A/N: Well with the severe unsatisfying last chapter. I hope this one helps at least make up for it. When I started this one up I felt really unmotivated. But about two sentences in I got it back and I'm fairly proud for how it turned out. I hope you all agree and we can push chapter 6 away like a bad dream. So enjoy! Don't forget to rate and review! Thank you all for sticking around with me! I love you all!
It was eerily quiet for a morning in sanctuary, in the early hours where the sun was only an orange sliver over the horizon. Sir Hammerlock bustled about his apartment, spreading out a multitude of photos. This discovery was something that made his dedication to the research and discovery of all the species on Pandora worthwhile. His eyes jumped from image to image, lighting up in excitement, he had to go see this for himself.
After packing up a large ration of food, water, and ammunition; Hammerlock set out to Moxxi's where he left an ECHO on the bar counter and continued to Pierce Station where he traveled to his point of interest.
Hours passed and Sanctuary was back up to its glory of mild anarchy and chaos as civilians idled around the city making soft chatter on their daily errands.
The Crimson Raiders' all sleepily shuffled around the headquarters, none of them really "morning people" except Zer0, but then again no one really knew if he was human. The assassin climbed up to the roof of the building and began his daily routine of training in which he would stretch, take an acrobatic stealth run around the rise of the city, then finish with some sword practice to keep his reflexes sharp. Zer0 loosened the muscles in his legs then assumed a running stance. He activated his stealth and took off, hopping over pipes and vents, turning sharply with the help of a flag pole.
Something caught his eye, causing him to stop on a dime. It was Moxxi, heading towards the HQ with something in her hands. Curious, Zer0 hopped from the rooftop down to the bartender and deactivated his cloaking.
"Good Morning to you Moxxi/ Wha-"
"Oh my go-Oh...Zer0" The woman gasped, holding a hand to her chest, "Don't sneak up on me like that!" She exhaled then inhaled sharply, trying to regain her composure.
"Apologies." The assassin slightly droned in his typical robotic voice.
"Well...anyways." Moxxi huffed, still slightly out of breath," Can you take this to your base? I need to set up for business."
Zer0 nodded and received an ECHO from her. The two bade short farewells before departing on their separate routes. The Number tilted his head at the communicator in his hands as he approached the front door of the base. Upon entering he noticed Tannis slumped over on her desk with a small puddle of drool forming around her lips. A soft metallic chuckle escaped his mask as he marched up the stairs.
The majority of the other vault hunters had left to carry out the requests they had procrastinated on since the day off. The only ones left were Roland, Mordecai-who was in an alcohol-induced slumber, and Maya.
"I was told to give this to you/ it is from Moxxi/ it may be urgent or not." Zer0 commented, handing the ECHO to their leader.
"Thank you." Roland murmured and played the recording.
"Good day vault hunter!" Sir Hammerlock's cheerful voice spoke through the communicator,"I have made a wondrous discovery! I do not have the time to explain it all in detail, but rest assured it is one of a life time! I'll be out for a few days, I should be fine, but on the off chance something does happen, I'll contact yo-"
"VAULT HUNTER! Something has go-AHG! BACK!-Badlands! By Fyrest-BY GRACIOUS I SAID 'BACK!'-Fyrestone!"
"Shit..." Roland cursed under his breath, "Everyone, let's go. Prepare for the worst."
Maya tossed a wad of paper at the sleeping Hunter, startling him awake.
"Wha? Wh-"
"Emergency in the Badlands." The lead Raider said urgently, stocking up on ammunition.
"What is that? Screaming? C'mon we better check it out." The inner voice dictated, getting his motor half to flop off of the cot.
Krieg tucked away the ever-glowing power core in his satchel, picked up his Buzz Axe and Assault Rifle, and sprinted to the source of the distress.
Sir Hammerlock was in a near losing battle with a pack of skags and their matriarch. The Brit was doing everything he could to fend for himself until his friends arrived, but that may have proved a little too hopeful.
"Ah well...at least it was for the dis-" Hammerlock's thoughts were interrupted by a blade whizzing past his ear and into the chest of a skag ready to deliver the finishing blow.
"HERE I COME FRUIT BOOTS!" Krieg bellowed, launching his weight onto the beast, killing it in a swift upwards motion.
The gentleman looked in shock at the Psycho, mildly concerned that he would turn around and end him too. Much to his surprise, the hulking man merely held out a hand to help him up.
"Up...UP! THERE'S NO BARBEQUE UNTIL I SAY THERE'S A BARBEQUE!"
"YES! GOOD. WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE!" His inner voice cheered and probably leaped in the air, if he could.
Hammerlock hesitantly took his savior's hand, and pulled himself up. He brushed the dust off his clothes and resumed his battle to survive with a new ally.
More skags came dashing towards the two from off in the distance, their howls echoing through the dry desert air.
"Not good ol'pal. It's not looking so good." - - - - - -
The four vault hunters were transported into the inner walls of Fyrestone, prepared to deal with the JNK-Loaders Jack had put there to ward off anything from coming into the town. But there was nothing. No drone-like grumble. No energy bullets. Nothing. The four cautiously paced out of the city walls.
Several gunshots, and a loud snarl caught the Raiders off guard, sending them into a full out dash to the origin.
