Entering the barracks Roland had pointed him to, Mason approached the closest bed and laid Tina down. "Sorry you had to see all that." he said while tucking her under the blankets.
Tina grinned widely, "You were so cool though! You kill monsters and are super strong!" she yawned, her eyes drooping. "You're like a super hero."
Mason smiled, "Thanks, kiddo. Get some sleep, okay?"
"W-Will you still be here?" the little girl asked, sounding tired and anxious at the same time.
The slayer smiled again as he knelt beside the bed. "I'm not going anywhere, Tina. I promise." he spoke softly while running his fingers carefully through her hair. Tina smiled as she snuggled into the blankets, her eyes closing a moment later as she fell asleep.
Staying a couple minutes longer to make sure the girl was comfortable, Mason stood up and made his way back to the war room where the others had been waiting for him. Tannis talking adamantly with VEGA, asking an array of questions that the AI was more than happy to answer.
"Fascinating. You needed that much power to maintain your connection to the Mars facility?" asked the scientist in regards to VEGA's functions from before.
"That is correct. The amount of energy required to power my many functions was immense and required a complex cooling system to keep from overheating. When the cooling units were shut down and my core was set to critical, the resulting meltdown was powerful enough to tear a hole from our world to the demonic realm." VEGA answered
Tannis nodded, "A worthy sacrifice. It was a good thing Mason had enough intelligence to create a backup. Losing such an intellectual source would be a travesty."
"I consider it me helping a friend." Mason said, making himself known as he approached the holotable. "VEGA aided me through my mission to stop Hell's invasion. I couldn't let him 'die' like that if I could help it."
"A sentiment I greatly appreciate, Mason." said VEGA. Everyone who heard the AI could tell that if he could show emotion, he would have in that moment.
"Tina comfortable?" asked Lilith.
The slayer nodded, "Out like a light. She's been through a lot."
"I can only imagine." said Roland, "It was a brave thing you did, saving her. At least someone made it out of that place alive."
Brick chuckled, "Hyperion sure didn't." Mordecai grinned in agreement.
Mason crossed his arms over his chest, "Back to what we were talking about. Now you all know my story. Question now is where we go from here?"
Roland nodded, "I won't lie to you, everything you showed us...it's still pretty damn hard to grasp. If you and VEGA hadn't had the evidence to back it up, none of us would believe it. Even after everything we ourselves have been through."
The Commander sighed as he looked down at the table before them, the map of Pandora on display while VEGA's AI hovered above the surface by the slayer. "You obviously know what's been going on here on Pandora. What Hyperion has done and what our resistance has been doing as well."
"VEGA's sliced into plenty of transmissions since we arrived. We know enough." Mason said with a sharp edge in his tone. "Jack is worse than Hayden. At least that mechanical bastard tried to help humanity in the beginning before shit fell apart. Jack is just doing this for his own fucking amusement. Far as I'm concerned, that overcompensating fucker is just another monster to be killed." the slayer finished the statement cracking his knuckles loudly.
The former Vault Hunters remembered crystal clear what those hands had done to Hell's legion. They almost pitied the Hyperion CEO...almost.
"Then I don't need to explain more than what you already know." Roland continued, "We're fighting an uphill battle. Jack's got the resources and the firepower, we've lost a lot of people in the last couple of years."
"Some of them good friends." added Lilith solumnly.
"Bottom line...we need all the help we can get." the Commander pressed on. "I know this may not be up to par with what you usually fight. But someone of your skill set would give us the edge we need to take the fight to Jack."
"Not to mention your AI buddy could give us a pretty big advantage as well." Mordecai threw in. "The less that SOB knows about what we're up to, the better."
Mason thought to himself. He already knew the answer he was going to give, but something else on his mind needed to be considered as well. Though how it would affect things to come was completely unknown.
But if he were honest, things had already changed a great deal as it was thanks to his interference. Whatever happened next, he would handle it head on like he has since this all started.
"Things are far worse than you think." he said, catching the attention of the group. "It's no secret that Jack is looking for another Vault similar to the one you all opened years ago. But what you don't know is what it contains."
"Wait. Are you telling us that you know what's in the Vault Jack's after?!" Roland exclaimed, now VERY invested.
The slayer nodded, "VEGA and I took out a Hyperion patrol about a week ago and hacked into one of their classified channels. The Vault he's looking for? It's not a weapons cache or some alien power source. It's a living being. An ancient Eridian Warrior with the power to take out all life on Pandora."
