Chapter 54: Dinero's Town Part 4

The door was kicked open, and the marshals swept inside, guns fanning out as they checked the room. "…Clear," Carla announced as Tobey sighed, putting his rifle to the side. "Lot of these places are scorched to hell. What do you think happened?"

"…Plasma," Carla said as she examined the burns on the roof of the shack. "…Must've been raiders," she mused aloud.

"So many burns, though," Tobey picked up. "That's a lot of energy weapons in bad hands."

"Remind me why folks gave the Brotherhood so much shit?" Carla joked. Tobey laughed. The Brotherhood hadn't had a presence in the Mojave since before either were born, having been absorbed into the Midwestern Brotherhood following their contribution in the war against Madame Zhang. They both learned about the BoS's horrible reputation following their battles against the NCR, but they had also grown up in a world where raiders and other unscrupulous groups could easily brutalize the unprepared thanks to rogue tech. More than a few of their veteran co-workers chalked the feeling up to some variation of "not appreciating what you had until it was gone," though it was largely tongue-in-cheek.

"You know, I think we met these guys on the way up here," Tobey said.

"The Legion?" Carla asked.

"Nah, the guys who left all the burns. Jimmy and Joseph ran into some guys who were giving this girl a plasma bath," Tobey explained.

Carla thought back to a training exercise her dad and then Commissioner Wilson where they ran demonstrations on energy weapons. One of the trainees had used a faulty core in their weapon which caused it to explode. The burns went down to the bone, and that trainee had spent the night keeping the rest of the camp up with his screaming until the med-X finally sedated him. To this day, the poor bastard still carried the scars.

"I hope Jimmy lit those assholes up," Carla exclaimed in anger and horror.

"They said the wildlife took care of them. We dragged her back, and after a little while we got to talking. Said she was travelling with the group that got the jump on Rosa until they ditched her. I'm guessing she was a prostitute," he shrugged.

"Still, no one deserves getting scarred by plasma. She doing OK?" Carla asked as she glanced out the doorway at the saloon in the center of the town. Despite knowing pretty much exactly where the Legion was stationed, both siblings agreed to reconnoiter the town before deciding how to engage them. The less direct they were, they figured, the better.

"I guess. Mel's weening her off med-X, so that's a good sign," Tobey replied as he stepped out on the deck. "That being said, some of our more… worldly members consider her just an extra mouth to feed, so we might be getting to a point where we-"

"TOBEY, LOOK OUT!" Carla screamed as she grabbed her brother by the coat and pulled him on top of her right as the hatchet buried itself into the doorframe. The black clad figure glared down at the two marshals as he pulled his weapon from the wood and darted off into the sandstorm.

"…Oh my god," Carla breathed. "…That was him."

"Him who?" Tobey asked.

"…That's the guy who shot my eye out," Carla finished, her voice hardening.

"…Want to return the favor?" Tobey growled.

"Let's," Carla nodded as they stood back up and charged after the retreating figure.


Kyra nestled her body against his on the mattresses, her head tucked under his chin as his arm was draped over her body. Despite being twice her size, the warmth of Barabbas's body comforted her as she lay her head on the folded towel that served as her pillow. She felt content and safe, looking forward to the first and most comfortable sleep she had in months.

A large hand wandered over her chest. "…Barabbas," she said aloud.

"Hm," Barabbas replied, distracted. "Something wrong?"

"Who do you enjoy petting more? Belua or me?" she smiled.

The hand began fondling her breast. "…That's a difficult question," Barabbas said, coyly. "I've spent more time with Belua, so I don't think it's a fair one," he continued as his fingers began to tease her.

Kyra giggled. "Ok, so how about an easier one. Who's cuter?"

Barabbas began focusing his attention on the other breast. "…You never saw Belua as a puppy. Really big eyes, really dumb looking smile, nothing even resembling a brain. Adorable, really."

Kyra rolled her eyes. "…Fine then. Who's the better kisser?"

"…Let me think about it," Barabbas said as he rolled her towards him. He took a few moments to look into her brown eyes before gently guiding her chin up to press her lips to his.

"…Mhm," Barabbas thought aloud. "Might have test that a few more times. You are, however, a somewhat better conversationalist, a much better cook, and your rear is much more pleasant to look at."

"Why thank you, Barabbas," Kyra replied, playfully nettled.

"I can be a nice guy when I try," Barabbas smiled.

Kyra nestled her head into his bare shoulder. "…If you want to make love with me, we might never have another chance like this."

