Yosh! This is Squalo King with a new chapter of The Demon of Pandora.
Alistair Hammerlock: Greetings one and all, I am sir Hammerlock. Due to my obvious introduction into the story I've been advised by the others to distribute this quite repetitive message. Squalo King does not own the series known as Borderlands, their literature, cinema or electronic games in any fashion. I swear upon my honor that the writer of this story does not gain a single pence from his written works.
Enter the Hunter, Gentleman and Cyborg
Southern Shelf
Ice, snow, stone scrap, beasts and more ice. Not more of a description is needed for the frozen hellscape the Vault Hunters trekked upon. Our heroes were told about the their precursors of Pandora's past; a Siren killed by Jack, a Soldier turned leader of a resistance, a Hunter, and a lost Berserker. The lie of Handsome Jack's accomplishment. Lastly a plan to make it to a boat, and then to Sanctuary. Though our Vault Hunters would have to fight their way there, they would have to survive the harsh freezing environment of the icy wastes, the ruthless and hungry beasts that dwell on the glacier and last but not least the lingering feeling that Handsome Jack will find some method of killing them. To bring more stress into the situation, Claptrap reveals an
"A BANDIT LORD HAS YOUR BOAT?!" yelled Lee
"Oh, did I forget the mention that?"asked Claptrap as he awkwardly wheeled with the others.
"Yes you did!" yelled Lee.
"Oops," said Claptrap.
A collective groan was heard among the group with Krieg scratching his head and snoring, he wasn't even asleep. At the moment the Vault Hunters had a new, and the term is being used loosely, weapons and items of survival on hand. The Hyperion barge barely proved fruitful; a few old Hyperion guns for each of them(Aside for Lee and Krieg), some cash, canned food; tuna, tomatoes, beef and spinach. Lastly there was some scrap that Gaige had taken, though she didn't say what for.
Claptrap walked out in front with the others making sure that he didn't fall over or get killed. Lee walked behind Claptrap with whatever canned food they had in a sack with his ECHO at his side. Beside Lee was Salvador who glad that had managed to get more weapons and cash, although he wasn't allowed to hold any of it. Gaige and Deathtrap were behind the duo but instead of walking herself Deathtrap had decided to let her ride on his large shoulders, lucky. Nearby and regaling Gaige with his presence was Axton, having gotten a new pistol and a shotgun from the barge, he was seemingly in high spirits. Behind them were Maya and Krieg; Maya was reading her book to pass the time, having a new pistol and Hyperion SMG and Krieg who was walking with her with his large buzz-axe in hand. And as for Zer0, he hung in the back while finally getting his hands on a weapon that he had preferred, a sniper rifle, though he missed his dear blade.
It was only an hour after them exiting the barge with a long walk through the glacier revealing the path to be high up looking down at a lower section of the glacier below. Thankfully they had managed to make it to the The trek had become a tad easier with their newly gained items, though not by much. Their plans also got caught a snag when hearing about Claptrap's boat being in the possession of a bandit lord; one of the more dangerous creatures on Pandora.
"A Bandit Lord, this glacier is getting better and better." said Salvador. He slaps Lee's back in glee.
"Why do you find that enjoyable?" asked Lee. Salvador then tried to sneak into Lee's bag to take a can of food only to be smacked away.
"So who is it, whats his name?" asked Maya as she was reading her book.
"What kind of weapon does he use?" asked Gaige as Deathtrap carried her on his shoulder
"How his Zodiac signs?" joked Axton.
"How about something as helpful as the first two, like where he is and how he stole your boat?" asked Lee.
"Doe he have any booze?" asked Salvador with a hearty laugh.
"CUT OPEN THE GOOSE'S NECK, FREE CUP-HOLDER!" yelled Krieg.
Hearing Kreig's sentence confuses everyone, except Maya, prompting Zer0 to respond with a "?".
"Weaknesses aside/Tel me of this bandit/ Say that he is strong." suggested Zer0 who was currently looking over his sniper rifle as he walked. C
"Well minions to answer all of your questions; his name is Captain Flynt," said Claptrap, "He runs the whole Glacier and would burn it to the ground if he had the gasoline to do it!"
"A sailor took your boat?" Lee mused.
It was upon saying this that the others aside from their gunzerker imagined a dainty psychopath with a pirates hat in a steam boat with mouse ears, they also imagined getting thrown in jail for owing money to that mouse for thinking about him. As opposed to Krieg who though of an armadillo with a top hat. The only one that even had the right assumption of what Flynt was actually like was, surprisingly, Salvador
"Flynt huh, I know that fire spitting bastardo, he runs with the Flesh Ripper clan," said Salvador as he strolled down the path.
"Wait you actually remember something?" asked Gaige in a snarky tone.
"Its a sign, we're all gonna die on this ice cube," said Maya. with as much snark.
Lee and Axton stifled their laughter.
"Hey, don't be mean, I fought some of his men a while ago" said Salvador with his hairy arms crossed.
"What was the fight about?" asked Maya. Salvador thought about it for a moment, but it came up as a blank.
"I forget," said Salvador. Maya shakes his head and shrugs hearing that.
"I'm starting to get used to it," said Lee.
Axton looked down at Claptrap.
"SO master, how do you know Flyng, you were his first mate or something?" asked Axton. Claptrap shook his body as a tune to shaking his head.
