Chapter 5:

A Cardinal Vow

Cold night air entered his lungs with each slow rhythmic breath as he closed his eyes and opened his mind to the world. Deepness washed over him and time existed without bindings to the physical realm. Feral energies pulsed around him joining and separating into each other. Light danced under his eyelids in harmony to the pulsing around him through a natural tranquility. Mordecai cleared his mind of any thoughts and listened to the world around him. His mind drifted toward the bon fire as the snaps and crackles rippled at the aura around him. Thumping emanated from the beating hearts of those sleeping around the fire. A second ambiance sat next to him with the same calm pulse as his own shifting through the universe. Searching. Lusting. Needing. The strength of the artifact pulled at him, calling for his soul to relinquish it all. The raw emotions attacked at his soul with desire to consume him until the passion was too great. He opened his eyes and let his pupil's adjust to the flickering lights of the fire.

"This...thing.. is not natural... tell me what you know."

With a series of pops Yujinny stood up and stretched his legs and arms. "Nothing like a good reflection." He replied while reaching for a canteen and taking a quick swig of the bittersweet nectar.

"I know you know what that thing is. What it really is. Tell me so someone has some clue before we head out into the darkness of Pandora."

Yujinny's motions stiffened at the words. He slowly went back to sitting with his legs crossed and whistled into the open air holding up the last of the skag meat. His glare fixed Mordecai with all seriousness while Bloodwing landed on his forearm.

"If the truth is to be told.... then I don't know exactly what it is. But I can say that I know where it came from, and what it can do for us, all of us. Everyone agreed on the plans tonight and I mean to get in that vault. I got it from one of the chief's in the Crimson Fastness over an easy game of kings. The fool kept betting that I couldn't win against him. For being so high up in the Atlas ranks he wasn't that bright." With a flick of his wrist two cards appeared in his fingers. Two red kings.

"I knew he had something and I went all out on this one. I needed some relapse from all the false trails lately. Prometheus has been hush hush about their discoveries lately. Apparently there has been something even more overwhelming than alien technology to encompass human civilization for the next millennia."

He pointed to the piece in Bart's hands. "That came from Prometheus and has... how do I put this... conditions... if it stays touching the skin."

"So that is why you insisted he hold onto it for the night?" Mordecai asked as he watched Bloodwing pull at the raw meat.

"Yes, in about a week you should see a dramatic difference in him. Those med vials and Rol's medical expertise could never have saved him from those wounds. The beast already killed him with that blow to the shoulder. But with that lovely relic, he will be able to walk tomorrow, and be fully capable for anything in another two. Now, for the most interesting bit of all this." He pulled out a folded torn piece of paper from the inside of his pink silk shirt and handed it to Mordecai. "Read."

"Classified:

Findings have uncovered six distinct artifacts with similar resemblance to known alien technology. A significance to these artifacts compared to other known alien relics has become abundantly clear over the past week. These artifacts were not only able to add elemental effects and increase capability to new models but also increase the potential of the courier themselves. These items have been stolen along with two AWOL female soldiers. Recruit Thea Steele and Recruit Myra Kunstler. Consider them KIA."

"So… is .."

Bloodwing screeched, hopped down, and looked up at Mordecai with his crimson beak reflecting the yellow campfire light.

"Shush Bloodwing. I was going to tell him the rest." Yujinny said as he lowered himself into a relaxed position. "No, that piece isn't one of the six. In fact, it is not as… potent… if you will, as the ones mentioned in that report. Handy thing, this gift of cards that I have. Give the choice of wallet or classified object, and they all will choose the object. Money rules the soft willed. Pity. Anyways, seems that those recruits stole the bits and ran off to sell to a rival company. Something happened, and now they have vanished off the grid. Leads say one came here, and the other is completely gone."

This is deep… really deep…

"Something else is going on isn't there?"

He nodded in apprehension and gave a sideways grin before retorting.

"Yes, yes, good lad. Have you ever heard of the Silent Sisters?"

"…um. Yea. Sort of. Group of women who went about stealing priceless bits or holding up credit centers…. Weren't they the ones who took over that Credit Server Station on Ismara?"

"One in the same.. and you must know that was their last job as well. They couldn't leave without eyes on them after that fuck up. So, they went underground, no jobs in….ahhh…. I'd say eight years. Well, there has been an incident with some names around it with a bit of a twist. An all female crew picked up the Crow's Eye Jewel without the IPP catching a single one. Reports say the woman were so fast that the officers ended up shooting themselves. They left behind a note that went something like Singing To A New Tune… The Sirens. Dry, I know, but to the point."

