YOSH! This is Squalo King with a new chapter of Demon of Pandora.
Maya: Disclaimer; Squalo King does not own anything in relation in the Borderlands series. All he really owns in the Ocs which include Lee, the main protagonist. Enjoy.
Krieg: ARM-LESS BOXER FLIES WITH HIS LEGS HIGH(Back from Hiatus, but no set schedule)
Eye on the eyeball
Claptrap's Home
After their much Claptrap's home was a more comfortable than the glacier waste, though the inside wasn't the best improvement; The floor was made from the same ice and snow as outside, the walls were made from ice cubs that also decorated the interior along along with some corpses, with a dead Claptrap units and scrap metal, discarded signs, come containers and at the wall was a large furnace that almost looked like a mouth with two eyes, a table, three other doors to separate rooms and more. Some lights were adorned to light the room, which only showed how tattered and destitute the place was. Lastly the furnace had a large pipe that lead up a skylight in the area.
When they were led inside Angel asked for their attention, to sit somewhere so she could explain things to them. Axton and Maya sit in chairs from the table. Gaige sits on the floor with Deathtrap while using what scrap she collected for repairs. Krieg was busy playing with the husk of Claptrap units like they were dolls. Zer0 was leaning against the wall. And lastly Salvador had pulled out two ice blocks for him and Lee to sit on with Claptrap next to Lee. With all of them in alive and in attendance, their Claptrap "master" to guide them across the glacier, their mysterious friend Angel showed her on a projection from Lee's HUD. She appears on the wall like a theater screen and tells them a story.
"It was one 5 years ago when I met them; Mordecai, Lilith, Roland and Brick." said Angel. "A group of Vault Hunters that traveled to Pandora in search of the Vault that was said to have a planets worth of treasure.
Lilith's name made Lee, Gaige and Maya's ears perk up.
"So she was a Vault Hunter too," uttered Maya.
"And she fought with three others," said Lee.
"I'm more interested in the treasure and Vault part, but please go on," said Axton.
"They fought alongside each other, jumping into danger whenever it showed its face to them." said Angel. "Bandits Lords, Atlas Soldiers, monsters and even Guardians fell in their wake, all of Pandora would know their names."
"Guardians, seriously?!" said Lee surprised. He nearly jumps out of his seat at the mention of them. He caught the attention of all in the room.
"What the hall are those?" asked Axton. "Judging by your reaction I'm guessing they're some kind of trouble. Lee scratched the back of his head and spoke.
"Think of them like androids that guard Vault secrets, they're strong and they aren't human," said Lee. Maya looks at Lee in a suspicious manner. "They move around like crazy, they can take out a group of people in moments."
Zer0's mask then made :(ง ͠° ͟ل͜ ͡°)ง
"Where did he see them, I never saw any any on my planet?" Maya thought.
"After bloody trials and tribulations the group had found the key, though stolen by Atlas, it opened the Vault to a monster known as the Destroyer," Angel's tone was more somber and fearful when mentioning the "Destroyer"
"Whats the Destroyer?" asked Axton
"A planet and star eating monster, all of the books on my planet mention it," Maya holds up her book, "Even this one, it one of the worst creature in existence,"
"Planet and star eating monster is probably bad, right?" asked Gaige," Maya nods.
"A living apocalypse, that's what my mom called it," said Lee. "So yeah Gaige, it would be bad if it got out,"
"How do you know about it, or the Guardians?" asked Maya. Her tone was a bit wary of Lee's knowledge. The others in the room then looked to their fist fighting comrade. Lee stiffened a bit, but answers.
"I may have met some of them before, nearly killed me too," said Lee, "And as for the walking apocalypse, from my mom's stories,"
"Your parents told you stories, and you still couldn't find anything out?" asked Gaige.
"Hey those old tales could only get me so far," said Lee.
Maya eyes Lee, unsatisfied with the answer, but leave it alone for the time being.
"You keep giving it that name, but since we're all alive tat means they killed it, right Angel?" asked Axton desperately.
"Yes, but from that battle a valuable mineral sprung up from Pandora as if from legends, as if the corpse of the Destroyer acted as fertilizer for the planet,"
"Eridium," uttered Lee. "Wait, so Jack didn't open the Vault then,"
"Nope, he's nothing but a worthless coward and Liar," said Angel. Lee could almost feel the hatred from her voice.
"I knew it!" yelled Gaige. Everyone jumps at the sound of her voice. The anger on her face was as visible as the sun in the sky. She was red with her eyes twitching, her hands gripping her wrench tightly enough to seem like it would snap and Deathtrap looked worried for his creators state of mind
"I knew it was just propaganda, fucking Hyperion fascist jackboot fucks!" yelled Gaige. "Of course they take credit for what the Vault Hunters did, especially the Siren!"
"Geez kid calm down, and try not to cuss so much," said Axton. He holds his hands up nervously, hoping his fan doesn't aim her aggression for Hyperion at him..
"She really hates those guys," uttered Lee.
"Jack used that lie as a means to obtain power and means to mine more of it for weapons, other companies followed and buy Eridium from Hyperion," said Angel.
"Making Jack more money, gotta admit that's a smart business model," said Axton "Course I can sell from face alone,"
Lee, Maya and Zer0 groan upon hearing that.
"Jack and his crew went up against the Vault Hunters before you all; Mordecai, Lilith, Roland and Brick. He beat them all," said Angel.
"What, he beat all of them?!" asked Gaige in shock and disappointment. There was a rock in stomachs off all who heard Angel's words; made from nervousness, fear, shock and even anger toward the man who tried to kill them. Maya then stands up and goes up to Angel, desperation covered her face like a mask.
"What happened to them, to Lilith?!" she asked. The air was filled with suspense, it was a question that many wanted the answer too. However Claptrap wheels over to the group and speaks,
"Oh she's dead, Jack killed her" said in a strangely jovial tone.
They all look Claptraps way, the silence was deafening as they stare daggers at the little robot. Claptrap looks at all of them and shrugs.
"What, its true." he said. Angel nods somberly.
"Unfortunately it is, Jack, Sheriff Nisha, and his strongest robotic soldier, Wilhelm," said Angel. "Roland and his team fought them in New Haven and lost, out of the four only Lilith died that day,"
There was a deafening silence, the only things that could be heard was the sound of the furnaces fire crackling. All astounded, baffled and disturbed by the fact that Jack was capable of suck a thing. Maya herself felt like his heart was sinking and Maya was no better. The slayers of the Destroyer, the legendary star-eater, were brought down by a man they believed they had outsmarted. Not to mention that they wish for not only the Vault, but revenge whilst they had no weapons or plan of their own. It was very unnerving, the feeling would have stayed if it was for,
*SNORE*
A snore rung through the air, everyone quickly scans the room fro the source. The group then all look to Salvador who was asleep while sitting in his seat. The group was collectively relieved and annoyed that he was doing this, again.
"Damn it Salvador," Lee punches Salvador in his side "Wake up you dumbass,"
Salvador snaps away, he looks around with eyes that adjust to the light of the room. He looks around frantically and remembers where he was.
"Huh whe- oh yeah, what were we talking about?" asked Salvador.
"Jack can kill a siren, that's insane," uttered Maya without skipping a beat.. Salvador then expressed more interest than worry compared to the others. However he looked at Maya and decided not to speak of his excitement of a fight.
It was at this moment chills ran up Maya's spine. She tugs at her tattooed arm. In her mind she was think over and over what Jack would have done to her. Krieg notes this and tilts his head, he tosses the Claptrap corpses off to the side and walks over to Maya.
"Pretty Lady?" said Krieg. May then smiles at Krieg
"Don't worry big guy, I'm just thinking about stuff." said Maya. Krieg stares at Maya for a while and then goes back to playing with the broken robots.
