Chapter 34: I've got something in my throat
Moxxi was inside a Ronin-class Titan, her hands moved quickly, controlling the Titan like a marionette, as the EHR Titanium Series Broadsword glinted in the sunlight. The Titan she was facing, was a sturdy second-generation Titan Legion, Ogre chassis, with its rotary cannon spinning menacingly.
Reaching maximum rotation, Predator Canon began to rain down shots on Ronin. On a plateau with no cover, it was only a matter of time before the weakest of the weak would be defeated.
*BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*
Moxxi reacted swiftly, raising the Broadsword to deflect the incoming barrage. Sparks exploded against the blade as high-caliber projectiles ricocheted harmlessly off its surface, no matter what angle, what speed, or what caliber, Ronin was able to block the projectile in one flash. "Not today," she muttered, pushing her hands forward.
The Ronin moved with agility, dashing forward before disappearing into a shimmering haze of distortion. Legion's optical sensor flared in confusion, scanning the empty space where the Ronin once stood.
Before it could react, the Broadsword pierced through its core. The Legion's massive structure crumpled, falling to its knees as its systems flickered weakly. Its hands gripped the blade, trying to pull it free, but the lights in its sensors dimmed and finally went out, its grip loosening.
"Enemy Titan neutralized. A good death. Combat efficiency enhanced." intoned the Ronin's voice, its distinct tone of detached approval.
Moxxi glanced at the display screens, reviewing the metrics of her performance, or as Maxwell liked to call it, the Aegis Rank. There was still a slight delay between her commands and the Titan's movements, something she was gradually adapting to after hours of combat.
She pulled a lever upward and then pushed it forward, triggering the opening of the Ronin's cockpit hatch. With a practiced leap, Moxxi exited the Titan, her Jumpkit cushioning her descent for a smooth landing.
"Engaging guard mode. Weapons energized. sensors scanning for enemy hostiles." Ronin put away what was to be his sword, which was too big to be called a sword. Massive, thick, heavy and far too rough. Indeed, it was more like a heap of raw iron. Then he pulled out his Leadwall, a shotgun with a triple barrel.
"So, what did you think?" Maxwell carefully approached, the field littered with craters and empty shells scattered across the ground. It was easy to trip and fall in the uneven terrain.
Removing her helmet, Moxxi shook her head, leaving her dark brown hair loose, a little disheveled from the long session. The disarray didn't diminish her charm in Maxwell's eyes on the contrary, it increased it even more. For a moment, he found himself captivated, trapped in her natural beauty.
"I think it's hard to choose. I just want all of them!" Moxxi grinned, her dimples showing as she beamed with joy after hours of testing each of the second-generation Titans. "I really loved flying in the Northstar, but I'm still obsessed with the Ion's Vortex Shield, It's sooooo cool."
"Ugh, you're going to bankrupt me at this rate." Maxwell sighed, running a hand through his hair. He didn't have nearly enough credits to buy the blueprints for every Titan. THE BLUEPRINTS!
It was incredible how Maxwell always felt broke as if things hadn't changed since the days he first acquired his system. Was he going to have to commit genocide against the Psychos just to earn more credits? He had already cleared hundreds of credits by cleaning out Sanctuary.
Maxwell shook his head, shoving the idea to the back of his mind. He tapped his index finger lightly against his lips, pondering which Titan blueprint he should prioritize.
"I think the first-generation Titans might be more useful for our situation. The only expensive thing about them is their shields, which regenerate automatically. They still have customizable abilities and should be easier to manufacture."
With this alternative in mind, he opened the debug mode of the simulation. Angel had granted him admin privileges, allowing him full control over its capabilities. A menu appeared, displaying three Titan options. Maxwell selected all three, causing a trio of massive machines to drop onto the barren terrain.
A notable drawback of the first-generation Titans was the lack of advanced AI. However, Maxwell hoped Angel might find a way to address that.
"Ogre, Atlas, and Stryder..." Moxxi inspected each Titan with care. These three were the progenitors of the second-generation models she had just piloted.
