Chapter 35: Res-by-the-Res Part 5

Carla peeked out of the corner of the shack, watching to see if the giant had chosen to pursue. Satisfied that they were not being followed, she exhaled as she turned to Larain. "That… was a really cheap stunt, Rain."

"I apologize, Chief, but he didn't seem to be in the mood for anything reasonable," Larain countered.

Carla pressed her back against the shack, blowing a stranded braid out of her eyes. "…You could have given me an extra minute…"

"That why you got your gun out?" Larain asked, coyly.

"That was just a deterrent," Carla shot back, pissed.

"But a cup full of raw-man water was escalation?" Larain replied.

Carla couldn't help but crack a smile. "Escalation? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were talking like a marshal?"

Larain polished an imaginary badge. "Deputy Larain? That's something I'd have to get used to."

Carla grinned. "Well, at least you put on a good impression with my folks. Mom doesn't hate you, and Tobey actually likes you."

"Saving his life can do that," Larain shrugged, unconcerned.

"…Why does Rosa hate you, anyway?" Carla asked.

Larain groaned as he turned away. "Why does everything always come back to that?!"

"Look, I never got a straight answer out of her," Carla responded. "And I know I'm not gonna. So, I have to hear it from you. Why does Rosa hate you?"

Larain looked up at the moon and the few stars he could see. "…I broke her rules."

"Rules?" Carla asked.

"Her hookup rules. No names, no kissing, and we never see each other again," Larain explained.

"Ok… how?" Carla asked.

"The name thing wasn't even my fault!" Larain said. "Some old guy knocked on the door and I overheard her name from their chat!"

"Old guy?" Carla mulled. "I knew she got around, but I never thought…"

"She said it was her uncle," Larain continued. "Uncle U or something…"

"…Ulysses?" Carla said. "No way! That was my favorite instructor!" she pulled at her braids. "He's the guy who gave me these! You met him?"

"…I was kind of sneaking out of the bathroom window at the time," Larain confessed. "Rosa came to see me off, and…" he paused. "…I kind of did break the second rule on purpose," he admitted.

Carla looked at her partner. She felt a little nervous as she put her arms behind her back, her body pacing in place as she looked at him. She licked her lips, leaned in, and planted one on his. Drawing back, she continued to fidget nervously as she smiled. "…Doesn't seem so bad. And I know the last part; she shouldn't blame you for showing back up."

Larain hid a blush as he covered his eyes with his cap. "Well, I have to thank you. I didn't think I'd be where I was, but I'm happy you made it so much more bearable."

Carla smiled as she looked around them. They were completely alone from what she could see. Turning back around, she flung her arms around Larain's neck as she began to kiss him even deeper. Larain, caught off guard by this very sudden display of affection, had to stop himself from shoving her off. Breaking off the kiss, Carla looked up into Larain's eyes.

"…Know any good rooms for the night?" Carla asked.

Larain laughed. "Very funny." Carla just kept staring at him, her expression not changing. Larain's smile began to retreat as he realized she was being serious. "…Ok, so, uh, I know things got a little crazy back there, but…"

"Larain… why do you think I asked you to come here with me?" Carla asked. "Do you really think I wanted to spend my leave double-dating with Rosa and my brother?"

"I mean… shouldn't we be finding them?" Larain asked, suddenly concerned.

"Rosa has made it very clear to me over the years that she would prefer to take care of herself," Carla suddenly snapped. "And Tobey is the world's foremost expert in staying out of trouble… provided her name isn't Rosa. If they're together, I wouldn't bother worrying, and that leave us with a lot of time to…" she trailed off as she looked away, her face heating up so much even Larain could feel it.

"…Carla… you don't have to do this," Larain tried to placate the young woman.

"Damn straight. I wanna," Carla replied.

"Aww," Amy whispered to herself as she eavesdropped from the opposite corner of the shack. "Isn't that adorable?" Finding Larain had proven to be a stroke of luck, and while her first impulse was to drag him by the ear to wherever Cade was currently skulking, the curiosity in her dictated that she see this little romp through. Besides, she was so much more understanding than Cade, and what were the odds that he was doing anything even remotely as fun?


Cade crunched on an oatcake as he stood just outside the crowd assembled near the foot of the water tower. He watched as two of the Mexicans continued beating the old soldier while their leader, the one Amy had serviced earlier, was arguing with a kid over procedure. Cade cracked a grin as the kid got all uppity and shoved against the leader, who to his credit held his ground.

"WE HAVE TO BRING HIM IN ALIVE!" Tobey screamed as Javier began testing the balance of the gladius.

"Give our regards to your commander, but this isn't your jurisdiction, nor your fight," Gael tried to tell him.