"I see. And you think this is connected in some way? I thought the old leader vanished after that Ismara job?"

"She did. Permanently. But I did a little further digging after finding out that information and uncovered that both Steele and Kunstler are still in the Silent Sisters...errr.. Sirens. I think they infiltrated Atlas' ranks to get their hands on some of those artifacts. Once they found out about the extras on those six pieces they took off heading back to start their reign again. The Crow's Eye job happened a few months after this incendent on Prometheus occured. So this is why I am getting all of you involved. This will be the most dangerous thing any of us has done, but it will also be the most rewarding if these things are what I think they are."

Stunned from all of the information Mordecai nodded and drew a circle in the sand in front of him trying to fit the pieces together. Bloodwing clicked his beak and launched into the air to start his morning hunt on the desert life. Grey haze surrouned the horizon as dawn approached.

How do the other two fit in to this... Why has he accepted them... for something like this...

"What about the two flat foots?" He nodded to the girl Lilith and Bart. "Why them? Why now?"

Yujinny sighed before replying, "The boy will be greatest of us all, a third strong wheel in the coming months. And the girl....there is something special about her. I want you to keep an eye on her. Her story just doesn't feel right to me. But she has talent, and she is a bright one. I don't want to see her get pushed into a whore house like all the other girls around here. So we are going to train them, and make them our family. We all need this, you, Bart, Roland, Lilith, and me. Especially me."

He pulled his straw hat over his head to cover his eyes. "Get some sleep, we have a long walk today, and you never know what is going to come out to bite you out there." Mordecai replied with settling down facing dawn as it approached.

"Mord..."

"Yea."

"No matter what, I love you, son. You've been closer to me than my own blood. I will protect all of them just as I have protected you. I swear this in a life bond. Watch over your family... always watch over your family."

"I know and I you. I will keep vigilance with my new family. I swear this in a life bond."

He watched the light from the sun change the world in front of him and thought about having a true family. A family to share everything with. To help and protect at a moments notice.

This will change everything...

Morning dew formed in the shade between the rocks as the heat of day covered over her. Lilith woke with wind blasting sand against her face filling her mouth stinging her eyes as she spit the last of her saliva into the wind. Motivation filled her when she saw the sun rising before her challenging her at another day. A hard thump startled her from behind and a moment later a screech let her know it was the hunter's bird. Bloodwing…She looked behind her and was surprised to find a small pile of lizards and small rodents with lifeless eyes staring back at her.

"Bloodwing's idea of a wholesome breakfast."

Mordecai stood next to her with a blackened piece of meat on a stick. "Hun? Oh…. Huh… I'm not that hungry right now."

"You will be." He replied biting a chunk of meat off the stick. "Need the protein to keep your muscles workin. Water won't keep you goin when that sun starts beatin on your back."

Beating… Bart…

Worry took over her as she stepped around Mordecai to check and see how Bart was doing only to find the opposite sight she anticipated. Bart sat on a rock eating two of the meat sticks looking at the sky. "Hey! You want one? Pretty gamey at first, but you'll get past it." Perplexed she took the stick and sat next to him without taking her eyes off his face. The wounds had already turned into scars but something else was different…. His face is thinner… he looks rested… like someone waking from cryo sleep…and his shoulder! It looks completely healed…

"Go on… eat girl… ain't much time before we head out. Need all the energy you can get." Yujinny yelled from a heap of rocks. "First things first, gonna climb this here rockwall. Think you can handle it big stuff?"

"Yea… I don't feel so bad. Shoulder's a bit stiff but I think I can make it. Done it a couple of times before, so."

He's ready to start climbing the wall? He was nearly dead last night and now he is almost completely healed…nothing modern could have healed him so fast…

"You got some skag blood on ya." Bart pointed to her shirt pulling her back into reality. She looked down only to meet his finger tap her chin. "Gotchya."

An honest smile braced her lips and she felt content in that moment. After what he went through last night he still was able to play a joke on her. "Loosen up a little. We got friends around us who can help us at any time. Stop being so serious and just relax. Be yourself."

Taking a mouthful of her breakfast she let her worries leave her as she watched Roland pick up the campsite and methodically check his pack. His movement were clean and precise with each object he handled keeping to a graceful rhythm in his survey. She caught his gaze for moment feeling a deep sorrow in him before turning back to Bart.

