Chapter 32: Way to fall
After finishing their meal, Maxwell and Moxxi headed to the Odyssey's Upper Deck, where the fighters and jets landed on the runway. The strong wind ruffled their clothes and hair.
"Even from up here, Sanctuary looks massive. I really can't rely entirely on my knowledge," Maxwell commented, his eyes fixed on the city below.
"Well, you can't expect less from a corporation. Anyway, I'll start working on the Marvins." Moxxi kissed Maxwell on the cheek before stepping away. "Have fun down there, but try not to get yourself killed."
Maxwell touched the spot where she kissed him, feeling lucky that Moxxi was as perverted as he was and grateful for Angel's innocence in tolerating sharing the same man. The world of Borderlands wasn't a Xianxia or a setting where polygamy was common, so he felt reassured about the chances of dating the female characters he admired.
Shaking his head, Maxwell stopped daydreaming and turned his attention to Sanctuary, his mood souring quickly as he observed the place infested with a clan of criminals.
Sanctuary's bandits relentlessly fired at the Odyssey. Bullets, rockets, and grenades exploded against the ship's shields, causing no significant damage. But even an ant's bite could irritate, and Maxwell's patience was running thin.
"Angel," Maxwell murmured, his jaw clenched. "Enough playing around with them. Use the light artillery. Fire without worrying about the buildings. I don't need all of Sanctuary, just the excavator machine underneath the city."
Two rotary cannons emerged from the sides of the ship, their multiple barrels spinning with a threatening hum. Within seconds, they reached maximum speed and unleashed a storm of fire and metal.
*BRRRRRR*
The barrage of bullets rained down on the bandits below, the deafening sound echoing across the area. The weapons adjusted their angles automatically, relentlessly tracking targets and turning any threat into dust and debris.
"Holy crap, that's light artillery?" Maxwell could only imagine the devastation the heavier cannons would cause.
"According to the ship's database, it's light artillery—Avenger 20mm Vulcan cannons used against aircraft and armored vehicles. The smaller aircraft handle minor targets."
"Goodness, Angel, 20mm rounds are the size of my hand." A bead of sweat formed on Maxwell's forehead.
Seeing that enough damage had been done to the enemy ranks, Maxwell wanted to take advantage of the chaos and dust that had been stirred up.
"Cease fire."
"Max, there are still bandits down there—" Angel couldn't understand why Maxwell wanted to stop. They just needed to keep firing for a few more minutes, and she was sure she could wipe them all out.
"This kind of ammunition isn't cheap, girl. I'll handle the rest." Maxwell walked to the edge of the Odyssey's upper deck, the strong wind blowing his hair back as he surveyed the chaos below. Black smoke rose from flaming debris, and the screams of injured bandits still echoed through the ruins.
Donning his helmet, Maxwell stepped forward, gravity doing the rest.
"I think you're turning into an adrenaline junkie." Angel mentally rolled her eyes, they had dropships on the Odyssey.
The wind roared around him as he fell, but Maxwell was calm. He began laughing before spinning in the air. He performed a sideways pirouette followed by a perfect backflip, each move synchronized with the wind's roar.
The Jumpkit mounted on his back and waist activated at the exact moment, the thrusters emitting a bluish glow as they stabilized his descent. What should have been a deadly impact turned into a smooth landing, with Maxwell rolling to dissipate the remaining momentum.
The bandits were stunned. Some froze mid-action, staring at Maxwell as if he were a supernatural entity, a chill running down their spines. Maybe it was the adrenaline, but they swore they saw Maxwell's eyes glowing red.
He drew his Wingman from his waist, spinning it stylishly before pulling the trigger, sending the hammer crashing down on the primer and propelling deadly metal slugs. Each shot was a perfect hit skulls exploding, bodies collapsing, blood and gunpowder filling the air.
"RAAAAHHH!" A Psycho emerged from the wreckage, leaping with his sawblade axe raised high above his head for a fatal strike.
Maxwell snorted before vanishing.
"HUH? HE DISAPPEARED!"
A chill ran across the Psycho's neck. The sharp pain made him aware of the jet of blood flowing from the wound. He clutched the cut with both hands, the blood filling his mouth and choking him.
