Chapter 80: "Honor" Part 1

Falco stood over the dial with his arms crossed as his foot tapped. He had set the blade into the ground once they set up camp, a more and more common occurrence now that they had a significant army of infantry following them. The search and rescue party had turned into a reconnaissance unit for California, much to the senior centurion's chagrin.

Not that he was in much of a position to complain. Scorpio's ambitions had morphed and warped beyond what he could have anticipated. But he was still methodical, he wouldn't have made a play like that against Lanius or the Oracle without guarantees from allies within and without Dallas itself. Not everyone in the Empire would recognize Scorpio as the sovereign leader, but without a figure to rally behind, it was all the more imperative that Barabbas return to legitimize his birthright. At the head of an army of West Coast mercenaries and dissolute bandits.

The soldier pinched the bridge of his nose. The battle hadn't even begun, but Scorpio had already gained a key advantage based purely on optics, a term his friend Frost had explained to him. Without Legion soldiers, the rightful heir looked to all the world like the usurper he fought against. Infuriating. He sighed as he looked back to the "council."

Since stopping, Falco had set up meeting after meeting with the AEG leaders and the Liberty Clan Sovereign. Logistics issues, force placement, reconnaissance reports, and throughout all of it, Caesar didn't seem to pay it much mind. Meanwhile, she trotted ever so close behind him, never saying a word but garnering all Caesar's focus. Once midday was upon them, Barabbas announced that he was going to lunch and would be back within the hour. That was two hours ago.

Falco kicked the makeshift dial over in frustration. It was not his place to admonish a superior officer, let alone Caesar; some things were just too ingrained within the old soldier. Nor could he take his anger out on the woman, as Barabbas would side with her in just such an event, as well as the fact that he was not able to blame her for having her influence over him. Falco didn't offer any pleasure, he thought with a snort, or even good news. Small wonder he asked his sister and Dinero to fill in for him.

"I assure all of you that I am quite capable of relaying everything we are to discuss to my brother," Dinero announced.

"Your who?" Drago asked.

"To Caesar!" Dinero corrected. "I am quite capable of such matters! I am a thoughtful and independently thinking individual who is never compromised in any significant manner!" he continued as Marcy took a long swig of water from her canteen.

Falco walked away in agitation. He felt himself at an impasse. Who was going to challenge Caesar? Him, a subordinate? The heads of foreign armies? Pariah herself? He looked over at the young girl, who could only shrug. I can only convince him to do so much, Mister Falco. Sorry.

As Falco strolled to cool off, he saw two of the girls talking as they came back from their recon. One was one of the marshal twins of the Commissioner, and the other was the child of the Hostis Publicus himself. They were giggling about some trite past experience, doubtlessly. Falco brushed between them as he continued his walk.

"…Hey, dickhead," Rosa called after him. "Ever hear of "excuse me" or whatever it is in Latin?"

"Ignoscas," Falco replied. "I've other concerns."

"I've noticed the Big Bully hasn't been around lately. You starting to feel lonely?" Rosa heckled.

"How I feel is irrelevant. What matters is that Caesar takes his future seriously," Falco growled.

"I still can't get used to that," Carla muttered. "Dad would have a fit."

"You bothered explaining that to him?" Rosa asked.

"And interrupt his "private" time?" Falco scoffed. "I'm not sure our dear leader would appreciate that. Nor would Barabbas."

Rosa let the moment pass before finally letting out a laugh. "And I thought you Legion douches didn't have a sense of humor! HA! Good one!"

Carla looked over in confusion. "Wait, I thought Barabbas was the leader?"

Rosa grinned at her friend. "Well, what do you think Barabbas would rather do? Sit around during endless meetings about how bad things back at his home are, or have Kyra bounce on his lap in perpetuity?"

"Quite the dilemma," Falco sarcastically concurred.

"I think we saw the two of them when we were coming back," Rosa thought aloud. "You want me to get his ass back here?"

"I wouldn't want to impose or anything…" Falco tried to placate.

"Nah, don't worry! It'll be my pleasure," Rosa grinned as she walked off. "You coming, Carla?" Carla snapped out of her daydream of taking a bath in the Ultra-Lux pool with Kyra right as they were applying scented oils on one another. "Sorry, what?"

