*C1 and a Millennia-old Warlock were on Venus investigating the Vault of Glass*
C1: Yes
W: No
C1: Yes
W: No. Why would this work? The Vex aren't stupid.
C1: Two words. Crota's. End. *C1 did the following action [action being done to the Vex later in report] in order to distract Crota while the rest of his fireteam snuck upon him swords in hand*
W: *sighs* Fine. We do it your way.
C1: Whoo-hoo!*C1 proceeded to jump backwards off a high drop of the Vault* LETS GO ROB A VAULLlllllltttttt!
*several Minotaurs, Hydra, Hobgoblins, and Goblins were in the area*
C1: *C1 climbs atop a stone and waves arms* Hey! You milkyboys! Over here. *the Vex have given them their full attention while the Warlock snuck around and interfaced with the conflux* I hear you guys say you're better than us Guardians! But can you do this? *C1 proceeds to begin to dance then ducks into cover immediately as the Vex begin to fire upon him* Hmpf. Sore losers, mad cuz they can only do the robot.
W: *W has finished interfacing with the conflux and prepares to enter the Stormtrance and destroys the Vex in a surprise attack*
W: That was stupid.
C1: But it worked.
W: It really shouldn't have.
C1: Let me tell you something my dear Warlock. Vex. Hate. Dancing. Tried and true fact.
Five years had passed since the Nighthawk came to Pandora.
The Vault of the Destroyer was opened then resealed.
Eridium was abundant across Pandora.
Handsome Jack had become Public Enemy Number One after doing away with his past allies due to the events in Elpis' Vault and securing as much Eridium as he could in order to bring his brand of peace to Pandora, which included deaths of thousands.
Go figure.
Many thought Handsome Jack a god.
Many forget.
Even gods die.
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Sanctuary, Crimson Raider HQ
"You want us to do what?" Gaige burst out. She was a dual pony-tailed, red headed, punk genius. Wearing a blue hoodie jacket with a skull on the back over a red shirt with the same skull on the front, a red skirt, black and white thigh high socks, sneakers, and goggles resting on her hair, her mechanical arm slammed down on the table as her green eyes bore into the leader of the Crimson Raiders', Roland, eyes. "You want us to go after who again?!"
Roland cleared his throat. "The Nighthawk. For the right price it's said they will do any job. Against Jack...its best to have all avenues covered."
"And if they don't co-operate amigo? What if they are with Jack? Can we kill them then?" Salvador questioned with a bloodthirsty grin. The short, orange shirted Gunzerker rolled his eyes at the look Lilith, a Siren, gave him.
"It won't come to that." Axton said. He wore a brown leather jacket, green combat fatigues, and armored boots.
"It may. You never know. This Nighthawk supposedly has taken out King Wee Wee-" Gaige promptly snickered, "and his entire following. Without a single hit being taken on their end mind you. If I was Jack, I'd rather have them paid off." Maya stated with an eye roll at Gaige's antics. The bluenette Siren wore a form fitting, yellow body suit with one sleeve and used a sideways belt to keep her blue and white cargo pants up.
"A challenge is good." Zer0 stated blandly. The black clad, Daft Punk rip off tapped the bottom of his helm in thought. "Caution should be advised here. Ego brings only death." He finished.
"ROOTY TOOTY POINT AND SHOOTY!" Krieg crowed madly. Ever the insane mountain of a man, the masked experiment welcomed all challenges, even those no one asked for. 'Calm, they may be a friend, like Maya. Wait until we see.' His inner voice soothed. Krieg grunted but settled back down nonetheless.
"...Get going before Krieg loses it. Sources say they were last seen operating out of the Divide." Roland groaned out waving them off. "Keep me posted on anything interesting." The misfit group of Vault Hunters departed on the reluctant job.
The first clue they found was a small group of dead bandits slowly freezing in pools of their own blood. "Those are gunshot wounds...signs of torture as well." Axton said as they stopped their truck and got out to inspect the bodies. Krieg stayed on the truck after the urging of Maya.
Maya looked at the carnage. "There's at least forty here. Who the hell did this?" She asked to no one as she poked a body. Salvador saw a blink of a light on one of the more mutilated corpses. He squatted over it and rolled the body over.
"Hey...I found a ECHOdevice amigos!" He stood to his full short height and waved the device as the others walked over. Then he hit play.
