Hey hey hey everybody. Here it is, the new chapter of ANVH.
First off though, let me thank all of you who left reviews for my last chapter. It was great to know that I haven't lost my touch. Now for replies.
Guardian of all that exists: I KNEW IT! Good to have you back Guardian! The darkness and gloom won't be a permanent thing but don't worry, I have plans…
trickster3696: It's okay dude, it's not a stupid question. In fact, I'm glad you asked so I can clear this up now rather than risk getting a whole bunch of reviews later on. For those curious, trickster's review read, "okay yeah stupid question cause what would people who value normalcy be doing in a quote unquote bandit haven". If you look back through previous chapters you'll see that I never said anything about them valuing normalcy. Gen said in chapter 14 that all they cared about was their reputations and that's the reason they locked him away. They locked him away because they were scared what a son mutated by experimentation with chemicals would do to their reputations. In their minds, it was easier to let their son die then lose face. If this doesn't clear up the issue then just ask me anymore questions you may have.
Don Socrates: I'm so glad you see it that way. I'm jealous of how you get out chapters so fast.
Prophet21: That's the sort of effect I was looking for. I wanted you guys to connect with Gen and realise that, behind that mask of cockiness and smartass comments, he's hiding a pain very few can handle.
metimesthree: I just wrote what I thought would happen. I put myself in Gen's shoes and focused my imagination on how it would feel to see someone you loved gunned down in front of you. Except in my case there'd be more crying and less ass kicking of the culprit…
icemaxprime: Here you go mate. Incidentally, thanks for favouriting all those stories you did. They're what got me interested in Frozen fanfiction.
LevellandConfederate96: Good luck with that! Make sure to aim for somewhere really painful.
dadman9994: What can I say, it's a gift…
Congratulations to the guest who recognised my reference. It was to Prototype with Gentek.
New reference: It's to a fanfic. Now before you all scream at me, let me first say that the clue will be slightly longer this time around. First person to get the reference gets a prize and I won't tell you the prize until someone gets it right.
The clue: I gave a shoutout about it.
It's up to you guys now. Seriously, if you can't get this one, well… let's not go there…
Joyous tidings, readers! About a month ago my computer crashed and I lost this chapter. All 5000 words of it (It was 5000 at that time). My motivation hit rock bottom and I don't know when I would have posted the next chapter for this story. But then…(pause for dramatic effect) The chapter reappeared, along with several previous versions of itself. YAY!
Disclaimer: Wanderings…
Chapter 16: The Reconciler
Gaige slowly walked up to the still form of her teammate, not sure what she was going to do until she found herself right in front of him, whereupon she threw her arms around his shoulders and squeezed. She felt him tense up at the unexpected gesture, before slowly relaxing and gently hugging her back. She pulled away as Roland approached. The man rested a gentle hand on the Splicer's shoulder and said, "I'm sorry for your loss but I need to know that you're not going to jeopardise the rest of us in pursuit of your own revenge."
The Splicer fixed the Soldier with a serious stare and replied, "I lost the people I cared about once because I couldn't stay focused. I won't make the same mistake twice."
The Soldier nodded, satisfied.
Gen said, "Just one thing I'd like to request."
"What?"
A savage smile spread across the green teen's face as he said, "I want Jack's head when this is over, on a spike if possible."
"Would being the one to kill him suffice?" Roland asked, mildly disturbed by the teen's words and expression.
The Splicer shrugged and said, "Eh, I guess that'll do."
"'Course you'll have to beat us to it." Axton piped up jokingly.
"Please, Axton, I could run circles around you lot," he shot back, his smile turning mischievous. That earned a few chuckles around the room. By the time it had died down Gen's grin had faded to a soft, fond smile. However, even as they watched it faded and was replaced with a look of faint sadness. His voice was soft when he next spoke, saying, "If you guys don't mind, though, I could use a little time by myself."
Roland nodded and said, "Take what you need and report in when you're ready to work again. You've got plenty of time while we plan the attack on Control Core Angel and we'll contact you if anything major comes up."
But the Splicer was already shaking his head as he replied, "I've spent a long time hiding and running, Roland, I'm sorry but you won't be able to contact me."
"And if we need your help?" Axton asked.
Gen snorted derisively. "Please, if you guys can't handle it then you're not the badasses I take you for," His voice dropped, "Besides…I need this."
They all watched as the Splicer stood and walked out.
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It had been three weeks since Gen had walked out of Raider's HQ and gone who-knows-where and while his absence was felt they had all gotten along as best they could. They kept reminding themselves that they had gotten on just fine before their green skinned teammate had shown up but somehow it just felt hollow. Gaige kept catching herself listening out for music she knew wouldn't be playing whenever she walked past his room and Salvador had even detonated a grenade in the living room in a shallow imitation of one of Gen's failed projects. Lilith had not been pleased with that, most likely because it had been a Corrosive Mirv.