Barabbas gulped. Kyra felt his arms wrap around her and press her even closer to his body. All that time spent exploring foreplay and he still had issues to work out. "I wasn't trying to rush you, please," she hastily added.

"I know, I know," Barabbas gently comforted her. "It's just… I wouldn't want to… burden you with something should… when we find Pariah."

Kyra remembered the deal. "…What will happen to me afterward?"

"…We have many contacts within Sunken Orleans. With an annual stipend that I will personally and happily pay you, one can easily make a new life there," Barabbas offered.

"…And what if I'm allergic to seafood?" Kyra asked.

"…Would you rather I send you to Vegas?" Barabbas asked.

"…I've never been there," Kyra admitted. "Maybe I'll find something there? Or… I've been thinking this over… what if I became your mistress?"

Barabbas looked down at her in confusion. "…What?"

"I mean, what if I was a free woman who just so happened to spend some personal, liberated, and unofficial time with you?"

"…Like a girlfriend?" Barabbas asked, vexed.

"Oh, so you do have those!" Kyra exclaimed as her face lit up. "I was worried I would have to explain it!"

"…Does that mean I would have to give up the rest of the harem?" Barabbas asked.

"I mean, I wouldn't dream of judging you and if it's something you've grown accustomed to- "

"Because I would," Barabbas interrupted. "I would rather have you for one night than a thousand with the others."

Kyra looked up at him. "…You're serious?"

"Being with you makes things… so clear," Barabbas smiled. "I will give the girls to you, and you can decide what should become of them." A brief and not-so-comfortable silence passed." …I just realized how ominous I made that sound," Barabbas said as Kyra giggled into his shoulder. Barabbas couldn't remember the last time he had been so casual just talking to a woman who wasn't the Oracle or Pariah, but Kyra just made it so easy and pleasant. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her.


"HANDS IN THE AIR!" Carla called out over the howling wind as Tobey circled around her, having cornered the fleeing assassin by the cabin. Fanning out, they had pincered the killer against the wall, guns drawn on him as they advanced.

The black-clad assassin turned to glare at both of his pursuers. Even from behind his goggles, the hate emanating from him was palpable. He stood with his back against the wall, throwing down the hatchet into the dust as he rose his hands by his head.

Carla turned to Tobey, nodding to him to continue training his gun on the guy as she approached him. "Keep those hands where I can see them," she ordered as she began briefly frisking the assailant. "You with the Legion?"

"Does it look like I follow the dress code?" Cade snarked as she pushed him to face the wall.

"Bad call, trying to get the jump on marshals? What's your game, anyway? Raider?" Carla continued to interrogate as she kept patting him down.

"Ever consider the fact that some people just don't like you?" Cade taunted.

"You're awfully lippy for someone in no position to bargain. I take it you aren't friends with the other guests in town, else you would be calling for help," Carla assessed.

"Well, good for you," Cade replied, genuinely impressed. "I take it you must be here for the idiot with the camera?"

Carla shot a glance at Tobey. "…Perhaps. If you tell us what you know, we might not hand you over to the Legion."

"Like it would do the two of you any favors, as well," Cade chuckled. "To be frank, it sounds like he isn't in much of a rush to return to your group. Wouldn't be surprised if he decided to sell the lot of you out for exclusives."

"I'd worry less about him and more about you," Tobey heckled as he took a hand off his gun and reached for his handcuffs.

"I'm just saying, you can't count on loyalty for anything. This one guy I knew was traveling with his enemies for some matter of days and was supposed to relink up with me and mine. Of course, he had to get his dick wet the night before he left. Compromised loyalty for marshal pussy, can you believe that?" he jeered.

Carla held out her hand to stop Tobey from approaching. "…This guy got a name?"

"Abeline," Cade replied. "Course he goes by another name now, one he gave himself. Does Larain sound familiar?" he grinned.

He felt the cold steel of a muzzle press against the back of his neck, putting her right where he wanted her. "Glad you remember me," he gloated. "To whom do I have the pleasure of addressing? Officer Patchy or do you just settle for cum dumpster?"

The chrome cracked him across the head, though he had loosened his neck prior to mitigate the blow. He spun around, grabbing her by the wrist as she glared at him. She was angry, great. Angling his body against her gun, Cade stepped aside just enough to allow furious shots to perforate the shack.


