Hyperion Hoe Bags

She stood outside of the tall, platinum skyscraper holding her mitten clad hands within the pits of her arms; the bitter cold cutting through her winter coat like an icicle through soft, muddied ground. She kept her head down and hidden from the wind within the warmth of her scarf as her knees knocked together from unforgiving shivers.

Harsh wind whipped her sandy locks across rosy cheeks as light from the sun finally rose and spread its rays across downtown Opportunity; the dark velvet of twilight suddenly replaced with the soft golden glow of dawn. The empty streets were ghost-like as she searched for any sign of life and eventually spotted a single stray cat making its way down a side alley. She clicked her tongue trying to get it to come to her, but with a flick of its tail it traveled down the alleyway leaving her heartbroken.

With her back planted firmly against the main entrance of the building, she warmed her vocal chords with a low hum. As she descended a major scale, she glanced up at the vast, daunting structure of the Helios; vertigo hitting her hard as she did so. The sunlight reflected from the multitude of windows and thawed her from the inside out.

Just then, from the corner of her eye she noticed a figure making its way down the pavement creating a silhouette directly in the path of the rising sun. She shielded her eyes from the brilliance as she attempted to make out the figure as it drew nearer. A man took shape.

He was slender and tall and was clad in a baggy, yellow jumpsuit, and even from a distance she could see the Hyperion logo he was sporting on his chest. His brown hair was slicked back from his slim, pale face and his eyes were downcast to the ground. The difference between his mature attributes and his awkward lankiness left her guessing his age. She estimated he couldn't have been more than thirty.

He trudged down the sidewalk against the blowing wind, and with each step he took forward his feet seemed to grow heavier as if he were walking through wet cement. As he lifted his head and their eyes met, his step seemed pause in the air for a moment, stopping time altogether. A shy smile crossed the man's face as he pulled a set of keys out from his jumpsuit.

"I don't usually see people out here this early and if I do, they usually try to steal my shoes. Please don't do that, okay?" The man grinned as he skimmed through his ring of keys. She smiled and suddenly felt warmer in spite of the cold. She said, "Don't tempt me."

"What are you doing out here? I feel like I would recognize your face," He said and cringed, "That… sounded less creepy in my head, heh."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, it definitely sounded more creepy not in your head," She teased giving a strained smile.

He blushed in embarrassment as he stuttered over his words. The sudden pink in his cheeks made her laugh interweave with her apology she tried to spit out, "I'm just kidding! I'm sorry, bud." She noted the deep shade of pink his cheeks turned, and his lips gave way to a smile as he rubbed the back of his head nervously.

"Playing on my crippling self-doubt; always good for a laugh!" He coughed into his gloved hand as he tried to unlock the door. When it failed to open, he went back to skimming.

"Oh yeah? Well then, I'll be sure to do it more often," She said, "And I'm just doing what I was told."

"And what was that?"

"To be here at five sharp; no earlier, no later," She said crossing her arms.

He raised an eyebrow, "But the doors don't even open until 7."

"Yeah, I figured as much after the first hour. The second hour was just overkill."

While she seethed at the thought of Jack sitting in his bed laughing at her own expense, the man offered her a different kind of laugh; a laugh that was neither mocking nor degrading. Instead, it was genuine. There was no hidden malice, no judgement. It was just nice. After his laughter had died down, she was surprised to find herself smiling as well.

"So, I take it you're new here?" He asked testing another key. He let out a quick "Shit" when it didn't work.

"Unfortunately," She chuckled garnering a quizzical look from the man, "Yes, I am. I kind of got pulled into the job actually. The head honcho himself handpicked me, believe it or not. Lucky me right?" Elizabeth blew a raspberry. The man was silent for a moment as he registered her words.

"Handsome Jack? You're telling me the Handsome Jack hired you?" The man turned to her suddenly star-eyed and mouth agape, "Oh, God. I should be so lucky! I'm just grateful when he remembers my paycheck, let alone my name. The closest he's gotten is 'Rice' and I don't have the heart to tell him he's wrong… Well, I did once but he spit in my coffee, so I just let it go now. 'Rice' is good enough for me."

She saw the opportunity and took it, "So, what is your name?"

"Rhys."

"Reeze?"

"Rhys.

"Roose?"

"Rice."

"Ah, gotcha."

"So, I'm guessing you're some type of whiz kid then. Are you like an incredibly skilled technician or like a super engineer? I am truly humbled by your presence. I am but a lowly servant, my lady," He said giving a slight bow. He chuckled pathetically then gave a weary sigh, "That was lame."

She looked to the side and shrugged, her hands coming out of her pockets, "Nope, I'm just Elizabeth. I'm only here because I pissed Jack off last week and now I have to work for him."

There was a moment before he laughed, "Good one."

"Not kidding," She insisted, "Wish I were."

His brows knitted together in confusion as he blinked once and then once more for good measure. He shook his head as he tried to wrap his brain around the situation, "Wait- what really? He hired you for that? I don't think I follow."