The second generation Vault Hunters were all currently scattered around the lounge, each doing their own thing. Zer0 stood in the corner, sharpening his sword. It was an entirely redundant action since the digistruct blade never dulled but he did it nonetheless. Axton was cleaning his newest pride and joy, a Dahl rifle that lobbed corrosive grenades. He'd obtained the weapon on a mission just four days ago and had taken every opportunity since to perfect his use of it. Gaige and Maya were making use of the game console Gen had built, which had been dubbed the GameEgg, the Mechromancer having talked the Siren into playing with her. The two had settled on Firefight in Halo Reach and had been playing round after round for the past two and a half hours. Salvador was sitting on one of the couches, a plate full of an unidentifiable meat in his lap as he watched multiple ECHO screens in front of him. The screens displayed the HUDs of Gaige and Maya as they played as well as third person views and an aerial view of the map with markers denoting Gaige and Maya and the hordes of enemies they were facing. He chuckled as Gaige blew half a dozen Grunts straight to hell with a well thrown grenade.
Brick walked into the room, noting that all of them were there. He smirked as everyone but Gaige and Maya looked his way, the two females too engrossed in their game to notice him. He cleared his throat and when that didn't succeed in drawing their attention he yelled, "HEY SLABS!"
The two women shot up, the digistruct headsets and controls dissolving as they swung towards him. The two blushed in embarrassment that they had become so distracted; earning a laugh from the room's other occupants.
"I've got a job for you lot, something I thought you'd be interested in." The Berserker said once he was done chuckling.
Axton stood up, his Dahl rifle already reassembled and in his hands. "What do you need dead?"
"It's just some search work. Couple o' my slabs reported that they heard some odd stuff recently. Said it sounded like gunfire, laughter, explosions, running, screaming and some skag roaring all thrown together. When they went to check it out they found a lotta bodies. Hyperion engineers, loaders and surveyors; all trashed."
"No offense Brick, but that doesn't exactly sound like anything unusual for Pandora." Gaige said sceptically.
The Berserker shrugged and said, "My slabs said there were a lot of bodies, but also a lot of evidence of bodies."
"What do you mean?" Maya asked.
"By the looks of things, a lot of the bodies were dissolved with some heavy duty corrosive weaponry. One of my guys is a bit of a tracker and he said that while he could find evidence of all those Hyperion personnel arriving, he also found tracks from two other people and a skag. And guess who walked away from that fight."
"Those three." Axton murmured.
"Yep. And as far as he can tell, all of them left together."
"Wait a minute amigo, are you saying they had a pet skag?" Salvador asked incredulously.
"Looked that way."
Gaige's eyes widened. "No, no way did he follow me here. No. Fucking. Way." She thought.
"You okay there, Gaige? You look a little pale." Maya's concerned tone brought the Mechromancer out of her thoughts.
Gaige shook her head to clear and said, "Yeah, I'm good. Just… thinking…"
Before Maya could question the red head further Brick continued, "The job I'm offering is for you lot to track down whoever took out those Hyperion bastards. Roland says that if you can recruit them that'd be great, if not determine if they're a threat and blast 'em if they are."
"No need for that, Brick," An all too familiar voice jokingly chided from behind the massive Berserker, "We're already here."
Brick moved aside to reveal the easily recognisable form of Gen, who appeared to have once again changed his style. A thick, white scarf was wrapped around his neck and jaw, hiding them from view, bandages were wrapped around his arms from the elbows to the base of his fingers with his bracers strapped on over them and his boots had been replaced with jet black, lightweight, lace less running shoes with steel plating over the toes, painted black. Shin and knee guards of the same material had also appeared. He tugged the scarf down to reveal a smirk, tilted his head almost arrogantly and folded his arms.
"Miss me?"
That was enough to snap them out of their trance. Before anyone else could move Gaige approached the Splicer and paused barely half a meter from him, silently glaring. The boy didn't move a muscle. Suddenly he leaned back, just in time to avoid the slap Gaige sent his way. However he wasn't fast enough to avoid her kicking his legs out from under him. The Splicer hit the ground on his back and Gaige knelt astride him balling a fist in his vest and tugging so that their faces were inches apart.
"Three weeks with no contact and you just waltz in here!" she yelled right in his face.
The boy considered the statement for a second before replying, "Yup, pretty much. And as much as I'd love to make you light up like a Christmas tree with an inappropriate joke, you really should look up for a second."
Gaige suddenly became aware of hot, sour-smelling breath hitting the top of her head and raised her gaze to find herself looking into the mouth of a very big, very angry Corrosive skag. Before she could reach for her gun Gen piped up with a commanding tone, "Monty! Down boy!"
To everyone's surprise the skag backed off, but it never took its eyes off of Gaige. Silence filled the room that was once again broken by the Splicer. "I think he likes you," he commented cheerfully, "Usually he just eats everyone but he actually paused there. Smart skag. Can I get up now, or do I have to play the inappropriate joke card?"
