Bernard walked along the road towards Isaac's Shack.

"Whoo boy, it's hot out here."

As he approached he saw the door was slightly ajar, he placed his hand on his revolver. He slowly approaches and pushes the door open.

"Hello?"

Ruff was scrounging around the living room, she had her Super Sledge and Isaac's Plasma Rifle strapped to her back, and was covered in various metal armor.

"Ruff, what's going on!? Where's Isaac!?"

Ruff angrily hands the note to Bernard, he quickly reads and frowns.

"Shit!"

Ruff pushed by Bernard, murder on her mind, he grabs her arm.

"Hey you can't take on an entire Legion Camp! Even both of us can't."

Ruff pulls her arm out of his grip, fully intent to die if need be to save Isaac. Bernard stands in front of the door to stop her, she tries pushing pass but he doesn't budge.

"I'm not gonna let you get yourself killed, little lady!"

She angrily pounds her fist in Bernard's chest, wanting him to move. She had worry, anger, sadness in her eyes.

"I know we need to save him, how about we call in a few favors."

Daiyu quickly walked through the doors to the outside of Camp McCarran, looking for Ronaldo.

She rushed to a tent in the back and entered.

Ronaldo sat tickering with a clock, he turned to see her in her panicked state.

"Ronaldo!"

"What's wrong D?"

"We need to go, Isaac's been kidnapped by Legion! We're gonna need some extra firepower!"

"What kinda firepower," Ronaldo scrambles to his feet getting his gear and guns.

"A minigun."

Terry stood in front of a full length mirror in his room, he finished putting on his Ranger coat and puts on his Ranger hat. He looked in the mirror.

"Been awhile, little tight."

"Dad?"

Terry turned to see Tricia at his door.

"Why are you wearing your Ranger gear?"

"Well I got a job to do."

"What kinda job?"

"Well you remember Isaac right?"

"Yea."

"He's in a little trouble. Me and some other friends are gonna get him out of it."

"Can I come help too?"

Terry kneels in front of Tricia placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Sorry Little Tree but the adults gotta handle this one."

Tricia nods and Terry kisses her on the forehead.

"Tell Mama I'm gonna be late for dinner."

Brother and Ten sat on a large rock across from a couch where Ruff and Bernard sat, Fluff-fluff was sleeping in Ten's lap.

"So you need our help to save Isaac," Brother asked.

"Yes," Bernard says, "we'll give you whatever you want in exchange."

"That will not be necessary," Brother stood up and walked towards the wall of the cave, "he saved Fluff-fluff for us, so I'll gladly save him."

He punches into the wall and pulls out a giant metal chest.

"I wished to never use these again but if it's to save a friend, I will use them."

He opens the chest and pulls out a giant metal sword, in the chest was several pieces of metal.

"What's all that," Bernard questioned.

"All I'll say is," he starts putting pieces on him, "I was a soldier. Ten come here."

Ten stands by him and Brother starts putting armor on him.

"I don't have a weapon for you, Ten. I assume we're not the only ones you're calling for help."

"That's right, we can get a weapon for Ten."

"Yea! Help Scientist Man," Ten exclaimed.

Isaac woke up, he had his hands bound together by rope and was laying face down in the ground. He tries picking himself up, his glasses fall off his face.

"Let me help you," a man helped Isaac up to his knees, Isaac couldn't see him but recognized his voice.

"Al? Is that you," he questioned squinting, "I can't see."

"Here," the man puts Isaac's glasses on through the broken frames he could see Albus, in his typical Legionnaire armor. They were in a small tin shack. A small table and chair were set up on the opposite side.

"Al? Why are you… wearing… you bastard! You lied to us!"

Isaac tries to struggle but couldn't.

"Where's Ruff!? Bernard!? What'd you do to them!?"

"Nothing," Albus sits in the chair, "yet."

"What do you want with me!? With us!?"

"What do I want with you and the others? Well for you and Bernard, I thought about simply killing you both."

Isaac gulps.

"And Ruff, oh ho what I wouldn't do to her."

Isaac grimaces.

"If you touch a hair on her I'll-"

Albus quickly stood and backhanded Isaac.

"Quiet!"