"We're going to have a talk with Caesar," Rosa announced as she scooped up a rock.


Barabbas lay on his back as he rested his head on his arms. After worrying about Pariah for so long, after going on a journey to find her, getting into conflicts, fighting their way across the wasteland, putting up with that damnable preacher, saving her only to find his mother before losing her forever, and now going back home to fight a war he could not even begin to imagine how he could possibly win. He had to get away, he had to breathe. He had to relax.

Kyra was currently down to an open blouse with nothing underneath and her knickers. At first, they had used their privacy to make out and caress one another. After straddling his lap, Kyra offered Barabbas something non-verbal, namely by placing her fist in front of her mouth and puffing out her cheek. Agreeing to the proposition, Kyra pushed his back to the ground as she began preparing for her servicing.

Having already consummated back at the encampment so many miles away, Kyra was far from unfamiliar with the body of her lover, having seen him naked often enough back at Fort Wrath during her servitude. It was only during their intimate moments at Dineroville and the barn, however, that Kyra began to appreciate the magnitude of what she was dealing with. Barabbas had told her that the look on her face when confronted by the former Legate in all his glory seemed to be a combination of the emotions fear and hunger. When given this information, Kyra then resolved to put the most sensitive part of Barabbas's body into her most dangerous, as she was currently doing now.

Barabbas slowly felt the stress of the previous few days beginning to fade. His sister was in good hands with Falco and, though he loathed to admit it, Dinero. His men were acclimating to their new roles in this new army quite well. These foreign officers seemed rather capable, so much so that Barabbas saw little point in keeping up with the briefings immediately, expecting Falco to fill him on the essentials. Soon enough, Barabbas fell into his happy place.

The mornings began as they often did. Barabbas awoke beside his beloved Kyra, underneath the heavy sheets of their Yao Gui covers. Starting off the day with a vigorous session of lovemaking, they both got dressed as they prepared for their day, with Kyra starting breakfast and Barabbas waking his sister. The three of them had built this cabin in the mountains together, having left Dallas behind for good. No more campaigns, no more politics, no more concubine drama and showy executions for the plebs and drills and courtly intrigue, and no more Legate Barabbas. He was just a simple man living in the mountains with the women he loved.

After breakfast, the three began their chores, with Pariah feeding Belua and the other animals while Kyra prepared their home for the snowy season. Through tough but fulfilling labor, Kyra's body had been sculpted, with her arms, legs, and abs now muscled to an extent that rivaled that of the AEG's Lt. Baxter, Barabbas thought with quiet arousal. As much as watching her cut wood enthralled him, Barabbas had to check the traps he had set the previous night and, in the event they were empty, grab a bow to find food.

The quiet stillness of the woods invigorated him as he collected the gecko carcasses. Though still fit, Barabbas could not remember the last time he drew his weapon in anger. It was almost like he had forgotten how to fight. No, he still remembered. The only thing that changed was that he had something back there worth fighting for.

He returned before noon, carrying the three geckos on his back. Kyra looked up from the garden and smiled as Pariah returned from the stream with a line of fish. The three had their lunch and while Pariah cleaned the dishes, Barabbas had a private moment with his beloved, sitting on the porch as they looked over the mountains.

Mother then came to visit. Pariah went out to hug her, and Mother smiled warmly as she returned it. At long last, the two had reconciled, just as Barabbas had hoped. As usual, Mother was in tune with the state of the wasteland and informed her son of its happenings as he went to work skinning the geckos alongside his beloved.

As usual, it was nothing but good news. Falco had another child with his wife, the old man having finally become a father in his old age after years of trying. The Triumvirate of Janus, Evander, and Aleron had brokered a peace treaty between the Rio Grande Federacion and the Midwestern Confederacy, just as Barabbas knew they could. Scorpio contracted a crippling venereal disease and was confined to a wheelchair, having ignobly finished his last term as Consul without having achieved any of his ambitions or desired glory. Father had finally remarried, this time to Vegas Governor's tart of a daughter, and was currently working on producing another heir, much to Barabbas's delight and relief for the old man. And apparently, some blind Mormon preacher fell into a manhole and died.

