Sandstorm over Remnant

Chapter 8

When in Rome

"Red and Weiss are fine with me, meet you in Vegas" a short message but one that lifted a heavy weight from Winter's shoulders. "Understood, with Yellow and Black. Somewhere near the bull" she replied not wanting to alarm Six that she was actually with the Slave Army of the wasteland "Be careful, over here we are neck deep in the territory of the Bear. Will keep a low profile, first to get to Vegas wins"

Childish, but joking around eased her nerves a bit "I hope you enjoy loosing caps Six, do you remember that my favorite wine is expensive?" a winky face was her only response, seems like his short time in Remnant he had picked up some of the slang, she blamed Beacon and their informality. There was no way that anyone in Atlas academy used those abbreviations… or she hoped not.

"Stop using that witch" a legionnaire said as he pointed at her arm with his gun, Winter nodded slowly as she stopped using the device from Vault Tech. It was odd how little the Legion had changed since she last saw them Winter mussed as she stared at the legionnaires and the praetorians that escorted them towards a place unknown she expected that they would look a bit worse if she was being completely honest, they got beaten pretty badly at the second battle of Hoover Dam.

Blake and Yang walked nervously behind her as the glares from the soldiers were not lost on them "You ermmm famous with their group mam?" Yang asked the older woman.

Winter gave her a look that let Yang know that she could not say much at the moment "I… we know each other" was all she felt comfortable saying around the armored monsters, as their walk continued a small village came to view. Built with marble and obsidian a large statue of Caesar greeted them.

Some of the soldiers bowed while the decanus seemed to be less inclined to pay their respects, something that intrigued Winter but her questions were quickly put aside as she tensed up "Both of you behind me, now!

A towering figure walked towards them, Blake hairs stood up on the back on her neck and she suppressed a hiss as the stench of blood and gore reached her sensitive nose, Yang unconsciously adopted a fighting stance as Legate Lanius glared down at Winter.

"The Witch of Vegas, out all the emissaries from the city of cowards and sin I did not expect you to be the one that would step foot in OUR land" the legate said calmly as he waited for Winter to explain herself. Nodding slowly the specialist prepared herself to thread on the thin ice, while she was not Six when it came to words she knew how to have negotiations even if this was not a businessman, the Legate easily dwarfed CEO's from Atlas "Indeed and that's why I am here"

The legate seemed amused "A statement of bravery? Foolish, what's stopping me from putting on a collar on your neck and hanging your body hung to a cross to show that even in defeat the legion is superior to its enemies?"

Winter swallowed her nervousness "Because you would lose the aid we wish to provide"

A gamble from her part, a complete bluff. The legionaries were shocked when they heard the words from their enemy while Lanius remained still "And why should I believe in you?"

Winter thought back about what Six had said about the legion, their economy was one of the things had mentioned to Sarah if her mind was not playing tricks on her, so she hoped she was right "Because Vegas is willing to business with the legion, while we are the rightful rulers of the Mojave that does not mean that we want your territory, the Legion deserves to exist" she wanted to vomit as those words came out of her mouth.

No, they did not deserve to exist. Caesar had brought from ancient times ideas and laws that would set back humanity hundreds of years on culture and identity, the slaves both female and male could not be healed from the scars. The children indoctrinated since birth could not be saved from the endless war they would subject themselves too.

If it was up to her, their death would have been brought in their second defeat at Hoover Dam.

And yet here it was, licking its wounds. Slowly gaining its strength enslaving more and more souls into its ideology, sacrificing their humanity on the altar of strength and stability.

"Ah this is interesting" a disgustingly smooth voice said from behind the legate as Vulpes walked from the shadows followed by Lucius and Aurelius of Phoenix, their leadership intact she muttered, she had hoped at least one of the leaders died in the battle. The leader of the frumentarii stared at her with curiosity as the other simply glared with hatred.

But they would not kill her, The Legate had not order them to so they would not lift a hand to hurt them "It's no pity, on your eyes there is only hatred for us. And yet here you are unarmed and willing to… negotiate, what is Vegas willing to offer the Legion? And more importantly what does it expect in return" Vulpes commented as Lanius let the man speak. Winter nodded slowly "Trade, We are a neutral ground that separates east and west, Vegas belongs to the people of the Mojave but we don't wish to be enemies with either you or the NCR"

"A plan by The Man of the West" Lanius spoke as everyone turned to him "We saw how his machines made the Bear turn tail and run, but if they were to return in full force the city of Cowards would be challenged under the might of an united two headed Bear, both jaws going for the warlord House and Courier Six, why should we care? Why not let the Bear burn you and in the fires of confusion strike them at their weakest?"

