a meal. He hadn't been this frustrated since that giant firebreathing gecko invaded his territory, his skin had to heal over for five days until the last of his charred scales fell off. Johnny bit the Padre on his shoulder and felt a strange sensation on his arm. It wasn't usual that someone bit a deathclaw back.
It had become a struggle of brute force, Johnny and Hex pushing against one another. For half an hour, they stood gridlocked with one another, regaining whatever inch was surrendered to the other. The prisoners attempted to cheer for Hex before remembering that he had likely killed as many of them as the lizard had, so they maintained their neutrality toward the spectacle before them.
Finally, it began to happen. Johnny began pushing Hex back, forcing him towards the edge. The Padre tried to leverage every bit of power he could muster, bracing himself against the concrete wall as Johnny began pushing him back and over the edge. As he braced his legs against the barrier, Hex looked into the eyes of his worthy opponent. This deathclaw was perfect. An unstoppable force that, if left to its own devices, would finally do what the holy wars and pestilences and the bombs could not; bring humanity to its timely end. This was truly the Revelation.
It was also true, however, that Padre Hex was a sore loser and a petty one at that. As his feet cleared the edge of the barrier, he grabbed the horn of the deathclaw and switched from pushing to pulling, his feet digging into the weathered concrete as he attempted to yank the lizard over with him into the waters below. Johnny, realizing what was happening, tried to stall and break his hold on the Padre to no avail.
"…May we enter eternity together, Revelation," Padre grinned as Johnny began to panic. A flash of light then captured the attention of the Padre. A shimmering ball of celestial illumination entered the horizon above them. The Padre blinked as he lessened his grip over the neck of the deathclaw. "…God?"
The floating light then shone upon the deathclaw, its body becoming translucent as a confused and surprised hiss escaped from its mouth before it vanished from this reality. Now with nothing to hold onto, the Padre fell down the side of the dam, screaming. "…I hope that wasn't anyone Lars knew," Mobius mused apologetically as he took off from the dam, leaving the prisoners as he took back to the sky.
With the Padre gone and the lizard abducted by an alien spacecraft, the prisoners stood in silence as they saw the clear path before them that would take them unmolested to Vegas itself. They would continue to stand for another five minutes, waiting for a Kraken or a division of NCR troopers or a pack of angry grannies or literally anything that could possibly make their day worse. Finally, one of the prisoners said what everyone else was thinking.
"…Fuck this," he said as he turned away from the dam and began the trek back to the Sierra Madre. "It was safer in prison." Wordlessly, the rest of the convicts saw the wisdom in his words as they all turned away, some due to being in agreement with the statement, and finally the others when they realized that they didn't want to go alone in their mad dash for freedom. As they left, they began to discuss whether or not they'd get any clemency for their sentences, or if they'd just add an extra few years for their escape attempt. At this point, both sounded just fine for them.
Only one prisoner remained. A reedy-looking newer arrival, the mastermind for the prison break, having assembled a counterfeit Pip-boy out of meticulously smuggled spare parts. Gidjit looked across the dam, at the lights in Vegas that still shone, at the fires that had not been set, and the lack of RMX saboteurs and provocateurs waiting for him at the other end. Gidjit knew what this meant. The coup had failed. "…Aw, bitch," he morosely kicked the dirt at his feet. Unlatching his rip-off Pip-boy, he threw it over the edge of the dam as he turned to rejoin the other prisoners. At this rate, maybe in thirty years he could be up for bail and get a job with the Followers. As Gidjit turned away, the body of Padre Hex continued to float down the Colorado River, having been knocked out on his tumble down the side of the dam.
