"I—"

Angel was shaking, and she took a single step back from Jack. The man was looking between her and the Watcher, confusion tugging on his expression. Whatever time-twisting the Eridian had performed on the man, it had evidently taken him back to a time before he had met the Watcher. No recognition glimmered in his eyes as he looked at the alien, and when he leaned back to catch Rhys' eye, Rhys found himself a little stung at the blank look he received.

"Anyone wanna fill me in on what's going on here?" Jack asked, scowling as he looked from the Watcher and Rhys. He wanted to blame one of them, that much was clear. "Why is my daughter a freaking hologram? And where the hell are we? And who are you? And who's the cutie? Any order."

Rhys couldn't speak, but his face did prickle with embarrassment at Jack's words. He tried to focus on something else, but immediately regretted it — his attention only brought his Siren powers to the foreground, and now he was presented with the painful view of Jack's now-intact psyche floating in a halo around his head. Sure there were scars, but it was nowhere near as bad as what he had seen before.

The Vault had destroyed his mind. Could he really blame Angel if she wouldn't send him back to that splintered state?

Would she really become the new Destroyer to save the man who had ruined her life in the fallout of his own?

"I…I won't do it!" Angel exclaimed, rounding on the Watcher. Her eyes shone, the swirling markings on her arm glowing brighter, and Rhys found to his surprise that his cybernetic arm began to twitch and move on its own. The gun strapped to his back rattled and after a moment, AI Jack glitched and blinked into view, staggering forward in the air.

"Woaholy fuck, what kinda wake-up call is that?" The program complained.

His question went unanswered, and the Watcher rounded on Angel.

"That wasn't your choice, dear," the alien cooed, malice studded in their words. "The Sirens belong to us. Your choice was whether that was a pleasant experience or not…"

Before anyone could react, the Watcher had lunged forward again, hand clamping around the back of Jack's neck. The man's limbs flailed, his pallor draining of colour, and his lips parted with a shocked yell.

"Hey, what the hell're you—?!"

The rest of his demand was strangled by a sudden, paralysing scream. Rhys tried to dart forward, but one hand outstretched behind the Watcher sent him flying back with no warning.

"Ah-ah-ah...the Sirens belong to my kind, remember?" The Watcher's voice hissed as they threw a glance over their shoulder to where Rhys was sprawled, AI Jack hovering near him.

"Yo, get the gun already!" He yelled at Rhys, disappearing and reappearing at his back, pointing at the Jackhammer. "Don't even need to get close, bucko, just throw it on over to this metal noodle and I'll do the rest!"

He wanted to. God, he wanted to send the Jackhammer soaring straight at the Eridian, let AI Jack riddle them with bullets for the pain it was causing Angel and Jack. But Rhys found his limbs were locked, frozen in fear of what the alien was doing to Jack.

His Siren ability spared Rhys none of the horrifying details as Jack unravelled before their eyes. Time spun viciously forward, dragging the man back to the present day — the scar erupted over his face, his left eye burning out once more. Locks of brown hair drained to a grey curl, and the skin on his palms burned in echo of his mad scramble up the side of the Warrior. The wounded flesh pulsed that strange cobalt blue, skin peeling outwards from the branded scar on his face. Unseen to all but Rhys, the glowing halo of the man's mental state exploded into a violent display of shards and fragments as the Watcher finally let Jack go.

The man staggered to the side, both hands over his face, his groans of pain muffled. Jack steadied himself with a resolute stomp of one foot, his shoulders hunched as he dragged in a breath, then another...

...slowly, he lowered his hands, panting, face beaded with sweat. Furious eyes burned towards the Watcher. Jack managed a single step towards the being, murder etched in every line of his face when—

—a single bullet hole blossomed between Jack's eyes.

The man froze. Rhys heard himself yell out, though he didn't recall when his hand had thrust out in a vain attempt to halt this awful journey through Jack's life.

Blood oozed from the wound even as it seal up, scarring and healing in a heartbeat. Jack's eyes rolled back, and he fell flat on his back.

"Always such a problem," the Watcher lamented. "I suppose it makes sense his daughter would be as much a pain for my kind as he is."

Angel was staring at Jack, though she didn't seem fearful for his life. Instead, when she spoke, it was far calmer than before, as though stilled by the reassurance that the father she had loved was indeed gone, and she could embrace the only stability in her tormented life once again — her hatred of what Jack had become.