"Trust me; I'm just as confused as you are. Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches Pandora throws at you," Elizabeth said, "I learned that a while ago."

"…Okay- so, you're totally sure you're not missing anything? Got anything suppressed bouncing around in there?" He asked giving a knock at his head.

She frowned and he put his hands up defensively, "I'm just saying that if people got a raise every time somebody pissed off Jack, it'd be Christmas 24/7 around here. Instead, they get thrown off the fortieth floor." Elizabeth's head tilted to the sky as she noticed just how high the fortieth floor was. She then took a step back from the brownish stain she was standing on. Rhys put another key into the door and said, "You have to admit it doesn't make any sense."

A click was heard and Rhys pulled the door back for her to enter, "After you."

She muttered a grateful "thanks" as she walked passed him and into the heated building, and as she passed she caught a whiff of fabric softener and hair gel. It entered her nostrils like a burst of flavor on the tongue contrast to the flat, frigid aroma of the morning air.

The heel of her boots clicked across the charcoal marble flooring of the main lobby and echoed off into the open air as she marveled at the sight before her.

Everything was sleek as hell from the spotless, glass windows to the silver, crackling fire place. To her right was a crescent welcoming desk and at the far end of the room glistening elevators lined the wall. In the middle of it all was a chrome fountain feature and when she looked up to the main wall she could see the massive Hyperion logo. It quickly reminded her exactly where she was. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't expecting the whole place to be covered in fire and brimstone. Corporate hell, she thought.

"Nice fountain," She commented watching the water spill over the marble.

"You like that? I think it's kind of gaudy."

"I eat that shit up."

"Hot damn, fountain queen."

"But seriously, I'm in the same boat as you, Rhys. I have no idea why I'm here. I was just working night shift at my old job when he decided to pop in. He started being… you know, him and I didn't take it very well," She said as she rubbed her cheeks trying to gain feeling back into them.

"Where did you work?" He asked.

"The bakery down the street," She answered taking her heavy coat off as she neared the digital fireplace; the artificial heat warming her bones.

"…Hold on; was it last Friday at the Sugar and Spice?"

"…Yeah, why?" She said slowly, wary of where he was going with this.

"Okay, check it. Who am I?" Rhys' face melted into a sour expression as he slouched against the door frame and crossed his arms sassily, "Welcome to Sugar and Spice where a smile is guaranteed. How can I make your day sweeter?"

As he straightened his posture, that cute smile eventually found its way back home on his face, "How do you like my acting? I'll actually be playing Meryl Streep in her upcoming documentary." She cocked her head to the side and pinched her eyebrows trying to comprehend. He gave a nervous laugh, "S-Sorry, It's uh- it's you. I came in the other day. I got a bagel and coffee."

"…Oh, raisin bagel guy! Oh shit, sorry about that," She winced remembering her behavior, "I'm usually not that much of an asshole. It was a long day."

"Good, I'm 'raisin bagel guy' now. That is my legacy," Rhys awkwardly pumped his arm.

He then put a hand on the side of his neck as he said with a chuckle, "But yeah, you were definitely a little…bold that night. Looking back, I can kind of see why Jack would blow up at you. A guy like that must have a lot on his mind, and I'm sure the last thing he expected to get was backtalk from some college kid. He's probably used to getting a lot of respect and I mean- he deserves it. The man is single-handedly trying to fix Pandora. It's pretty admirable when you think about it."

The mood suddenly shifted. Her pupils traveled horizontally, over the hills and through the dales to deliver to Rhys one of the biggest side eyes of the century, "I'm sorry, but have I entered the twilight zone?"

Rhys blushed and immediately began to backtrack once he felt the mood change, "I didn't mean- what I meant to say- he probably wasn't…" He made a lot of gestures with his hands but he couldn't think of a single thing that could salvage this inevitable ship wreck. He sighed and settled with a, "I didn't mean it like that."

"What did you mean? That I deserved to be harassed?"

"No! I'm just saying Handsome Jack has done a lot for Pandora. He's brought life back into this place. He's cut the crime rate in half and has disbanded ten gangs in Opportunity alone. Imagine what he'll be able to do with the rest of Pandora."

"I'd rather not. It sounds like a nightmare. And most of those gangs were created because he's nothing more than a money-hungry, self-obsessed narcissist. If you believe that he would take the time out his precious day to even think about helping his citizens, I'm sorry but you're dead wrong," She said trying to slice and tear at this pedestal Rhys had created for Jack; a pedestal he didn't deserve.

As her voice hit the open air, she could suddenly feel the security camera's presence burn the back of her neck. Her hair began to stand on end as pins and needles electrified her skin. Out of her peripheral she could see a single camera facing down at her. She knew she was being watched. With a gulp, she managed to pull her eyes away from the camera and back at Rhys.

She knew she was going about this all wrong, but she desperately wanted for him to see what she could see. So, the venom continued to spew, "He doesn't help them, so they help themselves. If people had the necessary means to live they wouldn't turn to violence. Trying to live is a basic human instinct. Living is human right."