"Liar, don't let that Jack bastard near her," said Krieg's sane half.
Gaige looked over at Lee. Remembering how he had tried to stop her, Deathtrap and Salvador.
"Damn, I guess going at him guns blazing, grenades flying was dumb.," said Gaige. "Thanks Lee, you really saved me and DT!" She seemed to strain herself saying that, hating that she couldn't kill Jack the way she wanted.
Lee gave a thumbs up and grins.
"Your welcome," said Lee. He looks at Angel. "What about Roland, Brick and Mordecai, what happened to them?"
"Roland is leading the Crimson Raiders, a group of resistance fighters against Jack, Mordecai is also a member." said Angel, "I don't know the details, but Brick doesn't seem to be affiliated with them at the moment,"
"They split up, like the Scarabs?" asked Axton. Lee looked at Axton with an arched eyebrow,
"The who?" asked Lee. Angel interjected before a conversation could start.
"As of now the Crimson Raiders are station in the one place that is safe from Handsome Jack and Hyperion, Sanctuary." said Angel. "A place for all who would not surrender to Jack or Bandit Lords."
*Yawn*
"Eh, the place seems is always a drag to me," said Salvador. Lee facepalms himself
"You've been there?" asked Lee, "Salvador you never mentioned to me a safe place from Hyperion the entire time we were together," He then points at Gaige causing the others to look at her.
Salvador picks at his head and blows his finger, causing some to wince in disgust. He shrugs, unaffected by Lee's annoyed behavior.
"You never asked, Sanctuary is no where near the Hyperion Train's route," said Salvador. "Course its not on this ice cube I can tell you that," He gestures to the area around him.
They all look at Claptrap since he was the one that suggested he had a way to Sanctuary.
"Alright 'Master' fess up, how can book it to Sancturary?" asked Axton.
"Oh that, I have a ship," said Claptrap. The all look at each other, then to Claptrap. He then wheels over to the furnace, garnering the attention of the others.
"A ship, are we really that far from land?" asked Lee, "I mean we rode a train here,"
"Oh yeah, heck this place has tones of ships that crashed into the glacier," said Claptrap in his humorous tone. "Tones of people froze to death, ate each other, were killed of by bandits or Bullymongs." Claptrap then remembers, "Oh and they shot themselves in the face!"
Not a single word uttered inspired hope, confidence or even a slight bit of humor could be found in Claptrap's words. Lee looked over at the others, their reactions were leveled, not really afraid of dying in the manner that Claptrap had listed, but looking hopeful about the ship. Lee looks at Angel who had been quiet the entire time.
"Trust me, he's the best chance to Sanctuary, to safety," said Angel. "Jack tried to kill you once, he'll do it again when he gets the chance and he won't hold back," Her tone was cautious and stern, Angel seemed worried herself. Her picture vanishes from this Lee signed and got off of his ice block seat. He caught the attention of the room.
"Well if that ship is the only thing keeping us from dying like those others, then lets go to the boat," said Lee, He looks back at the others with some semblance of confidence in this course of action.
"What do y'all say?"
Maya smiles and stands up from her chair and starts stretching.
"Great, I never got to ride a boat before," said Maya. Axton smirked at Maya and put his hands behind his back. "Good thing cause I think I can't swim," This was a questioned asked in a genuine tone, but only to be answered for later.
"Float like a butterfly, scream like a child!" yelled Krieg
Axton then stood from his chair. He walks closer to Lee for protection, to keep Krieg from going crazy from any sudden movement in Maya's direction.
"You're gonna enjoy it, just don't get seasick trust me happened to some bunk-mates of mine," said Axton confidently "Leave that tidbit out and it can be bracing, the waves crashing against the boat,"
"I hope I don't get seasick again," thought Axton.
"Across the seas to open the Vault," said Axton loudly, He stands with his finger to the sky and legs apart in a pose. Gaige smiled at Axton's bravado.
"This is gonna be so bitchin'" said Gaige, Gaige then stands up "Heading to a resistance compound, traveling with bad-ass Vault Hunters She then pats Deathtrap on his head, the now fixed death machine. Deathtrap then floats in the air and spins around causing Gaige to instinctively duck his arms. He bobs up and down mimicking Gaige's enthusiasm
*Hopeful Robot noises*
Zer0, having not said a word the entire time, gets off the wall and walks toward the others as they were getting on their feet. His mask shows :˙ ͜ʟ˙
"A Grand endeavor/ Escape the Frozen Wasteland/" his makes shows:(ಥ﹏ಥ), "Maybe Find my sword," said Zer0. Unexpectedly upon mention his sword his tone seemed hopeful and depressed. Lee and Axton winced when they remembered what Krieg had done to it.
"HA HA, PHALLIC LIGHTNING BUG CAN'T BIT!" Yelled Krieg. Krieg then points at Zer0 with a severed Claptrap clamps. Teasing him..Zer0 looks in Krieg's direction, his mask now showing (ง'̀-'́)ง. He really wanted his sword back right now..
*Hearty Laugh*
Salvador's laugh echoes through Claptrap's home, it shakes the interior slightly. Bits of snow and ice fall from the walls and ceiling for a moment and then stop as Salvador's laughter. Some of the group cover their heads from the falling snow and ruffles their hair to clean their heads of it.
"Perfect, now we can shoot stuff and get off this icy bitch," Salvador jumps from his ice block and onto his feet. He rubs his ass due to the moistness and cold accumulated. 'Lets roll,".
"Salvador, do you have any guns to shoot our way off of this icy bitch?" asked Axton. The gunless mercenaries then look Salvador's way.
"Please say yes because we're all fucked if you're don't," his tone was slightly hopeful. Remembering the powerhouse of guns that Salvador carried Gaige and Deathtrap caused the two too look at Salvador with anticipation.
Salvador nods for a moment, but then shakes his head. In response Salvador's answer the entire group either groan and sigh expecting such a thing. Zero shrugs and giv
"Still no guns, should've expected that" said Lee bluntly.
"I expected you to be strapped, what happened?" asked Axron
Salvador chuckles to himself, thinking about the event.
Hours ago
Out in the snowy tundra there was a large amount of scrap metal, smoking and broken from the train explosion. In the area a small mound of snow was located
"AHHH, HIJO DE PUTA!"
A roar of anger erupts as the Vault Hunters known as Salvador . As the ice cold air and snow assaults his body. As he climbs out of the snow like a gopher he looks at his surroundings. Snow and ice everywhere, piece of the train rode by him and his comrades scattered while some were smoldering. Harsh winds blew through the land carrying the snow that fell from the sky and on the glacier , hitting his skin and nearly freezing him. From what he could see it was frozen tundra for miles and no sign of Lee, Gaige, Deathtrap, and his new allies.
"HEY NINO, YOU OUT THERE?!" he yelled, he heard his own voice echo,"ROBO GIRL,DEATHRRAP!"
No one answered back and he saw no sign of his friends. Salvador then walks around for a bit, his shoes making a crunching sound in the snow. His body ached from the crash, but he trucked on through it. Although he was not with his comrades and he had no clue where he was; however he was focused enough to plan his next step of action.
"I need a drink," he said loudly. Salvador then roots through his SDU for any alchohal that he had, but pulling out bottle after bottle he discovered that they were all empty or broken. He tosses all the bottles and any broken pieces into the snow.
"GODDAMNIT, all dry." he folds his arms, "I should've kept that gasoline," he mumbles to himself.
He wondered where his friends where. Though sure that they were hurt he had no doubts that they were still alive. Call it his manly intuition, or better yet a guess. He then checks his SDU again and sees that its filled with all his guns; rifles, shotguns, pistols, SMGs,, full of ammo and even grenades. He pulled out the Hyperion gun that Lee had give Salvador and shoots a couple of rounds into the snow. He then kisses the barrel..