"AGGHHHHHHHHH!" An agony filled scream signaled the beginning of the log. "Hah...hah...I...hah..I told you I don't know nothin' about a Vault!" Came a pain ridden voice.
"Funny," growled out the sound of another gruff and deep voice, "that's what the other five said, and I didn't believe them either." There was a trifecta of loud cracking snaps and the first voice screamed.
"I...I don't know. I swear... "The voice quickly spoke up after a soft click of a hammer being cocked back interrupted him. "JACK! HANDSOME JACK!" There was a lack of sound for a brief second. The voice took a breath. "H-He's all about Vaults. He'd know! I swear I told you all I know. So...please, OH GOD N-" A thunderous crack of a gunshot cut off the voice.
"Tch. Everyone knows Jack hunts Vaults dumbass. If I wanted to deal with traitorous weasels I'd have thrown in with the New Monarchy. Waste of my time."
With those lovely parting words the ECHOlog recording finished.
"Well. At least we can tell they hold no love for Jack. Thats good right?" Gaige spoke up slightly paler than she had been before the recording.
"It means they aren't in his pocket at least chica." Salvador smirked. Guy wasn't afraid to torture, the dwarf liked him already.
"Well the log isn't from too long ago. He may still be in the area." Axton sighed hefting his gun on his shoulder. "Back in the truck." Gaige immediately darted for the driver seat but was locked into place by the resident Siren.
"No, no. We all remember what happened last time you drove."
"Awwwww. C'mon!"
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As they drove, a mini fortress of a cave attracted their attention. A large black drop door covered the mouth and a large courtyard with a fence adorned with heads of many, many dead bandits. "THEY ARE FISHY STICKS!" Krieg called upon seeing the many heads.
"Think this is the place?" Axton asked.
"It's Pandora Ax. You can't ever tell with most people. May as well check it out." Maya spoke.
Approaching the cave with caution high and guns raised, the group walked in the gate.
A door slammed and a bandit ran out. "HELP HELP! THE HAWK'S GONNA KILL US AL-AGH!" The bandit ate dirt as he stumbled and fell. There was a pitch colored, dagger-sized thorn piercing through his right knee. The bandit grunted in pain and scrambled to crawl away before a black leather boot stomped on the dagger in his knee and pinned him to the earth eliciting a scream from the poor bastard.
"When I said you could run, I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to actually do it." Drawled the cloaked figure as they lowered a wicked, black pistol to the side. They looked up from their white hood with what appeared to be four sharp teeth on either side to show a gold and white bird shaped helm. Its eyes were black as an abyss. "Who the hell are you and what do you want? You here for this rakk shit?"
The bandit was a mess of blood, torn clothing, and tears as he looked up at them with begging eyes. "P-please..."
"NOPE!" Krieg cawed.
"Good." With a movement quick as greased lightning, there was another dagger buried in the bandit's skull accompanied by a crack of breaking air. "Now." The gun trained on Maya. The abyssal eyes flamed into bright, golden, birdlike orbs. "What do Vault Hunters want with me? If you've come to kill me...", there was a quick gesture down to the bandit, "I'm a quick shot."
Gaige quickly got in front of Maya, waving her hands before any bullets flew. "Nonononono! No killing! Pinky promise! You're the Nighthawk right?" A sharp nod was her answer. "Just wanna talk."
The dark gun remained aimed at them for a brief second before the Nighthawk lowered it and turned on their heel and waved their gun in a follow gesture. "Touch anything inside and I will break you." He passed under the door and disappeared into the depths of the cave mouth before they moved to follow. All mouths were agape in shock.
Except for Salvador.
"I like this one!" He roared in laughter.
They found the Nighthawk placing the large pisto- flaming eyes flickered in annoyance - Hand-cannon on a rack with many other weapons varying from rifles, to shotguns, to rocket launchers. "Sit." Was the order. There was a table with just enough chairs for them all. After they had, the Nighthawk spoke. "Who sent you?"
"Roland of the Crimson Raiders." Axton spoke up, jaw set in tension. He didn't like this situation. This person, this one person, had the presence of someone who could kill them all even if they had them tied to a post, guns aimed at their head and a goddamn bomb strapped to their chest.
"Oh. Him." It was a unexpected response from the cross-armed mercenary. "Whats he want?"