"A little quiet ain't he? He didn't talk much when putting those bandages on me last night but I think something happened to his folks. He never answered any question I had about them." Bart said in between bites. "What about you? Why you so glum?"

"Not glum... just getting adjusted to this new life. My pa use to work on a space freighter until it got decommissioned. Said he wanted a different life for me so he decided to come here for the work. Good luck that was."

"Oh, yea... this place was so much better with all those companies here giving those jobs out. When they left, the smart ones picked up left. The rest stayed for one reason or another. Guess they wanted to find the vault or make their own way here away from the busy life out there in the galaxy."

"Well, at least we can join them in the vault hunt then. The plans that the old man wants us to do sounds crazy, but it will keep me busy round here."

"YEAH! That and giving us free gear. I don't care bout any of the rest of it. I just want the gear."

Mordecai stepped in front of them with a smirk on his face. "Well then lets stop talkin about what we're gonna do and get to it. The sooner we get up this and on our way the sooner I can show you the goods in our shop." Roland appeared behind Mordecai and smiled wide. "First one up gets first dibs!"

With that said they all scrambled to the wall and started their climb.

Cracked clay flowed into eternity around Roland as the group took a moment to rest. They had walked for most of the morning until they came upon a patch of baron trees. They sat underneath the broken shadows in hopes of relief from the sun.

What if I don't see him again... he's the last of my family... No, No, No, these people are my family now... gotta remember that... I'll see him again... someday...

Roland looked around the tree trunk at his new compadres reflecting on their morning talk. The old man and Mordecai seemed honest and were open with him. The other boy, Bart, had some issues, he could already see that he had been abused, but he did seem to have a kind heart to anyone willing to talk to him. Lilith, she was so silent about everything, so secretive, and she would read everyone's actions with a silent resolve. He finished his piss behind the tree and noticed a shadow move over him. He looked up in the sky to see a flock of rakk circling over them.

"RAKK!"

Everyone moved in closer to the trees for cover. Yujinny had his rifle out leaning against a tree branch aiming through the thickets. Mordecai held an assault riffle in one hand and a revolver in the other pointing them in his direction.

"Pick your poison."

"Rifle."

Confused at the gun fire coming from behind him he looked back in time to see a horde of skag charging over the flatland. Bart was picking off the pups with his pistol and Lilith was asking for a gun from Mordecai. Roland loaded the chamber and took aim at the largest skag. Screeching came from above him and thunder filled his boots. He saw a flash of bright steel flash through the air into Lilith's hands and then his adrenaline kicked in. A quick count told Roland thirty skags were still in pursuit and they had to spread the line thin.

"SPREAD OUT! We need to break them up and pick them off!"

He set the rifle to full automatic and let the bullets fly at the wave of skags. tewnty yards... "Aim for the feet Bart!" Wind pushed him from behind to his knee. "ROLAND DUCK!" He looked up to see dark green form falling at him. He lifted his rifle as the beast landed on top of him. Frantic claws scratched over the rifle seeking his blood and flesh.

"Help!"

He struggled against the weight of bird eventually forcing them into a roll. Pain flushed over his arms when the rakk let go in a twitch of motion. He opened his eyes to see Lilith standing over him pulling a machete from the back of the rakk's skull. Holy Shit... "They're still coming! I'll get your back!" She said pointing the bloody slick machete at the charge.

He rolled onto his stomach and fired blindly at the approaching stampede. Ten yards...

"They keep coming! Must be a nest nearby! We gotta get to some better cover!" Yujinny yelled. Another screech came from behind Roland followed by a one winged rakk toppling end over end past him. He surveyed the skags before him. Five left... they must of come from a den too... "Skag den! Head out to the skag den!" He shifted his weight and went to a knee aiming at the swooping rakks and set his rifle to a three round burst. "GO! I'll cover the air! Just make a way to the skag den!" Two forms fell from the sky forty yards out but two more shot into the sky from behind a hill.

"Roland! Move it! Don't just sit there!"

Need to give you guys some more time...

With smooth movements he shifted his aim to cover the bulk of the flock and fired. One fell and the other ten started their assault on him. He fired against the screeching wall until the click from his savior echoed in his head. Empty... He sat there motionless on his knee waiting for his destiny with eyes closed. Something pushed off his shoulder and a feral scream came from over him. He opened his eyes to see Lilith connect her steel with the lead rakk and fly backward crashing into him before black consumed him.