"But he's given jobs to so many people!"

"Coming from a Hyperion employee," She snapped.

"Holy shit, no way!" Rhys exclaimed as he pulled on his jumpsuit to look at the logo on his chest, "Well, I'll be damned. How did that get there?" She took in a slow breath trying to calm herself.

"And now you're one too, funny how that works," He said as he went behind the welcome desk to turn on the lights, "All I'm saying is that Jack has a weird way of helping people."

Her answer was thoughtless and sharp, "Like murdering them?"

Rhys went rigid, his hand resting on the light switch.

"No offense-" He started but before he could finish, she cut him off, "When people say 'no offense' they're usually about to offend somebody."

"…No offense, but you weren't all sunshine and rainbows the other night. Actually, you made me feel pretty stupid… Stupider," Rhys said letting a smile cross his pale, pink lips; both their anger dissipating some. She stifled a laugh with her hand, embarrassment coloring her face. Her laxness helped Rhys loosen; his languid disposition slowly returning.

"And hey, I get that it was a bad night and that you were in a crappy mood or whatever, but you have to admit, you were acting like a real bit-" He stopped when he realized just how much he valued his life, "B-Bit cranky. And when you fight fire with fire you get burned. That's what you did to Jack, isn't it? You got burned." Rhys mused over his choice of words then shook his head slightly, "Not that kind of burn but the other kind- you know what I mean."

Elizabeth pulled her mouth to the side as she took in the brutal honesty like a honey soaking into a piece of bread. The tension in her jaw released as she suddenly felt the guilt twist in her gut like a knot.

"…I'm sorry. I won't try to make an excuse for myself. I was a grade-a bitch and I am very, very sorry," She said as she looked down to the marble flooring, absentmindedly twirling a piece of hair. Although her attention was drawn to her countless split ends, Rhys seemed transfixed with her fingers which were carefully entwined between blonde locks. Her nostrils then flared as she added, "But I won't act like Jack didn't get what he deserved."

Rhys gave a sigh. As much as he admired her spirit, she was definitely working her way up the ladder of the most bull-headed people he knew. She was just under Sasha at this point.

"Okay, real talk. You don't have any special skills, no specific talents, yet you're going to be working here at Hyperion; the life source of Pandora's economy. Do you even like Hyperion?" He asked exasperated.

"Not a fan of guns or the mass production of weapons in general. And no offense, but I don't think I can do any more damage to Pandora than what Hyperion has already done. Fun fact: when my friend Jess and I were in high school we used to think of fun ways to insult Hyperion. 'Hyperion Hoe Bags' is my personal favorite," Elizabeth stated and quickly added, "No offense, of course."

"Okay, let's just agree to disagree, sound good? Just remember that Jack gave you a job. He didn't have to but he did anyway. One that'll pay a hell of a lot better than some local bakery," Rhys said and pulled at his uniform, "Better than being a janitor, I'll tell you that much."

"Wait, you're throwing me for a loop. Just a few seconds ago you were singing Hyperion's praises, but you don't even like your job?"

"I was on my way to becoming vice president of the corporation. I'd say this is a bit of a step down, wouldn't you agree?" He said bitterly.

"You were?! What happened, did you forget to pick up Jack's laundry?"

"Nope, I was demoted. This asshole, Vasquez, and I were competing for the same position for months and when he finally got the job he made sure I was lowered to bottom tier. I won't be down here for long, though; that I can guarantee."

"That's super shitty," She huffed, "But you're pretty optimistic about it."

"I've worked too hard to give up now. Ever since I graduated, all I've known is Hyperion. I'd just be giving Vasquez what he wants by calling it quits. So, I'll wait for him to slip up, and who knows? Maybe I got something up my sleeve even Vasquez won't see coming. I mean, I don't want to brag but I've been told my magic tricks are pretty good. I didn't win my middle school talent show just because of my good looks."

He laughed then his voice cracked in confession, "…I didn't win. I got third to a thirteen year old juggler and a girl who sang a ballad from Les Miserables."

"The judges obviously couldn't recognize real talent if it hit them in the face," She said.

"Right? I'm so unappreciated in my time. And I thought I had it in the bag with my Twenty One Card Trick. Left everyone questioning reality," He gave a willowy wave of his arms as a mystifying noise resonated through the O shape of his mouth. The sight made her snort. She reassured, "I would have voted for you!"

"Thanks. Fourteen years too late, but I appreciate it," Rhys smirked.

"I'll be rooting for you, Rhys," Elizabeth said, "And if it makes any difference, I believe in you. I'll see you around, okay?"

With a curl of her fingers she made her way toward the elevators. He watched her short hair brush her shoulders as she turned to go and mouthed a silent 'bye' as she left. His eye then caught a pack of gum falling from her purse.

"Wait-" He said bending over to pick it up. She turned as he reached out to her and their gloved hands touched. Then Elizabeth felt something odd. Elizabeth took a moment to run her hand over the angular edges of Rhys' hand as he continued to study her; a blush taking over his cheeks. When she gave him a look of confusion, Rhys lifted his sleeve to reveal a bionic arm.

