Chapter 72: Sovereign
As the sun began to set, the crowd began to gather. The nearby remnants of a gulch would prove to be an adequate amphitheater as more and more clanners made their way to the encampment. Currently, the clan heads and marshals had their hands full separating the rowdier gunners from the approaching troopers. Tensions were high, as much as one could expect from mortal enemies having just tried to eradicate one another hardly a week ago ought to be. Nonetheless, the prisoner exchange went off without incident, happy families were reunited while 2nd Lieutenant Hutsgy oversaw the influx of supplies.
Elsewhere, Daphne was straightening out Larain's duster, trying in vain to influence the following proceedings with some kind of formality. "Remember, I'm going to introduce you and give you the floor. Peace, that's the word of the fucking day, kid. Give props generously," she explained. "And don't forget, rule number one, if you pull a gun, everyone pulls one. It's a MAD world, remember?"
"Thanks, Daph, I got it," Larain anxiously replied as Commissioner Boone approached with a new stranger, the man wearing a duster and black hat in addition to a newly acquired pair of jeans and an old Grand Canyon tourist T-shirt. "Commish, glad you came," Larain smiled, diplomatically.
Natalie did not return it. "Larain, Ms. Rodgers, this is Governor Lars Perez, he'll be overseeing the… election alongside me," she explained as Lars approached and extended his hand to the hopeful elect.
"Natalie has told me a lot about you," he began. "I hope we can put our faith in you going forward."
"…I promise I'll do my best," Larain said as he took the older man's hand. "You're Rosa's father, right?"
"In the flesh," Lars half smiled. "I imagine you two have been well acquainted for some time."
Sir, your daughter is a total bitch but she's amazing in the sack, Larain thought. "We've put most of our differences behind us, and I only hope she sees me as a friend," Larain said.
"I'm glad to hear it," Lars laughed as he leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "You aren't the first dirtbag to screw my kid, and I hope she sets her sights higher next time." Lars pulled away as the gregarious smile returned to his face. "Go knock'em dead, killer!" he cheered.
"…uh… thanks for the vote in… confidence… sir," Larain laughed nervously as he retreated. Lars then turned his sight to the brunette and buxom woman. "…Hello, I don't believe we've met," he introduced himself. "Lars Perez. Governor."
"Daphne Rodgers. Whoremonger," Daphne smiled.
"…Ms. Rodgers, it is Miss, right?" Lars asked as she nodded. "Ms. Rodgers, I have nothing but the utmost respect for the oldest profession. It's basically one of New Vegas's founding tenants," he grinned. "But I must say it has been quite some time since it has been home to a madame of such… poise and dignity," he continued, looking her up and down.
"…Sorry, Governor, this kitty isn't looking to be collared," Daphne pouted as she strolled away, swaying her hips as she left. "And so it begins," Natalie muttered under her breath.
"What?" Lars asked.
"Did you not just reconnect with Cassidy?" Natalie complained.
"Cass isn't exactly "going steady" material. You know that as well as I do," Lars complained.
"That woman is dangerous, Lars. She can ruin your life if you let her get too close," Natalie hissed.
"No, she won't," Lars shook his head. "What she wants is somewhere safe for her kid to grow up. Anyone who can give her that has her loyalty. Us old folks are easy enough to please. It's the young ones you need to watch out for."
"Is that what passes for wisdom in your old age?" Natalie rolled her eyes.
"Ah, just a thing or two I picked up. Let's go, hopefully, we can find my other new buddy Dunk before this whole thing starts. Hey, where's Rosa, anyway?"
Natalie looked away. "She's with Joseph. I asked Carla if she wanted to come, but apparently, he got hurt pretty bad. Poor guy, never got along too well all the time with him but I always liked him."
"Well, if anyone can fill her in from that far away, it'll be Joseph," Lars smiled. "Anyways, let's leave the faith to him and deal with the politics ourselves."