Gaige shot off of him like she'd been scalded and stormed off to one of the couches. The Splicer sat up and said, "Someone's grouchy. That ti-"
He was cut off by Maya who spoke in a threatening tone, "If you finish that joke I will kick you so hard between the legs your balls will come out your nose."
A terrified look appeared on the Splicer's face and he nodded in understanding.
"And that goes for all of you." The Siren warned, fixing every man in the room with a death glare. Even Brick took a step back at the look on her face.
To his credit Gen recovered faster than anyone else, walking to and vaulting over the back of the couch to land next to Gaige. He tilted his head curiously when she refused to look at him.
"Seriously though, what's up with you? I said I wouldn't be in contact." He said.
Gaige's voice was quiet when she replied, "Yeah… But three weeks…?"
Gen's gaze softened, but only for a few seconds. Then, without warning, he flung his arms around Gaige's neck and hugged her close, smooshing his cheek against hers with a shit eating grin plastered across his face.
"Daaaaawww, you do care!" he yelled joyfully, his love of mischief allowing him to ignore the natural urge to blush at the physical contact. His grin widened as he felt the temperature rise in Gaige's cheek right before the red head gave him an almighty shove that sent him off of the couch.
"Gaige! You wound me!" he cried melodramatically from his position on the floor and was rewarded with a laugh from the others, including Gaige who was still red.
When they'd all calmed down a bit Maya suddenly got a confused look.
"Wait a sec. Wasn't there supposed to be another person with you?" She asked the Splicer.
"Oh yeah," Gen said distractedly, before stiffening and continuing in an alarmed tone, "Oh shit."
"What?" Gaige asked, curious as to his reaction.
The Splicer scrambled up as he replied, "The last time I lost track of him, well… Brick told you about those Hyperion guys, right?"
"That was him?" Axton asked, one eyebrow raised.
"No, that was partly me and Monty. If it had been him alone, Brick's scouts wouldn't have made it back and even if he had left them alone, all they would have found would be a few limbs and a fuck-ton of blood."
"So, he's dangerous." Maya said slowly.
"And bat-shit insane to boot. And that's something coming from me."
They all went silent as multiple gunshots rang out.
"Ahh, shit." Gen growled, before zipping out the room. The others all followed at a normal pace. When the got outside they were greeted by an interesting sight. Most of the guards of Sanctuary had their guns trained on the building housing Sanctuary's Fast Travel station. Gen was shoving his way through, with Monty the skag hanging around at the back of the crowd. The Vault Hunters heard him swearing at someone as they approached.
"What the fuck is your problem, you shit sucking asshat?! Why the fuck would you shoot at him?" Gen screamed at one of the guards.
"What happened?" Roland asked, cutting off Gen before he could continue yelling.
The guard saluted and replied, "I spotted what appeared to be a bandit Psycho in the Fast Travel building and opened fire, sir."
"I can't help but notice that you mentioned nothing about issuing a warning before you pulled the trigger. Last time I checked, a single Psycho wasn't very hard to kill!" Gen growled.
"It was too big to be a regular Psycho, which meant it was a Badass. I wasn't going to risk alerting it before I could put a few shots in!" The guard protested, indignant at being questioned by someone so much younger than him even if they were a Vault Hunter.
"Calm down, both of you!" Roland commanded sternly. The guard saluted while Gen scowled before turning and stalking towards the Fast Travel building, muttering expletives as he walked. Monty shoved his way through the crowd after him, an act that became noticeably easier when people realised that simply coming into contact with the skag transferred a potent acid onto them.
The Splicer paused just outside of the entrance and set his hands on his hips before calling back to the crowd behind him, "If anybody shoots him they're gonna be dealing with me. Got it?"
There was a mumbled assent from most of the crowd. Gen nodded and walked inside the building, pausing just inside the doorway. "You can come out, dude. They won't shoot you if they know what's good for them."
He then turned and walked out. Seconds later a figure followed him out. The person was large, shirtless and wore a mask very similar to a Psycho. A large buzzaxe was held in a white knuckled grip in his right hand. Before anybody else could move Maya pushed her way through the crowd and approached the pair, all of them stopping a meter away from one another. Maya grinned and said, "Good to see you again, big guy."
"You two know each other?" Gen asked curiously as the other Vault Hunters came to stand around them, curious about the new arrival.
"He saved my life right before I got on the train with the others. I thought he was a Psycho and started shooting when he yelled something about being a conductor at me. I didn't even know there was a whole group of Rats behind me until his buzzaxe hit one in the head."
"Sounds about right. You wouldn't happen to know a name would you? I've been calling him Conductor since whenever I ask him for a name he just says that he's the Conductor of the Poop Train."
"Nope, he never told me."
"Krieg." The stranger grunted.
"Huh, what?" Gen said, confused.
"Krieg." He repeated, louder this time.
Gen grinned and said, "Krieg, huh? German for 'war'. It suits you."
Roland extended a hand to him, saying, "If Gen trusts you enough to bring you here, then I guess we can trust you. Welcome to the Crimson Raiders, Krieg."