Barabbas embraced his mother, thanking her for all the good news. Giving her the choicest leathers, Mother bid her son farewell and could not wait for Saturnalia in a few weeks, as she had a number of gifts she could not wait to share with her son and daughter and the woman he loved and… she stopped as she held back a giggle. "You know how I feel about spoilers," she said cryptically as she walked away.

They had radstag for dinner. As Pariah sat by the fire to read, Kyra asked Barabbas if she could help her with something outside. The two left Pariah after making sure the cabin was safe and secure. Taking a walk, Kyra led her beloved to their special place. A grotto. A small, out-of-the-way grotto, a natural hot spring that they had stumbled upon by chance as they searched for a place to start their new lives over.

Stripping down, Barabbas and Kyra both partook in the waters, feeling younger and more alive than they had for so long. Barabbas gazed upon Kyra's unblemished back as she scrubbed herself, lending a hand to help as she giggled and teased Barabbas. As so often happened in this wonderful place, they once again began to make love. As they did, a nearby geyser spouted off, and the sounds of a choking gag somehow echoed throughout the cave. Barabbas felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and he found himself loving the woman across from him more and more.

"…Kyra," Barabbas finally said as he released his hold on his beloved. "…I love-"

A stalactite from above him began to crack. Looking up, Barabbas watched as the stone came down upon him, striking him right in the forehead.

Barabbas was jolted from his fantasy as the pain coursed through his mind. Kyra spat out the water in the canteen she was drinking, looking at Barabbas as he sat up and clutched his head as blood seeped down his fingers.

"…OW!" Barabbas screamed as he looked around. His attention was soon enough captured by a laughing presence, and he turned to see the little Bitch Princess of Vegas doubled over in cruel mirth.

"Oh, you should have seen the look on your face!" Rosa taunted as Carla stood behind her in shock and dread. "There… had to be a better way to get his attention," she whispered into Rosa's ear.

"Did you see how it bounced off his stupid lunchbox head? Oh, Carla, this is just rich!"

"How… DARE YOU?!" Barabbas screamed in rage. "YOU COULD HAVE HURT KYRA!"

"I would never," Rosa said in mock offense. "Poor girl has had to put up with so much around you, for such a long and… girthy time," she grinned.

"…Why don't you come over here," Barabbas growled. "And I'll show you something unpleasant, you little quim."

"Bite me," Rosa said as she turned away, flipping both birds. "Try doing your own job for once."

"Get back here!" Barabbas ordered.

"Make me!" Rosa taunted.

"COME!" Barabbas commanded, his psyker ability in play. The command hit Rosa's ears and stopped the woman to a halt. Caesar waited for her to make an about-face and accept her punishment like a… someone who wasn't a spoiled little bitch. He waited and waited as Carla ran up to her friend and took her by the shoulders. "Rosa! Are you OK? Are you… what?"

Rosa's legs buckled as her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Her tongue hung from her mouth as she shuddered from pleasure. Sweat dripped from her forehead as she finally fell to her knees. When she finally… came to, her vision returned to witness a very concerned Carla. "…Why do I feel like I need a cigarette?"

A strong hand grabbed Carla by the shoulder and shoved her off as another grabbed Rosa by the neck. Lifting her off the ground, Barabbas glared at the woman as the sounds of Kyra screaming at him to stop began to dim. Right now, planting this one's face into the sand and keeping it there for good seemed like a very attractive notion. As his grip tightened, Rosa's hands clasped around his wrist to try and futilely pry herself free. As her head felt like it was about to split open, Rosa switched up her strategy. Taking both her hands, she clapped Barabbas on his ears.

A piercing drone erupted through Barabbas's mind as he released Rosa, who fell back into the arms of the female marshal. As he tried to center himself, he felt arms pulling on him as Kyra tearfully pleaded with Barabbas not to continue his assault. At this point, though, both had already made their decisions as they screamed and cursed at one another.