Winter felt the legionnaires turn to her with expecting eyes, some even preparing their weapons "Because you would wait forever, Vegas will not fall. The NCR is bleeding money, they cannot pay for another war and even if they had the money they cannot beat us, I assume you saw what happened at the Fort as you retreated? They cannot be stopped, they repair themselves and do not rest, do you think the Legion or the NCR can stop something like that?" she finished.

Vulpes glared "If we are so weak, then why seek to make peace with us?"

Because she had teleported from her world to this place and was in a pinch, with no weapon and neck deep in enemy territory. Oh and two of her little sister's teammates stood behind her being eyed by the legionnaires like prey, she was forced to play nice with the monsters because fate hated her.

"We are not like you" she found herself saying "I want the best for everyone, this world has been wounded and it's only now slowly being revived. I don't want more conflict something new needs to be born"

Vulpes chuckled "Like Hopeville? They tried to create something new and they broke under the weight of the NCR and Legion, you are doomed and when the time is right, the bull will sharpen its horns on your bones"

"But for now… you have my attention, you wish to trade? Then our metal can be sent to you if we you can provide some things in return" Lanius said as ordered one of the tables to be brought to him "We discuss the terms now, then you leave our lands to never return. If there's more to say, then send the man of the West for he alone has earned my respect" as his soldiers brought a table and chairs to the middle of the town.

The tents and the flags on top of every building moving slowly as wind began to pick up. Winter nodded quickly as she sat down on the chair offered to her, the specialist turned to look at her companions "And what of my… friends?"

Vulpes looked at the girls "They will not be harmed, they are free to wander. We shall let those of the wasteland witness our superior cities and culture, we shall let them tell tales of our might" snapping his fingers a girl quickly ran to his side, the collar was not present and she was dressed in surprisingly nice dress and her body adorned with jewelry but Winter knew a slave when she saw one. The fear in her eyes as she looked up towards her master could not be faked "Y-yes?"

"Escort these two around the city, give them a tour" was all that the man said as he turned his attention to the negotiation table, Winter gave a nod towards the two as they approached the older woman.

She gave a soft bow as the two young huntresses in training were struck by how beautiful she was "Hello, my name is Elena" her curly black hair seemed to cascade down her shoulders as a soft smile was displayed on her lips, Blake was the first to notice but she looked tired.

"H-hi, my name's Yang and this is Blake, we are… not from around here" a soft giggle escaped Elena as she nodded "I could tell, you do not dress like neither tribal nor raider. Not that there's any of them anymore in the region"

Motioning for them to follow Yang let out a small sigh of relief as they left the crowded main plaza and walked into a more quiet part of the town, Blake stared in awe as everything around her seemed to be from a fantasy book, small houses built from brick and marble with small gardens all carefully tended as legionnaires walked around with spears and machetes in hand.

Yang breathed in as the smell of bread being made her stomach grumble, Elena noticed this and smiled "Are you girls hungry? I can only imagine what you had to go through to reach us here, please follow me the soldiers should have something"

"Oh no that won't be necessary, I was just…." Elena shook her head and she reached Yang's hand, the blonde blushed at the contact. Her hand felt so soft and the rich smell of perfume reached her nose "Nonsense I insist… it's the least I can do, are you hungry too?"

Blake slowly nodded, she was not too sure when they would have proper food again it was better if they had something now, the woman lead them to the mess hall where mostly soldiers seemed to be eating, some glared at the trio but kept in line when they noticed who was guiding them.

A collared girl looked up at her and smiled "Lady Elena!"

"My dear Geraldine, would you mind sharing some of what you have for these two? The best you have if you don't mind" this made a nearby soldier turn to her "Know your place, you cannot demand such thing from the sla-" a loud slap echoed across the room as the Decanus in charge glared at the boy.

Turning to the rest of his soldiers "You know your place, by order of Vulpes Lady Elena outranks you lowly cretins remember that" was all he said as he sat back down to eat, some of the older soldiers glared but the younger simply did not seem to care, Elena smiled apologetically to the girls as she returned to Geraldine "Sorry about that"

"Nonsense Lady Elena, I shall go fetch the food if you don't mind waiting just a moment" the girl said as she disappeared inside kitchen.