Maxwell blew the smoke from the Wingman's barrel before holstering it. The dust was still thick, but his minimap detected no hostile movement.
"Angel," Maxwell called, his tone devoid of any joy from the massacre. "The area is secure. Lower the ship. I'll look for the entrance in the meantime."
...
A few hours later.
A line of Marvins, perfectly aligned service robots, marched out of the Odyssey. Their mechanical footsteps beat steadily as the sun gleamed off their freshly polished frames.
"You know, this is pretty impressive, though I think they'd look better in red," Moxxi began, breaking the silence. "Anyway, how exactly do you plan to mine without the Vault open? You said the Vault needs to be open for this Eridium to surface."
"We still need resources for construction and repair," Maxwell crossed his arms. "I also plan to start manufacturing ammunition to save money in the long run. How are our reserves?"
"It's true," Moxxi sighed, adjusting her helmet. "Considerably reduced. It's not like we have an infinite stock of rare materials around here. And these toys don't come cheap, Max."
Maxwell shrugged, shaking his head as he watched the Marvins disappear toward the excavator. "They'll be worth every gram of resource invested. These guys will handle the heavy lifting while we focus on other matters."
"Speaking of which," Maxwell continued, turning his attention to Moxxi, "how's the programming on the Marvins? Everything working as planned?"
"Angel's a genius when it comes to programming and technology. I didn't even need to get my hands dirty this time. She practically did everything herself, and I just watched. Honestly, I don't know what we'd do without her." Moxxi chuckled softly, placing a hand on her hip.
"Really? Huh, glad to hear you two are getting along." Maxwell smiled, even though Moxxi couldn't see it through his helmet. He turned, heading into the Odyssey.
"Follow me. I think it's time to show you the Titans. I don't have the blueprints yet, but I've got the simulator ready."
Moxxi raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile forming on her painted-red lips. "Oh, so we're finally getting to see these Titans. You sure know how to keep a girl curious, Max. Let's see what you've got!"
Maxwell led Moxxi to the training hangar, instructing her to enter one of the simulators. The simulator's doors closed as she pulled the lever.
Bright white lights appeared, and Moxxi looked curiously at one of them. The light seemed to notice her gaze, blinking before disappearing.
"Before we start, we need to calibrate the machine so you'll be comfortable. Look at all the lights, using only your head movements."
Understanding the task, Moxxi looked at one of the lights until they all turned off.
"How are you feeling?" Maxwell's voice echoed in Moxxi's helmet.
"I'm okay, you can continue."
"Alright. Initializing Neural Link. It won't be the same as with a Titan, but it'll be a good start for both of us."
*Buzz* *Buzz* *Buzz*
Moxxi squinted as two green lights scanned her body before aiming directly at her eyes. She felt her body gradually go numb until she lost all sensation, and her vision turned completely white.
"UGH." Moxxi blinked, her vision adapting to the new environment. She was in a roofless room, the sun providing pleasant warmth while the surrounding cherry trees cast cool shadows. Some leaves fell into a small stream to her left, lazily carried by the current.
"This is incredible, isn't it? If I didn't know it was a simulation, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference from real life."
Lowering her gaze, she saw Maxwell sitting on a long orange beam that stretched across both walls. What she didn't expect to see was a girl with long black hair wearing a flowing white dress sitting a bit farther away, dipping her feet into the water. She looked like a delicate creature. Small and slender, with big, innocent blue eyes.
"Yes, it's a beautiful place. I thought the simulations would take place in a more military-like setting." Moxxi approached, sitting between the two. "I feel better here, my back pain is gone, and I can breathe more easily."
"Well, these aren't our real bodies, so we don't have any disabilities or illnesses," Maxwell said, blowing a few cherry blossoms off his shoulder, a sense of guilt growing in his chest. "I'll arrange for your Regeneration as soon as possible, but I'll provide the best nanites I can get for you after we're done here."
"I'm practically a grandma, I can wait." Moxxi waved her hand dismissively, though she couldn't fully grasp everything he was saying. She knew it was something valuable. Turning, she looked at the girl, knowing it could only be one person.
"Angel? I didn't expect to see you here." Moxxi leaned over Angel. "Now I understand why Maxwell wants to save you. Such a beautiful and innocent girl, I want to hug you tightly!"
