Chapter 2: Coming Storm

Slaves worked to the bone in the Legion capital of Flagstaff, with Legionaries on watch if any tire or attempt to escape. A pair of Legionaries drag an unconscious slave off his feet, his back covered in bruises and lashes as a punishment for escaping. They lifted him up on crucifixion, having his defeated body serve as a reminder to those who escape. Back then in the days of Caesar himself, young boys trained to become Legionaries. Now, with the rule of his son Dominus, males are taught in the Legion while female serve the Daughters of Hecate. A valuable and fair trade with the recent tribe the Legion has assimilated into their ranks. Most of the high ranking members of Caesar's Legion were against their exchange, due to them being wary of the Daughters of Hecate. After what transpired in Hoover Dam when both Legion and the New California Republic lost the battle, with a new nation from the Courier's creation changed everything in the Mojave. Two years later after the second battle of Hoover Dam, Legion lost Utah with no choice other than to press for territory in Oklahoma and nearly all of Texas. However, the son of Caesar consider saw this a silver lining since the NCR lost just as much as the Legion did. They became easy pickings when attempts to overtake Arizona, in the form of losing countless skirmishes to the Legion. Legionary drones roughly train against each other to improve their combat prowess, covered in bruises and even some cuts. One Legionary knocked down another one, with his fist bloodied and covered in wraps.

At the balcony of luxury resort which served as Caesar's palace, Dominus stared in view of the Legion capital city that was away below. The door opened behind them to show top ranking members of the Legion in the form of Legates. There was Lucius, Decimus, Marcos, and Lanius as Vulpes Inculta followed behind them before closing the doors. Dominus turned his attention to them, taking one last glance at the city before taking a seat on the center as the Legates present and Vulpes with the exception of Lanius sat down after the son of Caesar. Slaves came by to deliver their drinks while a pair of low ranking legionaries eying them intensely in case of any attempts of assassination or escape.

"Let us begin." Dominus turned to Decimus. "What do you have to report, Legate Decimus?"

"The New California Republic still attempts to push their advantage on our territories in New Mexico." Decimus stated. "But it is more of desperation rather than actual calculation and strategy."

"Considering their status in California, they are caught in a difficult position. This has been beneficial in working in our favor." Vulpes added in astonishment. "They can't attempt territory with the Mojave Union, resulting to a stalemate."

"Evident given how the second battle at the dam setback our plans." Dominus replied before turning his attention to Legate Marcos and Lucius. "How did our forces fare in the NCR's attempts to take Roswell?"

"Minor casualties on our side only. NCR sustained the most but are still pushing for an advance on their side."

"Either brave or foolish on their part." Marcos retorted, at the NCR's advances on their relentlessness. "Their loss is hanging by a thread. And once that thread is severed permanently, so is their hold on New Mexico.

"In any case, they are spreading themselves too thin. Their efforts back in New Vegas have proven that." Vulpes stated. "My lord, Caesar. I advise we send in some of our frumentarii to weaken their vantage points in Roswell."

"Could we also strike a blow to their morale beforehand?" Dominus queried. "If we do so, they will be weaken enough to be able to even response when we send our forces there."

"It is possible given their current situation." Vulpes replied. "I also recommend we at least two of our spies to the heart of the NCR."

Dominus glanced at Vulpes, ears perking up upon the mention of NCR. "To California? Is that even a gamble worth risking?"

"I believe it would, Caesar. We only send in two of our best spies inside the NCR's capital territory." Vulpes suggested. "You would also have to admit, it does strike a certain curiosity as to why they have been attempting to double their efforts."

"Very well, then." Dominus complied to the advice of Vulpes. "Send in your top spies for this task. I want to know what has them this desperate."

"What of the Mojave Union, lord Caesar?" Decimus asked his leader

"Shinji Marko has not made his move against us, but he is wary of our efforts in our fight with the NCR." Dominus stated before turning to Vulpes. "What have your spies reported on the front in regard to the Mojave Union?"