Krieg looked from the hand to Roland to Gen then back to Roland again. Then, without warning, he threw his head back, waved his buzzaxe in the air and yelled at the top of his lungs, "THIS PLEASURE IS AGONY!"
Gen glanced around to see everyone giving Krieg weird looks. "He does that sometimes." He explained, shrugging before clapping his hands together and saying brightly, "Right, introductions! Krieg this is Roland, Lilith, Mordecai, Axton, Maya, Zer0, Salvador, Brick and Gaige."
The Splicer pointed to each person as he said their names, receiving a grunt and a glance in the direction indicated from the large Psycho at each new introduction, except for when Gaige was introduced. The Psycho glanced at her then looked away before doing a double take. He stepped toward her and peered at her closely before he suddenly leaned closer and sniffed her. He pulled away from the now very confused and slightly disturbed Mechromancer and nodded. He then slid his buzzaxe into a holster on his back, folded his hands together and bowed to her, saying, "Domo origato, missus Roboto."
There was an awkward silence after Krieg straightened up, which was promptly broken by Gen, "Well… That was weirder than usual."
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Gaige scowled as she walked back into the centre of Sanctuary. It had only been 20 minutes since the introduction of Krieg and somehow Gen had vanished once again.
"What's got you looking so angry?"
She turned to find Gen smiling at her.
"I've been looking for you," She snapped, crossing her arms, "Where the hell have you been?"
The Splicer's smile turned mischievous as he replied, "Setting up a few… presents for the others."
"…I've got a bad feeling about this."
"You should." He commented brightly.
"There you two are."
The pair swung around to find Maya standing nearby, having just emerged from Raiders HQ.
Gen smiled widely and nodded, "Yep, here we are. Why?"
"There's a job for us. That is, if you haven't gone soft after that little vacation of yours." The Siren teased.
"I tamed a fucking Badass skag and befriended a Psycho the size of Brick and you have the nerve to call that a holiday." Gen retorted in a mock indignant tone, throwing his arms out in emphasis.
Maya waved a hand dismissively and replied, "Krieg was already friendly from what I know and you're immune to the skag's most powerful attacks anyway."
"Fuck you, Maya."
"Oh, I thought you and Gaige were together." Maya shot back, laughing as the two blushed.
"Hey Gaige, I've got an idea." Gen said, glaring at Maya.
"What?"
"First, we knock Maya out. Then we roll her up in a carpet and throw her off the edge of Sanctuary."
"Sounds good."
Before either of them could move however the other members of their team arrived, Krieg trailing behind the others. Axton raised an eyebrow at the scene, Gaige having her hammer out and knocking it gently against her palm and she and Gen still glaring at Maya. He turned to the Siren and asked, "So, are they coming?"
"I dunno. Gen started an argument."
"What?!" The Splicer protested indignantly, "You started it!"
Axton pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing as the Splicer and the Siren began bickering. He couldn't help the wry smile that formed a few seconds later though. "It's good to have him back," he thought.
Everybody went silent as Krieg suddenly started yelling, "SOMEBODY OPEN ME UP AND PUT OUT THE FIRE IN MY BELLY... PUT IT OUT WITH KNIVES AND BULLETS AND STRANGLING, OR I WILL EAT YOUR NEPHEWS!"
"…We should probably find him something to kill before he loses it entirely." Gen said slowly. The others all nodded, never taking their eyes off of Krieg.
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The group were aimlessly cruising through the Highlands, Gen at the wheel of his preferred vehicle, a Bandit Catapult Technical with Green Dragon skin, and Zer0 driving a Sawblade Technical with Onyx skin.
"I'm bored." Gen suddenly announced over the ECHO.
"We just took out a whole bunch of Stalkers five minutes ago." Maya responded incredulously.
"Yeah, but that was five minutes ago. I'm bored now."
Before anybody could offer a retort they heard gunshots. Gen grinned and crowed, "Sounds like a party! Let's go crash it!"
Without waiting for any replies the Splicer swung his car around and set off towards the source of the noise. Less than a minute later the group were parked on a small bluff overlooking a sizeable bandit camp. Zer0 stood up in his seat and raised his sniper rifle, muttering, "What could cause this fuss; Surely something challenging; Or it would have died."
Suddenly an exclamation point appeared on his faceplate, vanishing almost as quickly as it appeared. Unfortunately, his green skinned teammate caught it and asked, "So what is it? Some kind of Badass?"
"…No."
Gen gave him a strange look. He'd dismissed the swift hiding of the exclamation but he'd never heard Zer0 speak in anything but haiku and was thrown by the Assassin's simple answer.
"Okay, so what is it?" he repeated and upon receiving no reply he pulled out his own sniper rifle and raised it to his eye. Less than a second later the others heard him start muttering curses.
"What's up with you?" Gaige asked, curious as to what could elicit such a strong reaction.
"…My parents aren't off of Pandora." Gen growled, his voice thick with anger.
