Previously:
Laying under a pile of debris, Lilith groaned and tried to sit up as she was surrounded. "Initiate Capture Procedures." a loader said as two approached the wounded Siren with electricity sparking from their hands.
The red head raised her tattooed covered arm and flipped them the bird in response. "Fuck you scrap asses-"
Several loud explosions came from outside, causing all of the loaders to look back to the large hole in the wall they came through. More explosions, gunfire and screeching sound of metal tearing followed which continued for over a minute before silence reigned.
Red optics remained on the opening as a combat loader came crawling through using only one arm. Its other arm and its lower half missing with sparking wires dangling.
"E-E-Enemy C-Com-bata-" its choppy speech was silenced when a lmssive metal boot came down hard, crushing the rest of the machine like it was cheap aluminum. The boot being connected to a nearly seven-foot tall man in green power armor reloading a double barrel shotgun in his hands.
He looked at all the loaders through his visor in silent contemplation. Taking into account of the wounded woman on the floor who was looking back in surprise at his arrival.
"So...whose going to the scrap heap first?" he asked while snapping the weapon closed.
X
The closets Combat-Loader turned and raised its weapon at Mason. "Surrender. Or Face Termination."
Turning to address the machine, the Doomslayer pulled the trigger. Blowing a large hole clean through the center of the loader and throwing the rest of its body back against the wall. The rest of the loaders all turned at once and opened fire in response.
Grinning beneath his helmet, Mason charged into their ranks. Bullets pinging off the Praetor suit's plates while he fired the second shell in the weapon and taking out a loader before shoulder tackling another by slamming it against the wall with enough force to send the machine through it.
Another Combat-Loader swung its arm at the attacking Human and found its limb caught in a steel vice-grip. The Doomslayer yanked it forward, grabbing its other arm in his other hand while planting his foot on its center of mass.
With little effort, he tore both arms from the loader in a shower of sparks. Using the severed limbs to smash it into salvage.
Dropping the arms, Mason spun around and drove his fist through a loader trying to flank him. Grabbing its power core and ripping it from the machine and throwing it at another where it exploded, leaving only one loader still standing.
The Hyperion bot raised its weapon, but Mason grabbed its arm. Bending it like a pipe cleaner with his strength and making it shoot itself in the optic. Pushing the now dead mechanical body over, he turned his attention to the wounded Siren who was looking up at him in shock at how quickly he had decimated the loaders.
"You okay?" he asked, snapping her out of it.
"Y-Yeah. Thanks for th-" Lilith hissed when she tried to move, pressing her hand harder against her wound.
Mason knelt beside her, VEGA performing a quick scan through the Praetor suit's HUD. "She has a concussion and is losing blood at an alarming rate. She needs immediate medical attention." reported the AI just as the Siren lost consciousness from her injuries.
The Doomslayer immediately went through his suits storage and brought out a handful of Anshin hypos, wasting little time injecting the Siren with the healing agent. The blood flowing from her injury slowed to a stop, the skin beginning to knit itself back together. After several more injections color began to return to Lilith's face and her body relaxed.
"VEGA?" he asked after tossing away the last Anshin.
"Her vitals are weak, but have stabilized. I recommend moving her to a safer location to finish recovering." replied the AI just as a series of loud booms were heard outside, followed by the ground shaking from several impacts. "Multiple hostiles detected."
Mason picked Lilith up and carefully laid her on an old, torn up couch in the back room safely out of sight. Once he was sure she was comfortable, he brought out his plasma rifle and made for the large opening he had come through. Finding over two dozen Hyperion loaders unfolding themselves from the craters made after their descent from the Helios station.
A Badass-loader at the back of the collective unfolded from the biggest crater, it's mounted guns powering up. "Target Acquired."
Said target didn't give any of them a chance as he unleashed a barrage of blue plasma bolts. The energy rounds melting through armor as he charged ahead. The reader attached to the weapon beeped after a few seconds, the meter on the screen in the red, allowing him to hit a switch beside the trigger and launching a stun bomb that detonated amongst a group of EXP-loaders that were running toward him.
The blast of overheated plasma energy fried the circuts of the bots in seconds, causing them all to detonate and taking any loaders within range with them while damaging several others.
