Note: An illogical part of Tales From the Borderlands, imo, is how the characters are surprised by Vallory and she is SUDDENLY a big bad villain.

They had been doing this con for months. They may not have known the extent to which Vallory was involved (Felix knew all along, but didn't tell the girls) but they (namely Sasha) would have put the pieces together in some capacity. She had been in a relationship, most likely sexual, with August for MONTHS. She had his trust and confidence in her feelings and gut instinct. She proved herself to be a person August could trust emotionally and strategically, and let her run the store below their apartment (I'm just guessing they lived on the second floor). Not to mention, August was completely under Vallory's heel in her presence. Based on his personality he would have been in two extremes: A momma's boy or angry behind the scenes at the treatment. My personal guess is that he was secretly a momma's boy, wanted her to look at him as a son to be proud of, a rightful heir, and she didn't.

There is no way Sasha did not know of August's plans in regards to his mother, or who his mother was, and she fed information to Felix and Fiona periodically.

I also do not want to go with the whole… Bossanova thing… As amusing as it was, Bossanova happening to run across them, coincidentally getting the briefcase, and then taking them to a base of operations where there happens to be a secret atlast laboratory underground? From a writing standpoint, that's what I call random. Its like taking random words in the dictionary, pointing to it, and saying that is the name of your dog.

I don't know which is funnier… The fact that I just googled 'random word' for the sake of it just to prove a point, or the fact that the word it gave me is: irony.

I am also making this chapter shorter than normal. I want to keep it in context and end it at a certain point. The next ones will be longer. :)

Chapter 7 - Decisions and Mistakes

I try to get a bit more sleep in, but the eminence of our potential execution at the hands of our captors is ever present on my mind. Just outside, Felix and b1 are busy discussing where things are, what to do, and included in there… what to do with us. It escalates to the point of yelling at times, but I can't tell what the context is.

Vaughn must be having the same thought, because he whispers, "Rhys, what are they going to do with us?"

"I don't know…" I whisper back. I try not to let me uncertainty show, but I have nothing to stand on here. B2 is a bit disgruntled about something, and I think it relates to trust issues, but it's nothing solid for me to work from or get a bearing with. After considering the most likely options, I figure it best to be open about it. "They're Pandorans… they will most likely kill me."

Something unrecognizable flashes through his expression, but it changes to concern. "You?"

"I did badmouth them, and I was the one who tackled the guy back there."

"Yeah, but why wouldn't they kill me?"

I roll over and look at him incredulously. Is he serious? "This isn't the time to be making jokes, dude."

"I wasn't."

"… Do you WANT them to kill you?"

"Well, no. I-I don't, but-"

"But?" I demand, growing aggravated. What is going on with him all of a sudden? Does Vaughn want them to kill him?!

"Nothing…" His lips pinch thin and he turns away, ending the conversation. I stare at him a moment longer, trying to figure out what nonsense could be going through his head.

Minute later, the door opens and Felix returns, followed by b1. B1 requests for b2 to join her outside so she can explain what they discussed, and Felix walks over to us and looks down at me seriously.

I gulp. Vaughn shifts. Felix grumbles, "Hyperion, you made some good improvements to the camper. It runs even smoother than before I got it."

"Thank you?" I reply, unsure how to respond. I share a brief glance with Vaughn. He is also unsure what to make of it.

"Can you do it to other things? How good are you with machines?" Felix asks.

I frown briefly. So they want me to do some work? That's better than dieing. But what kind of work? "Pretty good, I would say. As you have guessed, I'm a cyborg. I had to learn how to work with computers and machines in order to repair myself."

He nods, seemingly content with the answer. He asks further, "So can you make things if told you to?"

I shift nervously under his scrutiny. He is measuring me. I am used to gloating, but I doubt these people will respond well to me inflating my ego. "Depends on what it is… but if you say what you need, I can tell you if I can or can't."

"And you?" Felix looks to Vaughn.

"He's good with-" I reply, but Felix snaps at me.

"Let him speak for himself!"

I nod furiously.

"And you?" Felix repeats toward Vaughn.

