-((Quest Break))-

A hush surround the small Legion camp, but the heaviness is weighing me down every second I stared at the blade impaled at Terrence. Blood began slowly running down the blade and drip. "Guh...hack!" The caravaner coughed up even a little more blood from his mouth.

"Mr. Ko!" Azrael yelled. I hear his feet scuffle on the ground at a rapid pace, then saw him pushing Corwin away from Terrence. He then place both hands on the handle of the machete. "H-Hold on, Mr. Ko. I'l try and remove thi-"

"N...no..." Terence's voice was almost a whisper. "Don't...try..." He coughed up more blood.

"Pathetic..." Vulpes voice suggest that the little event with the caravaner didn't phase him. "I was hoping more blood shed than just a worthless worm getting impaled by a mere weapon. I could've done it quicker and with more effort." He dropped both of his arms with the sword still in his left hand. "If we don' have a minute to waste, I believe I'll deal with all of you myself."

I can't even seem to process, let alone remember, anything in my mind. I noticed Vulpes walking past Corwin to our direction. Guess I have no other option but to go back to the stance Azrael told me to do. "Craig, take Terrence out of here! Me, Azrael, and Wade will take care of these idiots!"

"Are you fucking crazy!?" Craig yelled. "You'e willing to risk your life and fight these fuckers!? Let me do this, I have more expe-"

"Just do it!" I cut Craig off. "I know you want to take these guys on, but none of us has the strength nor the speed to take a comrade to safety, like you did with me" I turned to Craig. "Now, quit your arguing and take Terrence back to the others!" I hope I can breach through his invisible shield.

Craig maintained his stance against me, but he only made a simple nod. "Don't get killed..." was all he said before hoisting Terrence in his arms, make sure not to tamper with the weapon still through his chest. "Why do memories flood in my mind..."

Before I can ask what Craig was talking about, I hear a loud clang coming from behind me. "Courier! Don't let your guard down so easily!" Wade's voice ringed in my ears, making me turn to see the bottom edge of Vulpes's blade just inches from my head, but it is currently blocked by the newcomer's katana. "When it comes to the enemy, even the Legion, you must aways be on your guard!" He gave one hard push, bringing the enemy feet away from him.

"Quite," Vulpes chuckled. "unlike that low life behind you who has maybe little to no knowledge of such weaponry as the one she has grasped, my techniques can be proven fatal to those who are not aware of their opponents moves. But what's more foolish is having a woman like her going up against the mightiest and superior individuals, like myself, of the Legion. Women like her-"

"Shut the fuck up!" I bellowed out, walking to Wade's side and activating the flames of Gehenna. "I am fucking tired of you people treating women of any kind like they are nothing but trash! I will show you sexist piece of shit that we do have the willpower to fight back, no matter how harsh or cruel you do to them!"

"Hell, I'm fucking surprised you managed to say all of that without one of your headaches..." Craig, after hearing him laugh a little, sounded like he's pleased, I think. But I have to silently agree. "Come back in one piece, and show those fuckers who's boss." I hear his footsteps fading slowly behind me.

One Legionary ran towards me with his machete, but I was lucky enough to block it just in time. I'll try to, Craig... I spoke subconsciously, seeing an image of some metal looking box behind some clear glass, showing two people in strange outfits fighting with swords like Azrael's and Wade's. After seeing a guy using some technique involving slashing the sword down and across, I came back to reality thereafter and repeated the same technique. "HRAAHH!" I made a hard downward motion with Gehenna, making the guy stagger back. I sprint forward and swipe my weapon across, seeing a long cut forming on his neck.

"Guh..." he sputtered, trying to make sure the blood doesn't pour out quickly from his neck. But even if he tried using both if his hands to block the flow, he collapsed and became unresponsive in seconds.

"Astounding!" Wade clashed his sword with Vulpes. "But we are still outnumbered!"

I noticed Azrael swiftly taking care of three more Legionaries in just seconds. "I beg to differ. They hold no challenge to me..." Azrael held up his sword to Vulpes's neck. I think this person is outnumbered."

Wade chuckled a bit. "I couldn't agree more, buddy."

"Not quite." I saw Corwin with another machete walking towards my direction, but stopped just feet from where his master is positioned and me. "I am not going down without a good kill. But I must take back what is mine, and no one is going to get in my way."