"Refugees from the New California Republic and our escaped slaves have nearly filled the majority in numbers surrounding the Mojave wasteland." he reported. "For now, the Mojave Union seems to be struggling for asylum on where to have their squatters settled."

"Then, let us strike them now while they are preoccupied." Lanius said

"No."

"So, you would rather cower under the heel of the Mojave Union? And you call yourself a son of Caesar." Lanius retorted, loud enough for those to hear in the room

All eyes were on Lanius and Dominus, as the latter simply glared at the Monster of the East before standing up from his chair. His footsteps echoed the room alone as Dominus walked closely to the tall legate himself, his eyes staring into the eyes of Lanius through his bronze masked helmet. Decimus and Marcos stared at awe but also cautious in case of what would happen possibly, while Lucius narrowed his eyes between Dominus and Lanius as he had trained the son of Caesar before. Vulpes on the other hand, curiously stroked his chin in anticipation to see how things would play between the Legate and Caesar's son. Before a word could even be spoken, an explosion was heard in the Legion city capital of Flagstaff.

A Legionary burst through the door with urgency. "Lord Caesar! The slave slums-"

"I know." Dominus replied, glaring at Lanius before grabbing a set of weapons from his rack on the wall. "Assemble three garrisons to congregate at the slums. If these slaves are attempting to rebel, then we will remind them of their error. Efficient and will be severely punished for their transactions."

An entourage compose of the Legates, Vulpes, and Dominus arrived at the slums were three garrisons' worth of Legionaries arrived prior to them on horses. Some of the horses they were ghoulified while the horse Dominus rode was from a vault specifically for breeding them. He acquired this horse from Vault 42 in Texas, while the vault dwellers of 42 were be protected in return for having their horse breed. The slums are a maze of narrow streets and crumbling buildings as the sun was set, casting long shadows and a blood red hue. Legionaries are setting up defenses, as they begin to barricade streets and readying the weapons. He could see the slaves heading to the direction of the blockade, but something was odd. They weren't rebelling or charging in retaliation to liberate themselves, they were running. Dominus wondered why or what made the slaves coming to the Legion rather than attacking the Legionaries, narrowing his eyes from behind the crowd. While Dominus stared off the distance, Lanius got off of his armored Ghoulhorse and slowly brought out his Blade of the East.

Back with Dominus, he saw the head shape of a Brahmin but there was something strange about it. Lanius stopped one of the slaves trying to past the blockade by impaling his blade through the slave's chest, as he lifted the dying body in front of every slave on display. The slaves moved back in terror of the Legate, all except for one who was cloaked and female judging by the appearance Lanius could recognize. Meanwhile with Dominus, he saw the brahmin shaped head stand out as a large form the size of a super mutant as he quickly glanced at seeing a cloaked slave bare sharp talons. The cloaked slave pounced on Lanius, resembling a part woman, part bird looking mutant. Its talons slashed across Lanius's armor, with a visible scratch being shown moments before Lanius sliced the head of the human-bird mutant hybrid. Slaves screamed in horror as they backed away from the sight before the legates Marco, Lucius, and Decimus made their way to the corpse. Vulpes walked past them as he picked up the head of the bird woman, observantly inspecting as to what form of mutant he was seeing with his own eyes.

"What in the name of Caesar?!" Marcos blurted out upon seeing the head of bird woman mutant hybrid

"How interesting." he spoke, all the while staring at the eyes of the frightened slaves who were trying to leave the slums. "This isn't a revolt. It wasn't even the slaves who did this. They are trying to flee."

"What are they? Some form of Super Mutants that would dare attack our city?" Decimus queried in distaste

"While they are mutant or mutated judging from what we see here, they are not Super Mutants." Vulpes stated, given evident that he has seen his share of super mutants due to his time in the Mojave before the second battle of Hoover Dam. "These are different, it seems."