Isaac feels his cheek sting and he falls back into the dirt, Albus grabs the back of his shirt and pulls Isaac up.

"Stop talking and be a good bait for your friends," Albus drags Isaac by his collar and leans him against the back wall of the cell.

"You're a son of a bitch Al-"

"Please, it's Albus."

"Whatever. When I get untied!"

"How many times must I tell you to be quiet?"

At that time Octavius walked into the tent, accompanied by two other Legionnaires, he was furious. He looked at Isaac in the cell and to Albus, who had a shit eating grin.

"What is the meaning of this," Octavius shouted, "my soldiers tell me you brought one of the people who broke our slave recon here as bait for the others!?"

"Correct," Albus calmly said, crossing his legs, "everythings going according to plan."

"According to plan? According to plan!? Whose plan!? Do you realize you've left a trail to us!? You know they worked with the NCR dogs! They could send Companies to take down this one camp just to flex their military might and make us an example!!"

"They won't," Albus stands and calmly approaches, "also my plan of course, I know they won't ask for the NCR's help-"

"And how do you know that!?"

Albus twitches, tilting his head to the left a little, "let me finish. It's personal to them that I did this. It'd make no sense to involve the NCR."

"You," Octavius shakes his head, "Men detain Albus."

The other Legionnaires don't move, Octavius turns and points back to Albus.

"Did you not hear me," he asked angrily, "put this man in the cell! Now!"

"They're not your soldiers anymore," Albus stepped closer, reaching into his pocket, " they're mine."

Albus pulls out spiked knuckles and stabs them into the left side of Octavius' ribs, puncturing his lungs. Octavius' air left him and he slumps, Albus catches him.

"I have been a lapdog for you and that old fool for far too long," Albus twists the knuckles, Octavius groans in pain, blood spilling from his mouth, "it's time for a new era, my era."

Albus pulls the spiked knuckles out from Octavius, who can barely stand. Octavius holds his left side, he tries reaching for his machete but falls to the ground face first and dies. Albus smirks.

"If you continue to yap," Albus turns to Isaac and licks some blood off his spiked knuckles, "you'll end up like him. And yes it will be as satisfying to do so."

A sudden explosion from somewhere in the camp rings out.

"Ah it's time, the storm has arrived."

A few moments ago, on a ridge, Daiyu sat with her sniper rifle. She looked through her scope, scouting the area and counting the enemies. Despite it being a somewhat small camp with some tents and a few tin shacks, there were about 90 soldiers she could see.

"Daiyu," Bernard along with Ruff, Brother and Ten, slowly approach, "where's Ronaldo?"

"He's placing an explosive around the arms tent," Daiyu stood and motioned to a large metal gun case, "there's the Minigun you asked for. Tear is helping Roro."

Brother opens the gun case and pulls out the Minigun.

"Ten," Brother gives Ten the Minigun and motioned to a trigger, "that's how you shoot it." Ten nods.

"The plan is simple as they're getting set, you all will crowd around the camp once the explosion goes off we'll start the raid for Isaac," Daiyu looks through her scope and sees Ronaldo signal. Daiyu signals back, "alright they're in place you guys should too."

Bernard and the others slowly approach the camp, after they're set up Daiyu signals again to Ronaldo.

"Alright," Daiyu pulls out the detonator.

Bernard does the sign of the cross and Ruff tightly clutches her Super Sledge.

Daiyu clicks the button and one of the tents explodes. Legion soldiers begin to scramble.

Ten pops out of cover and begins firing.

"ATTACK," Brother pops out and swings his sword taking out three Legionnaires in one swing, Ronaldo fires his Grenade Launcher destroying a tent in an explosion.

Bernard and Ruff rush towards the middle of the camp.

"Ruff check the tin shacks," Bernard fires and hits a Legionnaire, "I'll check the tents."

Ruff nods and rushes off to the closest tin shack, she smacks a Legionnaire in the chest knocking him away. Ruff rears her Super Sledge back and slams it into the door breaking it in. She enters the tin shack and sees Albus.

"Ah Ruff," Albus sat at the small table, "thanks for dropping in."

The two Legionnaires by the door grab her, she struggles.