"Magnifico, my guns still live!" he said happily. He puts his new favorite gun away, "Now to find Nino, while he's not a Popsicle." Salvador shuddered at the thought, "He'd taste horrible,"
Although he was not sure about where he was or even what direction he should go in, Salvador walks forward to find his friends. He didn't mind the harsh conditions and made his way through like it was a clear sunny day.
For a while Salvador trekked the icy places of the Windshear Waste. Not guided by a single thing but his gut, astounding faith in his survival skills and hope of locating his friends and liquor. Though he was prepared to fight he had no enemies appear before him. The only dangers that appeared present was freezing to death and the sound of a maddening roar in the distance.
"What the hell was that?" he asked himself. Salvador then rubs the back of his head. "Sounded like a Rakhive on fire," He draws his guns, "Sounds like a party!" he yelled. He then ran in the direction of the voice. However on his own Salvador's sense of direction was a bit skewed, he ended up wandering around like no tomorrow. Rather than finding the source of the scream he ended up getting more lost than ever.
"Where the hell am I?!" he yelled. He scans the area again the snow had let up and the sky was beginning to clear. Nothing he saw was familiar to him, which lead him to wander even more. Soon he sees a strange building withing a large icy mound surrounded by garbage. There was a large holographic sign standing among the mound of garbage in front of the building that said read: WELCOME.
"Santo infierno, who lives in this craphole?" he asked. He approaches the building. He stumbles over to the door, trying not to trip on any ice or snow. He knocks on the door.
"Nino you in there?!" he yelled. "Robo-girl, Deathtrap," he yells louder. He knocks on the door, "Bruja, Krieg, Guy whose name I can't remember!" Not a single one of them answers.
"Hmm, Nino might wanna stay in here," He puts his hands on his hips, " His nipple are probably rock hard out here," said Salvador in a joking manner. He remembered the explosion, "Probably scratched up too, Robo-girl and Deathtrao too,"
Salvador pulls and pushes against the door with all his might, but no avail. He punches the door, but it didn't make a dent. He walks away then picks up a large piece of scrap.
"BATTER UP!" he yelled, and hit the door. Any hopeful look he had vanished when the door was intact. "Fine then, you wanna act tough," Salvador then pulls out a pair of Vladof Riffles,"Then lets play!" he cheered. He pulls the trigger of both,
*Click* *Click*
No bullets flew from the barrels of the guns
"That the hell!" yelled Salvador. He pulls the triggers again only to hear the same sound.
"Damn, empty." said Salvador. He tosses his guns behind him. He then pulls out a pair of shotguns and aim at the door. He pulls the triggers.
*Click* *Click*
"What the-"he tosses them aside 'I'm not done yet!" he said angrily. He then pulls out a pair of pistols.
*Click* *Click*
SMGs
*Click* *Click*
Rocket Launchers
*Click* *Click*
"HIJO DE PUTA! Have I been drained!?" Salvador cried out. He pulls every gun out of his SUD only to find them empty as the last. He tossed each empty gun behind him creating a pile of empty guns behind him. Soon his SUD was emptied of all his weapons.
"Damn, no ammo." he looks somberly at the sky, "A man without ammo on Pandora is ángel without wings." He looks deeper in his SUD for any grenades,
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*
Just then a sharp sound beeping noise rung in the cold air. It pierces Salvador's ears causing great pain.
"Ahh, what is that?!" he asked. He looked behind him and saw the source of the noise. At the top of the pile of guns Salvador could see the gun that Handsome Jack had given Lee and passed on to him.
"What the, an alarm clock built in?" He questioned loudly. He walks over to the pile of guns and picks up the Hyperion Pistol. He sees a blinking light on the handle that matched the rhythm of the beeping noise.
"What the-"
Then, like a barrel full of dynamite, the gun explodes in fire and destruction. Salvador is caught in the blast with all of his guns. A pier of smoke rises from the area as the explosion vanishes as quickly as it came. Fire and broken guns were scattered everywhere with Salvador lying in the center of a crater.
*Snore*
He wasn't dead, he had been knocked unconscious. He snores like a drunken hippo and would not awaken until "gently" woken by Lee.
Present
"The gun I gave you was booby trapped?!" asked Lee in shock. He shook Salvador's shoulders, shaking him like a rag-doll. Salvador nods like a bobble-head as the others were stricken with shock and confusion.
"That just keeps happening to you, are frickin' cursed?" asked Gaige. As she turned to Lee. Deathtrap then trembled once he had heard Gaige's reasoning. Lee crossed his arms irritated at the statement.
"Its not like I blew up," he countered back.
"No, just the short-stack," said Gaige. Lee grumbles.
"Why would you give him a gun that would explode?" asked Maya looking directly at Lee.
"I didn't know it would explode, but I was from Jack after I 'tricked' him into letting me on the train," he folds his arms and sighs, "Still I should've guess that it would go off, sorry Salvador," said Lee in a sincere tone. Salvador merely pats him on the back.
"Don't sweat it," said Salvador. "It was pretty dumb of you to give it to me," Lee's coming smile turned into a frown at the last portion of the statement. Zer0 merely nods at the statement.
"Hey I would've made the same mistake, but probably not though, "said Axton, Lee grumbled to himself.
"WEAR A HELMET, IT FRIES IN THE SUN!" mocked Krieg.
"Oh don't be a baby I couldn't find anything wrong with it either, won't happen again though," said Gaige. Deathtrap then pats Lee on the head like he was a dog.
"Well at least you two are nice about it," said Lee. Maya noticed the display and interjected.
"This is nice and all, but to summarize we have no weapons," said Maya curtly. The others were silent until Lee made some observations.
"Guns, no. "he looked at Salvador, Grenades?" he asked subtly, his vagabond friend shook his head,
"No grenades either." Lee takes a deep breath and stands up straight, , "but we do have your siren powers," he stated. Maya's arm glows pridefully, she smirks. Lee turns his head to Krieg.
"Me and Krieg haven't even used guns and we can throw down," stated Lee. "And Zer0's pretty handy without his sword even," He almost flexes his muscles and gets into a fighting stance. Zer0 however responds as this,
"(ಥ﹏ಥ)"
"My blade is now gone,/I can still fight to the death/I must get it back." said Zer0
"CLAMS OF LAUGHTER BITE UPON THE FINGERS OD CHILDREN!" yelled Krieg. He picks up is buzz-axe and slams it into one of the Clap-corpses.
"AHH, my dead uncle, Phil-trap!" yelled Claptrap. Lee looks at Claptrap apologetically.
"Sorry about that," said Maya," But you are right, we can probably make it on our own until we can get our own weapons," Claptrap then wheeled himself into the middle of the room.
"Oh yeah with all of this completely useless and constant chatter I forgot to mention that I keep a gun in the cabinet." Claptrap stated in a blunt yet cheery manner. The others e
"What, you had a gun this entire time and said nothing?" asked Lee angrily
"Oh, this guy is gonna be frustrating isn't he?" asked Gaige with her hands on her hips.
"Not cool dude," said Maya.
"Relax, I've never used it." he wheels over to the furnace " sure there are Bullymongs and Raks in the sky, but we should be safe in here." Claptap stated in a matter of fact tone. "Now come over here by the fire unsuspectingly with me with our guards down,"
*Crunch* *Crunch* *Growl*
A large growl echoed in the air and into the room. The others looked around for the source with Claptrap cowering in his boxed form. The prepare themselves as best they could, thought they could not arm themselves. Small pieces of ice feel from the ceiling as a large thumbing noise was made above them.
"Okay, that does not sound safe" said Maya she readied her siren arm to use her powers.
"Claptrap where's the cabinet with the gun?!" yelled Lee. Axton then spots a cabinet on the other side of the room. He rushes over and breaks the doors off, to his delight he sees a Dahl pistol all primed for shooting.