:Of course, I was his right hand mechanical confidant," said Claptrap with his normal jovial and happy tone. Gaige happy to hear that speaks up.
"Really, your best friends?" she asked innocently with Lee looking at her like she was a madwoman.
"What, of course not, I was his torture pet!" Gaige jumped a little, "We would play games like 'dodge the blowtorch' and 'don't get dumped into a pool of acid,'" said Claptrap as he waived his arms around.
"Oh, I see," said Giage a bit disturbed thinking of Deathtrap in thos situations. She rubs his head as D.T. spoke.
*Bitter robot noises*
Gaige gently pet the top of Deathtrap's head
"Don't worr
"This guy sounds crazy," Lee gives a small smile to the little robot's survival capability, "How are you alive?" he asked.
"I was really good and not getting dumped into a pool of acid," said Claptrap in a gleeful voice.
"So where is he?" asked Maya.
"He and his band of psychopathic bandit are resting at the edge of this very glacier." said Claptrap.
There was an audible groan from the group. They were already trying to deal with the weather of this area and now they had to travel all the way to this end of this ice cube. Seeing the group's lack of moral
"Come one, don't be too down everyone, think of the bright side," said Axton with a smile, though he struggled to think of one himself.
"Well we know where we're going," said Maya. She looked back at Krieg. "How about you big guy, see a bright side from all the way up there?" Maya put her book away. Krieg's sane half could only utter a single phrase at this question.
"Well I'm surrounded by people who can actually fight me so I'm not too worried if I go crazy," he thought, "Plus you,"
"FLIES THAT BITE, GATHER AND DIE!" yelled Krieg. He startles the others, Lee nearly losing his footing and falling down. Some of the snow and ice cracked at Krieg's voice.
"See, crazy's got spirit, how about you?" asked Axton. Gaige gave a thumbs up with Deathtrap doing the same.
"Oh, D.T.s okay and I got some super cool salvage from the fascist barge," said Gaige. Axton then runs over to Lee and grabs the sack of canned food they had gotten,
"We've got plenty of food," He said. He gives it back to Lee and draws his guns, "And Weapons,"
"And now we've got a Bandit Lord in our sights, oh lucky day!" yelled Salvador. In agreement with that statement, Zer0 flashes an emote from his mask: :).Lee shook his head and looked back at Salvador as they made their way down the path.
"The very obstacle is a plus for you in this whole mess?" Lee shrugged, "I mean I'm not letting Flynt stop me, but I'd rather not catch fire again," the memory of being hit with with two explosions within a single month bit back at him. Salvador shook his head at Lee's response.
"Nino, Fighting a bandit lord is a Pandoran past time," he pointed his shotgun in the air, "That and,"he holds up one finger, "shooting Skags," he holds up a second finger, "looting bandit homes," he holds up a third finger, "getting drunk at Moxxie's bar," he holds up a fourth finger, "and making castles out of skulls,"
"Well all those things aside; killing Flynt, getting that boat and heading to sanctuary doesn't mean anything -"
"OW!"
Lee stops when he saw that Claptrap was had run into the large stone on the side of the path. Lee rushes over to Claptrap and places him back on his single wheel.
"If we can't get Claptrap's eye back on his head?" asked Maya. Lee nodded.
"Right, and we need this Hammerlock goon who so better at fixing robots than I am," said Gaige. The group could hear the venom in her voice. Lotus then pulled out Claptraps severed robot eye from his SUD, it was still in the same condition as before and wasn't broken from the Bullymong fight.
"You're still upset about that?" asked Lee.
"Yes," said Gaige in a curt manner.
"Don't worry kid, he might be a robot geniuis too but your cuter," said Axton. Gaige blushing and smiled as bright as a spring day. Lee then spoke up.
"Its not really anything to be upset about, I mean you made D.T. in school right, your smarter we just need him for this," said Lee.
"Aww, Thank you Axton," said Gaige in a bubbly tone., she waived to Lee like she was a queen on a carriage. "Thanks Lee,
"Maker of Death," yelled Krieg. Gaige just giggles. Maya then eblowed Krieg.
"Making new friends?" she commented with a smirk.
"So how much closer to Liar's Berg anyway?" asked Lee.
"Why don't you ask our handy dandy AI?" asked Axton
Then their guardian angel appeared on Lee's HUD, nearly startling him again.
"No need, I heard your conversation," she said with a smile.
"Angel!" said Lee. Nearly jumping and dropping their food. She giggles seeing Lee's reaction to her.
"You really need to stop getting startled," she said. Axton and Salvador stifle their laughter seeing this. Lee groans.
"Anyway, your closing in on the Liar's s Berg, just a hundred feet down," she said. Maya then walked over to Lee's HUD to speak with her.
"Down?" she asked.
"Down there!" said Claptrap with glee. He rushes ahead and the group follows. Going further down the path. Our Vault Hunters saw their next destination dozens of miles below them. It was a small town, nearly frozen and consumed by the snow, only a few buildings seems to stand up to the harsh weather while others had long since crashed to the ground. Another thing that our heroes could notice was that the sun had finally broken through the hellish arctic clouds and shinned through. It was funny they hadn't even realized that the night was over. Seeing this made Lee smile to himself, it was infectious as the others smiled at this positive view.
