Chapter 36: The Less I Know The Better
"He's late," Tannis muttered, frowning as she adjusted her glasses. "I'm dying of boredom, and soon also of hunger. Frankly, I must admit he's one of the least worst bosses I've ever had."
"Mr. Maxwell is precise. He must have had a good reason to be away for so long," Spyglass replied in a tone designed to calm her. "They're already nearby. Tracking confirmed."
Cutting through the clouds, the Odyssey appeared above Outer Heaven. The ship slowed, hovering over the ocean before gently landing on the water's surface. Its characteristic ramp extended to the island.
At the top of the ramp, two figures emerged. They were closely followed by a dozen Spectres escorting a line of chained Psychos.
The Psychos, known for their uncontrollable savagery, were surprisingly quiet, walking in an orderly rhythm. Each had their arms bound by shackles, with chains around their necks connecting them to the group, an effective measure against any escape attempts.
"Welcome, Sir Maxwell. It's good to see you in fine condition," Spyglass greeted his superior with a swift military salute. "If I may say so, the new uniform suits you perfectly."
"I can say the same, Outer Heaven looks well-maintained," Maxwell replied briefly. "I had to get a larger size and decided to go with an Apex Predators uniform while I was at it. I haven't had much downtime lately, but I plan on squeezing in a few more chess matches soon."
"Certainly, sir, it would be a pleasure."
Turning to Moxxi, Spyglass immediately assessed her status, noting the pheromones of his superior mingling with hers.
"This is Moxxi, a genius mechanic," Maxwell gestured to Moxxi, introducing her to the others. "Moxxi, these are Spyglass, my all-purpose butler, if you need something, just ask him. And Tannis, my scientist who volunteered to work here on Outer Heaven."
Moxxi snapped out of her awe and waved at the pair. She had been marveling at the tropical scenery of the island, almost forgetting she was still on Pandora. It felt like a slice of heaven in the deepest pits of hell.
"Volunteered, you say," Tannis huffed before turning her attention to the Psychos. "Oh, dear God, this might be my first experiment with human subjects. I believe I'm finally venturing into the less ethical areas of science."
"Second thoughts already? Look, we're about to become a corporation. Human testing won't be the last sin we commit before we kick the bucket. Besides, I don't recall you being religious."
"I'm an atheist, thank God."
"I didn't know you could tell jokes, Tannis."
"This place is stunning," Moxxi interjected, interrupting their banter. "Will you show me around Outer Heaven?" Her excitement about exploring the island took precedence over socializing. She grabbed Maxwell by the arm and pulled him away.
"Take the prisoners to the cells, and don't let Tannis move without a squad of Spectres escorting her. Also, make sure the Marvins store the food properly, some of it's perishable, so keep it well preserved."
Maxwell gave his final orders to Spyglass before joining Moxxi for a tour of the island. They strolled along the beach before venturing deeper into the island, passing by some of its older structures, including the general hospital and the treehouse where Ned had been killed. Maxwell made a stop at the graves of his former squadmates, adding more rocks to their graves as it seemed some wild animals had tried to dig them up.
After showing her most of the island, Maxwell and Moxxi decided to have a picnic on the beach, relaxing on lounge chairs, drinking coconut water, and enjoying the cool shade of an umbrella. The occasional salty breeze and the sound of crashing waves created a peaceful ambiance, perfect for a nap if the couple hadn't been so excited and ended up in a sweaty and sticky session of physical exercise.
...
"Hey, Max... Max?"
"Just five more minutes," Maxwell groaned, feeling the afternoon sun against his eyelids as he tightened his embrace around the naked body on top of him.
"The Hyperion satellites detected General Knoxx's warship entering the atmosphere, and I lost the signal of the Vault Hunters after they entered the cavern The Descent," Angel's voice echoed in Maxwell's foggy consciousness. "I've powered down most of Odyssey's systems to conserve energy, and our little Marvin friends finished unloading everything. Speaking of which, I'd like a Marvin chassis for a Claptrap that I really like. You wouldn't mind, would you?"
"Sure, sure, do whatever you want," Maxwell muttered, his focus more on Moxxi, who was waking up and slowly pulling herself off him. His member slipped out of her with a sensual sound, and the sight of the white liquid trailing after reminded him of a pressing question.
"Do you think it's safe for me to finish inside you?"
"I stopped menstruating two years ago, so I can't get pregnant," Moxxi yawned, stretching out her arms and giving Maxwell an unobstructed view of her ample chest. He felt a pang of loss at the sight of those breasts being hidden under her bra.
