Chapter 2 : Skags and Rakks
Bold For Titles and Special actions
Italics for Loot
Claptrap squirmed as he complained about his gunshot wounds angering Drax even more. 'I swear I'm going to rip this robot apart if it doesn't shut up!' Drax thought has his hand gripped the magnum's grip. Lilith walked over and inspected the robot with a repair kit on hand.
Roland standing over her shoulder assisting with basic repairs since he claimed that this was something he was good at. Lilith and Roland fixes claptrap good as new and he popped up like nothing happened. "Haha! I AM ALIVE!" Claptrap shouted and Brick had to place a hand on Drax's shoulder to keep him from shooting the bot.
Drax saw red and heard a roaring in his ears as the robot droned on and on about saving his life. Drax's hand shot instinctively to his shirt pocket on the jumpsuit and pulled out a silver case. The case held 4 small bright yellow vials and Drax grabbed one before placing it in an injector.
Brick released his hand from Drax's shoulder and Drax tilted his head enough to expose a vein in his neck. With one movement he injected the concoction into his blood and his body visibly relaxed.
Along with his body going numb, Drax felt muddled as the calming medicine spread throughout his body. Lilith and Brick noticed but neither said anything and opted to stair at the man. Said man walked to the nearest shade and fell flat on his back before passing out.
Roland and Mordecai now noticed this and watched as the stranger slept soundly in the blistering heat. Roland opened is mouth to bring this issue up to the group but as the start of the sentence began to form. Brick ran out the front gate that Claptrap opened and was already killing things.
These "things" were dog like creatures called Skags. Brick was only killing the smaller Skag pups since there wasn't any larger ones but that didn't mean they weren't dangerous. Razor sharp claws and teeth as well as an acidic bile that melts mostly everything it can fit into its mouth. Skags were dangerous but Brick just happened to be even more deadly.
Lilith followed close behind not noticing Roland about to speak. Mordecai looked at Roland before shrugging and following the group to hunt some skags. Roland turned away from the group to look back at Drax. Drax hadn't moved and seemed to be fast asleep despite all the action just a second ago.
Roland sighed before reloading his assault rifle and running off to help the others. When Roland turned around the left corner to where the spare machine was, Roland was met with a pile of corpses. The other three Vault Hunters had managed to kill enough of the skags to form a small pile of their corpses. Mordecai was allowing bloodwing to feast on the pile of bodies as they managed to grab the power coupler. When returning back as Mordecai and Brick had an argument about who killed more. Roland noticed that Drax was missing from the spot he slept.
"Did any of you see where Drax ran off to?" Roland interrupted the argument as he finally pointed out that Drax ran off. "I thought he was sleeping right there…." Mordecai pointed to the plot of shade where Drax once was only to now see it empty. Brick laughed at the two for their concern "didn't you see that man killing earlier? He can handle himself." Roland and Mordecai looked at each other before both simultaneously speaking "We don't have his echo number."
Lilith contributed to this by pointing out that Drax probably doesn't even know how to use his echo. Brick shrugged and muttered that the man didn't need a babysitter before going to install the power coupler at Zed's.
Somewhere nearby
There was a rather large wall preventing me from getting here. But it's not like it was meant specifically for me. Drax thought to himself as he wandered down a tunnel that was sealed off. Reaching the end of the tunnel was an open area that had some powered off shops and a natural entrance that opened up into canyon. Stepping out and ignoring the shops Drax was met with a large area to explore that hosted its fair share of baddies. A pack of skags (15 pups and 4 whelps) were fighting over a carcass of a rather large winged creature that looked reptilian.
Drax took this moment to unholster and aim Raijin at the pack. Drax flipped the switch on the revolver and the gun hummed as electricity started powering the rail gun barrel on top. Drax started whistling a tune catching the packs attention. All the skags turned to him and let out a roar that would be intimidating to most people. Drax didn't flinch and pulled the trigger firing off the rail gun with a ground quaking bang. Drax fell on his ass and his whole hand went numb after that shot from the magnum. When Drax looked to the pack he felt his jaw drop at the carnage from that single shot.
