Chapter 81: "Honor" Part 2

Rosa collapsed again onto the mat, her gasping breaths the only sound she could register as she picked herself back up. Beginning to regret the suspicious-smelling squirrel sandwich she had eaten for lunch, she brought a hand to her stomach as her trainer continued his stretching, no worse for wear. "I mean, you want to take five or something?" Lionel asked as Rosa glared at him.

What had originally begun as an eighteenth birthday present for herself had turned into something grueling and punishing. After trading a pile of photographs of her feet to Danny Blanco, she had found herself standing outside Johnston's locker room after a particularly grueling match with a Wildman from the mysterious badlands of Idaho. After the closing night promo, in which Johnston spend a good three minutes advocating for the audience to purchase his manager's gecko oil supplements, he had made his way to the back where he intended to get some shut-eye.

"Hey, hot stuff," the young girl called out as he passed by.

"Sup," Lionel replied, not even looking over as he passed.

"…I got something to show you," Rosa continued as she trotted in front of him, blocking his way to the locker room.

"…I don't do autographs until tomorrow, ma'am. Please wait until the signing starts," Lionel replied as he cracked his neck.

Rosa lifted her shirt to her chin. "Oh, I'm not asking you to sign anything, but I wouldn't mind a good long signature, if you know what I mean?"

Lionel looked down at what she was offering. "…Nice," he replied as he extended his hand. Rosa closed her eyes in anticipation only to be confused when she felt knuckles rap against her abs. "Can't remember the last time I saw some decent cardio in a chick. Usually, they're too skinny or focus too much on other stuff. You, though, you look like you can go a few rounds."

Rosa grinned. "…Want to go a few rounds right now?"

Before long, Rosa was awoken by a splash of cold water against her face. Evidently, what Lionel described as a "rear naked choke" wasn't so much the fun activity she had been anticipating. When she realized that Lionel had put his hands on her in a manner that she did not wish for, she grew angry, and told him that she fully intended to kick his ass. Lionel responded by beaming at the desire and offering to teach her how. And so, every week since, Lionel had been teaching Rosa how to fight.

Rosa kicked herself back up to her feet. "…You're, like, a hundred pounds heavier than me. How am I supposed to take you down?"

Lionel laughed. "The same way I take down "super" mutants, I guess?"

The two were wearing their usual tank-top and athletic shorts combos as they usually did during their training sessions. Lionel was a rather patient and laid-back teacher, which belayed how talented he was in physical combat. Every spar they'd had, Rosa never landed a blow on him that Lionel didn't allow her to, and not once had she ever knocked him on his ass as she had promised to.

"Last time I saw you do that, you busted his ribs so bad the fight was called off," Rosa interjected.

"Yeah," Lionel remembered. "That is something I did. You, though… I don't see you winning any tests of strength against the green uglies."

"Gee, thanks," Rosa sighed.

"Hey, don't thank me until I tell you how to beat them," Lionel said as he grabbed a training dummy and wheeled it onto the mat. He then began cranking up the height from the back so the head rose an extra two or so feet. "…Yeah, that's about where they usually are at," he muttered to himself. "Ok, now I'm going to show you how to take down someone bigger than yourself!"

"Finally," Rosa let out. Now that she was getting work with Jimmy, she felt that she needed to be more self-sufficient when it came to collecting bounties and protecting herself. If she could take down a super mutant by herself, that would do a lot to quell a lot of Jimmy's bellyaching about which jobs he felt comfortable giving her.

"…Gogoplata," Lionel announced.

"Gesundheit," Rosa replied.

"Nah, it's a giant-killing move I read in an old manual," Lionel corrected.

"…You can read?" Rosa asked.

"Yeah. Why?" Lionel asked.

"Ehm, no reason," Rosa hastily replied. As Lionel explained his plan of attack from her perspective, Rosa looked up at the bucket with the painted snarl. Some of the local vagrants had heard rumors that a local gang was thinking of hiring out some green muscle so they could force their will upon some of the outskirts of Vegas, like the Mormon North End or Westside. As much as asking Jimmy or the Old Man made sense, Rosa had to prove that she was fit to protect not only herself but everyone in that damned city. As such, she couldn't get the scenario of facing down a super mutant unarmed out of her head, and so she felt compelled to personally slay this demon, she thought as she looked at the mannequin standing before her, for her sake if no one else.