I readied Gehenna, blazing with intense heat, with the the tip pointing at Corwin. "There is no way in hell would I be tied at my mercy and be your personal plaything. I'll even fight to the death then to be your slave." I tightened my grip on the shishkabob hilt.

"Then so it be..." Corwin charge head first, swiping Gehenna away from my face, but not enough to lose my grip on it.

I quickly try to find a counter to his attack, but use all my strength and swung Gehenna in a horizontal line, causing some his armor to tear and a but of a cut showing. Not enough. I brought the handle up, making a diagonal formation with Gehenna to block and hold Corwin's weapon in place.

"Never knew you can be this good..." Corwin growled, pushing his machete forward. "but you're no better that I!" Using both hands, he grabbed his weapon and shoved me down to the ground, feeling my hand opened and losing Gehenna maybe feet from me. I lift my head up, noticing the tip of his machete facing my face. "Any last words before I immobilize you, here and now?"

All I can do is glare at Corwin from both sides of his weapon. I don't know if he will use it to make me lose an arm, leg, or to slice my vision into nothing. I turned to take what might be must final look at Wade and Azrael clashing swords with Vulpes feet from me before I went back to my second killer. "Go ahead..." I murmured, hoping he can hear me through the clanging of steel of my comrades and Vulpes's weapons. "if you want to take me, then try to cut something..." I don't know if my empty mind has anything, but I need to find a way to escape this situation.

Corwin let off a sinister grin. "That's for me to know." He raised his weapon up and behind him, but I heard a few gun shots from behind me with a bullet digging into his arm, shoulder, and abdomen. "AURGH!" He dropped his arm down quickly, but not noticing-

"AAAAUURGH!" The machete blade came down from my eyebrow to my left eye and a little bit below it. It didn't dig into my eyelid but enough to make a mark about two to three inches. I covered the cut with my left hand, grunting in pain. It hurts even more if I try to open that eye, but I'll have to settle with my hand keeping it close until Arcade can manage to patch it up.

"Shit, this is not good..." I hear a couple of footsteps, including the voice of, strangely, Arcade coming our way. "We arrived a little too late..."

"Fuck..." I hear Craig growled. "I told you to come back in one piece, Crimson!"

All I can do is glare back at Craig with my good eye without uttering a word. Shut up, Craig... My mind is too focused on my little cut, just hoping I don't lose my sight on that eye.

One last loud sound from the sword went to and end between the three, I assumed. I turned to see Vulpes unscathed and Corwin holding one of his wounds. "Quite a troublesome troupe you have, I believe. But, I'm surprised at the inferior wench having a choice of comrades to aid in arms." He turned to Corwin. "We much return for now."

Corwin grind his teeth, glaring coldly at Craig. "Not until I get my chance at that asesino-" A swift hand of his mentor hit one of the bullet wounds, causing Corwin to fall on his knees.

Corwin growled, wincing at the pain he dealt from his master. "What The fuck did y-"

"Learn your place, pup." Vulpes interrupted, moving both his forearms behind his back. "I'll need to have our caretakers get those bullets out of you and retrain you once more. I'll have a word with Lord Caesar about you being under my constant watch." He turned back to me and my companions. "Our battle is never over. You might have an advantage, but the Legion will keep growing to take this horrid wasteland as our kingdom for our lord. Each one of you will be force to join us, or suffer a great amount of torture from many of our finest soldiers. And as for the women..." his lips curled up.

"Sorry, I don't think that will be a possibility." Arcade spoke. "Tell Caesar that his reign will soon be overthrown and dismantled.

"Say what you may," Vulpes kept his voice calm. "but mere words from you and your friends can't phase the Legion. Vale, for now." He turned his back on us. "The next encounter, I'll end you all with no time wasted." With Corwin tailing him, he disappeared from the rocky hills behind the tents.

"Damn..." Wade broke the few second silence. "I was hoping to rid of that piece of shit off this wasteland."

"Forget about that, sir." Azrael spoke. "There are more serious matters at hand such as Courier Crimson and Mr. Ko. I want to make sure that the one I'm suppose to protect is okay."

"I..." Arcade cleared his throat. "I don't think he will be okay."

"What!?" Azrael gasped.

I picked myself up to my feet, keep my hand on my left eye. "What do you mean, Arcade? Are you saying..."