"I think Ogre would be the best choice."
"But Atlas shares its name with the Atlas Corporation. It would make a perfect mascot!"
"That's a fair point, but I'd still prefer piloting an Ogre. Stryders are the coolest, but I like feeling safe." Moxxi shrugged, deciding not to push Maxwell further. She knew he'd been planning this for a long time, and she preferred not to stand in his way.
"How long until I can have the blueprints?"
"Just a few more weeks. We need to hurry before Knoxx arrives on Pandora." Maxwell was being very pessimistic in his calculations. It took him a few months for his first Regeneration, but that was because he was constantly falling into trouble, slowing down his progress.
"The Atlas general? His father fought in the Corporate War. We're in serious trouble if he's bringing the Atlas army here."
"Nah, just watch, the game will turn in our favor." Maxwell scoffed with that 'I have a plan' face that Moxxi was beginning to notice.
"Let's head out. I have a gift for you."
Maxwell ended the simulation, pulling both of them back into reality.
Moxxi blinked, feeling a bit dizzy after spending hours in the same position. The simulation pod released a faint hiss of vapor before its doors opened. Maxwell was sitting casually on the railing, holding a syringe in his hand.
"This is your gift? Doesn't look very inviting." Moxxi eyed the syringe with suspicion. The black goo inside, which was clearly moving, gave off an unsettling vibe.
"They're nanites. They won't harm your body. This technology is given to all soldiers." Maxwell grabbed Moxxi's arm gently. She didn't resist, trusting he had no malicious intent.
"You'll feel a bit strange and weak for a while, but that's just the nanites using the minerals in your body to replicate. A good, nutritious meal afterward, and you'll be fine."
Without further ado, Maxwell plunged the needle into the vein in Moxxi's forearm. She didn't change her expression, but she was uncomfortable as the tiny robots entered her bloodstream. It was like ants crawling through her body, an entirely unpleasant sensation.
Moxxi let out a deep sigh, only to widen her eyes in surprise at the ease of such a simple gesture. Rising to her feet, she placed a hand on her lower back.
"My back pain… and my breathing." Moxxi murmured, marveling as the various aches in her body vanished miraculously.
"Well, with those two massive balloons, it'd be surprising if you didn't have back pain."
"That's just the price of being this hot." Moxxi winked playfully.
Maxwell smiled, but his expression soon turned serious, pulling out two other syringes. "They're no better than the version you have, but they're still very useful. I don't want to sound rude, but they help to maintain the ideal weight and health of a person."
Moxxi was confused for a moment, but then she realized why. Her eyes shifted between the syringes and Maxwell's face, thinking it was some kind of prank.
Seeing that she wasn't going to take it, Maxwell put it directly into her hand. He wouldn't be taking no for an answer.
Moxxi put the syringes away, moving closer, she wrapped her arms around Maxwell and pressed her lips against his. For a brief moment, they forgot about everything else, savoring the taste of each other. They parted before things could get too heated.
"Thanks, Max, really. I wish I'd met you sooner, then you would be my first husband." Moxxi buries her face in Maxwell's chest, feeling a little emotional. She cursed internally, why was she so sentimental?
"But you know what, you're the first one I've ever really loved. No one or circumstance forced me to be with you."
Moxxi was silent for a moment, then, calming her mood, she broke the silence.
"My daughter, Ellie... she was a very beautiful girl, as beautiful as I was in my youth. and she still is." Moxxi felt a lump in her throat. "That caught her father's attention... Max, she was just a child, my child."
"He forced Ellie to be his wife, she was going to be fourteen at the time." Tiny drops of tears began to roll down Moxxi's quivering eyelashes. "When we ran away, Ellie was so traumatized that she refused to take care of herself, it broke me inside, more than the hunger and thirst in the desert I had to go through afterward."
Maxwell remained silent, but his fists were clenched so tightly that his fingers were pale. He wiped away Moxxi's tears, feeling his heart ache at the sight of her ashamed, pain-filled face.