"Yes, gun!" he yelled with glee.
*ROAR*
At the same time a large white furred 6 armed gorrila creature breaks into Claptraps home through the skylight off the room and quickly climbing down the iron pipe of the furnace.
"What the hell!" yelled Lee in shock . "That's a Bullymong!?"
Deathtrap then floats in front of Giage to protect her. Its energy claws ready to slice and dice.
"FLUFFY BUNNY!" yelled Krieg. He merely waives at it while Zero looked around for anything useful to use.
"No, it Knuckle Dragger!" yelled Claptrap. The beast reaches out to grab him. Claptrap tries to run away, but Knuckle Dragger grabs him by the back of his head. It then begins to climb up the furnace.
"AHHH! HELP!" Begged the robot.
"Claptrap!" yelled Lee. He and Zer0 then jumped as high as they could to knock Knuckle Dragger off of the pipe. However the monster intercepts him with a swing of his arm and knocks them both over to Axton as he was about to shoot him.
"Oh cra-"
They crash into each other as Axton was about to take his first shot. Groaning in pain Lee quickly rolls off of Axton as the former soldier gasps for breath. "W-We can't let it take Claptrap,"
Zer0 quickly gets on his knee and throws a set of icicles he picked up from the ground. He skillfully tosses them in the monster's direction like shuriken. Knuckle Dragger merely swatted at them
"Right. we need the boat!" yelled Salvador. He then started throwing whatever piece of garbage tbat he could find at the Bullymong, only to miss every time and occasionally hit Clatrap.
As Knuckle Dragger climbed higher Maya crated a Phaselock bubble around Claptrap and pulled him away from Knuckle Dragger.
"I'm saved!" yelled the little Robot. Howeve this was short lived as Knuckle Dragger grabs Claptrap as he floated in his energy bubble, grasping him by the eye. "NO,I'M DOOMED!" Claptrap yelled. It became a game of tug-of-war. Maya pulled Claptrap back as much as she could, but Knuckle Dragger's strength was too much.
"Maya, get Claptrap!" begged Lee.
"I"m trying!" Maya snaps back. She pulls back with her powers as best she could, only to strain and grunt while the monster pulled back.
"Help her, stupid!" ordered Krieg's sane half as his body did nothing. Krieg then rushed over to attack Knuckle Dragger.
"BLOOOD!" he yelled. The it was time for. Gaige to step up.
"Get him, D.T.!" she ordered him. Deathtrap then floats to Knuckle Dragger as Krieg climbs furnace. Its energy claws Knuckle Dragger pulled harder on Claprap's eye.
"No no no no no!" screeched the Robot. He then pulls out Claptraps single eye leading the robot to fly back with Maya falling to the ground. Lee dives in the ice and snow where Claptrap would crash and catches him with his body.. It flees up the pipe with Krieg and Deathtrap's attacks both missing him. Knuckle Dragger then jumps out the skylight with Claptra's eye as a trophy. The others looked
"Well that went smoothly." commented Axton as he got up.
"What, that went horribly, we got our asses kicked!" yelled Salvador angrily.
"He's being sarcastic," groaned Lee as he gets Claptrap off him.
"Oh, I knew that," said Salvador.
"Yeah, your not fooling anyone," Deathtrap goes down to Gaige ashamed at his failure. She pets him. "Don't worry D.T. we'll get our revenge, and then Jack!" said Gaige.
"I'm on fire!" yelled Krige nearlt startling everyone. He swung on the pipe, he goes over to Maya as she was shaking her hand about. "AMPUTEE!" he said to her. Maya shook her head.
"I"m fine, guess I'm still weak from the train explosion," said Maya. She looks over to Claptrap and Lee. "Hey, you two okay?"
Lee put Claptrap onto the ground and he wheeled around weakly, barely able to keep balance. The wires in his head were pulled out through his eye socket, the sparks from the wires flickered, the interior of his robotic body was visible through his metal wound.
"I'm fine, but Claptrap's blind now," the little robot groans and moans in pain. The all look at the little robot Lee held him up straight.
"Sorry Claptrap," said Maya.
"W-Well you should be, how can I be a Claptrap unit without my eye!" Claptrap complained. Axton then pointed down at him.
"Is 'master' gonna die, cause were kind of screwed if is is." said Axton, "We need a doctor," he said dramatically. Lee narrowed his eyes,
"He's a robot," he proclaimed "Get a mechanic,"
Gaige then pushed Lee out of the way and examined Claptrap. She held his head gently with Deathtrap looming over her, something that caused the little robot to shake in horror.
"How is he doc?" asked Axton.
"She's not a doctor she's a mechanic," said Lee.
"Quiet nurse," Lee blushed, Gaige wore a serious face. Her tone was in an attempt to be authoritative, it could not shake its bubbly nature,"Our patient has lost a limb, his wires and interior is intact, but we need to operate, state!" she proclaimed. Deathtrap then saluted and prepared its energy claws.
"NO, don't let ninja minino cut me apart, just get my eye, back" yelled Claptrap. He wiggles free only to run into his table and fall back. Salvador picked on of the random Clap-corpses and pulled out its eye.
"Got one!" he proclaimed. Lee and Gaige shook their heads.
"That won't work," said Lee.
"What, for why Nino?" asked Salvador in shock. Angel then appeared on Lee's HUD for the others to see.
"He's right, when Hyperion first made Claptraps they manufactured each makes and models to only fit with certain machine parts, " said Angel. Gaige then groaned at the companies act against home repairs.
"Meaning the money grubbing bastards made it so that only certain models of of their stuff goes together, so you'd have to buy new ones or cough up cash to get them fixed.
"Like how Echoes work?" asked Axton. Gaige nods.
"And I'm the only one of my Model left, besides all the other eyes are busted," said Claptrap in a sing song like manner.
"Seriously?" asked Maya "So we really do have have to go after that thing, fun."
"Well we got this," Acton holds up the the Dahl pistol, "I'll aim straight for its head, give it the old AX shot!" Gaige squeals, this leads the others to cover their ears.
"So cool," she proclaimed.
"Not in our ears please," said Maya. "*Chuckle* I like not having tinnitus,"
"Sorry, girl," said Gaige.
"Why do you get to hold the gun?" asked Salvador in an offended tone as he leered at Axton.
"Finder's keepers that's why," said Axton as he twirled the revolver in his hands. Salvador could only smirk.
"You'll fit in on the planet," said Salvador 'But I get next drop," He prays "Shotgun, por favor
"HEY," the room looks at Claptrap as he wheeled around the room and crashing into things, "I know your all scared that your master is in disposed." proclaimed Claptrap.
"Not at all,"
"I'm okay,"
"Wait, you can fight?"
"Cla-"
"But I promise you, as soon as I find the door we can go-" he trips " Arrgh- we can find retrieve my eye and possibly without Knuckle Dragger tearing of your heads,"
"Which way is out of here?" asked Lee.
*Knock* *Knock*
The all turn their heads to to a door on the other side of the room. There they saw Zer0 knocking on it.
"˙ ͜ʟ˙"
"I've answer it," exclaimed Claptrap. He then wheels himself into a wall. Lee then picks him up and brings him over to a control panel for the door himself.
"Thank you Psycho Minon." he feels around for the panel and begins," Aaaaaand Open!" he said with pride. It was a familiar phrase t to the Vault Hunters, afte all Claptrap was the only one that could open the door to his home. The door opens revealing a way to the cold unforgiving outdoors.
"Now lets hunt ourselves a bullymong," said Claptrap. "Minion named Lee, let me know if I run into anything." He wheels his way out of house,
"Well we've got a new objective now," said Lee.
"Follow the yellow bricked bot," said Axton. Salvador chuckles at that joke. They all walk out of the house to see Claptrap running into a block of ice..Lee runs up next to him with the others following.