When the bullets tore into the room, Kyra let out a shriek in fright as Barabbas immediately dove on top of her and covered her body. The thin shack was only barely keeping the dust out, and the howling of the wind had given them no forewarning about the abrupt attack. Kyra, feeling smothered by the body trying to protect her, squeezed her way out just enough to get a good look at the damage while Barabbas swore to himself that when he found out which of his men discharged their weapons so carelessly he would make them choke on their remaining ammo. And if it so happened to not be one of his men, then he wouldn't have to bother being polite.


"Let her go!" Tobey ordered as Cade and Carla struggled with one another. Cade fought back his desire to straight up overpower the marshal, keeping the stalemate to encourage the other to keep digging his grave. Sweetening the pot, he turned to face his back directly to the other marshal before pushing down the girl he was fighting with, turning back to face the marshal as he reached into his pocket. Training taking over, Tobey immediately fired his shots as Cade immediately dropped to the ground.


More shells burst into the shack. Barabbas grabbed a mattress and placed it on his back as he continued covering Kyra. Kyra on her part struggled to breathe and squirm her way out of the suffocating protective grasp, and right as her lungs got free a sharp and ringing DING echoed throughout the room.

One of the bullets had struck the giant cleaver Barabbas had set on the wall. Glancing off the heavy metal, the bullet ricocheted off of the weapon, its path redirected as it hurdled to its new target. Kyra felt the bullet strike her forehead, collapsing in shock.

"KYRA!" Barabbas screamed as he took her in his arms. A thin trickle of blood streaked down her face as she blankly stared back at him. "…no… no no no no No No," Barabbas shook his head as he pulled her close. "Please no…" he choked out a sob.

"…Shit," Kyra winced as she came to. "That stung," she complained as she held her hand to the shallow wound that grazed her. The sudden impact startled her, and as her body was wont to do it froze when faced with a sudden blow. A temporary blackout, but she was hardly worse for wear. "…You OK?" she asked as she looked to Barabbas, his shoulders heaving as his breathing grew heavier.

"Wait here."

Barabbas stood up, staring daggers at the bullet holes in the shack. He grabbed his helmet, fastening it to his head. He then grabbed the cleaver, pushing it before him, wordlessly beckoning Kyra to stand out of the way, which she obeyed. He pawed the wooden floor below him with his foot, before unleashing his charge out the wall.


As Cade had only just begun crawling away, Tobey and Carla had immediately beset upon him, kicking and beating him, the last vestiges of professionalism having vanished. "Which eye are you going to miss, jackass?!" Carla snarled as she drew her revolver.

Cade looked over his shoulder, using a free hand to cover one of his eyes. "ARGH!" he mocked before Carla drove her boot into his chin.

"Carla, let me kill him," Tobey growled, facing his sister.

"He shot my eye out, I'm killing him!" Carla snapped, turning to her brother.

"He helped kidnap Rosa. How about we kill him after he helps us find her?" Tobey offered.

"Deal," Carla nodded. They both turned to see a pair of boots disappear under a cabin. "Some people just have no honor," Carla muttered to herself, right as a massive frame burst from the cabin right behind them. The creature had the head of a bull, was almost the size of a super mutant, and carried a butcher knife the size of either of the twins. It let out a howl that the marshals both felt in their very souls. Tobey, the first to recover from the sudden appearance, lifted his rifle to fire toward the beast. The monster took a hand off his weapon and pointed two fingers upwards. Tobey felt a familiar sensation as his shot strayed far above the angry warrior and braced himself as he was charged by the hulking brute.

"BARABBAS!" Kyra called out as the sands and wind stung her naked flesh. Shivering from the pain, she grabbed Barabbas's tunic as she watched the man who had been gently caressing her moments prior begin beating these two strangers to death as they tried to defend themselves and each other. She knew someone was going to die unless the others came and put a stop to it. Falco. He could rein Barabbas in. Stepping out the door, she climbed off the deck right as an unknown neighbor crawled out from under the other shack, carrying a rifle behind him. As the figure pulled himself to his feet, the two locked eyes.

Kyra looked at the man, and then at the rifle hanging in his fist, and suddenly covered her eyes from the dust and sand. "I… I must be seeing things…" she said out loud, just enough to be heard. Good girl, Cade thought to himself as he bolted off.


Ariel covered her men as they fell back. A mortar round went off nearby, killing two more of her men. "IN, IN, NOW, NOW!" she screamed as she watched an approaching commando erupt into a burst of plasma. She shot a look at Sheol as Nick rushed out of the cavern and tapped her on the shoulder. "It's wired up! Just say the word!"