Switching to his chaingun, Mason used the turret mod attached to the powerful weapon allowing it to mecha-shift into three barrels instead of one. He then let loose a hailstorm of .50cal slugs that all but shredded through the loaders, their armor unable to withstand such a barrage as they were torn apart in seconds.
With a majority of the Hyperion bots dealt with, the Doomslayer switched to his combat shotgun and began mopping up the rest. Each pull of the trigger signaling another scrapped loader until all that remained was the Badass one which had managed to avoid taking too much damage during his assault. Its mounted guns firing on Mason who ran to the side to avoid the burning rounds that scorched the ground in his wake.
Banking, the Doomslayer ran for the large loader. Jumping into the air when he was within range with his fist cocked back and delivering a powerful strike to the bots 'face' and causing it to stumble back a step. Bringing up his shotgun, he fired an explosive round into one of its exposed arm joints and blowing the limb off the main body.
"Error. Structural Damage Detected. Attempting Repairs." the loader reported, trying to right itself now that it was heavier on one side.
"Oh, we ain't done yet." Mason brought out his chainsaw and revved it loudly. Sprinting toward the Badass, he slammed the spinning blades into one of its knee joints. Sparks and shards of metal shot into the air following the loud screech as the deadly tool cut through the bot's leg.
Shuttering, the loader tipped to one side and collapsed to the ground. Unable to get back up now that it was missing an arm and a leg. The Doomslayer sent his chainsaw back to storage before drawing his double barrel again, walking onto the mech's torso and leering down at its optic as it looked back up at him.
Neither of them said a word as both barrels of the powerful shotgun blew its CPU across the ground.
X
In his office on Helios station, overlooking Pandora, Handsome Jack sat as his desk going over what he had been sent minutes ago. The CEO of Hyperion kept his eyes on the lines of data and video feeds the stations terminals had received after a squad of loaders he had sent down to the savage planet's surface went silent.
What he saw, wasn't what he wanted to see.
After what had happened when he had wiped New Haven off the face of Pandora, he devoted more than enough of his time and nearly endless resources in tracking down the original Vault Hunters. More than anything...he wanted the Siren bitch that defied him and fucked up his good looks.
When her location was discovered he was ecstatic, he'd finally get his revenge. Sending as many loaders as he could to where she was hiding out with the intention of capturing her so he could do the deed himself.
She fought back, obviously. But her ammo and powers were overwhelmed by the numbers he was sending after her until she was at his mercy...but then IT showed up.
Some asshole in power armor coming seemingly out of nowhere, wiping out his loaders as though they were nothing and saving the damn bitch.
He was furious, irritated...and a little intrigued all at the same time.
Who did this fuck-stick think he was? Interfering with Hyperion? Interfering with HIS revenge?
"Angel, I want you to find anything and everything you can on this asshole." Jack said as he looked at the frozen image of the Doomslayer carrying Lilith out of the ruined bar.
"Right away, Jack." Angel voiced back in a solemn tone.
The CEO smirked, leaning back in his chair with his feet up on the desk. "Think you're a hero, huh? I'll show you what happens to 'heroes' around here, tin man."
X
The sun had set hours ago and night had fallen over Pandora. Elpis casting a bright glow over the wasteland despite the space station hovering in front of it.
Within a small settlement that had been long since abandoned, Mason could be seen dragging a couple of dead Rakks he had just finished hunting. Bringing them into the only house that wasn't crumbling where a fire was burning in a small pit in the middle of the main room.
All of the old and broken furniture had been moved outside to provide the needed space, save for a relatively clean mattress where Lilith laid resting beneath a blanket. Close enough to the flames to keep warm from the chill in the air.
Cleaning the Rakks, Mason speared the meat on metal rods he salvaged from the settlement and set them over the fire pit to cook before checking on the Siren. "VEGA? Any change?" he asked as the AI scanned her over again.
"Her current status has improved some. Though we won't know the full extent of her recovery until she wakes up I'm afraid."
Shaking his head with a sigh, the Doomslayer went to the other side of the fire and sat down. Going through the task of systematically cleaning his weapons after all of the combat they had seen that day while at the same time keeping watch.
X
Her head hurt. That's the first thing she realized when the land of the living came back to her.
Golden colored eyes opened and blinked a couple times as she looked up at the slanted metal ceiling above her. Her thoughts a jumbled mess as she tried to figure out what had happened.
