Chapter 20: Blood and Feathers
"Bloodwing again? DAMNIT! Jack's playing with us," said Mordecai angrily. "Ahh wait a minute, wait a minute, I'm seeing some commotion in the observation wing. Maybe they moved her there! Just keep pushing through the Preserve!"
The two Siren's exchanged solemn looks before heading out of the enclosure, back to the cells to see how they could get to the observation wing when suddenly Jack spoke again, "Hey, you know what I just remembered? Its feeding time!"
An emergency siren rang out through the hallways, and the pair watched in horror as the force fields disappeared and the doors to the enclosures were opened.
A shock skag came from the enclosure to the right, and a fire skag straight ahead. Maya knew Lilith had a fire weapon, so she made a decision. "LILITH TAKE THE SHOCK SKAG!"
She obliged her, removing her SMG and began to riddle the shock skag with bullets. She phasewalked around the beast and reappeared in its enclosure, firing continuously.
Maya lobbed a caustic grenade at the fire skag, and began blasting it with her shot gun. On her reload she threw it up into a phaselock for safety, and looked over her shoulder to see how her lover was doing. She had killed the shock skag and was running back towards Maya. She finished her reload and put one right between the skag's eyes, sending brain fragments everywhere.
"Let's go, through that door there!" Lilith said as she caught up to her.
They moved quickly through the door and found themselves on a paved road running through a glass tunnel. Looking through the glass, they could see multiple stalkers below in the grass. They would have to move through there.
They flew down the bridge until they reached a space where the glass had been broken and they leapt to the ground below. Stalkers immediately starting swarming them and turning invisible. But Lilith too, could turn invisible. She phasewalked right into the pack, coming back to and creating a fire burst that immediately lit up all the stalkers. Their screams were ear piercing. Maya could only stare at her beautiful Firehawk in all her glory, as the stalkers screamed and turned to char around her, she stood with her eyes blazing and her tattoos alight.
They had all burnt to crisps, including the grass in the surrounding area. "Lilith," Maya said in awe. "You are…so beautiful."
Lilith's eyes had calmed to their less fiery selves, and her tattoos lost their glow. She smiled breathlessly to Maya, a small blush creeping on her face. "You're not too bad yourself."
There's cocky Lilith. Maya smiled and shook her head, following the Siren to the other side of the clearing and up a set of metal stairs that led to a walkway to another area. Unfortunately for them, the walkway was broken which meant they would have to take the ground route. There were a few skags on the ground, nothing they couldn't handle.
They ran down the fallen walkway into the grass, blasting the heads off a few skag pups that dared to try with them.
Across the way was another entrance leading into another part of the facility. They entered the building cautiously, when a loader popped up from behind a desk. Maya and Lilith raised their weapons, but it didn't appear to be a gun loader, or any aggressive loader for that matter.
"Visitors are reminded not to speak to or make eye contact with any of the test subjects. Any Hyperion soldier found guilty of experiencing sympathy will be forced to switch places with the test subjects."
The funny little loader continued on as they rummaged through ammo boxes and crates. "Must be some kind of greeting robot," said Maya. Lilith hummed in agreement and began to load her weapons. "What's the map say? Are we close?"
"Its hard to say, but it looks like we gotta to through there," Maya replied, pointing down a hallway. They moved down the hall with their weapons at the ready, it appeared that they must be in some sort of storage warehouse part of the facility. A forklift was parked off to the side and there were large steel shelves lined with what looked like cages. A staircase in the center of the room led up to a catwalk that ran out of the room.
Maya crept up the stairs, with Lilith watching her back, until they reached the cat walk which led them to another part of the storage warehouse. Large tanks of slag were bubbling in the corners of the room.
"Hyperion really are a bunch of sick fucks, playing God like this," Lilith grumbled.
"Not for long," Maya replied. A set of concrete stairs lay ahead of them across the room. Maya checked the map again. "We're close now, this must be the upper level. Let's get moving, for all we know Bloodwing could be dead already."
Up the stairs was an elevator. They stepped inside and did a weapons check before pressing the button.
"Maya," Lilith said softly. There was emotion in her voice, and Maya looked to her immediately to see her face was serious. "Jack isnt just gonna let us waltz up there and take Bloodwing back. He's gonna have something up there protecting it. If things get too bad up there, I'm phasing us out of there."
Maya opened her mouth to protest, but the pained look on her lovers face stopped her.
"I…I almost lost you once. I'm not taking that chance again." She said with unshed tears.
Maya's eyes began to shine with their own, and she stopped what she was doing to pull Lilith in a tight embrace. "I love you, my Firehawk. We are going up there together, and we are gonna leave together. This brings us one step closer to stopping Jack. Another tick in the box. Now let's see what you can do."
