Hello all, I'd like to take a moment for a brief warning about this story; it's a lot darker and sadder than the prior ones. Now, I feel it's necessary given the subject matter, but don't think the rest of this series is going to be all gloom and doom. I hope you enjoy it, even though it'll be tough going. Be strong, faithful readers!

"So the jerk punches me in the back, and I'm down for a couple minutes. By the time I get up, there's no one around." Layla's muffled voice filtered out from inside the machine she was leaning into. She paused her story as her hand reached out and fumbled for more scrap metal. Once she had it, she continued.

"Next thing I know, Caesar's behind me talking about how I'll hang from a cross. That old chestnut. So he takes a swing at me with this crazy power fist, and I dodge him. Then I take his arm off with my chainsaw."

Boone stood a few feet away, waiting to hand the girl any of the tools scattered around if she needed them. The food processor represented the last of Camp McCarran's food woes. Shortly after they'd arrived at the camp, they'd wandered by Corporal Farber screaming at the unresponsive machine. The Courier was quick to offer to take a look.

This was Layla's first outing since recovering from her experience at the Sierra Madre. She had been ecstatic to be home and surrounded by her friends, but she'd eventually grown restless as her body healed and her strength started to return. To be honest, Boone had been itching to leave the casino as well, but didn't want to leave her while she was recovering.

Arcade had wanted to keep her inside for another few days to make sure she was well, but Boone could see how restless she was. So he'd suggested they go to the base; it was only a monorail ride away and full of heavily armed allies. Even Arcade had relented. Layla would have to try pretty hard to get into trouble at McCarran. The worst she usually got into at the base were poker games and getting soldiers to let her try their guns at the shooting range. So off she and Boone had gone, Layla mentioning that she owed him, again.

The food processor was giving her a hard time. The broken machine was only the latest part of Layla's efforts to improve the food situation at the camp; she'd already made an arrangement with the Crimson Caravan for better provisions. "I can't sit by and let that many people survive on only beans," she'd said as they'd set up the deal weeks earlier.

Layla continued her story of their escape from Fortification Hill as she worked. Boone wasn't sure if she'd noticed, but she had drawn a small crowd of listeners by the time she reached for the last piece of scrap metal.

"Then Boone's all 'Smile you son-of-a-bitch' and shot him dead."

Boone ignored her misquote as the nearby soldiers cheered, the ones within reach of the sniper clapping him on the back. He grinned marginally at them. Layla's head popped up from the food processor.

"What's all - woah." She clearly hadn't been expecting the crowd. She recovered quickly and closed the panel. "Anyway, let's see if it works." She reattached the power cord and flicked on the machine. It hummed to life and started processing the carrot she'd thrown in.

"There you go," she said to them. "It's back to real food for you kids." The group actually cheered louder. Layla laughed and pulled off the old uniform shirt she'd borrowed to work on the machine, not wanting to get grease on her flowered dress. Her face grew perplexed as the cheering intensified further.

Later, after disengaging themselves from the crowd, and after she'd politely denied a few marriage proposals, Layla left the mess hall, Boone in tow. It had been a pleasant trip, and Layla definitely seemed to be in good spirits, but Boone couldn't help but think she was uncomfortable about something. She grown quiet, occasionally looking in his direction.

"Are you okay?" he said as she frowned off into space. When she turned her still serious gaze to him, he had the feeling he wasn't going to like what she was about to say.

"Are you ever going to tell me about Bitter Springs?"

The question felt like a punch in the face. He started at her for a few moments, not responding. The Courier had made a few attempts to talk to him about it before, but had backed down when it was clear he didn't want to talk. By the look she was giving him, he knew she wasn't going to give up today.

There was no doubt she had working idea of what happened. Layla had a knack for getting people to talk, and had ingratiated herself firmly to most of 1st Recon. That included his well-meaning but overly talkative former commanding officer, Lt. Gorobets. Which meant she probably knew most of the story. They'd been through a lot together, and though he found himself afraid of her reaction to his side of the story, Boone was surprised that he actually wanted to tell her.

She was still looking at him, patiently waiting for him to speak. He wanted to tell her, but couldn't seem to make himself do it.

"I will. Just…"

Layla's face softened slightly as he struggled to speak.

"Okay, when you're ready," she relented. She seemed satisfied for the moment that he'd agreed to talk. In the past he'd just refused or not answered at all. Any other person in the Mojave would have given up by now, though he wasn't surprised Layla hadn't.

He found her looking at him again, but now there was a small grin on her lips.

"What are we going to talk about when this is all out? I'll have nothing else to be nosy about."

"I'm sure you'll figure something else to pry into."

She narrowed her eyes at him and started walking away, making sure to knock her shoulder into him as she passed by. He followed behind her with a small grin.