Tobey looked around him. The "centurion" was on his knees, bleeding from a dozen open wounds as he glared defiantly at his captors. Javier made several swipes at him with the blade while Toni kept screaming questions in his face, trying a half-assed interrogation. Even as young as he was, Tobey could see that they had already made up their minds about killing him, and at this point were just looking for an excuse to terminate.

The citizens who had gathered, about twenty or so, watched with a sort of detached interest, like theatre-goers attending a screening they had already seen before. This was nothing but entertainment for them, and nothing but a revenge killing for the Mexicans. Tobey took a breath, drew out his revolver, and pointed it at Gael.

Cade watched, his interest thoroughly provoked as the leader glared down the kid. One of the Mexicans had dropped the blade so he could draw out his own revolver, the other screaming to try and defuse this situation. Cade had come because he had heard an execution was being held, he had not realized that there would be multiple bodies. He began chewing intently on his snack as the drama unfolded.

"…Kid, I like you so I'm going to overlook this. Walk. Away," Gael growled.

"I will, but I'm taking him with me," Tobey insisted.

"He's Legion, kid, do you have any idea what he's done?!" Javier shrieked.

"Some," Tobey acknowledged. "But I'm playing a different game."

Javier shot a look at Toni. Toni caught it, nodded, and looked to his leader.

"…You really serious about this?" Gael asked.

"Damn straight," Tobey nodded.

"…You willing to die for it?" Gael snarled as all three simultaneously drew their revolvers.

Tobey betrayed a gulp as the crowd awed in anticipation. Cade put away his snack, shit-eating grin on full display. To think, some people did not understand the phenomenon of death and spent their fleeting lives in fear of it. To him, nothing made life more beautiful than the notion that everything could come to a sudden, violent end. Cade closed his eyes and breathed it all in, basking in the drama as the crowd began to heckle and cheer.

A roar echoed throughout Cade's mind. That was the thing that stood out to him, he realized, once he figured out that his ears hadn't felt anything. The onlookers must have felt it as well, many looking around in panic, some fleeing while clutching their heads. Then the giant bulldozed his way through the onlookers, knocking many aside as he glared at the situation before him.

Tobey was wondering why no one told him that Grognak had recently become real. The Mexicans were wondering if the kid somehow had backup on tap. Falco, out of his unswollen eye, began laughing. "Took you long enough."

Immediately, the three Mexicans and Tobey were beset by a sense of imminent dread, their throats tightening as the giant somehow managed to become larger, less corporeal, and wreathed in flames. Toni was the first to draw his revolver, aiming it at the monster. The monster made a gesture with two fingers, and as a red haze clouded Toni's mind he angled his gun up and fired while the monster closed the distance.


Daphne sat at the counter, filing her nails. By now most of her customers had either retired for the night or were still looking for action. Tia had just gone to bed, wondering wherever the new layabouts had gotten to. Daphne assured her daughter that they would turn up in the morning whenever they got hungry enough, though secretly she hoped that they would be someone else's problem. Besides, she was busy anyway, she thought as she blew some of the dust under her nails, someone else could look for them.

A grey-haired cowgirl wandered inside the lobby, looking around as Daphne squinted her eyes at her. "…Do I know you?" she asked.

Silverhair looked at the woman. At long last, it looked like she had found a break. "Oh, am I glad to see you. I need a place to stay for the meantime."

"…Well, I'll be damned," Daphne grinned. "Small world, isn't it?"

"I need a room for a few hours," Silverhair explained. "And if anyone comes around asking, I'm not here."

Daphne crossed her arms. "That sounds expensive."

Silverhair plopped a handful of gold coins on the counter.

"…I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm afraid I'm all booked up for the evening," Daphne explained as she took one of the coins and bit into it. "I do have a spare trailer open, #15, but I'm doing a little fumigating on it so I couldn't in good consciencesness offer you that room," she continued as she pushed the coins into her waiting skirt, popping open the register to deposit them.

"I understand," Silverhair nodded. "Couldn't be helped."

"Yes, I'm so sorry," Daphne nodded. "I wish I could help more."

"Just tell anyone who comes around here asking questions the same thing. Especially if they have a scar on their face or are… down an arm," Silverhair explained as she left the lobby.

"C'mon," she announced as she hefted the drunk around her shoulders. "I bought us a room."

"Heh-heh, next yuz hood buy me a drink," Rosa slurred.

"You have had plenty to drink, girl. More than enough!" Silverhair scolded. Rosa stuck out her tongue and began making airplane noises as they walked down the lot. As they walked down, Silverhair noted the usual nocturnal noises that transpired in places like this by way of the usual moans and grunts. However, as they passed #12, Silverhair couldn't help but note the rant of its occupant.

