A/N - Yes, I've been gone forever. I'm sorry for that. I'm trying to get back to writing regularly, but it's been a challenge. Thanks to all who are still around and reading! :) Here's a longish chapter to make up for it!

.

VIII. Dangerous Negotiations

Whenever I walk into Handsome Jack's office, I'm never sure what to expect. Sometimes, he is the perfect illusion of friendliness, and other times he is seconds away from going murderous. Today must have been one of his better days, because he calmly looked up from his desk, eyeing my state with a strange lack of hostility.

"Hey, kiddo, don't take this the wrong way, but you're a mess," he said lightly, raising an eyebrow.

I wasn't sure how he could tell these things. I really couldn't see any difference in the mirror each morning. Just the same mask-covered face staring back out of the glass.

I sighed, "Eh, couldn't sleep well."

He chuckled. "Ah, you'll get used being awesome, I'm sure." He grew abruptly serious. "So, ah, gotta little problemo that...um. Well, to be honest, here lately I'm not so sure you're up to things so I've taken the liberty of developing a little task for you. And I want you to know that you're at any means to complete it. Get creative even! Seriously though, don't muck this up. I'm being generous!"

Strange, he hadn't mentioned anything of me not being 'up to things' before today. I wonder what had given him that idea? It was hard to tell, and I couldn't think of anything specific. Maybe it was the little differences between us that he'd noticed.

"I won't muck it up, sir," came tumbling out before I could stop it. I felt like a dumb puppet, doing whatever this psychopath wanted from me. Hell, I didn't even know what the task was. For all I knew, he wanted me to go murder some poor old lady...like somebody's grandma. I doubted it... but still.

"Well," he went on. "Great. So here's the dealio. I'm having you head down to Pandora. I'll send Wilhelm too. Just to make sure you don't wind up hanging dead over some bandit's fence."

Pandora! That was a first. I'd never been to the surface before. I was excited for a mere second before what he said sunk in...I felt a sense of dread at the thought of Wilhelm coming along. I wasn't overly fond of the robot-man, and I was sure the feeling was mutual for the most part. However, if I kept quiet, he'd just follow Jack's orders and tag along. I could make it work.

"Ah, don't worry about it. Wilhelm's got nothing personal with you, Handsome. Actually, the assignment's quite simple. Just collect some information from my contacts. It'll probably be in the form of Echo recordings. Don't let on that you're just my body-double, you're supposed to be me afterall. Also, don't let Wilhelm in on the info. The guy's cool as hell, but equally greedy...and I won't risk a sell-out."

A very small part of me wondered why he'd trust me any more than Wilhelm. I figured this was a test. He'd said as much earlier.

"Is this gonna be dangerous?"

"Probably not. There's always the risk of some cannibal trying to eat your face, but nah, I'm sure you'll be fine. Beside, that's what Wilhelm's there for, to prevent that. Didn't I already say this?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Good. Now get going, don't forget Wilhelm! He's expecting you."

He stood up and walked to the large windows, gazing down on Pandora. He acted as if he owned that planet, and I knew he was going to try one day. Even if it were only in the money he gained from his Eridium mining.

Jack's growing power was inevitable, it seemed.

.

Timothy was on Pandora, which was beginning to seem like an endless desert where dust lifted from the cracked ground of the land, white light shone down from the sun overhead, and the air was inhospitably dry. The doppelganger realized there had been absolutely no good reason to get excited for a trip to this rugged planet. So far, it seemed mostly full of harsh terrain and vicious wildlife. But then again, maybe he was just having bad luck again and got sent to the worst part of the planet.

He drove along the barely-useable road inside a Hyperion-yellow runner. It was an uncomfortably bouncy ride, due to the condition of the trail, and in certain places, white sand had been blown over the path that had been severely damaged by time and weather.

Wilhelm ran along outside the car in all of his robotic glory. He was unable to fit inside a vehicle, for he was taking on more and more metal than what seemed necessary. Timothy figured there were dozens of turrets, surveyors, and other such things hidden underneath the metallic plates. The body-double couldn't begin to imagine what it was like to be in Wilhelm's position. He didn't understand how anyone could be addicted to surgical implants. Maybe Wilhelm just enjoyed feeling powerful.