Maxwell combed Moxxi's brown hair, letting her vent. Her cries muffled in his clothes, leaving the place wet.
"*Shiiii* Calm down, I won't let anyone hurt you or your children"
"I'm sorry, I'm such a crybaby." Moxxi almost couldn't finish her sentence because she was sobbing.
Maxwell kissed her cheek, finding the scene cute.
"I look awful" She turns away, embarrassed by her swollen eyes and snot.
Maxwell rolled his eyes, picking the woman up in a princess carry and taking her to the nearest room. He spent the next few hours showing his love as deeply as possible.
...
Maxwell's arms reached for her soft, warm body, but when he noticed her absence, he frowned. He opened his eyes in time to catch a glimpse of Moxxi dressed in her pilot's suit. Stretching out on the bed, Maxwell releases a mouthful, rubbing his eyes.
"Are you going?"
"I think I should check on the Marvins. They should be close to finishing up." Moxxi gave Maxwell one last kiss before pulling away, his eyes trailing after her. Her hips swayed enticingly as she walked.
"Oh, by the way, are we setting up the mining operation here or later?" Moxxi stopped momentarily as if remembering something.
"Later. But collect everything from the storage units. There should be some ores from previous excavations." Maxwell decided he'd head to the gym afterward, a bit of hypertrophy training would do him good. "Once we're done here, we'll stop by a small village. I need some Psychos for test subjects and there's someone I'm looking for, a girl who's the sister of a Lance Assassin."
"Got it~" Moxxi didn't pause this time, her velvety voice echoing through the space as she left.
"I think I'm getting addicted." Maxwell covers himself with a sheet, wanting a few more minutes of snooze time.
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Chapter 35: The road to Hell is full of good intentions
The Vault Hunters were gathered at the entrance of New Haven, observing the calm, routine bustle of the city.
Brick crossed his arms, his expression stern as he muttered to himself, "I hate this city. Every time we come here, Helena pops up with more stupid missions. And, of course, they never pay enough!"
Roland, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, replied without turning. "We won't stay long. We just need to wait for the delivery guy the Guardian Angel mentioned. After that, we're out of here."
As he spoke, the sound of footsteps echoed down the main street. The Vault Hunters turned their heads simultaneously, alert. A humanoid robot with worn yellow paint and scratches all over it was walking toward them.
The Marvin stopped in front of the Vault Hunters, its calm demeanor doing little to ease the tension. It made a slow gesture, reaching toward its back.
The New Haven guards tensed at the suspicious movement, their nerves frayed by recent attacks from Atlas deserter groups.
One of the guards raised his rifle, aiming it directly at the Marvin. Before he could fire, a firm and massive hand shoved the weapon down. "Lower that, idiot," Brick growled. "Let's see what this tin can wants before we put holes in it."
But instead of a weapon or explosive, the Marvin pulled out an ECHO device and extended it toward the group. Cautiously, Lilith stepped forward, took the device, and activated the ECHO deck.
"It's... the key to—"
Before she could finish, Roland covered her mouth with his hand, giving her a stern look. Lilith giggled, embarrassed at almost spilling the secret in front of everyone in New Haven.
"I've marked the Vault's location in your ECHOs. Good luck." Angel's voice came from the Marvin. With its task complete, it turned and began walking back down the street.
"Hey, Roland," Mordecai whispered, watching the robot walk away. "Should we follow that thing?"
Roland nodded. "Seems like a good idea. I want to know who's behind all this."
But before the group could act, the Marvin, as if perfectly understanding their intentions, began emitting a high-pitched sound. A moment later, it exploded, sending glowing scrap metal flying in all directions.
Mordecai flinched but quickly relaxed. "Well, at least it had the decency to explode away from us."
"Whatever!" Lilith exclaimed, clutching the ECHO to her chest. "Let's go after the Vault!"
Suddenly, Roland smacked the back of Lilith's head.
"Ouch! What's your problem, Roland?!" Lilith rubbed her head, looking hurt but still smiling.
Roland didn't answer, pinching the bridge of his nose in disappointment.
