What's this? This chapter has a title (and a cheesy one at that)? Indeed.
Noble Jasper here to apologize for the ridiculously large gap in between the last chapter and this one. I have been terribly busy, not to mention restrained, and I haven't had the time or resources to continue writing. But I'm back now. But I might be gone again soon. I can't go much into detail, but I can say this: this story still lives. There is a lot of plot that I haven't covered yet, and there's the fluffy stuff I keep reading about that people enjoy for some reason (I don't really get it, but I'll try for you, my loyal readers).
Without crossing the line, I present chapter nine!
Chapter Nine: VolunTyr
The group of recruits assembled at the tree, as instructed. They knew why they were there: the Vault Hunters were going to select a few recruits to join them. There were rumors that one of their members was killed in action, and that in order to replace that member, ten recruits would have to be added just to make up for the loss in firepower. The slain Vault Hunter must've been strong for such a replacement to be made. Then again, maybe not, seeing as how the Vault Hunter had died in the first place.
There were several hundred recruits waiting by the massive organic structure. Each and every one of them knew what it meant to be a Vault Hunter. To put your life in danger-voluntarily-just to find some loot. At least, most of them saw it that way. Most of the recruits were there in hopes of getting a position as a soldier, not a Vault Hunter. Vault Hunters were significantly stronger than soldiers, which meant that there was a constant demand for them, which was quite ironic, seeing as most Vault Hunters were often times too greedy or busy to help anyone but themselves.
"Please clear a path!" a deep, commanding voice shouted. In response, the crowd split into two, leaving a space wide enough for a bullymong to pass. The recruits' heads had all turned to see who had ordered the crowd to move. A group of strangers began walking between all of the recruits, approaching the tree at the front. By the time the strangers had reached the tree, the amplitude of the murmurs and whispers was nearing a deafening volume.
It was obvious to the recruits who these people were. They were the most famous group of Vault Hunters on Exyn, the Vindicators. They were supposedly the most honorable Vault Hunters in all of the universe. If you didn't know who these people were, you were certainly not on Exyn.
Even though the Vault Hunters were greatly admired, no one envied them. They faced more danger in any given day than any human should face in his lifetime. And yet, despite this, the number of fatalities recorded was so low, people often labeled them as invincible.
The team was composed of five individuals.
The most popular Vindicator was a man called Lance. His popularity was split into two variations: he was popular with the ladies thanks to his good looks, and was popular amongst the males because he owned (and mastered) the coolest weapon in the universe: the Laser Lance. Though some people found him quite obnoxious because he named his weapon after himself, even though it was a spear.
The leader of the Vindicators was a man by the name of Melchior. He was designated to lead the team because of his insanely insane intellect. If you were to compare him to a supercomputer, the supercomputer would've forfeit and fled. His intellectual abilities granted him nearly flawless battle tactics and strategies. Nearly. In addition to that, he could tell the location of an opponent's weak spot by simply glancing at him.
The second most popular Vindicator gained her popularity similarly as Lance. Amora was perhaps the most coveted woman to set foot on Exyn. She would occasionally be compared to Mad Moxxi. Men chased after her. Women glared jealously (and denied such jealousy). She wielded what was considered by many to be the most versatile tool in existence. She didn't have a name for it (not wanting to appear obnoxious like Lance), but her fans insisted on calling it the Omnibox. The Omnibox was apparently a farewell gift from her brother who was slain by a bandit shortly after arriving on Pandora.
The veteran of the group was a hulking man known as Ronix. He was a member of the original Vindicators, and was the last surviving member of the first generation. He was a tremendously powerful being, and a force to be reckoned with, not to mention he had more experience than anyone in the team. He was in his sixties by then.
The last member was for the most part unknown, since she never spoke to anyone. She called herself Eve. The fact that she was even a part of the Vindicators implied that she had impressive skill, but no one knew for sure what that skill was except for the rest of the team. No one knew what she looked like because she always wore a cowl. She had only recently joined the Vault Hunters, and yet...
Only four of the Vindicators stood here. Eve was nowhere to be seen.
Ronix cleared his throat. "Attention, all of you!" His voice matched the one that ordered the crowd to make a path: booming and intimidating. The whispers were immediately silenced. Everyone had their eyes trained on the veteran. "The Vindicators have come here to seek out any who would like to join us." No one moved, so he continued. "One of our members has...fallen. In order to replace her, we require just one recruit." The murmurs amongst the crowd had quickly started up again.
Only one?
What happened to Eve?
I hope they don't pick me.
Who would be crazy enough to join them?
At least it wasn't Amora...
"So we ask," Ronix continued, "if there are volunteers among you who would like to join, please speak now. If there are no volunteers, I will simply pick someone."
The crowd remained frozen. Not a single person dared to speak.
There was, however, a single hand that rose from the center. The people who stood near this hand quickly stepped away, revealing a lone boy. Whispers reemerged from the crowd, accompanied by the occasional gasp. Who had the courage to even consider being a Vault Hunter?
"It seems that we have ourselves a candidate, Ronix," Lance plainly stated.