"There it is, Liar's Berg!" said Claptrap. And of course Claptrap was facing the opposite direction and pointing at the glacier's rocky path. Maya turns him around so that he points off in that direction.
"You know I found a bright side in all this," said Lee remembering the earlier conversation.
"Is it the sun? Cause it sure looks nice," said Angel. Lee shook his head.
"No," he thought about it for a moment. "Well yes, but not what I was thinking," Lee said. He points to Zer0.
"Zer0 was right when he said that we lost the element of surprise against Jack," said Lee. Zer0's mask showed a check-mark, agreeing with Lee.
"But now?" asked Maya egging for Lee to finish.
"We can sneak up on Flynt, he probably thinks Claptrap won't be coming back with help," said Lee. He gestured to himself and the group. "We can take him out without him knowing what hit him."
This clear fact as a bit of good news. Not only would Flynt not know to send his bandits after the group, since he doesn't know them he'd have no reason to kill or send his bandits after them. However in a moment any planning that could be done from such an idea was immediately destroyed.
"Attention people of Pandora," they heard Jack's voice and immediately stopped any other thoughts or looking at the sun,
"Jack again," said Maya.
"Whats he doing now?" asked Axton
"Handsome Jack here offering over 50 billion bucks," Lee's eyes nearly popped out of his head," to whomever brings me the heads of the Vault Hunters who are about to make their way to Liar's Berg, and that's added to their existing bounty's if you get them all in a casket together,"
"50 billion!" yelled Salvador. He nearly dropped his guns.
"He put bounty on us, son of a bitch," yelled Lee angrily. However, Jack's announcement wasn't finished yet..
"Oh and I'm still offering a reward for Roland, the mass-murdering leader of the Crimson Raiders. Good hunting, bandits," said Jack. He ends his transmission, leaving the others stunned, frustrated and angry.
"Ha, my bounty's just jumped a few notches," said Salvador proudly. Except for maybe Salvador.
"CANNIBAL DUCKS SWARM SWAN!" yelled Krieg. Well, the ones who could do math in the group.
"We are now exposed/ Our infamy is now spread/ And our location." said Zer0,
"Yeah thats creepy," said Gaige, "Now I'm in even more trouble," Deathtrap patted Gaige on her head.
"Your preaching to the chior, and now they know where we're headed," said Maya.
"I protect pretty lady,!" said Krieg. Maya smiled and patted Krieg on his shoulder from saying that,
"But Zer0 is right, how did Jack know where we even were?" asked Maya. Lee shook his head.
"I can't think of anything, but we were already in danger so maybe things won't get worse?" suggested Lee.
"A MILLION BUCKS?!" said a loud voice. "Alight boys, this is Captain Flynt! I want you to head down to Liar's Berg and tear apart that Ice Skag of a Town and bring 'em to me. NOWWW!"
"That's the captain guy?" asked Gaige.
"AHH, Captain Flynt, please don't hurt me!" yelled Claptrap. Then out of fear he runs away, off the cliff.
"Claptrap!" Lee tried to grab him but the little robot had already been a slave to gravity. He tumbles down the ice covered stone, tumbling and turning like a log down a mountain. The run to the edge with even Gaige jumping off Deathtrap to get a closer look. and they watch Claptrap hit every stone possible, until he lands head first in the snow, again.
"Is he dead?" asked Maya. They saw his body wiggling about like a worm from the bird until he uncorked himself.
They all sigh in relief, however that wasn't good enough for Lee. He almost jumped after him, but Zer0 stopped him. Lee looks back at Zer0, a bit angry. And it wasn't just him. Zer0 held out his sniper rifle, pointing it at everyone to keep them still.
"What the hell, man!" yelled Maya. Zer0 then gave Lee his sniper rifle, he points at the scope.
"We have company/ Flynt's bandits are closing in/ Going to Liar's Berg/" said Zer0 encouraging Lotus to look through it. He takes the sniper rifle, this prompted everyone including Zer0 himself to take a couple steps back.
"You guys are jerks, you know that," said Lee. He took the scope off the rifle, keeping his finger away from the trigger and looked through it. He spotted several bandits had already broken into Liar's Burg, like Zer0 had said. All armed to the teeth. They were in the square and trying to get into the building at the end but were getting shocked by an electric fence. To make matters worse, Claptrap was out in the open.
"No, they're headed for Liar's Berg!" said Lee in a panic. Axton then took then scope from Lee and watched while he was next to him.
"Isn't Hammerlock down there too," said Axton as he tossed the rifle back to Lee. The thought hit their heads, Hammerlock dead and no one to repair Claptrap, aside from Gaige but Claptrap wasn't gonna let that happen. It was then Maya took the rifle from Lee and took a peak and she noticed a group of bullymongs headed for
"Its those bullymongs again too, no time to lose!" said Maya pushing the two aside to jump down to Claptrap. Krieg nearly knocks Axton, Lee remembered the back when the Bullymongs had first attacked them, their furry bodies climbing out of the wall sphincters.
"Careful with those holes, the spawn out of there!" he yelled hoping for the others to heed his advice.
"LETS BUILD A SNOWMAN OF PAIN!" yelled Krieg as he charged rushed down to Maya Axton and Lee. Axton patted Lee's back and pinched his cheek.