"Huh. That's a shame," Maxwell muttered, feeling a mix of emotions about the revelation. Some things were better left unknown.
"Angel was talking to you, right? That telepathy thing is so handy. Sirens are really strange; I wonder what it must feel like."
"Has she used telepathy on you? What were you two talking about?" Perhaps it was the clarity of post-nut thoughts, but Maxwell's mind raced with ideas, some involving twins. Moxxi was like a succubus, and Phaseleech fit perfectly for one.
"Girl stuff..."
"Okay, keep your girl secrets then," Maxwell shrugged, brushing the sand off himself before getting dressed.
"Looks like Knoxx has arrived on the planet. I wanted to spend more time here, but we'll need to fetch Jess soon," Maxwell said as he and Moxxi began heading back to Odyssey, leaving the mess for the Marvins to clean up.
"Is this girl that important?"
"Individually, no, she's not that important. But her sister is, and it's not just me who thinks so." Maxwell explained as they stepped into Odyssey, taking an elevator to the flight deck above. "Athena's going to want out of Atlas, but the Atlas higher-ups will send her on one last mission, involving the destruction of a small town, a town where her sister lives."
"I get that a Lance Assassin is important, but all this for one?"
"She's the leader of the Lance Assassins. If I have their leader, I have all of them, with the right contract. Can you imagine those women piloting Ronins and Northstars?"
*Ding*
The elevator doors opened, strong winds whipping their clothes around.
"Ready for a ride on the Goblin?" Maxwell asked casually, pointing to the smaller ship already prepped on Odyssey's launch platform.
The small craft had cost him a combined total of 185[C], including the new uniform, leaving him with 584[C]. The Goblin's original paint was in black and white tones, with a reinforced glass dome offering wide visibility for the pilot. Its cockpit window had a faint bluish tint from the anti-glare coating. Two main engines sat at the rear, with smaller maneuvering thrusters on either side for tight environments or zero-gravity control.
Moxxi gave a broad smile. "With you piloting, always."
"I'm not piloting. You are," Maxwell replied, leaving Moxxi with a look of amused surprise as he walked toward the smaller craft.
"Okay~ But no guarantees," she teased.
The Goblin's rear door opened, allowing them to enter the transport space, which could carry up to six people or an equivalent amount of cargo. Moxxi inspected the interior in awe, making her way to the cockpit.
Seated in the pilot's chair, Moxxi leaned forward, squinting as her fingers danced over the controls. "Okay, seriously, Max... Are you sure this didn't come with a manual? Because I swear half these buttons look like they'll launch a missile or eject us."
Maxwell, seated beside her, looked utterly relaxed, as if on a casual Sunday drive. "I have no idea. Good luck."
Moxxi arched an eyebrow, a provocative smile forming on her lips. "So you let me fly because… you're scared?"
"I can't feel fear, so not exactly," Maxwell replied, giving her an indifferent look. "You've flown something before, right? I just figured you'd enjoy it. Plus, if you crash, I can blame you. On the bright side, if we fall, our Jumpkits will act as parachutes, so relax."
Moxxi rolled her eyes. "Thanks for calming my nerves, you're really helping."
"You're welcome."
Moxxi started rummaging through the cockpit, eventually finding a manual in a compartment overhead. They spent a few quiet minutes with the occasional cough and the rustling of pages.
"Do you still smoke?"
"My stress has been way down, so I quit smoking recently," Moxxi replied without taking her eyes off the manual.
"Huh. I used to smoke a bit, but I got kicked out of school for it. My dad beat me so bad back then that every time I tried smoking again, I'd feel a phantom pain."
"Funny, I never got beaten by my parents."
"Good for you. Were you the typical good girl?"
"No, it's because I don't have parents."
"Oouh, that makes sense."
"…"
"Now… where's this Jess you mentioned?" Moxxi asked as she stashed the manual away.
Maxwell reached over to one of the panels with a map. Zooming out, he pointed to a town in the middle of the desert. "Four hundred kilometers south of T-Bone Junction. We'll fly low to avoid Atlas drones."
"T-Bone Junction? That's where my son's garage is. I need to call him to get his sister there."
"Couldn't you call Ellie yourself?"
"She hasn't spoken to me since she left."
Maxwell noticed Moxxi's shoulders visibly slump, her mood turning somber at the mention of her daughter. He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"It's just a phase."
"It's been five years, Max."
