Zion

Marcus woke with a start, trying to catch his breath and sweating. He took a quick look around and aside from the light from a nearby fire, he was surrounded by darkness. "Sarah?"

When there was no answer, his chest began to tighten as panic slowly set in. "SARAH!"

The sound of someone running began to echo inside the dwelling, and Marcus surmised he must be inside of a cave. A moment later, Sarah was kneeling down next to him, and she kissed him passionately. Marcus savored the sweet taste of her lips, and he gently wrapped his right arm around her. When their lips separated Marcus stared at her beautiful face, and the light from the fire danced in her eyes.

Sarah's voice almost choked from the feelings of joy and relief, and a nervous chuckle escaped from her. "Well….it's about time you woke up."

Marcus smiled, and before he could respond to her quip, Dogmeat slammed into him and began to lick his face. "Okay, okay boy! I'm glad to see you too."

The dog responded with a bark. "Sarah….did anyone else…."

Sarah's eyes dropped down and she shook her head. "No."

Marcus balled his fist and brought it down into the dirt. "Damn it!" He hadn't known Lenny for very long, but the ghoul was the only surviving link to his great-grandfather, and Marcus couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. "We should go back and give them a proper burial – WHOA!"

Marcus shrieked and nearly jumped out of his skin as his eyes fell on the strange man (who he swears was not there a second ago), sitting on the other side of the fire, staring at Marcus with intense eyes. The Lone Wanderer studied the man's tattoo covered face – and was more confused than ever. "Did I….miss something?"

Sarah laughed and kissed him on the forehead. "You missed quite a bit, actually."

After introducing Marcus to White Bird, Sarah told him everything that had happened since they'd crashed. She told him about the White Legs ambush, Follows-Chalk rescuing her, and her meeting with the mysterious Joshua Graham. "Sounds like I have a lot of people to thank." Marcus said. He turned to White Bird, who was still sitting by the fire in silence. "Thank you."

The mysterious shaman responded with a nod.

When Marcus' eyes finally adjusted to the light, he got his first glimpse of the small native village at the banks of the Eastern Virgin. It immediately reminded him of the pictures of ancient Native American villages – minus the Teepee's of course. Some of the natives were tending to crops, while others prepared the food. He spotted a few women washing cloths down by the stream while their children played nearby, and a small band of armed men were seen entering the camp with what looked like a dead yao guai tied to a stake.

As the two lovers and Dogmeat emerged from the cave, all of the natives seemed to stop and stare at them, and soon one of them wearing a ball cap with feathers approached. "Good, you are awake, Mr. Lincoln." He said as he held out his hand.

Marcus accepted the native's hand. "You must be Follows-Chalk. Sarah told me what you did for her at the crash site. Thank you – and please, just call me Marcus."

"You're welcome. Joshua asked me to invite you to his cave once you were awake, and if you were strong enough."

Marcus glanced over at the food being prepared by the natives and his stomach began to growl. He didn't want to be rude but….

"I would like to eat something first if that's okay?"

Follows-Chalk smiled. "Of course. In fact, Joshua should be eating now. I'm sure he will not mind if you join him."

Relief washed over Marcus. "That sounds great."

As Follows-Chalk lead them to Joshua's cave, Marcus couldn't help but notice how many of the natives seemed to back away from them. Not out of respect, but fear. He leaned closer to Sarah. "Why do they seem so afraid of us?" He whispered.

Sarah hung her head. "A few of them saw me heal."

It took Marcus a moment to figure it out – and he let out a small groan. "Oh."

Sarah's jaw clenched. "Yeah. Now they think I'm some kind of evil spirit."

Follows-Chalk looked over his shoulder. "Actually, many of the people believe you are Shakaru, the sun goddess."

"Well, you've been promoted from Warrior to Sun Goddess." Marcus said as he tried to lighten the mood.

The look on Sarah's face confirmed it wasn't working. "Oh you think this is funny?"

"No." Marcus stammered. "I just….never mind."

Moira, gratefully, decided to come to his rescue by chiming in. "On top of that, they know about me and think I'm a ghost."

Marcus pondered that for a moment. "Well….I guess that determines what your definition of ghost is."