Barabbas's sneer grew as he loomed over her. Rosa involuntarily stood frozen in place as she could barely make out the dull shrieking of the referee excoriating the giant who seemed to ignore him. Dalton, frustrated at Barabbas's inability to listen, pulled out his plasma pistol to fire a warning shot. Out of the corner of his eye, Barabbas made a note to have the treacherous geezer aim under his neck, after he got his retribution of course. He stared down as his enemy as the sweat began to fill her brow. Too late to apologize.

A piercing sting shot through his brain. It was as if every migraine he ever suffered joined together and bought a power drill. As he let out a breathless howl, he looked up and saw his corner standing in silence, save for one.

YOU AGREED TO FIGHT THIS FAIR, IT'S NOT HER FAULT SHE WAS KICKING YOUR ASS TOO HARD, IF YOU EVER PULL A CHEAPSHOT LIKE THIS AGAIN I'M GOING TO- and so on and so forth did Pariah read her older brother the Riot Act, as to everyone else it looked like the girl was erratically spasming and throwing herself onto the ground in an uncontrollable rage.

All around him, the crowd began to howl in disgust. Rosa's corner in particular seemed especially livid, while most of the clanners and troopers seemed to look on in confusion, the nature of Barabbas's abilities a mystery for most of them, only knowing that somehow Barabbas had ground the fight to a halt for no particular reason. As Pariah lessened her grip on Barabbas, a fist collided under his jaw. Caesar found himself staggered as Rosa's body returned to her, and she was furious. Holding her machete in front of her, she unlatched the blade from its sheath, tossing it aside.

"The hell do you think you're doing?!" Dalton asked.

"…He broke the rules… so do I," Rosa hissed as she held her blade in a reverse, like an icepick.

"…Fair enough," Dalton shrugged.

"WHAT?!" Barabbas screamed at the old man.

"You brought this on yourself," Dalton scolded as he betrayed a smile, not so secretly ecstatic that the mutant was going to be beaten even further. Not that he was president of the Rosa fan club, but she had been showing a spirit that the giant oaf had been lacking, and he did break the agreed upon stipulation anyway. Rosa began swiping at Barabbas after Dalton resumed the match.

As Hypatia observed the situation, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she saw Ferra had broken through the crowd, her eyes filled with an unfamiliar expression.

"Can this wait?" Hypatia asked.

Ferra vigorously shook her head, signing that she needed Hypatia's help immediately. She, in this instance, not being Ferra. "…Take me to her," Hypatia stated as she followed her sister-in-arms.

As the air around Barabbas's guarding arms began to sting, Rosa settled into her focus. For the second time this day, Barabbas had violated her, turning her body against her so he could lord his misbegotten power over her head. All those years of being brought up as a prince, all the power he wielded and used and abused at his leisure, and all the sacrifices everyone was willing to make in his name, and he couldn't even bother to attend a damn meeting.

She couldn't say she didn't relate. Not long ago, she was in that very same boat. While the mission had changed, when it started out, most of the people watching her go to town on this idiot were out here on her behalf, whether they saw it that way or not. And not all of them made it this far.

People had died. Most of them she didn't know, but that didn't change the fact that these people who had come so far had come for her. They had died on her behalf when she didn't have anything on her mind beyond Larain and Carla and how much she missed her hotel room and all that other petty stuff she could hardly be bothered to remember. Maybe that was it, what was bothering her so much? That she didn't have more to show for their sacrifices.

Above the din of combat, she could make out the voice of her father screaming on in encouragement. She couldn't remember the last time she felt that warm thinking about the Old Man. And Cassidy, when was the last time that woman felt so alive? Tobey and Carla, Jimmy, even Kim and Larain, they all had her back no matter what. Well, now she was going to give them something. She was going to beat this guy so hard that he would remember his place. As the grand Caesar of Dallas, not some spoiled wanderer who came and went as he pleased.