"…AND SUCH CHALLENGES WE HAVE ENDURED, WE ENDURED THEM TOGETHER!" Daphne continued her opening. A crowd of Liberty Clanners surrounded her, standing above the pit of the dried basin where it was decided the challengers would state their cases. For the last hour, Daphne had been giving a speech about unity to the Liberty Clans as more and more NCR troopers and Mojave Marshals joined in on the other side of the basin. Currently overlooking from the western side of the basin, among many, was Governor Lars Perez, standing next to Commissioner Natalie Boone, who was flanked by her children Tobey and Carla, along with Major Ethan Wallace, 1st Lieutenants Kim Baxter, Zach Milligan, and Sandra Mullens, War Chief Tandi, and 2nd Lieutenant Taylor Hutsgy. The main preeminent members of the eastern side of the basin consisted of the main Liberty Clan bosses, such as Hoss Hooper, Tran Kyle, Percy Nichols, Will Doolin, Brandt Fultman, Sunny Cleo, Bessie Duff, and Brock Flagg, as well as documentarian Nick Frost with equipment on hand and recording. Not following the dress code, apparently, were a number of men wearing a familiar ensemble, Lars thought to himself.
"…Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinguished pleasure to introduce some visiting representatives who have honored us with their witness and respect of our customs. I'm sure many of you are well aware of Centurion Falco, standing in representation of Legate Barabbas, and a hero over the recent resolution of our conflict with the Pelt-Brutes."
The salt-and-pepper centurion held out a hand as the applause and cheering reached washed over him. And here he never expected to hear such a noise outside of Dallas triumphs on his behalf. "…A pity Barabbas isn't here," he muttered to Drago while Dinero stood back and whispered to Marcy as her headache began to flare.
"And… in a show of goodwill and mutual understanding, it is our distinct honor to welcome representatives from California and the Mojave Nation," Daphne tried to begin. Unfortunately, the atmosphere had turned, and the AEG contingent was awash in boos and jeers. "United front," Major Wallace whispered to Natalie. "Don't give in, we're trained professionals. Thank goodness that idiot Rathmore is on security duty so we don't have to deal with any drama… what is he doing?"
"AW, BLOW IT OUT OF ALL YOUR ASSES, YOU GUN-SLINGING HIPPIES!" Lars screamed over the cacophony of boos.
Two old folks sat on a hill some distance away and watched the proceedings. Cass giggled as she stared through her binoculars. "And there goes Lars being his typical old self."
"Think he'll get them all into trouble?" Dalton asked as he checked his plasma pistol for nicks.
"Nah. The Liberty Clans love a little trash talk. One guy mouthing off against a mob is something they'll respect."
Back on the ground, Kim had gotten behind Lars and covered his mouth with her hands as Milligan and Hutsgy dragged him struggling back from the edge of the ravine, much to the annoyance of the Liberty Clanners.
"…I find it pertinent to remind everyone involved," Daphne began again. "That Commissioner Boone's children and Governor Perez's daughter played an indispensable role in recovering many of our families from the Pelt-Brute's captivity. They deserve your respect for that if nothing else!" The crowd begrudgingly accepted that, though certain jeers and taunts persisted.
"…Speaking of, my survival can be owed to one man in particular. The man who masterminded the raid that saved all our lives. A man who was like a son to Kenzie McGrath, and a brother to all within our clan," she continued as Natalie bit her lip. "…it is my pleasure to nominate for the title of Sovereign, LARAIN!"
The crowd cheered as the young wastelander made his way down into the basin, Daphne standing aside as Frost zoomed in on the strapping young hopeful. Larain paused a minute to look at the cheering Clanners, then shot a quick look over to the AEG section. He stole a glance of Carla, winking at her. Carla returned the gesture, probably. Larain then looked back upon the Clanners and fished out his paper containing the bullet points he, Amos, Mick, and Daphne agreed he needed to cover.
"…I'm sure a lot of you don't know me. And a lot of you who do are probably wondering just where in the hell I've been these last few months. I was one of Kenzie's chosen men to go and investigate the AEG down near Nevada. I was sent in as a spy to oversee what they were planning and their intentions for our territory. As I exfiltrated, I got into an argument with my companions, and the disagreement turned violent. I was beaten and left for near dead. I was then rescued by elements within the AEG. That's where I've been, folks. With the so-called enemy."
Natalie and Wallace stared down the wastelander as he continued. "In time, I gained the trust of those within the army and even made some friends. Tobey, you were as a brother to me, and Carla, well, what can I say?" he grinned. Carla smiled back while Tobey rolled his eyes and Natalie curled her lip. "And, not with us, it seems, was Rosa. Rosa is the real reason the AEG is in the Unclaimed Wastes. Rosa Perez is a delegate who is being sent to Dallas to meet with the leadership for reasons that have everything to do with the Mojave and California and nothing to do with us. At least, that's what I thought."