The single shot drilled through a straight line of the skags instantly killing 7 of the smaller ones and obliterating the 1 whelp it passed through. The other 8 pups were disoriented at stumbling around from the shockwave that occurred when their pack mates were hit. The other 3 whelps were shaking and looking up as the sky started becoming covered. Drax followed their sight to see a large number of the those reptilian bird creatures circling the back.
Drax scooted backwards and flicked the switch off on his gun before firing shots into the swarm above him. The shots tore through a few each one ripping the wings of the Pterodactyl like creatures. The shots would cleave through about 3 or 4 and drop the creatures to the ground where the impact killed them. This didn't do much to the swarm as more and more joined the circle of predators. Drax got and ran for the cave entrance and was reloading the rail gun shot for a second test fire. This set the swarm off, who dove at the pack of skags and ripped their bodies to pieces leaving nothing but a bloody stain to remind Drax where their bodies were. The swarm of easily 100 Reptilian creatures dove like cyclone to the fleeing Drax who finally finished reloading. Drax flipped the switch again and turned around aiming his railgun at the cyclone of bodies headed his way. The gun fell from his hand as the it kicked from the shot fired. The cyclone that lined up a straight shot became a bloody mist as the shot tore into the bodies of the swarm. The first 20 became nothing but blood and the remainder had to experience the bullet ricocheting through the crowd as it lost its velocity. The surviving few turned around and re-circled Drax as they looked for a new opportunity to attack. Drax grabbed his hand and grunted in pain before drawing his DAHL SMG and aiming skywards. Drax held the trigger and sprayed at the flying few, bringing them down in a torrent of gunfire.
The gun clicked empty as the last one hit the ground and with it so did Drax. Drax fell to his knees as the adrenaline surged through his body after such a high kill count. He smiled a maniacal smile and chuckled as blood rained from the sky after being launched upwards. His clothes were a deep red, no longer possessing any white on his body. Drax went into a full blown psychotic laughter as he peered into the pile of corpses in front of him.
When his episode finally wore off, Drax grabbed Raijin and switched it off after reholstering the magnum. The area was almost completely silent save for a small whimpering sound coming from a small crevasse in the wall nearby. Drax curious as to what was crying peered inside to find a tiny hand sized Skag pup trying to crawl away from him. Drax reached into the crevasse and tried to grab the Skag only to be nipped on his middle finger. Drax instinctively pulled back before much more forcefully pulled the Skag from its hiding spot. Drax stared at the Skag and before grabbing a nearby corpse and offering it as food. Drax watched it squirm in his grip but no longer whimpering as it tried and failed to free itself.
Drax let the poor thing down and the Skag tentatively nipped the food before looking up at Drax. Said man didn't move and instead watched as the Skag wholeheartedly accepted the offering and scarfed down the corpse. The Skag roared at Drax as it turned to the other bodies and started feasting. Drax watched the Skag eat as the debated what he was going to do with the creature.
Fyrestone
The four Vault Hunters purchased their shields and restocked on ammunition before accepting the next task that Doctor Zed gave them. The quest was simple "go check and see if T.K. Baha was still alive" one of the few citizens of fyrestone had stopped broadcasting when the town was besieged by Nine Toes crew.
The Vault Hunters just had to make sure that he was still alive in his home on the cliff nearby. Roland accepted immediately while Brick looked bored at the request and followed the self appointed group leader. Mordecai was watching Bloodwing preen herself as the group started moving. "Did we ever happen to find Drax?" Lilith spoke up as they left town.
"Not a clue amiga, amigo went AWOL after his drug usage." Mordecai responded from the back of the group as he peered down the scope of his rifle at the bandit camp across the road. Brick retorted "I said it once and I will say it again! The man is a badass we don't need to babysit him"
From inside the canyon
Drax sneezed and looked around before shrugging and inspect the corpses that weren't being consumed.
