Chapter 7

Jaka 4

The Hunters

"Adventure ho." called out Hammerlock.

They had just left the town and Jinx immediately pulled back her hood and rolled her shoulders, taking a deep breath. Letting it out she said "I still think we should have went with them."

"I understand, but they'll be fine. Plus, if we went with them, it would have taken an hour, and if we delayed ourselves by an hour, we may not get back tomorrow, so we needed to get going."

"Yeah, I get that, but still. Anyway where is this hunting ground you're heading us towards?"

"You mean you don't know, didn't you do your research?"

"Of course I did, I know where the Huneystuck Whibbler's nesting grounds are, and I have a general idea of where your Great Red Footed Diomos hunts, but I figured since you've hunted it before and this is your expedi-expo-expodation, that doesn't sound right, anyway this is your show."

"Expedition."

"That's it, expedition."

"Well since I am in command of this expedition, we can start with some friendly banter. This way."

He started into the woods "Now then, you know who I am, but I must apologize, I'm afraid that I haven't heard of you. Wait, that didn't sound very friendly, dear me. I am dreadfully sorry. I didn't mean to cast aspirations on your skill, it's just that I try and keep up with the other hunters, you know, to keep up on who got what and where, that sort of thing, to keep track of which beasts are still out there. It's not like we have some kind of club or anything, though we do have a few lodges, so occasionally I miss an up and coming hunter, but I must say, the way Gaige talks you up, I would think that I would have heard of you by now. But the name Artemis eludes me, so what's your best trophy?"

"Artemis?" Jinx looked at him with confusion.

"That's what Gaige called you, is it not?"

"That explains it" Jinx said nodding "that's my ECHO handle, she calls me that, like a nickname."

"Ah, you mean like how I call Wainwright Winny?"

"Yeah, my real name is Jinx."

"Wait, Jinx. You mean the Jinx who won old Montamore's hunt?"

"You knew him?"

"I did, nearly made it to that hunt, but I was on Bongusha 7 and my guide turned an ankle. Took forever to get out of those jungles. So, you're the one who impressed Montamore enough that he gave you his ship. Do you still have it, if I may ask?"

"It's in orbit as we speak."

"Ah, the Hunters Moon. Good ship. Oh, you were the one who bagged the double crested Kreth. You know, I just missed you there too. I arrived within a day of your departure to hunt the very same beast myself, only to find that you'd beat me to it."

"Um…sorry?"

"No no, quite alright. To the hunter, the spoils. You where there first, and from what I hear you bagged it magnificently."

Jinx didn't respond, looking around in embarrassment.

Hammerlock took note "Onward then."

As they proceeded through the woods Hammerlock continued "So, what do you think of our little friend. I mean Gaige of course. You do know I have known her for, why it's been over seven years now. My how time flies. I first met her on Pandora, I was there doing research for my book, specifically on Bullymongs. Still displeased with that name. She was traveling with the other Vault Hunter, of course, and that annoying little bot."

"Deathtrap's not annoying."

"What, no no, CL4P-TP. He was guiding them at the time. Good times. So anyway, you've been traveling with her, Gaige that is, traveling with her for a while now, so what do you think of her?"

"Uh…we've only met a couple days ago."

"I know, I know, but you two have shared a ship for that time, you must have an opinion by now."

"Uh" Jinx replied, eyes darting around nervously. How was she supposed to respond to that, especially after telling her that he had known Gaige for years, it was like meeting a friends dad for the first time, or at least she thought it was, or maybe an uncle or something, so she called upon all her social skills and came up with the best, most placating answer she could "She's good. And you seem to be misunderstanding, we may be sharing a ship, but she gets the bedroom, and I'm sleeping in the lounge. She's not that kinda girl."

Hammerlock sighed, clearly his meaning was not getting through, either that or she was too nervous and didn't trust him enough to open up about things like that. So he took a different tact. "I didn't mean it like that. But you say your ECHO handle is Artemis? So why does Gaige call you that? I mean obviously it's your handle, but how does she know that?"

"It's actually AR73M15, but yes, she calls me Artemis. And she knows it cause I was one of her subscribers back in the day."

"Subscriber?"

"I thought you knew her? Back before she was a Vault Hunter" She said with a touch of pride, like she knew a Gaige that he didn't know "Well actually she continued it for a while after Jack's fall, but I started way before that. Anyway, she had an ECHO cast, just stuff like her life and what she was doing, who was bullying her, what she wanted to do, building Deathtrap, you know everyday stuff."

"And you subscribed to that? Sorry that sounded rude, but it sounds dreadfully boring. I mean where is the adventure, the daring do and the like?"

"That was the point, there was no pretense, just a real person, with their flaws and pains on display. And I was, wait, I didn't tell that part, I'm not very good with stories, see. I don't really tell that many of them. Anyway, I found her while I was recovering from my accident." She touched her left arm gently without pausing. "I was in the hospital and in a…well let's call it a not good way in my head. And I was able to do nothing but listen to other peoples' lives, and they all put on such fake bragging stories about how great they were and how it was so awesome it was to be them. Or they were total pity parades, how bad things were, but not real bad, just obnoxious bad, like they didn't get what they wanted, oh poor me. And to hear that crap was enough to make anyone sick, and they all had huge numbers of followers, which I never could understand, I mean who really wants to listen to that crap? Sorry getting sidetracked, where was I? Ah yes, all those stupid casts. But then I stumbled upon a channel with next to no followers, and it was just a girl telling about the ups and downs of her days. Nothing fancy. Nothing grandiose. Just a real person with real problems. And it got me out of my own head. Made me think about how to move forward and what I'd need to do to do it. It got me out of that bed and helped me make a new leg to stand on.