"…and he didn't even buy me a drink or nothing!" Rosa yelled in front of the assembled and thoroughly embarrassed AEG leadership. Major Wallace, Commissioner Boone, Sovereign Larain, Centurion Falco, and Governor Perez could not think of anything they would rather not do than listen to the sorry situation that had erupted between Rosa and Barabbas. Caesar had just gotten his wound dressed while Rosa had changed her underwear. The big man sat and fumed while Rosa recounted how she had been "mentally molested."

"Like it's my fault your mind is in the gutter," Caesar interjected.

"AH, LIKE YOU EVEN DESERVE WHAT JOSEPH HAS!" Rosa shot back. "You are such a freaking pussy!"

"The only reason I didn't snap your neck was because of the intervention of the others!" Barabbas snarled.

"Oh, thank you so much, your mercifulness," Rosa spat sarcastically. "For interrupting your little happy ending to spare little old me!"

Barabbas immediately shot his arm out to grab Rosa by the neck, only for her to weave away as the impromptu committee screamed in protest of the action. Major Wallace finally made his decision.

"You two! Keep one hundred yards apart at all times!"

"He can just psychically violate me again from that distance!" Rosa replied.

"You're just upset I keep rejecting you, you fucking wastrel quim!" Barabbas sneered.

"HEY!" Governor Perez snapped. "…Let's tone down the insults, mighty Caesar, shall we?"

Natalie right now just wanted to pour a stiff drink and wake up with a hangover and no memory of this sorry sight the next morning. Larain was struggling to decide whether to laugh or cry. Falco was glaring at Barabbas. "…Might I propose a solution?" the old soldier offered. The rest of the committee turned to look at him. "…It has become painfully obvious that whatever solution we devise will not be respected or honored by these two. Therefore, I propose that the simplest answer should be that they arrive at their own compromise in a matter that they both will respect."

"And what kind of compromise would you propose?" Larain asked.

"One that Barabbas should be rather familiar with, and Rosa would seem to have no issue against," Falco smiled. Barabbas looked down at Rosa. "…You must be joking, Falco."

"A fair and honorable contest, just like the Legion days of old," Falco smiled wistfully.

"A DUEL?!" Natalie, Wallace, and Larain all exclaimed in unison. Lars just stared at his daughter as she mulled the notion over.

"Of course, if this idea doesn't sit well with Ms. Perez, we could always…"

"I'm in," Rosa interrupted Falco. Barabbas sneered as both Carla and Kyra shot a look at one another.

"…And just who will oversee this pitiful excuse of a fight?" Barabbas asked the council.

"…We shall find someone impartial," Falco added with a smile.


Dalton strolled between the two people he was not particularly partial to. "Ok, so, ground rules; the fight is over when one of you is pushed out of the ring, gives up, or is no longer able to fight. Do you both agree to these conditions?"

Rosa and Barabbas had spent the last hour discussing how to make the fight "fair." Considering that Barabbas was several weight classes above Rosa, she argued that she be allowed to use her sheathed machete, while Barabbas sacrificed his weapon and most of his armor, as well as his psyker abilities. The fight was to take place in a circle roughly thirty feet in diameter and was surrounded by onlookers from the AEG. The fighters were cornered by those of their choosing, with Jimmy, the Boone twins, Larain, Cassidy, Lt. Baxter, and the Governor on Rosa's side while Barabbas was flanked by his riders and sister (along with Dinero).

Rosa was stretching as she faced away from Barabbas as he unlatched his armor. The twins tried to encourage her as best they could. "…You know we can just throw in the towel for you when things get bad, right?" Tobey said.

"You do that, and I'll kick your ass after I kick his," Rosa stated as she continued her lunge.

"I'm sorry, but I fought that guy twice and he beat me bloody both times," Tobey admitted. "So sorry if I don't really like your chances!"

"You want my advice?" Larain added.

"Not really," Rosa said as she rolled her shoulders.

"Fight dirty," Larain said. "Dalton will let you get away with practically murder. I doubt he'd try to stop Barabbas from doing the same, though."

"It won't come to that," Baxter shook her head. "Barabbas is going to do this fairly."

"You have that much faith in him?" Jimmy asked.