"Hyperion work. Had it done after I left college because I could finally afford it. Same with this," He said pointing to his left eye. She hadn't even noticed its glassy blue makeup contrast to the natural brown of his right eye, "I was a sick kid and nothing about me worked right, but I never had the money to do anything about it. That's why I like this place. It gives people a chance to succeed. It gave me my chance."

She marveled at the craftsmanship and admired the design of the connecting joints of his arm. It was colored in Hyperion's signature yellow. He noticed her staring and teased with a flex, "Pretty impressive, right?"

"Very," She admitted. She then then began to lift up her own sleeve, "Definitely more impressive than this."

The arm she revealed was covered in scarring; little designs of white lightning that decorated her skin. Once untouched flesh now smothered in the pale blemishes. It looked as if someone had brought a hacksaw down on to the limb and carved 'til their hearts content like a chainsaw to a fresh Mahogany. Rhys shook his head at the sight and asked, "Whoa, what happened?"

Elizabeth rubbed up and down her arm feeling the textures of the scarring tickle her fingers, "When I was little, I got separated from my parent's at a Farmers' Market. I don't remember how, but it was probably my fault. I was always screwing around; always reckless." She laughed as she shook her head, "Anyway, it was one of the biggest turnouts they had had in years. There was literally a tidal wave of people, and me being the rational ten-year old I was, thought the world was going to collapse in on itself. Not gonna lie, at the time it was comparable to D-Day."

"You're never too young to have a Vietnam flashback," Rhys pointed out.

Elizabeth snorted, "That was Word War II, dummy."

"War…war never changes," Rhys said gravely, and they both laughed at their own stupidity.

"Anyway, I tried to find my parents amongst the crowds of people when suddenly this guy just came up and grabbed my arm. He started pulling and I freaked out. Before he could drag me into the nearest alleyway, a few locals started helping. The man then pulled out a serrated knife and just started going to town on my arm," She hesitated as she remembered the mental picture of her own blood spilling on to her small, pink shoes, "…I had never seen so much blood. The guy managed to get a few more stabs in before the people pried him off me."

"I was rushed to the hospital and they were able to save the arm, but it took months of rehabilitation to get it back into working condition," She said, balling her hand into a fist. Rhys took her hand into his and looked it over. "Damn, we could have been twins," He said with a smirk.

People started flooding in the doors, heads down as they crowded toward the elevator doors. Some had their noses to their watches checking the time, while others had their ear planted firmly to their cellphone. She felt a push come at her from the side and then another at her back and she quickly realized she and Rhys were clogging up the walkway like two pebbles in a faucet.

"Go. You don't want to be late for your first day of work," Rhys said shooing her off. As she walked away she heard him call out from behind her, "Have any idea what the day has in store?"

"Not the slightest clue," She said shaking her head and pressing the button to the elevator. Once the door opened people flooded in around her, "Still not sure what Jack has planned for me, but I am terrified."

"You hide it well."

She smirked as his eyes sparkled with playfulness, "Nice meeting you, Rhys."

7:32 a.m.

Elizabeth felt like she had been on the elevator for what seemed like hours. With every floor ascended, a horde of people would pile out of the elevator only to have a new horde pile back in. As the doors shut on the thirty-first floor, she took a look around at her fellow employees but was only met with necks craned over phone screens. She followed suit.

Mornin. First day in hell. Wish me luck!~

And hope you do well on ur chem test 3

Delivered 7:35 a.m.

Jess wouldn't be up at this hour since she didn't have class until eleven but Elizabeth was knew Jess loved waking up to texts. Unlike Elizabeth, Jess was a diligent sleeper and practically a professional at getting all nine hours- maybe closer to twelve. Being a Biology major Jess' schedule was incredibly packed, but what amazed Elizabeth was how in control Jess was of it all. She was naturally smart and gifted in all things science and math, she was head of five different clubs, and she kept a 4.0 with ease. On top of that, she still found time to go out to parties. As much as she admired her dexterity, it made Elizabeth's head swim.

Elizabeth could barely go to class without feeling overwhelmed with all the stuff she had to do. So, what would she do? Procrastinate obviously. Every time she so much as opened her planner to check what was due, she could literally feel herself start to shut down.

Her thoughts traveled back to Rhys and she smiled to herself. Although he might have been second-hand embarrassment personified, she admired his personality. She had a feeling he would make this place just a little bit more bearable.

She then caught sight of another security camera hovering just above her head in the corner of the elevator. With a huff through her nostrils, she scowled at it. It was a terrible feeling being watched.

As the elevator neared the top floor, more people began filing out until eventually she was left all alone with nothing but the tune of elevator music to occupy her frantic thoughts. She tried to straighten her posture, hoping she seemed more confident than what she felt. With a jolt, the elevator stopped and she stepped out into Handsome Jack's office.