Elena let out a sigh and curious Blake finally spoke up "Seems like you have some insubordination going on"

"It's in their nature, they have been raised like this" she said with a neutral expression as Geraldine returned with two breads with meat inside nodding and adding a quiet thank you to the girl Elena led them out of the mess hall and into a small field. Sitting down next to the older woman the girls began to eat as they looked around Elena for her part seemed to be more relaxed now that they were out of the mess hall.

Yang looked at the woman "I have a question, ermm Lady Elena"

"Elena is just fine, you're not of the Legion so there's no need for titles with me" she said with a small chuckle "Ok then, Elena, wha-"-"Mommy!" a voice cut her off as a small figure ran toward them with tears in her eyes Elena quickly took the small girl into her arms and shushed her the blonde hair on her head gently caressed by her mother.

Blake looked at the scene and smiled, she should call her mother when she had the chance it had been far too long Yang on the other hand was reminded of the one she had lost and the one that got away. Elena gently wiped the tears off her blonde daughter as she looked at her in concern "What's wrong dear?"

The girls sniffled as she pointed towards some boys playing in the distance "They pushed me and-and took my toy mommy, the one that father gave me" Elena seemed to frown at that "Ah, I see. Don't worry dear I shall speak with their mother and get your toy back"

The girl slowly nodded but looked at her a bit confused "Daddy said to tell him first if this happened but I can't find him…"-"No. Don't tell your father I will deal with this" Elena spoke in a firm tone as worry flashed in her eyes, the girl flinched away from her mother as she nodded. "Good, why don't you come with us my little Ulpia? I am showing my new friends around the town"

"Oh, ok mommy" the small girl then smiled at the two girls "Hello I am Ulpia, I´m seven!"

Elena chuckled "Almost seven dear"

Yang smiled as she smiled at Ulpia "Hello! I am Yang nice to meet you!" Blake gave a short wave but did smile at the small girl "Hello" Elena waited patiently for the girl to finish their meals as her daughter asked them a million questions "So have you ever fought a Deathclaw?"

Blake shook her head "No"

"Aw, mommy says that she once saw one"-"Very far from were I was dear, your father quickly moved us to another area because of the scary monster" the mother explained as she picked up her daughter and held her in a hug.

Yang chuckled "Sounds like he cares about you" Elena looked towards the sky and did not answer the question, once both huntresses finished eating a small tour followed as Elena pointed at different sides of the town "And here a small arena is going to be built, it was put on hold because of the war but I hope that construction will begin soon again, it should begin here and end over by that hill" Blake looked at the distance and raised an eyebrow.

"It's going to be a little too big no?"

Elena smiled "That was the idea, a place where tournaments of skill can be displayed and gladiators fight mighty beasts from the wasteland. I think it needs to be big" the woman explained as Yang looked at the horizon, there were crosses on the hill and one of the crosses seemed to have something moving. Elena noticed this as she let out a sigh.

Both Yang and Blake looked at each other, the woman was hiding things from them, but if that was the case could they really blame her? A soldier approached them as he lightly bowed "Lady Elena, Vulpes Inculta has finished negotiations you are to return the two companion of the Witch"

This made little Ulpia gasp "Father is speaking with the Witch?"

Father, the little bundle of joy was the daughter of the cruel man with the cold eyes? Elena nodded at the soldier and turned to the two girls "I am sorry, seems like our little tour will be cut short. Shame I wish I could have shown you were we make wine, our city is one of the most beautiful of the empire"

"Are there many more cities?" Blake found herself asking, Elena carried Elpia on her shoulders as they began to walk. "Oh yes, the Mighty Caesar conquered many tribes and became the ruler of the greatest empire seen in thousands of years, so he made the conquered built cities of marble in the name of Mars. But not all cities are the same, this one is more… I would say beautiful because is overseen by my Master Vulpes Inculta while other cities like the one seen by Caesar are more brutish, but do not let the Caesar know that I say that"

Elena spoke in a playful tone but the girls could see that she was being a hundred percent serious behind the sweet tone. Yang looked around to se if there was many people so she could ask her questions "Is this C-Caesar the man in armor"

"Yes, the new Caesar. At the battle for Hoover Dam the mighty Caesar died and sadly with him a lot of the Legion did as well. I am afraid that right now we are all uncertain, The Legion lost a lot of slaves and the threat of a civil war is a reality, maybe the days of the Legion really are numbered"

Blake bit her tongue to say that it was good thing that the legion was dying, everywhere she looked she saw collared men and women fearfully looking at the soldiers in red. Even Elena wore a golden chain around her neck, not a steel collar sure but it was still a chain that tied her to a horrible man. Said horrible man smiled as he watched them approach, Elena put Ulpia on the ground and tried to hide the girl behind her skirt but Vulpes immediately noticed this and signaled the girl to come to him. The little girl quickly went over to her father, smiling as the hand rested atop her head in a bizarre display of affection "I hope everything has been to your liking?"