"LAST CALL!" Ariel screamed as her men fell inside. "NICK, BLOW IT!" she screamed as she dove into the cavern, emptying her pistols outside. Nick pressed the plunger, setting off the charges and sealing the opening with a massive roar of falling shale and granite.

Ariel let out a choking sob of relief. When she had left the Rez, she left with about thirty men. Most were hired guns, a few were friends. Now, she was down to ten, plus the three surviving members of the Legatum. Attrition had worn down her numbers, and the commandos had been admittedly tenacious. Now, she finally had a chance to catch her breath and rest.

Sheol and two of her men pulled out flashlights while the rest of her men either collapsed or took a moment to eat whatever few supplies they had left. Ariel would normally demand that they secure the tunnels, but right now she was too exhausted to push anyone, let alone herself.


Joseph sat with his cane before him. Melody had seen to it that Amy had finally fallen asleep while Cass and Jimmy met and discussed options going forward. As he listened, he could make out the faint echoes within the caverns. Conflict, lots of it. More than he could ever hope to forestall. People were going to die, and there was nothing he could hope to do about it. And, thanks to the nature of his gift, he was going to feel every final breath. Idealistic as he may strive to be, naïve he was not, despite Jimmy's thoughts to the contrary. He could brace himself, harden himself, shut himself off from the Sight, but like the desperate banging on doors for sanctuary, there was only so much he could hope to shut out.

He bowed his head as Gael and his men returned, knowing exactly what they were going to report. "We have guests. A bunch of wastelanders came in where we did and blew the entrance shut," Gael reported.

"How worried should we be?" Cass asked.

Antonio stepped forward. "It looks and sounds like the Ximenez Gang, or what's left of it."

Cass let a mirthless laugh escape. "When it rains… Guess they're looking for the same girl we are."

"And they don't sound like they're in the mood for a team-up," Javier spat as he readied his gun. "Ximenez and her gang have caused the Federacion quite a bit of grief. Assassinations and robbery and whatnot. You'll forgive us if we don't exactly roll the red carpet out for them, heh?"

Cass turned to Jimmy. "…This Ariel… you know a lot about her?"

Jimmy shook his head. "Saw her a bit a few years back, then she dropped off the face of the planet not long after she had Rosa."

Cass bit her lip. Ariel was an adversary, true, but something about putting a bullet in Rosa's mom while they were looking for the girl didn't exactly sit right with her.

"Listen up," Cass exclaimed. "Everyone packing heat, form up on me. If they try anything, we get the jump on them and push them back. Melody, you're in charge of everything else."

"Leave it to me, ma'am," Melody smiled as the rest of the group made their way back down the caverns. As they turned the corner, Melody sank down and took a drink of water. "…Want a sip?" she offered their guest.

Amy took the bottle and gulped down half of it. "Hey, be careful with that!" Melody gently scolded. "We don't have all that much on us!"

"Condensation," Amy gasped as she pulled the bottle from her lips. "…This cave is humid as all hell. If you have a tin cup and a tarp, you can get some of it replenished."

"That's… huh," Melody mused aloud. "I've heard of that but never had a chance to try it myself. I'm surprised you know that. Not even most wastelanders talk about that kind of thing."

"I had a… friend show me," Amy admitted. "It's never much, but you can accumulate quite a bit over time. Just because one spends like a merchant doesn't mean one should depend on one if they can help it."

"Wise words," Joseph smiled. "Your friend sounds interesting."

"…He is," Amy admitted. "He's the best survivalist I've ever known. He can find the most inhospitable hellhole on earth and make it home. He says it beats talking to people," she laughed, and the Youngs joined her.

"…He just wants to live his life the way he wants. Free, without debt or obligation other than that which he chooses," Amy continued. "I was always jealous of him," she admitted. "I never knew what it was like to live without a leash. Can't and won't are words he doesn't know the meaning of."

"Everyone has their burdens," Joseph offered. "You may have more in common with your friend than you can imagine. Perhaps the reason he chooses to live so independently is that he never found a higher calling and knows of no other alternative?"

Amy passed him the water bottle. "…I can't imagine there are many opportunities for that in what's left of Montana. Maybe he didn't want to spend the rest of his life finding imaginary horses to wrangle?"

"Or maybe he lives his life without purpose," Joseph offered. "Then again, I cannot bring myself to condemn anyone who tries to make their own."