"Don't think communication works well on that one," Axton cocks his pistol, "Besides we'll be fine." said Axton with his winning smile. He then quickly climbs down.
"I"m coming 'master'," yelled Axton.
Gaige, Deathtrap and Salvador follow suit, their weapons ready.
"Come one Nino!" cheered Salvador. "Been a while since we actually busted bandits skulls," Salvador then smacks on his back He scurries down like a furry animal.
"Meet ya down there," said Gaige as she rode Deathtrap down to the town.
Lee didn't get enough time to protest or think up and plan, so he followed them down, but not before noticing Zer0 was positioning himself at the edge of the cliff with his sniper rifle in his hands.
"Zer0 ar-"
He noticed that Zer0 was pointing at Lee then pointing to Liar's Berg.
"When the fighting starts/I will give you all cover/So, try not to die," said Zero. Lee nods, appreciative of Zer0's actions, he keeps the items that he was keeping track of and places them next to Zer0
"Got it, don't use too much," he jumps down, "Watch our food!" Lee yelled as he jumped down the steep hill.
As the group heads down to Claptrap they quickly killed the Bullymongs. Maya had finally got to use her SMG with Krieg carving away at them. Salvador was pulling Claptrap out of the snow. Gaige was climbing down from Claptrap while watching Axton do some stretches. Lee himself had finally made it down. Befroe them was a metal gate that was blocking the way into town.
"There you are, took you long enough," commented Gaige.
"It only took him a couple seconds," said Maya.
Salvador then patted Lee's back in a friendly manner.
"So whats the plan?" asked Lee. He kept his eye out for the holes in the ice structures for any Bullymongs. Axton pointed down the metal gate at the wall; it was made from bricks that seemed to have been carved from the ice.
"We can go over that ice wall and shoot the bastards from behind," said Axton. Salvador then brought out his Hyperion and Jacob's shotguns.
"Better yet we rush in and used their skulls as kickballs," suggested Salvador.
"Well whatever we do we've got cover," Lee pointed back to the mountain where Zer0 was keeping watching. "Zer0's perched up on the hill ready to-"
"Hush now my minions, I'll get the door open. Said Claptrap. He wheeled over to a small intercom near next to the gate and begins pushing buttons. As he did The others began to over hear the bandits on the other side of the gate; breaking anything they could find, talking among themselve. and spoke into the intercom.
"Hey Hammerlock, its your best Clap-buddy coming to pay a visit!" said Claptrap.
There was a bit of static soon with the distant sounds of breaking, cursing and screaming.
"Spectacular! First Captain Flynt's bandits attack Liar's Berg, and now Claptrap's here. What sort of heinous action could I have committed in a past life?" cried Hammerlock, "Did I steal from the elderly, break an urn that was filled with someone's papa's ashes, was I exceptionally mean to puppies?!"
"That's Hammerlock?" asked Salvador.
"He sounds kind of snooty," said Gaige. Lee shook his head and went over to the intercom.
"Um hello, Mr. Hammerlock," said Lee.
"Another person, and by Jove you sound relatively sane!" said Hammerlock, his tone was more hopeful. Maya walked over and spoke into the intercom.
"He's not the only one," she said with confidence. Although the group eyes Krieg for a moment who is banging on the door and climbs over it.
"AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!" he screamed as he fought other bandits.
"Wait Krieg,!" said Maya. She climbs over the ice wall to chase after him.
"Well there he goes," said Axton. Salvador pushes Lee out of the way.
"Its them, kill 'em!" yelled one of Flynt's bandits.
"Great, we better get in there," said Lee. Axton then climbs on the ice wall and over into town and sees
"We'll handle your bandit problem, fancy pants," said Salvador.
"Please do, my fellows I will be eternally grateful" said Hammerlock."My only defense is that electric fence at the edge of town. I'll stay hidden until the bandits are gone, and for you leisure I will open the gate"
Hearing the fighting inside Salvador did not want to wait then tries to climb the ice wall, but fails to do so and falls on his back. The gate then tries to lower only for the ends to spark slightly causing the gate to malfunction.
"Oh come on," said Lee.
"Some mech expert," said Gaige. Impatient Gaige has Deathtrap pick up Salvador by his shirt and Claptrap by his head and tossed them. over the gate. Not wanting to be next Lee climbs over the ice wall and in between a house and the wall. Quickly he's met with a bandit pointing a gun in his face.
"Hi," said Bandit. As he pulls the trigger Lee quickly reacts and ducks out of the way of the barrel and quickly punches the man in the liver and knocks the gun out of his hands and kicks him hard enough to knock him into a wall.
"Goodbye," said Lee.
"Out of the way," said Gaige as she flies over the wall and next to Lee.
"You okay?" asked Lee. Gaige draws her Hyperion SMG and fires at an oncoming bandit.
"Just saved you, so yeah," said Gaige.
"HA HA HA!"
They hear of mix of Krieg and Salvador's laughter as the all out fight ensured. Salvador runs over to them while covering in blood while smoking a cigar.
Maya taking cover behind a piece of junk and ice while firing at the bandits. She quickly forced a phaselock around one of the bandits and keeps him still. Krieg then comes in and beats him with his Buzz-axe. More bandits swarm him with Maya firing at them as well making sure to cover Krieg as she moved deeper into the town.
