Chapter 73: Reconciliation

Filling the watering can once again, Barabbas again returned to Kyra as she scrubbed her body. "One more?" he asked. Kyra smiled as she pointed her face up, letting the impromptu shower wash over her again. A warm place to sleep, some food in her belly, and a bath. She felt content and comfortable as she continued to wash her hair.

"So, family. Your mother went north and remarried. That was the last time you talked?" Barabbas asked as he emptied the can.

"I mean, I received plenty of word from the northern tribes. She had another daughter, we've never met. Not that I want to force the issue," Kyra replied as she scrubbed her arms.

"I mean, that's still your mother, and you're still her daughter. …Circumstances aside, that doesn't change. You still care for her, and she'd be happy to know you're alright," Barabbas offered.

Kyra looked up at him before turning away to keep washing her hair. Barabbas looked away as she unwittingly showed him her back. The scars that marked it had healed well enough, but the stark reminders of a past Barabbas did not want to dwell on discomforted him. The last thing he wanted to see Kyra as was a slave, even if she would be his.

"…Not sure how good of an older sister I'd be," Kyra replied as she turned back to Barabbas.

"You'll be a great sister, I'm sure. Come on, I'll take you up north, we'll make a week of it," Barabbas smiled.

Kyra looked away. "…I think you have a few other things on your plate, B," Kyra answered.

"Calling me B, now? So casual," Barabbas laughed.

"Barabbas, you're Caesar now," Kyra folded her arms over her chest. "And you've been ducking that issue ever since you found out.

"…Can't this wait?" Barabbas asked as he set down the can. "We aren't anywhere near Dallas, so it's not like it does any good…"

"But you know who is probably much closer to Dallas? Scorpio," Kyra added. "I'm sure he's much keener on thinking about what he's going to do as Caesar."

"…Is it really so much to ask for a single pleasant evening without having to think about that damnable city or that vile oaf or literally anything east from here?" Barabbas welched.

"Look, a lot of people are going to need their Caesar, and most of them are counting on you," Kyra replied. "That was always the plan, right? You weren't just going to be some warlord forever, you were supposed to be THE leader."

"…Should I be so unfortunate…" Barabbas muttered under his breath.

"…Barabbas, do you want to be Caesar?" Kyra asked.

"…No," he shook his head.

"…Well, Scorpio and a bunch of other people who do want to, and they probably shouldn't be making that call, and can't if you're still here," Kyra replied. "…A lot of people are going to get hurt if Scorpio takes over, so take your throne for their sake if not your own. And don't worry about being a great leader. Just focus on being a decent one."

Barabbas looked away. Kyra gently grabbed his arm. Barabbas pulled her in, wrapping an arm about her back. "…And you? Will you come with me? As a free woman?"

"…Are you going to fall apart if I say no?" Kyra asked.

"Yes," Barabbas nodded.

"Bullshit. Marcy needs her big brother," Kyra called his bluff.

"Pariah. And fine, you got me," Barabbas smiled. "Just…would you mind staying with me a little longer, tonight?"

Kyra looked up at the big man. He wanted her. But there was little trace of lust in his eyes. There was a warmth, a gentleness that she'd only seen in his eyes when talking about his sister and mother. And he began to tighten his embrace as he craned his neck down to have his lips meet hers.

They were interrupted by a series of knocks on the barn door. "Leg- er, Lord Caesar, the western war council, and these Libertine Clan-folk really wish to have an audience with you. This Boone lady is getting really agitated and Mister Falco don't want me stopping her. And I know you didn't ask for my opinion, but it really seems like we're going to need an army where we're going. You OK, sir?"

Barabbas was a hair's breadth from losing his temper and was about to howl a torrent of abuse at the rider until Kyra took him by the face and planted the deepest kiss she had ever given the man. Even as his blood continued to rush, he began to calm down. Breaking the kiss, Kyra looked into his eyes. "…How about I come back after the meeting is over? Then it will just be you and me. And whatever you want to do, we do? Sound good?"