"Help."
"With?"
"Jack." Zer0 spoke.
"That asswagon? I've been meaning to clean that mess up. He stays holed up. You're saying you have a plan to draw him out?"
Salvador grunted. "I wish amigo. Bastard tried to kill us on a train, but we got nada."
"I see. What do I get out of this?"
"Aside from finding info on the Vault you're looking for?" Gaige spoke up. It seemed to be the wrong thing to ask as the harsh gaze snapped to her, probing her, and wondering how she knew. "W-We found an ECHOlog from a bandit." That presence...it was almost too much.
All of a sudden the aura of doom lifted as the Nighthawk slapped his helmet in a facepalm. "Of course. Dammit Alastor I thought you had them all scrubbed!" A black with green stardust swirling inside shelled...thing appeared from the depths of his cloak.
"I'm sorry. I didn't see you checking the bodies to be certain." The snarky robot replied.
Gaige raised a hand cautiously. "Um...what is that?"
Both stopped mid-argument seemingly forgetting there were guests. They turned to the group and said as one. "He's a Ghost/I'm a Ghost."
'That...explained nothing.' Was the collective thought aside from Krieg who was thinking of spleen pancakes, with bacon.
Mmmmm, bacon.
"Hand me your ECHO device." The Nighthawk ordered Maya.
"Why?"
"I said so. Do you want me to speak to Roland or not?"
Maya promptly rang Roland up.
"What is it?" Came the leader of the Crimson Raider's voice.
"We found him. He wants to talk."
"Tell him to put it near a holo projector." The Nighthawk called.
"I heard him Maya...It's done." Maya reluctantly handed her ECHOdevice over. It was plugged into a large device and Roland appeared in hologram form in front of them.
The Nighthawk appeared on Roland's end leaned back with arms crossed and the hawk held what seemed to be amusement in his posture.
"Heya Rolly."
Roland's eyes widened. Only one person ever called him that. "C-Cain? You're the Nighthawk?"
The Vault Hunters traded looks.
The Nighthawk knew Roland?
"Why so surprised? That hurts." The sarcasm was heavy. "Hows Lillith? She still have you whipped?"
Roland crossed his arms and growled. "Nice to see you too."
The hood on the Nighthawk came down and the helmet was removed. An even tanned, handsome face emerged. Dark brown, nearly black messily spiky hair that hung down to his jaw on the sides sat upon a lightly scarred, mirthful face. There was a long scar going down the left of his jaw line, another was two crossed on right eyebrow almost framing it. Two auburn eyes glittered with mischief. "You know, if you needed help. You could've just asked Rolly."
'Rolly' shrugged. "I couldn't find you for the last three years. You went off the radar."
"I had my reasons. You just didn't try hard enough."
"Obviously. So you're in?"
A nod was his answer.
"Good. How soon can you be at Sanctuary?"
"Few days max. Got a lot of stuff to move. Gotta find a friend."
"...I swear you better not be thinking what I think you're thinking, but...thanks. See you soon, and one last thing. NO MENTALLY SCARRING MY VAULT HUNTERS!" After that lovely parting comment Roland's holo deactivated to Cain's smirk. Maya's ECHOdevice was tossed back to her.
"No promises. Well. Job don-what...one sec." Cain turned to another machine and saw many blips and a psycho with a bullymong head hat screamed into a camera.
"COME OUT NIGHTHAWK. LET ME FEAST ON YOUR FLESH MEAT!"
"Oh. Great. This guy." Cain sighed. He understood why Ikora never left the Tower back home.
"You know them?" Maya asked.
"Yeah. Mongnado bandit group. I may have sorta killed the leader's brother looking for info." Cain sheepishly mumbled poking his fingers together. "Oh well. Guess I'll jus-"
"COME OUT OR WE SHALL HARM DINGLES!"
Cain froze up. He pressed a button on the intercom to let them hear him. "...Know what? Fine. Gutting you all sounds fucking therapeutic right now." He donned his helm and his hands glided across his weapon wall before grabbing a certain one and storming out. The human face hologram dropped. "Thank goodness we managed to tweak that hologram projector. Less that know the better." Cain grumbled as he walked.
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"Uh-oh." Alastor said. The Ghost turned to the Vault Hunters. "You may want to stay in here."
"Why? The killing field is out there." Axton asked.