"Hey boys, come get an autograph!" said Axton as he reloads his gun. A bandit runs up to him and tries to cut him with an ax and but he ducks the Axton himself was using his new pistol to kill as many bandits as he could, placing himself in the middle of fire he shoots each one head, blowing their skulls open. He dodges out of the way of each line of fire like he was in an action movie and guns each one down.
*Pop* *Pop* *Pop*
Off went their heads. The moment where Axton ran our of bullets he ducked over to a building to reload as fast as he could. When one of the bandits ran over to try and take him from behind His head was blown off by a single bullet; courtesy of Zer0 from miles away. Axton looks back up without any clue that he was about to die and goes back to shooting people.
Gaige reloads her SMG and brandishes it ready to fight with Lee cracking his knuckles. They go out with Lee watching Salvador by the bridge gunning down several Bandits with his shotguns as they tried to close in on him. He blast was like a drum being beaten over and over in a rhythm by musical gunman. To be humorous Salvador would blow their legs out causing them to fall down, some would fall over the bridge and break their skulls.
"Hey Nino, come join the fun!" yelled Salvador He shoots the legs off of one of the on coming bandits and blows his head off.
Lee would have done so, but noticed that some of the bandits were getting stationed on the roof. He looked over to Gaige to warn her.
"Gaige on the roof tops!" said Lee. Gaige spun around and line up her shot.
"I see them" she said. She pulled the trigger firing at the bandits, she hit a few of them, only missing one with the bullets only wounding them. She ducks behind cover as the wounded bandits fire back at her.
"Get 'em D.T!" she ordered. Deathtrap them flew up to Gaige's attackers and killed each of them within a moment. Gaige then shoots other bandits that tried to kill approach the bridge to give Salvador a little more breathing room.
Lee then notices that some of the bandits were trying to break past the fecne that surrounded the house at the end of town. Remembering that being the last stronghold where Hammerlock was. He rushed over to them as fast as he could, evading the bullets and bandits, even ducking out of the way of Krige's large buzz-axe that decapitated a bandit.
"Don't let them surround you," advised Maya.
When Lee closed in on the bandits as they tried to break hap bandits try to shoot Lee as Maya quickly uses her phaselock to bubble one of them while Lee focuses his attention on the other one. He quickly punches his stomach and then chops at his neck. Meanwhile the other bandit is quickly shot by Axton. Lee stood in front of the electric fence like a guard to protect it from anymore on coming bandits.
However soon the Vault Hunters quickly notes that the bandits that they were fighting had all been defeated and with nary a scratch on any of them. Lee took a breath of relief, though that was quickly dispersed.
"Hey, are you the one killing my men?" asked Captain Flynt.
Lee looked down at his ECHO where the voice was coming from. He quickly picks it up and talks into it.
"Captain Flynt?" uttered Lee. The others heard this and their sense of relaxation was disturbed as well. With a few of them wanting to weigh in and rushed over to Lee as Flynt called.
"Hey Lee, let me talk to him," begged Axton, "I got a few lines to use on him,"
"Give him the Echo, "demanded Gaige, wanting to hear Axton act like a movie star,
"Nino, call him a 'Rak Rider,' he'll know what it means,"
"Hang up!" said Maya.
"GIVE HIM A KISS!" yelled Krieg.
Lee furrowed his brow at the crazies that he has come to work with. He puts the ECHO to his ear and spoke into it.
"You have Claptrap's boat right, let us use it," said Lee, "We won't fight you if you do."
"I've got a better proposition for you Vault Hunters. Give up, hand over my Torture doll and I'll just shoot you in the head!" said Flynt ina gruff yell maniac like fashion.
"Whats with people calling me a 'Grinder'?" Lee thought to himself.
"No deal," Salvador eggs him on, "Rakk Rider," said Lee. Salvador then give a hearty laugh at this. Captain Flynt, for some reason, was furious,
"Rakk R- fine then you little ingrate! More of my botys are heading you way and when we bring you to Jack, I'll watch what horrible crap he's going to do to you!" yelled Flynt.
Hearing this Maya goes over to the bridge where Salvador was and looked over to see more bandits were coming there way.
"Hey, more are coming from other way out of town!" yelled Maya.
"I tried giving you an easy way out!" yelled Flynt, He then hung up..
"Great," Lee looked to the ground and saw a Bandit rifle that he could bludgeon people with, luckily it was empty of all bullets. "How's everyone doing?"
"Not usually happy about getting shot at, but its a little refreshing." said Maya. As she reloaed her SMG. She picked off a lot of ammo
"Well duh, cause its not robots, this time," said Gaige as she petted Deathtrap, "Scrubs compared to D.T." Deathtrap then pumped his robot arms like he was a body builder and
*Proud Robot Noises*
"Yeah, now we're fighting normal psychopaths," said Axton as he reloads his weapon and picked up a Bandit Rifle and reloads it with whatever ammo that he had. "I almost missed them,"
"I didn't," yelled Lee he looked around at the bandit corpses for a weapon that he could use and finds a Bandit style rifle,, "Is there a way up here from where they're coming in."
*Bam*
The Vault Hunters turn around and see that the gate into the town had broken and fallen over into the snow. They could see Claptrap ducking his head in terror. He pops from his cubed form.
"Hello, minion? Are the bandits dead?" asked Claptrap as he wheeled in the town. He trips over a dead body with Lee running over to Claptrap and picking him up. He then carries him over to an abandoned building and places him inside.