Vaughn nodded and said, "I'm good with numbers and money, mostly. I was an accountant. I am also decent with electronics, having helped Rhys many times. Not well enough to know what I'm doing… but… you know… to be able to help him."

"I see." Felix replies. "Next question, did Vasquez really send you two with the money?"

I stay silent, but Vaughn answers, "No…"

Felix looks between us and seems to consider his options. The silence drags on.

At last, Felix pulls up a chair and sits down before us. "Okay, then here is how things will work. You will work for me, you will help us, and you will do as I say. Make me happy, and I will free you to do as you wish." His eyes turn to dark glares, "If you make me angry, I will either kill you or sell you at ransom to Hyperion."

Vaughn whispers, "What if they don't want us?..."

"Then instead of ransom, it will be bounty." He says quickly. "Make no mistake of where we stand, Hyperions. I am what you hypocrites would consider a true Pandoran. I am a con-artist, but I am also a murderer and thief. And you…" He looks directly into my eyes. "You are my slaves."

Slaves…

The word makes my stomach drop, my heart squeeze, and my mind go numb.

I am Rhys. I was born of a couple of people who came here under the promise that their family would prosper. I have endured things that would kill most people. I aspire to follow in Jack's image of a simple guy ascending to greatness. I have schemed and stabbed my way through the treacherous Hyperion corporation up to a lower management position. I got my hands on a vault key, fake as it was. I had my hands on ten million dollars.

And I'm a slave.

Can't I go at least one day without life wanting me to kick me in the balls?

"Is it even possible to go lower than slave?" Mordecai wonders.

"Don't think so." Lilith replies. She smirks, "Sucks to be you don't it?"

As if it was possible, Vaughn looks even lower than he was before.

I don't have time to contemplate further the depth of how far I have fallen before he looms over me and is working at the handcuffs to my arm. He uncuffs me from the bed, and places the handcuffs on the intable next to me. "Don't even think about running either. We are out in the middle of nowhere, and any other Pandorans would kill you two on sight. At least with us, you are protected."

Even if its true, it is a pale comfort against the reality that we are slaves.

Although, what's the difference between a slave and a prisoner? A prisoner can't do anything and isn't allowed to. A slave, at least, can make a small something out of their situation, and if the guy is telling the truth, he will free us if we earn it.

Can we really trust them? Can we trust them to hold to their word? They're con-artists.

I take a brief moment to analyze the situation.

They are con-artists, but because of the way we all ran into each other and saw them for what they are, then there is a chance that any attempt to con us would be useless.

Trust them… Don't trust them… What would Jack do?

Jack would use this. I can use this.

See whether or not I can trust them to their word, then use that. Work my way up. If we can trust them to their word, then earn it. If we can't trust them, then hide in plain sight, gather information, and use it to turn the tables on them.

It's a small goal, but it's a goal none of the less. In the meantime, I can figure out what to do with my freedom once I have it.

As for Vaughn… Does he want to be a slave? Does he want to do what it takes to be free again? Would he want to return to our dream of sitting in the President's chair? Of ruling Hyperion?

I have a lot of things to figure out. Even though my position as a slave is as low as it gets, it is actually a small blessing. It will give me the power and ability to move, to think, and to act. As a prisoner, I can't do that.

-Sasha-

"Slaves?" Sasha exclaimed. "Why should we have those two Hyperion as slaves!? It's demeaning!"

"It was either that, or kill them or free them." Fiona replied heavily. She didn't look like she liked the decision either. "We can't just let them go, Sasha… they're the enemy." Fiona looked to her sadly. "You know that."

She did. Sasha knew that very well. Fiona and Sasha knew very well what Hyperion's were capable of. It may not be spoken of much, but even with Jack dead, the Pandoran and Hyperion were still very much in a state of war.

Fiona further explained, "And we won't just kill them either. That wouldn't be in self-defense. It would be murder."

As much as Sasha wanted more options, that was another option she couldn't argue against. She had killed people. Plenty of people. But Felix and Fiona had been adamant about it only being in self-defense. Murderers… That was an evil they didn't want to become. Then they would be no better than the Pandoran criminals and psychos that made the world what it was now.