A few minutes later, Kyra had redressed herself as the riders filed in. This would be a meeting between the leadership and their subordinates. As a free woman, Kyra wasn't qualified to attend, Hypatia had explained to her in her typically brusque manner. Drago and Sulla offered to watch over her by taking her to the same place they were currently hiding Dinero and Marcy from the rest of the clanners, but Kyra declined. Shooting one last look at Barabbas, she left the barn.

Outside, Falco was corralling the members of the western delegation. Major Wallace and Commissioner Boone watched over their immediate subordinates, Lt. Mullens and Baxter and the Boone twins. Kyra felt like she almost recognized Maj. Wallace and this was further confirmed when Sophia and Ferra arrived. Wallace and Sophia locked eyes and they immediately recognized one another.

"…You," Sophia growled.

"…Been a while," Wallace sniffed. "I'm guessing now's a bad time to ask if you take repeat customers."

Sophia spat on the ground. "…You look awful. What, did you get a skin disease since the last time I saw you?"

"Manner of speaking," Wallace replied. "…Got hit with some bad rads. So enjoy this handsome face while you can, because I'll be sticking around here long after it goes."

Sophia let out a laugh. "Well, I hope you aren't angling for a pity screw. Be thankful we're allies for the foreseeable future, you faithless Californian."

"…My apologies you weren't able to spend the money I spent on you," Major Wallace replied as he looked away from her, emotions blank.

"…Zombie," Sophia snarled as Ferra pulled her back.

"…Zombie lover," Wallace snarked back. Mullens shot him a quick look of approval before returning to her usual stoicism.

Bringing up the rear, led by Dan atop his hound, was Governor Lars Perez, Sovereign "Abel" Larain, and Rosa Perez. Lars was busy chatting with Dan while Larain took notice of Rosa's unusually taciturn nature.

"…yeah, riding this good old boy is just pure core strength," Dan grinned as Lars stroked Argenti's snout.

"No shit? Good thing you didn't have these twenty or so years ago, ha! Twenty of these guys in the wrong place and time could have done some real damage, Dan-o-man!" Lars smiled.

"Aw, shucks," Dan blushed. "You know, I heard stories about the Hostis Publicus when I was a young'un, but you seem to be an alright kind of guy."

"And if the Legion back then had about maybe, I don't know, five guys who were as nice to talk to as you, I might have stuck around a bit longer," Lars replied as both men laughed.

"…Rosa, are you alright?" Larain finally asked as Dan and Lars trotted on.

"…Hm?" Rosa peeked up. "Oh, sorry, I was just…"

"I'm worried about Joe, too, but there ain't much more we can do for him, now," Larain offered.

"I know, I know," Rosa shook her head. "…It's not that."

"…I promise that Cade won't be a problem anymore. He gave me his answer, more or less. And he wasn't your responsibility to stop. I'll make sure we never have to see him again, you have my word," Larain continued.

"That's not…" Rosa stopped. "…It's not about that stuff…"

Dan had lifted the lower part of his shirt, showcasing a series of particularly shredded and defined abdominal muscles. "Core strength, all day every day, baby!" he crowed.

Lars unconsciously patted his paunch, not feeling even slightly self-conscious, no sir. "…Yeah, you young guys can focus on all the bodywork and glamor muscles as you want, but really, a keg is as good as a six-pack. Hell, it's better in some cases, ain't that right, old timer?"

Falco figured he was the "old-timer" in question. To answer the query, he in turn lifted up a piece of his own shirt, showcasing his eight-pack. "…I've spent a lot of time in the cavalry," the senior centurion offered.

Lars looked between Falco and Dan, both exposing their abs that he could totally get if he wanted, instead decided it would be best to fall back and usher King Dirtbag away from his daughter and towards his responsibilities. "You sure you got this, guy?" Lars asked Larain.