"What am I paying you?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"Well I'm docking you fifty a week, so now you have to pay me."

"I'll just leave."

"Fine. Enjoy cold Cram and stitching your own wounds."

"Enjoy fending off Deathclaws and Lakelurks on your own."

She turned her head and gave him a particularly dirty look. She hated Lakelurks.

"Well you just cost yourself that trip to the Gun Runners we were-" not looking, the girl crashed into an MP who'd been standing in the hall.

"Oh! Hornsby, I'm sorry!" She laughed, embarrassed. Boone recalled the man as one of the regulars at the base's poker games Layla had taken part in. The Courier sent another glare Boone's way. "Blame him, he was being mean to me."

"You probably deserved it," the man said, grinning at her.

Layla's mouth dropped and she leveled glares at both men. "Well that's it, I'm going across the river and joining the Legion. That'll show all you NCR jerks."

"They don't usually sign women up," Hornsby said.

"I'll just get a fake beard. They'll never know the difference."

Hornsby laughed, then adopted a slightly stern look. "Move on already, I'm busy."

Layla looked at the empty hallway with a mildly perplexed expression. "Yeah, you sure look it." She peeked over his shoulder at the door behind him. "What're you guarding?"

"Sorry, classified." The humor had slightly faded from the corporal, and Layla seemed to pick up on it. She was still smiling, however.

"Ah… wouldn't be anything to do with that captured Centurion, would it?"

Hornsby gave the Courier an exasperated look. "Why do we even attempt to keep secrets? Colonel Hsu's gonna be-"

"He's the one who told me," Layla said, smiling sweetly. "Anyway, let me go in." She adopted an official air. "The Colonel said I might be able to help."

The MP stepped out of the way, muttering something about nosy civilians as she and Boone passed by. Walking into the small room, they saw a section of the cement wall ripped away, replaced with a glass panel. In the room beyond sat a grumpy looking Legionary.

"Can I help you with something? Or do you always look that way?" said a woman with Lieutenant's markings as they came in. Boone presumed she was referring to the sneer Layla was giving the Centurion through the glass.

The Courier grinned. "I'm Layla, he's Boone. Colonel Hsu thought we could help?"

"Yeah, I've heard of you. At this point, I'm willing to take all the help I can get. Silus over there has been less than forthcoming with useful information."

"Have you tried beating it out of him?" Layla said sarcastically.

Boyd laughed. "I like the way you think, did I tell you that? We can't hurt prisoners. Some bullshit policy left over from Tandi's presidency… but you're not with the military. You're not held to such high ideals, and for all Silus knows, you're nuts."

Layla's face fell into a stern look. "I'm not going to torture a prisoner."

"Ah you're no fun," Boyd said. "If you want to try to talk it out of him, be my guest. There's more than one way to skin a cat. Hey! Let's skin him. That'll take the smug look off his face."

Layla frowned again, and Boyd groaned.

"Whatever, Goody-Goody," said Boyd. "Let me go talk with him, build you up and then you can go in. Oh, and one in at a time, and no weapons."

Boone didn't like that, but Layla shrugged. "Easy enough, he's got all the good stuff anyway."

The Courier only had her flowered dress and her Pip-Boy. Most of her equipment was in the locker they'd been given at the base. Boone opened his mouth to object to letting the girl go in alone to face a Centurion while still injured, but he found her already smiling at him.

"Quit worrying."

"All right," Boyd said before he got a chance to speak. "Give me a minute, then you'll go in." She stepped into the next room, and the Centurion immediately spoke to her.

"Lieutenant, I was just thinking about your neck."

"How sweet," Boyd said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I was thinking about how good a slave collar would look on it. I tell my men to put them on just tight enough so the slave can always feel it. So they know who owns them."

"Well, isn't he a charmer," Layla murmured to Boone.

"You shouldn't go in there alone…" he said to her. The girl wasn't completely healed, and even if she was, the Legionary looked like he could easily overpower her.

"You worry too much," she said. "Besides, I've got an plan…"

Boone reluctantly let it go. Layla's plans usually worked, and he'd be nearby. He could hear Arcade's admonishments in his head already.

"You might want to save that collar for my friend" Boyd answered the Centurion. "You're aware of the NCR's policy on treatment of prisoners, right?"

"Of course…" There was some suspicion in the man's voice.

"Well, my friend isn't." The Lieutenant looked through the glass. "Come on in and get acquainted."

Layla shot Boone one last grin as she walked to the door. Boyd came out and stood next to Boone to see what the Courier would do.

"Do you think there's going to be any trouble?" she asked casually.

"Probably," Boone said, watching as Layla came to a stop in front of the Legionary.

"Well, you're an ugly little worm."

Layla laughed at the Centurion's remark.