"…gall, the sheer fucking audacity to call me a "coward," for not wanting to run that mission in Hopeville! It's a deadzone! Nothing stuck there wants to leave! And they think that "oh, he's a ghoul, he must like radiation," and that's their reasoning?! Fuck that and fuck them!"

"Yeah, I mean, you gave them forty years of your life, I don't see why they need to attack your reputation."

Silverhair stopped as she heard that voice. Why did that sound so familiar?

"Do you want to hear how often I get called a baby killer? Too often! It wasn't even my fault, it…"

"…You don't want to talk about it?"

"…Nah. Water under the fucking bridge."

"…Well, do you feel better?"

"Sorta… I guess?"

"…Anyone who still pisses you off?"

"Oh, do not get me started! Next up in this cavalcade of general fuckups is our "esteemed" War-Chief Tandi! I don't know what's worse, that act she puts up for the tourists or the fact that she keeps making goo-goo eyes at Milligan when she thinks no one else is looking! I'm telling you, the first time I met her…"

Silverhair had managed to pull Rosa up the stairway and shut the door, blocking out the rest of the conversation. Throwing Rosa down on the mattress, Silverhair begin taking off the young girl's boots.

"Stop stealin my shit!" Rosa slurred as she tried to throw a half-hearted kick at Silverhair.

Cass took a moment to look over the young girl. She remembered stumbling on him during that wonderful six months they worked together, usually passed out with some hot number next to him, every so often being that number herself as time had gone on. She and he had spent the better part of a week after Hoover Dam going through a celebratory "victory-screw" every so often.

Of course, domestication was never in the cards for the Rose of Sharon Cassidy, and when presented the choice of running water, lights, glitz, glamor, and the closest thing she ever had to a consistent lover against the inhospitable and unpredictable wasteland, she had already made up her mind. She told herself that after she established herself in a few years, she'd circle back and visit every so often. Of course, circumstances being what they were, things didn't exactly go to plan.

"…So, how old are you, kid?" Cass asked Rosa as she began trying to get comfortable.

"Twenny-one," Rosa mumbled as she tossed and turned.

Cass did the math in her head. "…Right after Zhang? You didn't waste any time," she laughed to herself.

"Whut?" Rosa spoke up.

"Just talking to myself," Cass replied. "Anyway, you got any family?"

"…Juss my old man," Rosa slurred. "You wouldn't like em, he'z a bum."

Cass had to stop from laughing. "S-sorry to hear that."

"…Never really met my mum," Rosa continued. "Old man tried to find another again… and again… and again," she droned on, leaving Cass to her own thoughts. She had heard rumors he had a child while she was meandering around Arizona and Utah, but never really paid a lot of attention. When dealing with stories about Lars, it could be hard to reconcile what she witnessed firsthand next to the rumors and legends. One story would say that Lars had personally destroyed the NCR at Hoover Dam, while another stated that he personally betrayed Caesar at the moment of truth before the battle began. And she lost count of the number of times she had heard out east that the legendary courier was a woman. So she left the legends to themselves and figured she'd ask Lars about anything she was curious about when the day came that she would return to Vegas. That day never came.

"…Fukit, I wanna listen to the radio," Rosa mumbled as she began fiddling with the notches on her Pip-Boy.

Cass's eyes were drawn to the contraption. "…Could I borrow that?" she asked.

"Whatcu want?" Rosa asked as she pulled up a local map.

"…I want to see if I can check on something I found," Cass asked as she slipped a hand in her knapsack. She pulled out a motherboard, carefully wrapped in a cloth. Though never a tech-savvy individual, twenty years of self-reliance had made Cass a much more flexible individual. Reaching under the panel of the Pip-boy, she pulled out a cable, snapping the end against the motherboard.

"Whoa," Rosa exhaled. "I didn't know it could do that."

"This other guy showed me as he was passing through a few years ago," Cass explained. "These things are more capable than most give them credit for," she said as she located the options menu on the Pip-boy. A new option popped up in simple text. SCAN DATA.

"Bingo," Cass grinned.

"Wuz hiz NAME-O" Rosa sang as she fell back on the mattress. Cass glared intently at the screen as it filtered through data. Market numbers. Team rosters. Names. Dates. Merchandise. Finally, it came to what she had been looking for for so long. Coordinates.

Fumbling in her pocket, Cass pulled out a chewed-up notepad and a well-worn pencil. She scribbled down the coordinates as she felt her mouth run dry. Once complete, she pulled the motherboard from the wires, staring at it with a mixture of disbelief and relief. She could finally end things.

"…Kid, you have no idea how big of a favor you've done me," Cass chuckled. "Must run in the family."

