CHAPTER 14
'How do you think she is doing?' The older man asked Axton.
'Ah, dont stress Pops. Maya and Lillith will have her well looked after.' Axton hoped it was true. He had seen many new wannabe vault hunters fall.
But Lillith and Maya already seemed quite attached to the younger girl, so he hoped for their sake mostly. Not to mention, the new sirens quiet presence seemed to have a calming and somehow, soothing, effect on people. He wondered if it was something to do with their powers. But he had given up long back, on trying to understand the sirens. He was more of a go-with-the-flow sort of a guy anyway.
'Well slab, guess we're gonna be needed something to eat' Brick came up beside Axton, and the two looked over their makeshift camp.
'Already got Zareb onto it big guy' Axton winked. 'No need to be chewing off anyones limbs just yet'
'Think you have me confused with that guy' Brick pointed his thick finger towards the gunzerker, who's reputation involved a few counts of cannabilism. Though Salvador had assured them, it was a matter of survival, you just never knew with that guy. They had adequate shelter to spend the Pandoran night out in the Dust. Every member would need to remain vigilant. They were unsure as to wether word had gotten back to Friendship Gulag. And if it hadnt yet, it was only a matter of time before they would notice their outposts missing.
Gaige bounced carelessly across the camp towards Axton, her pigtails bouncing in time with her steps.
'Sooooooooo' She started. Axton looked at her, raised his eyebrows.
'Sooooooooo' He returned.
'Duh, when we gonna attack!' Gaige spat at as if he was dumb.
'We wait' He replied calmly.
'Wait! Waiting is the pits' The teenager huffed.
'Go and play tea parties with your robot' Axton grumbled. He was in abit of a mood, and he wasn't sure why. He just didn't like it when plans didn't follow through the way he wanted.
Before Gaige could retaliate, Zareb appeared over the horizon. The camp looked up simultaneously as the dark skinned man let out a wailing sort of a war cry. Gaige raised her rifle and peered down the scope.
'Yep, he's smiling. Guess that means we aint going hungry tonight' She said approvingly.
Brick had set up the skag over a spit. And most were seated around the fire, watching the flames sizzle at the beast.
The sun was lowering in the west, and a chill began to creep into the air.
Axton and Willy stood watch at the top of a nearby dune. Axton eyed the ECHO recording he held in his hand. Zareb had found it amongst the
wreckage that Willy had caused earlier with the Bandit vehicals.
'Whatcha got there son?' Willy asked as he lit a cigarette.
'It's a recording. Of this Duraph guys plans. Says he's got a few "shipments" coming in' Axton informed him.
'Shipments ey? Like supplies and shit' Willy took a deep drag from his smoke.
'Nah, more like reinforcements from what I can gather. Ive radioed back to headquarters, so we will wait until Angel has analyzed all the data. She might be able to hack something more from em. But we'll sit tight until we come up with another plan' Axton said grudgingly.
'Not the type to stay idle long, I gather' Willy chuckled.
'Who me? God no!' Axton exclaimed.
Mordecai entered his bedroom. Lillith and Maya still sat, feeding the girl as much of their spare energy as they could. Maya opened her eyes as Mordecai entered.
'You know, I Dont think I will ever get used to seeing you with out those darned goggles on!' Maya smiled. Mordecai had to admit, he rarely took them off. But they had needed cleaning, and had sustained a chip out in the Dust. So Tannis had set to repairing them. He was also missing his dirty red bandanna that usually protected his dreadlocks from the inescapable sand and dust. But for the first time in a long while, he was scrubbed clean. He had even shaved, aside from his small pointy beard.
'Well, you look a little more alive' Lillith commented. 'Not sure who you're trying to impress, but could you put some clothes on please?' Mordecai had obviously come straight from the washroom, and the only thing covering his nakedness was a rough towel.
'In case you hadn't noticed, you guys are actually in MY room?' Mordecai reminded them.
'Oh, yeah' Lillith shrugged as she stood to removed herself from the room. Maya paused before leaving, and tucked the sheet in protectively around the girls body.
'God, what sort of pervert do you take me for?' Mord felt slightly offended by her actions.
'Just leave the poor kid alone wont ya' She slapped him playfully on his bare chest as she made her exit, closing the door as she left.
Once the two women were gone, Junior crept plaintively from beneath Mordecais bed.
'I know, bit scary aren't they buddy' the hunter bent down to pet the creature affectionately. He gazed at the sleeping girls figure before turning to open his locker. He quickly donned a fresh pair of cargo's and a clean singlet. When he turned back toward his bed, Montayvas eyes were open, his pet was sitting beside her on the bed, and she raised her hand slightly to let Junior smooch against her. Mordecai slowly eased himself into the chair beside the bed.
'How you feeling?' He asked timidly, not sure if she had seen him dressing or not. She just smiled gently as the creature continued to nuzzle into her open hand.
'Hmm, better than before' She said groggily. 'It will take awhile, but i'll recover' She assured him.
'Er, thanks, by the way.' He mumbled, staring down at his fiddling hands.
'For what?' She turned her gaze towards the hunter, and he reluctantly met her eyes.
'You took that bullet for me, I know you did. I thought you were going to die' He admitted sheepishly.
'I wouldn't burden you with that' She said between breaths. Her breathing became labored 'I knew I would heal alot faster than you' She admitted, and he wondered if she had had the time to calculate all this before the bullet had struck. he knew that, somehow, she would have. She was a siren.
'Just rest' He said, when she tried to sit up some, wincing. She suddenly realized her lack of clothing under the sheets, and blushed slightly. Mordecai noticed her predicament, and couldn't suppress his small chuckle. He wondered how someone so exposed to the harshest of reality's in this world could be completely innocent to other aspects of life. Montayva frowned at him, and he stood.
'C'mon Junie, she needs some rest' He called the pet.
'No!' She reached her arm out to stop him. 'No. Please stay awhile?' She asked softly, her chest heaved from the effort it cost her. Mord sighed. It was the least he could do for what she did for him, as uncomfortable as it was for him. Even Junior looked relieved that his master had decided to stay awhile longer. He leaned back in the chair, and propped his feet up on the table beside his bed. After a few moments of silence, Mordecai felt he needed to speak.
'You've probably guessed i'm not the greatest conversationalist' He admitted. Montayva watched his face as he glanced anywhere but at her. She knew he felt uncomfortable, but she enjoyed his presence for some strange reason. She felt as if she would be able to help him out of his dark void of depression if she had the chance. He deserved that much at least.
'That is fine' She said. 'I just like the feeling of your presence' She admitted, letting her heavy eyelids close as she grew tired again.
'Huh?' His eyebrows bunched together as he tried to understand. 'Is that some weird siren crap I wouldn't know about?'
'Yes.' She breathed 'You have a kind heart. I can feel it. Its comforting' She tried to explain so he would understand the feeling 'Like a warm blanket on a cold night. As part of my powers I have become very receptive of others emotions.' She opened her eyes again, and reached her hand out the cover his. She could feel him grow more uncomfortable at her touch, but he didn't withdraw. She took her hand back to ease his comfort. His tension was already growing, and she didn't want to inflate that any further. Baby steps, she told herself.
'Please stay, while I rest' She asked, her breathing growing heavy with the effort it cost her to speak.
'Er, sure' Mordecai shrugged, he had nothing better to do anyhow. Junior waddled up the bed towards her head.
'You can stay too, my friend' She told the bird, and he pressed his shiny beak against her cheek as she closed her eyes.