"Ow, I'll pretend you didn't see that."
All around them they could see nothing but the glacier that they've been trapped on. Large walls and structures made from the frozen glacier itself. The harsh cold air stung the exposed skin of our travelers. The ground itself was more ice than snow with the heaps of scrap As now snow gently fell from the starry night as the aurora borealis glowed through the dark blue sky, Lee attempted to look ahead with the icy mist blocking anything he could see in the distance.
"Wow, its a lot bigger on this side," said Gaige. In awe
"That-" Axton shook his head, "Nope your too young for that and that joke doesn't work in this instance." he awkwardly scratches the back of his head.
"I'm 18," Gaige whined. Maya looked on at the area as they all followed Claptrap.
"How are you feeling?" asked Lee to the little robot,
"Well aside from the crushing humiliation at having my eye stolen, I feel great!" said Claptrap. He was about to wheel into a pile of ice but Lee stops him. "But don't worry my faithful minions, even though Knuckle Dragger blindsided me I can still get us to Frostbit Crevasse."
"You survived out here that long, respect," said Lee
"Thank you Psycho Minion," Lee
"Really?" asked Axton
"Of course Midget minon, I know this
"Anyone spot Knuckle Dragger?" asked Maya. Salvador shook his head, but smiles when he sees several yellow boxes down down the slanted path by a mettalic cage like structure
"NO,BUT I SPY SUPPLY BOXES, BRUJA!" he yelled in joy. He runs don to the ammo boxes leaving cloud of snow behind him. The others follow with Lee picking up Claptrap to bring him along. Salvador, Gaige, Axton and Zer0 open them, but no weapons were withing them.
"Only bullets: shotgun, rifle, pistol, but no guns," said Salvador in an annoyed tone
"Well you won't be out of ammo, take them anyway," said Lee, "We'll find more weapons later, so its good not to run on empty." Salvador then laughed aloud,
"HA HA, genius Nino," he said.
"That's just common sense," everyone thought to themselves.
"LIGHT-BULB SKULL!" yelled Krieg. Well not everyone. They all grabbed what they could; ammo, money , and luckily for the there were also Rejuvinators packs inside them in case they got hurt again.
The kept moving with Claptrap wheeling up the a nearby slop. They climb up it to another descending glacier path. They only to hear a familiar sound, a set of unwelcoming growls and snorts.
"Oh, I don't like the sound of that," said Axton. He draws his pistol points it Zero got into a fighting stance, nearly reaching for his non-existent sword
"Hidden enemies/ Prepare yourselves my comrades/ The fight will soon start,"
The group stood in a circle with Lee placing Claptrap in the middle. ook around and see creatures jumping around too and fro on the glacier around them. The ice crunched beneath their feet and they tread closer and closer to our heroes.
"What the hell are those?" asked Maya. He readied her arm to use her siren powers. Krieg himself prepared hi
"LAMBS FOR THE SLAUGHTER!"
"Is it Knuckle Dragger?: asked Lee.
"Don't let him take Claptrap!" said Gaige
Rather than their intended target a heard of smaller version of Knuckle Dragger. They walked with their massive arms, bobbing up and down with their backs hunched over. Yet despite this, they were only a few inches taller than Salvador.
"NO, ITS SWARM OF BULLYMONGS!" cried Claptrap. He folds into his rectangular box form for safety. "Protect me Squires!"
They rush at the Vault Hunters, preparing to tear their limbs off, beat them to death or even eat them. As they approached Lee and Krieg were the firs to change at them. Krieg turns on his buzz-axe, the blade spin madly
"AHHH HAHA HA HA. TIME TO BLEED!" Krieg yelled. He then swung wildly, ripping his blade into the monsters as they attacked. They lunged at the bandit, arms in mid swing only to face their doom within seconds. Blood splattered on the ice and snow, painting it like a canvas as Krieg laughed like a madman.
Lee himself kept his distance from Krieg, learning his lesson from the fight from earlier. When he reached a coming bullymong as it jumps he uses all of his strength and swing his fist right into the center of its body, and it was sent flying. Two others quickly with Lee giving both of them swift roundhouse kick to their jaws. Their bodies were tough but nothing like a robot's. With a few powerful strikes they were down.
"They're easier than the Loaders, fluffy though." yelled Lee as he beat back the animals.
"Aww they're so cute," said Gaige,. One of the bullymongs tries to hit her with its furry, beefy arms, but D.T. kills it with its energy claws "and deadly, KILL 'EM, D.T.!" She points at the bullymongs that were about to attack her again. She hits one of them with her wrench, however it didn't do much damage.
"Oh Crap, D,T,!" said Two others com in after it ,grunting and jumping only for Deathtrap to grab both of them and slice their throats with his claws. He throws their corpses at the coming bullymongs, knocking them back. Gaige then looked off to her left and saw many were heading Lee's way.
"Now my precious Deathtrap, go kick ass!" she proclaimed pointing in said direction. Deathtrap then floats over to Lee and helps him. Gaige hears gunshots from behind her and to her..
*Bang* *Bang* *Bang*
Axton took his piston and shot at the Bullymongs. Holding it with one hand he shoots each of them with rapid succession, nearly striking a pose as he does.
"Ha," *Bang*, "Way easier," *Bang* "than those" *Bang* "damn loaders!" said Axton as he fired his gun.
*Bang* *Bang*
As Axton started to show off he failed to notice one of them jumping overhead that nearly crashed into him until it was put into an Phaselock. Maya then takes the energy bubble and squeezes it, crushing the creature into mush.
"Thanks Goddess," Lee blushes hearing that, "Keep up the work," said Axton as he shot at the coming enemy.
"Again, don't call me 'Goddess'." said Maya allowed as she bubbled and crushed She moved her arm around, hitting any of the Bullymongs with her Phaselock. She sees some of them trying to attack Krieg and swats them away.
"Be careful big gut, don't let them surround you" said Maya with a smile, "Goes for you too, Lee" she Phaselocke
"YES, PRETTY LADY" screamed Krieg.
Zer0 himself was having a bit more trouble without his sword. However when one of them lunged at him, arms open to snare him into its grasp he cuts its throat. It falls to the ground form the swift fluid motion. In his hand is revealed Axton's survival hatchet. Three more bullymongs charged at Zero only to get hack them apart. It was shorter than what he was used to, the grip was different as well, but he adapted to the small ax quickly."
This is not my sword/A tool of barbarians/It will have to do," said Zero
As the fighting continued Salvador was notably boxing with the snowy monsters. They would try to pounce him, but he would stubby yet meaty arms were put up to defend himself. As one swung its arm down to attack Salvadar give it a quick and hard right jab to the face, then a left jab. He then grabs its head and gives it a fast, hard headbutt. It breaks its skull and the beast falls on its back.
"Ah, who else wants some!" yelled Salvador with pride.
Rather than continue the assault, the few remaining bullymongs stopped their attack and fled from fear. The area was filled with the submissive and frightened growls of the bullymongs. They scurry away from the Vault Hunters.
"Ha ha! That was an ass-whooping!" yelled Salvador/ She pumps his fists into the air in victory. Gaige, Axton and Krieg both join in.
Yeah baby, that what I'-" he sees Zer0 with his ax, "W-Wait a minute did you steal that from me?!" he asked angrily as he walked over to the ninja as he held the former soldier's weapon. Zero held the wilderness hatchet up to Axton as he approached him causing Axton to stop in his tracks cautiously
"Shoddy weaponry/Only a substitution/Till I get my sword," said Zer0. Axton scratched the back of his head, he giving a winning smile.
"Well fine, long as you give it back," Zer0's mask showed (ᵔᴥᵔ) "And if you pay for the rental" said Axton quickly, Zero's face then showed "ಠ╭╮ಠ" he pulled out whatever cash he had in his pockets and gave it to Axton.
