Chapter 25

A bandit patrols around with his rifle, doing nothing but patiently waiting for something to happen. A Skag was in front of him, waiting to be feed with his mouth agape. He kicked the small pup and the beast whined in sadness. The bandit giggled a bit, liking the suffering of other beings. A Psycho screamed, the bandit looked and the Psycho was pointing at something while jumping in excitement.

He turned his head on where his Psycho friend was pointing, a big sandstorm was coming towards the encampment. So tall with volume, the bandit predict that it would bury the encampment whole if all the sand in the sandstorm fall onto the camp.He could feel the gust of wind hitting his face despite wearing a helmet.

The bandit ran towards a bell, he hold the rope then rung the bell as loud as he could. All the residence of the encampment, psychos, bandits and scavenger got out from their shelters. All of them were puzzled on what was happening and a few moments later, all of them realized that a big sandstorm was on to a straight path towards their encampment.

They all rush around the camp and pick up all the things that was important, such as chairs, guns and even slag barrels. The bandit that rung the bell hasten his effort to his place, wanting to avoid the deadly sandstorm. He pushed anyone that would slow him down, showing how desperate he wanted shelter. His vision was clouded, the sandstorm had arrived earlier than expected.

All became orange and dark, he could not see where he was going. A few psycho screams could be heard, they were surely having fun with the sandstorm showing how crazy they were. Then sudden silence, only the whizz of sand hitting his helmet could be heard. Could they be buried by the sand, or even choked by it since they were screaming with full effort. The bandit stopped at his tracks, looking in front of him with squinted eyes. Someone was coming towards him and it was certainly no Psycho.

A bullet had gone through the skull of the bandit, perfectly centered between his eyes. His head jutted back, surrendering to the force of the bullet. The body fall down to the ground and shortly went limp. Axton marched forward and cross the corpse, another clean kill.

"On me." Said Axton. "We should be close to the door."

Athena was behind him and nodded, she could not see anything other than the shape of Axton body. Axton moved forward and stopped, then gave a few shot to the heads of many Psychos. Hd killed any enemy that was in his perimeter of sight. A few steps and he stopped again, he feels the ground beneath his boots, it was the door that he searched for.

Axton grabs hold of the handle and lift the heavy metal door, Athena got inside and Axton followed. He pulls the door with little effort and the weight of the door caused it to fall, closing it perfectly like before.

Beneath the door, revealed an underground corridor with empty rooms and broken eletrical appliances. The lights flickers, transitioning from darkness to light in a moment notice. Athena armed herself with her sword and shield, she gestured Axton to follow her from behind. He nodded in agreement. The once Atlas soldier advanced first while the Commando at her back, expecting some engagement on the way to the armory.

"Doyle we're in." Axton said to his Echo device. "What now?"

"Good, just walk straight and you should be on your way to the armory." Doyle answered. "Don't mind with the other empty room and expect some Psychos on 'yer way there."

"What is this place?" Athena asked.

"It was a Hyperion base, now its nothing but a bandit shitehole. After Handsome Jack death, a lot of Hyperion bases was left behind, this one is one of many."

"That means there should be some good weapons inside the armory right?" Axton speculated.

"If you're expecting E-Tech, well you're in the wrong base lass. This place is wee bit more special, for some reason Hyperion kept on throwing weapons at the base. Scavenge the things and prep yourself for the big mission."

"Could'ya tell us what actually is the mission?" Axton said.

"Lynn didn't tell you that we're going to kill the Chairwoman?"

"We know that, but we want to know the specifics."

"This is not official yet but we're planning to kill her when she comes to Pandora. When and where is still TBD, Lynn and I are workin' hard on this. Right now, all I want from both of you is your trust on us. Can I count on that?"

"Just make sure Alesia is dead in the end." Axton affirmed.

"That, my friend, is a guarantee."

The transmission ended. They continue their advance the said armory. A bandit came out from on of the empty rooms, drunk and trembling. Athena make short of it by leaping towards him and stabbed him at the chest. Another Psycho emerged, she threw her shield at the Psycho head, resulting him to go unconscious. The shield return back to her grasp and they continue with their advance.

More wave bandits suddenly appeared from the empty rooms, Axton push Athena gently to the side. It was his turn to deal with the bandits. Axton put his eyes on his rifle sights, aiming at the wave. He raised the rifle just enough so it would be aimed at the heads, He then gave a few shots, all of them were headshots, killing the whole wave. They advance in a faster manner. More waves emerged from the rooms, more waves were shot down and killed by the two soldiers.

Soon there was no waves of bandits to shoot, more corpses were at the floor and some Bandits that approached flee on their presence. Athena continue to lead and she was confident, there was no enemies left. Athena stopped and looked at Axton, she gestured at the end of the corridor with a deteriorated Hyperion logo. They walk slowly to the door and touched it at the same time, feeling the weight and solidness of the door.

"Help me with the door Axton." Athena sheathed her blade and put her shield aside, she hold the handle and waited for Axton assistance.

"On the way." The rifle at his hand disappeared and he stands beside Athena, holding the handle.

