Chapter 98: Birthright

As the group made their way through the mountains to the clearing, they were met with the sight of an enormous machine husk in the distance as it lay burning on the ground. Boone took out his binoculars as he surveyed the remains of the battlefield.

"…Legion," he growled under his breath.

"Are they the good Legion or the bad ones?" Rosa asked. Boone turned to glower at her. "No scorpion banners, I mean?"

"…It's all bulls as far as I can see," Boone muttered.

"…They made it," Rosa sighed. "I think they actually made it. Now I just have to…" she was about to sprint away when Arcade grabbed ahold of her. "After all the stories you've told us, I think it's best we keep you on a short leash, missy," Arcade gently scolded her. Rosa pouted but didn't argue. Still, she had to get down there, she had to make sure her call saved enough lives.

"…Malocchio went on ahead, he'll signal the marshals and they'll arrive, provided they survived," Ulysses stated.

"Don't say it like that," Boone growled, trying to hide his concern.

"The matter was out of our hands. Fretting about it is meaningless. I too, however, hope for only the best."


Commissioner Natalie Boone sat as she watched the medical staff treat the near countless injured. In particular, though Frost was likely the only non-Follower civilian traveling with them, he was currently doing his best as directed by the medical staff to keep up with the influx of patients. Though many were only superficially wounded, right now they were nearly out of supplies, and even the most minor injury could risk infection, and the closest allies they had on hand, having arrived to force the battered 4th Legion into surrender, was the 2nd Legion, she thought as she rubbed her temples. Barabbas, Wallace, Bea, and surprisingly Dinero had all gone down to meet with the new arrivals, having subjugated or scattered the remnants of the 4th Legion. Currently, what prisoners that remained were currently digging holes to bury all who had fallen, be they former ally or enemy. Having been stripped of their honor, Natalie found herself wondering how this new Legion would treat their defeated brethren, being all too familiar with how the old would have done it.

Harbuck, her surviving deputy, approached her and saluted. "Ma'am, scouts are reporting that they've made contact with another Judicial Marshal unit."

"We had any MIA during the battle?" Natalie asked, exhausted.

"Negative. They were using a signal light and gave the passcode "Evil Eye." That mean something to you?"

Natalie perked up. "…What else did they say?"

"Just said that they found her."

Natalie immediately got to her feet. Running around camp, she got in contact with Lars, Cass, her kids, Larain, and Jimmy about the news. During the commotion, Kim had overheard the news while she was being cut out of her damaged armor, throwing a jacket over her torso as she went to go and join them. Meanwhile, the commotion within the camp reached Barabbas, who clutched his side as he forced himself to his feet.

"Sire?" Aleron began as Caesar forced himself to walk back towards the camp through his suffering.

"They found that little idiot," Barabbas seethed as he clenched his dressing. "And despite everything, I'm invested in seeing her safe return. It's the least I owe her for sacrificing herself for everyone's benefit."

"Aye, sire," Aleron nodded solemnly, his recent knowledge regarding the loss of Falco weighing heavily on him.

"If it turns out she killed Scorpio, I'll be even further indebted to her," Barabbas groaned. "Then I might actually have to put a baby in her," he shuddered.

"Well, about that," Aleron interrupted. "We've been able to stabilize Dallas in your absence thanks in no small part to a woman named Ligia Del Sol from the Rio Grande Federacion. We need to discuss further…"

"Have you identified any of Scorpio's collaborators within the senate?" Barabbas asked.

"We believe the primary supporters are Senators Roblesius, Hoovus, and Quincy," Aleron spat out the last name with particular venom despite his stoic demeanor.

"Have them all executed," Barabbas replied offhandedly as he walked away.

"Aye, sire," Aleron saluted, keeping his face expressionless even as his spirit felt like lifting into the heavens in sheer unadulterated joy over finally being able to achieve his dream of killing a senator.


Malocchio watched as the signal light flickered in response. Big chief. Natalie had survived, at the very least. He looked over his shoulder as the rest of the team lay in wait. Rosa and Andrea were chatting up with the girls in Legion armor. Ulysses and Arcade were having another pow-wow, and Boone was apparently pondering whether or not he should try and muzzle Lionel to keep him from making deathclaw calls.