Arcade closed his eyes and shook his head. "I must regret to say that he will not make it. A huge weapon such as the machete has already reached his heart, and there was too much blood loss that even if we were to take him to the outpost he wouldn't make it considering making our way up to a long incline through the two statues."

"But..." I can hear Azrael's voice shake a little. "is he still alive?"

"Not for long." Arcade replied. "I'm afraid he only has so much more to live before he passes from blood loss. If we act now, we can hurry to him and you can possibly speak to him before his time comes." Arcade went to me. "I'll see what I can do to patch up your cut."

I gave him a nod. "Alright, we better head back to the others."

"Is it okay if you and I can talk for a bit, Crimson?" Craig spoke?

"Make it quick," Arcade pushed his glasses up. "unless we have to do a burial, we are going to need your help." Arcade, with Wade and Azrael, made their way to the direction opposite from the campsite.

I keep forgetting to move my head to use my good eye to see Craig looking down at the dead Legionary, and then at the headless Powder Ganger corpse. "Are..." I squeaked a little, maybe getting Craig's attention. "Are you okay?"

"These damn fuckers are spreading like bloatflies..." Craig murmured under his breath. "and at an annoying rate."

"Craig?" I spoke more louder, maybe trying to ease his mind away from his bitter hatred on the Legion.

Craig maintained his gaze at the corpses, but his hands balled up and shook vigorously. "Pisses me off that Legion slavers can just operate on NCR turf like that. If we hadn't caught up to them they'd probably have had a clear path to the river. No one to stop them." He turned to me. "There should be patrols in each perimeter. Maybe even checkpoints." He let out a sigh to release the unwanted anger within him. "We got greedy, overstretched. Now our own territory isn't secure."

"There couldn't be anything to stop them from reaching within the wasteland." I walked to him, keeping my hand in place over my eye. "Even if the NCR were to massively fortify their defenses with even the most trained soldiers they got, they might find a loop hole." Sheesh, how am I learning all these words quickly despite my amnesia.

"As much as I hate hearing that," Craig calmly crossed his arms. "but you're right. I've seen even the most crafty Legionaries sneak past a veteran in broad daylight. They might've become about two, maybe three steps further than the NCR. But we can't let them overtake the wasteland, as long as we have you by our side."

Though his words do make sense, but I couldn't but have doubt flood my mind. "I'm just the lowly courier everyone talks about here. I deliver packages in even more dangerous places no one can go to. I hear people talk about couriers risking and losing their lives over something as stupid as taking assigned packages to its destination. Even laughing about it."

Craig gently grabbed my wrist and uncovered my left eye, feeling how the blood is nearly dried up, and used his free hand to touch my chin and bring my head up to see his face. "They might say that, but after hearing about you and your deeds through the radio, you've made a name for yourself despite being the lowly courier others talk about. But there are those who know you as Crimson, like the ones who are traveling with us. Fuck, I'm still grateful for saving me." he placed my hand back on my closed left eye. "I just wish there is something to repay you..."

"Soon," I smiled. "maybe when the time comes, you'll return the favor.

Craog grinned back at me and nod. "We better catch up to the others."

"Yeah, can't stay for long. Who knows if more of the Legion will come after us." I followed in a sprinting motion with Craig.

"Not if I see them through my scope." Craig huffed.

I swear the little distance got longer when we were leaving the Legion camp. But Craig and I managed to find the others huddled in one spot, possibly around Terrence. My left eye seemed to have healed a bit, but not enough to open it. We we got close to the circle, I was greeted by Azrael first. "Is...is he-"

"He's still breathing," Azrael cut me off. "but I'm more surprised at how long he is holding off. He wants to speak with us immediately."

"Alright." I answered with a nod.

"Gosh darn it..." Eric took a small hit of his cigarette before blowing it above him. "Sure ain't th' best o' times fer a fallen pardner..."

Kip nuzzled against Natalie's arms, whilst the soldier let out an apologetic glare at the associate. "Oh, hey Crimson." She caught sight of me, Azrael and Craig walking near Terrence. "I don't know how much longer he can stay alive, but you better make it quick."

I sat to where Terence's head is facing, making sure he doesn't use his last bit of strength moving his head to find me. "Terrence, I'm here."

I noticed his breathing is not normal, not to mention small and raspy. "C...Crimson..." he hoarsely spoke, grinning at me. "the...champion of...Gehenna. I always...knew that you..." he coughed and moaned from the pain within him. "knew...that you would...bring the inner fire out..." he formed a weak smile at me.