A massive fist suddenly enveloped her wrist. Rosa broke from her trance to see that Barabbas's new gamble had worked. He had intercepted her machete arm, and he was now arching his back as far as he could before his skull careened into hers. As the stars filled her vision, she felt something slip from her fingers as the dirt-filled ground rushed up to meet her back. Upon the second impact along her back, she groggily had her vision return as she felt a large foot slam onto her arm while another kicked her machete out of her grip.

Releasing her from his feet, Barabbas watched as Rosa tried to get her bearings and crawl away. Considering the blow he finally landed on her, it was almost a miracle she was even still conscious. Almost, but unfortunately for her, not quite. Barabbas waited for her to turn herself over so she could try to right herself up from her hands and knees. Right as she did, he flanked her and punted her right in the stomach as hard as he could, causing her to sprawl away as her guts began to churn.

Rosa landed on her face, picking herself up just in time for her breakfast to spew out onto the ground before her. She was able to enjoy her post-purge relief for a few moments up until a strong hand grabbed her by the back of the hair and forced her face into the vomit, much like a harsh owner disciplining a dog. As Barabbas held her face into her own sick, the jeers and snarls from the plebs began to reach him. They had mocked and laughed at him while Rosa had been dancing around and tormenting him, but now that the situation had been inevitably reversed, they were filled with concern over the brat for the fight she instigated.

"Rosa!" Dalton called out. "Are you still conscious?"

Rosa had put her palms on the ground as she tried to force her way up for air. Barabbas relieved her as she gasped and hacked for fresh air as he turned to face the crowd. "…AREN'T YOU AMUSED?! ISN'T THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?! DID YOU REALLY EXPECT ME TO JUST TAKE EVERY INSULT WITHOUT REPRISAL? I AM CAESAR! I WAS RAISED TO BE A WARRIOR BECAUSE NO ONE COULD TOLERATE ME BEING ANYTHING ELSE! HERE'S THAT DAMNABLE WARLORD YOU ALWAYS WANTED ME TO BE!" he finally shrieked at Falco.

As Rosa had finally crawled back to her feet, a massive hand wrapped around her throat, lifting her up until only the tips of her toes were on the ground. "…And now for you," Barabbas quietly seethed. "…Submit." As per the pre-fight deal, the consequences of Rosa's loss would be rather severe, becoming the newest member of Barabbas's harem. Not that he had eyes on anyone other than Kyra, but there were certain things he couldn't find himself asking her. But Rosa? Gods only knew what degeneracy that woman was capable of in her own time.

"D-d-d…," Rosa gritted out as Barabbas awaited her surrender.

"…Yes?" Barabbas taunted as he lessened his grip.

"…Don't even think about throwing that towel," Rosa growled. Lars stopped, the rag falling from its arch before he let it slip his grip. "If you throw that, I will never speak to you again!" Rosa snarled. "And you!" she finally returned her attention to the brute. "…Do your worst."

Hypatia followed Ferra as they ducked through the tents, the AEG traveling camp having gotten larger with the arrival of the Liberty Clans. Still, with the fight being the event that captured most of the attention of the rank and file, and with security overlooking the outskirts, there were a few secluded areas, one of which in particular was being occupied by two.

Rathmore's pistol dug into Kyra's head as he continued his interrogation. "What did you tell them?!" he snarled as Kyra's panicked silence throttled her mouth. First came the confusion as the normally friendly Rathmore seemed to want to discuss a personal issue, only to pull out his firearm and begin screaming over letting himself become a security breach and how much of an idiot he was to put his trust in a rented snatch. He knew he deserved to be punished, but right now he only had one opportunity to clean up the mess. Ferra rounded one corner of the tent, drawing out a knife. As Rathmore was distracted, Hypatia rounded the other and made a grab for Kyra. Donald, having anticipated the action, pulled Kyra towards him as he backed away from the two, placing the gun under Kyra's chin.