This news received an array of responses from the group. Mordecai completely stopped drinking, Brick clenched his fists, Lilith grit her teeth and Roland looked grim. Tannis didn't show much emotion, but it was obvious that she was thinking hard on what they had learned.
"Do you or VEGA have any other information? Is there any hint on if he's found it or not?" asked Roland seriously.
"Thankfully he hasn't yet. But we do know that whoever opens the Vault controls the Warrior. The key he has in his possession will allow him to do so." said Mason.
"But that's impossible!" Tannis shouted, "The Vault key takes 200 years to charge between openings. I researched this in excruciating detail!"
"Eridium is the answer." said VEGA, bringing up an image of the Vault key with purple energy flowing into it. "The alien element somehow charges the Vault key. Though how this process is done is still unknown. Jack must possess a form of catalyst that turns the Eridium into an energy form to charge the key."
"That's why he's mining every speck of the stuff." said Mason. "The more Eridium he has, the faster he charges the key."
Roland put a hand to his chin in thought, "We can't let that happen. If this intel is legit, then we have two options available. We either shut down his supply of Eridium-"
"Which is impossible with how much sprouted up after we opened the first Vault." Lilith threw in.
"Or, we get the key, and control the Warrior ourselves." the Commander finished his statement.
"A sound plan. But without the catalyst needed to charge the key with Eridium, we would simply be ensuring that Hyperion is unable to open the Vault." said VEGA.
"Either way, Jack loses." said the slayer. "We could also destroy the key. Keep it from being used ever again."
"You can't be serious!" Tannis said aghast. "The Vault key is an invaluable Eridian artifact! You can't just destroy it like some kind of barbarian!"
Glowing red eyes suddenly locked with startled blue, "That's funny. Because I'm pretty sure Samuel Hayden said something similar when I trashed the argent filters to stop the Hell portal from opening on Mars." Tannis took an involuntary step back from the slayer's sharp tone. "Ancient artifact it may be. But if everything else fails, and there's a chance to stop Hyperion from using it to kill everyone and everything, it's better off in no one's hands."
"Agreed." said Roland. "Though we'll keep that idea as a last resort. No point in throwing away a potential resource if we need it. The real question is, where is it being hidden?"
"I have installed various back-door programs in Hyperion's network since Mason and I arrived here on Pandora." VEGA answered, "I will continue to monitor these sub-routines incase something pertaining to the Vault key comes up."
"Thanks, VEGA." said the Commander. "Now that we know what Jack's endgame is, we can find a way to put a stop to it. In the meantime," Roland held out his hand to Mason. "Welcome to the Crimson Raiders, Doomslayer."
The slayer smirked and shook the offered hand, "Glad to be here. Hate to change important subjects after all that's been laid out. But it's been way, way, too long since I've had a good drink."
"I got ya covered, amigo." said Mordecai, clapping Mason on his armored shoulder before leading him out of the war room. The slayer scooping his helmet off the table as he left.
Tannis gathered her echos and disappeared back downstairs to her lab and Brick said something about catching a nap and headed out as well, leaving Lilith and Roland alone.
The Siren saw the hardened look on her friend's face as he stared at the far wall, "What's on your mind? You got that overthinking look again."
Roland sighed, "Its just something Mason and VEGA told us earlier. About Hell, and what it does to other worlds."
Lilith shivered when she remembered that particular part of their little show and tell. It was bad enough Hell was real and filled with countless horrors beyond imagination. But to know that their dimension literally absorbs other worlds into their own made that nightmare even scarier.
"Yeah...what about it?" she asked.
"Mason and VEGA came here because Samuel Hayden sent them through that tether system. And from what we heard and saw, Hell got a pretty good taste of the tech those UAC brainiacs were cooking up and managed to use it for themselves..." Roland trailed off causing the Siren to understand.
"You think those things will try to follow Mason here, to Pandora?"
The resistance leader leaned on the holotable. "After what we just learned, anything's possible. Jack, Hyperion, bandits and whatever else Pandora can throw at us is one thing...but demons from Hell? I can't help but think we would be in serious trouble."
Lilith nodded, agreeing with him on that one. "Maybe...but we got one thing we know they can't handle." Roland looked up to see her grinning, "We got the guy that makes them shit themselves."
X
Moxxi's bar was the only place in Sanctuary for anyone living there to unwind. Infact, it was pretty much the only bar within 50 miles in any direction, but that wasn't important to the patrons.