Outside of Fyrestone
"Brick i'm telling you that we aren't against that idea but it's best to know since he is also a Vault Hunter like us." Roland responded from the front of the line as the passed the entrance of the bandit camp and onto the beginnings of a farm.
A man with red hair wearing welder goggles and a blue hawaiian shirt sat in front of them. The man grabbed a shotgun near his side and drew it
"YOU! One more step and it will be your last!" The man started laughing
"You should have seen the look on your face hehe"
The laughter abruptly stopped and the man went back to staring in the general direction of the group. The Vault Hunters just stared at him for a moment before Roland spoke up "are you T.K. Baha?"
TK Baha stared in his direction for a moment before mumbling "not one for jokes huh." Brick snickered along with Lilith and when Roland turned to glare at them they both acted like it wasn't them. TK in turn snickered as well but was far more blatant about it. TK finished and cleared his throat before spelling it out for Roland "Yes, you see here I am T.K. B.A.H.A."...
I told you he spelt it out. Mordecai rolled his eyes and noticed a Skag digging around the crops next to the porch with TK. Mordecai motioned for Bloodwing who without a said leapt off his shoulder and silently flew to the Skag before diving it and tearing into the beast with its claws.
TK seemed unphased or perhaps he didn't see it but he didn't bat an eye at the carnage that now drew the other Vault Hunters attention.
TK cleared his throat as he asked "would y'all mind doing me a favor. Ya see some skags broke into my food storage and stole all the grub. Now i have nothing to eat and would probably die all on my own." Lilith cut him off "So you want us to get the food back? Are you sure it wasn't already eaten?" TK laughed before shaking his head. "I'm sure it isn't since I added a little something to make them think otherwise."
Roland sighed before hefting his rifle up a little bit more and entering the shed to find a trail.
That Same Canyon
Drax was kneeled down staring at the tiny pup skag that was sitting in front of him wiggling its back end left and right as it stared back at him. Drax scratched the side of his head with the magnum as he tried to decide what to do with the pup. Drax sighed and stood up turning his head towards an overpass that lead to some form of lookout. Drax started walking towards the overhang to pass underneath it as he heard footsteps behind him.
Drax looked over his shoulder and downwards to find the pup right behind and sitting down again. Drax stared back for a few seconds before walking ahead while looking at the pup. The Skag pup tilted its head cutely at him before following close behind. Drax stopped walking and grabbed the pup with one hand before placing it precariously on his shoulder.
The Skag pup loved this and attacked his face with its worm like tongue. Drax tilted his from the onslaught before walking forward and aiming his magnum. A nest of skags was to his right and the left was a pond that had a gravestone. Regardless Drax knew a fight was coming and he wanted to start it. Drax fired into the nest hoping to hit something hiding inside and bringing the fury of its guards. Drax grinned and the Skag pup tensed, this was going to be fun!
Fyrestone
The Vault Hunters minus Drax were discussing plans to fight Nine-Toes after replenishing. The group was going to destroy that metal wall and head into Skag Gully to finish the threat once and for all. As the Angel said help Fyrestone with its Nine Toes problem and they can help find the Vault.
Brick and Mordecai were already waiting at the metal wall having cleared the nests beforehand. Roland and Lilith were talking to TK Baha who asked them that while they're there if they wouldn't mind killing a Skag named scar that ate his leg and killed his wife. Roland agreed and turned to leave before TK Baha called for him holding a finger to the echo on his table.
"Be careful out there, I just heard from one of the old claptraps that is stuck on the ridge that a massive storm of Rakks easily numbering somewhere in the hundreds was just killed." Roland turned his head to peer over his shoulder at that. "Before you think that i'm saying this because I don't have faith in you, guess again." TK took a shuddering breath "those Rakks made a huge nest in those hills and are constantly fighting Skags in order to eat. A swarm that big can kill almost everything and whatever killed it must be dangerous." Roland didn't respond and walked off as Lilith watched him before looking at TK "don't worry no matter how strong they might be if the four of us work together then we can kill anything." Lilith walked off after saying that as TK laughed at the enthusiasm as she left hearing range TK stopped laughing and muttered "Just make sure you come back, ok?"