"I'd ask to have Daph with me, but she's getting checked out by medical. I guess Wallace and Boone are going to do most of the talking, I'll just focus on keeping things civil," Larain stated.

Lars clapped the Sovereign on the back and practically gave him the literal boot towards the barn. Then he saw his daughter. "Hey, Dan-O, could you give me a minute?" He then knelt beside Rosa and started to whisper. "…Well, it looks like we're going to have the conversation with Caesar a lot sooner than I thought we would," Lars began.

"…Mission accomplished, I guess," Rosa shrugged.

"…For what little it matters, I am so very proud of you," Lars said. "I mean it. I asked a lot from you and you did not disappoint. Your job here is almost over. After this, you can go home."

Rosa broke from her minor trance to look at Lars. "…You serious?"

"I am. By the time you get home, the crisis should be resolved. And I promise you won't have to spend another minute in the Unclaimed Wastes on anyone's behalf but your own. So, chin up. We're almost done," he smiled.

Rosa gave her father the smallest smile. "…Thanks, Dad."

Lars remained behind as Rosa jogged after Larain, both being welcomed into the barn. The friendly dog rider trotted up beside the Governor. "Ah, sir? We're burning moonlight right now, so if you could kindly…"

"Huh? Oh… sorry," Lars shook himself. "I'm good, just, you know…"

"…You alright, sir?" Dan asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, I *sniff* I'm good. Alright, let's do this!"

Kyra continued her stroll through the camp. All around her, signs of life sparked and made their way as best they could. A few Cali soldiers had set up a small table and were playing cards, their sentry duty evidently being so uneventful that their lax behavior wasn't worth correction. A few of the Liberty Clan womenfolk and oldies, as they were often called, partook in chores that had been offset by the whole business with the Pelt-Brutes. Speaking of, every now and then she could see what looked like a usually rather timid tribal now amongst their ranks. These former Pelt thralls had been slaves in their previous lives and were now adjusting to their new "owners" having no idea how to explain that they had no need or desire to own one another. Kyra felt for these newcomers and knew that it was only a matter of time until they understood how sweet freedom could taste.

Then she realized it. She was free. No more bondage, no more ownership, no more debts. She didn't belong to Barabbas or Dallas anymore, nor did she to the Californians and their Mojave allies. She was free, as free as she was the day before Scorpio put her tribe to the torch. She would find them, she resolved. She would get in Barabbas's ear and free her people. She wouldn't have to ask for long or very hard, but she would do right by the rest of her people. Now that she was free, it was the least she could give back.

"Hey, there she is!" a voice rang out.

Kyra recognized it and closed her eyes as she screamed with her mouth closed. Matty and a few of his friends closed in around her. "Man, I thought you might have been picked up by that Daph gal, already. Sweet body like that won't stay around here long without getting some money," Matty grinned as he eyed her up and down. "So, you selling any?"

"…Selling what?" Kyra asked, her voice flat and neutral.

"You know, a tour around your backyard? Pet your kitty a bit?" Matty smiled as one of his friends circled around her.

"…Who are they?" Kyra asked, rhetorically.

"Oh, just some buddies of mine. I told them you were the finest piece of ass I'd ever seen and they said "Bullshit, Matty, she ain't prettier than Heilong" and I said "Naw, she got way better tits" and they said "Nuh-uh" and I said "Yuh-huh" and they said-"

This conversation promised to be the most stimulating thing Matty could offer Kyra. But as she tried to break off and leave, she noticed the looks Matty's "friends" were giving her. They were sizing her up the same way Scorpio and his men did when she was in their custody. Despite herself, she felt nervous as she backed into the chest of one of the bigger ones.

"Oh, excuse me," Kyra said as the other two cut off her routes of escape.

"She tribal?" one of them asked Matty.

"I mean, I guess," Matty shrugged.

"Naw," another of them said. "She's too pretty. I'm guessing she's someone's whore."

"I am not!" Kyra snapped. The three thugs backed away before regaining their "courage" and pressing back in. "Got some lip on her, eh, Bucko?" one of them asked the big one.