That right belonged to the good booze, violent atmosphere...and the voluptuous beauty running the place.
Mason looked around the saloon-like interior with brief nostalgia as he followed Mordecai. Music from the old speakers thumping through the air while various people ranging from citizens to resistance fighters were milling about and having a good time.
Along the way, the slayer got more than a few stares that followed him. Paying them no attention as he sat at the bar with the hunter. Bloodwing spreading her wings and flying up to a support beam above them where she perched herself.
A moment later, the one and only Mad Moxxi came out from a backroom with a small crate in her arms. Her figure squeezed into her signature corset and mini skirt that accented every curve she possessed, a pair of heeled thigh-high boots and a tiny hat perched atop her styled hair.
"Ah, Mordecai. Here to drain by backstock of Rakk ale again?" Moxxi asked with playful teasing as she set the crate on the counter. It was here she noticed the one sitting beside her ex, "My, my, aren't you a big one. Got a name, sugah?"
Mason reached up and removed his helmet, setting it on the bar beside him. "Mason Riley. You must be the one and only Mad Moxxi. Heard a lot of things about you."
"Really now?" she leaned on the bar with her elbow, chin resting on the palm of her hand with her breasts on proud display. "Good or bad?"
"Bit of both, honestly. But I have a feeling the rumors won't do you justice." replied the slayer.
Moxxi smiled with a slight clint in her eyes, "Aren't you a charmer. What can I get for you, sugah?"
"I'll get whatever Mordecai is getting. I'm still new in town." said Mason.
"Mase here is the newest member of the Raiders. Saved Lilith and helped us take down one of Jack's fucked up labs." said the hunter.
Moxxi smiled knowingly as she got their drinks, "Ah, so your the so called 'Juggernaut' a few of my regulars were talking about. Word is you wiped out a battalion of Jack's little tinmen, plus a Super-Badass, on your own."
"What can I say, I'm the best at what I do." Mason said before taking a long drink from the bottle of Rakk ale that had been set infront of him. Mordecai snorted into his own bottle while taking a drink as well.
Giving the slayer a long once over, Moxxi's lips curled into an appreciative smile. She liked what she saw, from his rugged and angular features with a handful of scars right down to the exotic red glowing eyes. And if he lugged around a suit of armor like that, it made her wonder what he had going under it.
"What brings a handsome devil like you to Pandora?" she asked as she started wiping the bar down. Her interest peaked with the new arrival.
"An unexpected pitstop. But compared to the last couple of places I was at it's actually like a vacation spot." said Mason with a casual shrug.
Moxxi raised a skeptical eyebrow, "Pandora? A vacation spot? What kind of hell did you come from to think that?"
Mordecai choked on his beer and coughed several times to clear his air ways while the slayer chuckled knowingly. "Lets just say that this place is nothing compared to the shit I've seen."
A hard tap on Mason's shoulder had him pause mid-drink. Looking back, he saw a bandit in old rusted armor that looked like components of other armor sets put together.
"That's my seat." he grunted with a sneer on his cracked lips.
The slayer regarded him for all of two seconds before turning back to his drink. "Hey! You hard a hearin'!" the bandit shouted, grabbing the shoulder plate of his suit. "Get the fuck outta here before I-"
Mason hand clamped down hard on the bastard's and before snapping his elbow backwards, braking the arm between elbow and shoulder causing the shattered bone to explode out of the skin.
The bandit screamed in pain, grabbing at his shattered arm before the slayer got a better hold of it and forced it backwards. The exposed end of the bone stabbing through his right eye into his brain.
A casual flick to the forehead had the now dead bandit toppling over to the floor while Mason turned back around and went back to his drink as if nothing happened. The other patrons in the bar who bore witness to the sudden, very violent death stared at his back for several moments before going back to what they were doing.
"Brutal." Mordecai commented, as he turned back to the bar as well. "Never seen a guy killed with his own arm before."
Moxxi motioned to the bouncer on duty that day who then came over and dragged the body out to be dumped outside Sanctuary's walls. "Not like he killed anyone important. That one was always late with his tab." she said while getting both men another drink.
The slayer reached into one of the pouches on the Praetor suit's belt and pulled out a small wad of money and set it on the bar. "I think that should cover the drinks, clean up and a tip for our badass bartender."