Daphne looked to Larain. This part wasn't in the script. She looked to Larain, who motioned that he was fine and somehow knew what he was doing. He continued. "Vulpes Inculta lied to us. Betrayed us. Used us to fight a war that didn't need fighting for his benefit. I've been told that things have been rough since I've been gone. All thanks to a man who calls himself Vulpes Inculta. And, folks, I know I haven't been around here long, but even I can tell you that Vulpes Inculta isn't going to leave us alone. Now that we're wounded, we're vulnerable to be finished off, and he will do it, people. Vulpes told you all that California and the Mojave were a threat to your way of life because, without them, HE would have free rein over our lives."
Larain deliberately left out any mention of the Liberty Clans deliberately hiring Inculta through the RMX, or voluntarily electing him as the overall commander of the Cabal. A political lie, one with purpose, to assuage any guilt or blame and giving even the most hardline anti-California supporters an out. This was a delicate compromise, but one that would lay the groundwork for something that almost passed for a peaceful future.
"…I am about to propose something that I know many of you are not going to like. I propose… an alliance with the Allied Expeditionary Group!" The shouts of shock, outrage, and bewilderment rained down into the basin, and not only from the Clan side. "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU ON ABOUT?!" Lt. Mullens screamed.
"CAN IT, LT!" Wallace snarled. "This is a good play… if he can pull it off."
"…If we can demonstrate our goodwill towards California and Dallas, we can dictate terms that will determine our future. No more petty squabbles and regular skirmishes amongst one another. No more hiding and paranoia about outsiders. No more alliances with raiders and thugs and fanatics so they can stab us in the back. We are the Liberty Clans, and we will fight for OUR FREEDOM!"
A raucous cheer rang out amongst the clans, many of them chanting for Larain. The man himself let out a relieved sigh, looked over to Daphne as she smiled in kind. Major Wallace begrudgingly began to applaud as the other officers spoke amongst themselves, Natalie still staring down the man she remembered pulling a gun on. She looked over at her children, Tobey applauding as Carla seemed to blush. Why couldn't I have hooked up with this Larain?
A shrill piercing screech overtook the crowd. After a moment of confusion, several onlookers noticed an eyebot floating several stories above the basin, its alarm coming to a stop as the crowd began to quiet, save for a lone applause that was making its way through the AEG side of the basin.
"Great work, Larain, really fantastic stuff! Wasn't that a cool speech, everyone? Hey, old man." the man said as he approached Lars with an outstretched fist.
"Dunk! I was worried you weren't going to show up," Lars laughed as he bumped the stranger. The stranger grinned as he approached the edge of the basin, pushing aside the shocked Tobey and Carla. The man slid down the edge of the basin, landing on his feet at the bottom while Larain stared on in horror. He had hoped that there was enough wasteland to keep the distance between them. And now here he was, staring down Cade.
Cade continued his sarcastic applause as he gestured towards the Clanners. "Come on, guys, give the man his props! He deserves them!" Slowly, the gunners and clanners followed suit. As Natalie watched, she began to understand the dichotomy at play in this situation. It was apparent that Larain was well-liked by the Liberty Clans, but this new guy was respected. Maybe even feared. This was going to be complicated. She looked over to her kids and saw the looks of shock and horror etched onto their faces. "…You know him?"
Tobey said nothing while Carla began to scratch at her bandaged eye. "Hey, that's the guy I was telling you about! He's cool! Hey, how come everyone is so…" Lars stopped as he noticed the expressions of the Boone kids. "…What the hell did he do?"
"Fantastic work, Larain! Really, hiring a bunch of random goons for the safety of our people is probably a masterstroke of the policies we can expect from you. I'm so glad I spent the last few months trailing your sorry ass until you basically turned on us, huh?" Cade grinned.
"That is… This man is a liar!" Larain tried to get out ahead. Cade turned to Daphne, smiling. "He did inform you that he spent a night at one of your institutions, did he not?"
As the confused murmurs spoke up, Larain looked to Daphne, pleading for some backup. Daphne gulped before starting. "…It had been brought to my attention that Larain was going to be at the Res-by-the-Res, but through some various outside factors, our paths were not able to cross."
"Not every night you can spend the night in Vegas, eh, Larain?" Cade grinned as he began nudging the man in the ribs with his elbow. Larain shoved him back as the murmurs increased, Cade letting out a breathless chuckle as he continued. "A lot of people died the morning after, but you were too busy dealing with the aftereffects of Marshal Pussy to reconnect, huh? Tell me, was that woman some kind of honeytrap or did you pay her for a lackluster evening?" Cade proceeded to point out Carla directly.