"But why me!?" My voice rose. "Why do I have to wield Gehenna? Why couldn't it be an-"

"You have..." Terrence stopped me from talking. "you have the fire...that can't die within us. You've..." he coughed a little harder, seeing drops of blood flying out of his lips. He let out one groan before he can proceed. "You've showed us...that there is more...than just surviving. With friends...we can make it...out together. Anybody...of military...or no status..." he flashed a pleasing grin. "there is...always hope."

"Uhh," Veronica cleared her throat. "does anybody need tissues?"

"This is no time to joke around!" Azrael yelled, seeing as how half of his fave is nearly covered in tears. "Can't you see Mr. Ko, the one I'm suppose to protect, is dying! And I didn't do fucking shit to make sure that accursed Legionary didn't impale him-"

"Azrael!" As weak as Terrence is, he rose his voice a little louder to snap his bodyguard out of his little fit. "Things happen...for a reason..." he let out another uneasy breath. "Life is not...all about...being serious...there are more than that. But..." I notice how he is starting to lose his strength. "Note...in knapsack...protect...Crimson..." with a little exhale, he slowly relaxed and became still as his life passes before us.

Azrael fell on his knees, trying his hardest not to go into hysteria. "M...Mr. Ko..." he wiped some of the excess tears off of his face with the back of his hand. "Why...why must you do that!? Why do you have to go!" he knelt his upper body down with his face inches from the ground.

I slowly, but carefully, place a hand on his back. Though Azrael fliched and quickly turned his head to me. "I'm...I'm so sorry, Azrael. I...I guess it's my fault Terence had to do that." I shift my head to the motionless caravaner.

"No." Azrael sat back up. "It's nobody's...I figure it might, but I assume Mr. Ko has made his own decision on what he did to protect you, Ms. Courier." He turned his head at my direction with a much more serious expression. "If he said on his last dying breath that I have to protect you, then it shall. I will honor his final request to the death."

Shock was painted on my face when he said that. Azrael...

"I feel bad for the nice guy..." Willis spoke, breaking out into a childish sob.

"As much as the quack Herbalist made the worst cactus recipes during our travels," Veronica murmured. "he never gave up. I'll admit, he was- erm, I mean is wise."

Natalie got up her feet. "If it hadn't been for him taking us to our destinations, it would've took hours if we were to walk and we would've been too late. But, what will happen now that both Terrence and his Brahmin are no longer with us!?"

"I, fortunately, have traveled with Mr. Ko for years as his bodyguard." Azrael stood up. "I have grown fond of the routes and direction to each town and places he and I have been to. In other words, I am a human map of the Mojave. But the only concern is what will pull the wooden carriage in our travels."

I noticed Willis hopping up and down, flailing both of his bulky ghoul arms in the air. "Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh! Me me!"

"But," Veronica spoke up. "what if you get tired?"

"She's right." Azrael walked to Willis. "We can't risk you being easily exhausted even if we were to travel across the map. I assume we all have to find a very sturdy creature that can haul the carriage full of supplies and people with ease."

"If you guys are finishing up with the funeral, I suggest we head up the Outpost." Simon came walking to us from the direction of the incline. "We will be able to get more rations and supplies while Me and Rookie find our person-of-interest there."

"I remember back when my father was killed on duty, the NCR would do a funeral and a 21 gun salute." Natalie said, holding Kip in her arms. "Maybe we can do something like that, since he has helped up this much until now."

"Boots," Craig appeared at my right. "he is not NCR, why would you want to do a military maneuver that is only meant for fallen honorable soldiers of any high rank?"

"That quack did help us, hulk." Veronica placed an arm on Natalie's shoulder as she eyes Craig. "Despite his distasteful concoctions, he assist every one of us with everything that we need to travel. Do you think that's honorable?"

"Ya darn right." Eric flicked his finished cigarette away from the group. "Shoot, he ev'n gave Crims a rare weapon. I didn' think tha'll ever happen t' me now he's gone."

"Well," I turned to Craig. "he did help us, Craig. It would be best to be a little grateful for him for what he did."

The only sound we all heard is the whistle of the wind blowing through us. "Alright." Craig brought out his rifle from his leather holster. "I will only need a few people with guns to help me with the gun salute. everyone else will dig a good enough grave for him and say any final words to him before we head to the outpost." He turned to me. "I'll need you, Boots, and the bounty hunter to help me with the sound off. I'll show you how."