"W-Whats going on, Siren minion where are you taking me?" asked Claptrap as he wriggled around.
"Claptrap, more of Flynts bandits are on the way, you need to stay here," said Lee.
"What!" yelled Claptrap in terror.
Soon the bandits descended on the town. They were armed to the teeth with assault rifles, pistols, SMGs and even Rocket Launchers. Everyone took cover, aside from Krieg and Salvador; Gaige took cover behind a nearby vending machine next to a building with the words "Supplies" with Deathtrap out in front, Axton took cover around a smaller building with Maya doing the same behind one of the walls made of bricks of ic. Lee hid in the house with Claptrap with the robot clinging onto Lee's leg.
"Get ready!" warned Axton.
"This is gonna be fun," yelled Salvador as he switched to two Hyperion pistols
As the bandits charged into town the Vault Hunters wasted no time in firing at them. Krieg charges at the bandits , tearing each one he could get his hands on limb by limb with his buzz-ax. Some of them tries to shoot him from further away with Krieg as the others engage deeper in town.
"CATCH,. GRANDMA!"
Krieg throws his buzz-axe at them causing is weapon to be carved into his head. Krieg runs over and grabs it while it was lodged inot the man's skull and began to beat the surrounding bandits like a game of whack a mole. With one hard swing he dislodges the corpse causing it to fly back and nearly hit Axton ash e shoots the bandits in a shoot out.
"Ah, Maya your boyfriend almost killed me again!" yelled Axton. One of the Bandits tried to charge at him with Axton hitting him with the but of his rifle and then shooting him in the crotch and kicking his body over. He kept firing at them, it was harder to hit them because the Bandit manufactured weapons became unsteady whenever they were used for too long, this would cause Axton to miss at times.
"He's not my boyfriend and shut it!" yelled Maya as she bubbled a bandit and threw him off like he was a pebble.
Salvador decided and stand in the square come out and shoot them.. He walks out in the open giving the available a target to run toward or aim at if they wanted it. He shoots each one. As he reloads his guns Lee comes out holding the riffle by the barrel of a gun he swings it around beating up bandits that the others would miss or slip by or would miss.
Gaige was able to save bullets by having Deathtrap join in and cleabe
Though the battle seemed like it would end quickly, something happens.
*Grunts*
Everyone, including the bandits hear this and recognize the sound. The holes from the outside of town then have a horde of Bullymongs come out and run into town. Some of them use the entrance, crawl out of their nesting holes that were on a nearby mountain wall and descend on the town.
"BULLYMONGS!" yelled Claptrap as he watched form out a broken window.
The bandits tired to kill them but it was one sided with only a few of the Bandits being able to kill any of them before they ultimately die. Screams of horror fill the air as the Vault Hunters watch as the Bullymongs to finish Flynt's bandit crew.
"Should we help?" asked Maya as the Vault Hunters were miraculously.
"Nope, but shoot them both," said Salvador "A Royal is always fun!" yelled Salvador as he began shooting Bullymongs and Bandits. Soon the others joined in, even Lee couldn't argue against taking out both enemies at once.
"Take 'em out D.T.," yelled Gaige. She shoots a bandit and Bullymong as the snowy ape was mauling the bandit, killing them both. His claws rip away at their flesh and bones. Lotus was able to fight off the Bullymongs easily since he was now used to their movements, wielded at rifle bat, andthis complemented with Salvador aiming and shooting at any of them that would enter Lee's blindspot.
Axton kept watch over the side of town where the other Bullymong nests where and began to shoot as many of them as he could see.
"Hey gang, better keep an eye out on those wall sphincters," warned Axton.
"I got it," said Gaige. She moves positions to the building next to Axtons and begins shooting at the holes, killing Bullymongs.
As the remaining bandits turned to corpses Krieg focused his attention on the Bullymongs, swinging away, while Maya shot at them like normal. The situation wasn't as tense or as difficult as before where they were barely scrapping by. From the cliff Zero checked on what little sniper rifle ammo that he had left and picked some of the Bullymongs, aiming for their heads. Sadly despite his incredibly aim he was quickly down to one bullet for his sniper rifle. Seeing this his mask creates: :(. He puts his rifle away and readies his pistol only to see that the remaining enemies was nearly killed.
With one last swing of his rifle, Lee kills the last of the Bullymong by breaking open its skull. With the dust settled the others could see the corpses of their enemies sprawled out before them. It was over. With our Vault Hunters quick to celebrate, Captain Flynt calls in,
"DAMNIT!" he yelled from Lee's ECHO. The rest of the group hang around Lee as this had happened
Before Lee himself could speak to Captain Flyn, Axton snatches the ECHO from his side and speaks into it.
"Hey, give that back," said Lee. Gaige stops him
"Arggh matey, you've been swashbuckled," said Axton "Next time ye send your filthy swine to kill me, " Axton clocks his gun, "I'll gun them down and send them to the locker,"
There was an awkward silence upon hearing Axton's "acting" and only an awkward cough could be heard. It may have been Krieg.
"Are you some kind of dumbass," asked Flynt.
"Low hanging fruit," said Maya. Lee chuckles when he hears this.
"Hey, that good," said Axton, complaining. He looked to Gaige for confirmation, but even her admiration couldn't contain her criticism.