"And of course, your cavalry arrives," Rathmore spat derisively. Kyra's tears welled up under her eyes as Ferra and Hypatia kept their hands on their weapons. This standoff was going to get ugly very quickly if things continued on this path.

"…You must be Captain Rathmore? Kyra's told us a bit about you," Hypatia began.

"I can fucking bet!" Rathmore snarled as he pulled roughly on Kyra's arm.

"…Upset your loose lips put you in an embarrassing situation? We've all been there, haven't we, Ferra?" Hypatia looked over to her comrade, who nodded in affirmation.

"Shut the hell up, both of you! I am going to fix one mistake and take care of the other later," Rathmore growled.

"…Funny thing, Rathmore. Kyra wasn't even intended to be a spy. We literally just sent her to sleep with you. And yet, to her credit, she comes back with a treasure trove of information about your army," Hypatia beamed in pride.

"Stop it!" Kyra pleaded through tears as Rathmore fumed in humiliation.

"…Well, what in that treasure trove did she tell you about me?" Rathmore hissed.

Hypatia stood in silence. She looked to Kyra, who in her fear and ignominy wordlessly begged Hypatia to get out of this place and save herself. So, not only was the corpse angry, but Kyra genuinely felt guilty. Hypatia began to grin and slowly began to laugh.

"WHAT NOW?!" Rathmore snarled.

"All she told us was that you had been more of a man than any of us could have possibly understood. Personally, though, I can't say I'm impressed," Hypatia chuckled.

Rathmore balked at the statement. She had to be fucking with him. There is no way that a Legion honeytrap witnessed a legendary NCR soldier break down in tears on her lap and absolutely did not relay it to her superiors. "…Is that true?" he whispered to Kyra.

"…I meant it," Kyra sobbed.

Rathmore got his answer. Kyra wasn't so much a spy as much as he had just been an idiot. It was entirely his fault. Slowly, he lowered his gun and released his grip on Kyra, allowing her to run to Hypatia as she wrapped her arms around the other woman. "…Why?" he asked.

"…BECAUSE I NEVER SAW YOU AS MY ENEMY!" Kyra cried out as the tears streaked down her face.

Rathmore took a long look at Kyra as she buried her face next to Hypatia's neck while Ferra moved to block his sight of the two. Had he only felt like a fool, now he felt like a monster. Slowly, Rathmore turned and walked away, a friendship he only now just realized he valued now in tatters.

"…I… I didn't know…" Kyra sniffed.

Reluctantly, Hypatia patted an arm around Kyra's shaking shoulders. "…Ferra, keep an eye on the ghoul in case he has a change of heart. I doubt anything will come of it, but even so…" Ferra nodded as she darted away. "…Hey, Kyra?"

Kyra sobbed and gulped, barely capable of even a basic verbal response.

"…Remember the first time we talked?" Hypatia asked. Kyra nodded. "…Remember what I said about what you had to go through to become a member of the Legios Amazonia? And you told me that you were sorry I had to go through that?"

"…Yes…" Kyra whimpered.

"…No one had ever told me that before. It meant the world to me," Hypatia admitted. "…Just… figured it was past time I let you know that." Kyra began to bawl even harder as she flung her arms even tighter around Hypatia's neck, who tried to comfort the other woman to the best of her ability.

Another blow against her stomach left Rosa reeling as Barabbas readied another deliberate strike. In truth, he could have knocked out Rosa whenever he so desired, but he was determined to pay back each and every physical insult she had inflicted upon him until he would. And so he commenced throwing a series of half-hearted jabs that nonetheless were able to stagger the already weary Rosa, prolonging her torture as the rest of the crowd tried to cheer on and encourage her. As the beating continued, eventually most learned of the point Barabbas was trying to make; I can beat this girl to death whenever I want, and when I'm done with her, she'll wish I did.

Out of the corner of her unswollen eye, she saw her machete laying blade down in the dirt near Barabbas's corner. The last thing she wanted to do, however, was bring it back into play, as if Barabbas got his hands on it, she would be even deeper in the pit than she already was. Her lack of focus cost her as Barabbas backhanded her across the face, knocking her back as she struggled to stay on her feet.