Lilith grabbed her by the collar and kissed her so hard it hurt, but she kissed her right back, relishing in this moment as it was their last. It very well could be.
She didn't want the kiss to end, but they had a mission to complete. They lingered in each others eyes for but a moment, before Lilith turned and punched the elevator button. They held hands as they slowly ascended, but quickly broke apart before making it to the top. If Jack realized they were together, he would probably try and use it against them.
They reached the top and were now in the Observation Wing. It was a large circular opening of concrete, with a couple watchtowers lining the outside. The area was deserted, but both Siren's knew not all was as it seemed.
They walked slowly to the center, when the ground below them began to vibrate slightly.
"The fuck-"
Jack's voice cut her off, "You want Bloodwing back huh? Shame, I've been doing some really interesting Eridium experiments on her. Hate to see her go, but heck with it!"
A large circle in the center of the platform began to open, massive purple wings began to stretch out as a second platform started to rise from the hole. It was Bloodwing, slagged and crossed with Eridium, and she had grown nearly 20 times her size. She was the size of a small building now. Her eyes were angry and glowing, she must have been driven mad by Jack's experiments and now, they would be forced to kill their dear friends best mate. Maya's heart was pumping and heavy, and Lilith looked about as defeated as she felt. Nonetheless, they readied their weapons just as Bloodwing took to the sky with a great shriek that nearly burst their ear drums.
"Oh my God," said Mordecai, he sounded as though he were about to throw up. Bloodwing was circling the sky high above for the time being.
"Just give it up! Bloodwing's got all the elements at her disposal!" said Jack menacingly. "Fire, electricity, corrosion, slag! And…oh damn I forgot the last one…what was that again?"
"GODDAMNIT!" Mordecai cried. "just weaken her and I'll hit her with a tranq!"
Maya looked to Lilith with worry etched on her face, "all the elements?"
Lilith kept her eyes upwards, "We're gonna have to keep switching between our weapons. She's slagged right now, do you have anything with high damage?"
"A sniper and a launcher, but shes moving way too fast for the launcher!"
"You'll have to do your best with the sniper then, quick here she comes, find cover!"
Maya attempted to phaselock the bird first, causing a sizable amount of damage already. She ran for cover behind a concrete slab as Lilith took a different on the other side of the platform.
She pulled out her sniper, the bird was moving quickly but she was able to fire off a couple rounds as it was coming at them head on. Across the way she saw Lilith firing a high damage revolver.
"FIRE!" yelled Jack, and last minute as Bloodwing swooped over them the bird erupted into flames, sending fireballs shooting in Maya's direction.
"Ahgghh!" she cried out as she felt her leg singe as she dove behind the cover. She looked down and patted out the remaining flame. It was so hot it had burnt through her fabric instantly, and her skin had been peeled. "Fucking hell!" she hissed. She attempted to phaselock the winged beast once again and it shrieked in agony. Lilith had now switched to a shock weapon and she was doing her best to stun and injure the bird. It swept off again, putting distance between them.
"You okay!?" Lilith shouted from her cover.
"Yeah I'm fine!" she responded back. She got her sights on the bird and began to fire upon it once again.
It turned around mid flight and came straight for Lilith, "WATCH HER CLAWS!" Mordecai screamed before Lilith was knocked off her feet, a nasty gash was visible on her shoulder even from where Maya stood.
"LILITH!" She shouted, running and skidding to a stop at her feet.
"I'm fine I'm fine, just keep eyes on that bird!"
Maya looked up at the bird circling above, its health was nearly at half at this point.
"ELECTRICITY!" Jack shouted with glee.
The bird burst into a blue electric wave, lightening was rippling all over its body. Maya decided on continuing with her sniper, while Lilith pulled out an assault rifle. Due to the gash on her shoulder, she wasn't gonna be very good with accuracy, instead she opted for a weapon that could spray. They fired some more shots as the beast swooped down. It let out another great shriek as it was hit with multiple criticals.
"Shouldn't it be dead?!" Maya cried.
"I think she's regenerating her health when she changes elements!"
"Then how the fuck are we supposed to stop her!?"
Lilith didn't reply, for Bloodwing came down dangerously close once more, but they were able to get some good shots in. They had brought her health back down below half, and she was once again shrieking in agony.
"CORROSION!"
"FUCK SAKES!" Maya screamed, phaselocking the now green bird immediately. It squawked and flew back up high to safety. Maya pulled out a shotgun and ran to the open, pointing it up at the bird.
"FUCKING COME AT ME! COME ON!"
