Zane was glad they were making good progress.

Huddled behind a piece of cover, Barrier recharging and Drone currently deployed, the Operative popped out of cover to pepper a cultist with his SMG, ducking back down when his shields flickered from a few, stray bullets. They'd recently gotten Tina's bomb together and now they just needed to take it to the designated location for it; a place the crazy bitch designated personally.

…granted, Zane didn't trust her on that, but Axton vouched for her.

Speaking of Axton, the Commando was crouched next to him, reloading his assault rifle and slapping in another magazine. "Reminds ya of the Handsome Jack days, don' it?" Zane asked, flinging a grenade over his shoulder and hearing a few psychos explode into pulp.

"Heh, yeah," Axton smirked, doing the same with his own, fire grenade. "Only these guys are a lot more plentiful than Hyperion's goons, and a lot less…worried about their own safety. I think only six of them have had shields. Six! Can you believe that?"

"They probably think their twin gods'll protect them," Moze called from her own cover. "Which is kinda funny, considering said gods are scared shitless of FL4K."

"Yeah I've been wondering about that," Axton said. "Why do they even bother trying to insult you guys, knowing your robot friend's gonna go for them like that? Are they just trying to be as charming as Jack was? Cause…y'know…" Axton shrugged. "Look where that got him. Blown up by Lilith after having, like, all his plans utterly fucked."

"They'll get theirs, too." Amara choked a cultist in an arm lock, using her free hand to Phase-Slam an approaching psycho. "The important thing is we maintain our focus. FL4K, how close are we to where Tina wanted the bomb?"

"It's ahead," The Beastmaster casually popped a bandit's head like a grape with their sniper rifle. "Finish clearing these fools out, and I can get close enough to arm and detonate it." The remaining bandits were finished off and the group pushed forward, reaching a large, bandit covered bridge as…a strange bird shot past. Zane was tempted to shoot it but lowered his gun when he felt FL4K's hand rest on the barrel of his SMG, pushing it down.

"No," The robot said. "That's the companion of another hunter. Let him hunt."

"…what's that mean—" A few sniper shots rang out and, in moments, the bandits on the bridge were gone, and the bird moved to perch on a high-rise, where a gangly, disheveled man stood. He was armed with a stocky sniper rifle of his own, wearing a headpiece that made it hard to tell who he was, except for the fact that Axton seemed delight to see him.

"Oh shit, it's Mordecai! Yo! Morde! How's it going?"

"Axton? That you? What the fuck are you doing here, man?"

"Oh, you know…helping Lil' out with stuff. Same old."

"Heh, that's usually how it goes. I'm guessing you and your friends down there are here to bust Hammerlock out? Cause, if so, he's not far, but you're gonna need a—"

"Your friend hooked us up with a bomb," Moze spoke into her own ECHO, setting her rifle on her back. "Or, rather, we helped her build one."

"Shit, you helped Tina build a bomb? Yeesh…make sure you wash your hands. No telling what that girl's used for components. Hell, last bomb she made was just a buncha gasoline, nitroglycerin, and a buncha other messy shit…and some radioactive shit."

"…how is she not dead?" Zane was legitimately dumbfounded someone could be that crazy and still be alive. But, he'd seen weirder…sorta.

Regardless, they kept fighting and, quickly, secured the bridge. FL4K threw one of the remaining bandits off the bridge and brushed their hands off, motioning towards the building on the opposite side of said bridge. "I'll go 'deliver the pizza' and clear our path to Hammerlock. You all, prepare yourselves. There'll be a glorious hunt ahead." FL4K walked off and Zane worked on fixing his Drone.

"Axton, your friend's weird…sorta like me 'cept…robot. Anyhow, we're clear for extraction, right Bric—"

"Hey! CODE NAMES!"

"Screw the code names, we're already done! Are we good for evac!"

"We are, but I put a lotta work into everyone's nicknames!"

"YOU NAMED ME BIRDMAN!"

"CAUSE YOU'RE A MAN WITH THE BIRD!"

They were going back and forth, though their arguing was drowned out by a sudden, earsplitting explosion.

"Bomb's detonated."

Well, least that was quiet."


Moze wasn't sure if she was supposed to be impressed or annoyed that, while the door itself wasn't blown up, the walls next to it were destroyed. She didn't let it linger as she and the others delved into the building, the place where Hammerlock was to be held.

It didn't take long to reach a large, spacious room, where the man himself was.

"Oh, excellent, Vault Hunters!" He sounded quite upbeat despite being stuck within a cage, hanging above the ground. "Good luck, because I think the Warden is—" He got cut off when said cage shot upwards and a large man dropped down…clearly the Warden, judging from his personalized arsenal and cop hat.

…he was so fucking fat, though…

Still, when the fat oaf started shooting, Moze ran to duck behind cover, open firing with her assault rifle and, frowning, when she saw her bullets weren't having the effect she sought…the fat fucker was still moving around.