"Maybe work on the accent, and the pronunciation," said Gaige, Lee could see Gaige look uncomfortable saying that.
"I-I guess your right," he said.
"DAMN IT, I WAS SURE THAT WAS PERFECT!" Axton thought in distress. Salvador takes the ECHO from Axton as he was in dismay.
"Hey Flynt, you fire breathing Cabron," said Salvador with swagger and confidence befitting himself, "We off your estupido bantis and your next,"
"Like hell I am, I'm killing all of you bastards and striking it rich," said Captain Flynt. "This ain't over grinders!"
Flynt hangs up with Salvador giving Lee his ECHO back.
"I'm not the only one who's been called that, right?" asked Lee awkwardly. Maya points at herself with Axton raising his hand, Gaige and Deathtrap both raise their hands, Salvador chuckles with Krieg waiving his weapon around. It was then that Lee turned his head to see Zer0 whose mask had shown a checkmark.
"AHH!" Lee jumped in fear while landing in the snow. Zer0 then dropped the sack filled with their canned goods next to Lee.
" Hey Ninja man," said Salvador in a friendly manner.
"Thanks for the cover," said Lee as he got up, "But could you stop scaring me like that?" Zer0 merely shrugged hearing that.
"Now that you've joined the party, we can go get Claptrap fixed up," said Maya.
"Claptrap, the fighting is done, come out!" yelled Gaige. Claptrap then wheeled out of the house he was hiding in and wheeled over to the group.
"Great job minions, now lets go and see Hammerlock!" yelled Claptrap He was about to wheel toward the exit when Deathtrap grabbed him and turned him around causing him to wheel over to the house with the electric fence with the Vault Hunters following behind. Axton then jabbed Lee's shoulder getting his attention.
"Whats up?" asked Lee annoyed.
"What do we do about him?" asked Axton as he gestured to Krieg. The group looks at the mad titan and realize that he might attack Hammerlock. Lee looks at Maya for an answer.
"I'll stop him," said Maya firmely. She points to Gaige. "And you make sure to stop her," Lee nods remembering Giage's anger toward a person she hadn't met yet. The group reach the electric fence and Claptrap feels around for the intercom, he presses the button and speaks into it.
"Hey Hammerlock! Since my army of minions saved your butt, would you do your bestie Claptrap a favor and fix my eye?" asked Claptrap. Lee brought out the eye, unbroken and ready to be put inside of Claptrap head.
"Well of course, I am a man of my word and you all did rescue me from Captain Flynts bandits." said Hammerlock, "Very well, allow me to turn off the electric fence and let Claptrap open the fence. Lee then pressed the button on the intercome.
"Thanks Mr. Hammerlock," said Lee.
"He kind of sounds distinguished," said Gaige in a pondering manner.
"Huh?" uttered Axton.
Claptrap interrupts.
"Move aside minions," said Claptrap, he went to open the and the moment he touched it he was shocked with over a hundred volts of electricity. The others could only watch as the electricity hit him, which eventually causing him to fall on his back, stunned and burned with smoke coming off him.
"What the hell!" yelled Lee. Gaige took a look at Claptrap
"Don't worry, he's fine," she said.
"Why did-"
"My apologizes, but every time I hear Claptrap speak I can feel my brain cells slowly committing suicide one by one. I will meet your directly" they turn and see the door open and a man walk out of it. He dressed as a British game hunter with a hat that adorned a feather, pair of glasses with the left eye broken revealing a robotic eye. He had a black haired mustache with a gray tint that connected to his sideburns He was dark skinned, with his left leg and arm long since replaced with robotic limbs. He marches toward the electric fence like he was a soldier for the queen with the others watching in a sense of awe. When Hammerlock reacehd the fence he opens it stands up straight with his chest out and gives the Vault Hunters a salute;
"Greetings Vault Hunters, I am Sir Alistair Hammerlock," he says with pride. The Vault Hunters can only look on at the man's strange attitude, or what they percieved as strange.
"Well he seems a bit prim and proper," said Axton.
"Better not be a stiff," said Salvador.
"Be nice," said Lee. He approaches Hammerlock, "Nice to meet you Sir Hammerlock, my name is Lee."
"Oh no need for such a formality, you may call me Hammerlock, my dear fellow," said Hammerlock. Lee was very glad that Hammerlock seemed like a nice man as he extened his hand to shake his Gaige pushed him aside,
"So your the robotic expert, mister distinguished," said Gaige, emphasizing the word distinguished, "My name is Gaige," she then gestured to Deathtrap, "This is my creation and best friend Deathtrap." Deathtrap takes a bow in a clunky regal manner.
"Greeting Gaige, Deathtrap, its quite refreshing to see someone with robotic applications such as myself." said Hammerlock. Giage blushed a little and giggled.
"Awe thank you," said Gaige.
Lee narrowed his eyes hearing this with the others questioning this as well.
"She was just about to kill him earlier," they thought in unison. Axton then steps forward and introduces himself.
"Name's Axton, nice to meet you," said Axton.
"Maya," said Maya in a friencly manner. Hammerlock salutes them both.
"A pleasure," he turns to Krieg and got nervous," a-and who is the large Ps-Psychopatich creature?" he asked. Hammerlock nervously stood in place not moving.