"You can't bring yourself to condemn anyone," Melody scoffed. "This guy, here," she pointed to her husband. "He's always complaining about how judgmental the other elders can sometimes be. He frequently reminds me that even Christ himself found prostitutes and tax collectors better company than other religious leaders."

"When discussing the minutiae of matters of faith, talking with other religious leaders often delves into petty quarrels that hide even pettier personal issues," Joseph muttered. "Everyone has hang-ups, there's no reason to inflict them on the flock."

He paused and perked his head up. "…We need to leave."

Amy and Melody glanced at one another. "…Joseph, what's wrong?" Melody asked.

"…We're not alone in the caves," Joseph said. "And a lot of fights are about to break out. Too many for me to try and intervene with."

"Shouldn't we tell Cass and the others?" Melody asked.

"They aren't at the most risk. Rosa is here," Joseph said as he stood up.

"Really? Oh, thank God," Melody breathed a sigh of relief while Amy felt her stomach drop out.

"Cass and the others can buy us some time, but there are other factors at work. A lot more. She's in danger, from others as well as herself." He paused and turned to "look" at Amy. "…And some reunions are better left unrealized."

Amy cocked her head at the blind preacher. "…What's that supposed to mean?"

"You'll get used to it," Melody sighed. "You realize that none of us have guns, right?"

"Have faith," Joseph smiled as he turned towards the deeper caverns. "Not all strangers must be adversaries."

"…I'm counting on you," Melody replied as she took Joseph's arm in hers.

"…We aren't taking a lantern with us?" Amy spoke aloud. "It's pitch black down there."

"Sounds awful," Joseph replied, dryly, as he held out his other arm. Reluctantly, Amy took it. "If you two see anything particularly… ominous and trialing, let me know as soon as possible. As valuable as faith is, fresh eyes and good judgment are also always welcome."

"Says the blind man marching into the dark caves unarmed," Amy muttered. Melody giggled as Joseph focused entirely on the path before him. Two groups, some familiar, others not. One friend, some lost, one more dangerous than the rest. And one entity he had to avoid at all costs. The coming trail would push his gifts and abilities to the limit, but he would not have been given these tools for no reason.


Major Coleridge continued to survey the collapsed cave entrance. After having cornered the Ximenez Gang and the last surviving members of the Legatum Saeva, they had to find one last way to wriggle out of the bear's jaws. No matter, he thought to himself as he turned to his men. They were down to about a dozen, but with reinforcements stationed back at camp, all they had to do was locate a way inside the cave, radio back to HQ, and they could snuff out the last remaining resistance by this time tomorrow.

"Hathcock, set up some recon teams. There have to be other entrances inside here. Once we find them, call reinforcements. Then we'll burn out whoever and whatever is hiding down there."

"SIR, CONTACTS COMING FROM THE SOUTH!" one of his sergeants called out. Looking down into the storm, he could make out, however faintly, three large shapes approaching them. "HIT THE DECK, DON'T FIRE UNTIL I GET THE ORDER!"

As his men promptly dropped to the ground, weapons ready as Coleridge pulled out his carbine. As the figures drew closer, he could make out more and more details about them. For starters, they were bigger than the average human. Second, they were wearing cloaks. Third, they were running. Fourth, they were arguing, which he could just barely make out over the winds as they drew closer.

"-PREDATORS, PETEY, AND SOMEHOW YOU TRY TO GET THE JUMP ON THE ONE THING THAT POPPA TOLD US NOT TO EAT!"

"WELL, SORRY! ALL THAT MEAT COULD HAVE LASTED US DAYS! I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE FAMILY!"

"YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT YOUR STOMACH, YOU IDIOT! I SWEAR YOU ARE ALMOST AS HOPELESS AS SONNY!"

"NOW THAT'S UNCALLED FOR! RONNY, TELL DAVEY HE'S BEING MEAN!"

"HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH, MORON!"

The three large shapes immediately passed by the outer perimeter without incident, the initial sentries turning to look at the shapes as they darted over them. One of them, the largest, paused a moment to sniff the air. "…You guys smell that?"

The two other cloaked figures immediately headbutted him in the jaw, simultaneously. "NOT THE TIME!" they screamed in unison as they continued running. The three figures passed right over the commandos without incident. Coleridge got up from his firing position and watched as they vanished back into the storm. He and most of his commandos turned to look at the odd sight, pondering just what they had witnessed. Whatever those things were, if he didn't know any better, he could've sworn they were running from something. As the thought crossed Coleridge's mind, another bigger shadow began growing from the south…