-TWO-
PART II
YOU DAMAGED MY STATION; I'M PUTTING YOU IN PRISON
In the Purgatory, life was like a cycle of profit. The processes were always the same except with a few minor setbacks to the criminal market. It mainly consists of planets sending their criminal, planets paying for the criminal's fees; buyers take interest in said criminal and bid for the highest amount. What the winning buyer does afterwards is beyond Warden Kuril's jurisdiction. He's was trying to make the galaxy a better place for all sentient species to live. However, to make the galaxy a better place, he needed the creds to make it. "I think there used to be a human saying: if you can't make the cut, we have to let you go." He spoke. He always percept himself as an educator; his students were politicians, but they were also delinquents to him as well. This meant that they needed some disciplining.
How? Release the murders, arsonist and sociopaths they had sent. Action does speak louder than words. These politicians have to suffer the consequences for the acts they didn't make. This was part of the education experience to teach people the dangers of the galaxy.
It also helps him show them that he's the only one capable of keeping them safe from harms way. "Intimidation is always the best way to convince people." A human once spoke. Especially when it helps generate a constant income for the Purgatory
However, today wasn't one of those profitable days due to the damage that occurred. This is the second biggest lost since the 'Jack' incident, but wasn't the most severe case.
Unlike Jack, when she first came here, She nearly destroyed the prison ship into two. Several thousands of guards and criminals had lost their lives to that 'psychotic maniac'; it was a total fiasco for Warden Kuril, but the most profitable as well. The reason why is that Jack worth more than all the people that died in her rampage combined; apparently several planetary governments and their home worlds wanted her to be contained in the Purgatory. A Salarian colony even donated a cryo-stasis tube while one religious Hanar group submitted 3 YMIR Mechs due to Jack 'defiling' there moon with a space station. The no-questions-policy was applied to that because Warden Kuril didn't want to know how she managed to crash a space station into the moon. Especially when it was Batarian.
"The Bitch is Crazy!" A nearby guard spoke.
That was definitely true.
BOOM!
"Sector Thirteen has been damaged; potential hull breach identified."
"Status report!" Warden Kuril demanded. He just entered the control room where the engineers and mechanics were busy trying to identify on who or what had caused the damage. So far, the Warden had found out it was external from one of the engineers. However, that didn't answer his question on who made the damaged on the Purgatory.
"An unidentified shuttle had collided with us," an engineer explained. He was engaging the lock down system at Sector Thirteen.
"Why didn't our sensors picked up on this?" he hissed. Saliva was sprayed on to the engineers face.
"Well one…" The turian spoke. He calmly wiped off the spit from his face. "The shuttle we identified is smaller than the average shuttle according to our readings. Second, it was probably going to fast for the sensors to pick it up. Third, you won't believe me saying this, but… From our readings we got from Sector Thirteen, there is no Element Zero detected on the shuttle at all."
The Warden gave him a perplexed look. He was skeptical on how the second and third contradict each other. An elaboration was needed to give him better sense on what the engineer explained. So he asked him to clarify on what did he mean that the shuttle was Element Zero free.
"If you look at this screen…" The turian explained. He pointed his claw to a picture of the crashed shuttle from the external cameras. "We identified the design to human. However, it was one that originated before they had founded Element Zero on Mars. Space worthy, but not as effective as the conventional space shuttle we use in this modern age."
"Okay, the thing can fly." The Warden nodded. "But, how does it relate to your probability that it was going too fast?" The Warden questioned.
"I believe it's the way how it was built." The engineer spoke. He pointed back to the screen again and asked the Warden to take a closer look as he explains.
"As far as the reading show, the ship is made by a multitude of materials. Majority of the materials are metals used to build the typical space shuttle. However, our readings pointed out that there had been 'patchwork fixing' on the shuttle. It means there were a bunch of holes that were covered by a multitude of different lightweight metals."
"Can you put it simple terms." The Warden sighed.
"It means that the shuttle was extremely too light to travel through the Mass Relay. Thus, the collision with the Purgatory." The Turian spoke. "However, the question left is. Why not give the mass reading of the ship? It would have avoided the collision in the first place."
Those words had stirred something in his head. A thought had suddenly emerged. He asked the engineer to repeat those words, and suddenly, he had announced that they were being attacked by an unknown enemy. (Or whats left of them.)