"Come on, the coordinates are near Salt Flats. She could've just told us to wait there!" Brick shouted, frustrated with the whole situation.
"At least now we know whoever's behind this isn't too far," Roland thought. The person who sent the robot clearly needed them close, as the longer the journey, the greater the chance of bandit attacks. Unfortunately, that investigation would have to wait. The Vault was more important, Roland decided.
...
Maxwell ran on a treadmill in the gym, a facility fully equipped for a pilot to stay in top form. His breathing was heavy, sweat dripping down the side of his face as his feet blurred across the belt. His eyes were focused on a screen.
[END: 44>45]
[END: 45>46]
[END: 46>47]
Free Bird: Cover 250/520/975 Kilometers running
1 - Adrenaline Transfusion
2 - Prosthetic Legs
3 - ???
(Augments) Prosthetic Legs: It's a very minor procedure. We will start by removing your legs...
Permanently increases your running agility by 70 points, allows you to jump too high, and falls lethally far. Increases the sound of footsteps by 30%.
"70 AGI? That's about 50m/s, I could be almost twice as fast as a cheetah, crazy!" Maxwell thought. "But I'm not cutting off perfect legs for metal ones. Flesh can be trained to its limits and beyond with the right stimuli, while metal is always at its maximum potential, only improvable with upgrades."
Prosthetics in Titanfall were mostly used by pilots who ended up in unfortunate accidents or some crazy person who wanted to chrome the shit out of their body. But Maxwell liked the sensations of touching the grass and feeling the earth. He didn't throw the prostheses away but saved them for a certain cyborg who would love them.
"At least I know the third reward is a skill," he consoled himself. He had been focusing on gaining muscle but decided to run a bit and ended up completing another challenge. "I guess I'll stick to removable augments for now. At least I can take them off without compromising my body."
Recently, he discovered he had grown a few more centimeters. Maxwell guessed that rejuvenating a few years had caused his body to resume growing. This growth spurt had taken him from 6'2" (1.88m) to 6'5" (1.96m), which resulted in his strength per point increasing to 24 pounds (11 kg).
"I'll have to buy a new pilot suit," Maxwell said in frustration, realizing his current suit had become tight. Fortunately, his pilot helmet still fit. His love for loose clothing meant his entire wardrobe wouldn't need to be replaced.
Taking a break to catch his breath and let the nanites repair his damaged muscle fibers, Maxwell opened his Status screen to check his progress.
_____
Name: [Maxwell Willians]
Regeneration: 1
[STR: 39] [END: 47] [DEX: 42] [INT: 25]
Skills: [Trigger Discipline lv.30] [Blade Mastery lv. 51] [Mithridatism Constitution lv.15] [Assassin's Instinct lv.92] [Fast Learner lv.1] [Neurolink Lv.5] [Driving lv.9]
—
Functions: [Hangar] [Questboard] [Most Wanted List]
Credits: 769
_____
"As usual, my intelligence is my weakest stat. I guess I'll have to play a few chess games with Spyglass." Maxwell murmured. Fortunately, Intelligence was easier to manage since it didn't require physical effort, but it demanded creativity to find effective mental exercises. With his breath back, Maxwell started running again, there was no time to lose.
"Max?" Angel's ethereal voice cut through the rhythmic sound of his steps.
He nearly tripped in surprise but quickly adjusted, keeping his pace.
"The Vault Hunters are heading toward the Vault. I'm tracking their movements through the ECHOnet."
"Good. Make sure to keep an eye on them. I want to know their every move."
"Do you think they'll cause trouble once they find out about us?"
"They always cause trouble. 'Vault Hunter' is just a fancy term for mercenary. But that doesn't mean you can't use them to your advantage. Everyone has a price." Maxwell paused, catching his breath while drinking some water. "Have you found any information on a girl named Jess?"
"Having only a first name didn't help much, but I think I found her. It's a small village 400 kilometers south of T-Bone Junction."
