CHAPTER 44

'Just let me take em nice and quick' Brick tried to persuade Lillith to let him take Ellies garage, convince he could take the handful of bandits on his own.

'For the last time, Brick. The answer is no!' Lillith snapped. 'You got more than your fair share of action back at the outpost. Mord and I will go in real quick, and take care of them close range'

'And you call us guys glory hogs!' Axton huffed. Lillith just rolled her eyes and ignored him. Stepping up beside Mordecai, she placed her hand on his shoulder, and a swirling purple haze engulfed them. They reappeared, standing in front of the car crusher, which the bandits had been using to crush spider ants for amusement. A putrid rotting smell filled the air. Before the pair had time to think about it though, three marauders came running out from inside the garage. Mordecai ran for cover behind a rusted out old van. And Lillith disappeared once again, in a haze of purple.
Mordecai drew his revolver, and took down one assailant with a single critical shot, his skull exploding in a crimson burst. Lillith reappeared in front of the marauders, sending them flying backwards as her wave of energy surged past them.

'Lil! Bad-ass behind you!' Mordecai yelled, as a huge bruiser emerged from the garage next. Lillith dove into the dirt, narrowly avoiding the bruisers shot. She rolled to the right, carefully aiming her weapon at the bruisers chest. As she fired, the big mans body was engulfed in flames, and Mordecai could smell the sizzling flesh from where he was positioned across the yard. One of the first marauders began to pull himself to his feet, but Mordecai quickly took care of him.
Together the pair finished off the bandits easily enough, neither sustaining any damage from the attack.

Everyone pitched in to get the camp organised. As night slowly fell over the dust, Mordecai and Maya had first watch. Mordecai sat back in the chair he had dragged into the tower positioned at the forefront of the complex. His rifle lay ready, across his lap. As a slight breeze began to rise, it picked up dust and sand with it, which billowed across the open plains. Everything was still, and quiet, just as it should be. Mordecai took a deep breath, and forced himself to try and relax. Without even realizing he had done it, he tapped the echo device, and called through to CR HQ.

'Angel, is Montayva still awake?' Mordecai asked, trying to sound as casual as he could.

'She is, but she is, er, with Tannis at this moment' Angels pause worried Mordecai slightly.

'Is she ok? She's not sick again is she?' Mordecai asked hurriedly.

'She is fine. Her wound is improving every day. Tannis is running a few tests that I suggested Montayva take.' Angel cut herself short, and Mordecai wondered if she was holding something back from him intetionally.

'Tests? What sort of tests? She is ok though isn't she' Maya was now watching Mordecai intently, her curiosity also peaked, as well as concern for the younger siren.
'Yes,' Mordecai thought he heard Angel laugh 'She is fine. Just a theory I have relating to her depleted siren energy. She shouldn't be too long now. Should I get her to get back to you?' Angel asked,
avoiding further questions.

'Yes, please do' He said, and clicked off his ECHO comms in frustration.

'Is everything ok?' Maya asked as Mordecai mulled over the lack of information Angel had given him.

'Well, as far as Angel says, everything is fine.' He shrugged 'Tannis is doing some sort of tests' Maya laughed as he said this.

'Well you should know what Tannis is like! Her obsession with the link between Eridium and our powers, as well as the vault key!' Mayas words comforted Mordecai somewhat.

'Yeah, I guess so. Still, sounded odd though' He took his seat again. But no sooner had he sat down, his ECHO device began beeping, indicating the incoming link. He tapped the button again.

'Montayva?' He asked.

'Yes.' She replied softly 'Sorry I just missed you' She apologized.

'Are you ok?' He asked quickly 'Tell me the truth' And she laughed when his stern voice came through.

'Yes, I'm fine. Healing nicely' She sounded ok enough.

'Tannis doing some tests on you?' He asked gruffly, not intending to come off as such a worry wart.

'She took a small blood sample. And, er, a hair. But she isn't experimenting on me like a guinea pig if that's what you are worried about' Montayva explained. 'please, stop worrying yourself so. Angel would have said something to Lillith or Maya if my conditioned worsened, you know that.'

'I'm sorry.' He apologised, taking a deep breath. 'I just worry about you. I cant help it'

'I know you cant. But keep focused on the mission, you will see me again soon enough' Her soft voice promised him. She wished him luck as they said their goodbyes, leaving him pondering. It was true, he did need to focus. Despite their bigger than normal team and combined efforts, they would be greatly outnumbered still. He took another deep breath and cleared his mind. Mordecai forced himself to focus on what tomorrow would bring.