"Shut up, Cade!" Larain barked.
"I mean, I think the rest of the Clans deserve to know where you've put your loyalties recently, Rain, and how much it takes to compromise those loyalties. Howdy, Cyclops, long time, eh-heh-heh, no see," Cade cackled.
The crowd of clanners began to jeer and snarl over what Cade had reported. On top of a nearby hill, Dalton was holding back Cass from going down there and worsening the situation even more. Elsewhere, Carla was hiding her face behind the crowd as a humiliating tear streaked down her face. And in the medical tent, Joseph was recounting his childhood to an audience for reasons they did not yet understand.
"FUCK YOU, DUNCAN!" Larain roared as he grabbed Cade by the collar.
Looking directly into his eyes, Larain saw, for just a quick moment, a spark of pure and unmitigated hatred. But as quick as it appeared, it vanished as that infuriating smile returned to Cade's face. "…You've been talking to Amy, haven't you?" he shook his head. "That girl… Yup, everyone, that's my real moniker! Now you all see why I had to come up with something a bit more marketable! I thought I could confide in those I trusted, but trust is harder to find out here than hair on a Gila."
"YOU LEFT HER TO DIE!" Larain screamed.
"She knew what would happen if she slowed me down. Ever hear her complain about me? I'm the best thing that has happened and will ever happen to her, and that includes having your band of witless idiots saving her when she wanted to die. Who among you hasn't left behind folk?" he spoke to the audience. "Who among you hasn't sold your chaff to make your lives easier? Or sold out your own kin to benefit yourself in the long term? I've spent enough time in the Rockies to know if you're lying." Larain's heart faltered as none of the clan heads even tried to challenge the man. "And the best part is that she came crawling back to me, Larain," Cade whispered into Larain's ear. "A little burnt, but she might still have some value yet."
"You're sick," Larain hissed. "That girl fucking loves you?!"
"…She does," Cade smiled. Larain reared his fist back, only for Daphne to intercept and drag the two apart. "Larain, I need you to focus!" Daphne hissed.
"Why aren't you helping me push him back?!" Larain snarled as the commotion above nearly drowned them out.
"Because… he has dirt on me, too," Daphne confessed. Larain stared at her. "…Doug dying wasn't an accident. I paid Cade for the job and his silence. I'm sorry, Larain, but I can't help you. That man has dirt on everyone."
As Cade continued playing up to the crowd, Natalie and Wallace were doing their best to keep the AEG contingent in order despite calls to interfere. Tobey was trying to console Carla as she sat and tried to regain her composure. On the hill, Cass was now trying to prevent Dalton from going down and intervening on Larain's behalf. And Lars Perez stared down into the pit, looking at the galivanting sniper with a sense of quiet rage.
"…Ladies and gentlemen, may I submit my proposal for the Liberty Clans? I vote that we submit ourselves to independence via the one power that can secure it: the Rocky Mountain Exchange! For a marginal collective fee, we can expulse any and all challengers to our sovereignty and way of life through the only powers that matter, willpower and firepower! Let us expulse these armies of dogs and the whores that ride them. Let me hunt down this Vulpes and Nemesio. They're only men, they die like the rest. Surrendering your freedom to California, to Vegas? Freedom never comes through surrender! It comes through grit and skill and sheer force of will! That is the only way I know how to live, and the only way we can, my dear brothers and sisters!"
"If he keeps talking, there's going to be a war," Wallace breathed. "Milligan, take the shot."
"Negative," Milligan gritted. "It'll start a massacre. We got to have Larain pull himself out of that hole he's in."
"Freedom?!" Larain screamed. "You call serving the RMX freedom?! The RMX isn't freedom, it's compromise! Selling out our folk for money, looking the other way when they victimize those who can't protect themselves, we won't be partners, we'll be slaves!"
Cade turned towards Larain. "…And here I thought you of all people would be behind that."
The scowl on Larain's face began to fade, replaced by a fearful and dawning horror as Larain realized that Daphne was telling the truth. Cade did have dirt on everyone, and that included him. And right now, he was going to broadcast his darkest secret to everyone.
"…Cade, please…" Larain quietly begged.