If the décor of the lobby was impressive, Jack's office was undeniably awesome. As she stepped out of the elevator, a trail of bright blue lit up the lustrous glass floor, mimicking an unraveling carpet. It beckoned to her, welcoming her into the office's depths and, like an idiot, she took the plunge.

The lofty ceiling allowed light from the gigantic windows to bathe the room in blinding yellow. At the back center of the room was Jack's desk. The steps elevating it were also lit up and the light from the rising sun washed the desk in golden rays. It reminded her of a throne. It all felt incredibly futuristic, like she was in an entirely different world, and the one thing she couldn't help but notice was that it all smelled like him. She wanted to hate it but the scent persuaded her senses and dulled her disgust.

It then resurfaced when she noticed a number of portraits of Jack hanging from the walls accompanied by a bust of him sitting on a podium. As she approached the bust she whispered an apathetic, "Tacky." As she studied the bust's chiseled face, she noticed it didn't seem to quite capture Jack's personality. She couldn't quite pinpoint what was missing, but something was off. What was-?

"There's my shining star! Comment allez-vous mon chou? Is the she-devil ready for her first big day of work?" He clapped excitedly as he whipped his coat off in one extravagant movement, "Because I sure am! Could hardly sleep I was so excited. Kept thinking of fun things we- I mean, you could do for the day." There it was. The talking. At least the bust knew how to shut up.

She could feel his presence at her back. His approach was that of a predator stalking its prey, ready to sink its teeth into unsuspecting flesh and to never let go. Too bad she wasn't prey.

"Nice French. Did you look it up on Google translate before you got here?" She asked keeping her attention on the statue. It seemed to glare back up at her. When she heard the sound of footsteps halt followed by a deep inhalation, her fingers immediately went to her lips to hide a smirk.

"Still got that unbridled feminine rage I see. Thought the early hours would have sucked it right out of you, but you're a resilient little shit, I'll give you that. Maybe another hour will cool you off. How does 4 a.m. sound?" He threatened in her ear, "And it's called culture, sweetheart. Something you Pandorians could use more of. You know, instead of the usual festivities of inbreeding and being scared of fire."

He straightened his suit jacket as he slid across the slick flooring to claim his throne; his steps light and rhythmic with the music in his head. As he dipped down into his chair, he propped his legs up on to the table and let out a content sigh, "Perfect fit." He then beckoned to her with the wiggle of his index finger, and she reluctantly trudged up to meet him at his desk.

"Here's a list of things I want done by noon," He handed her a slip of parchment paper and squeezed her cheek, "My little assistant." Elizabeth's jaw dropped as she went down the day's agenda. It was filled to the brim with a seemingly endless stream of odd jobs, and as soon as she read "pick up my dry cleaning" her blood began to boil.

"You want all of these done by noon? That's impossible! There has to be a hundred things on here!" She exclaimed.

He turned to his laptop and began typing, "Then you better get started. See? Made sure you wouldn't be twiddling your thumbs all day. Didn't want you to think Uncle Jackie was holding out on you."

"Some of these don't even make any sense! 'Videotape yourself eating a spoonful of cinnamon and put it on EchoTube'. " She said clutching her throbbing head. She felt like she had bought a one way ticket to crazy town.

"I like to laugh during the day. Sue me."

"'Go to the store and buy stuff for guacamole. Proceed to make guacamole. Feed me said guacamole'."

"I get hungry!"

She hesitated, "…You- You want me to fire all these people listed?

He suddenly sat upright and paused for a thought, "Ignore that. I'll do that myself; they deserve to it from their boss."

She was taken aback, "Wow, Jack. That's surprisingly-"

"I love doing it! The way people beg for their jobs, 'Please, I have a wife and three kids and a dog named Scruffy who will be euthanized if I get fired!' Ha, ha! Priceless…" Yep, there it was. She should have known better.

"As much as I like looking at you, cupcake, you better get started. Don't want to fall behind; the workload can pile up pretty quickly," He said, his words so slimy she could practically feel them leave residue across her skin. A low, guttural noise shook her throat as Jack gave a quick flick of his wrist to shoo her away, and like a lamb getting sent to the slaughter, she obeyed.

Her feet carried her into the elevator as she reread the list over and over again. As she pressed the lobby button she glanced up to see Jack's eyes still hadn't left her. She wasn't safe. Not yet.

After what seemed like a millennia, the doors closed cutting off Jack's stare and Elizabeth's back met the wall of the elevator. Her knees were weak as they struggled to support her shaken frame. She muttered a frustrated, "God."

No! What are you doing? Stand up, Elizabeth! Just breathe, Elizabeth, She thought, her back sliding back up the elevator. Once she readjusted her sweater and leggings, her chin tilted up to the fluorescent light; its harsh rays burning through her closed eyelids, Okay, everything's alright. We're going to do whatever he says even if it's awful. Especially if it's awful! And you know why? Because you're going to prove yourself because goddammit, you're stubborn enough. If he gets to you, he wins. If you give up, he wins. Don't let him win, you competitive son-of-a-bitch. Now, let's do this.

