Chapter 1
The four by four roared, it engines to the max, tires to the limit and no one could stop the vehicle. A skag woke up by the sound, the moment it came conscious and stood on its four paws. The bumper of the vehicle hit the very head, killing it almost instantly and a pool of blood splat to the windshield. The wipers wiped every part of the window, behind it was the two soldiers that were together like brothers, Kharkov and Red.
Kharkov was not surprised with the blood, it had been decades since the first time he made his first kill and the colour of the blood was getting boring. To kill the boredom, Kharkov hummed a song, a smooth rhythm yet indistinguishable lyrics. Chances were he was making it up as he goes but who cares, it was another typical day for the seasoned man.
Red was beside him, chewing gum and reading articles through his eyepiece. What was it, only Red knew. Like his friend, it was another typical day for him. Never ending travelling, sparse action and just nothing to bother. That was the life and he was grateful for it, as long as his boss do not have a problem with his performance, then it was rest day for him.
Kharkov looked around the desert and it slowly changing into a forest signifying that they were on the right track. He then looked at the rear view mirror to check on the Siren, she was silent lately. Maya leaned at the window, looking at the desert. Sometimes she would read her book and skimmed the pages, other times she would meditate. She rarely spoke but Kharkov did not complain; both of them were still strangers to Maya.
"Hey Maya." Kharkov said. "You alright back there?"
"Huh!?" Maya instantly turned to Kharkov slightly surprised; she did not expect Kharkov would interact with her.
"Calm down Maya, I'm just asking how you are doing." Kharkov giggled with her reaction.
"Oh, forgive me." Maya attempt to become normal but some part show it was awkward for her. "I'm bored, there's nothing much I can do in this vehicle."
"I get it; we've been traveling the road for weeks without stop. But don't worry, by sunset I'll stop and we'll eat. You must be hungry."
"The tin food that you gave was suffice." Maya denied the offer but suddenly her stomach rumbled, making her blush red on her whole face.
"Guess your stomach is very honest." Kharkov giggled, he looked at Red. "Don't worry Maya, Red here can cook us a good meal. Am I right?"
Red looked Kharkov then sighed, having no options but to comply. He turned back and looked at Maya. "Hey Siren, you ever eaten Skag meat before?"
"Uhm once."
"Well since she's alive, it safe to say that we'll be fine eating the meat Kharkov." Red returned back to his seat and chew gum.
"Just you wait Maya, Red has some nice cooking skill under his sleeves. And he never disappoints!"
...
Maya sat down at a fallen tree, sitting silently and observing the two men at work. Red was prepping the fire that would be used for the cooking. Kharkov was setting up the tents, a total of three with each getting one. Maya wanted to help but it seemed if she were to join, she would be a liability. She looked at Red as he took out an elemental pistol. It was a fire element and he shot the branches that he had compiled on the middle of camp. It was instantly set into flames; Red put back the gun and set the stove on top of the fire.
Then a loud sound, Maya looked at the deep forest and recognized it was the sound of a Skag. Kharkov walked passed her and went to the source of the sound.
"Guess my trap worked." Kharkov said to himself.
He jogged away and into the forest he went. Maya looked back at Red and the man was currently looked at her, their eyes met but Red answered with a raise of his brows. Then he goes back doing his work that was prepping the cookery. It was an odd happening for her but still fascinating, Red was quiet and compare to his comrade Kharkov, less friendly.
Since the start of the journey to… somewhere. Kharkov was the one that would initiate a conversation with Red rarely joining in. Whether he was naturally a silent man or he has a grudge on her, she could not identify, even with her Siren powers. Very odd indeed.
She observed her surroundings, she was currently in a forest that tall trees but with no leaves. Everything was silent; no birds could be heard, no insect called to mate. Just the sound of wind blowing beside her ears while keeping the temperature cool. Kharkov returned with a big Skag on his shoulder.
Maya looked at the horizon and it was something beautiful. The sun was about to set and night was near, it was the perfect time to have dinner and her stomach grumble. It was a beautiful sight, she was at the border between a desert and a forest and a sunset on a desert was magnificent. Sometimes she could not believe that she was still in Pandora. No matter how long she stayed in the border planet, there was always something that would surprise her in some way.
As for the two men, they had come to the planet just recently yet they adapt as if the planet was their home. Driving through the roads with no halts, cooking any meat that they could find without any worries and just living their lives like normal. It took Maya months for her to integrate into the planet with all the hostilities. While the two AE soldier could just took a few days and they were living their lives like normal.
