Chapter 29

Despite the exhilaration of her freedom, the rolling made her sick and took much longer than she had anticipated. When she finally stopped, her limbs hurt and stung.

Arcade was already waiting for her, standing, his expression one of disapproval. As she stood up, dusting herself off, he pointed to her arms. "Don't take the machete or you'll cut yourself, I believe were your exact words."

She looked down at herself and saw a manner of cuts and scratches crisscrossing down her arms, the source of her stinging. Thankfully, they were shallow and of no consequence.

"I'll be fine. We're not completely free yet. We have to cross the river and hope we don't get caught as we go north."

She could see the venomous words pooling behind his lips, the arguments bubbling. But he would have to save it for later. She dove into the water first, and after a moment's hesitation, Arcade followed suit.

The swim was taxing even for her, with the radioactive water burning the multitude of cuts on her arms and face, tugging at her strength in powerful currents. It was difficult to catch her breath. But, eventually, they made it across, even if she had to support Arcade for more than half the trip. She dragged him up the bank and both fell heavily on their backs, gasping for air as the tide teased their feet.

The swim had completely sapped her energy, but after a few minutes, Arcade found his strength and sat up. His moment had come, finally, with the gray sky of dawn.

"I think, I believe I hate you for what you've done to me."

She remained lying down, unable to respond, to react. "I will never be able to apologize enough for what I did, what I allowed to happen to you."

"Yeah, well, a few apologies certainly wouldn't be misplaced," he said, voice hard.

"I'm sorry," she offered softly.

"A woman of the Legion. You murdered Mr. House, probably others, but a slave to Caesar all the same."

She said nothing.

"You should have told me, right when you first asked me to go to Nelson with you. You should have told me you were Legion, your true intentions. My consent was not informed. And I can't believe I helped you—helped the Legion."

"I didn't go to Nelson for the Legion. I went because I believed in your vision of an independent New Vegas. I still do, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. I'm going to make that vision a reality."

Arcade looked her over carefully, reserving none of his contempt in his gaze. "You are? With your powerful allies? Your powerful army?"

"Yes. The NCR controls the Dam. The Legion will attack it soon. Neither will be victorious. We will drive them both away."

"And what happens afterward? Do you appoint yourself as supreme ruler of the Mojave?"

The assumption stunned her. "I am no ruler."

"But you have the army, the allies. You're the one with the power, the player moving the pawns. After all your cavorting with the Legion, do you really believe yourself deserving of such a position?"

The vitriol had left his voice. Arcade was all coldness and cruelty. "Do you suggest I step down, then?" she asked.

Arcade refused to meet her gaze. "Stepping down is putting it mildly."

She did not respond to his insinuation that her death would serve the Mojave best. Was that not her fate, after all, as the hero? Benny's bullet had tried to claim her prematurely. A hero had no place once their destiny was sated, their purpose fulfilled.

After several minutes, Arcade stood up. "In the meantime, I will assist in helping you with this vision. I told you I had some friends—Remnants of the Enclave. They can assist with aerial power. I'll gather them together but once the battle is done, we are finished."

Her throat constricted. She hated his finality. "I understand."

"I just have one question. What did you write on that note you left in Caesar's tent?"

She managed a small chuckle at her cleverness. "A warning in the form of Shakespeare. Then fall, Caesar!"

She took some comfort in that Arcade laughed at the reference. But all too soon, it was time for them to part ways. His goodbye was curt, unsympathetic, and she didn't have the energy to properly convey how much she did care for him, how much he inspired her. How much he meant to her.

After he had long disappeared to complete his mission, she finally pushed herself up, retrieving her hidden revolver, and made her way to the Lucky 38 where Yes Man was waiting for her. It was time to set things in motion.

The Securitrons at Fortification Hill's bunker were primed. She imagined that the earth under the Legion camp hummed with energy and she imagined, hoped, that Caesar was frightened.

A transmission was sent to Nelson Air Force Base. They were in position.

A confirmation from Arcade took longer than she would have liked. The transmission signal was scrambled so she would not know where the Enclave Remnant's hidden bunker was. She couldn't entirely blame him.

The Securitrons patrolling the New Vegas Strip watched for the enigmatic presence of Mr. Fox, but her Lord Husband was not to be seen. Her various informants throughout the Mojave could report nothing of Vulpes. It was as if he had vanished without a trace. It only made her all the more nervous about what he could have been planning.

And then Yes Man received confirmation. The Legate Lanius, Monster of the East, had arrived in the Mojave. The Battle for Hoover Dam would begin.

The plan, as strategized by Yes Man, would be to assist the NCR in defending the Dam against the Legion. Once the Legion had been pushed back, the Securitron army would roll in, overwhelming the NCR and forcing them to surrender and flee back west.

With all the pieces in play, it was time for her to take her position at the Dam.