Taking the offering and slipping it into her ample cleavage, Moxxi blew a kiss at the new arrival. "You sure know how to treat a lady, sugah. Come on back anytime you feel the need of good company." she said seductively while trailing a finger along Mason's cheek. The barmaid then turned and went to tend to her other customers while swaying her hips in a way a blind man would have noticed.
"Looks like Moxxi's got her crosshairs on you, amigo." said Mordecai. "Better watch yourself."
Mason shrugged and started on his second beer, "Dangerous women are usually the most exciting."
X
After spending a couple hours familiarizing himself with Sanctuary and the various people who live there. Mason made his way back to the CR's headquarters after Mordecai went his own way with Bloodwing.
From there, the slayer grabbed a shower for the first time in what felt like forever. The water was cold, given how the plumbing was in the old building, but he could care less as the layers of dirt, grime, sweat and blood rolled off. When finished, he managed to find some clothes that fit. A sleeveless black shirt that was snug over his muscled upper half and a worn pair of digital camo fatigues.
It was strange, being outside the Praetor suit, but at the same time it was great to feel air on his skin again.
Leaving the bathroom, he almost ran into Lilith who was on her way to shower as well. "Whoa...so that's what you look like under all that metal." the Siren said while looking him up and down.
"Make all your dreams come true?" Mason teased back which had the red-head grinning and rolling her eyes.
"So how'd you like your little tour of Sanctuary?"
"Met Moxxi, gotta admit she's a bartender of a completely different caliber. Didn't mind when I killed one of her customers." the slayer said as though it were a casual thing.
Then again, given what he usually did, it was a casual thing.
"It's part of her charm, among other things." replied Lilith, having known the buxom barmaid for a few years now.
From the war room at the other end of the hall, Tannis appeared with her eyes glued to her echo on her way to her lab. "Mason, the little orphan you brought with you is thrashing in her sleep. I believe she is having a nightmare." she said as she walked past them.
Mason was on the move instantly, entering the barracks and finding Tina tossing and turning in her sleep. Loud whines and whimpers escaping with each movement, making her sound like a wounded animal.
"Tina? Tina, wake up! You're okay! It's only a dream!" the slayer said, shaking her as lightly as he could.
The little girl's eyes snapped open, pupils dilated in terror as she lashed out with her tiny hands. Mason took several hits to the face, but they may as well have been gusts of wind compared to the hits he'd taken before.
Taking the tiny fists in his hands, Mason brought Tina forward and hugged her to his chest as she continued to thrash for another couple of minutes before she started to calm down. The hands that had been hitting and scratching at him were now gripping his shirt tight enough to tear a couple of seams, her face buried in his chest as she sobbed loudly.
The slayer kept his hold on her firm and gentle, telling her everything was okay and that he was there.
"Th-They're g-gone." Tina whimpered, "M-Mommy...Daddy...I...I'm all alone..."
"No, you're not." Mason said, pulling back enough to look into her sad and broken eyes. "You're mom and dad will always be with you. And you'll never be alone, because I'm not going to leave you. I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it. No matter what."
More tears fell from blue eyes before Tina burrowed her face back into the slayer's chest and started to cry again. Mason just held her, running a hand over her head and through her hair. Offering what comfort he could to the broken little girl.
From the doorway, Lilith watched the interaction with no shortage of amazement. It was hard to believe that someone who was capable to slaughtering the hordes of Hell with his bare hands was so compassionate and gentle to a little girl who had lost her family.
A smile graced the Siren's lips before she left the two alone. Mason was definitely something else, and if she were honest, she really wouldn't mind getting to know him a lot more now that he was part of the Raiders.
X
Within her secured bunker above Thousand Cuts, Angel was looking over stream after stream of data that crossed her vision with rapt attention.
With Jack raging and trashing his office after the sudden and unexpected defeat of his loader forces against the unknown, armored being. The young Siren took the moment to slip away back to her physical form where she began going over the data she had collected on her own.
Unknown to Jack, she had a hidden access to Sanctuary's servers and could access them when she needed to as a means to help the Crimson Raiders as best she could. Jack may have been her father by blood, but he was the farthest thing from it in terms of love and compassion. Even more so with how he was ultimately using her for Hyperion's cyber warfare and as a battery to charge the Vault key against her will.
Shaking away the darker thoughts, Angel continued to go through what she had learned. Knowing full well that the unknown man would be taken to Sanctuary by Roland and the others, she saw the opportunity to learn more about him.