"Mh-hm," Rosa responded, clearly losing consciousness.

"Y'know, I never actually caught your name," Cass said as she gathered her things and prepared to leave. She felt bad about leaving the kid here, but the sooner she headed out, the sooner she could end things for good. To the woman formerly known as Cass, nothing mattered more than finding the Central Market, and nothing could dissuade her path.

"Rosa."

Cass stopped. "…What did you say?"

"Mm… name's Rosa," Rosa mumbled as she finally passed out, leaving Cass on the verge of tears.

"…you bastard," she cursed. She looked once again at the little girl, lost and alone and who would in a few hours be nursing the mother of all hangovers. Cass entertained the notion of dragging her unconscious body to the encampment outside the city and letting them take care of her from there. But, she did do her a massive favor, so the least Cass could do was wait for her to wake up, make sure she got home safe, and save a proper goodbye for then. Cass sat at the foot of the bed, leaned her back against the wall, and decided to rest her eyes for a few minutes.


"IS ANYONE HERE A DOCTOR?!" a voice screamed out into the streets. Melody's ears perked up. "Excuse me, honey," she said as she pushed Joseph's arm from her shoulder. She rushed over and held up her hand. "I am, what's the situation?"

The woman was holding a rag to her cheek, already soaked in blood. "My friend, she… we were attacked," she panted, clearly still in pain.

"Can I get a good look at that wound?" Melody reached for the rag. The woman swatted it away. "There's no time, hurry!"

Out of the corner of her eye, Melody could see the other woman leaning in an alleyway, a shawl of some kind wrapped around the stump of what had been her left arm. It looked as if she would go into shock at any moment. "Jesus Christ," Melody breathed as Joseph winced. She bolted over to the woman. "Ma'am, my name is Dr. Melody Young, I'm going to stabilize you and we're getting you to a… whatever passes for a medical facility in this town."

"Get me… Hyp… Hyp…" the woman struggled through the pain. Melody gave her hip a glance. "Let's not focus on that now."

Delilah's free hand grabbed Melody by the collar. "My partner, you imbecile!" she seethed.

The woman with the rag over her cheek came over, kneeling beside her. "Yes, my sister," Hypatia nodded.

Delilah looked over to her. "…Go back to our place… kick the cellar door and… tell Ferra… we are leaving…" she got out as she struggled to breathe.

"Ma'am, I would really appreciate if you didn't talk right now," Melody tried to coax.

"I'LL TALK WHEN I DAMN WELL WANT, WOMAN!" Delilah shrieked, immediately feeling light-headed. Turning back to Hypatia, she managed to conclude with, "…tell her to get Sophia, however she has to… that's all you can do for us… now," she gulped as Melody applied an anesthetic above the wound. Hypatia nodded as she stood up and walked away.

"Hey, I need some help to…" Melody trailed off as she realized the woman was not listening to her. "…Fine, none of my business. Can you at least tell me where to take…" she looked down to the other woman, who by now had passed out. "…Lovely. Joseph, I hate to ask, but will you be a dear and give me a ha-"

Her husband was nowhere to be found. "…God fucking damnit," Melody swore under her breath.


Joseph trudged forward, first with his cane, followed by a limping stride, and then it would repeat. His wound near his gut had sealed, but it remained sensitive and continued to bother him. Melody warned him that there was a very strong possibility that it would never heal. Joseph expected to be more bothered by that, but in truth, he was quite familiar with pain. Well acquainted, one might say, at a very young age.

He had to have been around seven when the White Legs descended on New Canaan. Burning everything they could, butchering everyone, screaming in their vile tongues. The last thing he ever saw, would ever see, was the torch swinging down to his eyes as he screamed for Michelle, his eldest sister. He would never see Michelle again, the White Legs taking her as they ended their raid. Joshua went after them, wouldn't return for two weeks. Once he did, he said that he found her, and there was nothing he could have done but the humane thing.

As the blind man walked down the street, various people around him started coming down with headaches. At first, it was something negligible, but then the piercing sting began, many grabbing their heads as they cried out from the pain. Joseph was numb to all of this, his mind still in the burning town, screams in the night as their prayers died on their lips. Joseph knew what it was like to be helpless on a night like that, and thanks to his gifts, would never taste that bitterness ever again.

Barabbas swung down at the bandito, his head bouncing off the dirt as another tried to stab him. The legate was able to grab the arm and twist his attacker to the ground, taking pleasure in how the tendons strained against his grip. A fist collided with his face. Barabbas turned to see a young man, someone practically around his age, trying to bury his fist into his cheek. He took a distinct pleasure in watching the young man come to a realization that he had struck at Barabbas as hard as he could, and did nothing but piss him off.