"On three. One, two, ugh!" Athena ordered.

The two soldiers pull the handle and slowly pulled the door open, it creaks and rust started to come off from the hinges that hold the door. The door was opened just enough so that they could go slid through inside. The distance away from the door and slid through the opening, discovering the armory.

Crates and all manners of weaponry was inside the armory, comparable to Marcus own armory. From the smallest sized pistol to the heaviest rocket launcher that they have ever seen. The crates had Hyperion symbol with a red warning signs stating 'Confidential'. But what caught the eyes of Axton was a big weapon in the center of the armory, being blanketed with a grey cloth. Axton walks slowly towards it and hold the cloth, feeling a something familiar beneath the tattered cloth. He pulls the cloth and revealed the weapon beneath it, his long lost friend. His green Sabre turret.

"Oh baby!" Axton wipe off the dust that covered the surface of the turret. " I didn't expect to see you again!"

"It's yours?" Athena looked at how fond of Axton towards the Sabre turret.

"Hell yeah it's mine! The thing got my name carved at the barrel." Axton pointed at some carving at the barrel of the turret. "Man, what did they did to you honey." Axton touches that body of the turret.

"Ye already got in the armory?" Athena Echo device sounded.

Athena walked away from Axton and talked to Doyle at a distance, leaving Axton alone to savor his reunion with his turret. "Athena here. Yes, we already in the armory."

"Good to hear that. All of that weapons, does it look good?"

Athena goes to a crate and checks the inside, some of the weapons seem to have no function at all, being rusty and flimsy looking. But Athena was confident there were some good guns that can be scavenged the mission ahead, knowing that she could see lots of good ones at a moment glance. "Affirmative, everything seems to be like what you said Doyle."

"I reckon that you have smooth journey to the armory?"

"A few Psychos and Bandits won't stop us killing the Chairwoman." Athena looked around and something caught her attention.

She walked to another loot crate and pushes the the button that was the biggest one. The machinery moved in a smooth motion, lifting the content up to the height of Athena waist. It was a shield that had plain yellow paint and Hyperion design. Athena put her shield on the ground, leaning at the loot crate. Then wore the shield at her left mid arm, feeling the shield weight, having a good impression towards it.

It was an improvement from her current shield, beyond imagination and speculation. Just by looking at the shield, she feels, no, she knows that the shield could do serious damage while protecting her at the same time. She hit the shield and suddenly her hand was thrown farther then anticipated. It seems the shield would protect her while deflecting back any attack double the strength. A bit of changes to the design of the shield and everything would be to her taste.

"Athena?"

"Yeah I'm here Doyle..."

The conversation between Doyle and Athena continues, while Axton finished with the minor maintenance of his turret. The turret deconstruct digitally and then transformed into the a small box the size of Axton palm, he took it and put it at his belt. Axton could not be more happy with what was happening, but suddenly the whispers reappear.

"Athena?" Axton quickly glance toward Athena, hoping it was really her.

But he was wrong, Athena was at the other end of the room, talking with Doyle through her Echo device. The whispers, it was not like it usually was, it felt like there was source of the whisper. Somewhere in the room. Axton turned back and looked around, the whispers got louder as he looked at desk that was at the end of the armory.

He slowly walked to the desk, checking his surrounding in case there was some sort of traps being put between him and the desk. Axton put his hand on his head, enduring the pain in his head. The whisper got louder and louder the closer he get to the desk, until deafening levels. Arriving at the front of the desk, the whisper disappeared. On top of the desk, an Echo recording, a few pictures and a notebook. He opens the notebook and at the first page, there was one line written in beautiful handwriting.

What's the difference between a man and desperate one?

As Axton reads the line, she could hear Alesia voice reading the line as if she was beside him. Her voice, it was like a ghost, speaking with such coldness that gives chills behind the neck. Axton shivers as he thought about it even though he had no fear with the monster named Alesia. He took all the things on top of the desk. It was clues and leads, too important on the effort killing the Chairwoman.

"Axton?"

The Commando turned instinctively, taking out his revolver and aimed it. Athena was at the other end of the barrel and also reacted defensively. She hold the barrel of the revolver and push it down, preventing her to be shot. Athena hold Axton other free hand and firmly stops it from moving. The two of them were so close that their foreheads almost meet.

"What the hell Axton!" Athena shouted, she tighten her grip towards the barrel of the revolver and Axton free hand.

"Athena?" Axton realized that it was Athena, he distance himself and pulled his hands from Athena. "Sorry... that.. was... you know, soldier's reflex." Axton took a deep breath, even he could not believed that he did such thing but gave redeeming smile regardless.

"Well next time, know when to use it." Athena said.

"Okay, I will. Sorry." Axton put his revolver at his holster. "Anything good from Doyle?"

"We got new orders."

"Then could'ya tell me later?" Axton walked pass Athena, putting off his goggles and hood off. "I need some fresh air."

"Where are you going?' Athena turn her head to see Axton walking towards the armory door.

"Outside."

"There's a sandstorm outside."

Axton waved off his hand and exited the armory.