"Same here. I had to use all my willpower not to kiss those adorable lips."
"P-Pleased to meet you, M-Moxxi," Angel stammered, feeling shy under Moxxi's sincere gaze and Maxwell's affectionate one. It was the first time her true form had been seen.
"I was thinking— HMMM!?" Angel's eyes widened as she felt a pair of arms wrap around her head, smothering her against Moxxi's ample chest.
"So cute. You're young enough to be my daughter. Maxwell is an unforgivable pervert, corrupting such an innocent girl."
Maxwell rolled his eyes, feeling a twinge of jealousy toward Angel.
"Now, this place is called The Pilot's Gauntlet. It's where pilots take their first steps toward becoming capable of piloting a Titan."
"I would like to know if you want to take this path?"
"All pilots must go through the training, right? So I want to see how the best soldiers of our corporation will be made."
Angel takes advantage of the distraction and silently disappears, not wanting to call out to Moxxi.
"At your command, ma'am." Putting on his helmet, Maxwell gets up and begins jogging lightly. He could have used teleportation, but he preferred to serve as a reference for Moxxi.
Moxxi followed behind. Normally, running at this pace would have exhausted her, but her body felt unusually vigorous. Excited, she ran faster to catch up with Maxwell, who looked like a monkey running along the walls and sliding across the floor.
Moxxi finally catches up to Maxwell, who has stopped. Approaching him, she noticed part of the path was missing, leaving only a vertical wall connecting the way. The strangest thing was a stream defying gravity, continuing its flow up the wall.
"I guess I'll need to try that wall-running thing," Moxxi murmured. She had seen Maxwell running on walls in the Underdome, something even she thought was really cool.
"Don't worry about falling. You'll automatically respawn here. Good luck!" Maxwell jumps onto the wall, his jump kit leaving a trail along the way. He crosses effortlessly, waving at Moxxi from the other side.
"Okay, I can do this." Moxxi takes a deep breath and runs to gain momentum.
Jumping onto the wall, she recalls Maxwell's movements, trying to replicate them exactly. Her jump kit activates the instant her feet touch the wall. Her heart races, she's doing it!
*stumble*
Moxxi's feet get tangled, breaking her momentum. Gravity, unforgiving, pulls her down.
"KYAAA!"
"Uh?" Moxxi feels her vision shift; she was back at the starting point.
"Old dogs can't learn new tricks," Moxxi muttered, feeling a bit dejected. But seeing Maxwell wave from the other side renewed her determination. She tries again. After a few failures, she finally manages her first successful wall run.
*Clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*
"Congratulations! Using the jump kit can be tricky at first, but you did a great job." Maxwell applauds enthusiastically.
Moxxi was grateful the helmet hid her blush. She tapped Maxwell and took off running.
"Tag! You're it!"
"...Wait, I didn't know we were playing tag!"
"Eat dust!"
"Hahaha!"
The picturesque scene of the pair chasing each other, running along concrete walls, continued until they stopped in a large open room without a roof. At its center was a garden with a large sword embedded in the ground.
Suddenly, several weapon racks fell from the sky. Angel appeared again, her feet stepping on the grass, fingers curling at the funny sensation.
"Are these all Ouroboros weapons?" Moxxi hurried to the racks, her eyes sparkling. Each weapon looked more interesting than the last. "They seem inspired by Dahl and Vladof."
"Pick one. We're about to go through the pilot evaluation," Maxwell said, grabbing a CAR. He didn't need to take Moxxi to a firing range, she was as accurate with a gun as he was.
Moxxi appeared after a few minutes, holding an X-55 Devotion with an RE-45 Auto as her secondary weapon.
"How does this Pilot Evaluation work?"
"You have two minutes to complete the run. There will be some enemies you need to eliminate along the way. See you on the other side!" Maxwell punctuated his words before running off, his body disappearing as he entered.
"Uh, I've been through some clan wars. This shouldn't be too hard..."
...
A few minutes later, Moxxi emerged on the other side, looking worn out. During the run, she realized pilots didn't have one particular item that made a huge difference in a firefight.
A shield.