Tobey felt his head rip open. A barrage of traumatic horror bombarded his mind, flayed bodies laying upon rows as they were burned. He screamed as he felt his own brain had been set alight, falling to his knees as he felt a grip around his neck. Barabbas would snap his neck, butcher the rest of these banditos, and continue with his search unmolested. Falco was wondering when he was going to stop indulging himself and focus.

Barabbas felt the presence long before he saw the figure. Slowly, his manic smile began to recede, releasing his prey from his grasp as he turned to see the interloper. Cade, having stood aside to witness this experience, turned to see the blind man passing him as he gingerly avoided the fallen crowd writhing in pain. He came to a stop at the foot of the small hill, the giant standing amongst his victims. "…What are you?" Barabbas growled.

"…Much like you, I suppose," Joseph replied, planting his cane before him.

Barabbas reached down and scooped up a rock. "A cripple?" he asked, rhetorically.

Joseph scratched his gauze. "Even from here, I can tell you are wounded."

Barabbas spat out a curse as he chucked the rock right at the blind man. It struck him across the cheek, leaving a gash. "HAH!" Barabbas barked. "A true user of the Sight wouldn't have been struck."

"On the contrary," Joseph replied as he touched his tender wound. "I am no stranger to pain. A little scab like this is hardly worth a fuss."

"Then I'll give you something to fuss if you don't leave me to my business," Barabbas seethed as he approached Falco. In one motion, the handcuffs were snapped apart, the senior centurion stumbling to his feet. "Hmph, it appears our dear southern friends took issue with our presence in the area," Falco admitted as he grabbed his gladius.

"So, let us leave them with a message of our own," Barabbas growled as he pulled up his foot and prepared to crack Tobey's neck.

"I'm afraid that man is a friend of mine," Joseph interrupted. "And though I tolerate violence for preservation, your petty wrath I will not. Leave now, and I will not intercede."

"Falco?" Barabbas turned to his subordinate.

"Yes, my Legate," Falco saluted.

"Cease his prattle," he ordered.

Falco looked at the blind man, took a deep breath, and reluctantly began to approach him, blade at the ready. Joseph continued to smile, even as Barabbas watched intently. Cade was starting to enjoy himself. Falco stopped just as he reached the blind man. Falco kept his eyes on the man as he extended out his sword arm, placing the blade against his neck. The blind man did not move an inch. Steeling himself, Falco swung back to decapitate Joseph where he stood. Joseph shot out his hand to touch Falco's forehead, and Falco collapsed like a conscious ragdoll.

Barabbas felt his heart leap into his throat as he watched his subordinate, trainer, and friend fall to the ground. It was only when he saw Falco was still breathing, albeit confused and frustrated by his own body rejecting his mind's commands, did he focus his total attention upon the blind man.

"I hate doing this," Joseph exclaimed as he continued to approach Barabbas. "I take no joy in forcing my abilities upon others."

"Then why have them at all?" Barabbas snarled as he tensed his body.

"How very familiar," Joseph exclaimed. "Am I to surmise the name Sybil carries significance with you?"

"…That's my mother," Barabbas said, quietly with rage bubbling behind every word.

"…I'm sorry," Joseph said as he gathered himself. "Yours may be a light I have to extinguish."


Larain paced around the lot, gulping as he tried to keep a low profile. When he came here, he didn't realize that Daphne and Tia would be personally running the motel. He had tried to convince Carla to find another place, if not call everything off entirely, but she said the vacancy light above the office drowned out his arguments. So he agreed on the condition that she be the one to talk to the woman in the office.

His conflicting lives had begun to intersect. Daphne was Liberty Clan through and through, and if he needed a quick escape, he could have just revealed himself to her then and there and he'd safely be wherever Kenzie and the others were hiding. However, considering his date this night was the daughter of the Judicial Marshals, that course of action would blow his cover as a double agent, blowing Daph's cover with his own. He swallowed as he began to notice how razor-thin this tightrope he had been walking had gotten. The smart thing to do, he told himself, was ditch Carla and reconnect with Daph on his own time. But that look Carla had given him…

As Carla stepped out of the office, a woman waiting outside accosted her. "Sorry, sorry, ma'am," she explained. "I'm, uh, I've just bought this and I'm tryin real hard to be a photo-graffy, uh, pho-to-gra… uh…"

"A photographer?" Carla answered.

"Yes," the "photographer" nodded her head enthusiastically. "I'm taking pictures of all kinds of interesting things, like brahmins and doggies and black-birdies, but I wants to be takin pictures of people. Pretty people, like you!"

"I… don't know about this," Carla replied. "I mean, we just met and…" she stopped at the dejected look of the "photographer."