Realisation dawned on all of them. Gen had given his parents one week to get off of Pandora. With triple that length of time having passed, he probably wasn't feeling particularly merciful.
"Whatever you're thinking, Gen, rethink it." Maya said quietly.
"I don't know what you're talking about Maya." Gen lied, centring his crosshairs on a brown haired head. He started slightly as Gaige grabbed the barrel of his gun and pushed it down. He gave her a glare.
"I don't like them any more than you do, Gen, but I'm not going to let you kill them. I'm not going to let you live with being the murderer of your own family."
The two remained in a staring contest, angry orange meeting determined green, until finally Gen sighed and looked away.
"Fine, I won't kill them. But I won't help them either."
"We're not asking you to," Axton placated, "But I, for one, can't stand idly by and let them get slaughtered by bandits."
The Splicer took a shaky breath and said, "Just do what you have to."
The other turned and clambered into the Sawblade Technical. As she walked past him, Maya rested a hand on Gen's shoulder and whispered, "You might not be able to forgive them, but they're still family."
Gen didn't reply or respond in any other way. He didn't even move until they had driven off, leaving him standing next to his car with Monty panting in the back. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, Maya's words running through his head. He decided to watch the battle through his sniper scope and make sure nobody snuck up on his teammates.
As he peered through his scope, he saw something that made his hair stand on end. From his vantage point he could see a whole group of Badasses heading towards the battle, at least four Badass Psychos leading the pack.
"Heads up, guys! You've got a whole shit ton of Badasses incoming!"
"Copy that, Gen." Axton replied.
The Splicer centred his crosshairs on a Badass Psychos head and fired, smirking as the deformed lunatic lurched backwards. The smirk vanished though as once again Maya's words floated to the forefront of his mind. He growled and fired another shot at the same Psycho, watching as his gun's elemental effect set it on fire. He panned his scope away, checking for any other groups of hostiles and was promptly swamped by mixed emotions as he saw a whole group of Psychos heading towards his parents, who were hunkered down at a T-junction in the camp. As far as he could tell his parents hadn't noticed the Psychos and probably wouldn't until they suddenly landed there and began attacking. The Splicer closed his eyes and growled, struggling with his own inner turmoil. Suddenly he opened his eyes, gaze hard, and stood up. His decision was made.
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Patrick Tannis took aim and opened fire, the Shock SMG in his hands spitting electric death at a Marauder and lighting him up like his own miniature fireworks show. He swung around as his wife gave a yell and opened fire with the Incendiary shotgun she'd picked up, a Psycho collapsing to the ground just over two meters away. Both of them stared in shock as they spotted a whole wave of Psychos charging at them.
"Margaret, no matter what happens, I love you." He murmured, fully expecting to die when the Psychos reached them.
"…I love you too, Patrick."
Abruptly an explosive barrel arced into the midst of the Psychos, wiping a large portion of the face of Pandora. A pair who had been a bit ahead of the pack were still coming straight towards the couple but before either Patrick or Margaret could raise their guns and open fire there was the sound of an engine revving. The two Psychos glanced to the side just in time to see the back end of a Bandit Technical right before Gen power slid it into them, sending them flying against a nearby wall with sickening crunching noises.
Patrick and Margaret could only stare in shock as their son hopped out of the driver's seat. Margaret made to move towards him but Patrick got between the two.
"Are you here to fulfil that promise of yours?" He asked suspiciously.
"If I was I would have let those Psychos get you." He responded coldly, but when he continued his tone was marginally warmer, "A friend made me realise something; I can't forgive you for what you've done but you're still family, and I've lost enough of that for one lifetime."
A Burning Psycho suddenly hurled a buzzaxe at them from a nearby rooftop and without shifting his gaze Gen sidestepped the axe, whipped out his revolver and put two bullets in the Psycho's head.
"Do you mind?" He drawled sarcastically, "We're trying to have a family moment."
Patrick smirked at his son, who responded with a half-hearted grin. The Splicer's expression quickly turned to surprise as his mother darted forward and hugged him. He froze for a few seconds before sighing and giving her a one-armed hug in return. He gave his father a strange look.
"Might as well join in, 'cause she doesn't seem to be letting go anytime soon." He joked, holding his other arm out. His father chuckled slightly before embracing his son, the first genuine sign of affection he'd given the boy in 13 years.
Eventually Gen said, "Okay, this started off endearing but now it's just gettin' weird. Mind letting go now?"
His parents backed off, smiling at Gen. Gen scratched the back of his neck awkwardly before saying, "So… What happens now? 'Cause I have no freakin' idea what I'm supposed to do."
"How about lending a hand with the small army of Badasses that are attacking us." Axton suggested through the ECHO, sounding remarkably calm for someone being assaulted by Badasses.
"Sure thing, Ax." Gen replied cheerfully before turning to his parents and asking, "Wanna join in?"
"We'll help however we can." Patrick said, determination shining in his eyes.
"Let's wipe the floor with their corpses." Margaret crowed, a truly terrifying smile on her face as she cocked her shotgun. The two males present gave her shocked looks.