"ANARCHY!" yelled Gaige waiving her wrench around. She gives Deathtrap a high-five. Deathtrap then floats over to Lee with his hand up to him and Lee gives him a high-five. Giage runs over with Lee giving her the same courtesy.
"Thanks D.T." Deaththrap nods happily. Lee looked over to the others. "Everyone okay?"
"I'm cool, Krieg's fine too." said Maya. Krieg nods his head back and forth like he was in a metal band. He nearly tips over.
"Bah, I'm not," said Salvador, he made his way over to Gaige and Lee. "None of these runts had any good drops" he complained.
"Who are you calling a runt?" asked Gaige.
"Well I'm feeling quite dandy, " said Claptrap in a lighthearted tone, jumping in place. "EXCEPT MY EYE IS GONE!" he yelled loudly, piercing the ears of everyone around him.
"Oh right, almost forgot," said Salvador.
"Let me guess, drugs and alchohal," said Lee.
"Ha" said Gaige.
"Listen up minions,' everyone audibly groans at the word 'minion' ," if we don't get my eye back from Knuckle Dragger there's not way we'll never make it to Sanctuary!"
"*Sigh* He's r-"
*Quake*
Suddenly the glacier began to shake. The ice cracked and crumbled from the walls of the glacier, falling to the ground with a great crash. The ground below them shook erratically nearly knocking all of the Vault Hunters on their asses.
"Oh crap again?" said Axton as he tried to keep his balance. Zer0's mask then showed;"?" as he nearly fell.
"ITS A PINATA!" yelled looked down at Maya and saw her tattoos glowing as the earth shook. She looked down at her arm as it glowed beyond her control.
"Always with these earthquaks." she uttered.
"AAAHH!" groaned Lee.
She turned her attention to Lee as he was on his knees, grasping his head in pain. His eyes were shut tight as he winced from whatever was afflicting him. Salvador, Gaige and Deathtrap were trying to help him to his feet as the earthquake subsided.
"Another headache?" asked Gaige. "Your still not used to this planet air?" humored Gaige.
"Ha Ha, very funny girl," said Lee. He rubs the back of his head in pain.
"Pshh, foreigner, just fix it with liquor" Salvador frowns, "*Whimper* My booze," he cried slightly.
"Thanks Salvador, but but its fine now I-"
Lee stopped when he saw Maya looking at him. However rather than look at her in her eyes, he noticed how her arm was glowing as brightly as it would if she was using her powers, except she wasn't.
"Wait was her tattoos glowing with the earthquake?" he thought. Maya stared back.
"His head was going nuts just then right?" she thought. Gaige noted Lee and Maya's shared glances and tilted her head in curiosity.
"Hey, shirtless, wake up!" she said. Lee snapped out of his thought.
"Ha, sorry just a little shak-" he stops at the possible bad joke, "I'm okay, thanks." said Lee. Maya stopped looking at Lee, even more unsure about him at the moment.
"Guardians, and now this," she folds her arms, "Who are you?" she thought to herself. She then felt a large finger poke at her head. She turned to see Krieg waiving at her. She smiles and waives back.
"What with these quakes anyway, knocked my ass in quicksand on my first day here." Axton commented. Lee's eyes widened.
"There's quicksand on Pandora?" he asked. Salvador nods and smacks Lee on the ass.
"Don't act surprised, your embarrassing my Nino,"
Claptrap picks himself off the ground and wheels over to the others with Lee dusting whatever snow was on him off his body.
"*Groan*, Those earthquakes are Jake, he's been tearing apart Pandora to find the Vault!" said Claptrap. This earned visual shock from the others
"Wait what, the Vault is underground?" asked Lee
"How is that fair?" asked Axton.
"Seriously?" asked Lee. "He's got that much of a head-start!?"
"Yep, that's what that tremor was," he points at Lee. "That or your mom just got out of bed! ZING!" he wheels away as Lee furrowed his brow at the joke. Claptrap then travels down a lowering path through a small glacier like cr Axton gives a quick laugh and follows Claptrap.
"Good one 'master', wait for your minions," said Axton."We'll just have to kick Jack's ass and open the Vault if he's so close," Zer0 shrugs and follows after them. Happy with Axton's statement Salvador trails behind the three of them.
"Nice answer, come along crew!" yelled Salvador.
Lee, Maya and Gaige were visibly upset. Jack seemed to have an ever widening lead over them and it didn't feel like it was closing. Krieg watched their saddened faces, mostly confused as to why.
"Well, Axton's not wrong," said Angel. She appears in Lee's HUD for them to see. "Trust me, Jack isn't any closer to opening the Vault even if he does find it, " she insisted.
"Hmm, we have to get off the glacier anyway." said Gaige in an encouraging tone. And he is right, we'll just kill Jack like we planned." She pats Lee's back. She and Deathtrap then head down the path through, quickly crawl through the
"Well she's bubbly, isn't she?" said Maya amused.
"I'm still getting used to it," said Lee.
"INTO THE GIANT'S NOSE!" yelled Krieg. Maya with Krieg beside her like a knight protecting his queen, with a blood-soaked meat grinder.
"Come on the others are waiting," said Maya. . Lee follows, but talks to Angel as he does.
"Hey Angel?" uttered Lee, strangely like a question to get her to answer.
"Yes, Lee?" she asked back.
"Whats inside of the Vault?" he asked. It was almost as innocent as a child's question.
"I"m sorry, I don't know," she answered back. "I don't have that amount of knowledge," she smirks, "You'll just have to open I yourself, Vault Hunter," her tone at the end seemed to tease Lee.
"Hmph, I get it, and thanks for the pep talk," said Lee.
"Hey, hurry up Nino!" yelled Salvador.
"We'll talk later," said Angel. She then vanishes from the HUD.
Lee ran as fast as he could. He eventually caught up with the others and saw them looking over a cliff that lead to the a lower section of their path. He walked over to see what they were all looking at and witnessed Claptrap head first in the snow below.
Minions, your master needs help!" he called out.
"Seriously?" asked Lee. The group takes their time climbing down to Claptrap, making sure not to fall to their deaths. Krieg reaches the little robot and picks him up out of the snow by his wheel.
"Thank you, Robo-girl Minoin," said Claptrap in a sincere manner.
"Your very welcome….Claptrap," said Gaige apprehensively. Krieg then put Claptrap down and he rolled down to a large emptied container that led upward like a hallway. However as the group followed the little robot Lee began to hear a voice in his head, and it was one he did not like.
"Hey kiddo, hows my former employee doing?" it was Handsome Jack. Lee's eyes widened with rage and shock, he stops in his tracks. "Handsome Jack here President of Hpyerion hoping that it would be a icy cold corpse answering the phone and here you are alive," The others who heard Jack's voice from his direction run over to him and see Jack's face on the echo HUD. He stood smugly, looking uninjured and undaunted by the events that nearly killed Lee and the others. Strangely enough though Lee could see strange metal sections of his face around the jawline.
"Jack," he uttered in rage. He clenched his fist.
"Handsome Jack, bandit, if you know basic English you'd put Handsome at the head," said Jack.
"You piece of shit!" said Maya. Furious at the fate of her siren sister. They all crowd Lee while looking at the HUD from his end, like kids bunched together on a couch. Gaige pulls up her middle finger and points it at the HUD.
"What the he-"
"I'm gonna stop your angry little tirade real quick and I'll explain something that all of you need to know about Pandora," stated Jack. Axton covered Lee's mouth as he was about to talk.
"Hey Jackhole, when I fi-"
"Jackhole nice abercrombie knockoff," snapped Jack. Axton growled.