"Wouldn't mind seeing a bit more than lip," the big one grinned.

"See? We all agree!" Matty nodded, seemingly oblivious to the malignant nature of his "friends."

The soldiers looked up from their game of cards. After a brief and largely non-verbal debate over getting involved, one of them got out of their seat with a hand on their sidearm. A hand grabbed him by the shoulder and sat him back down. The soldier was about to protest when he realized it was an officer.

"Sir, I was just-"

"I see, soldier. We can't risk having an incident while things are so tenuous."

"Are you saying we should just leave her alone?" another soldier protested.

"That's correct," the officer nodded. "This situation requires tact and finesse. I will take care of it," and with that, the officer made his approach, much to the bewilderment of the soldiers witnessing it.

Matty had wrapped his arm around Kyra's shoulder. "Come on, let's just go and get a drink, we can talk a bit, and then let's see where things go from there?" he told Kyra's cleavage. Kyra herself was torn between punching him in the face and screaming for help. The only thing stopping her was the knowledge that Barabbas wasn't here, and that she had no idea where any of her friends were. Another pair of arms draped over her and Matty's shoulders. Right before Kyra decided to scream, she looked at the arm across her shoulder and recognized it.

A gentle breeze started blowing into Matty's ear. Matty let out a grin. She was totally down to fuck, he always knew it! He looked over and saw Kyra just staring at him, her lips nowhere near his ear. Then he realized that someone had broken through the arm around her shoulders and taken the space between them. And also it looked like an arm of a corpse was around his shoulder.

Screaming, Matty fell back as he looked up and saw a zombie in a military uniform with an arm around Kyra. He was smiling down at him. As Matty fumbled for his weapon, the corpse turned to Kyra and began to speak.

"…That's a real cutie-patootie you found, Kyra."

Kyra then began to pout. "Oh, but Don-Don, he doesn't look like he wants to play."

Don-Don then turned down to Matty. He looked him up and down, Matty feeling violated under the gaze of the undead perv. "Oh, this one is just the way I like em. Lean and fit, but soft features." A decaying tongue ran over his rotten lips to give them what little moisture he had.

"Ew! Gross! Guys, help me and… guys?" Matty called out to find that his three "friends" had left him at the mercy of a dangerous and potentially radioactive stranger. The zombie grabbed Matty by the arm and hoisted him to his feet, putting the clanner in a headlock. "…I think I will go for that drink. Any maybe later you can spend some time in my friend here, while I spend time in you," Don-Don groaned in an erogenous manner right by Matty's ear.

"…Please don't rape me, brah," Matty whimpered in tears.

"Don-Don, I think we should leave him alone," Kyra said as she put on a serious face. "Consent is very important to me, and I see and respect how seriously he takes it," she added insincerely.

"…Very well," Rathmore rolled his eyes. "Go on, you. Find your friends and circle up or whatever you idiots do." And with that, Rathmore released Matty, but not before slapping him on the ass before he could make his retreat. As the sobbing wreck vanished into the field of tents, Rathmore and Kyra both broke.

"You didn't have to back my play like that," Rathmore giggled.

"Oh, but Don-Don, I didn't know if he'd be into it," Kyra pleaded.

Rathmore and Kyra both laughed as they strolled away, the ghoul's arm still around Kyra's shoulder, much to the silent disgust of the witnessing soldiers. Kyra was ecstatic that she had linked back up with a friend, and Rathmore was secretly over the moon that Kyra had both recognized and was happy to see him.

"So, Kyra, long time no see. How's things?" Rathmore asked.

"…Well… things are actually going pretty good," Kyra smiled. "Way better than the last time we met."

"That's great," Rathmore grinned. "A girl like you shouldn't be selling her body for breakfast. I'm guessing you got out of there before the riot and the bombing."

"I… had some people," Kyra smiled. "…Hey, Donald?"

"Yeah, Kyra?" Rathmore replied.