"…WHO'S READY FOR STORYTIME WITH DUNCAN SCHMITT?" Cade beseeched the crowd. "Long ago, in an era most folk have forgotten, there was once a great and magnificent city. The rising flame, Phoenix, was a bastion of freedom and safety in equal measure. A place of sanctuary in a wasteland that was somehow always hostile." Cade found himself pausing for reasons he couldn't explain before continuing on. "And then came the rise of a man named Caesar, subjugating near countless tribes and peoples before setting his sights on the one chunk of civilization that saw him for the little man he was and would never bow to him. Ladies and gentlemen, I do not believe that I am alone when I declare that, of all who dwelled in Arizona, the great city of Phoenix stood the best chance at repelling the mighty Legion. And Caesar knew it, else he wouldn't have kept his distance from that city for so long. And so came the stalemate until it was broken by an individual whose name history has largely forgotten.
This man somehow found his way into the good graces of his hosts. They fed and sheltered him, and upon finding out he was skilled in all manner of wasteland necessities, tasked him with doing what he could to protect that city. Would you like to finish this story, Abilene?" Cade's smile stretched to a nearly unnatural limit.
"…I'm not my father," Larain whispered to himself.
"Many of you probably know this man by his title, the Interfector of Phoenix, the man who opened the gates and put its citizens inside to the sword or into chains! All because those who followed him were dumb enough to put their faith in a man who did nothing to deserve it. All that said, most of you folk probably don't know that he had a kid, who was sold off to Kenzie after he got his ass killed in a fight he was too stupid not to take. Folks, I'm not your best friend, I'm your only friend. Remember, what does Abil- oh, my humblest apologies, what does Larain ask of you? Put your faith in him, so he can hand you all over to an outside power for his own sake. Like father…"
Suspicion and derision began raining down onto Larain. Cade had him cornered. Few knew he was Legion, and besides Kenzie and Daph, hardly anyone knew he was the son of the single most hated traitor and legionary Arizona had ever known. If he pushed Cade on this, he'd probably come back with a receipt and find himself even deeper in the hole. He looked to Daphne, who could not look him in the eyes. He looked over to the AEG, their impassive faces betraying how worried they were that things were not going to end well. And then, right above the shouting, a familiar voice rang out.
"IS THAT SOME KIND OF JOKE?!"
Larain, Cade, and Daphne turned to see an old man clumsily slide down into the pit, landing on his face as he propped himself up. Brushing himself off, the familiar and once dapper "gentleman" got to his feet as he approached Larain. The old man stared into Larain his face twisted into an offended rage.
"THIS… BOY IS A FRAUD UPON THE MEMORY OF THE INTERFECTOR!" Dinero announced to all witnesses. "HE MAY SHARE HIS BLOOD, BUT HE IS NOTHING LIKE THE INTERFECTOR! NOTHING LIKE THE LEADER THE MISERABLE LOT OF YOU DESERVE!"
"Di… What are you talking about, old man?" Larain began, the realization of the play Markus was about to make creeping over him. The man was an idiot, sure, and a coward and a straight-up load to deal with out in the wild. But if there was one thing this man understood, it was history.
"This doesn't concern you, geezer!" Cade snarled as he reached into his pocket.
"I WAS THERE WHEN PHOENIX FELL!" Dinero screamed.
The crowd fell silent. "…I grew up in that city. I remember the neighborhoods. Glendale, Sky Harbor, Deer Valley, Cave Creek… Scottsdale…" Dinero recounted. A few of the old timers perked their heads up at mention of the names, their memories something even Caesar could not eradicate. The murmurs began to grow as the crowd realized this strange old man was telling the truth.
"…That man… we… WE SHATTERED THE GATES, BROKE THE CITY GUARD, AND DELIVERED IT TO CAESAR! THAT WAS THE GIFT THE INTERFECTOR GAVE HIM, THAT IS HIS LEGACY! HIS REAL LEGACY, OUR LEGACY, AND YOU… you…" he turned to Larain with an expression of disgust. "…You're just a listless upstart who can't hold a candle to that man, despite your blood. You're a fraud and a bastard, a joke. You are nothing like the Interfector, Abel, and the fact that you are all that is left of his legacy sickens me more than the notion that I ever looked after you, boy!" A glob of spit landed in Larain's eye. Wiping it away, he saw a bunch of clanners pour into the pit to rally around him and, more importantly, put the boots to the old man. Even as he was beaten down, Dinero did not relent. "FUCK YOU, KID! YOU WEREN'T WORTH THE FOOD I GAVE YOU! HAIL THE REAL CAESAR!"