"He's very annoyed right now." Was the simple reply.
"And?" Maya inquired.
"Overkill is not in his dictionary, even when restraining himself. It would not look good if any of you were harmed."
"How bad is it Lucecita?" Salavdor spoke up oddly serious. Alastor turned to the small man.
"He has been known to level areas in some cases." The dwarf grinned wildly crossing his arms at hearing that. Alastor sulked once he realized the nickname's meaning. "What is with people calling me 'little'..."
Cain stood in front of a horde of the raving lunatics of the Mongnado group. A hand-cannon tapped against his leg rapidly.
The crowd parted as the bullymong head wearing king of this group walked forward carrying a chain which he jerked and tugged to bring the beast attached lumbering forward. It was a giant...bright pink skagg with a bow?
"AHAH. YOU COME! GOOODDD." The leader Mongnado said.
Cain growled. "Let Dingles go Mongkong. She has nothing to do with this. You want me. I have plenty...flesh meat for the both of us." A lie but it served its purpose.
Mongkong shrugged. "Okay." He threw the chain to the side.
"Dingles. Home!" The skagg ran past Caine but not before it stopped and licked him. "Yeah, yeah. I missed you too." He scratched her side and the skagg went to a equally giant dog house that somehow went unnoticed prior to the neon skagg walking to it.
"You good?" Mongkong asked.
"Yeaapp. Thanks for waiting Mog. 'ppreciate it. Lets dance." Cains said firing off a round from the hand cannon he carried, brown and claimed by the House of Judgement, the Stolen Pride's bullet shot true. A poor Midget Nado went down, head promptly exploded. The rest of the seventy plus Mongnados charged forward screaming a war cry. Cain began to jog. A rakk cawed above. "And by dance I mean trY TO KILL EACH OTHER!" Sliding under one bandit that was promptly kicked in the dingles, Cain kept low and swept his foot to the side. The unlucky bandit flew sideways and into the path of a flying buzzsaw axe taking the spinning weapon to the chest.
Cain grabbed the fresh meatbag around its neck and rested Stolen Pride on its shoulder letting the body absorb many more buzz axes as he squeezed off several shots each taking massive chunks out of the bandits unlucky enough to be hit by them. The body fell to the icy floor after it served its use. A bandit flanked Cain and grabbed him in a full nelson. Another charged from the front to make mincemetal out of Cain's chest. The Exo sent a head butt to the one holding him and sent his legs up around the charging bandit's neck. With a twist of his hips, there was a bandit with his neck broken via legs and one that was sent into an approaching group of four. The Hunter landed and immediately ducked back at the waist and planted his hands to the floor and kicked his feet up knocking a bandit back with a broken jaw and called upon the Light of Arc. A very long, crackling knife appeared in his right hand, as he crouched arcs of electricity scorched the earth around him. Cain smirked internally. He surged forward and disappeared in a crack of thunder.
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Back inside Alastor sucked in a non-existent breath. "Oh my. He's unleashing his Light."
"His what now?" Axton asked. He was ignored by all.
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Centuries upon centuries of service to the Traveler, and using that time to learn all about his Light he could, caused Cain's Light to grow to an extraordinary amount. Many Guardians with the same time invested reached this level. By unleashing their Light to its fullest, Guardians just were not superhuman.
They surpassed even that.
Cain danced in between the bandit horde cleaving meat from bone and electrocuting all near. Many more had arrived off the ridges of the valley Cain resided in. It mattered not.
Flipping back after dodging a rocket, Cain leapt back after landing and formed a purple, spectral bow in his hand. Pulling back on the string a giant equally lavender arrow appeared. Firing it into the crowd, it formed a ball of Void energy that tethered all nearby to it. The bandits screamed as they could not move away from what came. A flaming knife was thrown after the Hunter landed. Burying itself to the hilt in a bandit, it exploded, and so did the bandit, causing a chain reaction to the near fifteen tethered. A large gap was made in the horde.
Cain danced out of the way of a buzz axe. Sixth sense screaming, he caught the next swipe at the wrist and snapped it simultaneously. The axe flew through the air from the sudden release. Cain caught it with his free hand and blocked the strike of a slashing bandit. The psychotic man was kicked in the stomach and then in the chin snapping his neck. Cain pulled Stolen Pride from his thigh and fired three shots into the bandit who's wrist was snapped. Twisting and pulling off a shot at a charging bandit Cain was filled with Solar light as he landed a double palm strike to a marauder. Planting a grenade on the bastard's chest he was thrown him into the crowd by the force. The man scrambled to get the burning grenade off his chest as the shell shattered, raining fire on all close.