"I get it," she sulked. "People think I'm annoying. They don't like me. I'm sorry I bothered you," she said as she turned to walk away.

Carla didn't want to hurt her feelings, and the fact that she seemed slightly impaired only twisted the knife in her guts even more. What was the worst one picture could do? "How do you want me to pose?"

Larain kept his head on a swivel as he looked around him. He knew most of the working girls here, some more familiar than others. Thankfully the rainy season was about to begin, and most of them were occupied in their rooms with their clients. One particular client at #12 was undergoing a blistering rant towards, but thankfully not at, the girl he was with.

"…I mean, sure, power armor is scary the first time you go up against it, but it also makes you slow! I've explained that so many times to her, but Baxter is so up her own ass about proving the critics wrong she damn near forgets the welfare of her own men! I've offered to demonstrate what and where the vulnerabilities are on those tin-cans, but every time I get the railroad spike out, something "magically" comes up!"

"What are the vulnerabilities?" the girl asked.

"They're… Ok, let's do this, stand up like so and I'll show you…"

Carla winced from the flash. "Oh, thank you thank you thank you thank you," the "photographer" jumped up and down, giddy.

"I'm glad I could help," Carla smiled. "Can I see it?"

The "photographer" stared at the photo. "This'll work, this'll work," she nodded as she showed it to Carla.

"…Lightings a bit off," Carla muttered. "But the model is pretty cute."

"Ha-ha, that's funny," the "photographer" nodded. "I… want to show this to a friend of mine. Can I take the photo and show them, then I'll bring it back to you? You can keep it!"

"Oh, that's… really nice of you, but you don't have to…" Carla began to say as the "photographer" began to leave. "Thanks for the picture, you don't know how much this means to me!" Amy called out as she left a thoroughly confused Carla behind.

"…OK, that was a thing," Carla said to herself as she left to rejoin Larain.

Larain had to make a decision, soon and fast. He glanced at the chain-link fence surrounding the trailers. With enough speed, he could vault over, easily, but from there he wasn't sure where to go. He didn't doubt that Kenzie had other people in this town, probably a few looking for him, but if he was really in bed with those religious nutjobs from down south, perhaps it would be better to stick it in with Carla. OUT WITH, he hastily corrected himself.

"So, any reason you didn't want to talk to the chick behind the desk?" Carla finally asked as she joined back up with him.

"I… am familiar with a few of the girls who worked here, and the last time we met things got a little… dramatic," Larain answered, his lie peppered with enough truth to dissuade any further digging.

"…How familiar?" Carla grinned, suggestively.

"Carla, last chance to back out, we don't have to do this," Larain tried, once again, to turn her away.

Carla held up a key with the number 14 dangling from the tab at the end. "I did you a favor, now it's time for you to do me one. And I want you to take my clothes off when we get to our room."

"…What am I supposed to tell your brother when I see him next? What about Rosa? Or your…" Larain tried to dig his way out of this.

"Larain," Carla put her hands on her hips. "I don't care about what others will think about me. I'm a woman who comes from a city that was founded on the principle of doing whatever you wanted if you were brave enough. I signed up for this because I wanted to do some good for my home. Now, however, I want to do something for me tonight."

"…I guess I can't scare you off," Larain admitted. "Is now a bad time to mention I have ghoul-rot down there?"

"Very funny," Carla rolled her eyes. "…ah, I guess from here, I'll just follow your lead, then," her confidence beginning to dissipate.

"Now you're getting cold feet?" Larain asked.

"No!" Carla shook her head. "I just… don't want to end up doing anything weird or… gross…"

"…Carla, is this the first time you've ever…" Larain began.

"Not so loud!" Carla hissed, putting a finger urgently on his lips. "I'm kinda… new to this. I mean I know how it's supposed to work, but…" her nervousness was finally beginning to betray her.

"…I'm gonna be your first time…" Larain asked, dread causing his stomach to bottom out.

"…Please tell me that won't be a problem," Carla gulped, now feeling embarrassed on top of already being nervous.

"…Well, it's, uh, gonna be MY first time… being someone's first time, I mean," Larain looked away, blushing. The two stood there and began to fidget, trying to find some way to break the awkward tension. It ended when Larain took Carla's hand in his, rubbing the back of her palm with his other. "Tell you what, how about I do your favor when we get to the room, and if you still feel uncomfortable, we'll just head back to camp and say we had a great evening, which we did. Sound good?"

The butterflies started to leave Carla's chest as she finally began to breathe. "Sounds great. Now let's get to our room, already. #12 is starting to sound feral."