Imagine her surprise when she suddenly found her connection to the Crimson Raider's HQ cut off. Focusing her powers, she managed to slip back into them without being detected by whatever had blocked her...it was here that she spent a couple hours learning the shocking truth about this new arrival.
She didn't want to believe it...trying to play off some of the information as insane rambling...then she saw the footage. First hand accounts of a terrifying realm beyond their own filled with monsters that she was sure Jack wouldn't be able to handle ever.
Then the young Siren heard the testaments. The ones that told of a powerful warrior that struck terror in the hearts of these monsters but was imprisoned in a cursed tomb until he was discovered by humanity in another dimension. Only to be used and discarded when he was no longer useful to them.
Angel felt saddened for him, and bitter anger against those who used him and sealed him away for a countless number of years.
But now he was here, on Pandora, fighting with the Crimson Raiders against Jack and Hyperion. If this was the case...then the resistance stood a stronger chance of stopping them.
And possibly freeing her from her own personal Hell. It was a hope that she grasped onto with everything she had...coupled with the pull she had been feeling that was directed toward him made her feel like things would get better soon.
Just as she was closing out all the data she collected and covering them in security Jack would never be able to access. A small message appeared among that she hadn't seen the first time given she was so distracted by what she had learned.
What was displayed left her in a state of shock;
Greetings. I am VEGA...
X
On Athenas, Maya walked through the quiet streets of the small town that had been her home for many years.
After finding out what the Order of the Storm had been doing behind her back, using her as some kind of attack dog to collect money for their little cult and to keep people in line, she liberated herself by taking out the head priest who had essentially raised her since she was young.
The blue-haired Siren still felt the rage building inside of her, her tattoos glowing ethereal blue and purple in time with her emotions.
Taking several deep breaths to calm herself, Maya continued her path toward the small spaceport on the other side of the city. Intending on leaving this place behind her and to search for answers.
For the last week she had been having dreams. Ones depicting a desolate world under siege by unholy abominations that killed all in their path, and the warrior that stood against them and slaughtered them without mercy.
She also saw the same warrior approached by six women with glowing wings. How he protected them, and how they quelled his lust for battle.
Maya shook her head. There were so many questions that she needed answers to. About herself, about her Siren abilities...and about the unknown warrior that filled her dreams.
She needed to find out more...no matter what. Hoping the pull she had been feeling in her chest all this time would help lead the way for her
X
In another corner of the galaxy, in a darkened apartment in the slums of an unmanned city, a dark skinned woman with well defined muscles and long black hair was doing a set of pullups on a bar in her bedroom doorway.
The small amount of light coming through the window revealing her in nothing more than a purple sports bra and cargo pants. Sweat dripping down her arms, neck and back as she continued her workout.
The light also illuminating the mystical tattoos on her left side.
Ending her workout, Amara dropped down to the floor. Wiping sweat from her beautiful, scarred face before she turned her attention to the window and looked out into the night sky.
She too had been having the dreams, her thoughts plagued by an unknown warrior with a lust for battle that surpassed her own. Like the other Sirens, she was confused and intrigued by such images.
However, unlike the others, she was also turned on.
A warrior with that much lust for carnage and battle? It sounded like someone she wanted to find and get to know. And maybe see what he was capable of first hand. That was why she was leaving the following night.
She too was looking for answers, and wouldn't rest until she found them.
Grinning to herself, Amara went to grab a shower before hitting the sack. All the while feeling a soft pull in her chest that was trying to lead her somewhere far away.
X
On a planet thought to be nothing more than a myth. A young woman with short white hair was sitting on a rock looking up at the star filled sky with a hand to her chest. Wanting nothing more than to lead that planet and follow where this feeling was leading her.
She wanted to be free. To see the universe and blaze her own trails...but she was trapped here no matter how much she wanted to leave.
"Tyreen? Where are you?!" someone called out from a nearby cave.
The girl looked over her shoulder and scowled briefly. "Coming!" she shouted back before looking at the sky one last time with all the hope she had.
X
A/N: Looks like Mason's fitting in well and leaving an impression already, and farther than just Pandora apparently.
I may or may not consider making this story into a small harem pairing, though I'm still on the fence about it. So if anyone has any input on it, be sure to let me know and it'll make the decision come to me that much quicker. And any other ideas anyone might want to add, be sure to let me know that as well. I'm open to new ideas all the time.
Things will start heating up with more ripping and tearing next time, so be ready everybody!