"Okay." I replied.

Only about thirty minutes passed by along with Arcade placing a bandage over my left eye to heal, judging by looking at the time on my Pip Boy, Azrael with the assistant of Wade and Arcade gently laid Terrence, minus the machete that was pulled off from Eric, in the small, shallow grave back first with both his hands on his abdomen. "Farewell, friend..." Azrael murmured, shoving some dirt into the grave to cover Terrence.

Everyone gathered around the grave, looking down at the small wooden grave marker with his hat sitting on top of it. Me, Craig, Natalie, and Eric formed a straight line with our range weapons in our hands. "We commemorate this sound off to our friend Terrence Ko." Natalie bellowed out in the open. "A caravaner, a member of the Gun Runners, but most importantly a member of Battalion 21! His bravery and generosity to us will never go without vain, for his soul shall stay with us and protect us from days on end." She raised her rifle up, letting the rest of us follow suit. "Sound off! And!" We each made five sets of shots with Natalie making one shot to make it 21. Just hope our flying bullets don't hit anybody from afar.

"Rest 'n piece, pardner." Eric lit another cigarette.

"Now that's done," Simon came up to me. "I believe we can't waste more time for Jean-Baptiste or gloria. Let's get the person and be on our way back."

I nod. "Yeah, its only up that hill, right?" I point up to the pair of statues sitting on top of the hill.

"Yep," Natalie put her rifle back on her holster. "That's the Unification Monument. I heard my dad telling me about it when i was a kid. But let's get up close and personal with it!" Natalie began walking forward towards the hill.

I was going to follow my companions towards the hill when I turned to see Wade packing himself up and holding his helmet. "So Wade," I walked over to him. "care to join us?"

Wade took one quick glance at me before covering his head with his helmet. "With all do respect, courier, I must be on my way elsewhere. I have my solo mkssion to think about for the time being. But we shall cross paths soon if we are to clash with the Legion again."

"Hopefully soon." I smiled. "Safe travels to you." I held up my hand at him.

"Likewise to you and your squadron." He returned the favor with the handshake and walked west from us.

"Guess it's time to move on." I murmured, trying to catch up to the others on the road up to the outpost. The path wasn't all that difficult to traverse. just some broken down or burned down vehicles. "Guh..." Halfway up the climb, I felt a little spot of pain in my head, making me see the same metal shape of the unknown vehicle. But what's more different about he one I'm seeing now and the one in my vision is that it's clean and shiny. After getting back to reality, I shook my head a little.

"Another one of those headaches again?" Craig spoke only I can hear.

I can only nod once to him. "Just that metal thing there...it's the same one, but undamaged and shiny. I don't know how that is related to my lost memories..."

"Maybe saw some kind of Pre-war picture of it?" Veronica turned herself to us, even walking backwards. "That might be it."

We made it up to the top of the hill when I let out a groan. "I don't know..." Everyone else kept moving forward past the two statues while I stopped on what it looked to be words on some plaque on a stand.

In the year 2271, the Desert Rangers of Nevada and rangers of the New California Republic met at this spot to sign the Ranger UnificatiUnification Treaty. Under this treaty, the Desert Rangers agreed to be absorbed into the NCR in exchanged for NCR's protection of the Hoover Dam, New Vegas, and southern Nevada against the forces of Caesar's Legion.

Not only was I confused, but I became more curious as I looked up at the two figures shaking their hands. "Coming from the North?" An unfamiliar voice made me lower my head to the east direction, seeing someone with the same skin tone as Natalie. "Must be crazy to brave those roads. I'm Sergeant Kilborn of the NCR, you must be the courier from the raido we've been hearing about."

And not another day would I hear anybody talk about me because of the radio. I groaned a little, but not loud enough for the sergeant to hear me. "I have to ask, what are those statues of?"

"Unless you read the plaque," Kilborn spoke. "it represents unification. Mostly for good shade, but won't do much else when the Legion reaches us. Be we will do our best to keep them at bay and away from here. If you were to find anything related to them, let me know."

Then it hit me. "As a matter of fact, just not too long ago the Legion did attacked Nipton. Burned and killed everyone to the ground. I managed to encounter them after their massacre before they knocked me out cold."