Dalton strolled by the machete, drawing it from the ground. He entertained the notion of pausing the fight and returning the blade to its rightful owner. As he glanced over it, he began to notice some details he hadn't taken note of before. The hue of the alloy was… off, at least compared to all the iron and steel he had seen in his years of Legion service. Something about the sheen of the metal was throwing him for a loop, and if he didn't know any better, he could have sworn it was glowing like starlight, however faintly.

"HEY, OLD FUCK, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE FIGHT!" Dinero screamed at him, before apologizing profusely to Marcy for his language.

After a persistent beating, Rosa finally fell to her knee. Coughing up some blood, she could feel the presence before her drawing down his fist as he reached behind her to grab the back of her shirt. Hoisting her to her feet, Rosa glared at Barabbas as he awaited her next response.

"…I'm not even tired, yet," he taunted. "And as for "doing my worst" well, you might now be grateful that I've spared you the worst of what I can do. Well, how about it? Give up and maybe I'll only take your ass once."

"...*sqwuck* *pat-tootie*"

A glob of bloody spit slammed into Barabbas's eye. Snarling, he reared back his other fist as Rosa planted her foot directly into his gut with all the force she could muster. Caesar's knees buckled, and Rosa had the toehold she needed for this last hail Mary. Slamming her other foot into Barabbas's knees, she vaulted herself up beyond Barabbas, almost diving over him, catching herself on his neck.

Barabbas felt the shin of the brat snaking under his chin, with the other leg wrapping around his neck as Rosa began to squeeze his throat. Immediately, Barabbas felt like he was drowning as Rosa began punching the top of his head with the remnants of her spent strength. Gathering his might, Barabbas immediately braced his back to adjust for the weight near his head and promptly bombed her against the ground.

The crowd went silent. The sound of the impact against the dirt floor seemed to echo throughout the impromptu arena. Rosa felt the impact against her back, around her neck, and on top of her head. She did not let go. Choking and desperate, Barabbas immediately hauled Rosa off the ground as he made one last attempt to dislodge the girl. As Rosa's back began to give out, she noticed that her head was a lot closer to the ground than it had been. Oh no, she thought to herself. Please tell me that he isn't going to go for a piledr-

The impact made the world around her fall into black.

The sky was on fire. In the distance, sounds of battle thundered throughout the plains, howls of anger and pain echoing throughout the air. And yet, she herself could not know where she was, as she remained in the arena, albeit with different players. The priest with the flaming sword and a giant black deathclaw circled around them, she and he keeping their backs together as they awaited the onslaught.

"…The priest is mine," she muttered.

"Suit yourself," Cade replied.

They broke apart, Rosa keeping her weapon raised as she engaged the priest while Cade fired upon the deathclaw. As Rosa struck against the priest, a massive airship above them exploded and she heard a cry of pain behind her. Looking back, she saw that the deathclaw had overpowered Cade and had begun mauling him, the sight of which sent an inexplicable shiver of terror down her spine. The strike of the flaming sword that followed it, however, sent her hurdling into eternity.

"…back, I said get back!" Cassidy screamed as the Boone twins, Jimmy and Larain crowded around their friend. As Rosa lay on the dirt, her awareness slowly began to return to her, through a haze that was difficult to parse, admittedly.

"Rosa, are you Ok?" Tobey asked.

"Say something!" Jimmy demanded, pleading.

"I should have stopped the fight," Carla began to sob.

"You did good," Larain stated.

Rosa's eye fluttered open. "…I won?"

Some feet away, the passed-out Barabbas gradually returned to consciousness. As Dinero saw to him, he swatted the old man away. "Please tell me I crippled that little…" Barabbas growled as Dalton arrived and stood over his purple-faced form.

"…Double KO," Dalton announced.

"WHAT?!" Rosa and Barabbas screamed in unison. The crowd immediately voiced their similar frustration. Multiple pools that had been run before and during the fight were now up in smoke. Save for one gambler who made his prediction as a joke, not taking the betting seriously. Wordlessly and sheepishly, Frost collected his winnings from the various pots.

