CHAPTER 5

'If anyones got any questions, nows the time for em' Lillith said. When no one spoke up, she continued. 'So here's whats gonna happen. We're gonna put you all to the test, see how your "skills" pan out. There's an old Hyperion outpost a few miles from here. We thought it was abandoned, turns out its not. The mongrels holed up inside have been relaying our movements to a few other outposts, mostly ex-Hyperion. There is some bandit clans more organised than others, and we've discovered that these more organised ones, have been rallying to band together, to take us out and take back the Vault key.' Lillith waved a finger in a circular motion as she spoke, obviously not too worried about the impending "takeover".

'Little do they know that the key is no good to them here anymore...' Maya added. Axton stepped forward.

'But we need to take them out before they spread word of whats happening in Sanctuary.'

'Yes. So, like before, I'm going to phase us all as close as I can, without causing disturbance and being noticed.' Lillith stepped towards the centre of the group of 9. "hold tight everyone' Lillith said as a swirl of purple haze began to shimmer around them.

After a blinding flash, the troops where stationed behind a large outcrop of jagged rocks, that rose up in a protective peak, about half a mile from the hyperion outpost.

'Perfect spot to snipe from' Axton commented, looking over the rocks toward their target.

'I know' Lillith said matter-of-factly, to make it seem like she intentionally landed them there. The truth was that she didn't have complete control of exactly where they landed, but she could usually get them pretty close. With practice, she was improving quickly.

'Dion, you can stay here with Mordecai, help him give us some cover' she ordered the young boy, who looked around for the short tempered hunter. Mordecai was already positioned on top of a rocky ledge, laying on his stomach, and glancing down the scope of his rifle.

'Ah, Lil, you might want to take another look' Mordecai lowered his gun, and jumped from the ledge in one smooth leap.

'oh, god. What now?' She sighed, pulled her revolver from its holster, and jumped up on the ledge to peer through its scope.
'Freakin Salvador!' She cursed. When Lillith made it clear there was no danger by lowering her weapon, the rest of the crew clambered into a position where they could look for themselves. All but Montayva.

True enough, a small column of smoke was rising from the left tower, and no sign of life could be seen. None except for the gunzerker heading towards his light runner. He jumped into his vehicle in one swift bound, and powered in their direction. Mordecai was the only one who noticed the new siren as the others peered in dismay at there lost challenge.

Montayva stood with her eyes closed, her swirling blue tattoos glowed and pulsed, her hands where raised in front of her as if she was holding an open book. The hunter crept closer, trying to figure out what it was she was doing. He knew that each siren held a different power, and Montayva was obviously doing something. He just couldn't tell what. Mordecai was standing no more than 2 feet in front of her, still peering at her face, when she opened her eyes to meet his gaze. He flinched, but held his gaze.
'It's done' she said in her soft voice. 'They're all dead' Mordecai straitened up.

'Well knowing Salvador they sure would be' was all he said, looking into the sirens eyes a moment longer. There was something about her. Something. He just couldn't put his finger on it, and it worried him a little. But a bottle of his preferred booze would soon chase that niggle away.

Just as he turned back to face the others, Salvador's vehicle came to a screech beside their hideout. The hulking figure jumped out of the runner in one pounding leap. Salvador was a large man, close to even Bricks size, but only short. He preferred to use two weapons simultaneously.

'You're abit late' He drawled as he lumbered over. His accent wasn't as heavy as it was when he first joined arms with the vault hunters, but it was still there. Unlike any of the others, Salvador was Pandoran born and bred. He was a thrill seeker, but had the right skills to keep himself alive.

Before Jack and the majority of Hyperion had been taken down, Salvador had been wanted for crimes such as theft, profanity, destruction of property, cannibalism public indecency and arson to name a few. In the current times of Pandora these things seemed like normal crimes to have under ones belt. But before the Vault was opened, this would have been quite a list for one person.

Axton stepped forward, crossing his arms and shaking his head. The others avoided the tough looking mans direct gaze, scuffing boots in the sand and re loading weapons unnecessarily.

'Lets get moving, I'm starting to think about stuff' was all Salvador said, uncaring as the the growing annoyance he had created. He turned and headed back to his vehicle.

'Huh. Typical' Brick sulked. He was abit of a thrill junkie himself, only he loved pounding flesh with his own fists more than anything.

Lillith began to assemble the troops once more, to teleport them back to sanctuary.

'Ah, I'm just gonna catch a ride with the big fella. Not really in the mood for any extra appendages today Lillith' Axton jogged towards Salvador and his ride, and Lillith stared daggers after him.

'Err, what did he mean by extra appendages?' Dion asked warily. Mordecai and Brick smirked.

'Nothing kiddo, he was joking around!' Lillith snapped. 'Now stand still would ya?' And moments later they were back in sanctuary.