"Urgh…" were the first words that had came out of her mouth. She had found herself sprawled all over a metal floor. Her shoulders were aching; limbs felt heavy. A throbbing headache was beating against the ceiling of her skull like a drum. She had asked herself if Salvador had spiked her drink again as she slowly pulled herself up into a sitting position.
"Maya?" A voice had asked. The Siren had recognized Zer0's monotone.
"Yeah?" She replied while rubbing her forehead. Eyes were still closed as thoughts began to make circle around her forehead. "What happened last night?" The blue-haired woman had asked herself, but it was shortly interrupted by the sound of the Assassin's voice.
"Maya. I have to tell you something." Zero had asked once more. There was a sense of urgency despite how calm and aloof he sounded. The hangover must be screwing her hearing, because she was hearing things that sounded like unintelligible murmurs.
"God. I must be wasted." She bitterly laughed. Her hand was raised and made a salute. "Thanks Salvador. The midget who got me drunk." She mocked. "God my head is freaking killing me." She groaned.
"Maya."
"Yeah?" She asked. Her head had turned to the direction of his voice. Eyes popped open and expected to see the masked (or was helmeted) Assassin. Instead, what she got was the barrel of an assault rifle. She looked up and saw the owner of the said assault rifle.
Four eyes, green skin and wearing blue armor with a sun logo printed on the plate torso. The best words she could describe about her shooter was that he appeared, or was, an alien. He even had jagged teeth when he smiled and greeted in its alien language. "Is it guy?" she had asked herself, because it definitely sounded one to her hearing
"We got visitors." Zer0 calmly spoke. His message was given quiet late. Maya tilted her head to the side and saw behind the alien was Zer0 and two other alien-looking-people wearing helmets that obscured their face. Zer0 was cuffed and bound to a chair next to the shuttle console. How they managed to do that was a complete puzzle, and also meant that they were in big trouble. However, right before she was manhandled, she remembered something about last night. She was definitely not drunk; instead she was supposed to die by that thing the shuttle was about to crash into. She remembered vividly about the bright blue light; the grim despair; Zer0 trying to comfort her while embracing each other with a hug. The warmth of his actual breath still lingers near her ear. The coldness of his body was still with her, and the sound of his voice had echoed in his mind. Usually, there would be in some drama at this segment. Since we broke the fourth wall with that statement. We go back to what Maya just said.
"God. Someone don't tell me this is not a dream." She sighed as more guns began to aim at her.
The room they were lead to was large and had rows of chairs. Maya and Zer0 figured that this was the processing room. Especially when the two aliens had forced them to sit on the said chairs. They even shackled their arms and feet to the chair to prevent them from escaping. However, they met little resistance and thought these two were strange. In normal circumstances, one was to expect some hostility when forcing someone to do something against their will. One of them even prepared to shatter Zero's mask because he resisted. "What a bore." He the guard sighed as he waited for the Warden to come.
"What do we have here?" Warden Kuril asked. He just arrived in the room where the two attackers were located. Surprisingly, he expected more of them- and also some hostility. These two were rather behaved in a Purgatory standard. However, they were the most mixed up couple he ever seen. The woman had blue eyes and matching hair cut into a fashionable bob, wore a yellow leotard with black and grey accents. One sleeve of the leotard covered her whole armed with a glove attachment. The other arm that was, which was not covered, had intricate tattoo's that matched the same shade of blue to the woman's hair and eyes. On closer inspection, he figured that the tattoo had at least covered half of her body. However, it's hard to tell due to the grey cargo pants and yellow shoes that that covered feet. A book was attached to her belt.
The man however, in simple terms was completely blank. He was tall as a typical Turian (six feet or so) and had a lanky figure. His body armor was completely grey from head to toe and had worn a helmet that reminded him a mixture of Quarian helmet with a Turian head-outline. Albeit, more sleek regarding in design and lacked a head clothe or a mouth piece to talk.
"What are your names?" He asked.
"What did he say?" The woman asked.
"I don't know." The male shrugged.
"I repeat. What are your names?" The Warden repeated. His mandibles were flicking; his teeth were gritting. He did always have short fuse, but he was a patient man.
"He sounds angry?" The helmet-man questioned. He tilted his head to right in a curious fashion.
"How can you tell?" The woman asked her companion. He explained, that he can read body language.
"CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME AN EXPLANATION WHY THESE NITWITS CAN'T ANSWER!"