"Wait, what!?" His eyes widen. "There's no way...we're miles from the Colorado. They..." he lowered his brows. "they aren't even waiting for the Dam to fall. They're already inside the borders..."

"Can you and the NCR at least stop them?" I asked.

Kilborn can only shake his head. "We'll never stop them at this rate...we're doomed. But thanks for bringing the word out, even if the news is bad. I'll let the men know ASAP." Kilborn walked away, placing his hand on his forehead.

I continued my way to meet with everyone in the center of the area. Two buildings are behind lage fences on my left, and a couple of brahmin inside cages to my right. And some gate far off at the end of the road closed off. "Okay, we will all wait here until Crimson and his coworker bring their person for their task. I will try and buy one of the brahmin from the cage and stock up for our journey back."

"I should follow you to the barracks, the building close to us on the left." Natalie said. "And if you want to take a break, Eric, there is a bar there. Follow me."

"Bout time!" Eric cheered. "I need t' wind down an' kick back m' boots!"

Me, with Simon and Eric, followed Natalie past the metal gates, greeted by the soldiers standing by, and through an opening to a set of doors behind some wall with sacks stacked on top. Natalie opened one door to let us in, we are greeted by a woman on the other side of the counter. "Well, a new face in the Outpost! Must've come from the North." She took a piece of cloth and cleaned one of the glass cups. "So, what'll you have?"

"Yyyyyyes, ma'am!" Eric plopped himself on one of the stools. "If ya 'ave 'em Atomic Cocktails, I shall b' set fer t'night!" He placed a few bottle caps on the table.

"Once yer done with him," we turned to a woman with a white cowboy hat, pale fair skin with dark spot on her face, leather jacket and pink shirt underneath and brown leather gloves sitting on the table to the side. There is also a long shotgun holstered on her. "I'd like t' have one more of'm whiskey, please."

"Ugh," Eric groaned loudly. "why git whiskey of all drinks!?" He took a couple of gulps of the drink.

The woman raised an eyebrow and took a swig of clear liquid from a small, glass bottle. "What's th' matter with whiskey? Other than make you piss drunk and drainin' your sorrows..."

"Last time I 'ave one," he lit up another cigarette, taking a puff and blowing it above him. "gave m' bad bowel movements. Always goin' in th' outhouse fer hours on end 'til my ass's as red as a fire ant..." He took another puff off of his cigarette.

"Ugh, if you have a chance," the woman covered her nose. "why don't you smoke somewhere else? The fumes make my stomach churn..."

Eric just chuckled, having some smoke escape his teeth after each laugh. "Can't tell m' what t' do, missy. I'm fine with m' smokes wherever I go."

"Missy!?" she stood up and walked over to him with the same bottle in her hand. "Who are you calling missy, buster!?"

"I reckon missy is referrin' t' you," Eric inhaled through the filter. "though th' attitude can change a lil. Maybe dance an' wrangle the she-brahmin around an-" his talk was interrupted by the woman hitting his head with the nearest bottle she can grab.

"Men like you are all th' same...pathetic..." she starts chugging the liquid from the small bottle.

"Hey you two," the lady behind the counter called out. "no rough housing here. One more of that and I'll have to kick both of you out."

I groaned and shook my head while, Natalie, and Simon watched the two continue to argue. "At this rate, we will never find Rose of Sharon Cassidy before we get back..."

"Huh?" The woman turned to me. "Find who, exactly?"

"U-Um..." I stammered. "R-Rose of Sharon Cassidy. Me and Simon are looking for her."

The woman walked up to me while gulping the last of the whiskey from the bottle. After the last drop, she moved it away from her face and stopped a foot from me. "If you must know, you're looking at her."

Before I can take a moment to feel surprised, I hear something spray from behind Rose of Sharon Cassidy. "Y...yer," Eric coughed. "Yer th' one Crims is lookin' fer!?"

"Unless there's another one-a me out in th' wastes" she said to Eric. "then y' got the wrong person. But I don't hear anybody else havin' the same name like mine."

I began rummaging through my pockets. "Rose of Sha-"

"Call me Cass..." she hissed.

I gulped, moving my head back a little. "Umm, Cass. Before we go any further, the Crimson Caravans to buy out your caravan." I showed her the paper.

"They want to buy Cassidy Caravans?" she crossed her arms, lifting a brow at me. "Don't they know its burned to ash?"

