Chapter 29 – Jump Pads Are Fun
There was a look of astonishment on Elliot's face as he saw Ajay. He went to give her a hug but when he saw her holding Octavio's hand he diverting and gave both of them a hug. "Hola trickster!" Octavio said with a pat on Elliot's back. Elliot smirked. He was wearing a costume with bananas on it. "Hey speed demon." He said it kind of mockingly. Ajay felt a bit tense. Elliot's tone changed as he looked at her, "Ajay. I didn't think you would be competing so soon but I guess it's no surprise since you were competing last night. You're a reckless badass." He reached his hand out towards her but quickly pulled away and started to stretch. "Good move. She'll never notice."
Ajay gave Elliot a weird look, "Reckless? I'm pretty sure I was trying save Natalie." Elliot laughed nervously. "You know I am just joking. So it looks like it's the three of us tonight." Ajay shrugged and they all sat down. Ajay crossed her arms over her chest and leaned her chin towards her chest. Elliot and Octavio began to plot out strategies. Ajay didn't really seem interested. The plan was to drop, loot, and fight. The boys plan might be sped up if they dropped with other teams near them.
Elliot and Octavio quickly changed the subject as the transport ship began to fill. The hum of the ship filled her ears, it was almost like a lullaby that drifted her off to sleep until the countdown clock started. She could hear Bloodhound and Renee discussing last night's events since Bloodhound was not present for them. Soon enough the countdown clock started. Everyone began to stand up. Elliot and Octavio were already at the front of the line. Ajay went to go meet them but Bloodhound stood in her way. She tried to move around them but they would not move. After a moment and Ajay threw her hands up in the air and Bloodhound finally moved.
"What was that all about?" Elliot asked her as she made it to them. "No idea." The ramp opened letting a blast of air in. Octane took Lifeline's hand. Mirage snapped his goggles on and took Lifeline's other hand and they all dropped. She didn't find it necessary to hold hands. Mirage used his free hand to send out a decoy in the opposite direction of where they were going. They all landed in Water Treatment. "Repulsor." Lifeline pointed to the dive trails in the distance.
They were all able to find blue armor. Lifeline ended up with an R99 and a prowler. She had to do a double take as she picked up the prowler. Her heart raced and her chest ached as she clutched the sub machine gun. She attached a 1, 2 sight to it and loaded a level 2 heavy mag. Mirage thought it would be hilarious to run a wingman and a wingman. Octane found an R301 and a R99. The siren started to sound and the ring began closing. They made their way towards Repulsor with the storm on their backs.
They made it to Repulsor but it was looted clean and the ring was beginning to move towards Swamps. Ajay noted that the other two teams were still up. They decided leave through the backside of Repulsor to run the edge of the arena towards swamps. By the time they made it to Swamps there was one team left. They hid behind a huge tree that looked like it had been cut down at some point; it laid on the back side of Swamps. Lifeline heard movement in the building next to team. She motioned for Mirage and Octane huddle up with her. "I am going to shoot my gun. Mirage send a decoy towards the edge of the cliff. Octane as soon as they run out throw your jump pad at them." They all nodded in agreement, crouched in the bushes, and waited for the signal.
Lifeline waited until she heard a door open. Then she pulled the trigger of her prowler twice, releasing two, five round bursts into the air. They all listened and heard footsteps rush towards them. Mirage sent out a decoy away from them towards the edge of the cliff. The footsteps were now running in pairs. Lifeline reloaded her gun. Octane threw his jump pad as soon as he saw the first person. Caustic and Gibraltar both hit the jump pad and bounced right off the map.
Octane and Mirage were too busy laughing to hear the last member of the enemy team, Wraith, coming towards them. Lifeline stayed tucked away against the tree as Wraith hopped over. Lifeline unloaded her gun into Wraith only for Wraith to turn around, back up and hit the jump pad and launch herself off the map. They we all too busy laughing to hear the announcer's voice, "We have our Apex Champions."