Sarah groaned and placed her hand over her face. "Oh God, please! I had to endure you and Charon arguing about this for hours! Can we drop it! She's not a ghost, she's an AI."

"Yes….that's based on the mind of a dead woman. So if a ghost is just an extension of someone's spirit then why can't an AI…."

"Marcus I swear, if you don't stop talking I'm going to hit you!"

Marcus wasn't sure if she was kidding or not, so he simply smiled and decided to drop the whole thing. Follows-Chalk took another look over his shoulder, and then shook his head. "You outsiders are a strange lot."

The four companions entered Angel Cave, and it wasn't long before the smell of cooked meat filled their nostrils. Joshua Graham was sitting alone, eating what looked like grilled yoa guai meat and agave fruit. He immediately rose when he spotted his guests, and after wiping his mouth, approached and greeted them. "Glad to see you are alright, Mr. Lincoln." The two men shook hands. "I am Joshua Graham. Welcome to Zion."

Even though Sarah had warned him of Joshua's appearance, it still took Marcus some effort to hide his shock. "Thank you. And please, call me Marcus."

"Very well. Then you may call me Joshua." He motioned for them to sit down. "Please join me, all of you. We have much to discuss."

Once the food was brought to them, it took Marcus considerable will power to not dive right into the mouthwatering steak and devour it. He maintained his table educate, and thankfully, Joshua was understanding enough to allow his guests the chance to curb their appetites before beginning the conversation. "I suppose the first thing we should do is get to know each other." Joshua began. "As you probably surmised I am not from here. My home is a place called New Canaan."

Sarah washed down her agave fruit with some water. "What made you come all the way out here?"

"I was on a pilgrimage to spread the word of God to the natives in this region."

That peeked Marcus' interest. "So you're a missionary?"

"Yes….and you no doubt are familiar with us since you wear a medallion of Saint Michael around your neck."

Marcus looked down and placed his hand on the medallion. A pang of guilt hit him as he thought of Marcella, the missionary from Point Lookout who had saved his life (and probably his soul), years ago. "Her name was Marcella, and she was a missionary from the Abbey of the Road; a church located in the Commonwealth." He turned to Sarah, and she gently placed her hand on his. "She….she helped me when I was in a dark place. Unfortuntly….it cost her her life."

Joshua's eyes shifted between the two lovers. He suspected there was much more to the story, but decided not to pry. "It sounds like she lived up to her calling, and died in a state of grace. We should all be so lucky."

Lucky? Marcus wasn't sure how to respond to his statement, so he chose not to. "If you're a missionary does that mean you'll be returning to New Canaan soon?"

For a moment, Joshua's eyes betrayed a sense of remorse. "I'm afraid not. New Canaan was destroyed by the White Legs."

"You mean the same tribals that ambushed us?" Marcus asked.

Joshua nodded. "Yes. The only New Canaanite left other than myself is Daniel; a missionary at the Sorrows camp."

Sarah's heart broke for the man, as she thought about the fate of her fellow Brothers in California. "I'm so sorry."

"Thank you." He replied. "As you have seen first-hand the White Legs are becoming a serious problem. They aim to drive out the Dead Horses and Sorrows, and claim Zion for themselves."

"Do the Dead Horses and Sorrows own Zion?" Marcus asked.

"The valley belongs to God, but no. The Sorrows are the original inhabitants of Zion. We believe they are descended of people from a place called Res, along with outsiders who were visiting Res when the bombs fell. Eventually the two languages merged together. I was a translator years ago, but it's hard to keep up with all the tribal variations. I asked the Dead Horses to come and assist us in the fight against the White Legs. During one of my many pilgrimages I taught them to be more efficient hunters, and how to maintain their modern equipment."

"Joshua helped us to be better warriors." Follows-Chalk chimed in. "So we come to Zion to help him fight the White Legs."

Sarah responded to the young tribal's praise. "I've heard the stories of your victories. It's quite impressive….for a missionary."

Joshua could hear the suspicion behind her statement, yet he showed no emotion when he responded. "No more impressive than someone who spent their life in a Vault climbing the ranks of the Brotherhood of Steel."