"Ruff," Isaace shouts. She looks and sees he's roughed up, she grits her teeth. Ruff stomps on the left Legionnaire causing him to let her go, she headbutts the one to her right causing him to let go as well. She swings her weapon hitting and killing one, she headbutts the other one again, swings and kills him too.

"Now I'm excited," Albus smirked and stood, "I knew I picked the right woman."

Ruff turns and glares at him, Albus kept smiling. Ruff runs at him and swings, he sidesteps the Sledge and slaps Ruff.

"Come on, you can do better than that."

Ruff swings again, Albus grabs her top hand on the Sledge and stops it. Ruff goes to headbutt him but he headbutts her back, their forehead clack together, Ruff stumbles back. She loses the grip on her Super Sledge, Albus throws it away.

"Hard head," Albus rubs his forehead.

"Ruff," Isaac was worried, Ruff kneels holding her head. Isaac picks himself up and goes to the cell door.

Albus walks towards Ruff, she stands and swings her left fist at him, he grabs it and twists her arm, he spins her around and puts her into a chicken wing. He applies pressure to her shoulder causing her to grimace in pain. Albus leans closer to her ear.

"Give up," he smirks, "give up now and become subservient to me, I'll spare your friends, maybe I'll let you visit them from time to time. Keep resisting and I'll kill them all, painfully. I will disembowel Isaac in front of you, put Bernard's head into a barrel of acid and let his flesh burn off his face. You don't wanna do that to them do you, Ruff?"

Ruff looks down, she seriously considers his offer, she'd lose her freedom but they'd be alive to hopefully live in peace. She shuts her eyes tightly and begins to nod.

"Don't listen to him!"

Ruff shoots up and looks at Isaac, he had his body pushed up against the cell.

"It doesn't matter if I die! As long as you get to keep living and living free! I'll gladly die for you Ruff! Beat his ass!"

Ruff smirks and swings her head back, hitting and breaking Albus' nose.

"You little…," Albus pushes Ruff to the ground, "BITCH!"

Ruff hits the ground hard, she turns over and before she could get up, Albus straddles her and elbows her in the chin, causing blood to leak from a cut. He wraps his hands around her throat and squeezes. Ruff tries to struggle but Albus is too heavy for her to push off

"I like it rough you know," he grins, "don't worry I won't kill you, I need you. To be my lover, to birth an heir of my dynasty. After I kill your friends, Caesar is next, that old fool has been in power for too long. He doesn't have the ambition I do! Tonight the Mojave, tomorrow the West Coast, in a week I'll have every tribe AND this entire wasteland under my thumb. We will live like a king and queen!"

Ruff's eyes begin rolling to the back of her head.

"RUFF," Isaac squirms against the bars, "stay awake!"

A shot rings out and a bullet hits Albus in his right shoulder, he falls over next to Octavius' corpse. Ruff takes a deep breath, she looks at the door, Bernard stands there, revolver still smoking.

"If I had a bottlecap for every time I saved yall," he holstered his gun, "I wouldn't have to deal with any of this." He smirks.

Ruff gets up and catches her breath.

"Holy shit Bernard," Isaac exclaims, relieved. He rests his head in the bars.

"Ruff, get Isaac out of that cell," Bernard walked towards Albus' prone body, "I'll check him to make sure he's down."

Ruff nods and picks up her Super Sledge; she uses it to bust the door down. She quickly unties Isaac and they hug and kiss.

"I love you so much," Isaac starts getting teary eyed, "I'm so sorry. I should've fought harder I-"

Ruff puts a finger on his mouth and smiles, he smiles back. Bernard sees them and smiles too, he kneels over Albus' body and grabs his shoulder and turns it over.

Albus was grinning.

"Gotcha!"

Albus swings Octavius' machete, chopping into Bernard's upper arm.

"SHIT!"

"BERNARD," Isaac and Ruff are stunned.

Bernard pulls out his revolver, Albus cuts off his hand. Albus embeds the machete into the left side of Bernard's chest, he falls to the ground

"Thank you Octavius," Albus combs his hair back with his hand, "I'll name my first son after you."

Ruff, with her Sledge, rushes towards Albus. He turns and smiles, blood in his teeth. She swings and he ducks he tackles her into the wall, she drops her Sledge. He rears his fist back and punches Ruff in the side of the head; he grabs her head and slams it into the wall three times.