Barabbas was the first on his feet. Unsteadily, he clearly was not ready for the fight to be over, even as the blood slowly began to return to his head. Seeing him clumsily approach, Rosa's friends began to form a ring around her to keep Caesar away as Rosa tried and failed to get back to her feet. Steadying himself, Barabbas began to rear back his fist, not caring where it would land or who would be struck. He was going to end this on his terms. Meanwhile, Dalton felt someone brush past him as they swiped the confiscated weapon from him. Barabbas threw his punch, and while Tobey braced himself for yet another beating, the hard impact that intercepted the fist brought even the mighty Caesar to a halt.

Standing before him, with the handle in one hand and the other arm bracing the blade, Rosa's machete had blocked the punch. Behind it, two fiery green eyes glared at him, the eyes that saw the Legion ran off so many years ago. Now, years older and slower, the legendary Courier had stepped in to defend that which he cared for. "…If you still want to fight, say the word," Lars growled as he pressured the flat side of the blade against the giant's fist.

Barabbas knew he was staring into the eyes of the man who ran off his father. He knew that this was the most hated man the Legion had probably ever known, rivaling only in comparison to figures like the Burned Man and Hanlon. He knew he was looking in the eyes of the man whose daughter he threatened to violate in front of him at his leisure all the way back to Dallas after he won this fight. And he knew that if he killed him here and now, he would lay claim to an accomplishment that Scorpio could only dream of.

A punch to the side of his face staggered him out of his delusions of grandeur. Clenching his jaw, Barabbas turned to see his lieutenant glaring at him in barely contained rage. "RETAIN YOUR FUCKING DIGNITY, BOY, WHILE YOU STILL CAN!" Falco screamed at his superior officer and commander. Shocked, Barabbas looked to his men. None of them could bare to look him in the eye and Pariah was gone.

Meanwhile, Rosa was counting Kim's fingers. "…Six… two… nine… four…teen…"

"Yeah, she's concussed," Kim said. "We need to get her somewhere dark and quiet."

"Concussed?! Isn't that permanent?" Carla asked.

"Can't say for certain now, but the fewer chances we take, the better. Honestly, it's a miracle she's conscious, we'll worry about brain damage later."

"Well," Larain began. "If Rosa suffered from brain damage, would any of us be able to tell?"

"I heard that and go fuck yourself too!" Rosa hissed, giving him the familiar finger.

"Well, at least she's still Rosa," Larain sighed in relief.

Rosa was about to continue the argument when a pair of arms scooped her off the ground and began to carry her. "I can walk," Rosa protested.

"One step at a time," her father stated as he carried her to his tent.

"…Ok," Rosa finally replied.

Meanwhile, Barabbas had had it with Falco's castigations and pushed through his men. "WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!" Falco screamed.

"I'M DONE WITH THIS!" Barabbas screamed as he kept pushing through the crowd, looking for his girls. He had to get Belua, find Pariah and Kyra, and ride out as fast and hard as he could and he would find that mountain and build that cabin and never have to deal with any of this bullshit ever again.

…It's kind of a shame Dad didn't get to see that.

Barabbas came to a stop. Pariah? Where are you?

Beating and trying to humiliate that girl, he'd be so proud of you.

She started it!

This wouldn't have happened if you had just shown up for work, today! I had to cover for you, me, your mute freak of a sister! I can't do your job, I needed you and you weren't here! You're never around when I really need you and always around when I don't! You have other things to worry about than me, but you just can't be bothered to do anything about them! JUST SHOW UP WHEN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANT IN THE EVENINGS, IS THAT SO MUCH TO ASK?!

Pariah!

The static filled his ears. Whenever Pariah did this, it meant that she didn't feel like talking or being found. He could tear this entire camp apart and not be any closer to finding her, rendering this whole damn journey to the west pointless. No matter. All he had to was wait and she'd change her mind, eventually. In the meantime, he still had someone else he needed to see.