"People are staring at us."

Rathmore looked around and saw that there were quite a few dozen unwanted eyes looking at them. NCR trooper, Judicial Marshal, Liberty Clanner, former Pelt-Brute thrall, all united to stare at the sight of two people who knew and liked each other enjoying the other's company. Because God forbid people had better things to do.

"…Let it go, Don," Kyra whispered as she felt the ghoul tense up.

"…THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THE REST OF YOU!" Rathmore began to scream. "JUST BECAUSE I LOOK LIKE A CORPSE, YOU THINK I HAVE TO FORCE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN TO SPEND TIME WITH ME?! I'M A CHARMING AND THOUGHTFUL SON OF A BITCH, AND WHO I WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH AIN'T NOBODY'S BUSINESS BUT MINE! SO PISS OFF, I'M NOT GIVING YOU A SHOW!" Rathmore screamed.

"…I might," Kyra whispered.

"Kyra, what are yo-" Rathmore was interrupted as Kyra planted her lips on his. The crowd around them largely turned their eyes in revulsion, some going as far as to retreat. Some of the ex-thralls dove into tents while a few brave clanners just stared as they held in their vomit. One of the nearby troopers let out a high-pitched scream.

As Kyra broke off the kiss, she stormed before Rathmore and began to castigate the witnesses. "SEE? NOTHING BAD HAPPENED! I'M NOT HURT, IT WASN'T THAT BAD! SURE, MAYBE HIS BREATH STINKS AND HIS LIPS TASTE LIKE SPOILED JERKY, BUT HE'S MORE A MAN THAN THE REST OF YOU! AND NEITHER OF US ARE ANY WORSE FOR WEAR!" Kyra announced as Rathmore hacked up some blood. Kyra paused as she looked back. "…You Ok, Don?"

"Y-yeah, I'm fine, just a bit under the weather," Rathmore lied.

Kyra stormed up to the ghoul trooper, not concealing her worry or anger. "…Don't lie to me, Donald. I've never heard of a sick ghoul."

"I said I'm fine," Rathmore snapped as he turned to walk away.

"You sure don't sound Ok," Kyra shook her head.

"Kid, I am two centuries past my expiration date!" Rathmore barked. "So if I don't sound Ok, that's fine by me!"

"…No," Kyra began to realize what Rathmore had told her. "…I didn't know…"

"Would have preferred it stayed that way," Rathmore sniffed. "…Don't know how long I got, but that number isn't getting bigger, so as far as I'm concerned, everything is going alright."

Kyra threw her arms around the ghoul. "Oh, come on, kid!" Rathmore sighed. "Bad enough you have to go and make another scene when all I wanted was a nice and quiet…" he stopped when he realized she was shaking. "…I mean it, Kyra, I'm Ok with this. This is something I've wanted… for a long time." Kyra began to sniff and gasp. "…If it means I don't have to lose myself and can keep being me until the bitter end, I accept it and do so happily. I'm not scared of dying. Haven't been for a long time," Rathmore continued. Kyra choked out an ugly sob as tears began staining his khaki uniform. "…I'll miss you, too," Rathmore relented as he returned the hug.

Barabbas sat at one end of the barn, flanked by his riders and the Amazons on both sides with Falco at his right hand. Opposite of him sat the legendary Governor, the Hostis Publicus, flanked by officers from California and the Mojave, with his daughter at his right hand and the Liberty Warlord at his left. His eyes looked over the officers and subordinates of the western allies. The son and daughter of the Commissioner both eyed him wearily, memories of their previous encounters with him still fresh in their minds. Speaking of, Baxter kept her eyes forward, pointedly not making contact with any of the Legion delegation, save for a few unfriendly scowls towards Hypatia. Major Wallace was constantly being whispered to by his lieutenant, and Commissioner Natalie Boone and Falco had done most of the talking thus far.