A response light shone out amongst the dusky sky. Malocchio signaled to Arcade and Boone, and the group came together to await the response. Slowly, Malocchio poked his head out of the bush.

"…What are you doing out here, IA?" came the reply some distance away.

"Natalie?" Boone called out.

Immediately, a woman darted from out of the opposite bush, making up the distance with a nearly alarming speed. Deputy Chief Boone came out from his end of the bush, stumbling out as his wife leaped into his arms, kissing him as tears streaked down her face.

"DAD!" came two other voices as they rushed out to join their parents. Boone looked up with a smile as he saw his kids approaching, only to falter slightly as he noticed that his daughter was missing an eye.

"What happened?" he asked, keeping his worry as hidden as he could.

Arcade came out afterward, followed by Ulysses as they brushed themselves off. By now Lars had made up the distance. "Long time, so see si-" Arcade began.

"Where is she?" Lars interrupted.

Soon enough, Rosa emerged from the brush. The collective that had traveled with Lars immediately broke cover and rushed towards her. "EVERYBODY STEP BACK!" Lars snarled at the approachers. He turned to look at the girl who had returned to him, something he had barely held out any hope for since the night she left the city.

"…Hey, dad. …Look, I just wanted to say that I'm-" Rosa stopped as the older man scooped her up and he held her as tight as he ever did. Rosa was about to make some kind of smart-ass remark when she realized that her dad was shaking. "…You're grounded. Forever," Lars sobbed.

"…Are they OK?" Rosa asked.

"…We lost a lot of people. But it would have been more if you hadn't pulled that off," Lars admitted. "…I'm so proud of you."

"…Glad you're OK, too," Rosa patted him on the shoulder.

"…Where's…" Lars began.

"ROSA!" a voice shrieked out behind Lars. Rosa reluctantly parted from her father as she moved behind him. "…Carla, hey! Look, I know we didn't exactly part on the best te-"

The fist collided with her cheek, interrupting any further excuses or explanations Rosa could offer her friend whose confidence she betrayed. As she stumbled to the ground, she looked up as Carla grabbed her by the collar, rearing her fist back again. She stared at Rosa, tear streaking under her eye. "…It was a dick move," Rosa admitted. "I'm sorry."

Carla dropped her fist. "…You are so exhausting," he sighed as she threw her arm around Rosa's neck. "…But I can't stay mad at you."

"…Everyone I knew made it?" Rosa asked.

"We lost Gael," Tobey announced as he approached. "And Major Milligan. Wallace just gave him a posthumous two-rank promotion before we left."

"…Jimmy?" Rosa asked.

"Right here," Jimmy popped his head up behind the twins. "After you up and disappeared, Barabbas pretty much conscripted us into becoming his bodyguards during the fight. Pretty much begged us for help."

"Quiet!" Barabbas snapped as he made his approach. Jimmy involuntarily obeyed him as Barabbas loomed over Rosa, still clenching his gash on his side. "…You look like shit!" Rosa replied in a chipper tone.

"Scorpio," Barabbas immediately interrupted. "He's dead?"

Rosa thought for a moment. "…Last time I saw him, he was chasing after Vulpes Inculta with intent to kill."

"Vulpes Inculta is dead," Barabbas stated as he looked at the blood and bluish oil staining his bracers.

"…Well, guess we know who won that fight," Rosa shrugged.

"…Hope you weren't expecting a reward," Barabbas said, still looking at his bracers.

"Trust me, I'm just as happy to know he's dead as you," Rosa replied.

"Wasn't talking to you," Barabbas snorted as he turned away and leaned his body onto a dead tree. As Rosa was about to pursue and further castigate the big oaf, a familiar python snaked underneath her chin and held her in place. "…Hello, Kim," Rosa got out. "…Well? Got a lecture? Gonna scream at me a bit? Tell me what a spoiled little brat I was?"

Rosa instead felt some knuckles graze against her skull. "…Just glad you made it out OK," Kim smiled as she released Rosa. Rosa pondered the unfamiliar and discomforting feeling of Kim being nice to her. As she dwelled on it, she found herself about to confront another unfamiliar feeling.