"The fuck's wrong with this guy?!" She ducked down and loaded in a fresh mag just as bullets passed over her head. "How's he just shrugging off bullets?!"

"Probably has armor," Amara called. "Switch to a corrosive gun if you have one, Moze!" The Gunner frowned and switched to a handgun she picked up earlier; it was a shitty one, yes, but it WAS corrosive. Popping back out of cover, Moze open fired at the fat fucker again, watching him now react a lot more to the attack…a bit too much.

"Oi, is it jus' me," Zane called out. "Or is he gettin' bigger…'n angrier…" True to the old man's words, the Warden was indeed getting larger and more dangerous…which, no doubt, meant he was one of those weird psychos who got larger and more dangerous when they took enough damage.

Yet, for the moment, she couldn't remember their name. She blamed that on being fired on by, like, a buncha guys!

"Moze, provide me covering fire," She turned to see FL4K loading a handgun; one of those gyrojet ones. "Amara, when you see him focus on me, hit him with everything you have."

"Understood." Moze nodded and popped up to open fire, catching a glimpse of FL4K turning invisible, the Beastmaster darting off. The Gunner had no clue what he was to do but—

"SHIT!" Her shields flickered out, and her eyes widened when she realized that Warden was aiming his gun right at her. "Grr!" Moze ducked down as best she could but still felt white hot pain fill her head, the Gunner's breath coming out in haggard pulses, hand clamping down on her shoulder. She could already feel her glove darkening with blood…her blood.

"Moze! Are you okay?!" Amara shouted, the Siren firing her shotgun with one hand as she stared at her with a bewildered, terrified expression. "How bad did you get hit?!"

"I…I dunno." She knew for a fact she didn't get grazed. There was something in her arm, and she could already feel herself loosing some blood. But, as long as she kept pressure on it, she'd be fine. "Just…can you find me a—" The Siren already set a health syringe in her hand. "Thanks, Amara."

"Thank me when this fucker's dead." A series of explosions rang out, followed by blood-curdling screaming. Moze poked her head from cover to see that the Warden was stumbling around, smoke wafting from his head to show it'd clearly been caught in an explosion.

Means FL4K hit the fucker—

"Fuck!" Moze grunted and dropped back down. The Gunner pulled her hand away from her shoulder to pat at her side. The color drained from her face when she felt blood well up from there too. She caught more than just one stray bullet, and it was showing. It was showing a fuck-ton. Swiftly, the Gunner dug the health syringe into her thigh, swearing under her breath as she injected herself with the numbing, healing agents.

A few moments later and the pain was virtually gone, with her wounds all but mended. The bullets that were, moments ago in her, were now on the ground, leaving Moze huffing and panting in a mixture of anger and fear.

She got sloppy. She was so used to these COV fuckers being incompetent that she got lax with killing them. Again.

She refused for there to be a third time. There wouldn't be a third time.


"Thank you again for the assistance, Vault Hunters," Amara nodded to Hammerlock once more as the large group left the prison. Moze was being supported by FL4K as the Beastmaster helped her into the back of their Technical as Axton, no doubt, went off to fetch them another one so he and Zane could get moving. Hammerlock was helped into the back of the primary one, the aged man adjusting his hat once he sat down. "I wish we could have formally met under better circumstances, but this is what happens when the twins are at play."

"Happens. Don't worry about it," The Siren climbed into the back just as FL4K got the Technical started, holding on as they got moving. "More importantly, how'd they get you?"

"Ah, that…" Hammerlock seemed downtrodden at that; his face falling and his head lowering. "Aurelia. My sister. She sold me out the first chance she had for control of the Jakob's Corporation and a chance at riches with the twins." That sent a pang of pain through Amara's heart. Betrayed by one's own family…she was glad she never had to endure the pain of such a thing yet was remorseful at the same time he had to endure it.

"I'm…sorry to hear it."

"It's fine…to be frank, it was expected. She's always despised me, ever since we were kids. There's no stronger bond than family, and that bond is broken…no greater source of pain." She could hear that he was trying his best to remain calm and even chipper about things, but she could tell it was really getting to him. More than she could imagine.

"Family isn't always who're you're born to, or who you share blood with," Amara nodded. "It's who stands with you when the chips are down, and who sticks with you when things are at their bleakest. You ran with Lilith a long time ago, right?"

"That I did."

"Her and her group are family, then. They've watched your back through thick and thin, and will continue to do so, as best they can."

"I suppose you're right…thank you, Vault Hunter, for such words of wisdom. It's just…I've always deeply wanted my sister and I to be close; to be family. I suppose at this point I'm just living in denial; there's no good left in her. And whatever good that does remain in her is a mere façade until she's given an opportunity to stab someone in the softest part of their back." This was really weighing heavily on Hammerlock. Amara wanted to say something else, but…well there was nothing left for her to say, short of vowing to kill Aurelia for him, and she had a hunch that would be ill received. Despite all her treachery and villainy, she was still his sister.

