Break Apart
Make the Connection
Prelude stood before the Fast-Travel Station, gazing at the numerous locations that they managed to find together so far. Where could you have gone, Ballad? She wondered, hand clutching the bridge of her bass. She was worried, her little sister was the only family she had left… if she lost her…
Then she saw it…
Glancing down at the necklace around her throat, she could see the pale sapphire light emitting from it. The piece of jewelry was silver, half of the Vault symbol hanging from a thin chain… it glowed whenever she got separated from Ballad and the same went for the guitarist. Ballad has the other half, is it glowing as well? With that in mind, she began skimming through the locations until she settled on one… The Dust.
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"What are you doing up there?"
Loggins stared at the figure standing on the mountain of scrap metal and other relics that kept the ramp elevated. As the sun was beginning to set, he could see the flash of navy waves and pale emerald from the guitarist. Ballad glanced over her shoulder to stare at the pilot by Ellie's garage.
"Trying to calm my nerves Loggins, that's all." Ballad shouted, as she started to tune her guitar and adjust it into the position she wanted. She reached into the satchel that hung at her waist, retrieving the head-set and her iPod. She dawned the head-set, getting the mic into the right spot and plugging the cord from the iPod into it, allowing the music to flow. Hearing the music, playing it, and being its channel to the world… she began to sing.
Track 3: I See Red by Thousand Foot Krutch
These waterfalls I've seen a million times
They wash away the world that I've seen cover up my mind
And I can push the walls away until they're out of sight and mind
But I'm not strong enough to stand alone here in this tide
I don't want to, I'm not trying
I wish it would just go away
And then I see red... I see red… I see red… I see red
These situations make me feel so cold
It's like I've been replaced by someone I don't know
And I can say the words until I've said all that I can say
Without you I'm a fraction of who I'm supposed to be.
"Ballad! Your sis is here!" Ellie yelled when Prelude emerged from the garage. Locking eyes with her sister and ceasing her performance.
"Prelude?!" Ballad was surprised, swinging her guitar onto her back and jumping onto the loose mattress near the top, easily surfing down the pile of miscellaneous items. Once she reached the bottom, she laid the mattress against the pile and met her sister's gaze, lowering the head-set to the base of her neck.
"Hey Ballad, how are you feeling?"
"Better… wait, how did you know I was here?"
"You said the Dust had good acoustics at one point," She breathed, before gently tapping her necklace. "Also, this began to glow… it keeps us together."
Ballad glanced down at her necklace in response, the faint blue glow was fading into the silver sheen of the broken symbol. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that." She sighed, glancing up at Prelude… until the loud humming of Buzzards and horn blowing grabbed their attention.
The two made their way out of the garage and stood towards the beginning of the ramp. They spotted a group of Buzzards in the sky and a pack of Bandit Technicals before them.
They watched as a Marauder stepped out of one of the vehicles and stood before them.
Ballad adjusted her instrument and tilted her head at the Marauder. "Can we help you with something?"
"Were you the one singing and playing music earlier?"
Ballad sighed, didn't think anyone could hear me… "Um… yeah, why?"
"Our boss could hear you from Goose's Roost, you're pretty good. He was wondering if you could come by tonight, play some music, and join us for a game of Psycho-head volleyball. You interested?"
Ballad was about to say 'yes' in response to the invitation, but Prelude pulled her to the side.
"Don't even think about it."
"Oh come on, Pre… the last time we played that we were really little."
"I'm not talking about the game, you always seem to draw a crowd and make friends. For once, can we not do this?"
"Prelude, I know where you're coming from, but neither of us can control it. We make music together and we stick together. Besides, it'll be fun… What do you say?"
There was a moment of silence.
"Did a Skag die or something?" One of the other marauders asked.
Prelude nodded her head in response and Ballad smiled, turning back towards the group. "We'll come and play."
"Great, the boss just has one request though…"
"Which is…?"
"Stay away from the Vault Hunter we have chained up in the camp."
Let me know what you think =)