Larain watched as the two slave girls and Andrea emerged from the bush, followed by Lionel as he kept trying to make some weird howling hiss. He kept his eyes peeled for anyone else to follow. No one else came. Rosa then approached him, pursing her lips together. "…I'm sorry, man. When it all went down, he stayed behind."

Larain looked away from her. "…Fine by me. Guy like him would have wanted it that way."

"…Look, without him, I don't get out. He didn't have to do what he did, but I can't even begin to…"

"Look, I get what you're trying to say, but speaking objectively, the world is better off without him," Larain harshly assessed. "One good deed doesn't make up for the rest of the bad ones."

"Yeah," Rosa nodded. "…I'll miss him too." Larain sniffed.


Barabbas pulled out his wineskin and took a massive swig. He couldn't imagine anywhere in the world he would rather not be than here. Massive gash on his side, no hound, on his way back home to a job he resented and the only women he wanted by his side were doubtlessly leagues away.

"Master?"

Barabbas turned and saw two of his harem girls before him, Cheslie and May Lin.

"…What in Tartarus are you two doing here?" he asked.

"…Father gifted me to Scorpio," Cheslie admitted. She then looked over to May Lin. "…And, I roped May Lin with me thinking I could… endure if I shared the pain," she confessed.

"…I'm sorry to tell you this, but I've sentenced your father to death," Barabbas said.

"Oh, OK," Cheslie replied, nonplussed. Barabbas tried not to show that her casualness rattled him before continuing, "and I'm disbanding the harem. Your services are no longer required."

"Oh shit, really?" Cheslie asked as she cocked her head to the side. "Kyra's that good in bed?"

"She's phenomenal," Barabbas dryly replied as May Lin rolled her eyes. "But the harem is a remnant of the Oracle's idea, and I am no longer beholden to her designs. I can see to it that you and the other girls are compensated and either returned home or to another location of your decision."

"Wait, you're firing us?!" May Lin finally realized.

"…I suppose it isn't the wrong way to look at it," Barabbas admitted.

"You can't fire me," May Lin shook her head. "…I QUIT!" The most demure member of Barabbas's harem then launched a blistering tirade towards Barabbas, mostly focusing on his lackluster abilities as a lover and how size wasn't everything and how the reason sex with Kyra was so good was probably because he actually listened to her and so on until Andrea came up behind her and dragged her away mid-rant. Barabbas took notice of the woman dragging his ex-concubine away, noted her more than passing resemblance to Kyra, and wondered if she was seeing anyone before returning to his quiet agony.

"…I thank you, sire," Cheslie bowed before Barabbas.

"I pray only for the best for all of you," Barabbas stated. "…Just keep looking after May Lin, though. A mouth like that will only lead to trouble."


Deputy Chief Craig Boone stood some distance away as he began to slowly realize that the wounded giant standing a few paces from him was in fact Caesar himself. His hand reached for his holster, only for another hand to intercept him. "…Noooooo," Natalie replied, shaking her head. As Boone's head slowly began to fill with thoughts of total legionary death, his wife once again embraced him, craning her neck up so they could deeply kiss once more. "…Two choices," she whispered. "Either you can stay here and take all your frustration out on him, or you can come with me, find somewhere private, and take it all out on me." After a few moments of dwelling on the dilemma, Boone walked with his wife, arm in arm, hand in hand, past Caesar as they went to find a nice quiet spot, though not before the Deputy Chief shoulder-checked Caesar and threw the quickest and most deniable of jabs into his wound, causing the giant's knees to buckle as the Boone's both pretended to be innocent.


Rosa stood in the middle of her family and friends. She now found herself in the arms of Cassidy while Lionel, of all people, explained about how he and Andrea traveled with an honest-to-Hub pack of talking deathclaws.

"…and I swear I can take them all, Rosa! I just know it!" Lionel completed his rant as he finished gesticulating the prior spars.

"I have faith in you, Lionel," Rosa lied. "But trust me, deathclaws are no joke in combat. That black one I stabbed through the head almost tore me to pieces."

"…Black one?" Larain asked.

"Yeah. Had half its face melted off and was missing an eye. Kept sounding like it was trying to say something. I stabbed it in the head and its corpse was dragged away by these other ones. Why're you looking at me like that?" Rosa asked as Larain's gaze affixed itself on the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life, bruises and all.

