Author's Note: If you guys think that the last chapter feels a bit slow, with not much action or humor going on, that's because I did it on purpose. I want there to be character development, to see how the characters act in their downtime and how they interact with each other. There are going to be some other moments where I mix a bit of slice-of-life into some badass vault-hunting action, but only occasionally. Tell me that you think by writing a review. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 12: A New Crewmate
All of the eight vault hunters headed to the cockpit as soon as they heard the announcement. The cockpit of the airship is surprisingly spacious, able to fit everyone inside without feeling cramped. At the front were the digital panels that control the airship's autopilot. The windows at the front of the cockpit is large enough that you can see the sky straight up at 90 degrees and from left to right at 180 degree angle, sort of like half a hemisphere. But while the Pandoran sunset at the window is a nice view, that is most likely not the main attraction in the room.
"So what is so damn important that you need to show us all?" Mama Jaws said to the cameraman, who is present in the cockpit next to Patrick and Xiao Lan.
"Right. Remember the specially made ECHO devices that we gave you. The ones containing the advanced optical-triangulation system that allows video-recording at multiple angles." the cameraman said.
"Yeah, we remembered. You better not use it to find out the color of my panties. Cuz I don't wear'em." Mama Jaws said, without a hint of embarrassment. Everyone else looked at Mama Jaws like she's crazy, which is not far from the truth.
"Wouldn't even think of it." the cameraman said with a sweat-drop. "The point is, these things only record within a limited range in terms of viewing a certain distance away from the person that the device is focusing on. Meaning that we would only get mediocre shots of person-to-person view."
"Yeah, what's your point?" Mama Jaws said.
"The point is, to truly awe the audience into watching the show, we need something more." the cameraman said passionately. "Something grand and open-spaced. Something like a birds-eye view of everyone doing the action and all that. I want to capture those intricate shots at angles that are not possible with the ECHO devices or with my camera alone. And I know just the machine that'll do it."
"We insist that it is not necessary, but he wanted to do it anyway. He even put his own time and money to get this thing into shape." Patrick said sternly.
"Ladies and gentleman," the cameraman said as he poses dramatically. "Meet the wonderful second camera person that is going to make art out of video-recording. The awesome and spectacular C4M-TP, CAMTRAP!
Camtrap, Nice to rec you!
This 'Camtrap' is shown to look almost like a Claptrap. The only difference is that at places where it's supposed to be yellow, it shows hot-pink with white flower patterns instead. It also has several miniature devices attached to its back and an eye that seems to be made like that of a camera-eye used for recording. Overall, it looks like a modified version of a Claptrap.
"Hello, everyone. Nice to be of your acquaintance." Camtrap said politely with a feminine robotic voice.
"HOLY SH*T!" K.C. Dynamo yelled. Some of the members seem unimpressed with the new member/equipment while others look at it with great interest.
"I know, right! It's got a miniature jetpack on its back that allows it to hover a good 20-30 feet in the air." the cameraman excitedly said as he walks around his creation. "There's even a stealth-suit system that allows it to blend in to the environment, making it practically invisible, so as to not interrupt you guys from doing the cool action scenes. How cool is that?!"
"No! That's not it! I mean HOLY SH*T, why is it pink?! With flowers?!" K.C. yelled.
"Like the design?" Xiao Lan said more cheerful than usual. "I helped with the colorful design. I told the cameraman that he could do this project of his as long as I get to do the coloring of it. It's marvelous, isn't it?"
"OH HELL NO!" K.C. exclaimed. "Pink is probably the worst color to be put on anything EVER! Also, FLOWERS?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! If it were up to me, I'll paint it bright orange, with icons of EXPLOSIONS on it! Pink is so not EXTREME!"
This statement has made Xiao Lan kind of pissed off and Camtrap a little bit sad, knowing that it is receiving criticism right off the bat from its first day of being born...uh, made.
"How did you even manage this?" Selena said intriguingly as she knelt down to look closer at the robot. "I thought Hyperion destroyed all Claptrap units years ago."
"Well, they have. But I've manage to gather myself some scraps and build myself an AI core. It's no big deal. I've done these before during my college years as a hobby plenty of times." the cameraman said casually. "I installed it into a disabled Claptrap unit that I found on Pandora, add a couple of gadgets, and voila, a new Claptrap."
The cameraman couldn't be more wrong when saying it's no big deal. AI cores are not that hard to make, but the higher quality ones are usually made by top scientists and engineers using state-of-the-art machinery. So you can probably suspect that an AI core made from a hobbyist to be...low-grade.
"This thing isn't going to turn evil and murder us all, right?" Eugene said curiously. "Cuz I'll gladly use it as target practice."
"Master, you got to trust me! I would never do something like that." Camtrap desperately said with her cute robotic voice.
"Aww, she's calling me master." the cameraman said sincerely as he kneels down to pat Camtrap on the head. He then angrily states as he points a finger at Eugene. "And you! Don't even think of harming my sweet lovable Camtrap."
