The light was pale. Like twilight was splashed over the place. Small specks of light glistened close to the ground. Dancing near the large bed of flowers that lined the flower. They looked like a soft bed, cradling the angel in their arms as they rocked like a cradle around them. They kept her safe. Kept her warm until she woke from this everlasting slumber she was in.

The loud crash sent the whole ship shaking. Like an alarm set off by someone else. Rattling the place by its very bones. She stirred slightly in the long slumber she had been in. Had this really worked. Was the sweet child no longer cursed with the dread that had burned her every step? He hoped it was true. That she was finally taking her first step free from the chains that held her down. Together they could escape. Together maybe they both could finally be free from the unlucky tyrant that had strapped them down.

And at this point, he swore to protect her. To make sure that she'll continue to be free.

It had barely been an hour into the ride and Jack had yet to shut up. Rhys was trying hard to ignore the nonsense that poured from his mouth. He was getting to the end of his rope at this point.

Rhys didn't know how much longer he could deal with this guy. How much longer could this guy talk? And how did he even have this much to talk about. His mouth kept on moving. Words that didn't even seem to matter spilled out and floated around Rhys' head as he continued to drive down the road.

"So what are you going to gain from this?"

Rhys' eyes darted over for a moment. Eyeing him for a second before looking back out towards the road. Trying even harder to ignore the man.

"Come on Kiddo! I at least deserve to know what I'm being sold for! Some nice new armory? A Cool sword? Hot girls? Maybe a ticket off of this hell hole. I'm probably worth that much. I'd at least hope that I was worth a ticket out of here. "

Rhys groaned as he rolled his eyes. Deciding it was probably in his best interest to just answer the guy. "My partner was kidnapped by bandits. If I don't have something good to exchange him for I'm never going to see him again."

Jack's pity was soaked with mockery. "Ouch Pumpkin. But that sounds to me like he's probably already dead. So you should probably just let me go, you know what I'm saying? Bandits don't spare people. They kill people for fun."

Rhys rolled his eyes. "Yeah I'm aware. I've dealt with bandits before. But I don't have any other choice."

"Sure you do! You could accept the fact that he's dead."

Rhys gave him a short look. Pausing before letting a small grin slip onto his lips. "That's a funny thought coming from the guy who couldn't accept his own demise."

Jack glared. The playful tone slowly leaking out like a gas escaping from a balloon. "Excuse me?"

Rhys glanced over at him. It's about time he could get on his nerves instead. "Don't play stupid. You lost and couldn't admit it. I bet you were in there planning your next big plan to purify Pandora. Am I right?"

Jack continued to glare at Rhys, but the hunter only let out a snort of laughter at finally silencing the guy. But he couldn't lie. A part of him was screaming. He was terrified of the guy. Anyone who ever worked on Pandora was. It was trained into them like a dog with a shock collar. Stepping out of line with the guy was a way to get you killed. Yet the other half of him told that side to chill the fuck out. He was in control now. And that thought felt good. Well it did until…

"You wait buddy. I'll strangle you when you're sleeping. Just you wait. Your weakest moment and I-"

"Are you done yet?" Rhys questioned. Glancing over with a questioning brow. "You're really getting on my nerves. Honestly you started this. Not me, you. If you don't want shitty remarks, don't say shitty things. Got it? Back off and I won't say another shitty thing to you."

Rhys was surprised at how low Jack's voice had dropped. Filled with a thick venom that seemed to seep into every word like a threat. It made Rhys' hair stand on end. But he was good at not letting his fear show at this point. He would be lying if he said he wasn't constantly scared shitless by the dangerous days that he leaded down here but he was definitely a pro at covering it up at this point in his life.

What was even more surprising was how quickly Jack seemed to loosen up. As if Rhys hadn't just insulted the man twice. "You got a point there kiddo." Jack murmured, the venom no longer licking at the words that were coming from the other man's lips. "But who are you going to send me off to in Sanctuary?"

The bounty hunter hadn't really thought about that part yet. Tapping his fingers against the wheel in a soft rhythm. "Probably Lilith. I know she hated you the most. So I'll probably send you off to her."

Just for a second. The smallest moment of time Rhys swore he saw the other man's face pale. As if something had went through his mind. Rhys wouldn't blame the guy if he was afraid. The girl was a siren. Powerful and fairly known to be deadly. He had no idea what might have happened in the past to make her hate the guy next to him so much, but it seemed like it was fairly simple. Who wouldn't hate the guy who tried to burn your whole planet to the ground. Rhys could understand those kinds of feelings of hate.