"Okay, first impressions, don't attack him just say 'Hello'" said Krieg's sane half. "And don't fucking attack him!"
"I'm the Conductor of the POOP train!" yelled Krieg. As he swung around his Buzz-axe
"Oh my." said Hammerlock.
"That's now he introduces himself," said Salvador in a joking manner.
"I-I see, I saw him fighting,"Maya then stepped in front.
"He's fine, he's not like the others," said Maya. She put her hand on his arm, "Trust me,"
"W-Well I suppose I should, after all I saw all of you fighing from the top floor of my home, that monster of a man was a vigorous as any Bullymong I'd seen," Hammerlock gives a salute, "As with all of you, I salute you my dear psychopath,"
Krieg then imitates Hammerlock's actions but hits himself in the head and falls back on the ground. Turning his attention to Salvador, Hammerlock looks down.
"And you must be Salvador," said Hammerlock. Salvador folded his arms with a grin.
"Heard of me, have you fancy pants?" asked Salvador.
"Indeed, I've seen your wanted poster even before today's events, your quite infamous among Bandit Clans," said Hammerlock. "But I'm not above giving one their due,"
"Gracias, got any booze?" asked Salvador.
"Salvador, this isn't the time for that," said Lee.
"Indeed, I'm afraid I savored my last drops of brandy several months ago," said Hammerlock. Salvador then wore a sad expression. Lee pats Salvador's head and gestures to Zer0.
"And this is Zer0," said Lee. Zero gives a curt waive with Hammerlock saluting him.
"Good day my dear masked fellow," said Hammerlock.
"You are a Hunter/ Here with Bandits and Bullymongs/ Why did you come here?" asked Zer0.
"That's a good question,," said Lee.
"Hey, he can be out in the snow if he wants," said Giage as she stood next to Hammerlock as if to protect him,
"Calm down Gaige, its not even a big question," said Axton.
"No it isn't, I can answer said inquiry," said Hammerlock." I came to study the Bullymongs for my almanac,"
Marcus and Orphan
"Did you meet Hammerlock before all this?" asked the Orphan.
"Of course, he always bought my Jacobs sniper rifles," said Marcus proudly.
"Didn't those jam up at times?" asked the Orphan,
"What are you, an inspector or the aurdience,?" asked Marcus.
"Audience, please," said the Orphan.
"Good, now back to story.
Liar's Berg (Story)
"You study animals?" asked Maya with intrigue,
"Of course, other than Vaults, Pandora has a wide variety of animals that are worthy of study," said Hammerlock, "I've spent several years studying these animals as well as others on the planet,"
"So cool," said Gaige,
"It really is," said Lee with smile.
"Why thank you, but I have to ask what are the survivors of Handsome Jack's latest Vault Hunter doing with Claptrap?" asked Hammerlock. Axton gestures down to a still unconscious Claptrap
"'Master' here said he had a boat to take us to Sanctuary." said Axton.
"Oh You mean his boat," Hammerlock nods, "Yes that is true, but I'm afraid you'll have to battle through a battalion of Flynt's bandits and Bullymongs as well,"
"Oh we're prepared for that," said Axton.
"We've all killed Bandits and these guys aren't any special," said Maya.
"Yes well I hope that you are prepared for the journey
"How long will the ride be?" asked Gaige.
"By my estimate, getting back to land by boat will take a total of 6 days," said Hammerlock,
"SIX DAYS!" yelled Lee.
"Do we have enough food?" asked Maya.
"Not between all of us," said Lee. Seeing their dismay Hammerlock speaks up.
"Well I do have some ideas to help you prepare as well as somewhere to get more food and supplies," said Hammerlock/
"Really, thanks," said Lee.
"Of course, not only did you save me but you faced Handsome Jack and lived," Hammerlock smiles, "Quite the accomplishment of itself,"
Gaige then slowly stretched with Deathtrap mimicking her.
"Yeah well, I am a bad bitch," said Gaige with confidence. Lee shook his head seeing this but cracks a small smile.
"Before any of that," Lee pulls holds out Claptrap's eye," Could you," Lee trails off hoping that Hammerlock would connect the dots. Hammerlock jumps a little and gently takes the eyes.
"Oh yes, please forgive me I was caught up in the camaraderie," said Hammerlock. He then went over to Claptrap.
"Show us what you've got," said Gaige.
"She wanted to kill him earlier," Lee thought
"Very well then, stand back," said Hammerlock with gusto.
The others stand a few feet back as Hammerlock kneels down to Claptrap's head. They all watch with Lee and Gaige having more intrigue than the others. They then witness Hammerlock shove the eye back into Claptrap's eye and twists it deeper in like a screw. Hammerlock then gives Claptrap's eye a quick hit.
"That should do it," said Hammerlock.
Claptrap then gets back up, feeling better than ever. He then starts to dance around with everyone looking on in confusion.
"HA HA! I am ALIIIIVE!" said Claptrap happily. Hammerlock lowers his head and puts his hands over his eyes in frustration.
"OH dear, he's talking again," said Hammerlock.
The others, didn't care about that.
"That's how you put Claptraps eye back?" asked Lee.
"I could have done that," said Axton.
"I could have done that blind," said Maya.
That's all I wrote.
Next chapter will be on the month after next. Hope you enjoyed it.
"This is Squalo King, signing off :)"