Chapter 5 Getting to know the place a bit
After a few hours of fiddling with his guitar, Sid finally felt tired and was about to close his eyes to be rudely interrupted by his Echo rumbling.
"Again? Are you kidding me?" He checks it to see Veronica trying to Echo again. "I thought I told Mikey to get her drunk. Yet she's still calling me. Darn it Mikey." He picked it up in fear yet again.
"Sid I'm sorry for being such a bitch to you in the past," said Veronica in a drunken tone. "I'm sorry for all the things I've done, especially smacking you back at the prison. You know what? You're ungrounded and all that shit." Sid's face had worsened as he heard her say that.
"Yeah I'm going to call you later." Sid hung up and tried Echoing Mikey. After a call was established Sid took a deep breathe.
"What's up broham?"
"Mikey, how much of that alcohol did you put in her beverage?"
"Well Sid, she was drinking 4 cups of lemonade earlier which was enough for me to use up half the bottle! Impressed?"
"No Mikey, you gave her too much! That's liquor! That shit is powerful for a person like me! What has she done after she drank it?"
"Well… She tried messing with one of the grenades I made. As in she pulled the pin."
"WHAT! IS THE HOUSE OK?"
"Yes thank god. I didn't jam the explosives in it yet so it was a dud. Did you hear about that Torgue grenade competition? Whoever makes the best grenade gets to meet Torgue in person! And there grenade gets to be sold by the Torgue Company!"
"Now's not the time for that. What else did she do?"
"Well she puked about 3 times, almost passed out and she took her shirt off."
"OH GOD NO!"
"Don't worry she had her bra on! And I closed the curtains just so that no one would look."
"MIKEY YOU IDIOT! YOU'RE LUCKY YOU'RE MY LITTLE BROTHER OR I'D SMACK THE HELL OUT OF YOU!"
"I-I'm sorry but you never specified!"
"Your right, it's my fault. Make sure she doesn't do anything crazy and isolate her in the house! It'll be a while for the booze to wear off."
"Got it!" Sid ended the call and face palmed himself.
"I am an idiot. Shows me how much of a 'responsible' brother I am. Veronica is always right." He sighed and Gaige came into his room.
"Hey Sid," she said in a cheerful voice.
"Hey Gaige," he said in an irritated tone.
"What's wrong with you? I'd expect you to be a little happier. Is it about what happened earlier?"
"I'll explain later, it's not because of you or anything that happened here though. Anyways you need me for anything?"
"Looking at the time, it's almost lunch so I was going to order some pizza with the other Vault Hunters. I'm just curious if you wanted to come and chat for a bit."
"Well I got nothing better to do so I accept. What kind of pizza are we talking about?"
"I'm ordering cheese for you and me if you're ok with that," she said.
"Yes I am," said Sid standing up from the bed. Him and Gaige walked to Moxxi's bar and ordered a large cheese pizza for $15. The other Vault Hunters ordered their own pizza with different toppings. Sid didn't recognize two of the Vault Hunters. "Hey Gaige, who's the muscular midget and the ninja guy?"
"Salvador is the midget. He makes all of us feel uncomfortable though so I avoid being next to him. Aside from that he likes shooting and killing things most of the time. Then there's the assassin Zero; he talks in really short sentences, haikus and sometimes not at all. He tends to disappear and reappear when you least expect it and we aren't even sure if he's human or not. Though he is a great sniper and is great with that sword he has."
"Ok. That's not weird at all," said Sid in sarcasm. Moxxi came back placing the pizzas on the counter. Everyone but Zero grabbed a box. "Just to avoid what happened last time, I'd prefer eating somewhere more private."
"Yeah I'd rather not see something like that happen again," said Gaige. "How about my house?"
"Sure. I don't see why not." Sid grabbed the pizza and followed Gaige. He entered the entrance and placed the pizza on the steel table. Gaige went to the fridge and took out 2 cold cans of soda pop while Sid opened the box up and took a slice out. He sat on the chair and started chomping down on the pizza. Gaige was eating it at a slow speed compared to Sid eating at a fast pace. In only two minutes, Sid ate 4 slices which was half the pizza and Gaige ate only 1.
"Wow you ate them way too fast," she said.
"Trust me, when it's my sister's pancakes or pizza, I'll eat them in no time." Sid opened up the can and chugged the cold drink down his throat while Gaige was on her second slice. She left to slices in the box and pushed it in the fridge for another day.
"Well that was tasty," she said wiping the sauce off her hands. "So do you want to talk about anything or would you rather fiddle with your guitar in your room?"
"Like what?"
"About ourselves."
"Sure? What do you want to know first?"
"Remember when you woke up from that nightmare yesterday? What was it about?"
"I don't normally talk about my nightmares. Not even with my siblings but I'll tell you. Before I woke up, I had a nightmare of the Hyperion leader named Ronald Jenkins killing my only sibling's right in front of me. Later that day I had another nightmare of his assassin named Shade stabbing again where I was stabbed last time."
"Ouch. Speaking of Hyperion, whatever happened back at the Hyperion HQ?"