She had been hit multiple times by the enemies, shocking her even more with how realistic the pain felt.
"One minute and twelve seconds, not bad." Maxwell commented, seeing Moxxi's name appear on the board. Since they were the only two who had entered the Pilot's Gauntlet, there were only two names listed.
Moxxi raised her head, noticing she was in second place on the board. Her eyes moved higher, seeing Maxwell's name in the first place. What she hadn't expected was his time:
Ten seconds and thirty milliseconds.
"You've got to be kidding me," Moxxi muttered, doubting they had run the same course.
"If it's in the game, you use it," Maxwell shrugged. Octane used a grenade to win a race and lost his legs; why wouldn't he use that tactic in a simulation?
"Well, we've had our fun. Now let's get to the real deal. Angel! We need space."
"Alright~"
Moxxi's vision turned white again. She recovered faster this time. Looking around, she realized they had been transported to a plain. Grass and trees swayed in the breeze, with a few floating rocks scattered around.
A hand touched Moxxi's shoulder, and a soft whisper echoed in her ear.
"Do you see the interface for a large robot in the lower-left corner of your visor? Activate it to call your first Titan."
Moxxi did exactly as Maxwell instructed. A blue marker appeared on the grass, and a timer popped up slightly above the marked area.
"Standby for Titanfall!" Maxwell couldn't resist.
7.00
6.54
5.49
3.81
2.69
1.06
0.00
*SWOOOOOSH*
A sound of something slicing through the wind echoed. Moxxi looked up just in time to see a fiery object hurtling toward the designated spot. A huge dust cloud rose as the object struck the ground.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOM*
Slowly, the dust settled, revealing the monstrous colossus, the steel stallion, the harbinger of war.
The Titan.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Querubim_
Querubim_ Happy New Year, I've been enjoying my time with my family, I hope you've done the same rather than wasting time reading a fanfic.
Joking aside, I saw that the trailer for Borderlands 4 was released. I liked some of it, and hated most of the rest.
I was wondering about Siren, if she'll have Steele's powers, and if she'll be Emily Swan. I hope the writers at Gearbox don't let this go, it would be a shame to have a fanfic writer know more about the franchise than they do.
Time Keeper and the Psycho Queen look like they're going to have quite a war arc before I finish my fanfic. Yes, I consider that Borderlands 4 comes out before I complete my fanfic, because I'm aware of how slow the posting rate is.
and, did you see how Zane turned out? I was worried about poor Moxxi, she's going to be a grandma in Borderlands 4 :(
Anyway, I've finished watching Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and I couldn't find any fanfic. I think people hate science and philosophy.
Chapter 33: Harder better faster stronger
Moxxi shivered as she watched the metal giant slowly rise from its crouched position. Its supposed "eye" scanned the terrain, gathering and analyzing all the information around it.
"Close your mouth, darling, or a fly might get in."
Moxxi felt a hand under her helmet. She wondered how the man knew her jaw had dropped despite the helmet.
"A second-generation Vanguard-class Titan, they're the best in versatility. This Titan can use any equipment from other Titans. Very expensive and heavy, reserved only for the best." Maxwell felt a wave of emotion seeing such a familiar figure. It reminded him of the days when he'd rush home from school to play Titanfall multiplayer. Life was simple and nostalgic back then.
Standing at an imposing 8 meters tall and weighing 40 tons, the Vanguard was originally painted in shades of military green with orange or metallic gray. However, Maxwell planned to change the colors to avoid associations with certain corporations. Its head had a rectangular visor with a large central lens glowing a bright blue, serving as its primary "eye." There were also smaller cameras for dynamic rear and flank views, though the pilot only had access to the front hub.
"I chose a Vanguard for you so you can experiment with all the layouts of other Titans and figure out which suits your preferences," Maxwell said as he approached the Titan, Moxxi following behind with a mix of curiosity and a tinge of fear.
"If it's such a good Titan, why must I choose another one?"
"I just think every pilot should specialize in one Titan. Jack of all trades but master of none doesn't appeal to me. You'd agree if you'd seen a guy named Viper be an absolute monster in a Northstar." Maxwell explained while gesturing for the Titan to open its cockpit. "Vanguards and first-generation Titans are good for less orthodox, unpredictable, and versatile loadouts. These qualities can catch an enemy off guard."