"…Rosa, I've never been more attracted to you than I am right now," Larain stated aloud and bluntly.

Rosa laughed as she wiped under her broken nose, trying not to agitate any bruises. "I mean, I had to put out its other eye first, and before that I cut off a few of its fingers-"

"If you keep talking, I'm going to rip your clothes off right here and I will give you an Over-Easy in front of everyone," Larain interrupted, his tone neutral so as to not betray his elation. The twins blushed together while Kim looked confused, Jimmy whispered something in her ear that eventually caused her to blush as well. Cass just laughed her ass off while Lars looked away, if nothing else having accepted that his little girl had grown up.


"Governor."


Lionel eventually caught sight of the giant leaning on the tree and approached him. Barabbas turned to see the fighter and steeled himself. "…I'm in no mood to talk."

"Dude, how much do you bench?!" Lionel asked as he began molesting Barabbas's physique with his eyes. "What's your routine? I usually just grind down some Brahmin steak into a nice powder and throw it in the mixer and then spend the next five hours in the gym before I have to piss, then on the weekends I really throw on the carbs because I like to try to burn them off as soon as I put them on-"

"Stop talking," Barabbas seethed.

"And then when it comes to Leg Day, I just strap some weights on my feet, like I got these custom boots with plates welded to the soles, I mean it's super expensive but I really think the results speak for themselves and when I combine it with-"

"Shut up," Barabbas growled.

"Whatever I need to do to beat a deathclaw in the ring of honor! That's the goal! Everyone needs a goal! What's yours, bud?"

A strong right hook immediately collided with Lionel's chin. Barabbas watched as the loud-mouthed fighter stumbled a bit as he began rolling his jaw. Lionel felt something in his mouth and reached his fingers in to pry out a tooth, spitting out some blood. The fighter slowly looked at Barabbas before flashing a bloody smile at him, having finally found a worthy opponent. "…Get that wound healed up nice and good, best buddy. We'll settle this when you're good and ready," Lionel stated as he patted Caesar on the shoulder.

"Can't wait," Barabbas sarcastically spat, unaware that this was the beginning of a years-long rivalry between the two of them.


"Governor!"


Arcade and Ulysses began debriefing Lars on the situation back home. Without any prizes for the RMX to win, and with Ziyi likely being able to handle herself, it was nonetheless decided that it was best that they return to Vegas as soon as possible, regardless of however likely it was that any of them got back in contact with Dr. Mobius.

"One thing I don't like, however, is how little we know about the RMX. I really want to take the fight to those thugs," Arcade admitted.

"Well, you're in luck," the silver-haired cowgirl approached. Arcade had to blink for a few seconds before he realized who he was in front of. "…Cass?!"

The old cowgirl smiled. "I've been waging my own war against those cap-mongers for the last twenty years. That's what I've been doing, in case you were curious. And now that it looks like we finally got this sorted out, I'm going to go pick up where I left off. Central Market, here I come."

"No, you're not," Lars got in front of her.

"Lars, this has been twenty years of my life. I'm not giving up on everything just when I finally made some progress!" Cass snapped.

"…Not alone," Lars shook his head. "They're my enemies too, and it's about time they learned that the only thing scarier than a motivated and experienced wastelander are two."

Cass broke out into a small smile. "…You're unbelievable."

"Lars, I hate to interrupt," Arcade interrupted, "but not everything is sunshine and roses right now. We still have some things we need to work out before you two can go off on some kind of quest."

"Oh, yeah?" Lars asked. "Name one."

"GOV-ER-NOOOOOOOOOOOR!"

All assembled turned to see the gunslinger standing atop the bluff, his bodyweight almost entirely supported by his rifle and still working leg. Cade glared down at all before him, remembering in detail his encounters with them all. Putting out Cyclops's eye, ventilating the big woman, beating the piss out of Abilene, siccing the big cow on the twins, plugging one in him afterward. Putting the wire around Rosa's neck. Holding Rosa at gunpoint. Saving her life. Having his life saved by her.

Larain, Jimmy, and Carla all drew their weapons as they made their approach to Cade. A hand shot out and stopped them all. Lars looked at the three kids, shook his head, and turned to the gunslinger. "…I've got this."