Ronix had a smile on his face. Very few people had ever volunteered to be a Vault Hunter before, though Eve had been the only Vindicator who actually hadn't. And now she would be replaced by someone who had offered himself. Hopefully he would fare better than she did.
Amora spoke up. "Who are you?" she asked, directed at the boy.
His eyes weren't visible, covered by his long, jet-black hair, and yet, it was obvious that his eyes lit up when he was addressed. He lowered his hand.
"My name is Tyr."
• • •
"Wait, how long have you been a Vault Hunter?" asked Maya.
I smiled. "Ten years. I started when I was nine."
Everyone around me seemed appalled. Even Zer0 had an emoticon hologram displayed on his visor which, quite frankly, I was unfamiliar with. However, Lucy seemed slightly less shocked.
"If you're such an amazing fighter, then why did I have to defend you from the others?"
"Don't you know unconscious people can't fend for themselves?" I inquired.
She shrugged. "A reasonable excuse."
"My only regret was not being able to meet Eve. She was my favorite Vindicator, hands down. At the time I was recruited, I, along with everyone else, assumed she was killed. After I became a Vindicator, I was told otherwise."
I looked at the people around me and realized that they wanted more.
"What did they tell you?" Maya inquired.
I shrugged. "I'm sworn to secrecy in regards to the details of that," I replied. "Sorry."
The truth was that Eve hadn't been killed. She had entered a Vault and never came out. The Vindicators waited several days before finally giving up. The Vault she entered was located on an uncharted planet they had stumbled across.
Gaige suddenly jumped forward and gave me a hug. "I can't believe my bodyguard has ten years of training with such a strong team!" she exclaimed. "I'm gonna be untouchable!"
I shook my head. "I'm sorry, Gaige, but I'm afraid that without my armor, I won't make a very good bodyguard. Team asset, perhaps. Bodyguard? I don't think I can stop bullets on my own."
"Looks to me as though Gaige has a thing for Tyr," Axton said smugly, causing Gaige's face to turn red.
Before Gaige could retort, Maya jumped in. "Actually, I think it's the other way around." Sorry, what? "Tyr is protecting her, so it's obvious that he likes her, isn't it?"
"Like an old couple/Axton and Maya will fight/Over this subject."
Zer0 was right. It seemed as if Axton and Maya were made just to oppose one another.
I turned from the rest of the group and tapped Gaige's shoulder, signaling for her to let go of me. When she did I smiled and said, "Would you like to see my set of skill so that you may determine how useful I am?"
She nodded and shrugged simultaneously. "Sure, it sounds like fun!"
• • •
The Eradicator stood up. His surroundings were different. Rather than a barren wasteland, he stood in what appeared to be a frozen tundra.
I've been here before...
He turned and saw the one who had brought him here. Sorus.
What have you done?
I have given you a second chance, fool. Don't waste this opportunity.
Suddenly, Sorus' form began to change. After a few moments, a human stood in his place. Even though he was human, there was something about him that seemed...ancient.
What are you?
Sorus chuckled. "I am a creator. I'm sure you know what we creators are capable of, Vault Monster." His voice was much different now that he was in human form. He was much less intimidating like this.
You and your kind cannot stop me.
"You are mistaken. We do not wish to defeat you. If we did, you would have been vanquished long ago. Rather, we wish to make you an offer." Sorus looked down at his hands. "Humans truly are fascinating, wouldn't you agree?"
They are fragile and corrupt.
"Did you know you were created in the shape of a human because your creator wanted a champion for the humans to look up to?"
Don't try to play me for a fool.
"Our offer is this: return to the boy and give yourself to him, and we will ensure that you get what you desire."
The monster thought about this for a few moments.
Can I trust you?
"Of course. Unlike humans, creators have no reason to lie."
Do you know what it is I desire?
"If we didn't know, that would make us lousy creators, wouldn't you say?"
The Eradicator nodded, then turned. A quick jerk of his leg and he was off, flying across the ice.
Sorus smiled to himself. "We're even now, Brova. I hope you are satisfied with the outcome. I think it was perhaps a bit too easy. I'm slightly suspicious of the Eradicator's motives. What if they are not as you predicted? I will discuss this with you when I see you again, Brova."
• • •
"Hey, Tyr, I have a question for you."
"Ask away."
"Why did you come here on a rocket? Why not just Fast-Travel? I'm sure there are some Fast-Travel stations on Exyn, right?"
"Sure there are. But at the time, I couldn't do so. I tried, and it said something like "Rare or unknown elements detected. Teleportation impossible."
"Oh, that's right, I forgot you had the suit at the time. Do you know what it's made of?"
"I'm not sure, but I suspect that it is at least part Eridium. Why do you ask, Gaige?"
"Nothing in particular..."
• • •
You were expecting more, I get it. I still feel kinda bad for taking so long to post another chapter. But what can I say? My family was kidnapped by dinosaurs? Not likely.
Alas, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want more, all you have to do is be patient. I'm impressed, you guys are already really patient anyway. Or maybe you don't care. Whichever one it is, be sure to leave a review if you like the story, yes?
I'm thinking of going back and titling the previous chapters. I probably will.
Noblaine Jaspenticus, out.