"If he's such a problem, why not just let him die?" She asked, turning her hate-filled glance to the Watcher and suddenly looking ever inch her father's daughter. Rhys was surprised she could look so venomous without attempting to kill the Eridian. "The power of the Vaults kept Jack alive. Your Vaults. Why?"

"Because legacy is more powerful than life, my dear," the Watcher admitted, stepping back from her and over the threshold to the Vault Rhys and AI Jack were in. "His death would inspire a generation of Vault Hunters. That could lead to two roads: a war between themselves...or a war against us. Jack is..."

The alien's head twitched to the man's fallen form. For a moment, it looked like the Watcher was at a loss for words. One hand twirled, searching for the right phrase. Then they shrugged.

"...a big fucking problem, dead or alive."

Rhys' eyebrows went up at the Watcher's unusual use of colourful language. Maybe they had been watching Jack for way too long after all.

"One last chance, Siren..." the Watcher said. "Stay in the Vault with your father, returned to how he was...play happy families all you like...and when she comes to open the Vault, you will pay back this kindness by replacing the Vault Guardian you ruined. Take the Destroyer's place and wipe out humanity. Then...you can return to your digital paradise."

Angel glanced again at her father, then through to Rhys. She even spared a look to AI Jack.

"...I won't," she proclaimed, eyes fixed on the Watcher once more. "I am not my father. I won't burn the world just because my life is cold!"

Once more, her eyes shone, her fists clenched, tattoos spiralling silver across her digital form. But without a psychical form, her powers remained chained to the device she was within, managing little more than flickering lights on Rhys's cybernetic. Then...she focused.

In a surge of strength, the digistruct on Jack's leg threw out several turrets, all trained on the Watcher. With a raw yell of frustration that tore from Angel's chest, the turrets unleashed a rain of steel towards the Eridian.

Every bullet lurched to a halt at the mere raise of the Watcher's hand. Their chuckle served to mock them both.

"Then stay anyway...abandoned in this Vault and hear yourself go mad. I hear it runs in the family."

With that, the Watcher faded from view, followed shortly by AI Jack as he attempted to throw himself at the alien being and wrap his hands around their long neck.

"Get—back here, you space-hopping freak!"

Rhys pushed himself to his feet, ignoring AI Jack as he ranted off to the side about how everything in the universe could "fuck itself forever". He passed over from the new Vault back to the dying Destroyer's Vault. He hesitated, wondering who he should walk over to first: should he speak to Angel? Or check on Jack?

He figured the latter would be unconscious until Rhys woke him up anyway. With that in mind, Rhys went over to Angel. She was standing with her right arm across her body, holding her other arm tightly at her side. As her whole stance crumbled, so too did the turrets she had constructed with her ability.

"Angel...a-are you ok? Look, we're not gonna leave you here. You think Jack'd do that?"

"He locked me in a computer core for a decade."

"...Yyyyyeah, okay, fair point. Okay, do you think I'm gonna leave you here?" Rhys back-pedalled, casting a bitter look to the Father of the Year nominee unconscious nearby. Good job, idiot.

"I can't get out. We tried," Angel said, looking up and over at the broken wall behind Rhys. "I'm trapped, again. On my own...again. I can't even...talk to anyone from here. Not like before. I won't even have my friends..."

Rhys opened his mouth to speak, but the loud and obnoxious groan of a waking Handsome Jack brought him to pause. He turned in time to see the CEO slowly pushing himself to sit up, holding one hand to his head.

"What the...mushrooms did I snort?" He half-mumbled, half-complained, before looking around to no doubt blame the nearest thing to him. His eyes settled on Rhys.

Oh hell...

"Jack, breathe first," Rhys said, holding both palms up in a motion he hoped would calm the man where several psychologists had failed. "You err...you hit your head. Sort of? I mean, you did kinda get shot again...I think?"

Jack pushed himself unsteadily to his feet, taking a few unsure steps to balance himself.

"God…damn, I'm takin' a beating. Do all your friends get thrown into meat grinders when they embark on quests with ya, Rhysie?" Jack complained, stomping over to the other man. "Eh eh, whatever, let's just get Angel outta here."

Whether Jack had forgotten or was choosing to forget the Watcher's visit was unclear, but Rhys had no intention of broaching the matter to the decidedly pissed-off man.

"A-ah, alright erm…how?" He managed to bleat, watching as Jack shoved his unfastened cloaking device into Rhys' chest.

"You go that way," he snapped, pointing out across to the broken wall between the Vaults. "And I'll stay here with Angel. You're gonna throw me a connector through, we'll connect the two devices, and Angel will move across. Just like we planned, remember, Dum Dum?"