Marcus froze in place, and his eyes narrowed. "How did you….

"Your complexion does not match that of a person who has grown up in the Wasteland." Joshua quickly answered. "That and the PIPBOY on your arm. I confess I have never seen one with an AI installed in it."

Moira decided to join the conversation, and her avatar appeared on the screen. "Oh I wasn't included, I was downloaded waaaayyyyy later….after I died."

Follows-Chalk visibly jumped when the avatar began to speak. "So….she is a spirit!"

"Well," Marcus began, but then stopped when Sarah gave him what he called 'the look'. "Not….exactly. Moira was a brilliant inventor…."

"What do you mean 'was'?" She asked in mock-anger.

Marcus had to stifle a chuckle. "I'm sorry, is a great inventor, and managed to download her conscious onto a computer system before she died. The AI thinks and acts exactly like the original in every way."

"Including almost getting us killed." Sarah grumbled under her breath.

"I heard that!" Moira snapped.

Though Follows-Chalk was still confused, Joshua clearly understood. "Fascinating. My apologies, I did not mean to make you feel uncomfortable. Please, tell me more about where you're from."

For the rest of the meal, Marcus and Sarah told Joshua and Follows-Chalk their story, starting when Marcus escaped from Vault 101 and looking for his father. They told them the story of Project Purity and the war against the Enclave, then the war against the Pitt and how the Capital Union was born in its aftermath. While Joshua sat mostly silent during the exchange, Follows-Chalk seemed fascinated by the tale, and frequently asked questions about life in the 'civilized lands' as he called it.

"It sounds like you have achieved more in your twenty-one years than most men have in their entire life." Joshua said. "I shouldn't be surprised. After all, the stories about your great-grandfather are similar to your own. Both of you were raised in a Vault, and both of you are the founder of a nation."

"Well," Marcus began, "I didn't set out to be."

"Neither did he," Joshua said, "but it appears God had plans for both of you."

Silence filled the cave, and for several moments no one spoke. Finally, Sarah cleared her throat. "We appreciate everything you have done for us, but we really need to get to the Mojave. We're on a mission that is crucial to the Brotherhood." Sarah was hesitant to divulge anymore information to Joshua, and decided to leave it at that. Though he and his tribals had helped them immensely, Sarah couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something, and as a result, was not ready to trust him with the full details of their mission. For his part, Joshua suspected as much, and did not press them. "As much as we might want to help, we can't right now. With the White Legs encroaching on our territory I cannot spare anyone to guide you through the valley."

"My PIPBOY's equipped with old world maps. All you'd have to do is point us in the right direction."

Joshua remained still for a moment. "I could do that." He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table." The truth is… we need your help. The Sorrows are good hunters, but they are not warriors. They have not had to deal with war or raiders for decades. If it becomes necessary to evacuate, we will need all the help we can get."

Marcus was taken aback by that. "Evacuate? I thought your plan was to fight."

"Daniel doesn't want the Sorrows to fight the White Legs. He believes that to expose them to war will cause them to lose their innocents, and they will be changed forever. The Sorrows will not fight without his blessing, and we cannot win without their support. If the White Legs attack in mass, evacuation might be our only option."

Both Marcus and Sarah shifted uncomfortable. Both of them were eager to continue with their mission, and the last thing they wanted to do was get in the middle of a tribal war. Before either of them could respond, Joshua continued. "I believe that as tragic as your crash landing was, it happened for a reason. I believe God has delivered you to us in our hour of need." He sat back and placed his palms up. "All I am asking is that you take one day and consider it. Go and see Zion for yourself, and all the blessings God has bestowed upon it. Take some time and meet the good people here from both tribes."

Sarah's eyes narrowed. "And if we still decide not to help you, are we free to leave?"

There was no missing the hostility in her voice, and Joshua was silent for a moment, as if he were weighing his options. "Of course." He stood up, and everyone followed. "Follows-Chalk will show you around." He shook hands with Marcus once again. "Go with God."

Marcus thanked him, and the four companions left Angel Cave.

