The Shine - Chapter Four - Future Memory
It was important to stand away from the action at this point and only watch. If someone holding a wager is seen as contributing to the death in any way, and would therefore benefit, the payoff will be denied.
Moxxi loved to make a show out of serving this drink, throwing in a splash of this or that, pour it into a shaker and serve ice cold in a fancy glass with an umbrella. When served ice cold the bitter, acrid taste took a moment to hit, but when it did - watch out. If any of the liquid happened to be swallowed in the process, the patron was in for a week of agonizing torment as the digestive tract attempted to reject this noxious fluid.
As the crowd of n00bs started chanting "Chug! Chug! Chug!", Goldenboy brought the glass to his lips, knocking his head back, draining the glass in one gulp. Moxxi looked shocked and simply stated "Oh my...Oh….my, my, my!"
Goldenboy stood there for a moment frozen, as if unable to move. Then a trembling started in his limbs and seemed to move through his entire body. At this point the crowd grew quiet and everyone knew something was drastically wrong. Suddenly Goldenboy was bent over making gagging and retching noises.
It was at this time I felt something warm on my neck. It was that feeling someone was watching me - no, staring at me. I turned toward my right and two n00bs whom must have arrived on the transport were walking in late. A male and a female, he was young but muscular with massive arms - a berserker no doubt. She was the one looking at me. She was oddly familiar to me yet I could swear I'd never seen or met this person in my life. She was late twenties/ early thirties wearing blast glasses atop her head and had shoulder length bright red hair. An instinct told me to look down at her feet and I was certain I saw her gliding along. Her feet moved in the rhythm of walking but she was floating an inch or so above the ground. No, no impossible! I was tired and tried rubbing my eyes and when I opened them Goldenboy was screaming obscenities diverting my attention back to the bar.
Having placed big money on this arrogant lad I was looking to see what happened next. In gathering back his faculties Goldenboy had grabbed up a bottle and broke it against the bar. Staggering to and fro while clutching his gut he was calling Moxxi some rather rude names and outlining in detail how she was going to "get it". What Goldenboy hadn't noticed was that shards of glass had flown about and struck other bar patrons. Most affected was the veteran Vault Hunter with the monocle, he looked quite put off and brushed his lapels of debris. I'm not sure of his position in Sanctuary but apparently he has some authority as he's often seen enforcing a level of justice. I find it's best not to ask questions and stay on the obvious side of the law. Either that - or not get caught.
Apparently when the glass struck the Vault Hunter he dropped his monocle and it rolled along the floorboards. At this time Goldenboy made the fatal mistake of staggering one fatal step backwards. There was a crunch sound that I will never forget. In an instant the Vault Hunter was up on his feet, standing next to, and apparently speaking softly in Goldenboy's ear. In a move so quick no one apparently saw it, Goldenboy was a walking dead man. The Vault Hunter left Goldenboy's side, quickly approaching Moxxi he dropped a satchel of money in her hand. As he leaned toward Moxxi he apologized deeply for any inconvenience he may have caused this evening. As Moxxi started to explain it was no trouble at all he had already turned and left abruptly. Goldenboy quietly slumped to a pile on the floor. There was a moment of stunned silence from the n00bs as they absorbed what had just transpired.
Suddenly the bar erupted to raucous cheers and roars of laughter from the usual vault hunter crowd. The n00bs were startled and looked horrified as the Vault Hunters who had wagered on Goldenboy celebrated their win while laughing and patting each other on the back. The n00bs started to back into a corner, wondering if they were next, when a shot went off and hit the ceiling.
Looking through the dust settling from the ceiling I could see it was Mordecai's young apprentice, the girl with the skull and swords tattoos on her upper arm. Never did catch her name and I was smart enough not to ask her directly. She was wildly attractive but as dangerous as a cornered Rabid Stalker in heat. Somehow she was another one of the veteran Vault Hunters in Sanctuary who was authorized to dispense justice when needed. The bar went silent as she surveyed the crowd with a piercing gaze.