Then she remembered. The loaders attacking, backing her into a corner at Lucky's, her wounds and imminent capture, then...that guy in the armor coming in and saving her...
Sitting up slowly, Lilith put a hand to the side of her head when a dull ache throbbed inside her skull before checking where she had been shot. Finding the wound, and all the others she had gotten, healed.
"What?" she wondered, looking around the room. Taking in the makeshift metal walls made from different panels, the fire with food cooking...and a familiar suit of armor on the floor leaning back against the wall beneath a window. The double barrel she had seen him with across his lap.
He didn't move. Sitting completely still like a statue with no recognition of the fact she was awake.
The Siren looked around her immediate area and found her SMG laying on the ground next to the mattress she was on. Picking it up, she found the gun fully loaded and ready to use if she needed it.
Taking a deep breath, she slowly stood up. Wincing when her body ached as she tried to get to her feet.
"I wouldn't do that."
Lilith froze, golden eyes turning to the armor in time to see the helmet slowly turn to meet her gaze. "Your body hasn't fully recovered yet. I didn't have enough Anshin on hand to fully heal you."
Sighing, the Siren sat down on the edge of the mattress with her weapon across her lap. "I take it you brought me here?"
Her savior nodded. "Another group of loaders were dropped in after you passed out. Figured it would be better to move you to a safer spot to heal after I took them out." He stood up and approached the fire, checking on the food that was cooking. "Hope you don't mind Rakk, it was the only thing around worth eating."
Before she could answer, Lilith's stomach grumbled loud enough to be heard. In response she was offered a Rakk leg that she accepted graciously.
Taking his own, the armored warrior sat down across from her with the fire between them. Reaching up, a pressurized hiss was heard as he twisted his helmet a bit before pulling it off.
Lilith paused mid-bite to get a look at the one who saved her.
He didn't look much older than she was. Dark stubble running across the top of his head and along his jaw giving him a rugged appearance along with a couple of scars on his cheek and chin. But it was his eyes that caught her attention. Deep, glowing red that reflected an inner fire that raged below the surface. Waiting to be unleashed.
Yet for reasons unknown, Lilith wasn't afraid. The moment she saw those eyes, something inside of her calmed her nerves, almost like an instinct that was not her own trying to tell her that he could be trusted. Which left her confused beyond words.
Sensing her hesitation, those same red eyes looked up at her. "Something wrong?" he asked, making her blink.
"No...thanks for before. And, you know." she held up the Rakk leg a moment before biting into it.
"No worries. " came the simple reply before he bit into his own meal. The two of them eating in silence save for the crackling of the fire between them. Every so often the Siren would send the occasional glance a the one across from her. Trying to figure out his motive for helping her like he did.
It wasn't that she didn't believe he helped her because he could. But here on Pandora one couldn't be too sure if someone had another agenda planned out. And since not only was she a Siren, but one with a very high bounty on her head as well, she didn't want to take any chances.
Problem was she was still worn out from fighting Hyperion's robots. Her powers hadn't come back to full just yet to Phase walk and after what she saw at the bar her SMG probably wouldn't do enough damage if this guy turned on her.
Hopefully it wouldn't come down to a fight.
As if sensing her internal debate, her savior looked up at her with a knowing look. "If you have questions, feel free to ask. But just so you know, I'm not an enemy."
"Sorry if I don't take it at face value." Lilith replied honestly. "Not a lot of people do things because they're the right thing around here."
"Understandable, even more so with Hyperion out to get you." he said back while taking out a canteen and drinking from it, offering it to the Siren after doing so. "Like I said, I'm an open book. Ask anything."
Taking the offered canteen, the Siren took a drink before asking anything.
"How about a name first?"
"Mason Riley. You?"
"Lilith."
Mason nodded, "Nice to meet you, Lilith."
The red-head nodded back, "Same." she paused for a moment, "Why did you save me?"
"Seemed like the right thing to do at the time." was her answer, "That, and a Guardian Angel contacted me and told me you were in trouble."
Lilith perked up at that, "Guardian Angel? Are you sure?"
The Doomslayer nodded, "Very. She contacted me through my echo, told me an important member of the resistance was in danger. Even had your coordinates. It was a good thing I arrived just in time too, they just about had you."