"Dad, what are you…" Rosa almost interrupted. Lars looked at his daughter and smiled. "…Just tying off one last loose end."

Rosa gulped and nodded. "…I'm coming, too."

"Rosa, you don't have to-" Lars began.

"I'm the reason he's here. I do," Rosa countered.

Lars looked away for a moment before nodding. "…Let's get on with this. Everyone, this is a private meeting. By order as the Governor of the Mojave Nation, everyone else is barred from eavesdropping. Malocchio, you have my permission to enforce the order as you see fit." The charred ghoul followed Lars and his daughter, turning around so he could keep his eye on all attending as they cried out in disbelief and anger. Father and daughter then followed Cade up the hill until they were out of sight and mostly earshot of the rest of the group. Once reaching the top, Lars reached into his coat and pulled out a tattered black hat. "…I wasn't sure if you still wanted this," he began.

Cade snatched it out of the Governor's hand, affixing it back atop his head. "You two have no idea how much this shitty hat means to me," Cade growled.

"Bout as much as Amy," Rosa muttered under her breath.

"What?" Duncan growled.

"More than your pet girlfriend!" Rosa snapped.

"Rosa, enough!" Lars barked. "…So, it appears that your service has been rendered complete."

"This wasn't a charity," Cade hissed. "Give me what I came for."

"…Fine," Lars muttered, bringing up his Pip-boy. "Activate official executive order," he announced, opening up a customized program he rarely ever used. As he passed off most of his responsibilities to the Vegas City Council, he never really saw the need to institute this action on most things. But this was something he wanted no one, not the Vegas City Council, not Imperial Dallas, and certainly not the New California Republic to challenge him on. Once he instituted this, the resolution would be forever bound by the Office of the Mojave Governor itself.

"…By my decree," Lars began. "I hereby absolve Duncan "Cade" Schmitt of any and all prior crimes committed against the New California Republic and Mojave Nation."

"DAD?!" Rosa nearly screamed. "WHAT THE F-"

"In addition," Lars continued. "Duncan Schmitt is to vacate the hell out of this country, immediately!"

Cade blinked. "That wasn't part of the deal-"

"For his own safety!" Lars gritted. "The Governor of the Mojave strongly advises that Duncan Schmitt leaves Unclaimed Wastes as soon as possible, avoid Imperial Dallas at all costs, and never, EVER comes back!"

"WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO, NOW?!" Duncan shrieked.

"Effective immediately," Lars signed off by pressing his thumb against the screen, the Pip-boy reading it as his signature as the executive order was immediately signed into law. Lars held back his tears as he looked at the son he never got to know. "…I'm sorry. As far as I'm concerned, you're a hero, and you have to leave."

Lars immediately turned away as Duncan glared daggers at the man. All that work, all that risk, and now he had to start over from nothing. Cade didn't ask for much, just the freedom to operate as he pleased, and suddenly he was rewarded by being kicked out of the only home he ever knew. He felt his hand drawing to his holster.

"YOU IDIOT!" Rosa screamed. Lars didn't want to argue with her, turning back to listen to his daughter rant at him only to see her facing down Cade. "…He gave you an opportunity you don't deserve and you're angry about it?! You should be ecstatic that you finally get that freedom you want so much! Freedom from paying what you owe, freedom from facing down everyone you've ever hurt, freedom from a land that hates you more than you could ever hate it! You win, Duncan, and your first and only impulse is to throw a fit?!"

Duncan glared at his sister. Rosa glared back at her brother. Duncan wanted to fight, to push his luck and risk the only thing that ever came close to mattering to him. But the Governor, but Rosa, they both had an army of people behind them. Not just those behind the clearing, but nations, families, friends, lovers, rivals, and countless other permutations that Duncan never really understood. He thought of Amy, thought of New Canaan, thought of Thatch and Ariel and Levi, even thought of his mother and grandfather, now both long passed. Duncan was alone, by his design, but only now did he seem to realize it.

