Sorry I haven't posted anything for a while. I haven't had the ability to post but I have had this done for while just no access to post anything.
Chapter 10: Assassinating the Assassins
The 7 of them all woke up and got onto the runners and stopped just before they entered the bandit camp. Axton spoke up, "To save time, pick up all loot and let's not look at any of it until we get back to Sanctuary."
They all agreed and went into the camp wiping out many of the bandits and picking up various loot. They went inside and did the same, at least until a siren went off and one of the four assassins came out. Next to Wot was an awesome psycho who began to charge straight at Krieg. The psycho tackled Krieg down into the pit below them, leaving the other six to deal with Wot.
Wot began firing at them from his cover. The six dived into their cover and shot back. Neither of them landing a hit. Maddox dropped his Incendiary Sniper on the ground and caused his arm to turn into a hand cannon. He aimed at the cover of the Hyperion hired Marauder and shot at hit. The plasma burned a hole straight through the cover and hit Wot's shield causing it to completely drain. Meanwhile Krieg just dodged an attack from the psycho's saw and slammed his arm up into its head knocking it onto the ground. Krieg stepped on him and shot his Pounder and ending the psycho's life. Wot knew he had to run to new cover and took the chance, however as soon as he bolted he was slapped with a barrage of bullets and his body flew against the wall lifeless. (For you Xcom fans they were on overwatch.) They moved to the next area and cleared out the bandits until the second assassin came out.
Oney was a nomad with a shield on his back instead of holding it in front like most nomads. However, there were a ton of suicide psycho's pouring out of the gate where he came from. Unlike Wot, Oney charged straight at them and knocked into Maddox. Maddox felt his shield got out and suddenly felt his melee strength go up. Maddox felt himself slammed against the wall knocking the wind out of him. The other six were constantly dealing with suicide psycho after suicide psycho. Maddox was still dazed as the Nomad readied his shotgun to finish him off. Maddox kicked his feet against him and the nomad was surprised that he had that kind of power in his legs. Maddox's eyes turned red and his chest opened up. The four black crystals circling the red glowing one began going faster and faster. The nomad just watched, curious as to what was happening, even the suicide psycho's stopped to watch. Everyone looked at Maddox and saw the energy build up in his chest as the black crystals went to a blinding speed. The glowing red light was almost blinding and then there was nothing.
Time seemed to hit a complete standstill. No one moved, not a single sound was made. The glowing red light had faded. The only things moving were the black crystals. Suddenly, a powerful red beam came shooting out of his chest. The beam disintegrated the nomad and was redirected to every single suicide psycho as Maddox made sure it didn't touch his friends. The beam slowly dissolved and Maddox hunched over as his chest closed back up. Maddox felt himself fall over but was suddenly stopped as Gaige caught him. "Are you alright?" She asked him.
"Well, I just shot out a giant beam that instantly disintegrates everything it touches and held it for about 10 seconds. After I was just slammed against the wall. So yeah, I think I'm fine." Maddox joked. Gaige gave him a look and just dropped him.
"Glad to see your sarcasm is still intact." Gaige said as he was on the ground.
"Ooow" he mumbled into the ground. "That hurt me more than dropping me."
"He's fine, just a little drained." Gaige walked on ahead with the rest.
"So you're just leaving me here? Tears." Maddox said as he propped himself up. His eyes blinked red for a second.
"Rest you idiot. You just used a lot of power to do that." Maya commanded him.
"I'll catch up later then." Maddox dropped his head back onto the ground.
The other 6 nodded and moved on ahead, towards the third assassin, Reeth. Following the same procedure as they did before. Coming in, wiping out surprised bandits. Then maneuvering until remaining bandits were flanked and killed. Reeth came out with a Nomad Taskmaster. Reeth didn't bolt for cover, or charge head on. Reeth was throwing burning objects while the taskmaster stood in front of him so none could hit either from the front. Gaige had to move from her wooden cover as it quickly became ignited. The taskmaster fired at her and her shield began to give. However, a booster appeared out of nowhere and her shield recharged just enough so she could get back into cover.
Zero used D3c3pti0n, and the taskmaster suddenly had an ion sword through his chest. Reeth reacted and hit Zero in the back with his flaming weapon and Zero's shield gave and released an explosion killing Reeth. The six collected the loot and and continued to the next area.
Maddox stood up and almost immediately collapsed again. He used the wall for support and started heading towards the entrance. His eyes blinked red very frequently. He then saw the area below him. There was a door that he could go through. Hit the enemy from behind while his friends were hitting them from the front. Deciding it would be faster and easier Maddox let himself fall over the railing and hit the ground below him. Maddox stood up again and made his towards the door. Seeing it was locked and figuring it would be less energy consuming to phase through it instead of cut through it. Maddox walked right through the door and continued on.