Four of the Legion riders managed to part through the crowd and grabbed onto the old man, hoisting him off the ground and protecting him from further abuse from the mob. Then, in an act of legendary irony, the legionary riders made their escape through the AEG side of the basin, parting their way through Californians and Nevadans alike. Falco watched the sorry show through the fingers that pinched the bridge of his nose, while Marcy sat in exhaustion over having most of the mob's punches deflected or mitigated. Larain watched as the old man was pulled away and gave a silent thanks before then giving the man the finger and exclaiming, "WELL, YOU ANCIENT SON OF A BITCH, GOOD THING I AIN'T FUCKING LEGION! I'M A GOD DAMN LIBERTY CLANNER UNTIL THE DAY I FUCKING DIE!"
The crowd now rallied around Larain while Cade quietly seethed in anger. The old bastard ruined his play. Now all his effort to discredit Larain was up in smoke, as these hicks now rallied around that man more than ever. Eventually, he began pushing and shoving the clanners out of the basin, issuing threats to any who remained in the arena, culminating in him pulling out a trench spike and swiping at the last of the retreating clanners. Growling, he turned to see Larain waiting for him, his arms folded and his confidence having returned. "…Is it still storytime? Go on, Cade, let's hear more."
Cade glowered at the other as he abandoned his previous plan. "Just so everyone here is on the same page, I am not Legion. Yes, my father was a man of some significance within it, but I hardly remember him, and after the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, I spent time with my uncle, who turned on the Legion. I've spent most of my life against the Legion, rather than with it. I am a Liberty Clanner, through and through. And one last thing… Carla? Sorry I used you. The main reason I was with you was to squeeze you for info, but you were a pretty tough nut to crack."
In one fell swoop, Larain had helped restore the honor that Cade had damaged. True, now she looked kind of like she had been suckered, but at least she wasn't carrying a much worse reputation amongst these new strangers. What she did in her own time was her business and didn't bother her if the people she knew were in the loop, but basically being called a whore in front of hundreds of strangers, that was upsetting. Her professional demeanor having returned, she made her way back to the edge of the pit. Well, almost professional.
"…Well, yeah, you of all people know that some nuts bust easier than others," she called out.
The arena erupted into laughter. The clanners hooted and hollered while multiple troopers and marshals betrayed some kind of laugh. Hutsgy abandoned her professionalism entirely as she let out a wolf whistle, prompting an admonishment from Major Wallace as he himself barely held back his laughter. Natalie covered her eyes, praying that her daughter would not be like her mother and marry the first guy she ever hooked up with. Tobey looked like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world at that moment. Cade lost his temper.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!" the assassin screamed. "IS THAT ALL IT TAKES TO WIN OVER YOUR LOYALTY? A FUCKING SEX JOKE?! Larain is telling you all to throw your lot in with the Californians, to abandon your independence so you can serve as the lapdogs of foreign powers! Putting our survival in the hands of Shady Sands and Las Vegas and Dallas and Chicago and Mexico and whatever else but not in our own?! The AEG is on a suicide mission and Larain would drag us all along with it so he can pretend to be as much a hero as his old man did! This isn't our war and I won't risk my life for California's fight! They can't even protect their own colonels from getting stabbed and you want me to throw my lot in with them? I hope Dallas can find a stick big enough to skewer you, Larain, all the way through, along with anyone else dumb enough to… what?"
The AEG delegation stared down at the basin with a cold, piercing stare. Milligan looked like he was going to blow a fuse as Kim restrained the arm reaching for his pistol. Wallace stared at the gunslinger with a sense of shock and outrage. Natalie, her demeanor relatively calm, then asked the black-hatted killer, "…How did you know our colonel was stabbed?"
Cade had only been sent to recon the AEG. Killing Gorobets was an attack of opportunity on his part. If he asked Gavin, the man who sent him down south in the first place, to back him on this, that coward would reply that he only asked Cade to keep his eyes on the army and not start anything. Cade's following actions were merely his own creative interpretation of the parameters provided. He was on his own.
He turned towards the AEG, locked eyes with the Commissioner, and smiled as he stormed towards the edge of the pit. The soldiers all drew pistols, revolvers, and rifles as they pointed down to the approaching terrorist. "Any of you fixing to do anything about it? I'm a Liberty Clanner, I live as I please and kill as I wish! You kill me for your colonel, and you may as well issue reprisals against any clanner who ever raised a weapon against you. We're still at war, this is only a truce. We're not at peace yet. So go ahead, pull the trigger."
