Do Not Own Borderlands
Rebirth of a Siren
Chapter 4: Welcome to Liar's Berg - Maya
Claptrap was leading Steele and Maya to Liar's Berge. Claptrap kept saying "This way!" every few minutes, not that Maya was listening as she was going over what happened in the fight with Knuckle Dragger. Steele had dominated the first half of the fight. The battle turned for the worst. Maya watched in horror as no doubt due to Maya's bad luck, Steele went down. She rushed to help Steele without thinking. Upon reaching Steele, Maya had been surprised that she was still conscious after being hit by the rock even if Steele was still out of it for the most part. She pulled Steele close, enjoying the closeness as she dealt with the weak Monglets with Steele's gun which was vastly superior to the one she found at Claptrap's place. It took out Monglets in one shot so Maya had wiped them out in no time. Maya then gently place Steele down and charged towards Knuckle Dragger. Knuckle Dragger fell and Maya recovered Claptrap's Eye and The Hornet. Maya asked Steele if she was ok when lifting her to her feet. Maya frowned as Steele had lied to her but Maya did not want to argue with Steele after going through all that. Maya was pulled from her thoughts when Claptrap said as they reached a cliff face "This glacier's run by a bandit named Captain Flynt. The jerk kept me as his torture plaything for a few months. We played games like dodge the blowtorch, and don't get dunked into the pool of acid. I was really good at the first one" Maya noticed a recognition of the named Flynt in Steele's tired eyes. Claptrap led them down the cliff.
Reaching the bottom of the cliff, Maya's bad luck struck again as a voice that Maya recognized as Handsome Jack boomed from her ECHO "Attention, people of Pandora! Handsome Jack here, offering a million bucks to whomever brings me the head of the Siren Vault Hunter who is near Liar's Berg and another 20 million for whoever recovers my albino siren from her" He added on as an afterthought "Oh, and I'm still offering a reward for Roland, the mass-murdering leader of the Crimson Raiders. Good hunting, bandits!" Maya was getting frustrated as everyone assuming her to be a Vault Hunter and then baffled on why he wanted Steele. She would have asked Steele who was leaning on her but Steele had become unfocused again. She would be no help.
Another voice said over the ECHO "21 million bucks?! Alright, boys - this is Captain Flynt! I want you to find that Vault Hunter and kill 'em. Bring her albino siren to me intermediately!" Maya had a warm feeling when he said her albino siren but that died down when it sunk in that he was gunning for her now on top of Handsome Jack's weird desire in killing all Vault Hunters. Maya was regretting coming to Pandora especially since it seems that her luck was causing everyone to coming and try to kill her. Maya counted the people she could count that would more likely not kill her. Steele, Claptrap, Salvador, Axton, and Zer0. Five people in the whole of Pandora not going to kill her. Seven if she could determine if Jack's enemy Roland and Claptrap's 'friend' Sir Hammerlock were friends. Even so, none of them were 100% trustworthy. Steele was unstable. Claptrap would very likely run away. She didn't really know Salvador, Axton, Zer0, Roland or Sir Hammerlock well enough to trust them. In fact, Salvador, Axton, and Zer0 could be dead for all she knew. Claptrap had finally led them to Liar's Berg entrance while Maya was thinking. Of course, Dozens of Captain Flynt's Bandits were loitering around the abandoned town that she needed to go into.
Claptrap called out "Hey, Hammerlock!" before Maya could stop him. Maya watched as Captain Flynt's Bandits were alerted to their presence by Claptrap.
A voice on The ECHO that could only belong to Sir Hammerlock said "Spectacular - first Captain Flynt's bandits attack, then Claptrap shows up! I must have horrifyingly cruel to puppies in a previous life to deserve this kind of treatment. I say, Vault Hunter - could you kill Flynt's men for me?" Maya wondered what it is about her that made people think she was a Vault Hunter. Captain Flynt's Bandits started shooting from their cover locations from the town before she could correct him. Maya pulled Steele down with her to hide behind the town's outer wall. Claptrap had done his famous disappearing act when there was trouble.