Doing as Joshua asked, Marcus and Sarah spent the rest of the day exploring the Zion valley with Follows-Chalk and meeting the tribals. At first many of them were still afraid of Sarah, but as the day wore on more and more of them began to interact with the two outsiders. The children were especially fond of Dogmeat, and fascinated by Moira. Both of them marveled at the beauty of the valley, and were fascinated at how the tribals had managed to survive cut off from civilization. They eventually made their way to the Narrows, the site of the Sorrows' camp, and the fact that many of the women walked around topless caused Marcus to blush more than once. It wasn't long before Follows-Chalk introduced them to one of these women, and Marcus was grateful she was fully clothed.

"Waking Cloud is my name. I am midwife to the Sorrows."

Marcus shook the young woman's hand. "My name is Marcus, and this is Sarah."

Waking Cloud shook hands with Sarah. "You are the ones Joshua sent to us. Blessing of the Father in the Cave on you."

"You speak English very well, Waking Cloud." Sarah said.

"Yes - the language of the New Canaanites is the holy tongue, for it is the language their sacred books are written in. Daniel has taught us that the Father in the Caves brought it to them after the Judgment, but the ancestors of the Sorrows sinned against Him. They were denied the true tongue."

Marcus looked to Sarah, who seemed just as confused as he was. "I'm sorry the Father in the Caves?"

Now it was Waking Cloud who looked dumbfounded. "Have you not heard of the god of the New Canaanites? He is our protector and our judge. He helped our ancestors find their place here in Zion. He gave us many gifts, but we are not to seek him out. His caves are forbidden to us. Those who seek them out are taken from us."

"That….doesn't sound like the same God of New Canaan." Marcus said.

"Perhaps you do not fully understand the New Canaanites. I have seen the Father's images. His holy bride and holy son were given unto the world to save it. They dwelt in the caverns of the mountains, caverns which can still be seen today. The people sinned against Him, and were punished with the End That Came in Fire and the loss of the holy tongue. Only the New Canaanites were spared. I'm sure Daniel could tell you more. His knowledge of the Father is greater than my own."

When the young tribal finished telling her story, Marcus turned to Sarah and spoke in a low voice. "It sounds like they've combined their tribal religion with Christianity."

Sarah responded with a shrug. "I'll take your word for it."

Marcus turned back to Waking Cloud. "Is Daniel in the camp? May we speak with him?"

Waking Cloud shook her head. "I am sorry, but he is out scouting for the White Legs. He should be back by morning."

"Waking Cloud makes good medicines." Follows-Chalk said. "She can show you what herbs and plants to use."

"Yes, civilized medicine is scarce here. If you are to survive, you must learn to make healing powder. Come. I show you."

The four companions followed Waking Cloud further into the Narrows, and it wasn't long before Marcus made an interesting observation. "You said you are a mid-wife, but I haven't seen any children in the camp."

"The children and the old have already been evacuated from the camp. They are safe enough, unless the White Legs come for us in force."

"What can you tell us about these White Legs?" Sarah asked.

"Their leader is a man called Salt-Upon-Wounds. He is war chief of the White Legs, and the worst butcher of them all. The tribes he has crushed are many. The warriors he has slain, countless. When the White Legs took New Canaan, they salted the Earth so that none may ever use it. He defiled the Father's sacred ground! Can you image that?"

"Sounds like a real asshole." Marcus grumbled under his breath.

Follows-Chalk apparently heard the remark, and gave the Lone Wanderer a sideways look. "What is an ass….hole?"

Sarah let out a slight chuckle, and Marcus attempted to answer. "It's what we call a really bad guy."

"Oh. Then I will call Salt-Upon-Wounds an asshole."

Now Sarah was turning red as she tried desperately not to bust out laughing. "You do that." She managed to say.

It wasn't long before Waking Cloud stopped, and then waved the companions over to look at something. "This is broc flower, one of two herbs you will need to make the healing powder. It can also be used to make anti-venom. You will need that if you encounter a cazador."

Marcus kneeled down and studied the plant. "What is a cazador?"

"Large flying insect." Follows-Chalk said. "They have long stingers and armor for skin; very hard to kill. They live mostly in the mountains."

"Come, I will show you were to find xander root for the healing powder. When mixed with spore plant pods and the sacred datura root, it will create the anti-venom."