She had to at least give Hammerlock a chance to reconcile with her…or, at the very least, kill her himself. It wouldn't give him what he sought, but it would at least bring some form of closure. Least, that was what Amara thought about the whole, complex situation.


FL4K watched Hammerlock and Wainwright tearfully embrace, holding one another tightly as the Beastmaster stood nearby, reloading and fixing their rifle. It was a touching sight; they could understand the two of them were lovers, mates, even. And, of course, as mates, they deeply cared for one another's safety. They were glad they could return Hammerlock to his lover, then, with the aid of their pack.

"Now, Vault Hunters," Wainwright sniffled, wiping his face with his sleeve. "We can move to the next phase of things. Now that Alistair's back, the COV ain't got shit to blackmail and threaten me with. So, they're either gonna come for the estate again, and fail, or try something else—"

"Vault Hunter," An astute, sharp voice rang in their ECHO. "I am Baroness Aurelia Hammerlock, CEO of the Jakobs Corporation. I've, unfortunately, just been informed that you rescued my brother. Disappointing, really, considering Alistair still has to rely on others for his own safety. Regardless, this is a family matter, and you've no business interfering. That said, Vault Hunters are nothing more than whores, so I will simply pay you to leave my planet. Come to Jakobs Manor to negotiate your price. Oh, and I know you can hear me, Alistair. I'm rich, by the way." The line went dead, and FL4K turned to the others.

"…now, see, I like me some cash from time to time," Zane began with a firm scowl. "But she can suck me dick for that one. I ain' no broad who can simply be paid off."

"Weren't you a mercenary?" Axton asked.

"That's different; as a mercenary, I didn' lie there and take shit. Employer got too mouthy 'n wordy, I put 'em down and find the next highest bidder. A whore? They ain' got a choice."

"And, unfortunately, neither do we." Hammerlock sighed. "As cruel and to the point my sister was with her…address, we can use this to our advantage."

"How so? Because reeks of being a trap, Hammerlock." Moze grunted from her seat, the Gunner tightening the bandage around her leg. "I already got shot in the shoulder, leg, and side today. I don't wanna get shot in the head the second we show up at that manor."

"We know it's a trap, yes," Wainwright spoke up with a sigh. "Which is why I'm goin' with you all."

"Winny!"

"It's alright, Alistair," The man shook his head. "The key's been in my family for generations, but its exact location, well that's a secret my father took to his grave. However, I know him well; he's left reminders and clues to deduce its location, namely in case he's…indulged in too much whiskey and can't remember where it's at. So, more or less, you all accept Aurelia's invitation and keep her distracted, and I'll find that key, or at least a hint as to where it'll be." FL4K wasn't okay with this idea. No sound predator walked into the den of another, equally dangerous predator. Not even with a plan! But, at the same time, Hammerlock and his lover were right; this was the only chance they had.

"Hammerlock," FL4K watched him look over. "If we go there, and your sister tries to kill us…you know what has to happen to her, correct?"

"Yes…I'm afraid I do." Hammerlock sighed, tipping his hat downwards a bit. "Just…try not to let it come to that, okay? I know damn well she won't face you herself, but in the off-chance she does, at least try to bring her down, but not kill her."

"You know that leaves the door open for her to attack us later on, correct?"

"I do. But, like I told your Siren friend, she's still my sister, and I love her. Worst case…I need to be the one to end her reign. It'll give me the closure I need." FL4K wished they had a mouth so they could frown, but for the most part, they understood Hammerlock's fixation, and nodded.

"So be it. If your sister does indeed greet us there to inevitably betray and attempt to kill us, I'll do what I can to take her down, but not out, so you may have the benefit of ending her yourself."

"Thank you, Vault Hunter." His voice sounded brittle. He was trying his best to be strong, but FL4K could hear weakness seeping through the cracks.

They didn't judge. This weakness was a good one. It told the Beastmaster Hammerlock direly craved his original pack, his family, to be whole…but it was something that would never come.

It was sad, but it was one of the uncomfortable aspects of Vault Hunting.


(So, as said, this chapter's a lot harsher. I apologize if I made Hammerlock seem…weaker here. It's mainly because, considering I have siblings, it feels fitting for him to be resenting the inevitability of him having to kill Aurelia, his sister, and it's weighing heavy on him. I couldn't fathom the thought of having to kill my brothers, and from what I recall, he generally felt the same towards his sister who's the exact opposite. Should make for some interesting chapters pretty soon. Stay tuned, and let's see where this goes.

Oh, and before I forget, I recently launched a new story for my Warhammer fans out there; give it a glance if you're interested and, if not, I understand. Thanks for reading!)