"To arms, Legionaries!" Lucius commanded

"And protect the heir of Caesar!" Decimus ordered as Legionaries moved past the slaves

A mutant that looked half man and half bull appeared, along with those that were half goat adjourned in armor. There were even mutated women who were part bird. With skulls carved in between. The leading force of this mutant horde were man bull mutant hybrids, as one in red war paint held a makeshift battleaxe in the air. The strange mutants appeared from the edge of the slums, letting out an intense and loud roar before moving with eerie coordination. Minotaurs, towering and brutish were leading the charge with Fauns and Satyrs flanking them. A dozen Harpies glide above, ready to swoop down and pounce on the Legionaries while firing at them with short sub-machine guns as some Legionaries along with the near majority of surviving slaves were hit in the process. Minotaurs crash into the barricades, smashing through with sheer strength and force. Some Legionaries thrust their spears into the oncoming horde and pressed forward, while others were mowed down and hacked apart. Dominus slashed through a few Satyrs and Fauns before piercing his blade through a Minotaur's mouth. The creature's blood splattering the ground as he went on with the next before two Harpies dived, their talons reaching for his face.

Dominus headbutted one of the Harpies before another scarred his face with her talons, receiving a blade from the back by Lucius. Amid the battle, a tribe of women warriors in green and yellow war masks arrived carrying spears and other such weapons. Their makeshift armor light and versatile, adorned in ceremonial metal accustomed to their tribe. Alongside them were men with tribal armor, as their wolf motif cloaks were presented the moment, they observed the chaos from afar. When they came to the slums, they witnessed the battle between Legion soldiers and the monstrous mutants. This tribe was one of the most powerful in the Southwest. Originating from a tribal girl among the last of her lost tribe due to the Legion onslaught and abandoned by other tribes, seeing her nothing more than a dark omen. A dark mother. Hecate was christened in a place known to a few, specifically from the elder priests as the Nursery. When she eventually left the Nursery, she formed a tribe of her own by slowly taking new sons and daughters who she considered to be strong while the weak and infirm were discarded. Even in death, she would seek retribution on the tribes that forsaken her and Caesar's Legion.

The Daughters of Hecate have made their presence known in the battle, with their Hounds fighting by their side to aid the Legion against the mutant threat. The battle continuously raged on, with both sides suffering casualties as a Legion regiment arrived in the nick of time. A Minotaur broke through the Legion's line, roaring in triumph as it crossed weapons with Lanius. Agile and vicious, Fauns darted through the Legion's ranks using their speed to outmaneuver the soldiers. But the Daughters of Hecate dispatch the Satyrs and Minotaur's with a swift and precise strike through the sacrificial use of their Hounds. Dominus looked up to see Harpies circling above as they glide, preparing for another dive. Archers, riflemen, and sharpshooters among both Legion and Daughters of Hecate took aim and release a volley of arrows along with bullets striking down several Harpies from the sky. The Legion alongside the Daughters of Hecate began to gain the upper hand in the battle. The unknown mutants, though fierce, start to falter under the relentless assault. But no more greatly than the garrison number of Legionaries lost in this bloody battle.

"Press on the attack! Drive these monstrosities out of my city!" Dominus yelled out, ordering his legionaries to push the mutant threat back and vanquish them

The Legionaries and Daughters of Hecate with the addition of their Hounds push forward, their formations tight and disciplined. The mutants are driven back, their numbers dwindling the more the Legion advance. Dominus led the final charge with Lanius, their swords cutting through the remaining mutants. The streets are filled with the sounds of battle. Gradually, after finishing off every last mutant in the battle, the noise began to subside. The slums are littered with bodies of mutants, dead slaves, and fallen Legionaries. Those from the Legion that survived regroup, tending to their wounded and honoring their dead. Dominus turned to address his remaining Legionaries, holding the head of a minotaur before them.

"Round up the surviving slaves that we have left here. I want to know everything about these creatures." Dominus ordered, decapitating the head of each mutant as a Daughter of Hecate with long dark hair and green eyes approached him. "Priestess Selene. I was not expecting you."

"One of our own was taken after they left Ouroboros." she said. "The High Mother suspects your Legion to be involved in their capture."

"I have done no such thing." Dominus replied, in annoyance. "And as you can see, we were preoccupied with these abominations of nature."