True to her word, Waking Cloud showed them where to find the rest of the herbs, then she showed them how to make both of the potions at a small campfire. While Marcus was grateful to be shown the skill, Sarah looked more than skeptical that the tribal medicine would be of any use. Follows-Chalk then took them deeper into the valley, and soon the companions came to a large part of the river. "This is the eastern fork of the Virgin River, and it's the place we Dead Horses call home. Joshua says it is a temple to God's glory on Earth."

As they made their way down to the river bank, both Marcus and Sarah were in awe at the river's size. Several of the Dead Horses were fishing with nets, while many of the children were happily playing and splashing around in the water. Marcus kneeled down and did a quick scan with his PIPBOY, and just as before, there were no traces of radiation. "It's unbelievable!" He said in a hush tone. "A body of water this big, with no radiation in it what so ever." He began to run his hands along the water's surface, then he cupped them and took a drink. It was the best water he had ever tasted.

"That's great Marcus but don't forget….without radiation, your healing power is pretty much useless."

Marcus was still smiling as he drank more of the water. "I would gladly trade that for a clean environment like this." After getting his fill of water, Marcus looked on at the Dead Horses swimming in the river….and he immediately stood up and began taking off his gear.

"What are you doing?"

With his gear on the ground, Marcus began to pull down the front zipper of his fatigues. "I'm going for a swim."

Sarah's jaw dropped open. "You're….WHAT!"

A second later, Marcus was peeling his fatigues off, until he was standing in nothing but his boxer shorts. Sarah was mortified as her eyes shifted from her half naked lover, and the many other eyes that were now upon them. "Oh my….oh my God, Marcus!"

Marcus stood there with a huge grin on his face. "Come on, Sarah. You know what they say: 'when in Rome….'." He turned and ran towards the river as Sarah yelled after him. "What does that even mean – Marcus!"

The Lone Wanderer ran head lone into the river, with Dogmeat barking and jumping behind him. It wasn't long before he was in far enough to dive underwater, and when he came back up, Marcus relished the feeling of the purified water washing over him. It was a little chilly at first, but very refreshing. "Come on in!" He waved his arm. "The water's great, Sarah!"

Though she was still in a state of mild shock, Sarah couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face as she watched her lover and his trusted companion splashing around. 'That water does look pretty nice', she thought. She scanned the faces of the tribals around her, and most of them were smiling and laughing at the display. The Sentinel finally sighed in defeat, and turned to Follows-Chalk. "Do mind ah….turning around?"

Follows-Chalk was puzzled for a moment, but then he remembered how modest civilized people were. "Of course. In fact, I have to head back to the Dead Horses camp. I will see you there tonight."

Sarah nodded yes, and once Follows-Chalk began to head back to camp, she slowly began to remove her gear and fatigues. She took one last look around and took a deep breath before pulling them completely off, and a cool breeze touched her bare skin. She was still wearing her standard issue black tank top and panties as she quickly made her way into the water. It wasn't long before the two lovers were in each other's arms, with only their shoulders and heads above the water. "You're crazy!" Sarah said with a smile on her face.

Marcus responded with his own smile. "Yeah….but you keep following me."

"That's only because I have to save you from yourself."

Marcus moved a lock of hair away from her face. "Then save me." He said in a husky voice.

Their lips met in a passionate kiss, and Marcus' hands began exploring her body beneath the surface of the water. It wasn't long before Sarah could feel his arousal, and she reluctantly broke the kiss. "Down, boy!" she whispered. "Wait till we're alone."

Marcus had almost forgotten about the tribals (many of whom were still fixated on them), and he sighed in defeat. "Alright." Then a devilish grin appeared on his face. "In that case…." Without warning he picked her up, and Sarah let out a playful yelp as he dunked her back down under the water. For the rest of the day, the canyon was filled with their laughter as they splashed and wrestled with each other.

As the sun began to set over the Zion valley, Marcus and Sarah had found a small cave overlooking the Virgin River, and they built a small fire just inside of its entrance. The two lovers were sitting next to each other, with a blanket covering their nearly-naked bodies. Sarah was content as her head rested on Marcus' shoulder, and his left arm was wrapped around her. "A part of me wishes we could stay like this forever." He whispered.