Rosa turned away and stormed up to her dad. "…I know I pulled a fast one, Rosa, and I don't like it any more than you, but I only did it because I lov-" Rosa threw her arms around her father as the words died in his throat. He returned the hug as the tears fell freely down his face. Duncan turned away, disgusted. And here he had heard so much about this legendary Governor, only to watch him fall so short in so many ways. Who was he to be judged by such a letdown of a man? Who was he to feel indebted to such a desperate father? Who was he to feel even the slightest envy at the sight before him?

The brush rustled beside him as he fought back against the poisonous thoughts within him. Cade turned and saw the familiar barrel of a shotgun pointing out at him. The explosion took him off his feet as Cade fell onto the ground, Cassidy forcing herself out of the brush as she rested the shotgun on her shoulder.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Lars screamed.

"…That was for my crew," Cass glared hatefully at the writhing gunslinger. She felt someone force the shotgun out of her grip and was surprised to see that it was Rosa who was confronting her. "That wasn't necessary!" Rosa cried.

"Because he did you two a favor?" Cass shot back. "I didn't owe him a damn thing."

Lars stormed past Rosa and grabbed Cass by the collar, nearly throttling her. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!"

"You know what he is!" Cass shot back. "That man has made nothing in his life but enemies, someone was going to claim his head regardless of whatever you pulled!"

"THAT WAS MY SON!" Lars screamed. Rosa and Cass both stared at Lars. "…you're joking…" Rosa muttered, unable to reconcile with what her father just said.

"…and I just filled your son with birdshot," Cass replied, her eyes still hard. Behind her, Duncan began to stir as the pain filled his shoulder. Cass broke free from Lars' grip and strolled over to the gunman, knocking off his hat so he could grab him by the hair and force him to look up. "…You have no idea how lucky you are that I blame your bosses for my crew's death more than you. But regardless of however touching this family reunion was, make no mistake, if I ever see you again, I will kill you." She released Duncan from her grasp and she picked up the black hat and threw it down onto his writhing body. "…There you go, now when people ask what happened to Shitbird there, you can tell them Cassidy had a shotgun shell with whatever his name is on it." She looked back at Duncan. "…No need to thank me."

"…you… fucken… bitch…" he wheezed.

"Yep," Cass muttered as she strolled away.

Lars looked down at his son as he tried to crawl away. "…You alright?"

"What does it LOOK LIKE, ASSHOLE?!" Duncan snapped as he jammed the hat back on his head.

"…you're my brother?" Rosa asked, softly.

"I'm not ANYTHING to you," Duncan snarled. "And you ain't NOTHING to me!" As Duncan tried to crawl away, he felt a pair of arms grab him by the unwounded shoulder as Rosa forced his body back up. "…Where did Cheslie and May Lin park the chariot?" Rosa asked.

The three of them walked up the hill, Rosa and her father alternating carrying Duncan between the two of them. Hardly any words were exchanged, and no explanations were owed, but the three of them realized that this time together would be all they would have.

"…How did you find out?" Rosa asked her father.

"…The name Schmitt set off an alarm bell, and when I talked to him over the line, he gave the right year and name," Lars explained. "…I'm guessing Mom is no longer with us?"

"Don't even pretend you care," Duncan spat. "It's too late for that."

"…I know," Lars replied, sadly. "…Can't even begin to know how to make up for lost time, not that either of us are interested in that sort of thing. Guess your mom and grandfather weren't the only ones I screwed over?"

"I was doing just fine on my own," Cade seethed.

"Clearly," Rosa rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Dad, conception aside, I don't think you're the reason Dunk is such an asshole."

"I'm right here, you bitch!" Duncan snapped.

Lars slapped the back of Duncan's head. "Don't talk to your sister like that! But thanks, Rosa."

"No, I just think Duncan is suffering the effects of what Jimmy calls "Fatherless Behavior," Rosa snickered. "Guess it sucks when you don't have any positive male role models, huh?"

"Yeah, and it really sucks when your dreadlocked White Leg friend got most of them killed," Duncan shot back. Rosa stopped her snickering. "…Fair enough," she admitted.

"So that's it, then?" Lars asked. "You lose your home, so you spend the next twenty years selling heads for caps?"

"Anything to show the wasteland that I'm a lot scarier than anything it has to offer," Duncan seethed as the pain began to flare up again.