The two went to trailer #14. As they did, Larain had decided that once he finished his favor for Carla, he'd say he wasn't feeling up for anything and just wanted to catch some shut-eye. He had a feeling that though she would push him on this, she would understand and some part of her deep down would be grateful. It was a decision that would be to both of their benefits, as anything to the contrary would risk, much to the irony of everything, fucking up everything around them. Of course, what Larain had failed to realize as he shut the door behind him and began kissing Carla atop the bed as he began unbuttoning her shirt, was that he was very much his father's child.


"Marcy, what are you doing?" Dinero called out as he tried to catch his breath. Marcy was cutting through the crowds of people, some wearing uniforms while others tried to sell them things. She hated crowds, they were so noisy and loud and they hurt and stung her head and she just wanted to stay with the animals because they made everything so simple and easy and…

Another wave of power surged over her. Shuddering, Marcy braced herself as she continued charging forward. If he was here, she had to get to him. She had to tell him. But right now, she had to protect him from the Other.

Barabbas swung another fist at the image, it dissipating with another shimmer as the blind man "eyed" him with contempt. Barabbas again tried to bombard him with a psychic barrage, but the other man swatted away his attempts with ease. Barabbas could feel him inside his mind, and he had to focus all his efforts just to push him out. As the fight had gone on, the dawning horror had begun to set in on Barabbas. The gap between their abilities was at least as steep as those they possessed physically, only unlike the latter the blind stranger had the advantage for the former. Barabbas began to feel light-headed, and it was a struggle to keep his mind focused even as his body began to move evermore lethargically.

Joseph saw everything. He saw how, as a young boy, he was fed a steady diet of slaves in the arena, butchering them all under the watchful eye of his father. He saw him flay the mind of a rebelling commander as his mother cooed him and encouraged further violations. He saw him take the daughter of a visiting senator, again and again, discarding her after he was done. He saw him overlooking the burning of a city, razing it to the ground as hounds bayed over the flames.

Barabbas felt a sharp crack against his skull. The blind man didn't possess enough physical might to wound him, but when amplified by the full force of his abilities, Barabbas felt as if he had been struck with a nigh mortal blow. The last time he suffered such a wound was when he dueled with Scorpio, to which the proconsul profusely apologized to his mother after the fact, once he realized Barabbas would make a full recovery.

He felt two hands grab the sides of his head. As he gazed upon the blind man, a stark light began to shine, blinding Barabbas. He felt his will begin to burn. He felt his mind begin to fade. He felt himself begin to vanish. He could hear a man screaming. He sounded familiar. What was his name? Was he a friend?

A shriek pierced through the light, Joseph breaking his concentration. Barabbas finally took a gasp of air, realizing that somehow during that fight, the blind man made him forget how to breathe. Cade wondered if he should do anything about that large dog drawing closer and closer. Falco still felt numb, being able to just barely force his head to look up at the feet of the young girl. "…Pariah," he got out.

The young girl breathed heavily as she stared down the blind man, the Other. The blind man looked back at her, feeling the enormity of her own presence which, to his immediate estimation, rivaled his own. And at such a young age…

"Another one," Joseph spoke. "This day just won't stop surprising me."

"P-Pariah…" Barabbas mumbled as he tried to reach out to her.

"Come here, little one," Joseph reached out to her. Pariah looked to her brother and saw how close the blind man had pushed him to eternity. Her lips curled as she balled her fists. Joseph heard a growl, followed by another, and more yet until all he could see before him was a sea of snarling fangs. Pariah watched as the self-styled "angel" braced himself against the onslaught she pummeled him with. This idiot was about to try and bulwark her force and abilities. What a fucking amateur! Strong as he was, how did one with his abilities fail to realize that it was not the mountain that was built to endure the sea, but the grain of sand. As he spread himself, he was easy to overwhelm, and she watched as he crumpled under the pressure.

Joseph felt himself tear and shred as the dogs bit into him. This fight would kill him, that girl would kill him, he began to realize in horror. If he died here, Tobey was as good as dead, as were the others with their strange auras and echos. Rosa would grieve and blame herself. And Melody… Lord above, what was he thinking? He felt a pain that far outweighed anything the girl could possibly accomplish. He steeled his will, knowing that there was no way he could outright defeat what he was up against, but if he made this shot, he could buy everyone some time.

Pariah watched as a small beam of light shot through the wall of teeth and struck her right through the temple. That psychic blast had to have taken everything from the Other, but this also broke her lock with him. As their bond severed, Pariah vomited out some blood as she collapsed onto her knee, while Joseph felt flat on his face as he nearly passed out from the strain.

Barabbas had only just gotten back to his feet, though he could not keep himself steady. "…Pariah…" he tried to call out, though his voice could hardly carry to her. Falco was just able to move his arm, but his ears had picked up something else. Voices about a centurion being spotted, and a patter within the dialogue that his ears could not mistake with anything other than military. California knew they were here, he thought, dourly.