Yet the second he thought he saw that flash of - of pain it was gone. Swallowed back by the weirdishly friendly grin that Jack barely pulled off. "And if that fails, then what? She might think you're a liar. She thinks I'm dead."

Rhys just gave a quick shrug. There wasn't much he could do if that situation did arise. There was also the chance she refused to even pay for the guy. Maybe she insisted on getting him for free. Either way Rhys was good at improvising plans. It was one of his many skills. Vaughn and him always had been quick to come up with a new plan when another one started to tank. It had never failed them until recently.

"I don't know," Rhys stated as he continued to drive, "I'll cross that bridge when I get there."

Surprisingly Jack seemed to accept that answer. Sitting back in his chair. After a moment's pause the conversation continued. Mainly Jack asking him basic questions. Things Rhys could answer with nod or a shrug. Mainly things about the arm and the matching eye. Was the arm Hyperion Made? Yeah at some point. Though Rhys had upgraded most of it at this point himself. Was the eye supposed to go with the arm? Another yeah. Did the scars that went over the eye come before or after the new upgraded one?

Jack only got a shrug as the answer for that one. It was an easy answer in all honesty but Rhys enjoyed spending most of his time pretending the long, thin scars that ran over the echo eye just weren't there. They definitely came after the eye was placed into his head. Mainly happening once he landed on this shit hole of a planet. A bunch of guys trying to claw your eye out to sell can make anyone uneasy.

The obscure shrug didn't seem to please Jack though he didn't ask in more detail. Just giving Rhys a slight glare before shrugging. Shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Those handcuffs couldn't be too comfortable.

Good, honestly. Rhys hoped those things were super uncomfortable. Anything to keep this guy in the worst position possible. Seemed like a fair enough trade for what he'd done to everyone on this planet.

After a bit everything slowly became silent. The prisoner keeping quiet as he shifted in his seat. Moving to stare off on to the landscape of Pandora. It was nice. The sun slowly starting to set in the far distance. It was pretty lovely. Even on the worst days down here. Orange light stretching across the sand as it just gave the whole place a beautiful look. Rhys could understand why someone would quietly stare out the w-

"See you later, Fucker!"

THUMP!

That's the sound Jack made as he jumped out the side of the moving car. Followed by a stream of curses that slowly got more distant as the car kept moving. Rhys slammed on the breaks. Stopping the car as quickly as possible before hopping out. He'd expected to have to chase Jack but the guy was still on the ground. Laying there about 20 feet back. Rolling on the ground as if he was trying to get up. Who the fuck jumps out of a moving car?

Once he got back to the asshat her stood over him. Watching as the former CEO struggled and rolled. Trying to get up but having a hell of a time due to the not having the use of his arms. He didn't stop when he saw Rhys either. Just kept trying.

"Who the fuck jumps out of a moving car?" Rhys asked as he yanked the guy to his feet. Jack growled as he was lifted off the ground. Though Rhys let out a huff of effort. Jack weighed more than he looked. But he got him to his feet in a few moments.

"Listen that hurt a lot more than I thought it was going to. I was planning on running away. It was a good plan."

Rhys stared at him for a moment. There were so many things wrong with that plan. Rhys could easily catch up to him with the car. Not only that but where did this asshole think he was going to go with his hands cuffed behind his back. He wasn't going to be able to get out of those. "That was a shitty plan."

Jack rolls his eyes. "No way, I could have got out of these cuffs and escaped your ass."

Rhys was… tempted to see him try. He crossed his arms. A smirk sliding across his lips. "Okay. Do it."

Jack paused. Raising an eyebrow before trying to wiggle free from the cuffs. Grunting in effort as his arms strained to try and pull apart. Rhys couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. It was definitely humorous watching him struggle. Wiggle around trying to get his arms free. Overall it was pretty pathetic to watch and it looked like Jack was picking up on that too.

Jack paused for a moment. He made direct eye contact with Rhys for a moment. Unsure of what to do, Rhys held the gaze. Watching as the older man just… stared. He was about to give a snippy remark like "You giving up?" but stopped before his mouth even opened for the first word. Instead he watched as Jack quickly tried to sprint in the opposite direction.

This broke another chuckle from Rhys. He really couldn't believe this guy. He wasn't going to chase him. Not yet. He needed him to know just how impossible his escape was. This would help prevent him from running away in the future. Keep it so Rhys could sleep at night without having to tie the asshole to the car. Or risk being murdered in his sleep by the guy. Instead he waited for Jack to reach the ten yard radius then - ZAP! The handcuffs let off a big spark. A blast of energy being sent off due to the sudden distance between the two.