Sasha, Fiona, and Felix… They may be Pandoran, but that didn't mean they didn't see what was wrong with everyone nor had loyalty to anyone.

"But… to have and own slaves." Sasha argued weakly.

Fiona looked like she agreed, but wasn't sure what to do about the situation either. "Sasha… I agree. I don't like it. But… that's how it is for now. Once we are more on our feet, then we can figure out what other options there are, okay? Right now, we need to keep them under control and do it without crossing boundaries."

"Trying to keep from being murderers by becoming slave owners…" Sasha scoffed sarcastically. "Sounds like a wonderful trade of morals."

"We'll figure out if there are other options." Fiona assured her. "For now, let's get back in. We need to figure out where to go from here."

Fiona entered the camper again, and Sasha stood outside for a moment. She didn't yell outloud, lest her boiling anger be seen, but she did kick a rock. She followed her older sister back into the camper.

The Hyperions were sitting on the couch under Felix's scrutiny. Just looking at them made Sasha's gut twist, her anger rise up, and no small part of it was loathing for the position they were all put into.

Couldn't just let them go, wouldn't kill them, but would hold them prisoner over their lives and make them work… Sasha wasn't sure to feel better or not that they at least weren't sugar coating the situation and saying 'indentured servants' like the Hyperion probably would. Felix and Fiona were at least honest about where everyone stood.

Still didn't make Sasha feel better. She felt no better than… than a Hyperion. And she hated it.

Felix nodded as they entered. "Good. Now that we are all assembled, let's go over introductions."

"We've been introduced." Sasha remarked, not hiding her disdain for the situation.

"Then, we will be introduced, again, in a more civil and honest light." Felix said. "I am Felix. I am these two girl's adoptive father, and…" he looked to the Hyperions, "your owner. I am a con-artist, and if you were to pull up my rap sheet you would find a mile-long list. Overall, I do a lot of hardware work and planning, and I drive a hell of a lot better than these two monkey's." He smiled in good humor.

"I am Fiona, older sister. Con Artist. I don't have too much of a rap-sheet, but do have a bounty."

Felix looked to Sasha, and she sighed. "I'm Sasha. I cook. I clean. I shoot things and people who want us dead. I help my sis with cons. Take your pick."

Felix looked to the Hyperions, and they stared back. At last, the four-eyed one jumped and pointed at himself, "Me?"

"Whichever. Don't matter." Felix replied. Fiona chuckled behind her hand.

The four-eyed one, Vawn, if Sasha remembered right, jumped up rigid. "I'm Vaughn. Good with numbers… uh… Hyperion. Um." He looked to Rhys, and Rhys shrugged. "Hi?"

Sasha asked, "How do you spell that and pronounce it. For the life of me, I can't get it straight."

"V-a-u-g-h-n. Vaughn."

"Gotcha."

Rhys was laid back on the couch, relaxed. Probably the most comfortable he had been in a while. "And that would leave me, Rhys. R-h-y-s, incase you were curious."

"Not really." Sasha remarked, sharing an amused glance with Fiona.

Rhys kept going regardless, "I am a pure-blood Hyperion. My parents were Hyperion. I was raised Hyperion. Did the typical 'following in the footsteps of Jack' thing. Hell, if you checked, you would probably find half my body made up of Hyperion hardware."

"And you also like to exaggerate and push us into having a reason to kill you." Sasha supplied.

"Sorry, he does like to talk a lot." Vaughn said.

Rhys glared at his friend briefly, to which Vaughn did seem apologetic. Rhys just rolled his eyes and kept going, "I'm good with fixing computer-related things, and I was a bit of a deal shark on Helios. Similar to a con-artist, but with less lieing and more… pushing people out of the way. I guess."

"Lovely picture." Fiona remarked with a smile.

"Anything else?" Felix asked impatiently.

"Uh." Rhys stared at him blankly for a moment. "Yeah, not sure what else you would want."

-Rhys-

I don't really know what Felix wants from me. Was there something in particular I was supposed to say?