Cade thought over just what he had seen. Three Mexicans and someone he suspected was a rookie cop came to a water tower to interrogate but mostly execute an elderly centurion. Cade and the small crowd who gathered at the bottom had figured this would be a fun way to pass the evening. Then the large Grognak-looking bastard came and screamed so loud the rest of the crowd was basically knocked out and began beating the shit out of the Mexicans and the rookie cop. Then the blind man showed up and Grognak lost his nerve and looked like he was going to drown as the blind man tripped the centurion and then tried to perform what Cade suspected was a half-assed exorcism. Finally, the little girl showed up, screamed at the blind man, and now both were bleeding from their faces. So, either he had stumbled on the aftermath of a drug-fueled cult initiation or, more likely, he had just witnessed at least three psykers. Either wouldn't be the weirdest thing he had ever seen.

The dog arrived just as the elder guardian did. Dinero took one look at the little girl, began to panic upon seeing her state, and picked her up to carry her away. Barabbas tried futilely to scream, his voice not being able to carry itself as Belua trotted down to pick up Falco. The centurion dragged himself across Belua's back, patting her snout as he did. "Reliable old beast, aren't you," he praised her. "Barabbas, we must go!"

Barabbas shook his head, furiously. "So close, we're so close!" he wheezed out. Belua gently grabbed him by the arm, pulling him away as Barabbas tried to fight against her. "No! No!," he tried to scream through his tears. "Not now, let me go! No! NO!" he screamed as Belua pulled him away from the town. Cade took the opportunity to take his leave, not wanting to answer any questions for the brown and tans.

It didn't take him long to meet back up with Amy. The first thing he noticed was the camera hanging from her neck. "…He didn't realize you stole it?" Cade couldn't help but laugh.

"What, he expected me to talk to him for free?" Amy giggled. "Anyway, no luck on finding anything about Rosa, but I did happen to locate our friend, Larain."

"Finally," Cade scoffed. "…You don't have him with you."

"He's at Daphne's place, trying to be discreet," Amy grinned. "I don't think she even knows he's there at the moment, he got this cute little number to check in their room." She handed him a photograph. Cade looked at the girl, noting her posture as someone trying too hard to be casual. A marshal trying very hard to not give away that they were a marshal. Cade let the photo drop to his side as he began pinching the bridge of his nose.

"…Uh, Cade, deep breaths," Amy tried to placate.

"The moment he gets an opportunity to get his dick wet and suddenly his loyalties are compromised!" Cade screamed. "I wasted so much time trailing his ass and here he is literally spending the night in Vegas!"

Amy burst out laughing. "Holy shit, Cade, and they say you don't have a sense of humor."

"Give me your lipstick," Cade held out his hand. Amy obliged him as Cade began scribbling a message on the back of the photograph. Meet at NE radio tower ASAP C. He turned the photograph over and drew a crosshair over Carla's face. "Do you think I'm being clear enough?" Cade spat, sarcastically.

"You're a regular poet," Amy purred as she placed the photo down her blouse. "So, you do anything fun while I was away."

"I watched three psykers try to kill each other," Cade answered.

"…You sure it wasn't a drug-fueled cu-"

"I know the difference," Cade answered, flatly.


Rosa felt her stomach begin to churn. Clutching at it as she forced herself up, she looked around to see what she had on hand. The doorway was blocked by the old cowgirl, passed out. The toilet at the very end of the trailer may as well have been miles away in her state. That left the window. She pushed her body towards it, fumbled with the latches, and heaved her body outside so whatever stink she allowed to escape wouldn't foul up her current drunk tank.

She waited and waited, and finally, something began to bubble up as she readied herself for the sudden expulsion. "BBBBBBBBUUuuurrrp-p!" she belched. Already, she felt better.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" Kyra screamed from two trailers over.

"A truck backfired," Rathmore answered, confidently. "Anyway, back to what I was saying, so if I was in charge of the Mojave Campaign, what I would have done was…"

As Rosa pounded her sternum to make sure everything was clear, her gaze fell upon the next trailer over. It was faint, but she could make out the noise of someone literally getting screwed over. The girl, whoever she was, was trying to be a great sport, but her partner didn't seem to be meshing with her romantically. The woman's gasps and pants seemed to come more from discomfort than pleasure, and the guy was clearly so into his own rhythm that he didn't realize it.

Wow, Rosa, she told herself, you're so empathic when you're hungover. Anyway, that relationship clearly isn't going to last the night. Get your shit together, dude, and girl, you deserve so much better. With that last cognizant thought, Rosa collapsed back on the mattress, passing out before Carla could cry out Larain's name.