"Okay, but why bring me here?" Lilith asked while motioning around her, "Not that I'm ungrateful for the change of scenery, and the hospitality."
"Would you have prefered to be left back where Hyperion could get you?" Mason asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Touche." the Siren replied as she took another bite out of her meal. "Not very often someone tries to play hero here on Pandora."
Mason chuckled, "Now that, I am definitely not. I'm the farthest thing from a hero you would ever meet." he said with blunt honesty.
Lilith looked confused, "Then what are you exactly?"
Pausing a moment, the Doomslayer looked down at his hand. Clenching his fist a couple of times in thought. "I'm not really sure myself anymore." he muttered, mostly to himself before looking back up and meeting the yellow gaze of the Siren across from him, "But, lets just say that I'm the monster sent to kill the rest of the monsters out there.
They finished eating in silence after that. Lilith keeping a sharp eye on her 'savior' with her SMG close, just incase. But Mason made no moves to cross to her side of the fire. Remaining where he was as he stared into the flames in front of him. His mind wandering to another plane.
Taking the time to get another look at him, the Siren was impressed by the armor he wore. She remembered the combat-loaders shooting at him and the rounds bouncing off the plates without even leaving a scratch. He didn't even have a shield equipped as he tore through their ranks in a way she was sure Brick would envy.
And his weapons. None of them looked remotely like any makes or models from the companies currently in circulation. The double-barrel across his lap looked like a Jakobs, but it lacked the distinct markings belonging to them.
He definitely wasn't from Pandora, that much was for certain. Maybe one of the other outer worlds in the system? He looked like he could handle any fight that came his way. It was hard to say really. Though it did make her wonder why he was here.
A dull ache where her bullet wound once was caused Lilith to flinch. Placing her hand over her side as it slowly faded. "You should get some more sleep." she almost jumped when Mason spoke up, having seen her reaction. "Once you've recovered enough, we'll head out."
"Head out where?" asked the Siren.
"Wherever you want to go. I sure as hell ain't going to leave you out here the way you are." replied the Doomslayer.
Lilith couldn't help but smile a little, "Offering me a ride to anywhere of my choosing? Is that your not so subtle way of trying to get into my good graces?"
Mason smirked back, knowing she was teasing. "Just figured people missed you somewhere. Thought I'd at least make sure you were somewhere safer and among allies."
Sighing, the red head nodded. "The Crimson Raiders HQ. It's located in a town called Sanctuary. It's out in Three Horns Divide...not really a short trip."
"I'll get you there in one piece." replied Mason as he stood, picking up his helmet and snapped it back in place over his head while heading to the door. "I'll keep watch. You just rest and focus on healing." with that he stepped outside.
Staring at the door a moment or two longer, Lilith carefully laid back on her makeshift bed. Her weapon still within reach as she got comfortable. More questions swirling in her head that she wanted more than anything to answer.
Fatigue began to settle in again fast, and with little choice but to leave her trust in Mason, the Siren closed her eyes and drifted off once again.
Not a moment after she fell asleep, the alien-like markings on her body glowed a soft orange. The power within the young woman reacting to the presence of something powerful, and familiar.
X
In her prison/bunker, Angel gasped. Her hand going to her chest while her markings glowed white.
X
On the planet Athenas, Maya awoke from a dead sleep. Her markings glowing blue when she felt something from far away. Something calling to her.
X
Across the galaxy, three other beings bearing the same markings as the Sirens experienced something similar. None of them aware of the reason, only that it left them with a strange feeling of being safe and a need to seek out the source.
X
Outside, Mason froze a couple meters from the shack. An odd sensation was felt in his chest, almost like a pull trying to lead him in different directions. One of which was directly behind him.
He looked back to where Lilith slept as the feeling faded away. Wondering where it had come from and why.
"Doomslayer, are you well?" asked VEGA.
"Yeah. I'm fine." he replied, shaking his head as he began checking the perimeter of the small settlement. Oblivious to the sudden shift in the cosmos around him.
A/N: It's good to be back after the holidays.
Seems the interaction with one Siren triggered something with the others. What could this mean? And how is Mason involved? Everything will become clear soon enough, bit for now I got some more writing to do!
Feel free to review and I'll be back before you know it!