"Get in. A mechanic like you should be able to assess a Titan's performance more insightfully." Maxwell didn't mind letting her go first since it wasn't BT-7274. Although the Titan session was locked, it hadn't stopped him from seeing the items sold, including BT's SERE kit, which allowed him to use it on any Titan besides the Vanguard.
Maxwell could only imagine how powerful BT would be in a Monarch, a Titan built by the IMC from Vanguard scraps. Its name wasn't imposing without reason, as its evolving core made the Monarch more resilient than the Legion or Scorch.
'DAMN! I need to get stronger fast!' Maxwell would have exited the simulation and gone to Odyssey's gym, but Moxxi needed him here.
The Vanguard lowered its hand and opened it. Moxxi hesitated briefly, but her curiosity quickly overcame her fear. She climbed up, startled momentarily and almost falling as she was lifted to the cockpit. She scanned the interior before entering and sitting in the chair. Surprisingly, it was spacious, and the seat was comfortable, soft, and reclining.
The hatch closed automatically, leaving the interior pitch black until the internal systems activated. Moxxi noticed lines of code appearing in the top-right corner of her visor. A robotic female voice spoke to her.
"PROTOCOL 1: Link to Pilot."
Moxxi's vision became obscured by green lines before normalizing again.
"Neural link established, war engineer Mad Moxxi. You are now confirmed as the active pilot of AS-2713."
"PROTOCOL 2: Uphold the mission. No designated mission. Awaiting orders from superiors."
"PROTOCOL 3: Protect the Pilot. No threats were detected within a 100-meter radius. Analyzing the pilot's health... No anomalies or injuries found in the Pilot."
Moxxi was excitedly bouncing in her seat as a screen divided into four sections lit up, highlighting the hatch from where the Titan opened its cockpit. She had been curious about how to pilot something without being able to see outside. Then she noticed another point.
"HOW DO I PILOT THIS THING?" Moxxi looked at her hands. There was no analog control or steering wheel, only panels and buttons. But as if sensing her doubts, four rings encircled each of her arms.
"Control transferred to Pilot."
"Huh? Oh!"
She accidentally pulled a hand forward in surprise, causing Alpha Sierra to step forward, barely avoiding crushing poor Maxwell by mere centimeters.
"Oops! My bad. Did I hurt you?"
"No problem. My fault for standing so close." Maxwell wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. The simulation had pain sensitivity enabled.
She could see Maxwell looking up and waving at her from outside, a funny sight since she always had to look up when talking to Maxwell because of his height. Turning her attention back to the "monitor," she noticed a miniature of the Vanguard Titan in the top-right corner beside the minimap in the top-left corner. She assumed it was the Titan's Integrity Status, indicating which parts needed repair after battle, a handy feature since mechanics spent more time finding defects than fixing them.
In the upper center of the monitor were two bars, one blue and one white. She wasn't sure what they represented, but Alpha soon answered her question as if reading her mind.
"The smaller white bar represents my shields. When depleted, my armor becomes exposed. The blue bar represents my armor, with the segments indicating its layers. As a Vanguard, I have 5 point armor. Damage penetrating the armor impacts the Titan chassis, potentially causing rapid functional losses."
Moxxi let out a whistle. A Titan could endure so much stress before being destroyed. No wonder Maxwell said Titans were their trump card. Mechs weren't new in their era, she had heard of Vladof's Iron Bears, but they couldn't compare to a Titan.
Moxxi's vision swam momentarily, with a brief dizziness before returning to normal.
"Affinity with Neural Link deepened, enabling weapon usage. XO16A2 Chaingun ready."
New icons appeared on the monitor. In the bottom-left corner were four icons, the largest among them displaying a crescent-shaped bar at 0%, indicating it needed charging. The others showed a blue vortex, a cloud with a lightning bolt, and a small rocket with several red arrows around it.
There was also an image of the XO16A2 silhouette with a counter reading 40/1200, indicating the weapon's maximum capacity and total ammunition.
"Well, I guess it's time for you to test a Titan's capabilities. Angel, bring in an enemy Titan. We'll scale the difficulty gradually."
"Understood. A less intelligent AI will be good for learning."