Selene stared at the heads of the mutants in question. "Ah, so they do exist."

Dominus turned to her with a glare. "Did you-"

Selene merely scoffed. "Don't be absurd." she interjected as Lanius slowly heading their way, sheathing his blade on his back. "I have heard tales of a mutant race from the East Coast. They are called Nerospiridium."

"How were they made?"

"A progenitor strain of the Forced Evolutionary Virus." Selene answered. "That's how the rumors go, at least. Supposedly, they were wiped but that appears to be false after today."

Lanius took a step forward between them. "Regardless, we should need to our advances on both the NCR and Mojave Union."

"No, we don't." Dominus turned to Lanius. "If we are dealing with these Nerospiridium, then so would the Courier and his nation. As for the New California Republic, everything will proceed as planned for them."

Lanius shook his head, displeased and with contempt hidden under his helmet. "This is a foolish ploy. You would rather keep your attention focused on these mutant abominations and the NCR, than deal with the Courier. The one who sent his metal army do upon Caesar on Fortification Hill five years past."

"These Nerospiridium remain a bigger threat than the Mojave Union."

"I can offer my help to you, son of Caesar."

"Very well. You wish to prove it, handle the NCR. Vulpes! Lucius!" Dominus called out as said people approach him. "Ready our forces at first light. Time to put an immense pressure on the NCR." he said, seeing Selene leaving as he glanced at Vulpes. "And keep an eye on her."

"Ave, Dominus." Vulpes said, leaving as Lucius did the same

"Trickery and deception. You rely on such trivial nonsense."

"My late father thought otherwise. Strength and power determine the winner, but deception sets the board." Dominus spoke in a modest and prideful tone. "He was wise that I inherit the right as heir due to me seeing those values."

"Then, it appears that Caesar was weak-minded to think so." he retorted in a harsh and grim tone. "Especially if he chose you to be his rightful heir to the Legion."

"No, he was smart. And unlike him, you are not. You are impatient, too volatile." Dominus headed over to his horse and got on the saddle, as he galloped the horse near Lanius while side glaring at him. "Patience is a warrior's strength. I thought you of all people would know of that." he concluded as he headed to the palace with the rest of the legates. "Burn the bodies and return to the palace when you are finished, Legate." he said the last word with disdain before departing to the palace

Meanwhile in New Vegas, Followers of the Apocalypse have their personnel staff offering whatever aid possible to survive. Due to fear of any toxins, the personnel was instructed to take precautions of possible infections. McCarren became a primary base for the Mojave Union's forces as it did for the New California Republic, with reserve troops heading for Red Rock Canyon to provide assistance for the Followers. Inside the fortified airport turned military base, Micah was in a holding cell being watched by Veronica and Boone. According to what they heard from the soldiers; this one individual they were watching took down the mutated bat monster back in Red Rock with a Tesla cannon. Boone could tell there was something else off with this wastelander. He wasn't a refugee; he knew how to fight and handle himself on his own among the rest. There was also the pip-boy on his wrist, meaning he was either a vault dweller or someone who stole it from a vault dweller. Veronica looked back on the notes one of the tech heads wrote regarding the Tesla cannon, finding it to be similar to the one Shinji once found in his adventuring days as the Courier.

"So, then." Veronica spoke. "What do you make of the guy?"

"He's a fighter from the looks of him."

"Obviously, Captain." Veronica witty replied, adding Boone's current Mojave Union recon unit

"There's also the pip-boy on the wrist, meaning either he's a vault dweller or killed one to get that pip-boy." Boone pointed out. "He's not NCR, and he sure as hell isn't Legion."

"Who's going on to talk to the guy?" Veronica asked

"I am." they turned to see Shinji walked by them as he headed inside the holding cell

Boone let out an aggravated sigh from his mouth. "Damn it, Shinji. You could have waited for us to question him." he muttered

"He usually known to be patient." Veronica stated as they watched the wastelander by the collar of his shirt. "Right now... patience just ran out the window."