12: 15 p.m. Handsome Jack's Office

A loud crack alerted Jack to Elizabeth's presence and he turned from his work to take her in. She had her hands planted firmly on her back, stretching it backwards to pop out a few more satisfying cracks. She looked like absolute hell and Jack couldn't have been happier. He gave her exhausted form a quick once over and suddenly felt some type of giddy. Being worked to the bone really suited her.

"So how did it go?" He mused as he dipped a chip into the guacamole bowl, waiting for her response.

"Got your Ferrari waxed, scheduled your massage, egged at least three people, went to that sketchy neighborhood to deliver that sketchy package-" She ran a hand through her hair as she attempted to tame it and pushed up her sleeves, "but I'm done- and by noon. I did it."

"Eh, eh eh…" He put a finger up as he checked his watch, "According to my watch it's a quarter past twelve. I'm afraid I'm going to have to deduct that from your pay." He sucked air through his teeth and shrugged nonchalantly, "Tough luck, babe."

Red blinded her as her teeth smashed together like a car through a compactor, "You have got to be kidding! I went through hell and back and you have the nerve to tell me that bull-" She stopped herself as soon as she noticed the satisfied expression on Jack's face. Her features softened, "That's fair. I didn't get done on time. I'll try harder next time."

He frowned, his face elongating. A finger found its way to the side of Jack's face and he began tapping, revealing frustration. The one thing Elizabeth appreciated about Jack was how easy his emotions were to read; they were practically on his sleeve. When he was feeling something- anything, you knew it; the whole world knew it.

"Good. See that you do, pumpkin. I expect the best from everyone in this company, and I mean everyone. Slackers aren't tolerated around here. They'll reap the benefits of everyone else's hard work and take what isn't theirs until they've cleaned house; bastards who leave everyone else without a pot to piss in," He said standing up to look out the window; the sunlight engulfing his form. He clutched his hands behind his back as he spit out, "They're no better than bandits."

She cocked her head at him, "That's a surprising spiel- especially coming from you."

"You don't think I want what's best for Pandora? I want this place to thrive. I want my people to live their life without having to worry about some bandit murdering their kid and dumping the body in a dumpster," He said, slightly turning to her; the image of the man with the serrated knife entering her thoughts. She rubbed her arm tentatively.

"I am the hero this wasteland needs. Sure my methods may be unconventional, but do you really think just any asshole could control this place as well as I do? I pay for people to live here for Christ's sake. For Opportunity to live up to its name, sacrifices have to be made whether or not people agree with it," Jack said, "And if that means I have to wipe out every single bandit thug out there, so be it. They've dug their grave and I'll happily direct them into it."

"You think you're a hero?" She asked.

He stepped up to her, pressing his thumb against his chest, "I know I am."

She mulled this over. Handsome Jack was a piece of shit; anyone with eyes could see that. So, then why did she want to believe him? The reflection tore her conscience in two as part of her believed that in his twisted mind, Jack legitimately thought he was doing what was best for Pandora, and the other saw nothing more than a tyrannical monster. But Pandora was a brutal wasteland, and she had to agree with Jack when he said not just anyone could run it. Maybe it took someone as awful as Handsome Jack to control such a beast.

He had done more than his fair share of harm, but Rhys was right; Jack had brought the crime rate down and he did pay his citizens to stay in Opportunity. The economy was awful but she'd be lying if she said it was ever good, and bandits were a huge problem even before Jack ever took office. But he was absolutely delusional if he considered himself a "hero"; to deny people their basic freedoms, now that was a crime unto itself. While Jack had his back turned, Elizabeth lifted her sweater sleeve to examine her scars.

"As much as I hate to admit it, Jack- and I do hate to admit it- I honestly don't think anyone else has the nerve you do, and you definitely need a lot of nerve to run a place like this."

"Balls, kid. I've got the balls."

She rolled her eyes. At this rate, cataracts were inevitable, "...What I'm saying is that if you keep your ego in check- if that's even possible- you could be the change this dump needs. Maybe I'm just an idiot who likes pretty words, but the way you talk about bandits makes me want to trust you; makes me want to believe in you," She said. Her words made him turn slightly; his mouth firm and his arms crossed, but his eyes were considerate. It was the first time she had ever seen him so authentic. He didn't have his guard up; he was truly interested in her words. She used this to her advantage.

"Jack, I'm sure that if you promoted keeping your citizens safe, people wouldn't be so prone to be afraid of you. And yes, that means actually giving a shit about people." She deliberately left out the subject of murder. She'd start with baby steps. "Instead of using fear to control Pandora, why don't you use your charm? Lord knows you've got enough of it." He scowled as he turned back around to the window making her stomach drop. She had lost him.

"Fear runs the world, sweetheart. As long as I have fear, I have the people's love," He said plainly, and then his eyebrows rose in realization, "You think I'm charming?" She felt her face grow as a hot as asphalt on a summer day.