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The others inside watched the massacre with morbid fascination.
"All glad he didn't decide to do that to us?" Maya asked. All hands minus Krieg's were raised.
Cain was bathed in blood at this point but it wasn't enough. Still thirty strong, Cain was tackled into a wall. He kneed the offender and reached down across the back, around the waist and heaved. With a strength filled flip Lord Shaxx would be proud of, the man was slammed into the ground on his head breaking it open like an overripe melon. Cain got into a fighting stance. He made a 'come hither' gesture at the bandits remaining.
"WELL!?" Mongkong shouted, pushing a Badass. "GET HIM!" Three other Badasses answered the call and joined the first in leading the charge. Cain twisted to the side to dodge the first ones fist and planted a foot on the failed fist and pinned it to the ground. A knee to the elbow joint snapped the arm. The Exo then used the hand for a spring board as it was pulled back in pain and roundhouse kicked the second in the side of the temple. The last two threw buzz axes at the Guardian. He launched himself at them and and twisted himself between them as they passed by less than an inch from helmet and cloak each and the bullet known as Cain caught them both in a metal armed clothesline utterly crushing their windpipes and breaking Adams apples. He did not get to rest as he began to fire shot after shot from Stolen Pride at the surrounding remaining bandits, spinning and twisting, a few shots were even made across the back. Body after body fell. Soon it was just Cain, Mongkong, and five of his lieutenants.
Mongkong brought his hands up in hopes of warding off the demon. "PLEA-" the man was cut off as he was shot by a flaming bullet.
"Un." Cain altered his flaming gun and his equally fiery visage was the last all saw.
"Deux."
Crack.
"Trios."
Crack.
"Quatre."
Crack.
"Cinq."
A final crack resounded through the now quiet courtyard of the fortress.
"Six." Was the monotone word spoken as the gun lowered. Cain clasped his hands together stretched his front and back. "Ahhhhhhhh. That was a good stretch of the ol' legs."
Inside the Vault Hunters gaped at the screen. Minus Krieg. He sped out the moment the battle ended.
"Axton?" Gaige asked.
"Yeah kiddo?"
"I think I found your equal."
"I think I would normally be offended. But in this case? I agree."
On the camera Cain was tackled by a hulking blur.
"YOU ARE KRIEG'S NEW BEST FRIEND BIRD HEAD! YOU AND KRIEG MAKE MANY SKULL HOLES!"
Cain was pinned in a hug by the behemoth. "Uh...sure thing big guy." He grunted awkwardly patting the arm holding him as he was pet. "Mind lettin' me down though?" Krieg eagerly nodded and let the man down. He dusted himself off though with the blood it was futile. "Well then. Inside?" Without waiting on a response Cain walked back.
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"Well. That was fun." He chirped removing his helmet with his hologram back in place.
He was met with silence.
"Oh come on. Rolly's gonna be mad if I gave you PTSD. You guys are Vault Hunters! Don't tell me you're scared of a little massacre?"
Gaige was suddenly in his face. "DUDE! THAT. WAS. AWESOME. You were all like WA-CHAW! And they were all like AAAAAAAGGGHHHHH!" Making an exaggerated sound of death Gaige had stars in her eyes.
Cain was backed against the cave wall holding his hands out to fend off the mechnomancer. 'Traveler if I didn't know better I'd say she was Meri's sister.' "Calm down Firecracker. Thats not my best even."
That was the wrong thing to say as jaws dropped. "NOT. YOUR. BEST? PENDEJO I LIKE THE WAY YA ROLL!" Salvador roared in laughter.
"Most impressive Cain. You hold up to the rumors. It was a good show." Zer0 stated.
Axton chuckled. "Glad to have another stud against Jack." He clapped the Nighthawk on the shoulder.
"Nice job killer. Saved us loads of trouble." Maya said.
He blinked at the unexpected praise parade. "Uh...okay then. I'll meet you all in Sanctuary. Now shoo. I got shit to do." Cain said as he pushed them out the door.