Madeline Awakens in Nipton

Madeline's head ached. She thought she had opened her eyes but everything was dark and blurry with strange stars appearing as if she were looking through a telescope into the void of space.

Was that a ringing in her ears? Madeline thought she had a experienced a terrible dream. A nightmare. As she opened her eyes she wondered if she was still trapped within it.

She was laying in the dirt and tried to stand but her arms wouldn't move. She writhed around but felt her hands were bound. As her vision cleared she realized--or at least guessed--what had happened. She looked about. She must have been moved further within the city. She was near the town's largest structure.

Leading up to the building was a row of crosses. Each one adorned with a dying or dead victim.

A number of Legion soldiers--Madeline corrected herself--Legionnaires--were milling about. She turned her head and then saw a sight that make her stomach lurch. She saw the face of Captain Ward, his eyes distant and fixed. Less disconcerting than his glassy stare was the fact that the face that looked toward Madeline was sitting beside the corpse of what was once Ward's body.

His head had been severed.

Madeline would have thrown up but she was too fearful to even do that, though her stomach fought against her will.

The man of the Legion--Vulpes Inculta--approached her after he spoke first and ordered a number of soldiers to spread out or go on patrol. Madeline heard them speaking Latin again. Odd.

"Well, well, well..." Vulpes spoke as he looked down at Madeline "You have finally come too. Your friend was brave--but foolish."

He nodded at the decapitated body of Captain Ward.

"Because he was brave--he met a swift end. Even if he fights with cowardly ranged weapons. Your other companion...well he met the fate of cowards." His eyes moved to one of the crosses. Madeline hadn't noticed before but now saw the body of Dr. Giles crucifer.

Again--Madeline had to resist the urge to throw up. She did, however, begin to cry. She had not expected such horrors from here in the wastes. Perhaps the radiation from the Great War had changed the entire psychological structure of the surviving humankind.

"Don't worry," he said his tone still cold "you won't be killed." He mistook Madeline's tears for fear and not that of grief.

"What...what are you going to do to me?" Her words were muddled through her tears "What...why did you do this?"

Vulpes' mouth drew into a stoic line.

"Your friend foolishly attacked us. I bear the mark of the wound he gave me." he moved his right shoulder up and Madeline noticed a bandage. "As to these others. Those of Nipton. They had their chance."

Madeline looked at the man confused, tears streaming down her dirty face.

"The citizens of Nipton each had a chance to survive. There was a lottery. The winner was free to go. Second place only lost the use of their legs. The wicked mayor met the pyre, while still alive. The lucky ones met the edge of the sword. And others...the cross." He looked up at the sordid rows of crosses.

Now Madeline began shake out of fear. If these men--if you could you even call them that--could do these acts--what untold horrors would she have to endure as a young woman? She wished she had met an end like Captain Ward.

A small group of Legion soldiers approached Vulpes.

"Awe Caesar!" the man addressed Vulpes, his Caesar coming out with a hard "K" sound.

"Salve!"

"This one is a pretty one Vulpes, will she go back with us or..." said one of the figures who must have bore some rank as he was followed by his fellows.

"You speak out of line Hastati ."

"Forgive me Centurion." he said bowing his head as in deference.

Vulpes moved closer to Madeline, she recoiled as if he was going to ravish her then and there.

"Do not worry woman. We will not take you here in turn like the ilk of the Powder Gangers or even some Profligate troops."

"What is your name girl?" he asked, the tone of authority in his voice.

"Madeline...Madeline Blackwater." she said feebly.

"Well Madeline--You will be taken back to The Fort, and there you will given to wife of a brave Legionnaire. You will bear many sons for the Legion. You seem of healthy stock."

Madeline was horrified. Married!? It was certainly better than instant ****--or torment and ****....but she was just shocked. She was...a ****?

This couldn't be right.

"Do you understand girl?" Vulpus asked.