"Ain't you friendly. I thought we could have a little chat. Catch up on old times, maybe talk about how things are going since Lanius' promotion…" Layla smiled sweetly at Silus, who gave her a suspicious look. He searched her face a moment.

"You're the Courier, the one who murdered Caesar."

Layla smirked marginally, not bothering to correct him.

"Let me guess," she said. "'The Legion will swoop on us. Retribution!' I've heard it already."

He smiled coldly at the girl. "Not just the Legion. You'll find your fellow profligates scrabbling to bring you to us…"

The Courier's face was blank for a moment, then she seemed to realize what he meant.

"The Legion put a price on our heads."

"Twenty thousand Aureus for you, and twenty thousand for your lapdog, alive…" He turned his gaze to Boone through the glass.

"What's that in caps?" she asked curiously.

"Two million." he answered, turning back to her. Layla gaped at him.

"Sweet, buttery goodness!" she laughed. "Two MILLION?"

Despite his concern about this development, Boone couldn't help but be amused at Layla's reaction. She gave him an impressed grin before looking back to Silus.

"What about dead?" she asked. The centurion suddenly looked dangerous as an ugly smile slid over his face.

"There is no reward for your corpses. The Legate wants you alive." Boone noticed the shock on her face, and so did Silus. "Lanius wants to see the NCR dog personally. He wants to break his body and peel his flesh until his screams carry all the way across the river. Once we've broken him body, mind and spirit, we'll hang what's left from a cross, visible to all his brothers."

Boone saw Layla glance his way briefly. Her earlier amusement was gone, replaced with a growing and poorly hidden horror. She looked back to the centurion, who smiled wolfishly at her.

"You, on the other hand, will get that slave collar. Normally someone like you would go for a decent but not overly high amount. You're too small to be a proper wife, inferior to bear strong offspring. Many of our ranks would prefer you as a plaything. But because of your crimes, men would give much to punish your body."

He leered at her, dragging his gaze over her body, and Layla was clearly unnerved. Boone's hands clenched painfully tight as he looked to Boyd.

"Get her out of there. Now." The lieutenant was already moving for the door.

"Silus!" she said casually. "You're so chatty today. Usually I can't get you to tell me when you need to take a leak…"

As Boyd spoke, Layla hastily made for the door. Her face was pale when she walked out of the room. Boone moved to intercept her, guiding her where they couldn't been seen from the interrogation room.

"Are you okay?"

The traces of fear on her face melted into a humorless grin.

"Yeah… asshole just sideswiped me." She let out a sigh. "Two million caps… That's a lot. Plenty of people who wouldn't normally turn someone over to the Legion would for that kind of money."

She was right, and it was something they were going to have to deal with, but he knew her. She processed bad news emotionally at first, logic taking hold later. Layla was staring off into space, chewing a fingernail absently while a worried frown marred her face.

"They're not going to get you," he said with enough force to get her attention. She smiled at him.

"Coming from anyone else I'd call that bravado…" Layla said. Boyd had come back into the room before he could tell her what he'd do to anyone who threatened her.

"Well, that didn't go like I thought," the soldier said. The biting sarcasm was gone, replaced with concern. "Go find somewhere to calm down, maybe let the colonel know about this. As for Silus, we'll get whatever he's hiding out of him yet." Boone nodded, placing a hand on Layla's shoulder to guide her. He was surprised when she didn't move.

"Hold on," she said. "I'm going back in there." Boyd gave her an incredulous look. Boone almost told her it was a bad idea, then he got a look at her face.

"I'll be fine. I've still go a plan. Besides, I don't take kindly to threats." The confidence was back in her voice, and there was an angry look in her eyes. "And no one threatens my sniper." She started for the interrogation room. Just as she reached for the door, she slumped her shoulders slightly and made a very convincing worried face.

Boone and Lt. Boyd walked back over to the glass panel to watch. Silus smiled at the Courier as she entered.

"Back, girl? You look scared. I wonder if you'll be sold to a single man or if many will pool their money. Perhaps the Legate will be generous and make you communal."

Layla flinched at that, making Boyd start for the door again.

"Fucking animal, I'm going to-"

"Wait," Boone interrupted. The Lt. turned back with a confused look. The sniper watched through the glass, carefully gauging the way Layla was acting.

"She's playing him."

Boone had seen Layla work people before. It was a lot different than how she usually acted. Layla was honest and friendly with most people. She had a natural charm that made most people let down their guard and open up to her. But when she wanted to, she could put on an act to persuade even the most distrusting of people. On occasion, she would slip up, and Boone usually had to clean up the mess. But it didn't happen often.