His voice echoed throughout the room. It caused everyone- especially the couple- to be dead silent. There was a sense uncomfortable feeling floating throughout the room. Maya could swear that she could see most of the guards were sweating bullets from inside their helmets. However one meek, but brave (or idiotic) person spoke out. He took a step and explained that their coms translators could be out from the crash.
Warden Kuril regained his composure; he stood up straight, coughed, and says why didn't he say so earlier on.
"Well, you never asked." The technician answered. He seemed as though he was bracing for the worst to come.
"Uh-huh." Warden Kuril nodded without care. He simply asked him to scan them immediately.
"Okay." The Technician nodded. He stepped forward beside Zer0 ("what a fool" he muttered) and held up a device. It reminded them a hybrid of a holographic interface and a mechanical glove with two circular hoops attached. It emitted an orange light and electronic sounds as he begins to type on it. Seconds later, he holds it in front of them and makes a swiping gesture in the air.
"Strange?" he says; an eyebrow was arched. There was a skeptical look he gave to his analyzing results.
"What is it?" the Warden asked.
"Well, first, their coms are appearing to be in working order. However, the second one states there are no translation software in the girl's one."
"What?" Maya asked with shocked and surprised. She turns her head to the side and had given her companion the evil eye. "So you knew what he understands all along you bastard."
"Yes." Zer0 spoke; ( :) ) was formed on his helmet face. "I was bored/ I needed a joke/ your face was priceless/ I wished I had brought a camera"
"Did that guy speak in Haiku?" the technician asked.
"Yes. Yes he did." Maya replied out of annoyance. She looked liked as though she was about to kill somebody. Even though it was the norm in the Purgatory; the tech took a few steps back for his own safety. However, he needed to get into a closer range when the Warden had ordered him to insert a translator into the girl's comm. So with great reluctance- and some distance, the tech raised his device (known as a omni-tool) and swiped it near her ear before doing some more typing.
"There…" The Tech spoke. Satisfied with his work. He looked back to the Warden and asks him to speak to them now.
"Can you hear me?" He asked politely like a curios child. Maya said yes while Zer0 simply nodded.
"Good. Now who the hell are you people?"
"Who wants to now?" Maya replied.
"The person in charge, that's who."
"Oh." Maya spoke. "Bad move idiot." She thought to herself.
"Zer0 and Maya." Her partner blankly spoke.
"Zer0?" Warden asked, what a strange name for a person. Especially for a human, if he is even a human at all.
"Don't ask." Maya spoke. Since the jig was up, she better ask some questions.
"Who and What are you and where the hell are we?" Maya demanded. She was making daggers out of her glares. One haughty laugh from the alien had deflected her glare, but it further increased her annoyance from him. Reason why because it had reminded her of Brother Sophis from the Order of the Impending Storm.
"I am Warden Kuril of the Blue Suns Mercenary Gang. This is my prison ship the Purgatory. What I am you should know, but probably that crash had knocked out a few brain cells from your head. I am a Turian; we come from Palaven. We're expects on all things military and such."
"Uh-huh." Maya spoke. She seemed clearly unimpressed by the way he presented himself. "Great. Another pompous prig." She thought. He's no different than the former Hyperion CEO- Handsome Jack(ass). Except without the douche like voice and that horrible face. She still remembered the time that she (and the other vault hunters) had to wear his face and use his voice; no-one came sane out from that ordeal, Zer0 included; but she wasn't so sure about Krieg. He's a pyscho after all.
"Anyways, you damaged my station; I'm putting you into jail. You people had wasted my time. I have a galaxy protect you two are simply stalling me from my duty. So if you weren't so kind and let us confiscate your personal belongings that might be potential hazard to your health and ours. Your process will be almost painless. Almost."
Once the Turian had spun on his heel and began to walk through the door. Their guards immediately began to work since their boss was not here to 'supervise' him.
"I get the girl…" that four eyed alien spoke. He sounded like a pervert in candy store. This was supported by the way he was touch her buttocks. Maya tried to block the sensation with her mind like how the abbey taught her how to clear her senses.
"What do we have here?" He spoke. He took out two devices that were in her back pocket. One was SDU that acted as her storage unit she used to carry her stuff. This included, weapons, ammunition, mods, shield, grenades, health and miscellaneous stuff that can be digitized easily. The other was her ECHO that acted as her HUD: It displays map, health, shield health, ammunition, weapon use, her Siren power and acts as her recorder and communication device.
"These seem dangerous; must take them away." He smiled before he carelessly threw them away. Next was her book, which was strapped on her belt.