"Nearly there," Angel's voice came over his Echo communicator. "Turn right just up ahead and you'll see the base. Just pull up, honk the horn and give them the password, 'bandit's suck'."

"Got it, Angel," he responded, shaking his head.

"Jack wants me to remind you to leave Wilhelm where he can't hear the info. Apparently, you know why. Also, the guy you're going to talk to for the info... his name is Thomas Alo. Apparently, you should call him Tom."

"Alrighty. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

The info base turned out to be an old dusty Dahl factory. It was lined with tall makeshift battlements decorated with metal and broken signs that had once declared the glories of Dahl firepower and munitions.

He pulled up through the sand and honked the vehicle's horn. Wilhelm waited patiently nearby.

A man appeared on the battlements, a dim silhouette in the high sun.

"Who is it!?" He called down. "I don't recognize you!"

"We are from Hyperion..." Timothy replied. "Eh, Bandits... suck!" It sounded so obnoxious to say it that he hesitated.

The response was cracked laughter ringing down from the man, "Alright, the boss said anyone with that password was cleared for entrance. Hurry up now!"

The doppelganger shut off the motor and climbed from the car. He walked towards the entrance, Wilhelm clanking along behind. All of a sudden, he found himself focusing on that moment, walking forward like that. He felt... powerful. Behind him was the deadly enforcer, stomping along with all his might. Before him was a base full of some sort of spies that would willingly give him info.

He could tell Wilhelm whatever he wanted and the man-robot would obey.

These men were going to give him info.

He bet he looked cool as hell, too.

However, not long into these thoughts, he felt purely disgusted with himself.

And it was because of Jack.

Keep it together, and do you're job. No more, no less, he thought. Besides, these are all Jack's guys...not mine.

"Alright," A man at the gate who was dressed in a strange mixture of scavenged armor said. "This way to the boss. He's, uh, got what you need." He cast a worried glance at Wilhelm.

"Problems?" Timothy asked.

"Nope, just keep a leash on this one, and we're all good."

"He won't hurt anyone...without my order first."

The man lead them through the base.

When they reached the main building, the doppelganger ordered his bodyguard to wait outside. It didn't matter though, because Wilhelm couldn't have gone into the building anyway.

The place was well-furnished and surprisingly homey. Right inside, a group of these strangers sat around a table, having drinks and laughing while flinging cards about in a game. They didn't look up from it. Timothy followed his guide up a set of stairs and through a door. His escort left him with the 'boss', who was sitting in that room on a comfortable-looking chair.

"Ah, Jack, It's been awhile!" The guy greeted.

This must have been Thomas. The tall lanky man was dressed in a set of old Crimson Lance armor. His hair was short cut and his blue eyes looked friendly enough. Though, it was hard to tell these days just who was truly friendly or not.

Thomas continued, "all business? Or would you prefer a drink? Too good for me now? I mean, look at you!"

"Yup, look at me!" Timothy stated vainly while figuring that was a very Jack-like response. He took a seat across from Tom on a couch. "You're...um...here, pal...Tom, and got a lot less money...than me."

Tom burst into laughter. "Ah, it's good to have a chat with you again."

Timothy figured this guy was very strange if he liked to chat with the C.E.O. of Hyperion...or whoever Jack had been when he was this guy's 'pal'.

"Anyway, Jack. Here's your tapes." He carelessly tossed a few Echo recordings onto the table. "Enjoy. There's some very juicy stuff. Anyhow, we should talk payment. Eighty grand, now stand and deliver, or forfeit the info, Mr. I-Got-Way-More-Money-Than-You-Because-I-Mine-Valuable-Purple-Stuff-And-,"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Tim attempted a chuckle. "I don't know what's even in here yet!"

Of course, Jack had asked him to only pay fifteen grand at the most. Less was preferable. He felt uncertain. Eighty would be hard to bring down.

"Oh yes," Tom said. "It's got all the people's locations you asked for. Took a lot of work and time getting them together. Lillith, Roland, Moxxie, plus some others that might interest you. Hell, that's bonus, a tribute to our little past...adventures."