Sarah smiled and lifted her head up. "Maybe build us a little cabin right….there." She pointed to a spot on the rocks, overlooking the river.

"Yeah, and we can bring Max and Marie here every summer for vacation. I remember reading that the old world had camps like that for children. Who knows, maybe when we're finished in the Mojave, we could start one out here."

Sarah purred as she snuggled even closer. "That would be nice….until the White Legs take Zion."

Marcus let out a sigh as the current reality shattered his dream. "Yeah. I've been thinking a lot about what Joshua said and well, I think we should help these people."

"I figured you would."

"So you're with me?"

Sarah sat up straight and stared at the river. "What do we really know about Joshua? Sure his people saved us and by all accounts he's telling the truth but….I just get the feeling he's not telling us everything."

"Well to be fair, we haven't told him exactly why we're out here, either."

Sarah shrugged her shoulders. "Fair point. But all of his….religious talk it, well – makes me nervous."

Marcus was clearly taken aback by that. "I'm religious and it's never bothered you before."

"You're different, Marcus. You don't….wear it on your sleeve like he does. You keep your beliefs close to your heart; you're not going around the Capital preaching."

"Well the man is a missionary, Sarah, that's kinda what they do."

Sarah rubbed the bridge of her nose in frustration. "I know it's just that….your religion keeps you grounded, and that's a good thing. The way he talks about it….he almost sounds like one of those religious fanatics from the old world."

Marcus sat silent for a moment as he contemplated Sarah's words, and he couldn't help but agree on some of their merits. It is true that Joshua did not speak of God the same way Marcella did, and he knew from history that there was a fine line between those who used religion to promote peace, and those who used it to justify unspeakable acts. "You may be right," he finally said, "and if that is the case we'll take care of it. But Joshua aside, these people are by no means fanatics. In fact, they're probably the most innocent people I have ever met. We should help them, either to evacuate or help fight for their homes."

Sarah stared into his eyes, and he in turn held her gaze as he awaited her answer. Finally, a smirk appeared across her face and she shook her head.

Marcus couldn't help but laugh. "What?"

"I'm just remembering what Charon told me about you once. He said 'we couldn't go five minutes without that kid helping ever damn stray cat or lost puppy in the Wasteland'. I see not much has changed."

Marcus took her in his arms. "I can't help it; it's my nature."

"Yeah, just shut up and kiss me."

He did.

The golden sword came crashing down on Marcus' head, and the Lone Wanderer shot straight up in the bedroll he was sleeping on. He was covered in sweat, and his heart felt like it was going to bust out of his chest. Marcus looked to his left, and Sarah was lying next to him sound asleep. His breathing began to return to normal, and he wiped the sweat from his face. 'Damn nightmare again!' Marcus looked down at his PIPBOY, and it was not quite 5:00am. Realizing he was never going to be able to go back to sleep, he quietly got up so as not to wake Sarah, and began getting back into his fatigues. Dogmeat look up at him and began to wage his tail, and Marcus walked over and petted the canine. "I'm just going to get some air, boy. You stay here and look after Sarah."

A low whine escaped from Dogmeat, as he clearly wanted to go with his master, but the canine put his head back down, and Marcus walked out of the cave. The sky was filled with stars, and the moon light bouncing off the surface of the Virgin River gave Marcus a new appreciation of its beauty. He took a deep breath and relished the sensation of the fresh, country air as it filled his lungs. Now he understood why Joshua said this place belonged to God, for it was indeed a paradise in the middle of a dismal world.

Moira's avatar suddenly appeared on his PIPBOY's screen. "Marcus, there's someone approaching from the woods above us."

Marcus quickly placed his hand on his sidearm and unbuttoned his holster. It wasn't long before the lone figure emerged from the trees, and since he wasn't making an aggressive approach, Marcus decided to turn on his PIPBOY light. "Joshua?"