"Oh man...What has he done..." Mordecai grumbled, Talon-aka Bloodwing Jr-soared above her master,"Talon! Go help Hammerlock!" The bird screeched as if to understand and flew ahead of the group.
This unending battle was beginning to fall out of favor for Krieg and Sir Hammerlock as the skags kept coming.
A loud shriek caused everyone in the fight to freeze as Talon dove down and began attacking the beasts. Within a few moments Krieg's old companions showed up, ready to fight. The other vault hunters froze for a moment, now wary of their strategy.
"See?! Now we can show them! We won't be alone in this anymore!" That calm voice cheered excitedly once again.
There was no time to focus on the Psycho though, the first priority was to aid the gentleman, and clear out this wave of beasts.
Roland deployed his turret and drew his shotgun, taking down a small pack of skags in only a few shots. Mordecai began sniping off the incoming beasts as his pet distracted some from the group. Zer0 drew his blade and effortlessly cut down his foes before stealthing off from his new attackers and skewing them through their backs. Maya phase locked one of the larger elder skags and used her elemental weapon to finish it off. The team took down the remaining skags quickly, leaving nothing but corpses and crimson.
"Good show! Very good show...but I do say...I swore there was a Matriarch Skag..." Hammerlock pondered aloud.
A horrifyingly deafening roar signaled the return of said skag, and boy did it deserve its title. The beast was as tall as a Goliath and nearly the size of a Bandit Technical. The vault hunters and the gentleman could only stare in awe as the monster strode slowly up to them, a beastly air of confidence surrounding it. Molten slag dripped from its jaws, its head hung lowly as it snarled, obviously furious at the six for murdering her pack.
"Ah...such a glorious beast. It shall make a fine addition to my almanac and personal collection."
The Matriarch let loose another roar, Krieg's eyes widened he had heard that roar somewhere else, somewhere he hated. In a panic, he thrashed his head side to side, only to see his comrades paralyzed in shock.
"It's like that one they tested on..." The inner voice growled bitterly, Krieg tightened his grip on his Buzz Axe, "The one they turned loose on everyone for their own sick entertainment." The Psycho grew anxious, "It's going to kill them..."
"NEVER IN THE LIGHT!" Krieg yelled, sprinting at the over-sized monstrosity, his weapon ready to spill blood.
"HUSH HUSH" He demanded, slicing the beast across its jaws, ending its paralyzing howl temporarily. The others took this as initiative to attack from a distance. Krieg however was going to stay as up close and personal with his enemy as possible.
The Matriarch swatted and snapped her jaws at the Psycho who was agile enough to take little damage. With every chance he got, Krieg swung his Saw-bladed axe deeper and deeper into the skag's flesh, spraying blood everywhere. Bullets pierced the monster, dwindling her energy and life lower and lower until she threw back her head and brought her jaws around the Psycho, swallowing him whole.
"KRIEG!" Maya cried, throwing up her left hand and trapping the vile beast in a large Phase Lock that began burning her victim with an intensity equal to that of lava. Her eyes and tattoos began to glow the same rich indigo they had days before. No one else dare try and stop her, knowing it could end badly for all parties. The Siren let out a furious yell before swinging her arm down, telepathically slamming the Matriarch Skag hard into the terrain.
Blood pooled around the slayed beast. Everyone dashed to its corpse in a panic.
"OH SHIT OH SHIT MAN." Mordecai exclaimed.
"Everyone try to get him out!" Roland ordered, taking out his knife and stabbing into the flesh. The other followed his example, cutting into the fallen skag's stomach. A soft whirring came from within as the edges of a blade sliced from the inside of the beast. The tough flesh split in two as Krieg stumbled out from the Matriarch's stomach. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and took a step back to allow the Psycho some space.
"Good job...Yes..." The inner voice commented, just as exhausted as his counterpart.
Maya's hands flew up to her mouth before instinctively running over to her companion and embracing him tightly. She was so delighted to see Krieg safe and sound after losing him she didn't care if a few tears rolled from her eyes.
Both the inner and outer Krieg's were struck speechless as a new kind of warmth filled them. One that was hundreds of times more soothing than that of the power core.
"I uh...alright...w-we can do this"
The Psycho returned the embrace as he wrapped his over-muscled arms around Maya's lean frame. The other vault hunters casually turned around, looking off into space feeling rather awkward.
What happened next shocked both the Siren and the Psycho.
"Thank you." Krieg muttered in a calm tone, once again both sides of the Psycho seemed to flow in sync and convey what was needed.
Maya just nodded, not wanting to let go.
"Nap time." The Psycho grumbled, before his knees gave out, taking the Siren with him. Maya stayed absolutely still, now awkwardly kneeling with her companion. A warm sensation ran down her back. Not in the emotional, metaphorical sense, but literally. The Siren noticed blood dripping from her back and from under Krieg's mask.
"GUYS. SANCTUARY. NOW." She gasped. The four other men turned around and ran to their friend's side, taking the Psycho with them as they hurried back to the Fast-Travel station.
A/N: fluff FLUFF FLUFF. Sorry for that. I felt like I owed you some kind of floofy fluffy. And yes, I was vague about those photos for a reason. Nyayayaya