"Has anyone noticed a problem?", she hollered to the room in general. Stepping forward she put one boot on the newly deceased head and withdrew a razor sharp blade from the sheath on her back. Pointing the blade to the cowering n00bs she asked again, "Have anyone of you Skag Bait noticed a problem?"
The n00bs looked uncertain as to whether this was a rhetorical question, looking at each other sheepishly. One brave enough n00b volunteered, "Slice is dead?"
Her piercing eyes, the eyes of a trained sniper, found the one who spoke and she quickly marched to the n00b and continued, "And…?" she asked, leaning in uncomfortably close.
Looking down at the blade and back to Slice the n00b answered cautiously, "And he's still dead?"
"Yes, yes! Very good! He's still dead!" She shouted to the group on n00bs, "Which means he didn't head right to the NewU Station - which is what ALL newcomers are supposed to do once landing on Pandora!"
Lowering her voice and calmly pacing in front of the n00bs, she continued, "So you have a choice… You have 10 seconds to run to the NewU Station and register, or I start killing the lot of you myself to see if you have indeed already registered!"
The n00bs stood frozen in stunned disbelief. Until she started counting down from 10. There was a mad stampede for the door as n00bs tripped over each other to get out of Moxxi's and to the nearest NewU Station.
Once they were all out of earshot, she grabbed Slice by the collar and shouted, "Drinks on me, all round" and dragged the expired n00b from the bar.
A cheer rose up as everyone moved to the bar to collect their free drink. I scanned the room looking for the strange 'floaty girl' and her companion. No sign of them so I stashed my winning ticket in my pocket and grabbed my gear. Time to look for that place to sleep.
Sanctuary had a housing shortage with all the refugees from New Haven. You could rent a room for an hourly rate which would get you a shower and a bunk. People slept on swing shifts, often subletting the same room as a dozen other residents. The problem was there was always a scheduling conflict or someone overslept which led to someone pounding on the doors all over town. Impossible to sleep with that racket going on. I usually rented a room for a quick shower and slept on one of the roofs or a balcony if it looked like rain.
I had showered, grabbed a bite to eat and headed to the rooftops with a series of well timed jumps. I slept with my head on my pack to protect my gear and approximate the comfort of a pillow.
I looked up at the stars and began to try to pick out Star Cruisers and Jump Ships from the billions of stars. This always got me to fall asleep even out in the Wastelands.
I was entering the Vault again. This time I had to squeeze in through a very tight crevice, the walls were so tight I could barely breathe as I inched forward. I finally got inside. The loot was piled even higher and gleaming than I remembered. Unopened chests lined the walls. Piles of cash and neatly stacked Eridium everywhere. It had been everything I was looking for on Pandora and more! But now I had the impossible task of getting this loot out through that tight crevice!
Coming up with a plan to remove the loot I turned to survey the crevice and was shocked to see a Vault Guardian blocking the crevice. It was huge and looming above me with outstretched arms ready to slice down at me with all it's might and will. To protect the Vault was it's only purpose in life! I reached for my weapons and attempted to quickly deploy my trusted Turret but they were gone! All of my gear was gone!
I looked at my hands for a weapon and my arms had transformed into arms like the Guardian's. Instead of hands my arms came to a sharp point and bristled with an ancient alien energy. I went to strike out at the Guardian but I couldn't, I felt a strange kinship with this creature. I felt the need to protect the Vault and not loot the contents for my personal profit. This made no sense! I looked for the crevice to flee the Vault and it was gone. The Vault had sealed itself with me inside and I was being consumed by some alien life form taking over my body! I sat down and tried desperately to remember who I was, what was my name, where did I come from? All this information seemed just out of grasp. The more I struggled the further the information flew for my memory until it was gone. I couldn't remember anything at all and all I knew was I was born to protect the Vault with my life.