"No, it just means more for him to lord over Rosa if he beats her clean. Especially with the, uh, "wager" and all," Kim blushed.

"…Why the hell did you agree to that, anyway?" Lars asked his daughter as he fought back the revulsion.

"What? You actually believe he'd do it?" Rosa grinned. "And ruin his image in front of his precious lil' girlfriend and sister?"

"He does seem to really not like you that much," Carla added cautiously. "Maybe "putting you in your place" is something he feels like he has to do to stop all the grief he's been getting recently."

"And maybe keeping him away from his honeypot for a few weeks will do him some favors?" Rosa told her corner, specifying his condition for suffering defeat.

On the other side of the ring, Kyra cut through the crowd as Barabbas unlatched his cuirass. Snaking through Sulla and Drago as they tried to stop her, she cut in front of Barabbas as she looked him in the eyes. "…You need to call this off, now," she demanded.

"Do as her highness says," Falco muttered under his breath, just out of earshot.

"I'm protecting your honor," Barabbas replied as he cracked his back.

"There's no honor to protect," Kyra pleaded. "If anything, this whole thing makes it worse! Just let me talk to Rosa later and I can smooth this thing out, please?"

"And pass the chance to publicly humble the Whorehouse Princess?" Barabbas smirked, cavalierly. "I'm just trying to make Father proud," he shot a look at Falco, who of his whole entourage was the only one who hadn't even spoken to Barabbas ever since the decision on how to settle the matter was reached. Falco just glared as Caesar, dressed in only two layers of loincloths, turned to approach his opponent as she test-swung her weapon.

Kyra stood between Falco and Pariah as the cheers and jeers erupted from the crowd. The Liberty Clans weren't exactly favoring either fighter, as both had played integral roles during the battle against the Pelt-Brutes. The same, oddly enough, could not be said for the AEG, albeit for different reasons. While the Marshals seemed to back Rosa for what seemed to be largely hometown reasons, Kyra noticed a lot of the California troops seemed to be booing Rosa, who to her credit didn't seem to let it bother her. As Kyra thought, it probably had a lot to do with resentment, having come so far out into the wasteland to look after someone it appeared very few of them actually liked. And of course, they booed Barabbas because… fucking Legion. In truth, Kyra figured that amongst all the Californians, a double knockout would be their preferred way to end this fight, somehow and someway.

"…You gave Barabbas any strategy before the fight?" Kyra asked the centurion next to her.

Falco glanced over at her briefly before returning his focus to the fight in front of him. The fighters circled one another as Dalton barked out instructions to the crowd while he peppered it with insults toward the corners. Dinero came back with a bag of pinyon nuts to share with Marcy as Dalton attempted to, unsuccessfully, get the fighters to shake hands before the commencement of hostilities.

"…FINE!" Kyra screamed at Falco, who continued not to look at her. "I'M SORRY I TOOK YOUR CAESAR AWAY!"

"…What's this now?" Falco asked as he finally turned to Kyra.

"You're clearly pissed at me for turning Barabbas soft. I didn't mean to take your warlord away from you," Kyra spat, sarcastically.

Falco betrayed a chuckle. "Is that so? Well, I'm sorry to tell you that I won't forgive you."

"…Typical," Kyra growled.

"Because there is nothing to forgive. The only one who could make Barabbas soft is Barabbas," Falco explained. "Whatever the two of you have with each other is irrelevant in the face of the upcoming necessities, which I hope Barabbas will finally learn the hard way after this Rosa girl beats him to within an inch of his life."

Kyra and the riders all turned to look at the centurion in shock. "…Is that some kind of joke I'm missing?" Dinero asked as Pariah began to growl.

"…What? You guys didn't actually think this was a fair fight?" Falco asked those around him. "You guys, I'm disappointed, I thought it was obvious."

"Of course it's obvious!" Uriah said aloud. "Do you see the size of him?!"

"I can see that. And I can also see that he fights with all the grace and nuance of a fucking siege engine!" Falco exclaimed as Dalton fired a shot into the air, starting the fight. Barabbas kept his guard down in contempt of his opponent as Rosa began putting her feet to work, dancing around as she began taunting Barabbas. The larger fighter grew impatient and swung at Rosa, who ducked away with what looked like such ease to the point of it being an involuntary action, less a dodge, and more a sway.