Axton ducked just as a blast from a shotgun came from Rouf. Axton was caught by surprise by the fast rat and while his friends were mostly keeping the Taskmasters off of him, Rouf had quickly engaged Axton without warning. Axton tried to run but was too slow for the rat and was knocked to the ground. Axton felt his shield go out and turned to see Rouf readying his Shotgun.
"Say goodnight." Rouf said as he began to pull the trigger. Just then a red streak went straight through Rouf's head. Rouf fell to the ground as the red streak faded away. Axton followed the streak and it led it a black figure who turned and phased through the wall. Axton stood up and saw the taskmasters were dead. The six kept going and eventually and saw Maddox phase through the door that was closed.
"Oh, I guess you're done. I was going to try and help but that didn't work." Maddox said as he sat down. Obviously lightheaded. Axton didn't completely believe him. He just saw a dark figure save his life and phase through a wall. Now he just saw Maddox phase through a metal door. Something wasn't adding up.
"Let's go home, sort out the loot when we get there." Axton commanded. They all agreed and headed home. Turning in various missions and sitting in the HQ for sorting out loot.
"I will take, this Veteran class mod, this Sticky Longbow MIRV, and this Pooshka." Axton said.
Maya grabbed a Rifle, and Fox class mod. Salvador took a Wheelgun, Rifle, and Beast class mod. But he got rid of the Rifle since his Gatling Gun was better. Zero got a Acidic Animosity, Incendiary Fighter, Weakened Anaconda, Electronic Troublemaker, Weakened Striker, and Incendiary Dart. But only kept the Incendiary Fighter and Electronic Troublemaker.
Krieg picked up an Acidic Aegis, Lance, and a Longbow Bettie. He only kept the Lance however.
Gaige grabbed a Weakened Animosity, a Sticky Homing Standard Grenade, Catalyst class mod, and Torpedo. But got rid of the Torpedo.
Maddox collected a Lobbed Electronic Effect Grenade, Callipeen, Incendiary Provocateur, and Acidic Spike Shield. But got rid of the new grenade.
"What are these things?" Maya picked up a small purple outline of a diamond shaped object with spikes coming off of each corner. "It was in a chest with all the other mods, so it must be important."
Gaige recognized the shape of the object being similar and about the same size as Maddox's own energy pumping heart. "I know what it's for!" Gaige excitedly took it from her hand. "Maddox I think it's yours!" She handed it to Maddox.
Maddox took the small purple object and saw it was even slightly angled to fit into his chest. Maddox put the spikes in first and felt them touch at the crystal. The purple shape lightly glowed and Maddox felt a little stronger. "Well I guess if these things are around… then this other guy that's like me… is definitely here on Pandora."
"Well I think that's great and all but me and Maddox need to have a little chat." Axton said then looked towards Gaige. "On our own."
Axton grabbed Maddox by the shoulder and forced him into another room. "What's wrong with Axton?" Maya asked no one in particular. Everyone but Gaige shrugged, Gaige just looked at the door where Axton forced Maddox.
Maddox felt himself forcefully shoved onto a chair. "Axton what's wrong? You've been extremely hostile ever since we started to leave the bandit place."
"Don't play dumb with me. I know that it was you!" Axton practically yelled.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You say you don't have your armor yet I saw you phase through the wall in your armor. Kill the assassin then phase right back through the same wall. Then you went ahead and phased through the metal gate without your armor."
"What? I seriously don't have my armor. You really think that I would put on this act of passing out on energy usage when I have with me this unlimited generator to keep me powered?"
"Yes I do, maybe you're a bounty hunter from Handsome Jack and this other you is just a cover up story for being here with us."
"Then explain this thing that sticks into my chest. Where would this come from if there is no other me?"
"I don't know! Explain this weird armored figure if it wasn't you!"
Maddox was silent for a moment. Clearly thinking on an answer. Then like it struck him in the face, Maddox's eyes widened in realization. "This armored figure. I know it wasn't me. What if… oh gosh… Axton this armored figure what if it's the other one like me?"
Axton eyes widened also, realizing Maddox could be right. He also reached another conclusion. "This other you, do you know if he's friendly or not?"
Maddox knew what he was getting at. "I don't know, most likely he's not going to be friendly."
"In that case, he may be looking for you. Which means he got really close to finding you and considering the condition you were in. If he found you… Maddox he may have been able to kill you."
"Yeah I know, somehow he has a way to track me, possibly with energy usage he can just track it. First the energy bomb on the bandit fortress and then the powerful beam that I killed Oney with. He's been able to get close."
"Look I don't know about you, but I think we should keep this hushed. Who knows how the others will react knowing that someone is after you."
"Yea, I agree. We should keep this quiet."
There you have it! What do you think? Is the armored figure Maddox or someone like him? Maybe it's neither.