Regardless, he continues with a look to Sasha, "Good, now. So everyone is up to date on things, the result of the con was not good, August has the money."

My eyebrows shoot up into my hair. August has the ten-million dollars?

Well, considering how reasonable the guy was and how he was just as much a victim of my captor's game as I was, then I can't say it's that bad. The money could have ended up in these people's hands… but then if it did, it would be in reach. Shit. That's bad. Vaughn's eyes also widen, but it looks more like fear than surprise. I look to him in concern and he pointedly ignores me to turtle up.

"But, it could be worse." Felix pulls up a chair.

"How could things be worse?" Sasha asks. "We have no vault key to sell, no con in play, and no money."

He shoots a sharp glance at her. "But what we do have is our lives. In hindsight, it is actually better that August has the money. That was his end-goal anyway. Actually better, considering there was originally going to be a cut for you, Fiona. So the buyer loses a fake-vault key, big deal. The goal for the client was ten-million split between you, and now she has all of it."

I raise a hand, and Felix looks at me. I say, "August was a guy. Don't you mean 'he'?"

"No, I don't. Okay…" He closes his eyes and sighs. "Looks like there is some explaining in order. August was the buyer, yes, but he is part of a larger gang run by his mother. The NailedCoffin. In gangs like that, money is everything. It gives you influence, power, prestige, honor, followers, workers, anything depending on how you use it."

Sounds like Hyperion.

"So far as Sasha's spying reported, his plan was to do two things with the money. First to attempt to screw his mother over by going on the offensive, or, to give it to her to gain her favor." Felix looks to Sasha. "Did he ever decide which to go with?"

Sasha nods. "Before the deal, we discussed it, and…" She hesitates and some emotion passes over her briefly. She looks down at her lap and fiddles with her hands. "I may have pushed him to gain her favor." Fiona frowns and looks to Felix. The two of them share a knowing glance, and I'm just completely out of the loop aren't I?

Felix muses, "With ten million dollars, Vallory will have the funding to start a major campaign on her rivals. Maybe buy a couple of Vault Hunter contracts."

Vaughn is now at the point of shaking and gulping and trying not to appear terrified out of his skull. I nudge him, but he doesn't notice. However, Fiona does notice. "You okay there, Vaughn?"

Vaughn's eyes widen like a deer in headlights. "Y-yeah! I'm fine! Totally fine! Everything's cool." He breaks out in a cold sweat and tries to avoid eye-contact. I probably should have trained him to have a poker face instead of just taking all his money all these years… He's always had a pathetic poker face.

Felix narrow's his eyes. "Vaughn. You're lying."

"Yep, I am definitely lying. A big liar! Hehe, that's all I am!" He tries to laugh, but only ends up coughing.

"Vaughn." I whisper, "What's wrong?"

"What?! Not-nothing! Nothing's wrong!" He gulps as everyone, including me, is now staring at him heavily. I have a very bad feeling about this. "Um… This Vallory person… how strong is she?"

"She holds one of the largest gangs in the area." Felix says flatly.

Vaughn's knees shake and clatter together and he bows his head. He begins to hyperventilate. I resist the urge to sigh or face-palm. Something is going on. And I need to know what… and I am the only one who can get him out of this. "Felix, uh… Master? I don't know."

"Felix is fine."

"Right, Felix. Shall we take this outside? He needs room to breathe."

Felix looks between us and nods. I haul Vaughn up and we go out the door. The outside sun is blinding and the air is dry, but Vaughn begins to visibly improve. I take him towards the back where there are no windows on the camper and gently push him down onto the ground. "Breathe, Vaughn. You're going to pass out."

He closes his eyes and struggles to breathe right. Fiona steps outside and leans against the camper a fair distance away. Close enough to do something if we run, but far enough to give us privacy.

I whisper, "Vaughn, bro, what's wrong? Come on, we aren't in immediate danger. If anything, it sounds like things are safe for them. Which means we won't be at the wrong end of their fury."

Vaughn shakes his head. "No… no no no. It won't last."

"Well," I admit. "Perhaps their good mood won't last forever, but-"

"No, you don't understand!" He looks up at me desperately. "Remember the money?"