"Jenkins left the building and I went on a killing spree while he was gone. After the place was nothing but an empty shell filled with blood and broken machinery, I went after him. He went to Windshear Waste then came back to the HQ to see what I've done. I and he got into a brutal fight and that was when Shade stabbed me."
"And that's when the Vault Hunters and I found you. If it wasn't for me, you would have probably been left there since Axton thought you were a bandit."
"He was wrong, I'm no bandit," he said.
"I never thought you were one but I did promise them I'd watch you when you woke up in case you tried to pull something funny."
"So because of you, I'm still alive and kicking?"
"Yep, and Maya since she did phaselock your cut to help stop the bleeding."
"Thanks then. You're a life saver. Tell Maya I said thanks since I would probably forget about telling her."
"Alright. Anyways tell me a little more about yourself."
"I didn't go over how I loved accuracy. Of course I never found a way to improve the cruddy accuracy of my guns but I did improve my recoil reduction through implants. My sister was trying to find a way to modify any gun's accuracy when I had it wielded but she never did. How about you?"
"Well you already know I love science since you listened to my Echos," she said smiling.
"Yes and how you liked your Dad's hot cocoa," he said.
"I miss my Dad and his hot cocoa but the whole science fair incident compromised that. What's Eden-5 been like without me?"
"Holloway got gunned down a month ago and the corrupt police force got fixed up by some tin man. The police force began turning from corrupt to actually good."
"That's awesome news!"
"Yes it is. Anymore questions?"
"You didn't really tell me about your family," she said. At that moment, a dark look came across Sid's face. "Okay maybe I shouldn't have asked that question."
"I'll tell you. My young 10 year old brother is named Mikey. He is obsessed with the Torgue Company and creating explosives, which lead to our house being blown up last year. Though he made me this nifty flash bang generator!" Sid raised the device in his right hand to show it. Gaige grabbed it observing the small device.
"That's pretty impressive craftsmanship right there." She passed it back to Sid and he placed it near his empty leather holster.
"Then there's my naggy sister Veronica. Like you she's a bit of a science nut and when I need some upgrades, I talk to her. Though she usually bugs me about all the stuff I do or she smacks me across my face since I'm 'Irresponsible'."
"Ouch. Why would you be irresponsible?"
"Well I'm a notorious thief back at Eden-5. It's just so thrilling to be chased down by the cops and it clears my mind."
"You don't seem like the criminal type," she said smiling. "You look pretty innocent to be honest."
"I've never killed anyone while I did my crimes. I just stole money and maybe I'd wound a few people and throw a few threats."
"What motivates you to even steal?" Sid froze as she said that. "Sid? Are you alright?"
"Yes. I am. And now it's time to talk about my parents." A tear dripped from Sid's right eye. "The last day I saw my parents was when I was 17." Sid closed his eyes as a flashback occurred in his mind.
"You don't care about us! You only visit us for like a week then you leave for a year! You call that love? NO! That isn't love!"
"Sid I'm sorry but I'm needed at the Dahl Military and so is your mother. If I could spend time with you I would but I can't. I'm sorry."
"Dad I fucking hate you! You don't care about Mikey, or Veronica! You don't care about anything! I don't want to see you or my mother here again because you don't give two shits about us!" An awkward silence filled the house as he said that.
"I'm tired of fighting over this," his father said in an angry tone. "Goodbye Sid, I hope I don't see you as well. You were not the son I gave birth to 17 years ago. You're a fucking monster." He began walking away holding his wife's hand and Sid flipped him off as well as his mother as they walked out of the house. A day later, a stranger visits the door of their house and knocks.
"Hello?" Sid ran down stairs to see who it was. He saw the mysterious man in Dahl clothing. "Oh great a fucking Dahl army man. What do you want?"
"I have some news you won't enjoy. Alicia Syncia and Jon Syncia who are your parents died 24 hours ago. They were killed in a gun fight with the Atlas troops back on Pandora. Sadly I would tell you more but it's confidential at this time." Sid dropped to his knees as tears dripped from his eyes. "I'm sorry for your loss. Your father was an honorable general and I'll always remember the fights me and him shared." The man left while Sid was frozen on the floor.
"My… Parents…" The feeling of guilt filled his mind after the things he said to his parents. He thought of them hating him after that day. He screamed in tears of anguish, waking up his younger siblings.
"Sid what's wrong?" Said Veronica waking up after hearing his tears.
"Our… Parents…" He choked on his words but Veronica knew what he was going to say. Tears filled her eyes as they hugged each other.
"What's with all the noise," said Mikey walking down the stairs. Sid couldn't stop crying so Veronica calmed down a bit to lie to Mikey about what happened so he wouldn't freak out.
"Our parents are… Going to vacation… Without us… For a long time…"
"Aww that sucks. Why are your faces all wet with water?"
"We miss them…"
"Ok, night guys!" Sid finally came back to reality with a frozen expression of fear across his face.
