Chapter 7

Dusk was settling over the Badlands, and each member of the group was now equipped with a shield, and as much ammo as each could carry. They scavenged through hurried lockers, and overlooked chest for money and guns. Aside from a little extra cash, not much was left in Fyrestone.

"What the hell happened to this place? It used to be so - quaint" LiveFree asked as they milled around in front of the Bounty board.

"Well, it's hard to explain until you have played the second game" Irish started. " pretty much, the main bad guy in the second game built all this while he was looking for the second vault" Irish summarised, not really caring if LiveFree understood him or not. He was still kinda peeved from when LiveFree had told him earlier that the girls were hot on their heels as they ran from the constructor. Irish couldn't describe the relief he felt to see the girls emerge victorious.

"So are we gonna turn this mission in or what?" Kitty and Monty stood closest to the bounty board, both eager to turn in the mission.

"Go for it" LiveFree mumbled, plonking down on a nearby barrel.

When Kitty tried to turn in the mission, noting happened. She tried a second and third time.

"I don't get it" she said, and glanced over to see the other three watching her.

"Didn't it say we had to spend a night here?" Irish offered.

"It just said to be prepared for a night on Pandora" Montayva said "and we are prepared aren't we?"

"We don't have an adequate camp" LiveFree had his own suggestions to offer.

"We sure as hell won't make it back to Sanctuary before its pitch black" Kitty admitted.

"Well then let's make camp. See if that changes anything" Irish picked up his rifle, and began to scout for a decent spot to make camp.

"God I'm so freakin hungry!" LiveFree growled as they sat around a raging campfire. Monty and Kitty sat side by side on a piece of concrete pipe, both mesmerised by the flames. Night had now fallen, and the wind was beginning to get chilly.

"We should do this in shifts" Irish started " two on watch, two sleeping"

"Good idea. I'm fucked after that excitement earlier today" Monty stretched. The adrenaline rush she had experienced earlier had long worn off.

"Well me and Monty sleep first, then you guys wake us up in however many hours. Whenever you get tired or something" Kitty offered.

"Uh, I kinda thought we might do it as male-female pairs. And I totally don't mean anything by that!" He added hastily before anyone could say anything about his suggestion.

"No thanks. I'm not hunkering down in that tiny little dome hut either of you pair" Kitty laughed. Irish just shrugged, not bothering to argue with his friend. He quickly realised she made a fair remark.
They had made secure a small dome building, which looked like it had been previously used as some sort of medical station. Kitty and Montayva had found some grimy old mattresses, and despite LiveFrees comments that he would rather sleep on the dirty floor, they dragged them in anyway.

"Well I bid thee goodnight then" Kitty started making her way towards the hut.

"Don't fall asleep and let us get eaten by Skaggs!" Monty warned, following Kitty to bed.

It had been just over an hour since the girls departed, and both the men were yawning already.
"Fuck Pandora and its 90 hour day cycle bullshit" LiveFree complained. Irish groaned.

"Hangover has hit you hasn't it?"

"No. I feel ok. Just damn hungry. And tired. Now it's getting cold" LiveFree whined.

"Well think happy thoughts" Irish suggested. LiveFree just laughed

"Happy thoughts ey? So tell me Irish, whatever happened between you and Monty? Is that still, like, a thing?" The older man pried. Irish held his hand up to silence him "not going so peachey hey?"

"Shut up dammit, I heard something!" Irish hissed.

"Oh, very funny. If you didn't wanna talk about it just say 'Joel I don't..."

"Good thing I ain't a bandit. Or a hungry momma Skag lookin to feed er pups" the voice came from the darkness, beyond the reach of the fires light. Irish was first to his feet, snatching up his rifle as a figure approached.

"Put that down before you hurt yourself" the Hunter laughed, lifting a bottle to his lips and approaching the fire.

"Woah! Mordy? What the hell happened to the mask dude?" LiveFree stared blatantly at the Vault Hunter, who simply ignored the question. "Oh I get it. This is one of those 'oh you won't know what's going on coz you didn't get the second game' scenarios isn't it?" And once again LiveFrees question was left unanswered.

"I was getting a bit worried you might not make it through the night. So I bought some supplies" the hunter produced more bottles, handed one to Irish first, then reluctantly to LiveFree.

"Rakk ale?" Irish read the label.

"Hey, don't knock it till you try it. Packs a punch if you're not careful" Mordecai took another swig from his bottle. Irish took a mouthful from his own bottle, and cringed at the taste. "The ladies really took care of things today" Mordecai offered as a conversation starter.

"What? How do you know?" Irish asked in disbelief.

"I have eyes" he answered slighly. "Ha, I never was fond of the noobs. Guess I've gotten soft in my old age" Mordecai shrugged, taking another swig.

"Huh, don't tell the girls that" Irish mumbled. The three men sat in silence for a long moment.

"So," Mordecai began, stroking his beard as he thought over his words, "those ladies belong to either of you two?"

"Oh my god!" Irishs laughter was filled with disbelief. He sighed, running his fingers through his short dark hair. "Nope. You don't have to worry about either of us" he mumbled.

The Hunter drank the remainder from his bottle, and tossed his empty into the fire as he stood. Silently, he disappeared into the darkness again. The men had a pretty good idea where he was heading.