Rhys chuckles as he slowly walked back over to Jack. The man was out of breath, slouched over the ground as he groaned in pain. Taking long, deep breaths to try and regain his composure. When Rhys got to his side he kneeled over him. Peering down at the former CEO before slowly shaking his head. "Finally see how useless this is? Those cuffs are synced to my Echo Eye." Jack only let out a gruff sound as a response so Rhys continued on. "So, if you go more than 10 yards you get zapped. Keeps my targets from getting too far."

Jack just kept Glaring at Rhys. The hunter couldn't help wonder what he was thinking. Part of him hoped he was impressed. Back on Hyperion Handsome Jack had been an idol to him. Someone for him to look up to and try to be one day. But now things were different. There was no place for idols like this man. It would only get Rhys killed in the end. Especially down here. A place where this man's words were sins to most ears. How they stoked a flame of fear in mosts hearts and rage in others. Now Rhys had to learn to live by his own rules. Yet it would be nice if this was at least a little impressive.

"So are you finally going to behave?" Rhys questioned as he looked over the man's angry expression. "If you're going to behave you get the use of your arms back." Rhys tossed in the thought. It was a good thing to mention the rewards of being a good boy. Usually made people more quick to listen.

Rhys only got a nod out of Jack. The first thought Rhys had was to tease him. To taught him and try to get the man to promise he was going to be good. That would be a fun way to go. However in the long run it really didn't feel worth the effort. So he moved forward. Grabbing onto the handcuffs and hitting a few buttons. Watching as one side sprung open. Both halves clinging to the man's right wrist, right behind the geometric wrist tattoo. It let out a loud ding before finally silencing and staying still.

"Now 10 yards you get zapped. If I die it'll kill you too, so don't even try it. And I can track your every movement. So stay close babe and this will all go smoothly." Rhys finished up the last bit of the set up. The files leaving his echo eye before he started to head back to the car. "Now keep up. Don't want to get shocked again now do we?"

They had gotten at least another few miles before Rhys stopped the car. The sun was already down but he had to get some sleep for the night. At this point the bounty hunter was exhausted. He'd been driving for hours on end and he just really needed some kind of break. He'd found a nice place for them to pull up to the side. Making it unlikely that any predators would wander over. Last thing he wanted was to be attacked at night. Kneeling down Rhys began to set up one of his sleeping bags.

Jack walked over, hovering over Rhys as he worked. "We're sleeping on the ground? In the dirt?"

"Where else would we sleep?" Rhys questioned as he smoothed out his sleeping bag.

Jack shrugs as he glances around. "Dunno. Maybe some kind of bed? There has to be some kind of hideout for bandits like you around here."

Rhys rolled his eyes. Moving to lay back on his bed. "There's another sleeping roll in the car if you want it." Rhys offered. Watching from the corner of his eye as he went to scoop up the other one and set it up. "And you know as well as I do that no one down here ever just works together."

Jack scoffs as he figits with the sleeping bag. Unrolling it out over the ground before laying across it with a grunt. "I hate this place."

Rhys let out a short chuckle before giving off a long yawn. "I think most people hate this place, Jack."

Jack scoffed before rolling over to turn away from Rhys. Only looking to mumble, "Is this it? You don't have anything to keep guard while we sleep? "

Rhys snorted. "What do you think I am, Stupid?"

"Yeah. I think you're a complete idiot." Jack murmured.

Rhys let out a laugh at that before closing his eyes. "There's a robot in the car that'll activate if it picks up any strange activity. So sleeping at night is as safe as you can get it in the wasteland."

Jack never answered to that one. So Rhys just rolled over. Thankful for a moment of piece. But it took a hell of a lot of time to finally settle into rest. Sleep avoiding him as thoughts of Vaughn slipped back into his head. What the hell was he going to do. How he hoped his friend was okay. That he could save him before it was too late. Every bit of it filled him with anxiety. Made sleep a hard item to find. It took hours of brewing in his own anxieties to finally simmer down. Sleep making him curl up inside the sleeping bag and finally doze off. Sleep was nice.

Tomorrow would be another day. This trip would take at least a week to get to Sanctuary. Then another weeks trip in order to return to the Bandit Camp with the King. It was going to be a long while. Rhys hoped Vaughn could make it through whatever torture they might be inflicting on him. However Vaughn was strong. Rhys knew he could push through it. At least until Rhys could pull his big rescue.

He gave final hopes that the mission went well. That he could sell this guy off and get his friend back. It's all he could ever want at this very moment. Plus it was just the very thing he needed.