As Lars drew the tent flap closed, Rosa was laid down on a cot. Grabbing a rag, he soaked it with his canteen as he laid it on her forehead. "Just lay still and try to rest. That depleted super mutant dropped you on your head multiple times, so we are not going to rush anything. You still hurt?"

"I'll be fine, I just need to get a drink and I'll be fine," Rosa said.

Lars passed her his canteen. "…Got anything stronger?"

Lars rolled his eyes. "That might be the last thing you need right now."

Rosa pouted. The tent flap drew back as Cassidy poked her head inside. "Oh, good, our princess is awake and well," said the old cowgirl as she tossed a pillow inside the tent. "Your brain still in your skull?"

"So far," Rosa admitted as Lars began rolling up a blanket to set around her ears. "…Seriously, though, a double knockout?"

Cass shrugged. "You were both pretty much unconscious at the same time. You were just not going to let that submission go, were you?"

"…Trained by the best," Rosa weakly smiled.

"I never taught you that," Lars replied, confused.

Cass cracked her back. "Well, that little display made me really not miss my bar fighting days. I got to hand it to you, kid, that thick skull of yours can come in handy. At least you can thank your father for one thing, I guess."

"Ha-ha," Lars replied, dryly. "Beat it, I need to look after my daughter." Cass stuck her tongue out as she retreated. "…She kind of has a point, I guess," Rosa admitted. "If I got anything from you, it was your thick head."

Lars wiped his brow, running his hand over the scar that marked his forehead. "I owe everything to this thick head of mine, as do you."

Rosa laughed. "What else will protect us from our bad decisions?" The father and daughter began to laugh together.

Barabbas made his way through the tents as he kept his eyes peeled. Hypatia saw him early, looking back into the tent to see Kyra's quivering body laying on the cot. Hypatia closed her eyes and braced herself as she went off to intercept Caesar.

"Ave, true to-"

"Shut the hell up! Where's Kyra?" Barabbas demanded.

Hypatia fought back against gulping. "…She's under the weather right now. It would probably be best if you-"

"Where is she, woman?" Barabbas growled as he loomed over her.

"…Tired and sick, my lord," Hypatia replied, undeterred. "I would leave her be while…"

Barabbas shot out his arm as he lifted Hypatia off the ground. "Do you seek to defy me again, little Hypatia," Barabbas snarled.

"…Aye, sir," Hypatia admitted. "…For her sake."

The two stood together. In frustration, Barabbas released his rider as he stormed away in bitter defeat. Hypatia breathed a sigh of relief, having spared Kyra the irate presence of her lover and further drama with the AEG, her own safety being a tertiary concern. Barabbas, though, turned to the horizon. The mountains had long dipped below their sight and were so very far away. It would seem that his dreams were no more than what they were, passing fancies with no weight or meaning. That cabin was never going to be built, not with the company he desired above all others.

Wordlessly, he returned to the camp of his men, putting on his armor in silence as the rest of his men prepared to ride out. As he threw his saddle over Belua, he could feel Falco approaching him. "…My lord, regarding my prior outburst…" the older centurion began.

"We're about eighty miles from the Texas border," Barabbas replied. "Everyone wants to finish this damn thing, so who am I to deny them?"

"Sir, I just wanted to-"

"Personal issues can wait, Falco. Scouting takes priority," Barabbas replied, dryly.

"Aye, sir," Falco nodded as the two joined up with the others and rode out. Pariah watched from behind a tent as her brother continued to numb himself from a world he felt ever more disconnected from. Elsewhere, Gael and some of the Judicial Marshals who had been scouting during the event had returned and were promptly filled in on the event they had missed. Elsewhere, the stress of the event had found Carla once again in Larain's arms, the man sharing a glance with Tobey as the marshal left Larain and his sister to their own devices. Elsewhere, Rathmore was beating in an empty crate, splintering it to pieces as he braced himself to debrief Wallace on his findings. Elsewhere, a ragged and battered army inched ever closer to the AEG. Elsewhere, the priest and his dragon located a cohort that had answered its summons to follow Scorpio, and soon enough the Ministerio continued on its path to destiny.