"That's too far. We'll head back to Outer Heaven first. Tannis is running out of food." Maxwell closed his eyes, pondering his next decision. "I'll take a smaller, more discreet ship to pick up Jess. Flying around in the Odyssey will attract Atlas."
The sound of someone entering interrupted the conversation. Maxwell smiled when he saw Moxxi leaning against the doorframe.
"I secured the mining operation," Moxxi announced triumphantly, placing her hands on her hips. "And, in case you're wondering, I already stashed all the ores from the warehouses. You wouldn't believe the mess Dahl left behind."
Maxwell raised an eyebrow, wiping sweat from his face with his forearm. "I'm surprised there was anything left. I thought the bandits had looted everything."
"Well, it was well-guarded. The Marvins had to clear the way by force," she admitted with a slightly awkward tone. "The Marvins helped, of course. But I had to put some orders into them. One of them tried to shove its head into the miner. Can you believe that?"
"It'll survive," Maxwell rolled his eyes, tossing two blueprints to Moxxi. "Now that we have everything, let's move out."
"Oh!" Moxxi opens the projects before closing them, her eyes shining as she runs to the Odyssey factory.
Maxwell is paralyzed by his empty eyes, his outstretched hand. "I still had things to say, couldn't you be more patient?"
...
The Vault Hunters pressed on through the icy tundra, heavy snow falling around them and blanketing the uneven terrain. The battlefield was covered in a layer of fresh powder, its serenity masking the chaos of earlier battles.
They had been relentlessly attacked by Guardians, who engaged them the moment they trespassed into Vault territory.
Breathing heavily, the group resumed their trek through the deep snow. The silence was broken only by the sound of their heavy footsteps.
"Have you guys noticed these Guardians seem to be getting stronger?" Brick commented, flexing his fists, which were starting to ache from punching his way through the enemy horde.
"Either that, or we're getting soft," Mordecai quipped, adjusting his hood as Bloodwing landed on his shoulder, shaking snow off its wings. Everyone was wearing clothes suitable for the cold, except Brick, the man didn't seem at all bothered by the sub-zero temperatures
*Crunch*
Mordecai stopped immediately, looking down. "Hey, I think I stepped on something."
Brick moved closer, digging into the snow with his massive hands. He pulled something up with effort, making the group recoil in surprise, not by the corpse, which was a common sight on Pandora, but by who the corpse was. It was the body of an Atlas soldier, partially frozen, his armor chipped and frosted over.
"That's not a good sign," Lilith said with an uneasy tone.
Roland approached, his expression grim. "Be careful. There might be more around here."
Lilith called the group over, pointing to something further ahead. They hurried to her and found another corpse. This one was in worse condition, starting to decompose, but the snow and cold had preserved enough for clear identification. Mordecai crouched beside the body, examining it closely.
"This is... Steele," he said, looking up at the others. "Commandant Steele, from Atlas. Looks like she died pretty close to the Vault."
Tension rose among the group as they stared at the corpse. Lilith frowned, uneasy. "So, does this mean her squad failed to open the Vault? They must have run into the Guardians..."
Roland shook his head, pointing to the wounds on the body. "The Guardians didn't kill them. Look here." He indicated a bullet hole clearly visible on Steele's body. "This was a firefight. And over there..." He gestured to a nearby crater, where charred pieces of Atlas armor were scattered.
"Someone fought Atlas here," he continued, scanning the scene intently. "And it wasn't a small skirmish. This was the work of someone prepared."
Brick scratched his head, trying to piece things together. "So, you're saying... whoever gave us the key... is the same person who did this? Why the hell would they do that? My brain's about to melt trying to figure it out."
Roland closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. The icy air calmed his inner turmoil. It seemed another mega-corporation was fighting Atlas and using them to achieve its goals.
He wanted to give up and leave the key right there, but those thoughts evaporated when he opened his eyes. Seeing the determined look on the redhead's face, he knew they couldn't stop now.
Roland sighed. He didn't have anything better to do after deserting the army. After this, he planned to retire to some faraway planet, out of Atlas' reach.
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
164 Power
stone 
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