"…Judging by what little information Sanguinarius Animalis was able to part with," Falco continued. "We are safe to assume that Scorpio is working with allies from outside the Legion. Using robotics to neutralize the Oracle demonstrates some rather unorthodox thinking on my former nephew's part."

Rosa noticed that the big guy tensed up at the mention of the Oracle but paid it little mind. For someone called Caesar, he'd been keeping largely to himself. He seemed reserved and maybe even a little timid, which was surprising considering how close he came to taking too much off the top of her head. Nonetheless, he was seemingly content to just sit back and let his old second take the lead.

"…Robotics… that would imply Midwestern Confederacy influence," Natalie mulled over the information. "Them or this "RMX" that Lars mentioned."

"They seem to be fond of installing their own people once they have enough backing and hardware," Lars concurred. "Two coups simultaneously? That's a pretty heavy coincidence if you ask me."

"Not to mention that the clans were linked to this Vulpes guy via the RMX," Larain added. "Somebody is making a very thorough power play."

"I'm sorry, not to interrupt, but you are sure that Inculta was the individual your clans were in contact with?" Falco interjected.

"I've been gone for a while and never saw the guy personally, but a bunch of my old friends swore up and down that he was a dead ringer to Vulpes. He was a pretty infamous figure in the area, the kind of guy that's hard to forget," Larain replied.

"And I have multiple eyewitness accounts at the Rez as well as around Circle Junction of a figure who matched his description," Natalie added. "At the very least, this guy shares the looks and brain with that bastard."

"And you say his current associate is this, erhm, "Nemesio Del Juarez," yes?" Falco continued.

"A priest of the Minesterio and someone who's caused a lot of agony to everyone he's ever met. Him and Vulpes are too peas in a pod," Natalie scoffed.

"…This Nemesio wields a flaming sword, yes?" Barabbas finally spoke up for the first time all meeting.

Natalie, Wallace, and Mullens all nodded to concur. "…You met him, didn't you?" Larain asked the obvious.

"…I was intercepted from rescuing my sister and…" Barabbas gulped. "…my mother by that man. He was riding on a deathclaw. A dark and hideous beast that looked like it had half its face melted off."

The members of the impromptu council took a moment to mutter amongst themselves while Larain felt the blood drain from his face. How could so much wasteland do so little to separate him from that obnoxious and horrifying animal? He took a long drink from his canteen and made a note to himself to spike it with the strongest thing he could get his hands on.

"…So, it was Vulpes Inculta who…" Barabbas muttered as his grip tightened on his pommel.

"Easy, sire," Falco coaxed his superior. "We have more pressing concerns."

"I only have one," Barabbas growled. "Give me an afternoon to run him down, that's all the time I need."

"You can't be serious," Falco replied, exasperated, as the rest of the legionaries shifted uncomfortably.

"I know I can best the priest and his monster. And if this man is half of what he believes Vulpes was, he'll know better than to stand against me."

"This man killed the Oracle," Falco snapped. "He's dangerous enough and we have more pressing concerns! If something happened to you, what would happen to Dallas?"

Barabbas said nothing as he fixed his glare elsewhere. "Either Scorpio completes his usurpation or a civil war destroys two decades of labor on our end! And Scorpio may be too powerful for anyone else to stop, I'm afraid to say."

Barabbas turned to his subordinate. "…The forces in Dallas that oppose Scorpio will be divided. I can already tell you that Evander, Janus, and Aleron will push back against him and his allies. As will my mother's allies throughout Dallas."

"All the more reason to go back and denounce him, and unify the opposition against him," Falco pressed.

"He will leave subjugating the domestic front to his allies. Scorpio's primary concern will be eliminating me. He'll be coming west and taking the 4th Legion and whatever infernal allies he has with him. Or, more likely in his style, hiring someone to eliminate me," he sniffed. "I'll have plenty of time to ride down this Vulpes like a desert hare and mount his head on a spike."

"Barabbas, I must insist-" Falco once again pressed.