"Hmm… a book."
"Yes. It is a book."
"Did I tell you to talk?" he hissed.
"No." she deadpanned.
"Whatever." He spoke before flipping through the pages. A few minutes later, he gave it back to her while laughing.
"Seriously, what are you, a kid? Researching on mythical beings that do not exist. Lady, you need to get a life."
"What did you say?" she growled.
"Well. I said what you are researching is completely useless. I mean. Sirens, heard about them from a human, but she told me they were myth. So why you researching something that does not exist?"
"They do exist…" she thought with anger. However, taking it calmly (and deadly) she asked him to repeat what he said about Sirens.
"I said: They. Do. Not. Exist."
Crack, whoosh and every guard were sucked into a biotic-esque stasis vortex. However, this one was different since it was dragging everyone (besides the two prisoners) towards it.
"What the hell is happening?" one of the guards asked. Her answer was shortly given in an orb of purple acid that was starting to sink into her armor.
"Jana." One of the guards screamed. His head was sliced off cleanly.
"Sorry, did that hurt? / That "sorry" was sarcasm / I am not sorry."
Zer0 sang as he flicked the blood off his digi-sword.
"Now lets have some fun/ Oh I miss the fun/ Its very satisfying no?"
"Yes Zer0." Maya smiled. "It's very satisfying."
Soon there were sliced limbs and melted armor as the duo began to massacre anyone alive in the room. However, before they could finish their killing spree. Pink gas began to seep in the room and clouded Maya's vision.
Slowly, she began to feel tired as her limbs began to relax; her body began to drop. Flat faced on the floor while her eyes began to droop. She heard silence gun fired and Zer0 also dropped two. Darts were embedded onto his body which meant that they used morphine to put him down. Slowly, the scenery in front of her begins to ebb away before turning into total darkness.
"And when we woke up. I had this on." Maya explained. She was wide-awake now after going through that tremendous flashback experience.
"I see." Zer0 spoke. He sat crossed legged on the floor. The two were now in total silence, but it was broken when they began to hear sirens.
"What is that?" Maya asked. There were shouts being made outside their cell.
"Chaos probably." Zer0 said calmly. The lighting had suddenly turned red.
Violent movement, a toss of their cell and suddenly they spread across their cell. Maya lifted herself up and notice that their entrance was conveniently opened.
"Seems to be a prison riot." Maya spoke, she could hear gunfire and more shouts being made.
"Then we should take advantage of the situation." Zer0 spoke before he exited the cell. "You coming?" he stopped and asked without turning around.
"What you think?" she spoke rhetorically.
"Then, we need to get out weapons."
A/N: I admit the ending is a little rushed, but I want to get this out soon as possible. Sorry about the delay though, I was RLI to keep you inform. Anyways, it took me sometime to write this; I hope my pain would be your enjoyment. Now Q/A session from the reviews.
LeGoMeEGGO: I don't know how I feel about this. On one hand its nice to see another mass effect borderlands crossover, the other hand... Spelling mistakes, and Zero having emotion...
I would like to thank you for the review and your truthful opinion on this story. As much as I like Zer0 to be the unemotional badass he is. I'm giving him emotions for the sake of plot development; however he's still a badass 98% of the time. Estimate speaking.
Bronzedamazon: Ya know this isn't a bad little story and you have a good idea here to build on.
I loved them sitting in a cell, although how they ended up in a cell together was kind of lost on me. They seem to have some kind of connection though, and I don't want to admit that it's just the blood thirsty killing they are both longing for.
I seem to get lost while they're floating in space on a shuttle made from scrap. I think it would need to be a ship, not a shuttle.
Over all it's a good story, it just needs padding- I want more dialogue between the characters, interlaced with a bit of backstory. I was left feeling like I didn't know the two of them, like I needed more in order to really relate to them and get into the story for more than a quick read.
Maybe the breaks can be place holders for future chapters, it's okay to have slow parts in a story, as long as the fluffy stuff is good.
Awesome job!
Thanks to take time off your busy schedule to read this story. I'm sorry if I confused you but it made sense with me at my perspective. Anyways, I appreciate the review and would take in mind of adding some more padding.
Anyways, I hope I have not disappointed you with this chapter. If I did, I would make it up by adding more badass scenes. and a bit of fan service if you wish.
Goodbye and thank you for reading this chapter
Edit: I would like to say thank you to BlazaWolf to notice a very large mistake I made