"Well, Tom, this is all very good, but let's face it. Eighty grand is ridiculous!"

"What? Well how about a hundred grand."

"Nah, I was thinking of more like...ten grand, kiddo."

Tom finally frowned. "Now, that's ridiculous, kiddo. I'm willing to give 'em to you for a mere sixty grand if you're going to be stubborn. That's the lowest, so don't try my patience further!"

The double really began to feel ludicrous. How was he going to do this? He tried to think of something clever, but he had nothing.

"Uh, well, it's just recordings, and honestly, with all this new power, I can get a much better deal. Hell, informants and spies will appear in droves to sell me this sort of thing for less than five grand."

Now Tom was really unhappy. "Yeah right!" He exclaimed sarcastically.

When the gun came out, Timothy was far less certain about this supposed friendship.

"Alright," Tom growled. "Fork over seventy grand, mister high-an'-mighty. Be thankful I'm not raising anymore for this ridiculousness."

"Like I came without expecting this sort of cheap trick!" Timothy responded, feeling angry to be losing control of the situation. "I'll just take 'em, free of charge!"

He tapped his wrist device and dove behind the couch he'd been sitting on, but not before he managed to snatch up the tapes, which were almost more important to his life than actually escaping. His holograms appeared and the man fired his gun several times, his bullets ripping into the couch, but missing their target, and Tom was soon distracted by the digitized men in the room. There were four digi-Jacks this time thanks to Jack, who'd recently made convenient upgrades to his equipment.

A shootout followed between the holograms and the informant, whose shield protected him for the most part. The shots would no doubt draw attention, though, and before anyone could do much more, the door burst open and several men entered, weapons blazing. As if they'd expected this and had been waiting all along.

The doppelganger clutched the tapes and felt miserable to be so unarmed. He had to get out of there.

"You should've listened! I'll take the cash from your lifeless corpse, Jack! You may be richer, but I'm stronger!" Thomas howled over the gunfire.

Why does he think I'd bring the cash on my person?... Timothy pulled up his Echo communicator. "Um, Wilhelm? T-there attacking me! Think you could help?!"

"Get outside. I could plow into the building, but I might accidently kill you, which would go against my orders."

Great, Timothy thought. It was really great that his death was so easily chatted about. He had bigger concerns though, and escaping was easier said than done. He looked around, recalling the window he'd seen earlier. He had an exit, thankfully. Never mind that it was a story up from the ground.

"Going out the window, Wilhelm. Be ready."

"Yes, sir."

He pressed the extra button on his other arm's contraption. He sat up, aiming his wrist lasers, firing bolts of energy. A man howled and fell, smoke pouring from his wound. After several tense seconds, the body-double decided the other digi-Jacks were distraction enough and his shield would protect him from the bullets and the fall through the window.

He made a break for his exit and dove through the glass pane before he could change his mind. He felt the glass explode as his weight destroyed the fragile panes. There was a moment of panic, being high up in the air and then he hit the sand and lunged to his feet. Wilhelm ran past him towards the building, plowing a path through surprised enemies - the men who'd been in the courtyard - who had begun to shoot.

The enforcer spun a three-sixty, large, metallic guns sprouting from his shoulders. Timothy ducked behind an overturned car as the bullets began sweeping the battlefield.

In seconds, the resistance was dead, turned into a hapless pile of corpses.

The men from the building, Thomas included, rushed outside, preparing to fire.

Wilhelm thundered towards them. "Destroyer mode activated!" He declared.

All the doppelganger could do was cringe as the screams and blood spatters filled the air, and he couldn't bring himself to look away as the enforcer sliced them with metal arms, and razed them with bullets. He knew the carnage was his fault, but that's not why he was trembling. He was certain Jack would skin him alive for this, quite literally.

Perhaps the Echo recorders he clutched so tightly in his hands would give him a chance.

.

End of chapter eight.

A/N Okay, so hopefully this wasn't too ridiculous. I'd like to hear what you think! :) Oh, just want to say, I know Pandora isn't all desert, but there are large deserts on it, and this is the area that Timothy is in and this is from his perspective.

Oh yeah, and apologies for any errors, I edit a bunch and it seems a few still slip by me from time to time.