Ajay, Octavio, and Elliot were still laughing when they returned to the transport ship. "Which one of you!" They all went silent when Renee marched back there. She grabbed Elliot by the front of his outfit and tried to lift him up but he just laughed at her. "It was you, wasn't it?!" She shook him. Anita touched Renee's arm and shook her head. Renee's face twitched and she dropped Elliot flat on his ass and walked away. "Oh Renee you hurt my only feeling." Renee stopped and clenched her fist. Anita touched Renee's shoulder until Renee released her fist. Anita turned around quickly and got down to Elliot's level, "If you don't shut up I am going to kick your ass and then I am going let Renee kill you." Elliot shooed Anita away, "Can you just let sourpuss know that there will be a party at my place!" He laughed as Anita walked away. "I can hear you Elliot!" Renee said through a clenched jaw.
Everyone was very quiet until the ship landed and Renee walked out for debriefing. Ajay, Octavio, and Elliot were the last ones to leave the ship. They got debriefing over with quickly. Elliot announced once more, "Party at my place. The winners will be there!" He then hurried out to meet everyone there. Octavio and Ajay changed back into their civilian clothes on the outfit screen. Ajay packed D.O.C. away and Octavio happily took her backpack. They walked hand-in-hand out of the building. "Hey Che." Octavio rubbed her hand. She stopped and looked at him "Silva this better not be about the dress again." Octavio laughed at her, "Why are still on that? That was ages ago. I was going to tell you that your plan was a good plan." They continued to walk. "Thank you, Silva." She was in her fucking head about him and her and they weren't even a 'him and her' at this point.
They arrived to Elliot's apartment. The door was unlocked so they walked in. Octavio set Ajay's backpack down. Ajay noticed Elliot had some EDM music playing, it wasn't bad it just was what it was. She was surprised to see Renee there. Renee was in the hot tub with Anita. Makoa and MRVN were in the living room chatting. Elliot saw Ajay and Octavio and motioned them over to his bar. Octavio waved for Ajay to go, "I'll be there in a bit." Once Ajay walked over there Octavio took off his belt and shoved into Ajay's backpack and then joined them just in time to hear Elliot announce, "Your champions are right here. Yep! We won!"
Ajay and Octavio sat down at the bar. Elliot already had drinks made for them. Elliot hadn't partied with them together but he had partied with them separately, so he knew what they liked to drink. "But first some shots." He paused and yelled, "Come on Renee!" Anita laughed as they both exited the hot tub. Anita join Makoa and MRVN in the living room. Ajay couldn't help but notice Renee was in her bra and panties. Well a g-sting. Both items she wore were black. She smiled at Renee and looked back to see that Elliot had the bar lined with tequila, five shots each a piece for each of them. "Five each?" Elliot smirked at Ajay's remark. "Do you need more because I heard that you did more than this last night." Renee looked at her, "Do you think you can drink more than me?" Ajay picked up a glass and started without them. Renee joined in, Elliot and Octane were the last to join but Octane was first to finish all of his shots.
Shortly after Ajay downed a glass of spiced rum. Elliot poured her another glass but Ajay took the bottle from his hand instead. He laughed at her. Octavio looked at her and smiled, "Pace yourself Che?" Elliot looked Octavio. "Che. Ugh." Ajay looked at Octavio. "This be my pace." She took a long sip from the bottle as she stared at him. Renee had already made her way back into the hot tub. "So Octavio. What's your story to tell?" Ajay glared at Elliot. Octavio looked a bit confused, "What story?" Elliot took another shot of tequila. "Well back on Talos I asked Ajay what the deal was with you two and she said." Elliot tried to impersonate Ajay, "That be his story to tell, not mine." Octavio put his hand on his chin and stared at Elliot, "Well amigo, I will tell you my story if you answer my question first." Elliot took another shot of tequila, "Yep?" Octavio finished his drink while Elliot made him another one. "Why is it, on Talos, that when Ajay was fatally wounded you felt a need to move her when she was bleeding out?"