Joshua Graham did not respond. Instead, he calmly walked up to Marcus and began to speak. "Happy are those who do the work of the Lord. Zion belongs to God and the people of God. It is a natural temple and monument to his glory. When our Lord entered the temple and found it polluted by money-changers and beasts, did he ask them to leave? Did he cry? Did he simply walk away? No. He drove them out. Do you know what that means?"

Marcus stared wide-eyed at the New Canaanite for a few moments before answering. "Um, I'm guessing you have decided that you want to fight the White Legs rather than leave Zion?"

"Yes. You have seen Zion for yourself, and all of God's glory. You have met the good people here. Will you help us?"

Marcus remembered Sarah's concerns, and he crossed his arms and stood firm before Joshua. "This seems very personnel for you. Before I decide to help, I need to know that we're doing this for the right reasons."

Joshua stared at him intently. "You are referring to New Canaan."

Marcus nodded. "Waking Cloud told us what the White Legs did to your home. It would be perfectly understandable for someone to want revenge."

"You have heard it said: 'an eye for an eye, a life for a life.'"

Marcus did not back down. "The same book also says to forgive your enemies."

"It is one thing to forgive a slap across my cheek, but an insult to the Lord requires... no, it demands correction. The White Legs are an affront to everything holy….just as the Enclave you spoke of earlier was when it threatened your home. Tell me, is not the world a better place with them gone?"

Marcus' couldn't help but agree with some of his logic. "I'm not saying that we shouldn't confront evil, Joshua. In fact, I believe it is the duty of all good men to fight, and if necessary, destroy it where ever we find it. But….we have to do it for the right reasons." He turned and stared out along the water as he recalled the memory. "I had many reasons to destroy the Enclave, good reasons, but….in the end the one thing that motivated me the most was vengeance. I wanted to make them pay for what they had done to my father. I didn't realize it then but it started me down a very dark path. I did…." He hung his head and shut his eyes as the terrible memories came to the forefront of his mind. "….I did terrible things….things I wish I can take back but I can't. If it wasn't for Marcella and Sarah….I would've been lost forever." He forced himself to look Joshua in the eye. "It's a road I never want to go down again."

Joshua remained still and silent for several minutes; the only sound coming from the gentle breeze blowing through the valley. "I see." He finally said, barley above a whisper. "It seems you and I are more alike than I first realized. I too, was once in a dark place, and did unspeakable acts against God and his people."

Marcus decided to take a chance and ask the question that had been on his mind since meeting the mysterious New Canaanite. "Is that how you got….burned?"

For the first time since meeting him, Joshua's eyes betrayed a sense of loss and regret. "Yes. I have been baptized twice, once in water, once in flame. I will carry the fire of the holy spirit inside until I stand before my Lord for judgment. Tell me, what do you know of Caesar's Legion?"

Marcus was surprised (and be it, a little worried) about the question. "Only what Lenny told us before he died. The Legion is made up of eight-six tribes, most of them in Arizona, and that they are at war with the NCR over Hoover Damn. Caesar wants the damn so that he can take the Mojave and New Vegas, and from there, he will be able to invade the NCR itself. That's one of the reasons why we are here. I believe that if Caesar succeeds in conquering the West, then it will only be a matter of time before he makes a play for the east coast."

"You are correct. The White Legs wish to join Caesar's Legion, and to do that, Caesar has given them two tasks to prove their worth. The first they have already accomplished, the destruction of New Canaan. The second is to take Zion Valley."

Marcus' jaw hit the ground. "Why does Caesar want Zion?"

"If the Legion controls this valley, it will give them a supply route directly to the north of the Mojave. White Legs and Legionaries will pour into the Northern Mojave, and the NCR will be out flanked."

"Why didn't you tell us this yesterday when you asked us to help you?"

"Because I wanted you to see Zion as more than just another strategic supply route. I wanted you to see it as God's temple, instead of another spoil of war. I also needed to see what kind of people you were. The Brotherhood of Steel is not known for it's….empathy. I needed to see if you and your companion would see the good people here as anything other than tribals."

Joshua's last statement about the Brotherhood seemed to confirm Marcus' worst fears….that the Western Brotherhood had gone down the path of the Outcasts from back home, and cared only about technology. "Why did Caesar order the White Legs to destroy New Canaan? Did he see your tribe as a threat"

For the second time, Joshua's eyes betrayed a mixture of sadness and remorse. "It was because of me. You see….I wasn't always a missionary. For a time, I was known as Malpais Legate….the right hand of Caesar himself."