If she were as upset as she portrayed herself now, she wouldn't be facing the centurion. The girl had the habit of hiding when she couldn't control her emotions. No, she was letting the animal think she was terrified of him. Boyd rejoined him at the window, but looked like she was ready to bolt for the door at a moment's notice.

Layla rubbed her forehead anxiously, then took a deep breath. "What was your mission before you were captured?"

"We were sent to scout an NCR supply route and came across a profligate trading post, and we eliminated it. We'd thought we had slaughtered all the inhabitants, but one was able get a call for help to the NCR."

"Slaughtered them all?" Layla said, sounding horrified. "You didn't take any captives?"

"The Legate has been escalating his measures against your people." Silus sounded delighted at the girl's distress. "Normally we would take slaves from conquered towns, especially women and children. Now we just burn them all."

The wince and sickly look that came over Layla's face probably weren't an act.

"But what happened to you? I though Legionaries can't be taken alive. Did Lanius change that?"

The man snorted. "As if I would waste one of the Legion's greatest resources by killing myself."

The fearful act suddenly melted off Layla as she narrowed her eyes. "Some resource. You were too gutless to do what you're ordered to."

"Gutless?" The centurion clearly wasn't expecting the Courier's sudden attitude change. His face turned red, and his body coiled to attack. Both Boone and Lt. Boyd were running for the door as the man continued. "I'll show you gutless. I'll spill your guts all over this room!"

Just as he leapt out of his seat toward Layla, she side-stepped him, backing into the corner of the room. The Legionary looked half-crazed, hands outstretched toward the girl, by the time Boone reached him. Before Silus got the chance to advance further, he was tackled to the floor by Boone and Lt. Boyd. A moment later, Hornsby entered from the hallway, gun trained on the Legionary.

As they struggled to hold him down, Layla calmly walked for the door. "I'm getting a water. Anyone want anything?"

*.*.*

A few minutes later, Layla waltzed back into the interrogation room, surveying the situation. Silus was back in his chair. Hornsby stood nearby, his rifle trained on him with a murderous look. Boyd filed out of the room, but Boone didn't budge, refusing to let Layla stay in the room without him.

She seemed to have guessed that would be the case as she handed him a water bottle, casually drinking from her own. She crossed her arms, bottle still in her hand as she approached the Legionary.

"We have nothing to discuss, profligate," Silus said moodily.

Layla laughed. "Now I'm 'profligate'? I thought we were getting somewhere in our relationship." The Legionary looked on edge, glaring at her as she spoke.

"'Relationship?' You're nothing more than a profligate whore."

Now Layla looked unimpressed. "You sure talk tough for someone afraid to die."

"Afraid to die?" His mask of calm fell away as his face turned red. "Do you think I got this far in the Legion being afraid? I've faced odds that would make you, your bitch sniper, and any one of these poor excuses for soldiers wet yourselves." His face twisted further in rage as he saw her bored look. "I chose to bide my time. Suicide is a weak death on the battlefield."

"But isn't that what Caesar demanded of his troops? And isn't refusing to follow orders weaker?"

"You think I would have killed myself for Caesar, that megalomaniacal dictator? Or Lanius? He's insane! His methods are wasteful at best, destructive at worst. He could have the Frumentarius spy here help me escape, but he doesn't. He leaves me to rot because of his impossible belief that Legionaries are unable to err and those who do need to be executed immediately."

"Spy?" Layla said. Boone could tell Layla was putting a lot of effort into hiding the shock in her voice. "Who is it?"

"I don't know," Silus said. He seemed almost eager to tell her. "He sends troop movement information at night, sometimes my century would receive it."

"You're suddenly forthcoming with this…" Layla said suspiciously.

"The Legion won't take me back. Lanius will have me burned to death at best. If the spy keeps reporting, he'll report me. My only chance is for the Legion to never know what happens to me."

"I suppose you're right." Layla gave him a smile. "Well thank you. You've been very helpful."

"Nothing I've told you will change anything," the centurion said. The raging emotions faded from his expression, replaced with cold certainty. "In a month's time, NCR trooper heads will decorate The Strip, and you'll be begging for death at the end of a leash."

*.*.*

A few minutes later, after being thanked by Boyd for their efforts, Layla sat on one of the benches in the hallway with a heavy sigh. Boone could see her pull herself together, and she grinned. "Two million caps. Each. I think we got their attention." She leveled a smile at him. "And I don't think they like us."

Boone allowed himself a tight grin. "I guess we're doing our job."

"That we are, my boy." She got up, smoothing her skirt. "Well, let's go."

"Go where?" Boone gave her a confused look.

"There's a Frumentarius running around here somewhere." Layla sounded surprised at his confusion. "We've got to figure out who it is."

I had to watch a lot of Columbo to bring you today's chapter, I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks again to my editor, who is helping me with what will be increasingly harder to write sections of this story.