"Then why not try to make the wasteland better?" Lars asked. "Why does everyone with a pipe gun and a fistful of caps want to live like the bombs dropped a week ago? Everyone wants to grovel in the ashes, no one wants to actually clean up and build something new? For all their faults, the NCR had the right idea. House had the right idea. Fuck, Caesar was a piece of shit and not half as smart as he thought he was but even he was trying for something other than fucking mohawks and leather in perpetuity! God damn, try for something other than the same crap that the past generations have been regurgitating since my great-grandfather! It's been over two hundred years, so fucking act like it!"

"…You OK, Dad?" Rosa asked as even Duncan was glancing at him with a concerned look.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about how many assholes tried to "hard reset" the wasteland and was just annoyed by how little people value progress. For all the grief I give it, people act like getting rid of the NCR or keeping the Brotherhood in the area is the only way the wasteland can move forward, and seeing all that potential wasted just bothers me," Lars continued his rant.

"…I don't think he's OK," Duncan told his sister.

"…Guess it ain't all bad," Lars admitted. "Like, even when things are at their most annoying, I can always find about thirty-three things or something nice to say about whatever's around me. Like recently about how they shut down that scam out west that was selling those bullshit drugs that claimed they kept ghouls from going feral, that was neat," Lars smiled.

"We're not going to have any idea what he's talking about, are we?" Rosa whispered to her brother.

"Maybe we'll figure it out some other season?" Duncan tried to shrug.

Before long, they arrived at the chariot as Cheslie and May Lin were prepping it. They had found a spring up the mountain and had been filling a discarded medical container with drinking water. The hounds stood at the ready, baying and snarling at the three newcomers until Cheslie calmed them down. "…You guys got room for another passenger?" Rosa asked. She passed her brother off to May Lin, who gently guided him to the floor of the chariot. "Should I get those wounds looked at?" May Lin asked.

"From personal experience, they look worse than they are," Lars replied. "That was a warning shot he took directly, but it looks like most of it was stopped by his body armor. Still, if you see him bleeding, dress the wounds to the best of your ability."

As Lars kept talking, Rosa went up to Duncan as he lay in pain. "…So, I guess this is goodbye?"

"You won't miss me," Duncan replied.

"True," Rosa nodded. "…Do you think that maybe, though, if things had been different…"

"Some of the most annoying questions start with "What if…" Duncan growled.

Rosa pouted as those were often her favorite questions. "…Got any idea where you're going?"

Duncan thought for a moment. "…Jos… Gra… that specter or whatever said that something was waiting for me in the east, past Dallas. And seeing as I have nothing better to do…" he drifted off.

"…I know this doesn't mean anything to you," Rosa said as he turned away. "…But good luck."

Duncan stared ahead as his sister walked away from him. "…And may God be with you," he muttered just under his breath.

Soon enough, Cheslie took the reins of the chariot and snapped at the hounds, the beasts turning with the cart as May Lin waved goodbye to the father and his daughter.

"…Think it'll work out?" Rosa asked as she turned away to head back down the mountain with her father.

"At this point, it's really out of our hands, no matter what," Lars replied.

"Still," Rosa pressed half-heartedly. "…So, now what?"

"I'm thinking about going north with Cass and taking that fight to the RMX," Lars stroked his beard.

"But what about you being the Governor and all?" Rosa asked.

"Guess I quit," Lars shrugged.

Rosa nodded in agreement until the realization hit her. "DAD, YOU ARE NOT MAKING ME THE NEW GOVERNOR, PLEASE!"

"HELL NO," Lars shot back. "I'm going to have Arcade run an election after I tell him I resign. He can worry about it until he finds someone for the job."

"Oh, ok," Rosa breathed a sigh of relief. "…I think I've gotten a bit of your wanderlust, too. Walking the earth, y'know? Not like I got anywhere better to be right now."

"You're not coming with. This trip is for the golden oldies only," Lars looked to his daughter.

"…I figured," Rosa laughed. "…Still, I think I'd like to see the East Coast with my own eyes, see how blue it is compared to the Pacific."

"You got nothing but time, Kid," Lars rustled his daughter's hair.

"Yep, I do, Dad," Rosa grinned. "…But first, I'm gonna get laid."

Lars almost came to a stop. "What?"