His smirk spread as he said, "You're a funny girl. You may be a goody two-shoes know-it-all, but you don't take my shit and I can appreciate that. It may make me want to beat the hell out of you sometimes, but then you go and say something cute like that. I think I'm going to like having you around." She shuffled her feet, unsure of what to say.

Before she could utter a word, she heard the elevator door ding to life which was promptly followed by a rough yet sultry feminine voice, "Where is my handsome man; doing all kinds of hard work, killing assholes and taking names and shit?"

Elizabeth turned to find a tall, dark woman clad in knee high boots and a slim jacket. Her hair which shielded one of her eyes was a dark brown and it was accessorized by a magenta cowboy hat. Her luscious, full lips were tinted a dark purple and her sharp amber eyes resembled that of a tiger's. She was beautiful and intimidating as hell.

"Nisha, baby, long time, no see. You drove all the way out here to see me, hot stuff?" Jack made his way down the stairs, arms spread wide as he made his way toward the woman. Elizabeth was afraid for the woman's safety until she saw the .44 caliber attached at her hip. The woman tipped her hat at Jack and then jumped into his arms, her legs coiling around his waist like an anaconda. As they proceeded to suck face, Elizabeth tried to focus on something else around the room but failed. They looked like two dogs fighting over a piece of meat as they nipped at each other's lips. She couldn't tell if it was kissing or assault.

After an uncomfortably long amount of time, they finally parted to breathe. Nisha said catching her breath, "Took out another gang in Lynchwood today. They gave up without a fight, so I hung up each one of their testies from the traffic lights. Now they really don't have any balls. Thought I'd come see how my guy is doing. Do anything fun without me?"

"You know I never do. And awesome, a good bandit is a dead bandit. God, you're so hot when you talk like that."

"Oh, you like that? Well, I'm the baddest sheriff in town and I don't appreciate your disrespect. I'm going to ride you all the way to the county jail!"

"Please, Officer. I ain't done nothing wrong. I was just admiring-"

"That's Miss Officer to you! Don't make me cuff you, scum!"

"God, please do!"

Elizabeth stared on in horror as they practically dry humped each other. Jack's shoulders seemed to tense once he remembered Elizabeth's presence and briskly turned around towards her and Nisha followed suit, her eyes aflame in an instant. Elizabeth expected to see rage, but the only thing she saw in them was a certain type of mischief. For a split second Elizabeth glanced down but once she caught sight of Nisha's midriff she was entranced; the lady was toned AF.

"Oh, almost forgot you were here, cupcake. Lizzy, this is my girlfriend, Nisha. Nish this is my new employee, Liz," Jack said, taking a step back as Nisha approached looking like a cat ready to pounce. Yeah, it would make sense Jack would be dating someone with the exact same mentality as him; effing crazy.

"Wow, Jack. You actually found someone who can stand being around you? I'm impressed," Elizabeth said.

Before he could react, Nisha laughed and pressed her lips to Jack's cheek bone, "You're damn right, baby. Love this man."

She then extended a hand and winked, "So, this is the girl. What's up? Name's Nisha. I'm the Sheriff of Lynchwood; basically a badass with a lot of bullets and even more pent up rage. I hate bandits and people who don't blink enough, they creep me the eff out."

As soon as the name Lynchwood entered her ears, Elizabeth instantly knew this woman. She had seen her face on television countless times before; always in trouble with the law from either corruption or police brutality, but with each new case she always seemed to come out clean. She had always thought it was luck, but Jack's power was all the luck Nisha needed. They were definitely a match made in Heaven- or Hell.

"Nice to meet you, Sheriff. I'm Elizabeth Berry; just a girl under a lot of stress at the moment. I don't have much but I have a goldfish. I really hate green beans and yeah, you're right; people who don't blink are creepy," She said, remembering to blink a few times. She was suddenly at a loss for words as the woman stared down at her, "You're much taller in person."

"Ha, what a stupid thing to say," Nisha laughed, her piercing eyes scrutinizing Elizabeth and her chilly gaze sending a cold shiver down the girl's spine. It made her want to slink off to the nearest hole and die. "You say stupid shit a lot?" Nisha asked. You would think by this point she would have learned to keep her mouth shut, but Elizabeth wasn't a fast learner.

"Yeah, but only when I'm dealing with assholes," Elizabeth froze as she saw her life flash before her eyes. Then with abrupt understanding, Elizabeth was suddenly hyper-aware of the fact that she was in a room with the two most volatile people in Pandora. Nisha and Jack stood there dumbfounded as if calculating their next move. Elizabeth then gave a big laugh in spite of her shaking knees, "My dad actually used to tell me I have brown eyes because I'm so full of shit!"

Her heart rate went back to normal as Nisha began to laugh again; the mood lifting, "You're such a weird ass! Jack didn't tell me you were such a riot! He just said I'd want to wring your neck after the first five minutes, but you're alright."

"…Thank you?"

"You'll be at the Hyperion anniversary party tomorrow, right? I definitely want to laugh at you some more."