"You seek to oppose me on this, old friend," Barabbas looked to Falco. "Do any of the rest of you wish to challenge me?" he looked to the rest of his entourage.

"…Caesar Barabbas, I must speak out against your current choice of action," Major Wallace interjected.

"I don't listen to orders from Californians!" Barabbas snarled. "I am Caesar, I am the Son of Mars made manifest of this earth. There is no power that can overrule mine or dissuade me from an action that I determine is righteous. Vulpes is my first priority. The matter is settled."

"Like hell it is!" Rosa cried out as she kicked herself off the crate she was sitting on and approached Barabbas. "Your plan sucks and you're stupid for thinking it!"

"…Falco, remind me who this little wastrel is again?" Barabbas asked his second.

"My name is Rosa Perez, and my father is the mailman who scared yours away," Rosa announced. "Do you have any idea how much is riding on you not doing anything stupid? If you take it upon yourself to settle a vendetta at the expense of everyone who got you this far out, you'll be pissing on everything they've sacrificed!"

Natalie could barely hide a smile while Maj. Wallace watched impassively. Tobey and Carla shot one another a look while Lars looked on with pride. Kim Baxter, on the other hand, was in sheer awe of the hypocrisy she was witnessing.

"It won't take but an afternoon," Barabbas pushed back.

"Yeah, and I only needed twenty minutes to go and cut Larain over there's dick off!" Larain could only nod and mouth to the authenticity of the statement. "All that happened was a friend of mine got hurt and I shifted my priorities and that caused me to get jumped! So yeah, I've seen what happens when people decide that a little milk run is more important than it is!"

"He killed my mother!" Barabbas snarled.

"And mine kidnapped and tried to sell me!" Rosa retorted. Lars felt his heart sink when he heard that. He swore that if she was still alive, he would find Ariel and they would have words.

"…Vulpes is a punk and a coward," Rosa added. "If you chase him, he'll run and hide, and you'll spend too much time going after him and not focusing on the real threat. And maybe I'm not that great with numbers but you seem to be a little short on an army."

Barabbas glared at her but made no further comment. "…I don't know, I was brought out here because your father wrote a letter saying he wanted to see me, but with him dead I'm pretty sure that whole deal is null and void. Why did he bring me out here, anyway? Marriage or something?"

"…Probably," Barabbas shrugged. "He wrote it without my knowledge or consent, but knowing him, that would be my wager."

Rosa blew a strand of hair out of her eye. "…So, how do Legion weddings work, anyway? Do we just consummate ASAP or…"

Barabbas grimaced in disgust. "For the love of… no, I'm not marrying you!"

"Oh, thank goodness, I was so worr- wait, you're not? Why not?!" Rosa asked.

"Do I have to justify it?" Barabbas asked.

"I mean, imagine everything I sacrificed coming out here! It's the least you can do for me!" Rosa begged.

"…Not my type," Barabbas replied.

"And what is your type?" Rosa asked.

"Not you," Barabbas replied.

Kim and Lars began making their way closer to Rosa before the inevitable conniption could start. "WHY NOT?! I'M HOT! Tobey, Larain, you guys think I'm hot, right?! Carla?!" Rosa called out as Lars and Kim grabbed her arms and dragged her back.

"…I'm already seeing someone. How's that?" Barabbas offered.

"…Motherfucker, should have opened with that," Rosa huffed as she relaxed. "I'm good, I'm good," she said as she brushed her father and Kim away. Disruption aside, Rosa's intervention seemed to have influenced Barabbas. He became far more candid in answering questions and more concerned about the issues with the Wild Khans that the NCR were dealing with. In the end, he pledged his support to the NCR and the Mojave following his ascension to Dallas.

Then there was the matter of Larain and the clans. The AEG offered to partition territory following the clans continued support of their western allies, by way of both supplies and manpower. When the matter of where this new territory would be centered, Larain already had a place in mind. Upon hearing it, Falco couldn't help but laugh.

