Maya stepped aside, and they looked upon Mirror for the first time, who had a surprisingly calm demeanor. Her dark grey turtleneck hugged her curvy body, and her knee high black platform boots looked to weigh her down, though she moved around in them with ease. As she stepped closer to the map, the blue light from the holographic image made her already pale complexion seem even more ghostly.
But she smiled warmly at the five troops Mordecai had presented to her, and handed each a small earpiece before she spoke.
"It appears my job is to get you guys hooked up to ECHO network, and help you to organize your digital inventories" Mirror began to explain, helping Irish fit his earpiece. "I am sure you guys don't need to be told how to read the maps or anything like that…" Mirrors voice trailed off as she stood in front of a computer, punching a series of numbers into the keyboard. The devices all beeped simultaneously, which indicated they were all functioning correctly. "However," Mirror began speaking again, each person listening intently "A lot of Hyperion's map data is out-dated. This is where I will be able to help. The satellites cameras are still functioning quite well, so I can give you guys the heads up on a lot of things, help you go in prepared to face whatever it is you need to tackle" Mirror paused, looking around at everyone whose attention she held so tightly. Even Lilith, Maya and Mordecai stood listening silently.
Erick shuffled uncomfortable, and raised his hand. As everyone looked in his direction, his cheeks flushed a light shade of pink. The silence was broken as the room burst out laughing at his hand-raising gesture.
"Kid, you're not in school anymore. You don't need to seek permission to speak" Mordecai laughed along with the rest. Ericks face turned a deeper red as he began to mumble.
"If you can see us, does that mean you can see us go to the bathroom?" With Erick's question, the room erupted into another burst of giggles. Mirrors only reaction was to bring her palm up to cover her face as she tried to keep her expression neutral.
"What makes you think I would want to watch that?" She said calmly as the laughing subsided.
"And I'm gonna retract my previous statement." Mordecai interjected "From now on, keep asking permission before you speak!" The comment was only meant in jest, but Erick didn't look too happy with the Hunters joke.
"C'mon, let's get this show on the road." Lilith stepped forward, trying to muster a serious tone.
"Holy shit!" Kitty and Montayva turned to look at Panda as they continued to trek across the sandy plains of the Dust. Irish and Erick had discovered some abandoned loot chests, so the three had left them to loot after they assured they could catch up in no time. Now, Panda stood motionless, a blue holographic display screen appeared in front of him. Whilst it was blank to the girls view, Panda had an array of options in front of him.
"What?" Montayva asked, waiting for Panda to elaborate.
"Er, nothing really. I'm just still getting used to this thing" Panda shrugged, with a goofy expression on his face as he closed his inventory and jogged to catch up to where the pair stood waiting. Kitty rolled her eyes.
"So are we still on track? I know this map like the back of my hand in game, but down here amongst the wind and the sand I have to admit it definitely humbled me somewhat!" Montayva asked Panda, assuming he had checked the map whilst browsing his inventory.
"Fuck this sand! I seriously underestimated how windy it was here!" Kitty raised her hand to shield her face from the drifts of sand being tossed around as they reached the crest of the next dune.
"Yup" Panda confirmed, as the trio looked out towards the moonshiners shack "Right on course"
Mirror had given them their next mission, and set them out on the trek across the Dust in search of the Moonshiners Shack. They were looking for a lost echo recording. A few days earlier, the CR HQ had received a partial recording that was a plea for help. All they knew so far, was that it involved a kidnapping by some of the more hostile Bandits still roaming Pandora. With Mirrors expertise they were able to further discover there was a second part to the recording, and it could be located at the shack. They had stocked up on supplies, had a quick trip to Marcus' shooting range to brush up on the various types of weapons and get a better feel for them, then had been packed up and sent out. Whilst Kitty, Irish and Monty had gotten over their initial feelings of nervousness and confusion, Panda and Erick were still amazed and in awe at so much of their surroundings.
But between the five of them, and their vast knowledge of the game, its maps, its enemies (their enemies), the safe areas and hideouts, they figured they would be able to work the rest out as they went along. After all, there was no substitute for experience on this vile planet. But no one wanted to find out what happened when you didn't re-spawn.