Since she had nothing to do, Maya occupied herself by pondering on the two men. These two strangers that she had willingly followed and trusted. So far, no life threatening hostilities happened between them. But no convincing things that she could say that the two were her friends.
Maybe Lilith was right about a few things; they might have lie about knowing her Siren origins. Maybe they will kill her at a certain point and take benefit over something. But rarely does someone say that he or she knows about Sirens, let alone unlocking some hidden things with her Siren abilities. She looked at her Siren mark and remembered the time when Red touched a few point on her hand. And it gave her a jolt of energy that she had never felt before.
That was the reason why she took the gamble; she's willing to risk it to know her origins. Just what Axton had said before he left The Resistance. She remembered the main purpose of coming to Pandora, to learn and to discover about the Sirens. Be it bad or be it good, it was better to know the bitter truth than to believe a sweet lie.
He put down the carcass to the ground and took out his knife, starting to cut the Skag to small pieces. Red walked to Kharkov and looked as his friend do his job. His face shown some disgust but at the same time serious. He might be thinking on what recipe that he would use to make the meat delicious, which was a mountain of a challenge.
Maya had the experience of tasting it and the result was regretful and traumatising. She remembered the time, she had nothing to eat during a mission and it was Salvador that gave the idea. The team at the time consist of Krieg, Salvador, Gaige and herself. And all four had stomach problems for weeks even though they were treated by Zed. Then, she promised to herself it was the first and final time that she would consume the meat.
Until now.
Red had put a few ingredients on the already heated stove, producing aromatic fragrances. She looked at Red and swallowed her throat. Having second thoughts one whether or not should she would eat the meat.
...
"Food's ready." Red said.
It was already night and the only light source was the fire and the aurora that was constantly present in Pandora. Kharkov arrived beside Red with Maya at the back, being slightly shy with the quiet man. Red took a big spoon and put the food on metal bowls then gave to Kharkov. Kharkov breathed in the vapour the food had created and a big smile formed at his mouth.
"Nothing beats tin food other than cooked tin food!" Kharkov said out loud then moved so that Maya can take her food.
Red looked at Maya and stirred the food. "You're vegan?"
"No." Maya shook her head innocently.
"Hungry or just mildly starving?"
"Uh…" Maya does not know how to answer.
"Just kidding with you." Red put the food on the bowl with extra meat and broth then offered to Maya. "Fill up the stomach because the place we want to go is still kinda far from here."
"Thanks." Maya took the bowl and left, having a good impression about Red.
Kharkov was sitting at the fire while eating the food with full enthusiasm and she figured sitting beside him, he was the only person that she could really connect currently. She walked and sat beside him; Kharkov was busy eating and did not realize that she was beside him. Maya let her be and started to eat the food that was at her hand. She looked at the food and it was a mixture of Skag meat, potatos and white soup. Aside from the Skag meat, it looked like an eatable meal.
She took a deep breath and took a spoonful of food into her mouth. Maya closed her eyes and ate it, feeling the soup reached the surface of her taste bud. Her eyes went wide open, shocked by the taste that was delicious and out of this world. Looking at the food once again, she went to finish all in the bowl in the same manner like Kharkov.
"You must be really hungry." Red said as he sat down beside Maya.
She stopped eating and covered her mouth, realizing that she had no manners while eating. Kharkov laughed and patted her back, telling her not to worry about it.
"If you're still hungry, just go the stove and add the food yourself." Red offered. "I've made sure the food is more than enough to feed five people."
"Thanks Red." Maya said. "The food is delicious. For you to make the Skag meat so good, you must be an expert in cooking."
"Don't mention it." Red looked at the fire and started to eat his food.
"Give the man some ingredients and Red would make the food more delicious than a five star hotel food." Kharkov said. "If he was a woman, I would totally marry him."
"Shut the fuck up Kharkov." Red suddenly cursed.
Their mannerism between themselves made Maya giggled, reminding the havoc that her friends would have between themselves. The memory when her friends at The Resistance would enjoy between themselves and worry not about surviving. Then it reminded the main reason she left them, discovering her Siren origin. Maya recollects the question in mind and approached to Kharkov.
"Kharkov, can I ask you some questions?"
Kharkov brows furrowed out of the suddenness but end up into a small giggle. "Sure."