"I…I don't think—" Angel started to say, but Rhys nodded.

"We have to try," he muttered to the woman, though he wasn't sure if it was to assure her or Jack.

So, he took the cloaking device without protest, pulling the connector cable from his pocket that they'd relied on for transporting Angel between devices so far. Somehow, Rhys knew this wasn't going to work. Everything the Watcher had said rang in his ears, but he didn't have the heart (or the courage) to tell Jack otherwise.

He let Jack reach across to take the other side of the cable. He watched in silence as he connected the digistruct to the cloaking device. He looked away as Angel disappeared and the digistruct glowed.

The cloaking device remained inactive in Rhys' hands.

Angel reappeared on Jack's side of the threshold between Vaults.

"I can't…" she said, not looking at either of the men. "It's like a-a wall or something comes down in front of me. I can't move through the connection."

"Nah nah nah, there's gotta be something else. Maybe the cable's snapped? Yo, Rhys, what else y'got in that magic arm of yours? Spare another cable?"

"Jack, it's not gonna work…we'll have to find another—"

"I'm not leaving her here!" Jack growled, gripping the digistruct so tight Rhys was nervous that he'd crack the device.

Silence responded as Rhys gathered the courage to speak again.

"Jack, listen to me…we have to leave the digistruct there, and go look—"

"How about you come back over here, and I tell you what I think about that plan, hm?"

"I know it sucks!" Rhys despaired, taking a step forward but not crossing over to the other Vault. "Jack, I get it. You think you're the only person here worried for Angel?"

At this, Jack's lips curled into a sneer, a hollow laugh snaking from between his bared teeth.

"Don't you fricking dare—"

"Jack, we can't get her out like this. Worse yet, we might break the digistruct trying. Our best shot is to go find help. We know where Angel is, we can come back! And we will," Rhys added, looking at Angel. "We will come back for you."

"You really think I'm gonna trust you with that crap?" Jack laughed, busying himself with the digistruct again. "You expect me to believe some jumped-up, gangly mess-a-limbs with a fancy suit and a stolen title — a title you stole from my fricking office, dickwad — is gonna save my daughter? That about the right of it, hm? That what you're tellin' me? You're gonna do what I can't, huh? And I just have t'sit back and hope you're not totally freaking useless, right?"

It was as though Rhys could see the walls closing in. Jack delegated sure, but on tasks that were beneath him. For the rare things he personally cared about, there would be no trust. He would not let go, even if trying to do it all himself would do more harm. Every time it came to asking Jack for something as basic as trust, the man would lash out, happy to burn all the bridges he and Rhys might have built between them if it meant avoiding the risk of trusting someone other than himself.

"I get it, you trusted someone and got hurt. We all have," Rhys pleaded, but he could already see rage boiling under Jack's skin.

"Hurt? Hurt? I got fricking maimed and half-blinded, asshole!" Jack shouted back, jabbing a finger at his scarred face.

You really don't know what else it did to you, huh? Rhys thought, swallowing then steeling himself to continue.

"And that sucks. It does! You couldn't stop that happening. But you could have stopped the fact that you let it change you! Look at you! You didn't trust anyone from there on outand look what happened. Everyone you loved and cared about died because you saw enemies all around you! You made enemies of everyone else! Stop being a coward and take the damn risk — take the risk and trust me! If you don't you'll lose her again."

Jack's whole face slackened in shock of Rhys' outburst.

Rhys' face burned red to prevent him from feeling too cool as a result of his outburst. It had been more than anger and frustration that had poured the words out at the other man. It had been…disappointment, and in a way, in some small way he prayed Jack hadn't heard in his voice, it had been hope that the other would at least try to save himself.

Rhys stared at Jack.

Jack stared at Rhys.

Rhys tried his damnedest to plead every silent emotion through his eyes. In his mind, his eyes sparkled.

Jack's face crumpled into laughter.

"Pffftaaahahahahahaa! AAAAAH hahahaha!" He wheezed, nearly doubled over. "Aah…haa…no yeah, go fuck yourself."

"Jack!"

Jack wiped a tear of mirth from his face, leaving Rhys to stew over the circle of stubbornness the man would leave him running it. He knew he shouldn't be surprised. After all, he'd dealt with his AI counterpart long enough — trying to persuade him to change his mind had resulted in the loss of his arm, impromptu eye surgery, and dropping a space station on a planet.

Really, Handsome Jack's response now had been rather tame by comparison.

"I trust Rhys."