Captain Flynt said through Maya's ECHO "Got a proposition for ya, Vault Hunter. You give up, we'll just shoot ya in the head. It'll be quick, clean, and a hell of a lot less painful than what Handsome Jack'll do to ya" Maya had no doubts that he was correct that Handsome Jack would do some horrible actions against her if he got his hands on her. That did not mean she entertained Captain Flynt's offer at all. Maya snuck down from where she was so she could use Phaselock on a couple of unexpecting Captain Flynt's Bandits despite not liking leaving the near defenceless Steele alone. Her power freaked out a few of them who fled. Maya put down the runners first before taking out the Phaselocked Bandits who crashed into the ground. Captain Flynt said with disbelief "What is wrong with you boys?! Just kill that skag-lick so's we can get our reward!" One of Captain Flynt's Bandit gathered the remaining men together. They became harder to hit as they were expecting her now. Unfortunately for them and an unusual stroke of good luck for Maya, a group of Small Bullymongs have been drawn by the gunshots. They and Captain Flynt's Bandits fought against each other. Maya watched as most of Captain Flynt's Bandits were killed by the Small Bullymongs before they were all brought down as she rightly thought that it be better if she did not act. Maya swiftly took out the surviving bandits before they could regain their bearings. "Dammit! This isn't over, grinder" Captain Flynt said ominously. Maya ignored him and rushed back to Steele. She was relieved to find Steele where she was left. She noted Steele was still out of it as She lifted Steele to her feet to support her when they walk.
Claptrap yelled "Hey, Hammerlock! Since my minion just saved your town, you wanna do your bestie Claptrap a favour and repair my eye?!" as he reappeared.
Sir Hammerlock said with a sigh "Yes, I suppose I am in your debt now, aren't I? Come to my shack, and I shall restore Claptrap's sight. First, I shall shut off the electrical fence for you" Maya and Steele headed towards the gate to a small house on edge of town. They were ahead of Claptrap but Sir Hammerlock said rather insistently "Please stay back, Vault Hunter – let Claptrap go first" so Maya stopped walking when Sir Hammerlock said that.
Claptrap said with enthusiasm "I knew Hammerlock would come around eventually. He and I are like two peas in a pod! Two bullets in a mag! Two cannibal midgets in a fat guy's rib cage!" Maya watched as Claptrap is then electrocuted by the electric fence and goes down.
Sir Hammerlock said in a voice that shown his relief "Apologies, but when Claptrap speaks. I feel my brain cells committing suicide, one by one. I shall be out directly" Sir Hammerlock, a hunter who dresses in a ragged, futuristic version of a Victorian adventurer's outfit exited his house. He has some artificial appendages. "A pleasure to meet you, Vault Hunter. I am Sir Hammerlock" as he walked towards Maya and Steele.
Maya introduced herself as "I'm Maya" She indicated to Steele. "This is Steele. We are Sirens".
He said in response sounding impressed "To survive a direct run-in with Handsome Jack, kill Knuckle Dragger and defeat Captain Flynt's bandits? Unheard of! Many thanks for disposing of them, by the way - I'm headed to Sanctuary, myself - from what I hear, the Crimson Raiders there could use a hero like you". Maya looked at him awkwardly as she did not want to be a hero that he wants but at the same time did not want to crush his hope. Sir Hammerlock seeing the awkwardness said "Now, if you could hand me the robot's eye, please" Maya complied. He muttered "Now, I need only connect this to this, and…" as he puts Claptrap's eye into its socket before screwing it clockwise several times. He finally finished the repair by hammering his fist onto the eye. As he repaired Claptrap, Maya was thinking about what she would do after reaching Sanctuary. She decided to talk with Steele to see what Steele's plans were to gain some ideas. She was leaning towards staying with Steele but it all depends on. "That should do it!" Sir Hammerlock finally said.
"Ha-Ha! I am ALIIIIIVE!" Claptrap said back to normal. Sir Hammerlock looked regretful.
He commented to himself "Oh, dear. He's talking again". He then said "I see our fearless leader Jack is looking for you two. Charming fellow, isn't he? Spouts drivel about bringing peace to the frontier then shoots unarmed men, women, and children like it was going out of style. Any idea why?"
Maya responded with "I have no idea"
Sir Hammerlock then said realizing they looked worn-out "Have some rest now that Liar's Berg is clear of bandits and Bullymongs. I will be turning on the main power and things that may be of use to a go-getting slayer of men like yourself". Maya led Steele into where Sir Hammerlock was holding out.