"Why do you make me hurt you," he kept smiling, " I mean I like it but I don't wanna damage you too much."

Ruff slums to the ground, unconscious.

"Hey," Isaac swings his fist at Albus, Albus turns and elbows Isaac in the chest. Isaac falls clutching his chest.

"Weak ass," Albus stomps onto Isaac's stomach. Isaac felt vomit come up into his mouth, he swallowed it back down. Albus straddles Isaac, he swings and punches Isaac in the chin, he swings again and again, bruising Isaac's face. He wraps his hands around Isaac's throat.

"Ya know I thought about keeping you alive," Albus squeezes. Isaace begins choking, he grabs onto Albus' hand trying to pry them off.

"Despite the threats I made, despite how much I hate you. I know how happy you make Ruff, I thought we could keep you, like a toy, her to use for whatever and me to use as a punching bag but noooo, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE SO GODDAMN DIFFICULT!"

He picks Isaac's head up and slams it into the ground, stunning Isaac for a second. Albus squeezes tighter and puts his thumbs into Isaac's windpipe. Isaac begins flailing his arms, trying to reach for something, anything. He begins losing consciousness.

Bernard sat against a wall, the machete deep into his chest. He was barely conscious, he saw Isaac being choked. He saw his revolver and hand. With the last of his strength, he kicks his revolver just within reach of Isaac's hand. Isaac finds the revolver and grabs it. He clutches the handle, he hesitates and then swings it, hitting the side of Albus' head.

Albus rolls away, letting out a shout. Blood begins pouring from his cheek, he touches his wound and scowls. Isaac takes a quick breath and scrambled to his feet.

Albus goes to pounce but Isaac points the revolver at Albus, he stops on his tracks and smiles.

"I know you're not gonna shoot me. I know about your aversion to killing people."

Isaac shakily holds the revolver with one hand pointing at Albus, he gulps.

"You're right," Isaac grabs the revolver with both hands, steadying his aim, "I hate violence, I hate when people die even if they are the worst piece of scum. I hate this right now, holding this gun and when holding my plasma rifle. I hate this!"

Isaac closes his eyes. Albus steps his right foot forward.

"But," Isaac opens his eyes, determination in his eyes, "there's a question I have to answer and the answer is I'm fine with this weight."

Isaac pulls the trigger, a bullet flies from the barrel and straight into the forehead of Albus. Albus falls to his knee and finally to the ground, dead. Isaac drops the revolver, he felt like throwing up, despite how he knew he needed to do this, he still didn't like it.

"Nice job kid."

Isaac turns to Bernard, still slumped against the wall. Isaac rushes and kneels by him.

"Bernard," Isaac exclaims, looking at the machete in Bernard, he knew he was going to die, "don't worry we'll get a stimpak, take you to the Vegas Clinic. Everyth-"

"No," blood leaked out of Bernard's mouth, "I know and you know this is the end for ole Bernard Smith. I'm fine with it."

Tears well up in Isaac's eyes.

"I think I've lived longer than I really needed to, I'm just lucky, bout time that ran out. Isaac I'm proud of ya, proud of Ruff too, I know things will be alright with y'all. Maybe that's why I'm happy dying right now."

Bernard smirked, tears starting to fall from his and Isaac's eyes.

"Before I go, I need to set some things straight. Reach into my left inside chest pocket."

Isaac does and pulls out a wedding ring.

"Give that to Daiyu," Bernard slumps his head down, "tell her 'I'm sorry, I love you.'"

Bernard dies.

Isaac sat there for a second, he was shell shocked. It was too much to process. He stands slowly and goes to walk out the shack.

He steps out, night has fallen, there were several fires around the camp and dead Legionnaires. Ronaldo with Ten tended to a hurt Brother, Terry and Daiyu checked the pockets of the dead Legionnaires for info. They all notice Isaac. Isaac slowly walks past them, he falls to his knees.

Everything finally clicks for him, he starts heaving his breath, he pounds the ground. He yells in anguish, pain, sorrow, these emotions boil to the surface. Hot tears streamed from Isaac as he continued screaming, waiting to the dead sky.

To be continued…