A Tone dropped from the sky dozens of meters away from Moxxi, an orange dome surrounding it, protecting the Titan as it rose after such a high-altitude landing. Its red eyes locked onto Moxxi immediately, pulling its 40mm Tracker Cannon from its back and firing without hesitation.
*BOOOM* *BOOOM* *BOOOM* *BOOOM*
"Alert: Engaging in combat with an enemy Titan. Defensive measures are recommended."
The shots were like thunderclaps. Moxxi could still hear them even with the acoustic insulation of her pilot helmet.
"Uh, crap, what defense? This is an open plain with no cover for something this big." Moxxi bit her lip, tense as she saw her shield bar drop to half.
"Screw it! The best defense is a good offense!" Moxxi lost her patience, pointing her XO-16A2 at the enemy Tone, instinctively clenching her right fist.
*TAAK* *TAAK* *TAAK* *TAAK* *TAAK*
The gigantic shells flew out of her massive weapon, hitting the ground with thuds, and burning the grass on impact.
The Tone absorbed the initial shots but deployed its Particle Wall. The blue shield absorbed the rounds, but its hue shifted to orange as Moxxi emptied her weapon.
Frustrated at failing to deal any damage, Moxxi grew wary as something rose from the Tone's shoulder. Before she could process it, Alpha urgently warned her.
"Enemy Titan locked on. Incoming missiles. Vortex Shield usage recommended."
*SWOOOOSH*
Moxxi didn't have time to think, she pressed and held a button marked with the blue vortex symbol. Seeing the missiles leave smoky trails, she closed her eyes, bracing for an explosion.
After a few seconds without anything happening, Moxxi opened her eyes and saw her Titan's hand stretched forward, projecting a huge blue vortex from the Alpha's palm. It looked like it was struggling, given that the giant hand was visibly shaking.
The missiles floated harmlessly, but this didn't intimidate the enemy Titan, which kept firing, adding bullets to the vortex. The shield began to redden from the strain.
Moxxi knew holding it for longer wasn't a good idea. She released the button, prompting her Titan to launch all the missiles and 40mm rounds back at the Tone, destroying its Particle Wall and partially depleting its shields.
"What is this, telekinesis? Don't tell me Titans have magical powers!" Moxxi stared at the scene, stunned, struggling to believe Titans had abilities.
"It's science, baby. But any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Maxwell shrugged but decided to give her tips, it was her first time, after all. "You should move. Standing still makes you an easy target. Use the Turbo Engines to evade while your defensive ability is offline."
"Easy for you to say, Max! Piloting a Titan feels like trying to write with both hands, my focus keeps slipping!"
"It's not that hard; it's like playing drums. You'll get the hang of it."
"You've played drums to say that?!"
"Tone's making another move, better focus, hehe." Maxwell noticed the woman was enjoying herself, even if she struggled with the controls.
Maxwell turned his attention away from the duel and back to the small girl sitting next to him. He pretended not to notice Angel's occasional glances, she was growing a little bolder.
"By the way, Angel, can you contact the Vault Hunters?" Maxwell rested his hand on Angel's black hair, stroking it gently.
A faint blush rose to the girl's cheeks. Though embarrassed, she didn't ask him to stop.
"Could you be more specific? You know Vault Hunters aren't a single group. Pandora's seen forty-eight Vault Hunters, though most are just mercenaries."
"Huh, I didn't know there were more Vault Hunters on Pandora than those four. Makes sense, I guess. Anyway, I'm talking about the group with the red-haired Siren."
"Oh, the Vault Hunters my father sent me to deceive."
Maxwell's hand left Angel's hair, his claws gripping her small waist, pulling her closer.
"Father?"
"..."
"Can you forget I said that?"
"No."
...
Salt Flats was a strange place.
By day, the heat was so scorching that a third-degree burn wasn't out of the question. By night, the cold was such that mountain peaks accumulated snow.
The planet felt much like Psycho's mind, so chaotic and bipolar that understanding such madness was insanity itself.
On this beautiful night, the sky was so full of stars that it seemed they might spill. Among the rocks, a group sat around a campfire, a bandit car parked nearby, serving as cover.