"Let me explain to you all, oh crap your all alive. I'm gonna shoot whoever filled that train with explosives," said Jack. He shakes his head looks back at his vitcims, "Anyway listen up to the line of evens supposed that are supposed to take place; Vault Hunters shows up, Vault Hunters look for the Vault. Vault Hunters get killed by me,"
"Vault Hunters live and kill Cabron," said Salvador.
"Don't interrupt Sally" Salvador furrowed his eyebrows. Lee almost chuckled at Salvador's nickname., "See the problem is that your all still alive,"
"Doesn't seem like a problem to me," said Lee. "Neither is killing you,"
"Right, killing me. Look just do yourselves a favor and off yourselves, that'd be great. Thanks pumpkin," said Jack. He than hangs up.
"BY JOHNNY!" yelled Krieg. He pushed Lee's head down to see more of Jack only to now notice he was gone. Lee struggled to move as he was being congested by the others. They all finally back away from him.
"Great he know we live/ So much for the advantage/Guess its all head-on," said Zero. Lee groaned.
"I didn't think about it like that, what waste," said Lee. "How does he even know were alive?"
Not a single soul could answer.
"Oh Minons, we have to keep moving!" yelled Claptrap. They all look over and see Claptrap by the container ready to go. The only thing they could do at the moment was continue on.
"Lets not let it bother us," Axton poses with his pistol, "We'll figure out how to pop that Jackhole's head off when the time comes," said Axton. Lee pondered that with Gaige and Salvador ready to agree with the solder.
"I guess your right, we won't get our answers here." said Lee.
"And to get out of here, we need that eye," said Gaige.
"Meaning we kill the big bad-ass Bullymong!" yelled Salvador. "Foreward!" his fist was raised high.
"Forward!" yelled Gaige. Pumping up mechanic fist with Deathtrap mimicking her.
"Forward!" yelled Axton. With his gun in the air.
"LEFT!" yelled Kreig. Waiving around his buzz-axe.
"Forward," said Maya with a grin.
Rather than say anything Zer0 walks up the path past Claptrap with "^̮^" on his mask. The others look at Lee with him nervous and hesitating to say anything.
"Um-"
"Oh,"Clatrap interrupts with a dance," great news minions," he moves his mechanical body as best he could; bobbing his body up and down on his wheel.
"Whats with the dance?" asked Maya.
"I can see out my eye now!" he cheered. Lee widened his eyes along with everyone else. "I can see a tough looking Ninja Minion and a few weird looking ones at the bottom of the glaci-AHHH" he shakes and hidse into his packaged form, shaking like a leaf, "W-Which means whoever has my eye is_
"ROOOOOOAAAAARRR*
A familiar roar, from known foe. They heard the loud thuds on the floor of the glacier and a large crash with scrap metal flying everywhere from the area ahead. It reaches them and they moves out of the way to make sure not to get hit.
"Zer0!" yelled Lee. He runs ahead, up the hollowed container to the a large nest area; piles of scrap for all to see. Holes in the glacier from who knows what. There seemed to be a large transporter; Hpyerion, grounded, likely without powers that blocked their way out. Lastly, he sees Zer0 with Axton's hatchet in his hands, facing down Knuckle Dragger, alone. Knuckled Drager had Claptrap's eye on its crotch like a leotard, a very concerning sight.
Knuckle Dragger swings its massive arms at Zer0. The ninja evades with the coming hit slamming int othe ground. Zer0 then swings the hatchet hoping to cut the big brutes arm, but it did nary a bit of damage. Knuckle Dragger attacks again with Zer0 flipping out of the way to avoid it. He holds up the hatchet with a non-visible look of disdain.
"Its hide is too thick/This ax is too damned worthless/" he tosses it to the side, "I want my refund,"
Knuckle Dragger charges at Zer0, his arms flailing and hitting the ground to increase his speed. Its actions were stopped as Lee rushed a head and kicked Knuckle Dragger in his jaw, making it roll over and hit the wall. When Lee hit the ground he runs over to Zer0.
"You okay?: asked Lee. In a worried tone. However Zer0 mostly looks at Lee's body, Unharmed by the reckless attack. Zer0 nods with a "^̮^" face on his mask.
"Good, its too early for you to bow out," said Lee with a smile.
They hear a growl and a grumble as Knuckle Dragger got to his feet. Lee and Zer0 readied themselves, but then gun fire rained down on Knuckle Dragger from behind them. They both turn to see Axton with his gun aimed and firing at Knuckle Dragger.
*Click* *Click*
"Aw come on, piece of garbage," groaned Axton as he reloads his gun. Knuckle Dragger then covers the front of his body with his many arms, blocking the attacks.
"Don't waste ammo, its arms are too thick for that," said Lee. Axton then stops shooting.
"Well what then?" asked Axton.
"Then this!" yelled Maya. She, Salvador, Gaige, Krieg and Deathtrap come into the area. She then performs a Phaselock around Knuckle Dragger, putting him in a stasis bubble like a prize in a crank capsule. Suspended in mid air Axton continues to shoot him without its big arms in the way.
"Like fish in a bubble," said Axton.. Gaie directs Deathtrap to charge at Knuckle Dragger.
"Sic 'em D.T.!" yelled Gaige.
Deathtrap then takes it energy claws and flies over to the beast whilst ducking out of Axton's gunfire, but not without an energetic Krieg to join him.
"PINATA!" he yelled, with the blade of his buzz-ax, spinning. He charges with Deathtrap only for the Bullymong to grunt loudly. There were more grunts that came from the holes around them,
"Get away from those, Nino!" yelled Salvador. He runs over to one of the holes as many smaller and agile Bullymongs began to crawl out
"Look out" Claptrap pokes his head from the hollow container," they're coming out of the wall-sphincters!" he cried . When one tried to pop out of hole where Salvador ran to, he punched it in the face, sending it falling back inside.
Despite Salvador's punch man Bullymongs began to surround and attack the group of Vault Hunters.
"Again," complained Maya as she tried to keep her concentration. Deathtrap and Krieg's assault was slowed to due to the oncoming enemy.. To Krieg's dismay, he was worried about Maya as she struggled to keep Knuckle Dragger in his cage. Knuckle Dragger presses against the bubble with all of his strength, this causes Maya to strain at its strength against her siren power.
"H-He's gonna break out, kill him!" yelled Maya. A bullymong goes after Maya.. Salvador slugs it, knocking it down.
"I'll cover you Bruja," said Salvador with Pride.
"Thanks, and its Maya!" said Maya back as she kept her mind focused. As Axton fires his gun at Knuckle Dragger, the other bullymongs jump in the way of his line of fire, frustrating him.
"Come one, get out of the-" Axton was interrupted when he has to shoot a few Bullymongs that had gotten too close to him. As Lee and Deathtrap beat them back, Gaige did her best with her trusty wrench in her robot arm.
"Gaige, send Deathtrap to attack Knuckle Dragger" he kicks a Bullymong in the head, hard enough to split its skull, "Either he or Krieg can kill him!" yelled Lee. Gaige nods.
"Oh I got a cheat for this, tornado mode D.T.!" yelled Gaige.
Deathtrap then takes its energy claws and spins whilst moving forward like a top. His energy claws ripped and tore through any Bullymongs that came his way. It soon joined Krieg as he was wearing down what little numbers that remained. In little time he and Deathtrap reached Knuckle Draggers and raised their weapons to eviscerate him.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" yelled Krieg. However Maya's power fade with the mighty Knuckle Dragger catching each attack one left arm and one right.
"PRETTY LADY!?" uttered Krieg loudly.
"What happened!" yelled sane Krieg
Maya was breathing heavily as her tattooed dimmed with less power. Salvador and Zer0 were beating back the Bullymongs to keep her safe. Their somehwat unplanned circle was broken with each fighting at their best.
"S-Sorry," she uttered. She tries to stand up only to fail. Lee shook his head.
