***Anyone who has read this so far, any feedback would b appreciated!***
CHAPTER 6
'Well, you may as well rest up. You've all learnt how to use your ECHO's?' Lillith didn't wait for a reply. 'We will let you know when we have something for you to do. Until then, feel free to explore. Just don't get yer-selves killed' She threw in before the 3 male recruits dissapeared around various corners in Sanctuary.
'Well, I need a drink after that episode. You coming big guy?' Mordecai slapped a still sulking Brick on the shoulder.
'Er, yeah' Brick didn't need much convincing after the let down he had just been dealt. Maya rolled her eyes this time.
'Boys' she sighed.
'Ulgh! I know' Lillith agreed. 'He is so much more depressing when he's on the booze. He does NOT nurse hangovers well.'
'Mordecai?' Montayva guessed, after sensing his depression earlier.
'Yep,' Maya confirmed, following Lillith into the headquarters 'I would advise you to steer clear' Montayva just nodded, and followed the women inside.
'No, no, NO YOU OVER-ENGINEERED TRASH CAN!' they could hear Clap Trap cursing out the back somewhere as they headed up the stairs. It followed by a loud crash, then Clap Traps frustrated sigh. Clap-trap was in charge of over-seeing the Loaders and the renovations underway on the building.
Instead of heading to the top floor, Lillith led the other two girls into the main room of the middle floor. It was the last along the hallway, but the largest. In the center was a large table that had a map displayed on a screen that flickered every so often. It had marked on it the many districts in their current continent of Pandora. The location of the Vault was marked with a big upside-down V in the middle of a circle, the official Vault symbol.
Each side of the room was lined in benches. Computers, monitors and other techno gadgets lined them. A torn and dirty couch was positioned in front of an array of surveillance monitors. But it was the object at the end of the room, the sat hovering in a glistening purple orb. It was the Vault key.
'The map!' Montayva exlaimed, her eyes fixed on the slowly rotating object within, as she walked slowly closer. She lifted her hand as if to touch it, but quickly bought it back to her side as she got close enough to touch it.
'Map? This is the Vault key' Lillith stepped up beside the newest siren, and glared at the object that had bought her much greif, and would no doubt bring her more. 'How did you know?'
'I remember seeing pictures of this in my childhood.' Montayva answered. 'It all makes sense now. It was the map to "great and wonderful treasures"' she quoted her fathers words, her eyes glistened as she explored these memories she had thought long lost.
'Hmm, very curious' Maya added 'It did show us briefly a map of the other Vault locations once it was exerted from the Vault. But we haven't figured out how to do it again.'
'I may have some more news coming in on that' Montayva spun around at the unfamiliar voice now in the room.
Above the map on the table, shone a flickering image of another womens head. Her image would flicker between an upper body shot, then back to her face only. Montayva looked towards the other two women, who just smiled.
'Angel, I think its time we introduced you to our new girl!' Lillith said, sounding a little excited.
'Hello Montayva' Angel said gently, her face smiling a welcome.
'Um. Hi' Montayva attempted to collect her composure. 'How do you know of me?'
'I was once a siren like you' Angel answered truthfully. Montayvas puzzled look meant she didn't need to voice her confusion to the image hovering above the map. 'I live now only as an artificial intelligence. My father used me, had me strapped to so many computers and devices for so many years, that apart of myself became the very things that kept me alive. I guess I have him to thank for my ability to live on, and help the new generation of Vault hunters stop his evil from spreading' Angel summarized her years of torture easily, without batting an eye.
'You are Jacks daughter then?' Montayva stepped forward, closer to the image. Angel smiled
'Yes' her eyes looked toward Lillith and Maya. 'She may be young this one, but do not doubt her abilities. You will all learn a great deal from each other if you remain open to new concepts' Angel spoke wisely, despite the fact that if she were still alive as a siren, she wouldn't have been older than Maya or Lillith.
'Um, cool' Lillith said casually, not one for the over-emotional moments. 'So you said you have news?'
'Yes. Zer0 returns with news from Athenas.' Angel informed the three.
'Well, this will be interesting then' Maya said with interest. 'That's my home planet' She threw in for Montayvas sake, who nodded to show she understood.
'And when exactly can we expect him?' Lillith pressed.
'Approximately a Pandoran week cycle. Lillith threw her arms in the air in exasperation.
'That long? That's ages away! You know I cant stand the suspense.' She huffed.
'It's not like we are in any hurry to rush off to the next Vault anyway Lillith' Maya attempted to settle the somewhat fiery red head.
'Yeah, true' Lillith sulked. "but I like to be prepared' She continued. 'Huh, wait until you meet Zer0. Now there's a unique character' she directed at Montayva.
The light was fading outside the building. The three girls had been sitting on the balcony of the second story, discussing various aspects of their abilities.
'So this mind reading thing you do? How long can you do it for?' Lillith pressed.
'Well it not exactly mind reading. No, I wouldn't call it that at all. More like mood deciphering' the young girl stared up at the moon, as she was trying to think of a way to explain it better to the other two. 'I am just really perceptive of other people moods. I guess everyone can be in a way. I just don't have to try.' She shrugged.
'Hmm, I could think of how that would be handy' Maya rubbed her small chin.
'Ha-ha, like when to avoid Mord when he is in one of his moods!' Lillith chuckled and slapped her knee.
'That would be easy, because he is always in a mood' Maya laughed with the older woman, Montayva remained silent. After their laughter died down, she asked
'What happened to him to send him into such a dark depression?' Lillith sighed, and Maya obviously didn't know as much as Lillith on the matter.
'Well, where to start with that one?' Lillith slumped back on her chair, and took a deep breath. 'Everything for Mordecai has always gone from bad to worse. Anything he ever cares about, or gets close to, gets ripped and torn from him faster than you can say "suicide psycho ' Lillith paused thinking. 'I honestly don't know where to start with that one. I think I was the first friend he ever had. Mord was an orphan, and of course the kids at school went to town on him, being different and all. But I was different too I guess. Even back then.' Lillith admitted as Montayva listened intently. 'We went our seperate ways after school, the four of us. Brick, Roland, Mordecai and I. We all had our reasons of course. Then after that, the first I came across in that bunch again was Mord! Here on Pandora. I was a siren by that time, and I was here looking for another siren, commandant Steele, who just so happened to conveniently get herself killed before I could speak to her.
Anyhows, turns out Mord was here looking for his trainer, who had been killed long before Mord had arrived here. So the four of us teamed up again, just like old days, looking for this Vault. Out to save the planet we were. God we had some good times' Lillith reminisced at their wild adventures. 'We separated again though, and I guess with nothing to keep him occupied after the big anti-climax of not opening the "real" vault, he turned to booze. He also had a fling with Moxxi, but that didn't last long' Lillith ran her fingers through her hair, and lost herself for a moment in their colorful history.
'Don't forget Bloodwing' Maya reminded her.
'Yeah, yeah, I'm getting to that part! After we discovered Jacks colossal failure of a plot, he kidnapped Mordecais beloved pet, Bloodwing'
'Even I remember how much he loved that darn thing!' Maya added her two cents worth into the story 'And I hadn't even known him that long a the time.' She paused as Lillith glared at her, as if daring her to continue her story.
'Well, Jack killed Bloodwing. Mord went into a rage of course. Didn't do him any good at the time. Then Jack killed Roland, and that was just salt to the wound.'
'But then we killed Jack' Maya added proudly.
'Yes, but it never squared the odds.' Lillith finished.
And after that, the three women sat in silence to ponder over endless possibilities of how this would all pan out in the end.