"Damn, I'm done. Hey, Roland, are you sure there's an Atlas base around here?" asked a thin man with spiky black hair tied up in a bun and a sniper rifle on his lap. A sinister bird was sleeping on the man's shoulder.
"The folks from Hollow Point said there was Lancer activity a few weeks ago," replied a dark-skinned man, turning the skewers of meat over the fire.
"How are they still operating? Isn't Steele dead? Or was that soldier we interrogated lying, keeping us on this planet to finish us off?" A big man grabbed a skewer, devouring it in seconds, looking far from satisfied.
"It's the military, Brick. Even with the leader gone, they still have their lieutenants and sergeants. On a hostile planet like this, dispersing means death to the fauna or Psychos."
"Huh, these pyramid schemes are complicated. Ever thought about what to do after this? I'm thinking of opening a veterinary clinic."
"If it's about what we like, then I'll start a brewery. Then I can drink all I want, hehe."
"Let's be honest Mordecai, you'll go bankrupt in weeks, drinking everything before selling the first batch, hahaha."
"PFF HAAHAHA."
"What about you, Lilith… Lilith?"
The men turned to the woman standing and gazing at the sky. She seemed lost in thought.
"Hey, Lilith, obsessing over the Vault is messing with your head. Come eat something, or hunger will kill you first."
Lilith sighed audibly, her shoulders dropping. Turning, she approached the fire, sitting down, and serving herself some meat, no one needed to know what it was.
"I don't know. I've never thought of doing anything besides learning about Sirens…"
"GRR, my life sucks. And you're no help, you piece of junk."
*Baam*
"OOF, HEY! I'm tied up, you're not giving me any food, and now you're mad at me? Am I really that unlikeable?"
"Shut up, Claptrap. We're only keeping you around because of that blue AI. I regret not throwing you into the Rakk Hive's mouth when we had the chance."
*Sob* *Sob* *Sob*
"But I don't even know what you're talking about! I don't know any Guardian Angel!" Claptrap cried dramatically, hurt more by their words than the unnecessarily tight chains crushing his rusty chassis.
"You didn't have to hit him, Lilith. Now we'll have to bury him so we can sleep."
Mordecai and Brick stood, ready to dig a hole. They seemed used to this situation, it happened all too often.
But before they could proceed, Claptrap trembled, his demeanor changing suddenly.
"Intimidating my favorite robot? Threatening your only source of information? Truly a stupid move." Claptrap's grating voice was replaced by Angel's melodic, familiar tone.
"IT'S HER!"
"You abandoned us after we killed Baron Flynt, you witch!"
"A lot has happened, and much more will happen. You don't know what you're involved in. This is a conflict among sharks, not sardines like you. Still, I have the information you need. Will you listen?"
"Hear you out, only to step into another mess?" Roland's patience wore thin. He should've been off Pandora by now. As a deserter from Atlas, staying on a planet crawling with their soldiers wasn't smart.
"Then why are you still keeping Claptrap?"
"Because he works well as bait."
"Fair enough, Brick. Anyway, I have information about the Vault and the key's whereabouts."
"I can't ignore this, Roland. As a Siren, I feel there's something in the Vault that can help us. It's not just about weapons or treasures; it's something bigger. Don't you trust me?"
"I trust you. I don't trust her."
"Honestly? I'm tired of this. I don't want to trust her, but we're already in the middle of this mess. If there's any chance, no matter how small, to end it, I'm in."
"I'll probably regret this later, but I came to Pandora knowing I might die searching for the Vault."
"Well, well. Looks like we have a deal. Head to New Haven. Once you arrive, we'll talk again." With those words, Angel relinquished control over Claptrap.
"..."
"I WANT TO TAKE A DUMP!"
"Bury this thing already."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Querubim_
Querubim_
I've written the first part of the chapter a few times, I don't know if I've detailed things too much.
I've already received a few comments telling me to choose this Titan or that Titan. Maxwell will use several Titans, as will his friends and family, don't worry, your main will get screen time, every Titan is cool and I like them all, although BT has a special place in my heart.
I'd like your opinion on which Titan the characters from the Borderlands franchise should pilot?
There are some very easy ones. Zero is 100% Ronin, and Tina is Papa Scorch.
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