"…You get the turret." Gen said simply before darting to the Technical and hopping into the driver's seat. His mother scrambled into the turret, quickly getting a feel for the large weapon as Patrick sighed and clambered into the back.
"This is certainly proving to be an interesting day." He thought dryly. Then he froze.
"…Jo- I mean, Gen." He called.
"Yeah?"
"Why is there a skag in the back of your truck?"
"Oh, well, remember how I always wanted a puppy?"
"…Yes." Patrick said slowly.
"This is what I ended up getting. Dad, meet Monty. Monty, that's my dad."
The skag panted happily and gave a roar in greeting.
"Interesting indeed." Patrick murmured.
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Gaige laughed as Deathtrap used his recently installed Explosive Clap to turn a Badass Marauder into mincemeat. One of the Marauder's arms sailed past on fire, leaving a trail of blood in its wake before landing fist first in a pile of trash. Krieg was amazed by this.
"THEY HAVE MEAT ROCKETS! IT MUST BE MY BIRTHDAY! TIME TO LIGHT THE CANDLES!" he screamed, bursting into flame and charging towards his prey. Everyone could hear him singing as he cleaved his opponents to pieces.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!" *Shnk!* "AUGH!"
"I'M ON A FLESH CHOPPING SPREE!" *Shnk!* *Gurgle*
"YOUR FACE LOOKS APPEALING!" *Thwack!* "Huuuurlgh!"
"LEEEEEEEEEEEET'S TASTE IT AND SEE!" With that he slammed his buzzaxe into a Badass Nomad's head, splattering blood and brain matter all over the immediate area. "I HAVE SHOWERED IN YOUR THINKING BITS! YOUR KNOWLEDGE IS DELICIOUS!"
Suddenly he noticed a Marauder trying to crawl away. Krieg ripped the leg of his latest kill with a single tug and dashed towards the coward, smashing him in the back of the head with the leg of his deceased companion.
"BEST!" *Thoomp* "OW!"
"BIRTHDAY!" *Wump* "Gack!"
"EVER!" *Crunch*
He continued to beat the body until it stopped moving, caving in a large portion of his victim's skull in the process. Gaige was staring at him, scared, when something rather important occurred to her.
"Gen?" She said over the ECHO.
"Geez, I'm on my way, keep your shirt on. Actually I might go faster if you take it off."
"One: This isn't about that. Two: Fuck you. Three: Your friend is on fire."
"Which friend?"
"Krieg."
"Oh, so?"
"He seems to be enjoying it."
"I repeat; so?"
"He's on fire and liking it."
"…So?"
"I swear to whatever God or gods you believe in if you say 'so' one more time I will castrate you in your sleep."
"Fine, geez, no need to get your knickers in a wad. Krieg's weird, I thought we established this already. If he likes being set on fire that's his business, not mine."
"But-"
He shushed her and said, "I'll be there in a few. Until then just try and stay alive."
With that he ended the call.
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Two minutes later Gen rolled to a stop on a small hill overlooking the battle. It didn't look good for the Raiders. Badass Psychos were hurling themselves at their cover half a dozen at a time while Badass Nomads, Badass Goliaths and Badass Marauders provided covering fire. And that wasn't even mentioning the swarms of normal Psychos and Marauders engaged in the fight. Gen's eyes narrowed as he spotted a Super Badass Nomad directing the rest of the bandits, screaming orders and abuse in equal measure. With a frown he turned back to look at his parents.
His father was frowning, brow furrowed as he stared at the small army assaulting the Raiders. His mother seemed to have lost the disturbing bloodlust she'd felt earlier as she watched the army with wide eyes. Patrick shook his head and sighed before saying in a defeated tone, "I don't see a way we can win this one. Not without some heavy weaponry."
"Agreed." Margaret whispered.
Gen groaned and ran a hand through his hair, eyes darting back to the battle below before returning to his parents. Then his eyes widened as a plan started taking shape. It was risky, liable to do as much harm as good to his friends but he didn't see any other option.
"Mom, dad, I have an idea." He said, a crazy grin spreading over his features as he reversed away from the hill.
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Axton glanced over cover just in time to see Gen reversing back over the hill.
"Gen! Where the hell are you going?!" He yelled into the ECHO, angry at the Splicer's apparent abandonment of them.
"Relax Ax. I have a plan."
That simple phrase somehow managed to strike more fear into Axton's heart than the army of Badasses just meters away. He knew all about Gen's idea of a plan. He had lost a lot of money to the New-U system courtesy of Gen's 'plans'.
"Gen?"
"What?" The teenager replied irritably.
"Could this kill us?"
"Maybe."
Not exactly encouraging.
"Will it kill the people attacking us?"
"If it works according to plan."
Even less so.
"How likely is it that it will work according to plan?"
There was long, uncomfortable silence.
"…Do you really want me to answer that?"
"…Not really, no."
"Well, there you go. Now shut up and let me finish up here."