The sarcasm was palpable, he did not care. Yang was sure that she could tell him that she straight up hated his stupid city and it would not wipe that smirk off his face but she refused to say a thing, Elena would be the one to suffer if she said a thing "It was fine" Blake said first Vulpes looked at her up and down as he studied her.

"Mutants find our city mighty, I don't know if I am to find that comforting or worrying" he commented as Yang glared and slight spark began to emanate from her mane "Oi, what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Vulpes did not look intimidated "Are you not like Winter Schnee? She is a mutation of the human genome. I can see by the way your soul burns and the way her ears twitch that you are not normal, fascinating to think what could have made you all this way"

Blake glared "The need to survive, we all fight. Man and woman side by side against the beasts" Vulpes grin widened as he turned to his own flesh "Do you hear that, female warriors. Maybe with the proper training you too could be a mighty hero for the Legion!"

Ulpia smiled at him "Yes! I get to be like you then daddy!"

It took Blake a small second to realize she had been played, a small glance at Elena said more than a million words. Vulpes excused himself as he went to retrieve Winter so that the visitors from afar could leave as Elena looked at her daughter leave with the monster "S-she's too young… I don't want her to…"

"He would not do something like that, he is just trying to scare us right?" Yang asked hopefully, but Elena shook her head. "He has been toying with this idea, total war. after the defeat of many of his best men to a female ranger Vulpes has wanted to use every asset, every soul for the war… no matter what type of slave they are, and now in this moment of change and with the bloodthirsty Lanius at the helm I don't know wha tot think…. Oh my sweet Ulpia"

Elena shook her head and ran towards her home, as tears could not be stopped.

Winter arrived a moment later as she rubbed her temples "Stupid metal man, made it a real bitch to get anything done. But I think we are in the clear we will be escorted all the way to the frontier near Vegas and we just have to cross through Novac to get to Vegas and we should be fine" when neither of the two answered Winter's expression changed to one of worry "Are you girls okay?"

Blake nodded "Yes, it just eye opening really. I hate how constantly I am reminded that Grimm even if they are monsters they are at least not cruel, they are beasts"

Yang shuddered as she remembered the crosses in the distance "Yeah, tell me about it. I think it would be best if we leave this place, leaving the worst this place has to offer and all that"

Winter let out a sigh as she began to walk towards the small party assigned to escort them out of Legion territory "As much as I would like to say they are, raiders, canibals and others are worst. Savage as it is, they have civilization Legion is just another face of the wasteland. It really made me appreciate what once seemed to be pointless political bickering back home, at least the loosing side was not hanged from a cross or made a slave"

This made the girls quiet down as Winter began to type away on her PipBoy, Six had not contacted her in some time and it worried her a bit so she decided to be the one to send a message first "Ran into the Legion, more specifically the New Caesar. Lanius wants to talk to you Six, probably challenge you to a fight too but we have been granted safe passage all the way up to their frontier, I will take the road to Vegas from Novac… please stay safe"

As she sent the message the Decanus that would "safely escort them" out of the region approached her "The witch of Vegas, you cost me men in the battle of Hoover Dam"
"It was war, you killed a lot of NCR that battle too" Winter replied calmly as the Decanus nodded "Yes, if they died then they were weak, but now that matters not. Come for the road is long"

The other two soldiers said nothing as they followed their leader out of the city, Yang was the only one that glanced back towards the city and spotted a small girl waving at her. Yang bit her lip but waved back as Ulpia turned to her father excitedly, Vulpes simply watched on as he prepared a report for Caesar. One of the only few good things the new Caesar had was that he did not care who died or who he lead in battle as long as there was battle and Vulpes would gladly give him more troops. He hardly cared about the sex of them, Legion could not die even if it had to mutate a bit to survive.

He would not fail like the Burned Man had failed, how that courier named Ulysses had failed, he alone would save the Legion.

A/N: Thank you for reading! The Legion is such a fascinating faction, I think that even if they are evil they are no Enclave. They are a legitimate reaction to the world ending, because humanity sadly never learns from its mistakes. With the deal struck between Vegas and Legion things get more interesting in the future, as for the next chapter its going to be more action packed as Weiss and Ruby deal with Raiders and Six is reminded why he hates California so much. See you soon!