"I was never aware of that..." I spoke. "nor have they told me any details about it. So, can you accept this?" I inched the paper closer to her.

Cass rolled her eyes and pushed my hand with the paper towards me. "No...even times being what they are, not sure I'm looking to sell, even for all the whiskey in Reno."

"If I may," Natalie stepped up, keeping Kip in her arms. "But what happened to your caravan?"

Cass let off a sigh. "Mojave happened..." Doesn't seem like its a joke, judging how she isn't smiling nor laughing. "hit by raiders packing some heavy firepower. Can't believe the Crimson Caravan haven't heard." she rolled her eyes. "So, if you want to buy all of Cassidy Caravans, you're looking at it." she gestured herself using her thumb pointing at her head. "And what I got in my pockets. Still, as little as that is, not looking to sell."

"So," my turn to speak. "even if you have nothing, you won't sell?"

"If someone came up to you and offered you a thousand caps for your name, would you take it?" Cass asked. I went to open my mouth, but she held a palm up for me to stop. "Actually, you know what, fuck it. I don't want to hear your answer anyway."

"Ey!" Eric twist Cass to face him. "No reason t' spat at m' friend like that!"

Cass wrinkled her nose, disgusted more like. "First off, you smell like brahmin shit. Second, I was giving her a point. And point it, I made the caravan what it is, it's mine."

"But you haven't seen the offer letter here." I showed the paper to her once more. "I believe the terms might be fair."

Cass snatched the paper and skimmed through it. "Alice McLafferty, eh?" she skimmed one more time before moving her eyes at me. "No, I see the zeroes...and I know she's good for them." She rest her hand with the paper on her hip. "Still, it's not about the money. My dad'd spin like a twister if he ever heard I sold our name for anything."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

Cass made another sigh. "Look, I know you came all this way, and that take some drive, especially these days. It..." her expression turned to more of a sadden one. "It just doesn't feel right, trading history for this piece of slip." She brought the paper back up and wave it a little.

"Besides the wasteland..." I spoke. "I doubt you don't want this Outpost to be the last place to make you feel trapped."

"Like me!" Eric beamed a grin at Cass with the cigarette in his teeth. "I rather travel an' explore more around th' op'n roads. Can't stay in one place fer too long...boots'll wish t' be scuffed and dirtied after a good excursion!"

Cass fell silent, eyeing at the bounty hunter with her eyes widen at him and at me. "That..." her voice rose up. "that is a good point, it's the caravan clearance that got me stuck here. And I'm sure this bar's getting tired of propping me up."

"So, will you come with us?" Simon finally spoke.

"Can't..." Cass replied. "Jackson's not letting me out of his sight as long as there's trouble still trouble up North." she hand me back the paper. "If you can settle things with him, help the others around here too, I'll sign the paper if it means getting out of here." she pressed her fingers on her nose to close them. "And another thing, take this big pile of brahmin shit with you before I throw up."

"Pfft," Eric rolled his eye. "I don' take a nice bath 'til a job is done. So, be a good lil gal an' I'll show ya what a man can do!"

"Piss off, shit-for-brahmin brains!" Cass gesture him a middle finger and sat back down on the same stool.

Eric glared at the three of us. "Sheesh, of all th' ladies I've come across, that one'll be a tough one t' break..."

"You can't be flirting with every female you meet, Eric..." Natalie said. "Everybody is different. Maybe if we have her traveling with us, you might get to know her."

Eric only grin and continued having his cigarette. "Naw, j'st gotta sharpen th' spurs, lock an' load, an' break her. But 'nough o' that, ya need t' find this Jackson feller."

"He's in the building next door." Natalie replied.

"Well, better see what this guy is up to." Simon spoke. "Can't keep the boss man waiting any longer."

"I'll stay 'ere an' keep lil miss Cass company." Eric chuckled. "Maybe 'ave a lil drinkin' contest?" He turned around and went back to the stool he originally sat on.

"Not to worry, Crimson and Simon," Natalie turned to open the door. "just follow me and we can get this over with." We all followed her again back the way we entered, but made a left and forward through the second building until we got to the doors. Natalie opened those up as well to let us in.

"Caravan, citizen, pilgrim, or...?" the man behind the counter with a clipboard eyed me after the door closed.

"Umm, what?" I made a line with my brows at him.