The bald-headed man sat on his throne, staring at the three white-painted tribals kneeling before him. With the wave of his hand, his Praetorian Guard exited the tent, and the only other person inside was his Legate. The man stood at 6' 7" tall, and he was wearing his brass armor and mask. He stood to the right of his master, and his massive arms were crossed across his chests. His mere presence filled the three prostrate tribals with fear.

"Have you succeeded in taking the Zion Valley?" The man on the throne asked.

The lead tribal stammered before answering. "Not yet, mighty Caesar."

Caesar's fist clenched in frustration. "Then why have you come before me?"

The tribal looked up slightly, but still did not make eye contact. "One of the large metal birds fell from the sky. It was caring two people. A man and a woman. Our scouts attacked, but the woman killed most of the warriors before the Dead Horses arrived."

Caesar stared daggers at the tribal. "Are you telling me that your scouts were defeated by a single woman!"

"We shot her, several time," the White Leg's voice trembled, "but the sun….the sun healed her wounds."

The Legate stormed forward and was now standing over the tribal. "Do not lie to cover up your failure!"

The White Legs bowed even steeper. "I no lie! Her weapon shot green fire. Then she carried the man to the Dead Horses camp."

Caesar raised an eyebrow. "She carried him?"

The tribal nodded his head. "Yes, while wearing a suit made of iron."

A metal bird falling from the sky. A weapon that shot green fire, and a suit made of iron. It took Caesar only a few moments to interpret what the tribal was telling him, and an uneasy silence filled the tent. Slowly, he rose from his thrown and approached the prostrate tribals. "Tell Salt-Upon-Wounds this: he is to drive the Sorrows and Dead Horses from Zion, and deliver the valley into my hands. As for these two strangers, do what you want to the man, but I want this woman brought to me alive. Tell him if he does all that I ask before the next full moon, then there will be a place for him and his tribe in Caesar's Legion."

The White Leg was visibly relieved. "Yes. Thank you, mighty Caesar."

Caesar waved his hand. "Now go."

The White Legs made a hasty exit, until only Caesar and the Legate remained.

"Do you believe their story?"

Caesar walked over to his table and poured himself a glass of water. "Their minds are too primitive to invent such a tale. It sounds like the Brotherhood of Steel has entered the fray."

"That's impossible! The NCR has all but annihilated them, and those that remain cower underground."

"Most likely they are from another chapter. They maybe from the Midwestern Brotherhood, possibly even Texas." He paused as an old memory came to his mind. "About twenty, twenty-five years ago a contingent headed east towards what was once Washington D.C. An old college of mine and his wife accompanied them. They were both brilliant scientist in their own right." His thoughts went to the strange woman who was healed by the sun. 'Perhaps they discovered something out there,' he thought. As Caesar looked down inside his glass, he was suddenly seeing double. A second later, a sharp pain hit his skull, and his hand shot up to it. It was happening again! He had to think fast. "Leave me!" He said to the Legate, as he fought the pain. "I must….think on this."

The Legate responded with a slow nod. "As you wish."

With the Legate gone, Caesar rushed to his personnel bed chamber; nearly stumbling as he did. Fighting the increasing pain in his head, he managed to remove a syringe with the precious medicine he hid from his men, and injected it into his left arm. Soon the pain began to subside, and Caesar let out a haggard sigh of relieve. These episodes were happening more frequently, and each one was more intense than the last. He knew this medicine was only a temporary fix. Soon, he would have to find a permanent solution to his ailment.

Before sleep over took him, Caesar's thoughts were again on the mysterious Brotherhood woman. "Maybe she is the answer I have been looking for."

Note: I'm sorry I did not post this sooner, but last month was crazy. (Work, weddings, you know). I know this chapter was a lot of talk and fluff, but I have been wanting to write that river scene with Marcus and Sarah for a long time. I wanted them to experience a pre-war environment as beautiful as Zion. I hope you all like where this is going so far. As always, let me know what you think.