As well as the meeting went, Major Wallace couldn't help but notice how well the riders seemed to have gauged the AEG and their capabilities. While he knew that Sophia was an asset who nearly compromised him, he told her precisely jack and shit while they were together. If there had been a leak, he was going to find out what, where, and who, and plug it permanently.

"…So I talked to him and calmed him down and I think we're going to try this whole thing again," Kyra said.

"…Your boyfriend sounds like a piece of work," Rathmore assessed bluntly.

She laughed. "He's been through a lot. Changed and hopefully for the better. I don't know, I think if I stay with him…"

"It's not your job to fix a guy," Rathmore sighed.

"I know that!" Kyra snipped. "But he just lost his mom and only just found his sister and he's got the world on his shoulders and everything and I just want to make sure he'll be OK with or without me."

"Fucking dramatic," Rathmore rolled his eyes. "…At least you have standards if you're turning down idiots like that guy back there and His Highness Ethan Wallace. Might not sound like much, but it's something."

"I knew you'd understand, Don," Kyra smiled. "I'm glad I got to know you."

"…I'm not going to sleep with you, Kyra, no matter how hard you beg," Rathmore replied.

Kyra pouted as she playfully punched his arm. Rathmore grinned as the barn nearby opened and the AEG delegates filed out. Rosa was the first to leave, kicking the dirt and muttering under her breath. Kim followed close behind and trailing her was the Governor. Commissioner Boone was next, flanked by her children and Sovereign Larain. As curt as the conversation seemed to be, Natalie seemed to be slightly warming up to the clan leader. Finally, last and least, Major Wallace exited flanked by Mullens.

"Well, there's my boss," Rathmore groaned.

"The hemorrhoid?" Kyra asked.

"One and the same. Well, Kyra, until next we meet," Rathmore grinned. Kyra giggled as she walked off. Major Wallace approached Rathmore, the ghoul captain giving an obligatory salute. "…All's quiet in the camp. Managed to diffuse a few incidents without resorting to force, as you ordered."

"Never took subtlety for one of your strengths, Captain," Wallace replied. "I had enough drama in the barn."

The doors opened once again, and then the riders all filed out. Falco saw and gave a nod to Major Wallace, which the Major reciprocated. Dan and Hypatia were having a friendly conversation. Sophia was flirting with Uriah and Damocles simultaneously, pausing only to briefly give the Major the finger before resuming. Trailing behind were Drago, Sulla, Quintas, and Ferra, with a large warrior staying behind as he watched his people off.

"…That giant hoss," Major Wallace pointed at the man who remained behind. "That right there is the new Caesar. And we're going to help him get crowned."

"Sir, the mission was…" Rathmore began to protest.

"The mission changed. There's a guy out east named Scorpio who is going to cause a lot of us a lot of grief if he's left unchecked. But we've got time until then. In the meantime, I've got another job for you."

"Sir?" Rathmore stated.

"…I believe that we have an intelligence leak on our hands. The Legion in there knew way too much about our strength and operational status. That man in there knew all our commanding officers by name. Rathmore, this sounds like an OPSEC SNAFU that needs to be rectified indefinitely. Am I clear?"

"Sir, understood," Rathmore replied as he saw Kyra approaching the barn out of the corner of his eye. Caesar stood with his back on the doorframe as the girl stood next to him, nonchalantly. Caesar then began whispering something to Kyra, to which Kyra nodded. A few seconds later, Kyra launched herself onto Barabbas, her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck as she passionately made out with him. Barabbas broke the kiss momentarily as he licked the odd taste on his lips before going back to it as he ducked into the barn with his woman.

"…You functional, Donald?" Major Wallace asked.

"…Sir, I read you loud and clear. Find the leak and end them," Rathmore stated.

"…and report it back to me," Major Wallace nervously corrected.

"I'll do what I have to," Rathmore growled.

"…As you were," Major Wallace saluted as he and Lieutenant Mullens walked away, leaving a betrayed Rathmore to fume in his shame and anger.