"Larain was talking me up pretty sweet back there. I don't really see a steady relationship in my future with him, but I'm not against a little Arizona Booty-Call," Rosa replied.

Lars was about to protest when he suddenly realized that Cass was

a. Nearby

b. still single and

c. Very much a "silver vixen," a kind of woman Lars had never managed to take to bed.

"…That might not be such a bad idea," Lars muttered to himself. Rosa overheard it and made a gagging noise. Lars punched his daughter in the shoulder and soon enough the two got into a heated argument. They had never felt closer.


Duncan began to feel himself losing consciousness as the sound of the wheels and padded feet hitting the gravel beneath them began to lull him into an unfamiliar state. May Lin had taken off his leather and body armor and began dressing the few pellets that managed to get through to his skin. Between the pain in his leg and shoulder, Duncan struggled to keep himself awake as the weeks of pressure he had been putting on himself finally came crashing down around him.

"…I think I got the last of it," May Lin said as she threw the last pellet off the back of the chariot. "Is it OK if I give you some of this med-x?"

"…Whatever," Duncan replied as May Lin took his wrist and waited for the ride to smooth out. "…And there," she said as she injected the needle into his vein. Duncan felt warm as his eyes grew heavy. "…Thank you, Amy," he muttered as he drifted into a long-awaited slumber. While Duncan slept, Cade would die, as Cass relayed to all who wished to hear of the fate of the gunslinger who brought them nothing but grief.


Petey tore another strip off the arm as his sister stood watch while Davy kept his nose up. The three siblings had been battered by dog riders ever since they found the carcass of their brother. While the fighting had been vicious, using their teamwork, they had managed to drive off those they did not slay, much to Petey's delight over the new meat. Not that any of them were in danger of going hungry any time soon. Their brother had seen to that.

"…Hm…" Davy thought aloud, confused.

"What is it?" Ronny asked. "Do you still hear Lionel? Does he still want to fuck?"

"…This stench, I've smelled it before. It's been so long, though, I cannot remember where it came from."

Petey was about to throw in his contribution when he looked towards the lizard approaching them. Petey's mouth hung open as Sawney's arm meat dropped from his jaws. "…Father?"

His two siblings turned to see a large, one-horned deathclaw dragging his body towards his children, his head hanging at a mangled angle from his neck. Upon hearing his children's voices, the deathclaw took its claws, forced its head back onto its neck properly, and looked upon his children. The three living and one passed.

"…Sawney," Johnny muttered. "…Who did it?"

The children looked to one another before Ronny strode forward and confessed the truth. "…Sonny was brought low by a human warrior."

Johnny stared at her, his expression unreadable even beneath the battle damage. "…HA! SERVES HIM RIGHT!"

Johnny made his way into the company of his children, accepting their nuzzles as he returned the affection. "I keep telling you to never underestimate humans. I don't favor them, I just respect what they can do."

"No kidding," Ronny laughed. "We just met a few humans who could almost outfight us. Almost," she smiled as Petey and Davy looked at one another nervously.

"I'm sure they did, little girl," Johnny smiled back at his daughter. "I did name you after one, after all," he smiled as he looked at the half-eaten corpse of Sonny. He turned to glare at Petey.

"We didn't know you were coming," Petey said with a mouthful of his brother still between his teeth.

"…He's still your brother. We're still doing this right. And right now, I'd like a moment," Johnny stated. In unison, the three siblings strode away, leaving Johnny with the body of his eldest child. Johnny hunched over Sonny as he took a claw and traced it over Sonny's horn. "…I guess I didn't raise you right," Johnny rumbled to himself. "Wherever you are now, I hope you found the peace this world could not bring you," he added in melancholy solemnity. "…Children, he's still your brother. He's still family. So, we do this, as a family."

The four deathclaws tore into Sonny, rending his flesh from his bones, and devouring every inch of meat from his body. As was typical for a deathclaw pack. What was not typical, however, was that when Sawney was nothing left but bones, Davy and Petey took their cloaks and divided up Sawney's skeleton. Together, they dragged Sonny's bones deep into the wasteland for days, to the place where they buried the rest of their family in times of sickness, predation, or one misbegotten offspring. Together, they would dig a pit and bury the remains as deep as they could, refilling the dirt behind them as Johnny watched the setting sun.