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Gen stepped back and surveyed his handiwork with a smile. It had taken a good ten minutes to accomplish the task he had set himself and his parents but if it all worked according to plan it would be worth it.
"Mom, you all set up?"
Margaret gave him a thumbs up from where she was sitting cross legged on the ground nearby.
"Dad?"
"I'm ready."
"Good. Then let's go."
Gen sauntered over to the driver's seat of the Technical and climbed up so he was hanging from the cage around the driver's seat. He gave a mock affectionate pat to the large Corrosive barrel sitting in the seat before hefting a Psycho's buzzaxe and using it to pin the accelerator to the floor. He jumped off and rolled as the Technical approached the hill, and looked up in time to see the vehicle ramp off the hill into the battle below. He hefted his sniper rifle, whistled for Monty and ran over, immediately spotting the Technical as it careened down the hill.
The only reason it was still heading in the right direction was Margaret, who was steering the vehicle through her ECHO. Patrick would control the turret and Gen's job was to make sure nobody got the chance to shoot the car before it reached its final destination.
Gen switched to the Raiders' open channel and crowed, "Heads up guys! Shit's about to get loud!"
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Gaige heard the Splicer's announcement and immediately knew that whatever was coming had a high chance of backfiring and killing all of them. She couldn't place why she felt like that; it was just an instinctual thing. She popped her head out of cover and her eyes widened at what she saw.
There, crashing haphazardly down the hill, was Gen's Technical. But it wasn't the vehicle itself that shocked her, it was its cargo: every single available space, up to and including the driver's and turret seat, had been filled with elemental barrels.
Even as she watched, Gaige saw a Marauder take notice of the vehicle heading his way and turned to warn the Badass Marauder next to him. He never got the chance as a sniper round ripped through his neck from behind, courtesy of Gen.
"I can't hear you~" Gen called sing-song through the ECHO.
"You're seriously fucked up, you know that right?" She retorted.
"Oh, so that wasn't you laughing last month when Salvador beat a Psycho to death with their own arm." Gen shot back, "My bad."
"Bite me."
"Eh, I'm more of an eating kind of guy."
There was a long, uncomfortable silence over the ECHO as what Gen had said sunk in with everyone.
"I'm gonna stop talking now." Gen said slowly.
"Ditto." Gaige agreed.
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The Super Badass Nomad directing the army was smiling. The Vault Hunters had stopped firing except for odd pot shots at his allies, a sure sign that their ammunition was running low. Even the massive Psycho they had on their side had taken cover. Victory was at hand. He was opening his mouth to order another charge when he heard an entirely unexpected sound; that of an engine.
He turned and felt his jaw drop at the sight of a Technical stuffed full of elemental barrels heading straight for him. He started raising his rifle, irrationally hoping that he could shoot the vehicle to a dead stop before it reached him. He never got the chance, the Technical's front bumper smashing into his chest before the gun had even lifted. The last thing he saw was a smiley face scratched onto the Corrosive barrel in the driver's seat.
Then the car exploded.
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"BOOM-SHAKA-LAKA!" Gen yelled before bursting into mad cackling.
Everyone, Raiders and bandits alike were captivated by the explosion. The mix of elemental barrels had resulted in one of the most spectacularly colourful explosions anyone there had ever seen. Incendiary orange raged against Corrosive green, while clouds of purple Slag crackled with the blue of Shock. And underpinning it all was the ever reliable yellow of plain, old Explosive barrels.
The Raiders recovered first or, to be more accurate, Krieg did.
"COME TO ME, WRATH SPONGE!" He screamed, cleaving a Badass Marauder's skull in two.
Not to be left out, the rest of the Raiders leapt out of cover and charged the disorganised bandits. Axton threw down his turret and stood behind it as it set to work mowing down anything it happened to target. Maya Phaselocked one of the remaining Badass Nomads, allowing Salvador to unload dual Torgue shotguns into the unfortunate bandit. Zer0, being Zer0, cloaked and shot off through the bandits' ranks. The only sign of his passing was a flash from his sword and the briefest glimpse of a red 0 from his faceplate. Gaige rode into battle on Deathtrap's shoulder gunning down anything that her robot wasn't currently attacking for her.
Gen watched them all with a smile. He glanced at his parents as they stood on either side of him.
"You have good friends." Patrick said.
"Oorah."
"Jo- Gen. There's something I want to talk to you about." Patrick said, gesturing away from the battle, "Would you mind?"
Gen looked at the battle below and shrugged, "They look like they've got it under control."
He followed his father a little bit away and cocked his head curiously.
"So, what's on your mind?"
Patrick Tannis took a deep breath and began speaking, "I recently submitted a new version of my Last Will and Testament and I've-"
He fell silent, his eyes widening as he seemed to spot something on Gen's chest.
"Uh, dad? Wha-"
That was as far as Gen got before being violently shoved away by his father. Less than a second later a sniper round tore through the space Gen had been standing and while it hadn't hit its intended target, the bullet had hit someone. Patrick staggered, coughing up blood as he sank to his knees. For a moment, all Gen could do was stare in shock and horror. Then his brain finally kicked in and he dashed over to his father's side.
