Chapter Text
Vulpes stood in front of the Lucky 38, thinking back to the trail of Legionary corpses that happened to mark his path. Most of them had been executed with a clean head shot, but at one point he had found a pile of corpses that had clearly suffered, just past a cazador nest, the Courier having taken advantage of their timing to work off some frustration.
And now he was stepping right onto that woman's turf, unarmed and alone. He might have had a chance if she hadn't figured out he had originally sent the assassins, he thought bitterly, but it was much too late for that. The threats scrawled in Legion blood in the dirt had been addressed specifically to him.
Had he seriously run from Fortification Hill to New Vegas, and never once stopped to realize that he was walking right into a worse death than crucifixion? He wasn't given a chance to reconsider, as something connected with his side, hard. As darkness clouded his vision, through the jolt of pain he recognized it as a cattle prod.
Gradually, Vulpes became aware of his surroundings. A conversation was taking place, nearby he could tell, although the words were unclear. Unusually so for how close they must have been. Careful not to make any movements that would reveal that he was awake, he subtly shifted just enough to see if he was bound. It seemed he was, arms behind his back, wrists crossed, ankles pulled up to meet them. He tested the tension of the rope, the size of the loops, hoping for enough of a weak point to free himself. No such luck. He'd have to see how this played out.
"...not ... killed him the moment he was spotted on the Strip... but that's exactly what I'm saying! It's getting too close to the upcoming battle for this to not be an attempt at sabotage, or an assassination." Finally it seemed his mind was clearing up. It was a man's voice, most likely the Follower's doctor. Too much emotion obvious in his words for it to be the sniper. Simply too many words, at that.
"What could he possibly do like this?" a voice that clearly belonged to the Courier laughed. "I've got the best security detail right here. And even if I was killed before the battle, everyone's orders are clear enough the Legion is done for even without a single person calling the shots. Hell, it could work in our favor if you play me up as a martyr."
Vulpes realized he had been set on a bed when the Courier's weight made one side sink down. "Well, enough about that, I'm sure our guest is eager to explain himself, isn't he?" The Frumentarius tensed as she brushed her hand against his hair.