The thing about sleep deprivation is that it impairs your thought process.

It wasn't until hours later that Handsome Jack finally realized how bad of an idea this all was. He was driving a car in the endless Pandoran desert with only a few weapons and an echocomm to call for backup with. In short, he wasn't in the best state and his danger of dying was at an all time high. Not to mention he was looking for something with no idea where it could be, what it looked like, or even if it was real or not.

But he was Handsome Goddamn Jack.

He did this kind of stuff for a living. He went up against the odds no matter how stacked they were, he risked his health and the health of others for fun and profit, and he always came out on top in the end. A little trekking through a Pandoran Desert was nothing compared to the others things he'd done in life. The desert didn't look all that bad anyway. Sure he had come across packs of skags, swarms of raks, and even a few things that hadn't been discovered yet (he'd taken pictures and marked locations for the scientists back on Helios, and was already working on what to name the new creatures). He was fine, at least that's what he kept telling himself.

Jack finally stopped the car and stepped out for a breather. Pandora air wasn't the cleanest, but he needed something to clear the haze of exhaustion in his mind. The sun was bearing down on him with an intense heat that he felt through all the layers of clothing he was wearing. Fuck it, this was a nightmare, and from the ones he was usually plagued with. His grandma wasn't here with that damned ax in her hand, Dahl wasn't invading, he wasn't staring down his own mortality... ok, maybe he was.

"Oh, this was such a shit idea," he finally muttered. "Why did I even come out here? What was i thinking? This is something I expect one of those morons in accounting to come up with, not me!" He had no audience to agree or disagree, only his echocomm that was currently turned off. Jack banged his head against the top of the car in frustration. Seriously, what was he doing? He sighed and ran his hands through his hair, feeling another bout of weakness gripping his very muscles. "Fuck it!" He snapped. "Fuck this place, and fuck everything! I am NOT going to be killed by something stupid as not sleeping!" He got back in the car and peeled off, determined once again.

Even later, the determination had just about run out. The sun was setting, and Jack had no idea where he was going. Any map that he had brought was useless, and he was almost certain that he had just about driven a ring around the planet. He was sipping from the canteen he had brought and was debating on giving up. He couldn't very well show his face on Helios if he came back empty handed. His life was one thing, but his pride was another. Maybe he could murder the guards he had brought with him to keep it all a secret...

He had tilted his head back for another drink when he noticed a glint in the distance. Eyebrows furrowed, he squinted. What could be reflecting the sun so far out here? Whatever it was was over by a small rock formation that was otherwise alone in the hot dry sands. If it was valuable, then at least he could come back with something. Jack slowly drove out to the rocks, no longer trusting himself to handle high speeds. He'd stripped himself down to just his shirt, designer clothes that cost more than the latest Hyperion laptops sitting in the back in a pile. He briefly remembered some survival tip about pissing on them to block the sun, but he'd be damned if he was going to so much as spit on them. Blood he could handle, but he drew the line at piss.

The rocks seemed to mock him as he parked the car. Whatever was shining was gone and Jack banged his head on the steering wheel in fury. A mirage? A trick of the sun? Jack was running out of time, and now his one hope was gone. Maybe he'd just cut his losses and murder the crew when they got back. No one had to know he didn't find what he was looking for. He went to start the car again- What was that?! Something definitely had just moved on the rocks.

Jack hurriedly got out and rushed forward. Whatever it was was not getting away easily. He pulled out his favorite gun and ran between the boulders. "I saw you!" He crowed. "I saw you, cupcake! I know you're here! Come on out, I won't hurt you... too much! Just need a little song... Just a little one... Come on, dum dum, where are-" And then he saw it. Silhouetted against the setting sun and perched upon the nearest boulder. Beautiful luscious brown hair, captivating eyes of blue and brown, tall and pale (unnaturally pale for a desert dweller), and dressed in what had once been fancy clothes that were now torn and showed off more of that delectable skin.

Jack lowered his gun and just stared at this ethereal creature. Well, he was also staring at its arm. It was made of metal, and it was... a Hyperion model? Jack moved closer to look to be sure, but there was no doubting that it was Hyperion made. Upon closer examination, he also noticed the being's blue eye was an echoeye. How the hell did a siren get Hyperion tech? He'd say the thing wasn't a siren, but the glowing tattoos left little room for that. Whatever, he'd figure it out later after a good night's sleep. He cleared his throat and swept back his sweat soaked hair. "Hey cupcake, uh..." sleep deprivation was really messing with his verbal skills. "You wanna... come down? Have a chat? Sing a little song for me?"

The siren tilted his head, almost in confusion. Ah shit, could sirens even speak English? Jack almost broke down. Please god, have mercy on him. Let the siren understand him. He nearly cried when he siren jumped down next to him. He was a little shorter than Jack, but even more breathtaking up close. Those sharp eyes and soft lips. Jack was starting to wonder if it would be considered unnatural to have fantasies about this being. "Hey," He gave his trademark grin, the grin that signed a million deals and broke a million hearts. "Hey look, need a small fa...vor..." The siren was touching him. Normally Jack shot anyone who dared to just touch him, and he had to reign that instinct in. The siren didn't seem to notice as he played with Jack's hair, tugged at his shirt, poked the clasps of his mask. Jack had to quickly step back, this was getting too creepy. "Hey now, easy there," he said. "No one touches the goods without getting a bullet in their head. I mean I know I'm irresistible, but there are boundaries, ok? Now less touchy and more singy, ok? Chop chop."

But even as he spoke, the siren was distracted by the glowing shield he was still wearing. His fingers traced the metallic ornament that adorned his chest, and Jack could see the universal expression of desire in his eyes. So this siren wanted his shield? It was the most impressive shield Hyperion, or anyone, produced. One of a kind and owned only by him. He had spares, so he wasn't hurting for one. If this siren wanted a trinket as payment, then he would gladly give it over. At least the siren didn't want one of his guns.

"A deal?" Jack took the shield off and held it up. "You give me a song and I give you the shield. Sound good? Huh? Song for shield?" he made giving gestures and hummed a few notes. The siren's eyes lit up with understanding as it hummed back those same notes. Damn, even his humming was amazing. Jack helped secure the shield on the siren's cropped and torn shirt. "Ok, hang on. Lemme find a good position..." he chose a spot that would hide him in the rocks. Pandora was dangerous at night, after all. He sat down and made himself comfortable on the ground. His spot would also promise shade from the sun, so he wouldn't have to worry about frying alive.

Jack had just gotten comfortable when the siren began to sing. He sang in words that Jack didn't understand, but Jack didn't care as he was suddenly put under the siren's spell. Everything else seemed to fade away. Pandora, Helios, Hyperion, heck even Jack's job seemed to fade from his mind. Only this siren existed. Nothing else was important. The setting sun put a dark blur on everything as Jack watched the siren and listened to him sing. Already, he could feel himself calming down. Years of hard work and burdens from forever ago lifted from his shoulders like chains being unlocked. Shackles were removed, thoughts were stilled, his very name was stripped away. He...was no one. No one at all. This siren was his everything, and he wanted nothing more than to serve him. To love him. To worship him.

Jack didn't know how long the song went on for, but he was soon on his back and looking up at the night sky. The stars... they were beautiful. He'd steal one and give it to his new deity. He'd steal all the riches in the world for him. He'd give his own life should it be demanded of him. But first... First he needed sleep. All the world was still a blur when Jack slowly closed his eyes. He soon fell into the deepest sleep he'd ever had before. The deepest, most peaceful sleep he'd ever had before.