She spotted Maya and dive bombed in toward her, but Maya was a good shot, and shot guns were one of her favorite weapons. She unloaded slugs into her head hitting critical after critical, until she came crashing into the ground with a mighty smash. Maya had to dive out of the way to avoid getting caught under her heavy body as she slid to a stop. The bird was breathing heavily, but not moving.
"Okay, she's still alive! Now, let's get the micro chip off her and get her back to Sanctuary!" Mordecai said frantically.
Maya approached the bird as Lilith ran and met her at her side. She reached down for the collar, when a rapid beeping filled their ears. What the-
"OHHHH now I remember," Jack sneered. "EXPLOSIVE!"
She felt Liliths arms wrap around her and suddenly they were across the platform. Bloodwing had moved up to her hind legs when suddenly-
BOOM!
Lilith was not the only one covered in blood now. The damned collar had been wired with an explosive. Poor Bloodwings large head was now splattered all across the platform, and all over the Vault Hunters. Maya's ears were ringing and she could barely see through the blood and brain matter that covered her face, the air was ripe with the stench of iron. She turned to Lilith to see she too was covered once again with guts, this time with feathers, and she wore a look of pure horror on her face.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Mordecai cried in anguish.
"That is why you don't screw with me. Both of you, and all your stupid little friends better turn yourselves in, or that bird was just the beginning."
"GODDAMNIT JACK IM GONNA KILL YOU! YOU HEAR ME!?" Mordecai was now hyperventilating.
Maya felt her lip tremble and she put her hands through her blood soaked hair, turning away from the gruesome sight. Lilith just stood and stared, her jaw set and her eyes aflame.
"I'm so sorry about Bloodwing soldier," Roland said on the echo to Mordecai. "But we gotta keep moving. Get that software update the claptrap so we can get through the security field leading to control core Angel."
"Roland are you fucking serious?! Give us all a fucking break for one fucking minute!" Lilith snapped.
The echo was silent. Maya was staring out the Observation Wing to the slowly setting sun. Lilith approached her, rubbing both her hands up and down her arms gently. "Come on love. I'm taking us home." She said solemnly.
Lilith had phased them safely back to Sanctuary. Word had spread about Bloodwing's death, and the streets were eerily quiet, even for nightfall. They walked in silence on their way to give claptrap his upgrade. When they reached his little hut at the back of Sanctuary, he greeted them with enthusiasm as though he didn't even notice their current state. Lilith went behind him and inserted his software chip.
"BUDDY!" he shouted in his ever annoying voice. "WHAT ARE YOU DO-DO-DO-DO WOOHOOO!" as the little robot turned invisible. "HOLY SKAG SACK IM INVISIBLE! THIS IS-YOU-I- MINION, GIMME FIVE! Oh wait you can't see me. Right," he came back to their visibility, holding up his hand. "YOU EARNED IT!"
"Lilith, can we just go?" Maya asked quietly. Lilith nodded and said her goodbyes to claptrap. She and Maya started making their way to the HQ as Roland echoed, "good, we can use claptrap to get through the force field now. Come on back. We may have a way past the bunker."
They entered the HQ and slowly made their way up the stairs. No one was looking forward to this conversation.
Mordecai had already arrived, he had a large bottle of booze in his hands and tears in his eyes. He looked to them briefly, but once he took in the sight of them covered in his best friends blood he had to look away. He took a long swig of the brown liquid and put his head in his hands, sitting at the table in the War Room. Axton sat there too, and he stood upon their arrival.
"You guys okay? Can I get you anything?" he asked.
"Couple of health boosters would be good, thank you Ax," Maya said gratefully. He just clapped her on the shoulder and headed to the back room where they had some supplies.
"Mordecai…I'm so, so sorry," she said, her voice cracking. He just nodded at her and took another gulp from his bottle.
Axton returned and handed them each a health booster, instantly getting rid of their cuts and bruises and started to close up the gash on Lilith's shoulder.
Roland cleared his throat, "I know we suffered a tremendous loss today, in order to move forward. You all must be feeling like we're making sacrifice after sacrifice and getting seemingly nowhere. But I promise you, Bloodwing did not die in vain. We are one step closer to getting that vault key and stopping Handsome Jack from killing us all. We will raise a monument for Bloodwing when this is all over, but for now you all need to get some much needed rest. We will regroup tomorrow and figure out our next move."
And with that the group dispersed solemnly, each dragging back to their respective rooms for the night. Lilith and Maya exited the HQ and silently went back to the loft.
Maya shrugged off all of her weapons and her shield, before she felt strong hands assisting her. They glided deftly over the buckles and straps, and once everything was off she was pulled into her arms. They didn't care how filthy the other was. They were luckier than Bloodwing that day. They still had each other. Poor Mordecai would be going home to an empty house.