The line between peace and war was at its most tenuous. Here was Cade, offering to martyr himself for the sake of bloodshed and continued war, to annihilate any hope of reconciliation between these disparate groups. Cade would never bow again to any force that pretended to be all-powerful, only to fall apart when it mattered the most. Not California, not Kenzie, not even…
"You're pathetic, Cade," Larain snarled.
Cade wheeled around towards Larain. The younger wastelander looked upon his rival with a gaze of absolute contempt. "…All this time you were going on about freedom, and it turns out you were only looking after yourself. You weren't looking after anyone, you just wanted to protect yourself from having to answer for your own damage. It's kind of funny, every time I messed up, the universe went out of its way to force me to own up to it. You, though, of all people I thought you could also bring yourself to do that. I guess we're both disappointed you aren't who we thought you were."
Larain approached Cade. "…The way I see it, if you love freedom so much, I'll give you some choices. Two to be exact. Option one, you swallow your ego and fight alongside us like the good mad dog you are. I will take full responsibility for that going forward, seeing as you aren't too keen on that particular prospect. Or option two, you take your sorry ass and leave the clans for good, and accept being marked as an enemy of the Liberty Clans from this point forward. You have until morning to give me an answer. Do we have a deal?" he ended, extending his hand towards Cade.
Cade bristled at the ultimatum. To think a man who hadn't even been elected Sovereign was so comfortable issuing him orders was enough to gall him. That being said, the crowd was firmly behind Larain, and at this point even Cade's normally phenomenal people skills could only do so much. Cade glared at the little shit who couldn't even outmaneuver him without intervention from the geezer or the marshal. He'd find a way to take care of both of them later, but he had one last message to give Larain.
Larain watched as Cade removed his hat, placing it on his chest as he extended out his other hand to clasp it firmly into the other palm. The clanners let out a cheer while the AEG screamed out in indignation, Natalie and Wallace trying desperately to keep order and swallow their own disgust. Larain stared into Cade's eyes and saw what almost passed for remorse. Then in an instant, the anger returned, right as Cade's head careened into Larain's.
Howls of anger and confusion arose as Larain found himself at the end of a beatdown by the older gunslinger. Before he even realized what had happened, Cade reached into his coat and pulled out his trench spike. He continued to pummel Larain in his anger as he felt a pair of hands grab onto him by the shoulder. Cade reeled around and swiped the blade across her face, Daphne falling back and screaming as she clutched her cheek. Right as he readied himself to plunge down the blade as he had to Gorobets, a knee slammed itself into his face, sprawling his body off of Larain as his nose cracked and broke.
Larain looked up as Carla pulled him from the ground. Lars, Natalie, Tobey, Amos, Gavin, Falco, and countless others swarmed into the pit to rally around the newly and effectively crowned Sovereign. "Somebody, get me a visual on that man!" Wallace ordered as more and more people swarmed in and around the pit. All the soldiers looked for a black-hatted figure somewhere in the crowd as they rallied around Larain, hoisting him in the air as they chanted his name and threw their support behind him.
From some distance away, Dalton watched the scene, his face impassive and unreadable.
"…Despite your best efforts, kid, despite your best efforts…"
"I'd be proud of him, too," Cass nodded.
"Eat shit, Cassidy," Dalton growled, but some small part of him, forever agitated as it may be, could only look upon Larain and feel just a hint of pride. "…So, you want to get down there and find the other guy before anyone else gets their licks in?"
"He's long gone," Cass shook her head. "He'll skulk around for a bit, but no one is going to find that man unless he wants you to find him. Besides, there's much bigger brahmin to grill."
Cade stumbled past the empty tents as he cursed up a storm, clutching his bloody nose and grasping his hat in his hand. He needed to find his supplies, find Amy, and get in contact with an Adjustor. He had plenty of cash on hand and credit with Middle Management, and he could work damn near anywhere. And he had all the time in the world to come back and finish things on his terms, once he was situated elsewhere.
Three people had just left the medical tent, the two men arguing while the girl was lost in her own thoughts. The odds of these four crossing paths had to seem astronomical, but suddenly Gael Huerta, James Bishop, and Rosa Perez crossed paths with Cade.
Cade dropped his hat as he reached for his magnum. Jimmy and Gael both drew their weapons. Rosa's hand hovered over her machete, but she stopped. She stared at Cade before she began to talk.
"…This seems unusual for you, Asshat. Getting caught with your pants down."
Cade didn't say anything. The shotgun and the rifle trained on him discouraged him from acting too aggressively, and there was no longer any profit motive going forward involving Rosa. This fight didn't need to happen. He slowly returned his revolver to his holster.