"I didn't know there was one," She admitted, "But no, I'm having a movie night with a friend."

Jack clicked his tongue and sighed, "Yeah, about that, kiddo, you're working the party. Be there by 6:30 to get dressed and to set up dinner plates." Jack took his place in front of Nisha as he picked at his teeth, "Good guacamole, by the way. You should bring some tomorrow."

"What- you can't do that! It wasn't on the schedule, I planned everything out perfectly. Tomorrow night is my one free night without any classes or work. Please, Jack," Elizabeth whined. Nisha let out an excited titter, "I like it when she begs."

"Life's just that way I'm afraid. You can complain all you want because honestly, I'd love to hear it but it won't change a thing. I've already made up my mind," Jack said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"What would I even do? Shine people's shoes for fifty cents?"

"Don't tempt me, because that's not a bad idea. But no, you'll just stand there passing out refreshments and looking pretty, but for the love of God, don't open your big mouth, got it? I don't want the guests getting sick all over the dance floor. So, go get some rest my little worker bee cause tomorrow you'll be serving the higher ups and I don't want some slack-jawed monkey making a mockery of my company, is that clear?" He said towering over her.

"Crystal."

"Now, where were we?" Jack said, turning back to Nisha to blatantly grab a handful of ass, his fingers crinkling her denim. Elizabeth cringed. Couldn't he just wait 'til she was out of the room? As Jack kissed the crook of her neck, Nisha put a hand up. "…Wait- I kind of want her to watch," Nisha said eyeing Elizabeth's growing red form.

Jack read Elizabeth's distress in an instant. He began to smirk until he noticed the disheartening sag to the girl's shoulders, brushed by strands of blonde hair which swayed over her exhausted eyes. Suddenly her words plagued his mind, That means actually giving a shit about people.

He ate up every last bit of her helplessness but felt his stomach turn. Even though he liked sweets, they had a tendency to make him sick. He gave a few tuts, "You're a kinky girl, Nish, but I can't work my employees too hard- Maybe next time."

As Nisha groaned, Jack watched relief flood over the girl. She then made her way to the elevator, unaware of the heterochromatic eyes following her. He loved watching her; her facial expressions, her anger, her bashfulness- he ate that shit up. He was pleasantly surprised she was turning out to be more interesting than he preconceived. Even though he wanted to find out what made her tick, he couldn't help but wonder what would make her smile? She hadn't smiled for him yet, but why should he expect her to?

The way you talk about bandits makes me want to trust you; makes me want to believe in you…

Jack went back to kissing Nisha's jawline as he splayed her across the desk prompting a moan to bubble from her throat, her hands going behind her head as she closed her eyes, ready for him. He then began to wonder how she would moan. Would it be light and soft, loud and rough? With a shake of his head, graying locks blurring his vision, he shook her from his mind, "Say my name."

"You're the Handsome Jack."

Dorm 7:35 p.m.

Elizabeth was beat. Each time she tried to sit up from the bed her muscles screamed at her. She huffed in annoyance and muttered, "I need to start working out."

The room then lit up in a bright white as her phone buzzed awake. She managed to roll to her side to see if Jess had sent her updates on the situation with the blue haired chick in her science class, but when she saw she had a new friend request from a certain 'Rhys' she sat upright. She recognized the brown haired dork immediately and of course, she couldn't forget that cute smile. He looked extremely happy as he was clinking glasses with a few other people. She smiled as she pressed accept.

Almost immediately after she laid back down, her phone buzzed again. With a groan, she rolled over to see a message and perked once again.

Rhys the Company Man

Hey, it's Rhys. You would not believe how many

Elizabeth's live in Opportunity and have

an Echobook account lol

Sent 7:35 p.m.

I hope that's not weird. You were just really cool

and I just wanted to talk to you

Sent 7:35 p.m.

Okay yeah seeing it typed out is a little weird

Sent 7:36 p.m.

Well if you haven't already blocked me

that would be a miracle lol

Anyway how was your first day?

Sent 7:36 p.m.

She smiled to herself as she read the messages. She could practically see him frantically stressing over the phone. She knew she shouldn't make him wait long so she responded.

It was perfect Jack was sooo nice~

he actually gave me a raise

AND paid my college tuition

Delivered 7:37 p.m.

Nah im just kidding he was awful

but its over so yaaay

u goin to the hyperion party tomorrow?

Delivered 7:37 p.m.

Rhys the Company Man

Yep

lot's to clean up

so little time…

Will I see you there?

Sent 7:38 p.m.

Unfortunately

but we should ride together!

text me at (415) 479-3634

Delivered: 7:39 p.m.

Rhys gave a punch of his arm in the air as he cheered to the high heavens. Vaughn pounded both fists on the couch and stomped his feet on the ground, his glasses falling from his face, "You did it, bro! Holy crap!" Rhys began to sing as Vaughn joined in halfway, "I am the best around! Nothing's gonna ever keep me down!"

Rhys the Company Man

Cool that would be great

Sent 7:41 p.m.