They held each other there for awhile. Maya didn't want to be without her Siren, so she had a request that she wouldn't have usually asked, at least not at this point in their relationship. But she was aching for her contact, and everyday was getting less guaranteed. To hell with modesty.
"Will you…shower with me?"
"Yes," Lilith whispered in her hair.
Together they silently made their way to the bathroom. Lilith got the water running and took Maya's hands in her own, as she leaned in and kissed her cheek gently and lovingly. Maya raised her arms and allowed the red head to slowly peel off the blood soaked undershirt. She raised her own arms and Maya did the same for her, she too pressed chaste kisses on her lovers jaw.
Lilith looked in her eyes for a moment, searching for any hint of discomfort. Finding none, she sank to her knees, and placed her hands on the hem of Maya's pants. For a second Maya's heart began to speed up, but she quickly swallowed those feelings down. She braced herself as Lilith pulled down the pants, revealing her spattered red legs and her soft shaven privates. Lilith came back up quickly as to not make the other Siren uncomfortable. Lilith went to remove her own pants when Maya placed her hands on the red heads, stopping her. Seeing the pleading look in Maya's eyes, Lilith complied and lowered her hands.
Maya pulled the pants down Lilith's strong hips, marveling at how beautifully feminine Lilith was when she was baring all. She stepped out of the pants and took Maya's hand, leading her into the steamy sanctuary of the shower. Once inside they pressed their bodies together for a couple of minutes; just holding one another and allowing the hot water to soothe their aching muscles.
They parted, and Lilith reached for the bottle of shampoo. "Turn around," she said softly. Maya complied, and she soon felt Lilith's skilled fingers running through her hair. She massaged her fingers into her scalp with the suds, washing all of the sticky blood from her blue hair. Maya allowed herself to enjoy it and let out a moan of approval. Lilith tilted back her head gently with a hand cupped to her forehead and brought her back under the hot water, rinsing the reddened soap from her hair. She then felt a wash cloth on her back as Lilith gently scrubbed her back. It felt like heaven.
The red haired beauty was gentle in all of her ministrations; she didn't just wash her arms, she caressed them, pouring her love into every movement she made. She pressed her body into Maya's back and started washing her chest. "Mmmhnn," Maya moaned as Lilith glided the cloth over her sensitive breasts, before turning her around so they were back to facing one another. Lilith kissed her slowly and deliberately, giving her bottom lip a small nip before she sank to her knees, face to face with her private area.
But Lilith wasn't looking at her. She wasn't gawking or staring. She was focused on the leg she was currently washing, the task at hand. Lilith knew they were here for different reasons. This wasn't time for a sexual experience, this was an intimate moment of taking care of each other. Lilith had an incredible gift of being able to hear all of the words Maya didn't say. She knew in the moment exactly what she did or didn't need, and her actions reflected that. Maya felt tears spring to her eyes while she marveled in the beauty that was her lover. She was so caring, so gentle.
Maya wasn't sorry that the first time they seen each others naked bodies was under such tragic terms, rather than that of sexual exploration. This act had just as much love poured into it as any others they had done.
Lilith finished washing her and straightened back up. Maya took the shampoo and performed the same gesture for her Siren. She washed her hair until it was clean as could be, before taking the wash cloth and meticulously washing every inch of her lover as she has done for her. The water had started to finally run clean into the drain, and they stood for a few minutes more inhaling each others now sweet scents.
"I feel so bad for him," Maya said quietly, her voice trembling.
"I know, me too baby," Lilith responded, holding her a little tighter.
Maya couldn't hold in her emotions any more. Her and Lilith differed in that sense, but Lilith had assured her it never meant one was stronger or weaker than the other. She wept in her lover's arms, the stress of all the events that had led up to this moment weighing down on her shoulders like a mountain. Lilith just held her tightly and allowed her to express herself, running her fingers through her hair and whispering sweet words of encouragement in her ear.
They stood there until the water began to run cold, and Lilith shut off the taps and stepped out, grabbing a fluffy towel and wrapping Maya in it before grabbing one for herself. They dried and stepped out from the bathroom, the living area was warm and inviting as the woodstove crackled in the corner.
"Do you want some clothes?" Lilith asked.
Maya dropped her towel and took Lilith by the hand. "No."
She guided the red head down to the bed and pulled the covers over them, protecting them in their own private cocoon away from the harsh world. In here, there was only Maya and Lilith. Nothing else mattered.
She entangled her own naked self within her lover, snuggling up under the red heads chin and planting a slow kiss to her jaw. "I love you more than anything," she whispered.
Lilith kissed the top of her head and traced her nails in soothing patterns up and down the Siren's back.
"I will always love you."