"Alright! Calm down. I was just kidding." Eugene said casually, putting hands in front of him defensively.
"Eh, I don't trust your workmanship. Let's see the jetpack at work first." Mama Jaws doubted.
"Well, if you must." the cameraman replied. "Camtrap, show them what you got!"
"Yes, master!" Camtrap said with determination.
The cameraman ordered Camtrap to test out its jetpack propulsion systems. Camtrap complied, at first starts to hover stably a couple of feet in the air. Then, like a bee that's been drinking too much, the jetpack has gone haywire, causing Camtrap to fly all around the massive cockpit and ramming into the walls. Some of the people in the cockpit are panicking and covering their head with their hands, trying not to get rammed. After the demonstration was over, Camtrap landed on the floor somewhere nearby.
"Owwww, uhhhhh..." Camtrap said as it is lying on the floor, slightly damaged and with a little bit of smoke coming out of it.
"Um, sorry about that." the cameraman said as he walked to Camtrap to pick it up.
"Man! That almost gave me a heart attack!" Brandon said nervously with a hand on his chest and breathing heavily.
"I knew the jetpack calibrations were off the wack." Mama Jaws said as she approaches both the cameraman and the Camtrap unit. "Here, let Mama Jaws have a look at it."
Camtrap got scared once hearing that it's going to have its circuits worked on by this female bandit.
"Ah, help me master!" Camtrap said nervously while hiding behind its master. "I don't trust the female bandit."
"Aww c'mon. I promise I won't bite." Mama Jaws said, putting a weak attempt to be friendly. "Actually, I can't promise that. That's just how I work. But I could promise that it won't hurt. You won't feel it anyway."
"Don't worry, Camtrap." the cameraman said as he pats Camtrap on the back, trying to comfort it. "I'll be with you every step of the way."
"Okay. Just be gentle." Camtrap said, less nervous than before.
"Heh, that's what she said." Mama Jaws said humorously. "Hey, Hyperion b*tch. Wanna help out with this? Jetpacks are your specialty, ain't it?"
"I have no interest on such matters." Selena said coldy. "You are on your own."
"Pfft, whatever." Mama Jaws said as she walks to the back of the Camtrap unit and start working on it. "Alright, let's open this baby up. Mama's gonna fix you up good."
As Mama Jaws tries to work on the various circuits and wires behind Camtrap unit, some of the people are about to leave while some stayed to watch. Then suddenly, something got everyone in the room's attention.
[(static)... foreplay accident ...(static)... buy Torgue of you're f*cking retarded ...(static)...This is Sparky Flynt ...(static)... "Victims of Vault Hunters."...] Camtrap said in another stranger's voice.
"Er, what was that?" the cameraman curiously asked.
"Ah, I must have triggered the radio circuit board." Mama Jaws as she continues to mess with the circuits. "It sort of turns Camtrap into some sort of ECHO radio, receiving frequencies and broadcasting them just like earlier."
"Wow, that's AWESOME! I suddenly have newfound respect for you, Camtrap!" K.C. said loudly, which makes Camtrap blush a little (if robots are capable of blushing). "Turn it to that Torgue commercial so I could hear Daddy Torgue ramble on about Torgue guns like a badass!"
"No, wait. Turn it to that ...er... victims of vault hunters thing." Brandon said excitedly. "I think it's talking about us."
[...(static)... I repeat. I am Sparky Flynt, son of Captain Flynt, and my dad had been killed by these six vault hunters: Axton the commando, Maya the siren, Salvador the gunzerker, Zero the assassin, Gaige the mechromancer, and Krieg the psycho.]
"Axton?" Eugene said to himself.
"Zero-sensei! Could it be?" Kazuki muttered with concern.
"Krieg..." Selena thought, eyes narrowing.
[I shall have revenge upon those who have wronged me by killing my father and I would appreciate any help I can get from across the galaxy to take down any one of them. Mark my words, with your help, every one of them shall die! That's said, I'm hosting a meeting on Pandora at a location known as Wam Bam Island. I have received news that those six vault hunters are going to be there. We'll be forming a group known as "Victims of Vault Hunters" and discuss strategies on how to defeat them. It is going to be great! Refreshments will be served. ECHO me if you want further details. Bye now!...] Camtrap ended the transmission with static. Everyone in the cockpit paused for a moment and look at each other.
"Well, that was weird." Mama Jaws commented.
"You're right! Who would want to ask for help from others avenging their own father's death!" K.C. remarked loudly. "If it were me, I'll do it alone, preferably with lots of EXPLOSIVES! Explosives always gets the job done!"
"Whatever. I'm going back to my room." Selena told the others. She and some of the others left the cockpit while others stayed and mingle with the female bandit working on the Camtrap unit.
"Man, looks like Axton just got himself in another jam. How typical." Eugene said smugly to himself.