"…The RMX rescinded your bounty, girl. No one worth a damn is going to be targeting you anytime soon. Just thought you should know."
"…How noble of you," Rosa said. "Almost makes up for everything you did before. Not quite, but it's a start." Rosa then looked away. "…I'm really not in the mood for a fight, anyway. One of my friends got busted up real bad and I'm willing to drop this if you are too. So, how about it? Want to pretend we're civilized people and just talk about how much we hate each other?"
"I don't feel anything for you," Cade lied. "You're a nuisance I'll be happy to see the end of. Why don't you go down to the elector pit and celebrate with Sovereign Larain? I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see you naked, again."
Rosa let out a laugh. Jimmy and Gael stared at her. "…You are such an asshole," she snickered.
Cade turned away as he continued down the path. "How the hell did someone like you live in New Canaan for so long?"
Cade ground to a screeching halt. His eyes widened in horror over what she had just said. No one should have put together that he spent any time in New Canaan. Everyone who could have known had to have died, or otherwise been unable to reconcile Cade with his previous life as Duncan Schmitt. It had to be a coincidence, she had to be talking out of her ass, it couldn't mean that his armor of anonymity had been breached.
"…My friend says he thinks you lied about your age to join the guards. I can't imagine you standing watch over a bible study in exchange for three square meals a day, but we all earn our keep, somehow," Rosa shrugged.
Cade stared ahead, blankly, refusing to acknowledge Rosa as she continued to ride him down, intentionally or not. "…he also says you were real close with a few people and they tried to get you to open up for years, but you somehow never seemed to care." Cade reached into his pocket and fingered at his trench spike, gripping around it as his agitation grew. "These people let you into their homes and tried to welcome you, but you just wanted to keep being an outsider, even after everything they did for you. I mean, I understand that some people just can't settle, but all that kindness you were offered and you just end up spitting on everything like it's not-"
"YOUR MOTHER SCREAMED REAL GOOD WHEN I PUT THAT BULLET IN HER!" Cade screamed, breathing heavily as his bloodshot eyes bore down on the girl.
Rosa just stared back, unfazed. "…How is it that an entire community of hardworking and wonderful people can be destroyed and somehow you of all people are still alive?"
Cade placed his hat back upon his head. "…I guess your friend's God just loves me too much." With that, he turned and walked away. "…maltido pinchazo," Gael muttered under his breath. "We can take him," Jimmy growled as he rose his weapon once again.
"No," Rosa replied. "Let him be."
Jimmy and Gael both turned to look at Rosa. "What/Que?" they exclaimed, simultaneously.
"…Either he turns himself around or he keeps being his own miserable self. Makes no difference to me what he decides to do. So long as he stays out of our way, he's welcome to do whatever he thinks will make him happy."
"…Are you Ok, Rosa?" Jimmy asked.
Rosa's thoughts immediately returned to seeing Joseph's mangled body. "…No, Jimmy, no I'm not," she replied before turning away and walking down to the wasteland coronation. Gael followed her, Jimmy looking over his shoulder at the retreating sniper before joining in.
Cade was fuming. Years of work and effort on his end to conceal something he wanted hidden just went up in smoke. His identity may as well have now be in tatters for everyone in the wasteland. Not that he cared about their opinions or judgment, but Duncan Schmitt: New Canaanite was something he discarded years ago for reasons he did not need to justify to anyone. He was angry, and he needed to take it out on someone.
Rosa's friend. He was a likely first target. A little resilience and creativity would work wonders and would be enough to undo anyone, even the preacher. Then he would kill the old geezer, and then the one-eyed marshal, preferably so she could die in the arms of that pissant Abilene. And once that was taken care of, he'd take Barabbas's oversized head and use it to buy that enormous plot of land near the Ozarks for him and Amy to…
He stopped. Cade realized exactly what he needed to do first.
And that's another chapter in the bag. So, show of hands, who here was surprised to find out that Cade used to be a New Canaanite? Yeah, guess what? Me, too! Ain't that a kick in the head? So, yeah, I have in fact loaned out Duncan "Cade" Schmitt to another writer you may have heard of a number of times throughout my own story, Interfectorem. He's starting another story on the tab called "Paul's Letter to Rome" and could use some loyal and dedicated readership, much like mine. So go and follow his story and leave comments and favorite and the whole shebang and I won't make a future chapter dedicated to Sawney vore. Go ahead, try me. Oh, and leave a review, etc. etc.