"Barabbas is at his best when he's charging into a line of infantry or bursting through a shield wall or a barricade," Falco continued to explain. "The man is absolutely hopeless in a formal duel against an opponent who he can't readily intimidate. Remember the Scorpio duel?"

"…No?" Kyra said as the rest of the riders all began to nod in understanding. Pariah hissed at the memory while Dinero was busy cussing out Dalton for non-fight-related reasons. Falco realized that Kyra was a fairly recent addition to their team and there was still much about Barabbas's previous life she likely did not know.

"…Barabbas and Scorpio fought in a duel during the Fort Wrath Anniversary about three years ago," Falco explained. "To make a long story short, Scorpio won because, for all his faults, that man is a capable duelist, and Barabbas, well…"

Barabbas felt the leather-encased steel slap across his face as Rosa kept dancing away from his, slapping her butt as she taunted him to "use his weapon" as she motioned to her crotch. Steeling himself, Barabbas prepared to charge his shoulder towards her to knock her out of the ring. Rosa dove away, watching Barabbas force himself to hit his brakes before colliding with a bunch of clanners and troopers. As Caesar collected himself, he felt two feet plant into his back as he tried to keep his balance and remain in the ring while Rosa picked herself back up once again.

"As expected, she is crazy enough to engage with him and close the distance," Falco explained. "That and combined with his natural aversion to striking women," he continued as Hypatia felt her mouth start to hurt, "and you have a recipe for a rather humbling experience."

"…Why does he seem so slow, though?" Kyra asked as Barabbas threw another blow that Rosa again avoided with contemptuous ease. She had seen Barabbas fight before and knew he was usually much more capable than he was currently demonstrating as the jeers began to reach a fever pitch.

"Probably because he was drained before he decided to fight," Falco explained. "Which, among other things, is causing him to lose focus."

"Drained?" Kyra asked. Falco turned to look at her, glaring. "…Oh. Drained," Kyra realized. "I thought you were being metaphorical."

"No. Literal," Falco replied. "Gaze upon your work and despair."

Barabbas missed another tackle while Rosa danced around and struck him along the back with her club much to the delight of the audience. Kyra could see the agitation building upon his face as he swiped at his enemy while she taunted him. As she looked towards the opposite corner, she saw the twins and Larain cheering on Rosa, Baxter and Jimmy both goading her to continue, Cass screaming her head off, and Rosa's father just… staring intently. Rosa, meanwhile, was continuously darting around Barabbas as his frustration began to build.

"…I can't watch this," Kyra muttered as she ducked out of the corner, pushing her way through the crowd as the cheers reached a fever pitch. As she reached the outskirts, the was finally able to breathe. Looking back at the crowd, she was torn between going back and cheering Barabbas on and just grabbing the towel from Falco and making the call herself. A hand grabbed her by the wrist.

"AH!" Kyra screamed out. "…Oh, Donald. You scared me, I didn't see you."

"…We need to have a talk," Rathmore stated bluntly as she pulled her away.

Barabbas felt tired. Another swing of his threw him off balance as Rosa got behind him and slapped him on the rear with her weapon. As the crowd began to laugh, Barabbas looked over to his corner. Falco looked upon him in disappointment while Pariah tried to get the others to cheer him on to no avail, while Kyra…

She was gone.

Barabbas felt a boot connect to his head as Rosa rolled over his back as she continued pummeling him. She was just too fast and too stubborn and just like Scorpio and she just NEVER SHUT UP! Barabbas gripped the dirt underneath his fingers as he gritted his teeth and let out a scream.

"STOP!"

The crowd fell silent. Had the big man given up? Had he quit after the humiliation Rosa had inflicted upon him. The riders looked at one another as Falco bit into his lip. Slowly, the bruised frame of Barabbas got to his feet as Rosa stood perfectly in place, her mind screaming as her body was bound to the Command. He looked down at her and saw the dawn of realization cross her eyes. He let out a smile. Now he was going to have some fun.