"Yeah, ten million dollars. What about it?" I ask. "It's a briefcase of te-"

Reality hits me like a ton of bricks. A briefcase. A Hyperion-grade briefcase with security measures. Such as a bomb that Vaughn just so happened to turn on with his fingerprint to keep bandits from getting at it until the deal was concluded.

A bomb now in the hands of August's warmongering mother, Vallory, bandit lord of the NailedCoffin.

Now it's my turn to panic. "Oh shit…"

Lilith smirked, "So… that's what happened. I remember hearing about it. "

Rhys nodded, "Yeah… We kinda messed up."

-Sasha-

"So… where we headin next?" Sasha wondered.

While it sounded like Vallory would not be after their heads, odds are they wouldn't be heading home again. At least not that home. They had a number of safe-houses across Pandora and would most likely set up shop in a new part of town until things calm down here.

"Not sure yet." Felix shrugged. He looked to her in concern, "But don't think I didn't notice your slip-up."

Sasha didn't want to talk about it. Sasha did want to talk about it. She didn't know, it was just… messed up, and it only made her angry. She hated it. She could only be angry at herself and it only made her upset.

He stepped closer. "Sasha? The plan was originally that he would go against his mother. He would make a grab for power. He may have had second-thoughts, but he wouldn't have reversed his thinking that quickly or easily. We both know August isn't exactly nostalgic or cares about people."

"You know nothing about him!" Sasha snapped. She stopped herself, only realizing what she said after the fact. Felix did not back off, but he did stop and look at her in a slightly new light.

"Sasha?" He licked his lips and said slowly, "Did you…" fall for him? Felix shook his head. "Why did you push him into changing his mind?"

Sasha looked down guiltily. Did their con start to mess up that early because of her? She was not as good at these cons as Fiona. Sasha was confident, but she wasn't ignorant. Fiona simply was a prodigy at these kind of things while she… just did her best. "I… I just didn't want him to throw away what family he had left. That… sometimes… maybe…" She tried to put her thoughts and feelings into words. "Family is worth more than money."

That most certainly did not look like the answer Felix was expecting. Sasha knew he was an old-fashioned Pandoran, so he might not see it in the same light as her. He had a wife and child once, and lost them to illness he couldn't cure as poor as he was. He was a bandit. He stole, he murdered, he did a lot of things in the old days he still wouldn't tell Sasha or Fiona. Money was everything to most Pandorans, so it was hard for Sasha to judge what he valued. Money vs family, how did they measure up to him? She was confident he valued family a great deal, they had been together through a lot, but there was still this dark part in his history that gave a tiny bit of doubt.

Sasha had always had Fiona, and they considered her to be young and idealistic, so her views were probably a bit different. She didn't care about money, not as much as she cared about family, security, and being free. Money was merely a means to an end, a method of achieving what she wanted, not the achievement itself.

Something flashed over Felix, something akin to deep guilt, but it quickly dissipated behind a trained poker face. "I see." He said neutrally. Sasha understood he wasn't sure how to respond. She wasn't sure what to feel to begin with.

Perhaps she had fallen a tiny bit for August… even if it was based on lies.

Thankfully, the awkward silence was broken by the Hyperions running in. Rhys looked like he was panicking and speechless, and Vaughn wasn't that much better. Sasha looked to Fiona, but she just shrugged.

"What the hell's gotten into you?" Felix grew terse. "Now you're BOTH panicking?"

"B-bomb." Rhys said. As though his braincells fell out his ears and he was only capable of explaining things in one word sentences.

If that didn't draw their attention, nothing else probably would.

"Bomb? Where?" Felix demanded.

"In the briefcase. With the money." Rhys said between panicked gasps.

The stunned silence was palpable. Sasha came to a conclusion that sent a furious anger through her veins. She raised her gun. Felix, however, got there faster. He grabbed Rhys by the collar and thrust him up against the side of the camper so hard the whole thing briefly tilted. "YOU PUT A BOMB ON THE BRIEFCASE THAT WAS MEANT FOR US!? That-THAT IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THAT BITCH, VALLORY?"