"Sid? Snap out of it!" Yelled Gaige in a worried tone. "Please say something; you're starting to scare me." Tears filled Sid's eyes as he fell to the floor. "Sid what's wrong?"
"They hate me… They hate me… They hate me! THEY FUCKING HATE ME!" Gaige shook Sid.
"Sid please tell me what's wrong, I can help you." Sid finally regained composure as he stood up.
"My parents… Were Dahl Military… They're no longer with me… The last time I saw them… We got into a fight and my Dad called me a monster. The guilt roams my mind, knowing that they hate me. When they say something they mean it. Then they died from Atlas. THEY DIED HATING ME!"
"I-I should have never asked that question. I'm really sorry Sid." A saddening look came across her face and Sid looked at her.
"Don't blame yourself. It's all my fault and now the guilt haunts me in my sleep."
"Come again?" She asked.
"After that day, the guilt transforms into my fears in my dreams, leading to the harsh nightmares I go through. Like that night at Dr. Zed's. I saw my siblings die in front of me by Jenkins. And when I woke up today, I woke up from his assassin stabbing me in my stitched wound. Both of those are fears that come in my mind."
"I feel really bad for you then. Someone should never go through that every day of their life."
"Whatever. Sad thing about this chat is I've never told anyone about those inner feelings. Not even my siblings."
"Why wouldn't you seek help from your family?"
"I don't know. Maybe because I don't want them to worry about me so much. Something holds me back from telling my sister about it. I'd tell Mikey but after he was told a year after they died, he was devastated. I wouldn't want to make him remember that since he had so much trouble sleeping."
"Oh."
"And now to answer what's my motive. That event is. It really helps clear my mind from this agony so I get to relax through the day but in the night it taunts me."
"If there's anything you want me to do to make you feel better than just ask."
"Sorry hot nurse, not even your looks can cure this illness," he said laughing. Gaige blushed as he said that, changing her worried look into an embarrassed one.
"Just because you're not in the best mood, I'll let that pass."
"I'll be going now. Goodbye Gaige."
"See you later Sid." He walked out of the building and went straight into his room. He fell asleep 2 hours later forgetting about dinner. His nightmare was of Jenkins beating the living hell out of him. He was on the floor in what's left of the Hyperion HQ getting punched over and over again by Jenkins.
"How does it feel fucker? This is what happens when you mess with the Jenkins!" A minute later, Sid couldn't feel his face and he was beginning to lose consciousness. Jenkins pulled out Sid's revolver and pressed it against Sid's forehead. "Time to avenge those souls you took!" He pulled the trigger and yet again Sid wakes up breathing heavily. He woke up surprised as he saw Gaige standing in front of him.
"What are you doing here?"
"I bought you and me a stalker sandwich. You weren't awake so I just waited here for about 4 minutes. From the way you woke up, you must have had another nightmare."
"Jenkins shooting me in the head after beating me down." He said. "That was the nightmare."
"Well if this sandwich doesn't cheer you up I don't know what will." Sid chomped his sandwich it down as Gaige ate hers slowly. "Do you feel better?"
"Just a little." He said. Then a man wearing a mix of casual clothing and Crimson Lance armor walked into Sid's room.
"Are you Sid?" Asked the man.
"Yes I am. Why?"
"Two guests arrived here. They mentioned your name."
"Bring them here," The man walked out of the room and a familiar voice enters Sid's ears.
"Sid? Is that you?"
"Mikey?" Sid's little brother ran in and hugged him. "Great to see you here! But wait… If you're here that means-"
"SID!" Veronica walked into the room with an extremely angry voice. She then notices the stitches Sid had on his ribs. "What the hell happened to you?"
"Well I got stabbed by an assassin so I got stitched up back at Dr. Zeds place.
"Are you feeling ok?" She asked in a worried tone.
"Yep, my ribs are all fixed up."
"Good!" She then smacked Sid as hard as she can on his left cheek.
"OW!"
"That was for leaving us when you were supposed to be grounded!" Then she slapped him again on his right cheek.
"What the hell!?"
"That was for the alcohol! Mikey told me everything!" Sid glared at Mikey.
"She knew something was up so I had to tell her the truth after she woke up or she'd throw my Torgue products away! I'm sorry Sid!"
"What the hell are you guys even doing here?"
"Knowing you, I'm not going to let you roam this planet alone," she said crossing her arms. "Someone on the plane told me about Sanctuary so when we landed at the station at the Dust, he took us here. I was lucky to find you here."
"You were lucky to not get your ship shot down like mine was."
"What? We are going to talk later." She then notices the orange haired girl next to him. "Who's the girl?"
"Veronica this is Gaige. I already talked about you so no need to introduce. I forgot to mention your love for your girly ponies though."
"It's nice to meet you," Gaige said giving Veronica a handshake with her normal arm.
"Why is she here with you though?" Asked Veronica.
"She's my hot nurse; she's supposed to take care of me."
"Don't call me that in front of people Sid." She said with an embarrassed look.
"Ok. Anyways make room because we are moving in." Said Veronica, bringing in her luggage.
"Great!" Said Sid with a sarcastic tone.