"No, what you did was great," he yelled. He looked at Axton as his attention was turned to Knuckle Dragger's thugs. He sees Deathtrap and Krieg trying to overpower Knuckle Dragger only to keep him in place "Axton, aim for his head I'll cover you,"
"No, I'll cover him, you cover me!" commanded Gaige.
"Works for me!" said Axton. Gaige rushes over to Axton and beats away the Bullymongs with her wrench best she could while also trying to use her robot arm. Any that would surprise her Lee would beat them away with a single strike from his naked fists.
"And don't hit Deathtrap or Krieg!" yelled Lee. Axton grins.
"I broke records at my bootcamp for marksmanship kid, and training dummies!" said Axton excited.
As Kuckle Dragger was forced into his stationary position. He wastes no time in unloading any and all of his bullets into Knuckle Dragger., yet still it lived.
"It ain't working," said Axton in a panic. Lee only smiles.
"Just keep firing!" Lee yelled as he fought.
Axton did as he was advised and fired his gun over and over as the others kept the Bullymongs off him. Each bullet ripped its body, the gigantic animal was beginning to lose strength; Krieg's ever spinning buzz-ax and Deathtrap humming energy claws drew closer and closer to its body. The a well places headshot strikes Knuckle Dragger in the jaws. He loses the much of his strength due to his bullet wounds draining his blood, he could no longer hold back Krieg and Deathtrap's assault. And thus, both attacks render him asunder, his blood and flesh fly splattering many of the runt Bullymongs like paint splattered on a wall.
" HA HA HA HA HA, BLOOD BLOOD BLOOOD!" cheered Krieg.
The Vault Hunter's witnessed their victory and the runts run away at the sight of their dead Alpha-mong. They scurried back into their holes like rats to a sewer.
"And don't come back!" yelled Gaige. Deathtrap flies over to her and the two exchange a high-five.. Krieg walks over to Maya as Salvador helps her up, all the while the Gunzerker rushes over to Knuckle Dragger's body. Zer0 stood on his own, unsatisfied at the fight.
"How was my aim?" asked Axton to Lee.
"Pretty Good," said Lee. Axton twirls his gun his his hand.
"That is how you shoot, I give discounts on lessons," said Axton in a cocky manner. Lee furrowed his brown.
"I need to stop complimenting him," he thought to himself.
"AH HA!" yelled Salvador. He throws Claptraps eye over to Lee, who catches it, while in Salvador's free hand was a Jackob's shotgun. "Jackpot baby!" he hugs it like it was a teddy bear and quickly loads it.
"Well he got his wish." said Lee. He looks back at the path they had taken to come here," Claptrap come out, we got your eye!" yelled Lee. Claptrap comes up the ramp and over to the group, earning their attention.
"Great Job Soldier Minion," said Claptrap. "Oh and I aplogize for said 'wall-sphincters', I sat that a lot when I'm frightened.
Marcus and Orphan
"Marcus, I know Claptrap is dumb, but can he really now recognize voices?" asked the orphan in a confused manner.
"Look kid, it should be well established that Claptrap is an idiot," said Marcus "Ask a better question"
"Okay, why does Mr. Lee's head hurt when the earthquakes happen?" asked the Orphan with a smile. Marcus was about to open his moutth, but he catches himself and closes it.
"Back to story," he said.
"Gaige, please put Claprap's eye back in his head," begged Lee. Gaige nods and holds her hand out for Lee to give it to her. Kneels over to Claptrap only for him to back away whilst snatching his eye away.
"What the heck Claptrap, hold still and give me that eye!" said Gaige angrily. Deathtrap nods
"No good Siren Minion, as much I know you'd like to jab your fist into my eye socket I only trust my good buddy Hammerlock to put my eye back," said Claptrap.
"Hammerlock?" uttered Lee.
"Where is hammerlock?" asked Maya.
"He lives over in Liars burg just beyond this Hyperion barge , chums, and I'm positive he'll be happy to see me." said Claptrap. He rolls up to the Hyperion hover container, bumping into everything possible as he does.
"I hope he doesn't shoot him," said Lee. The others pick up whatever drops they could find. To Maya's luck she found a Dahl SMG. They collected some money, and ammo. Afterwards they made their way to Claptrap. And saw the barge that was in their way.
"Great Hyperion tech, more of Jack's garbage getting in our way," said Salvador.
"As opposed to the animals, nature and bandits," said Lee. Salvador points at Lee with a grin.
"Not saying they don't, just saying its Hyperion this time.
"How are we supposed to cut through this?" asked Maya. Zer0 reached for his sword, then " (ಥ﹏ಥ)"remembering that he no longer had it. Lee looked to Gaige.
"Can you hack it, like on the train?" asked Lee.
"HA, of course I can, "said Gaige confidently. "Maybe, probably, I got this!"
"You should have stopped at 'maybe'" said Salvador. Claptrap then wheels over to a small camera on the front of the barge.
"This is Hyperion tech Minons, child's play," stated Claptrap. He faces the camera and raises his arm. The camera began to light up, causing everyone to stand on their guard for what would happen next.
"Aaaaaaaaand OPEN!" said Claptrap
The camera then began to scan his entire body. Due to the lack of danger, the others felt lax. Though Lee felt some elation seeing this happen.. He was witnessing Hyperion tech at work and with claptrap on their side-
"Intruders door"
The cruel computer voice spoke to them. The Camera's light turned red with a holographic "X" In an instant the doors to the barge gained several bars that locked the main door in place. Lee looked down at Claptrap as the little robot was in silence at what had happened. Needless to say the others were shocked as well.
"Claptrap, what hell!" yelled Lee.
"Oh, well it was nice knowing you all, I hear being eaten by bullymongs isn't such a bad way to go," he said whilst "Looking" at them. The collective group mind was in a agreement to hurt or insult him.
"So were' stuck out here, damn it!" said Axton.
"Oh my god," groaned Maya. Krieg then laid on the ground and made snow angels. At least someone was having fun.
"Gaige, how long could it take for you to get us inside this thing?" asked Lee.
"I don't kn-"
"Let me get that for you," said Angel as she appears again.. "Executing Phaseshift,"
The doors to the barge then opened revealing its interior like everyone was expecting earlier. It was stocked with multiple cashes, metal with Hyperion yellow and black on the inside and in the center was a loot chest. The camera's holographic even"X" vanished. Stunned wasn't a good enough word, it felt like an eternity before Lee actually spoke again.
"Angel, how did you-"
"I told you Lee, I'm an Ai, and one of the perks is being networked into almost everything on this planet." said. Angel with a hint of confidence.
"If it anything that can save our tails, sister you've got the A vote of confidence," said Axton with a sparkling smile.
"Th-Thank you Axton," said Angel a bit thrown offf by his statement. Zero merely gave "( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)"
"Sweet," said Maya.
"You rock girl!" said Gaige, She gives a thumbs up. "We have got to talk -shop when this is done,"
"Definitely," uttered Lee in an almost dreamy fashion. Salvador laughs at Lee's reaction. He smackes Lee's back. Snapping him back to normal. "I-I mean its a cool ability,"
"Good save, Nino," commented Salvador.
"Its long road to Sanctuary and there should be somethings here you can use," said Angel with a smirk.
"Got it, and thanks Angel"said Lee.
"Anytime," Angel answered back. She then vanishes from Lee's HUD.
"Okay, so le-"
Eveyone rushes inside nealy knocking Lee over as they look at all the things they could bring with them; guns, food, money, even some old clothes that were useful. Lee could only see this and felt more hopeful about their dower state.
"Ooof" uttered Claptap as he tripped rolling inside.
Lee then pulled out his deck of card and drew single card; a jack of all things.
"We can do this, can find the Vault," he uttered with hope inside.
Thats all I wrote.
Hope you enjoyed it
Will edit later on
"This is Squalo King signing off :)"