Both men paused, then looked to Jack's side. Angel had stepped forward, though she kept her head bowed in defeat. If she had accepted she would be trapped forever, there was some small part of her that still wanted to believe. And she was giving that to Rhys.

He offered her a small smile filled with a huge amount of gratitude in return.

"Angel…"

"I trust Rhys. So…go," she said, lifting her head up to look at Rhys. "Don't wait for Jack. He can stay here too. Promise me you'll stop the Warrior, then come back and get me out of here."

"I promise, Angel," Rhys replied, watching as Jack's proverbial feathers ruffled.

"Hey hey, woah, hold on! What? Why do you trust him, sweetheart? After everything I did!"

"After everything you did is why I don't trust you to do anything in my interests, you son of a—"

"Language!" Jack snarled, but then stopped. He looked thoughtful for a moment, then shrugged. "Actually, no, my mom kinda was a bitch. I'll letcha have that one. Go ahead, sweetie."

"Rrrgh, you're so—! Rhys, please go find a way to get me out of here. Soon," Angel pleaded. Rhys could only nod in shared understanding. He took a deep breath then turned away, starting his trek across the Vault. A blue glow appeared at his side, floating along in pace with him.

"Soooo…you got a plan, pumpkin?" AI Jack asked. Rhys cocked an eyebrow as he looked at the AI.

"You're being awful supportive. We just ditched the other you back there. I know you hate him but…doesn't that bother you? Like…since he's also kinda you?" Rhys pointed out. The AI shrugged, putting his arms behind his head and hovering alongside Rhys while lounging on his back.

"Y'know, the more I watch him? The more I kiiiiiinda really wanna be my own person. Woah, wait!" AI Jack suddenly yelped, making Rhys jump.

"What is it? Where?!" The younger man jabbered, looking left and right in fear. "Vault monster?!"

"What? No, don't be dumb, the Warrior smashed through here ages ago, that thing's loooong dead. No no, I just had a realisation. An epiphany, Rhysie!" AI Jack exclaimed, moving to slink around Rhys' shoulders like the world's weirdest feather boa. "Like a bonding moment for us?"

"What are you talking about, Jack?" Rhys sighed, a hand over his pounding heart as he assured himself there was no immediate danger.

"Okay, right, I just realised I really wanna be my own person, right? Like, that I'm not really Handsome Jack, I'm just coded to act and look like him, right? But I'm sentient, right?"

"…Riiiight. I'm already worried about where this is going. Your identity crisis has kinda been playing on my mind recently," Rhys confessed.

"Touching. But think about it! When we first met, you totally wanted to be m—er, Handsome Jack! Then you found your own feet, your own balls, your own sense of seeeelf…"

"Please…don't ever talk about…my balls…ever again…" Rhys muttered, face prickling red again as he become hyper-focused on navigating the Vault.

"What I'm sayin' is, I wanna do that too!"

"You want to find your own balls?"

"Yes—NO! Wait, kinda? Look, I want you to help me find myself. I wanna be the better Jack. I didn't do all the stuff that jerkwad did, right? So, kinda of a blank slate?" The AI remarked, shuffling further down so he was hanging upside down over Rhys' shoulder, face inches from the other man's. "Puleeeeeeaaaase?"

Rhys flinched away, though he couldn't stop the smile tugging on his lips.

"Stop!" He chuckled. Still, he had to admit, it was refreshing to speak to Jack…or, a Jack…that seemed to finally be listening. Who had some capacity to change. "I mean, sure, you didn't lock your daughter away, become a tyrant, or kill as many people as Handsome Jack, but I think calling you a blank slate is a bit of a stretch. You literally tried to shove a metal skeleton in me and take over my mind."

"Ehhhh, blame my coding. We can iron out the kinks, pumpkin! Dial down the bloodlust-dot-exe, maybe delete the burning desire to replicate myself across the universe. Woah, dude, am I…am I a virus?"

"Alright well…who do you wanna be?" Rhys asked, pleasantly occupied by the conversation. Despite the chaos of their ending, he had to admit, their journey had been kind of fun.

Before the Helios-felling, arm-breaking, skeleton-smashing…end.

"Hmmmm…I mean, handsome, obviously. I can keep the face, right? And the hair?" AI Jack mused, drumming a finger on his chin.

"I meant deeper, Jack."

"I'm sure you did."

"Jack!"

The AI roared with laughter, the inelegant noise clashing with the rest of the man's appearance.

"Ahhh, I've missed this. You miss this? Just you, me, the open road? You miss this? Rhysie? Pumpkin? Y'missed this? …Y'missed this."