"Dad! Shit!" He activated his ECHO and yelled, "Maya! Get up here now!"
Margaret ran over, gasping in horror at the sight of her husband.
"What-? How did this-? I don't-"
"Mom. Breathe. Help's on the way. Until then, help me keep pressure on the wound." As she knelt on Patrick's other side Gen peeled off his vest, folded it and pressed it over the wound. "Hold that down."
The woman obediently placed her hands on the wadded vest, which was already darkening with blood.
"Mom. Are you and dad in the New-U system?" Gen asked urgently. If they were than the worst case scenario was them having to get to the nearest New-U before something ate his father.
"No. We couldn't get access." Margaret choked out through tears.
"Fuck! Come on, Genesis, think!" Gen berated himself. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing an idea to form. Finally one did. It was a long shot but he had to try. With a look of determination, Gen pulled out a vial and collected some of his father's blood in it.
"Gaige. Don't ask questions, I'll explain later. Just do what I ask. Okay?"
"Got it."
"Put on you goggles and jump."
"What?"
"Now!"
Gaige glanced at the others, shrugged, pulled down her goggles and jumped. At which point Gen grabbed her in mid-air and took off running. Gaige was so shocked she couldn't even speak for a few moments.
"Where are we going?" She eventually yelled over the howling wind.
"The nearest New-U. I need you to hack in and add my dad's DNA to the roster so he'll respawn if he doesn't make it."
She nodded and turned so that she wasn't facing directly into the howling wind. Which was why she became aware of something she was surprised she'd missed earlier: Gen wasn't currently wearing a shirt. Gaige could actually feel the heat in her cheeks conquering the cold of the super-fast wind.
"Almost there! Get ready!" Gen warned. Gaige simply nodded.
Seconds later Gen skidded to a halt next a New-U terminal.
"Go! Hurry!" he ordered urgently, setting Gaige down and giving her a light push in the New-U's direction, "I'll keep watch for anything trying to eat us."
Gaige immediately set to work, prying off a panel on the terminal and accessing the system. Gen shifted nervously, his stress not helped by the knowledge that there was currently nothing he could do to help his father.
A minute and a half later, Gaige rocked back on her heals. "Done." She yelled.
"Mom, dad's in the system. We can let him go."
Silence, cold and discouraging, was the only response.
"Mom?" Gen's voice was shaky.
Instead of Margaret, it was Axton who answered, "I'm sorry kid. We lost 'im less than a minute after you left."
Gen slowly sank to his knees, not even registering the chorus of sympathy from his friends. Seconds later a scream of rage and grief echoed through the Highlands. When he was done Gen simply sat there, feeling hollow inside. He slowly stood up and turned towards the direction of the Dust.
"I… I need some time guys." He mumbled shakily into his ECHO.
He settled into a running stance but froze as Gaige held up her robotic limb in his path.
"…Move, Gaige."
The Mechromancer shook her head stubbornly.
"No, Gen. No more running away from us. No more running from me. We're your friends, Gen. We want to help you, but you have to let us do that." She slowly took a step towards him, "Please."
She finally drew close enough to pull him into a hug. For a moment, it seemed like he would push her away and speed off once again. Then his arms wrapped around her and the Splicer began to cry.
They stayed like that for what felt like an eternity. That was until a very familiar and very, very unwanted voice interrupted them.
"What's the matter? I thought you hated him." Handsome Jack sounded confused, "I thought I'd do you a favour and save you a bullet and now you're crying. What's up with that?"
Gen pulled away from Gaige, his look of shock mirroring her own.
"You? You killed him?"
"What? No! I mean sure, I sent that sniper but I didn't shoot personally shoot the guy. That's what I have underlings for. Duh!"
Gen's shock instantly morphed into anger. "Listen to me very closely, Jack. I will find you, and when I do your death will be neither swift nor painless. You think the murder of one of the last remaining members of my family is funny. Here's something funnier. When this is all over they're going to tell stories about the terrible things I'll have done to you. It'll be fucking biblical, I promise! You think you're so high and fucking mighty as the head of Hyperion but you'll be begging for death when I'm done with you! I swear to you my family will be avenged and you'll curse the name of whatever foul hag gave birth to you before it's over! I'll make all your fanciful dreams of cruelty look like a fucking bedtime story! DO YOU HEAR ME?! YOU'RE DEAD, JOHN WINTERS!"
With that, Gen threw his ECHO as hard as he could. After a few moments he turned back to Gaige.
"Let's get back to Sanctuary. We've got a raid to plan."
So, how was it? Love it? Hate it? Worth the wait, or a total letdown? Leave a review folks.
By the way, I'm starting a collab fic with Don Socrates and infinitexephos. I hope to have the first chapter of that posted soon after this is posted but no promises.
Until next time,
Elemental Hybrid