"And I've been moving forward ever since. Even after she stopped posting, even after I stopped wondering what she was up to and if she was safe, which I understand makes me sound stalkerish, but it's not like that. It's like how you think of anyone you knew years ago and wonder what they might be up to now.

"So that's how I knew Gaige. And when the chance to help her back came, even if it wasn't that big, I took it, and that's how we ended up here."

"So do you like her?" Hammerlock asked.

"Of course I like her."

"Of course, but do you like her as a friend or as something else?"

Jinx tripped over a root and hopped forward a few times while sputtering "W-w-w-wwhat! What kinda question's that?" as her voice rose in pitch.

"Simple enough question, but a hard one to answer, probably a bit too personal at this point. I was just trying to get a fix on your intentions. Right'o let me retract that for now and ask again, what do you think of Gaige?"

"Uh, what do you think of her?"

"Me, very well, I'll answer if it puts you at ease, I think she is a delightful young lady, though I am afraid that the loneliness is getting to her, which is why I was glad to see her with someone, especially since it seems like you two seem so good together."

"I donno, she seems to get along great with everyone, well except for those trying to kill her, obviously. And she has Deathtrap, so she's not alone, but" Jinx paused before sighing "She does seem kinda off, hasn't seemed lonely per say, but, I donno, troubled, maybe, but like not troubled troubled, just like she's got something gnawing at her, no that's not it, like there's something that she's trying to work out without worrying anyone about it. But you think we go good together?"

"Wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it."

"So wait you meant everything you said earlier, even the stuff you retracted?"

"What? No. I mean, wait, what did I retract?"

"Nothing. But see, doesn't feel good to be put in that kinda spot, does it."

"Hurmp" Hammerlock tugged on his lapels a bit pevishly, before sighing and continuing "Yes, I see your point. But you still haven't answered my question. What do you think of Gaige, especially in light of your past knowledge of her?"

"Fine. What do I think of Gaige? I think she is a wonderful person. The kind I would like to spend more time with. The kind that I want to make happy. I think that she is every bit the girl I listened to all those years ago, and so much more. I think she's a genius when it comes to mechanical and electronic things. I think she's the kind of girl anyone would be happy to take home to their parents, if they have any. I think she's the kind of person someone would change their life to be with. Although that doesn't matter because I don't think she feels that way about me, no one would. And I'd like to keep being her friend, if I could. So enough about her and me and what can you tell me about this beast that we're hunting. I mean I know what you put in your book, but anything else I should know?"

Hammerlock decided to shelve his thoughts on what she had said and give her a reprieve so he took the change in subject. Clearing his throat and adopting a more scholarly air he started.

"Well for starters, while I said we would be hunting the Great Red Footed Diomos, in truth we are looking for the Emperor Red Footed Diomos, which is the same beast in the same way a Tyrant and a Saurian are. Now before I get into the differences and the types, let me describe the physiology of the Diomos."

"They are built much like a Saurian in body, with thicker chests accommodating the second set of lungs and heavier legs, these beasts do not skip leg day, ha-ha. Sorry, anyway, the main ways to differentiate them from a Saurian is in the head. While a regular Diomos has an extra set of eyes, the real difference is in their mouth. First the jaw is double jointed and split into three parts allowing them to swallow most prey whole. Actually they have three spines, one per jaw part, each one built like a snake so they are very flexible. This is where the next interesting part comes in, their teeth are not attached to the jaws like in most creatures, instead being held in place with muscle. This allows them to flex their teeth, so to speak, moving them independently. What this means is that when they take prey into their mouths, the teeth bite in before flexing inward, shredding the prey and pushing it further down the throat, a process aided by the fact that they have over two dozen rows of teeth."

"Now the Diomos can be found in all the usual variations, caustic, fire, radiation and such. Each one having their own physiological differences, but the ones to be on the lookout for are the Alphas and the Matriarchs. Now the Alpha can be identified by not just being bulkier than normal, but by the antlers growing from their heads. They are tougher and meaner, being hyper-aggressive to help protect their mates. Which brings me to Matriarchs. Matriarchs are twice the size of an Alpha and, well there is no polite way of saying this, heftier than normal. Oh, all right, they're fat. There I said it. Their heads are disgustingly bulbous, and their tail resembles, well a Ratch Broodmother's. Which is not surprising due to the fact that they lay their eggs through their tail. Revolting process really. They are usually surrounded by a horde of hatchlings and an Alpha or larger Diomos for protection."

"The Great Red Footed Diomos, which I have successfully hunted before, though I unfortunately lost my trophy due to a mishap on the return trip, resemble nothing more than an Alpha at about two and a half the size. Of course with the increase in size, the antler's majesty increases as well, as does the number of eyes, but unfortunately so does it's temper. The red footed part is due to a specific mutation that grants their limbs the most striking crimson coloration, but that mutation is also accompanied by a skull that presses in on the brain, causing them to be quite mad. In both senses of the word."

"The Emperor on the other hand I have never seen. But if the stories are true, they stand at almost ten meters long, with their antlers having a span of over four meters. And they are said to be able to expand their mouths large enough to be able to fit their own heads within them, can you imagine? Other than that, the eyes could be considered a weak point, as well as the space behind their front limbs, about here" he indicated just to the back of the arm pit "As well as the inside of the mouth. More than that, we will find out together."