Skag Gully
Drax made it to the lookout and found a bench with a gun crate and an Echo next to it. Drax opened the Gun crate finding a new sniper and some kind of back of grenades. Drax swung the rifle onto his back by a sling that he made from a winged reptile's tail.
Drax noticed a massive Skag earlier from on top of the of lookout and was actively searching for it when he heard a massive explosion from behind him. The explosion sounded far off and Drax wasn't worried about it as you started rock climbing up a cliffside. Drax did see a ramp earlier but it wasn't lowered and Skags had built a nest in the ditch where it dropped off. Instead to save energy and bullets Drax decided to climb. When Drax pulled himself over the edge and laid on his back to catch a breather. The Skag stood above him looking down with saliva drooling onto Drax's face.
Time seem to slow as they stared at each other for a second. Drax as fast as he could used his hands to serve as support. Drax then pushed himself forwards (horizontally) to slide away from the Skag right as it tried to bite into him. Drax in mid motion planted one hand against the ground and used to to propel himself vertically. While in the air he righted himself and landed with his knees slightly bent. The Skag that now Drax can tell was a veteran at fighting with its missing leg and scarred eye, charged straight towards Drax with its head lowered. Drax rolled left avoiding the charge and moving from the cliffs edge. Hands moved like a gunslinger and Drax fired three of eight shots into the front of the Skag. Each shot pinged off the armor and got stuck inside it's tough plating. The Skag turned and roared at Drax before running at him. The Skag whipped its head as neared with its long worm like tongue slamming into Drax's torso. The air was knocked out of Drax's lungs and he fell to the side. While feigning immobility Drax flicked the switch on his railgun.
The Skag wasted no time and charged directly at Drax leaping when it neared with its front claw
raised. Drax fired the Raijin and it tore off the remaining frontal leg. The railgun shot drilled a hole through the Skag's stomach and freed a prosthetic limb that was in there. The Skag bile fell into the dirt and ate away at the ground before dissipating. The skag crashed into the ground and slid to a stop in front of Drax. Drax stood up and pressed his side as he felt for the depth of his injuries. Four broken ribs and a large lash on his side told its story very well. Drax turned to the Skag who rumbled pathetically before mounting it. Drax finally noticed some form of buzz axe and sword on it. While studying the buzz axe Drax fired a normal magnum round into the Skag's skull ending its suffering.
Drax removed the weapon and held it up to the sky as a familiar whimpering was heard. Drax looked down surprised that the Skag pup followed him all the way here. "Drax is that you?" Drax glanced up and saw the other Vault Hunters each looking at him with either surprise or disgust. Brick laughed "now that's what I call a badass! He took down Scar and is covered in blood!" Mordecai nodded in approval but his eyes never left the Skag pup.
"Jesus Drax, here I was worried about you and for good reason it looks like." Lilith shook her head at how gross Drax looked with his once white jumpsuit now being dark red. Roland grinned "damn, now that's how a soldier does it."
Mordecai finally spoke up "Hey, Drax is that your Skag pup?" Drax glanced down at the Skag who was hiding behind Scar's body. Drax looked at Mordecai and nodded as his face broke into a smile from his normally stoic look.
Lilith noticed the Skag Finally along with the other Vault Hunters noticing as well.
"It's cute!" exclaims Lilith
"What's its name?" Mordecai cut Lilith off
Drax's smile widened even further
"his name is Reikon."
To Be Continued
Author's Note
I would like to thank all of you for stopping and reading this far into the story. I was a little apprehensive to write another FanFic especially with Borderlands 3 now confirmed in release.
I would personally like to thank
Reikon67
Lord Zoma
Eggers
For following and favoriting this story. Each one gave me motivation to write more and while I wanted to make this chapter longer I felt that this would be the best spot to end it.
Thank you all again, HostFyre