The NCR guy sighed. "Just need something for the log book, keeping tabs on traffic throughout the Outpost, although mostly just in, not put these days."

"Pardon me, Major Knight." Natalie stepped forward and stood at attention. "I am Pvt. Natalie Sanders of the NCR, requesting the whereabouts of Ranger Jackson, I have important paper that I need to deliver."

"At ease, Private." Knight behind the desk have Natalie ease up. "If you're looking for a commanding officer, he's in the back." He moved his clipboard to the direction he said. "Although...he's got a lot on his plate, so if you speak with him...keep it short if I were you."

Natalie nod her head. "Understood, sir."

"One more thing," Knight spoke before we can even move. "if you need any gear checked we can get you up and running again..." he gently placed the clipboard on the counter. "once you fill the work orders, and sign for the parts, of course."

"Thank you, sir." Natalie turned around to me and Simon. "This way, guys." We kept following her to the left towards a doorway, seeing some guy with sunglasses, brown cowboy hat, long dark mustache, blue long sleeved, tan pants, and a few straps on his abdomen and right leg. "Ranger Jackson," she pulled out a stack of papers out of her backpack. "Pvt. Natalie Sanders of the NCR, I have come to deliver papers for you."

The guy known as Ranger Jackson took the papers from Natalie'said hand. "Great...just what we need..." He moved his head up and look past Natalie. "Well, looks like we got a new visitor in the ol' brahmin pen." The guy spoke with a smirk. "Not many people coming here in a hurry, only passing through. Aaaand if you're passing through, you picked a bad time."

"Why, Ranger Jackson?" Natalie put her backpack back on her. "Anything wrong?"

"Nothing wrong," Jackson shrugged. "just that the road north has gone to hell, and if I let a caravan through, they won't make it."

I walked forward and stopped beside Natalie. "Excuse me, but maybe we can help. Maybe assist the problem?"

"Help? And who might you be?" Jackson asked.

"Crimson," I introduced. "I am the courier that has been assisting the NCR for quite some time. Even saving Natalie's life after being attacked by raiders."

"Courier?" Jackson blew through his lips. "Radio celeb, and a lowly delivery girl. Have I seen better days..." Just that smart remark was enough to make me growl. "but, on a serious note, I'd appreciate the help but-" he paused for one quick moment. "You know what, yes, I could use the help. And it looks like you can pretty much handle yourself."

I rolled my eyes at him. Of course, I can handle myself. Might I mentioned I've been shot in the head by that asshole Benny!? "Just tell me what needs to be done..."

Jackson nod. "I need to get the caravans moving again, that means clearing a path north. There's too much crawling the asphalt up the road to allow it."

"What about the soldiers?" Simon asked. "What's with them?"

"Soldiers, no recruits, yes." Jackson began. "And the Mojave Outpost has been ordered to have a standing force at the NCR perimeter at all times. So sending anyone out reduces the Outpost's numbers and would be in direct violation of my order back West."

"But are they even sending in more troops?" I asked, wondering why these people aren't doing a damn thing to help their own military.

"Sending more troops, yes, to reinforce the Outpost, no..." Jackson answered. "Troops head through here on their way to McCarran or to the frontlines of Forlorn Hope." he made a small shrug and nod his head to his left. "Or they're on leave, on their way to New Vegas to piss away their pay. All of them passing through."

"Sounds like you're a bit frustrated..." Natalie spoke with Kip chittering in her arms.

Jackson shook his head. "Frustrated? No, I have my orders - signed and approved all the way up to the chain from Kimball. And I understand the reasons. The Outpost isn't a Legion target, yet, not like Vegas or the Dam. But if the caravans get choked here, that's going to bite NCR hard. But anyway, didn't mean to talk your ear off. Some days...just feel like more requisition forms and daily reports come across my deck than results. So, with that aside, ready for some work?"

We all nod out head. "Sounds like a deal." I gave him a straight answer.

"Thanks," Jackson nod back. "I appreciate it. Come back here when you're done dealing with a small swarm of fire ants near Ivanpah Lake, and i might accidentally lose some supplies to pay you with." He turned facing the open doorway and walked over to a desk.

"Well, one more task to handle before we bring Cass with us, huh?" I asked my comrades.

"If it means getting things done quicker and coming back to the bosses, let's not waste any more time." Simon agreed.

Natalie began moving again. "Then let's repel the bugs from that area."