"Who are you?" Shinji demanded

"Just a wanderer. Not looking for any trouble." the wastelander said, as Shinji tossed him back in his seat before typing something on his pip-boy.

A minute later, beeping could be heard from the wastelander's pip-boy. "That right there..." the wastelander glanced at Shinji before looking down on his pip-boy with a look of astonishment. "Is an algorithm that used on data from the securitrons in the Mojave. These algorithms don't just collect data, they collect recordings of footage. Footage you stolen off of one of my bots."

"Gotta say, that's a stroke of genius." the wastelander said, flashing a smile. "You created this algorthim?"

"Someone else did, and don't change the subject."

"Listen, as a man of many talents, I'm sure you can understand-"

Shinji launched a fist at the wastelander, who surprising took the punch before he spat out blood. Veronica and Boone were stunned to see a random wasteland withstand a punch from the Courier, given that Shinji was a cyborg after his "visit" from Big MT. Shinji glared daggers at the wastelander who seem unfazed but dissatisfied as he balled his fists. Just when he readied another punch, the wastelander lunged at him, taking the Courier a bit off guard but ready for the attack. To his shock, he could the wrist with one hand while had a hold on his arm with the other. Veronica and Boone as they were about to join in to help their friend, but Shinji stopped them from doing so.

"Don't!" he exclaimed, shouting. "This one is mine."

He swiftly moved his leg to land a roundhouse kick once he got out of the wastelander's hold, as the mysterious wanderer dodged the kick with ease. Both entered a fighting stance as one waited for the other to strike. The two traded blow for blow on each other, with both of them either blocking or evading the other's attack. Shinji used a sweeping kick he learned from Ranger Andy when he first came to Novac, before meeting Boone as the wastelander fell to the floor of the cell. The Courier pinned the wastelander down but got away when Shinji was hit with a precise headbutt as the wastelander got off the floor and stood up on his own two feet. The wastelander landed a well-placed palm strike to the Courier's gut, before adding a backhanded fist to go across the Courier's face. The impact of that backhand was hard, just enough for a bit of blood to come out of Shinji's mouth. He wiped it out his mouth, using his hand as he stared back at the mysterious wastelander who was surprising just as strong as him.

"Nice moves." the wastelander said, impressed with the courier's skill in hand-to-hand. "That's some military training you got there. Maybe former NCR? In any case, your reputation proceeds you as the Courier, Shinji Marko."

"Who the hell are you?" Shinji asked

"My name is Micah." said person introduced himself as. "Just think of me as a Lone Wanderer, for now."

"Tell me, Micah..." Shinji trailed, took a few steps toward him. "What brings like you here in New Vegas? And what I really want to know is how you have that pip-boy on that wrist and where you got that Tesla cannon from?"

"Figured I'd hit the casino, but the giant bat killed the mood." Micah jokingly said. "As for the pip-boy, I grew up in a vault back east. And as for the Tesla cannon, it's one of my personal favorites. I had thought of selling it, but like I said, giant bat."

"You know where that thing came from?"

"I don't have a clue." Micah replied, shrugging his shoulders. "But I did hear rumors of it coming northwest from here. Rumor has it that the giant bat came from a place called the Divide. Whatever the hell that is."

The mention of the Divide made Shinji's eye widened as he walked out the door, with a near panicked look on his face. Veronica and Boone followed him.

"Where are you going?"

"To the Divide. I got an old acquaintance I need to see." he told them. "I'm going alone."

"You can't be alone with who knows what out there." Veronica said, trying to persuade him to going heading off alone to the Divide. "You need to take someone with you."

"I got ED-E."

"Not just ED-E and you know it." Veronica countered. "Someone needs to watch both of your backs."

"Ah, hmm." they looked back to see Micah behind them. "I couldn't help but overhear you know where this Divide is. If so, I'll go with you. You don't trust me since we just met but let me offer my services in advance. Think of me as a hired gun."

"No, thanks." Shinji said, dismissively before seeing the look on Veronica's face. "Fine. You can come along, but if I see you do anything I don't like whatsoever, I will put you down. Understood?"

"Crystal clear, boss man."