{Abdias - [Harry Peterson]}
The cultists are happy and loyal. Although I can't do a proper loyalty test the undercover test has proved them to be unaffected by NCR propaganda.
I am preparing to leave when Lieutenant Wells runs up.
"Er Harry, hi. What are you doing this weekend?" "I'm taking a trip to Freeside." "Erm do you want to meet up?" "Yes."
Two people looking will be better than one. She giggles and runs off. It takes me a bit to get back to Boulder City. I drop the cart and bhramin off then walk home. Once inside I change into my leather uniform and descend into the basements. With some final jiggles the last drops of blood exit the body and then I lay him on a leather mat and get to work. An hour later I am done and his body parts are wrapped in paper. I change out of my leather uniform and back into my normal clothes then I load the body parts into some bags, grab a shovel and leave the house. I walk for an hour until I find a ditch. I place down my bags and dig. I dig a deep hole and unwrap the body parts and bury them in it. I grab a bush from nearby and plant that on top. I return home and fall asleep quickly.
Over the next 2 days I maintain my normal routine. Rise in the morning, do paperwork visit the office repeat on the Friday I took the bucket of blood and poured it into a hole I dug and buried it. Friday night I packed my bag. And finally Saturday arrived. I set of at day break and a few hours later I arrive in Freeside. Its still morning so I begin my search. I check all the ruined building but no sign of the child. I am walking up the main road considering which shop to start with when I hear a shout.
"Harry!"
I turn to see Lieutenant Wells who runs up and hugs me.
"Where are we going?" "I'm not sure. There is a cafe I saw earlier."
I lead her to a small cafe where we sit down. Soon a waitress gives us menus. She chooses bacon and eggs with toast and mutfruit sauce and a cup of hot chocolate. I decide to have the same.
As we wait she leans her elbows on the table and stares at me.
"So you grew up in the legion?" "Yes." "I don't know much about them other than they keep launching raids. Can you tell me why they raid?" "Slave labour. From what I heard Kaiser has a project underway and needs manpower." "So they sneak across the river and give their lives to take one or two people." "That's how it works. A legionary values Kaiser's will above their own life." "Why do you call him Kaiser I thought his title was Caesar at least that's what the Rangers have reported." "Old habits die hard. From what I understand the English pronunciation of his name is Caesar but the Legion uses the Latin pronunciation which is Kaisar. And it his name." "So what's his title?" "Kaiser or Caesar. It doesn't matter if you say Kaiser in Legion land anyone will know who you are referring to." "And if you say Caesar." "You will be captured as a profligate." "What's a profligate." "Erm I think the English equivalent is, Heretic? It's someone not of the Legion like a lesser person because they are not Legion." "Am I a profligate?" "Yes." "And you?" " , Yes." "Why?"
The meals come. The bacon and eggs is delicious the hot chocolate even better. Once we are done she looks at me.
"So why were you coming to Freeside before we agreed to come on a date?" "I'm looking for a kid. He has something stolen from me and I want it back." "What?" "A friend modified a toy laser gun to function as a low intensity laser. Not deadly or a weapon really but a toy. I was having a look at it when it was stolen from my cart." "Ok so we look for the kid all day then go to the KSI to catch the evening performance." "Ok."
For a few hours we go building to building looking for the child people protest but Lieutenant Wells is in uniform and they don't want to mess with the NCR, a useful bit of information. I should source a uniform for future endeavours. As we search I spot a man in a NCR uniform and a with a rifle slung over his shoulder strolling up the street.
"Harvey how are you?"
He stops and snaps to attention.
"Lieutenant." "You on patrol Harvey?" "Yes ma'am."
As they chat my eyes wonder, two children are milling near an alleyway up the street. The taller one removes his hat revealing his blonde hair. I leave them to their conversation then stride across the road and up to the pair. The smaller one looks up then taps the other they turn jump and leg it down the alley. I give chase. They navigate the maze of alleys with ease but even so I am faster. They jump onto a bin and grab a ladder. I reach into my coat and pull a knife. It catches the smaller one in the thigh but the blonde one grabs him pulling him up. Damn it if that was a legion made knife I would have had him. I grab the ladder and begin to climb but with a squeel of metal the ladder begins to fall. I jump off rolling in the dirt. I look up at the ledge they vanished over. I walk back then get a running start kicking off the bin and launching myself across the alley to a window ledge I grab it and pull myself into it, my next target is a decorative ledge. I coil myself then launch myself to it getting a firm grip and climbing up. I work myself to my feet using the uneven brick to keep myself up. I inch myself sideways to where the ladder had been attached I wrap my fingers around the twisted metal and pull. Blood leaks from my fingers but I get my hand onto the roof and pull myself up. As I roll onto the roof I pull another knife from my coat. The blonde one is crouched over the small one who seems to be bleeding out.
"I can save him."
The blonde one starts crawling backwards away from me.
"Murderer."
"Oh I'm much worse than that. Now tell me where the toy gun is and I will save him." "Toy gun?"
He looks bewildered.
"It-it was stolen from me." "By who?" "Some kid from the kings." "What did the kid look like?" "Elvis."
A flick of my hand sends my knife deflecting of the ground an inch from the small one.
"He-he has a limp. Left leg." "Thank you."
I walk to the small one and remove my knife. A flic of my wrist ends his life.
"YOU SAID YOU WOULD SAVE HIM!" "I did didn't I."
I rush the boy and grab him by the hair he punches at me but I sent his head cracking into the roof. I slam him down again and again until his breath stops. This is going to be a big clean up. I pull a mirror from my pocket and crouch by the edge. I know there is one of my brothers here hiding as a homeless man. As I look around at the street I spot a man staring straight at me he is just stood staring then a blinding light flashes across my face. I use my mirror to return the favour and he walks towards the building. He is either coming to fight me for blinding me or he is a brother. I drag the blonde body to the small one then position myself lay on the hinge side of the trapdoor. 5 minutes later it slowly raises. I crouch my knife in hand.
"The eagle" "flys and" "looks upon" "all we demand."
He pushes the trapdoor fully open as I walk round I grip his hand and pull him into the roof he stares at the bodies.
"You get what you need?" "Yes."
He nods.
"I'll dispose of them and clean up."
I nod and make my way down. I pass the dead bodies of the residents, he must have faced resistance in his assent. I exit into the street and navigate back to Lieutenant Wells. Her face lights up as I approach.
"Was it him?" "Yes. He didn't have it." "Shame."
She smiles at Harvey then lets him back on his patrol. It's not long until the performance at the KSI so we wander the streets then make our way to the KSI. Wells has Tickets and we hand them to the doorman who nods us in. The performance is excellent they perform a set of songs and the final song is done by the King himself. As he disappears back stage I spot a boy limp on his left leg past the slit in the curtain. Wells walks me to my hotel then rises onto her tip toes and kisses me. I grip the door behind me and lean back, she seems to take this as me lowering myself for her and grips my face kissing me deeper. Finally it is over and she steps back winks blows me a kiss then walks away. I remain sprawled against the door then make my way inside and hire a room. I make my way to it and place my bag down. I didn't bring much but I suspected I might need to sneak around tonight. I remove my coat then grab my mask and pull it on. I strap my shirt and trousers tight to my body then swap my shoes for a soft souled cloth shoes. I put my coat back on restock my knives and wait for the clock to strike 1.