"She's just stubborn, but if she's your daughter, she has a good heart. Maybe she's just ashamed and doesn't know how to express herself."
Maxwell was about to continue, but a red light began blinking on the Goblin's dashboard, signaling the ship was ready for launch. Spyglass's voice echoed through the internal speakers.
"Launch sequence prepared. Countdown starting in ten seconds."
"… Three. Two. One."
With a thunderous roar, the slingshot mechanism engaged, propelling the Goblin forward with impressive force. The pressure slammed Moxxi and Maxwell into their seats as the ship accelerated rapidly, gliding along the rails before shooting into the air.
Moxxi gripped the controls tightly, guiding the ship as it disengaged from the rails and its main engines roared to life. The turbines thundered, spitting fire as the Goblin gained altitude. Moxxi carefully adjusted the controls, retracting the landing gear as the Goblin stabilized in the air.
"I think I could get used to this," she admitted, her voice tinged with exhilaration as she watched the ocean grow smaller below them. "I just hope she's there."
Chapter 37: Admire me, admire my son, admire my clones
"I find it unbelievable that it was possible to create communities and cities in such a hostile environment," General Knoxx said, his words carried by the dry wind. He was dressed in his impeccable military uniform, with a lit cigar between his fingers. He took a long drag, observing the desolate horizon with his one remaining eye. Pandora hadn't changed, but he was nearing the end of his life. "So, this is where you were born?"
"What did you expect? People wearing animal skins and hunting their food with spears?" a voice behind him replied. The person stepped beside him, crossing their arms. "It's no different from the slums of Promethea, except Pandora is one big slum without the rich parts."
Athena shook her head. There was no point in wasting breath on Pandora; this place was a dump, and everyone already knew it. "I'm leaving the Atlas, sir. I'm going to find my sister and disappear from here."
Knoxx raised an eyebrow, surprised. He had known Athena since she began her assassin training at twelve, and the idea of her simply abandoning the Atlas seemed unlikely to him. An assassin living a normal life? Did she really think she could work as a cashier, take care of children and the elderly, or become a farmer? He was getting old, but he wasn't foolish.
"Retiring?" he repeated, skeptical. "Did the Atlas really let you go just like that? Do you think it'll be so easy to find someone to fill your shoes?"
"Forgive my words, but that's not my problem," Athena sighed, looking at the ground.
"They agreed, but only after I complete one last mission," she said, raising her eyes and fixing Knoxx with a serious expression. "I've already spoken with the superiors. It's all settled."
Knoxx frowned, sensing something was off. He knew the Atlas better than anyone and was aware they didn't let their best soldiers leave so easily. He gave Athena a few paternal pats on the shoulder.
"Be careful, girl. Things that seem too good to be true are usually traps. And what did I say about being so formal in private?"
Athena smiled faintly, but there was a shadow of worry in her eyes.
"And you, Knoxx? When are you going to leave this life behind?" she asked.
Knoxx laughed a rough, yellow-toothed chuckle.
"When I die, Athena. Men like me don't fit well in society. We're born for conflict, and we only stop with a well-placed bullet." He took another drag from his cigar, exhaling a puff of smoke. "And an old man like me? Full of vices and habits? No, girl. I'm a soldier till the end."
He quickly changed the subject, trying to lighten the mood.
"Well, before I start setting up the Command Center here, I'm going to try Pandora's drinks."
Athena didn't respond, just nodded, letting Knoxx go on his way. She watched him walk away, a chill running down her spine. Something was wrong, and she knew it, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of Pandora, the Goblin landed smoothly near Scooter's workshop. The door opened, and Maxwell and Moxxi stepped out, their outfits drawing attention from everyone around. They walked into the workshop, where Scooter was under a car, completely absorbed in his work.
The sound of the door opening made Scooter pause. He slid from under the car, wiping his oil-stained hands on a rag.
"Mum?!" he exclaimed, surprised to see Moxxi in military gear. "ow man, since when did you start dressin' so decently?!"
Moxxi smiled, opening her arms for a tight hug, not minding her son's dirt.
"Scooter, my boy!" she said, laughing with something that wasn't quite a smile. "How are you? Eating well? Found a girlfriend yet?"
"Tch," Scooter scratched his head, embarrassed. But he returned the hug, feeling like his mother was putting too much force into it. Was she angry?
"Mum, please..." he murmured, glancing at Maxwell, who stood beside her.
Moxxi noticed her son's shyness and turned to introduce Maxwell.
"Scooter, this is Maxwell. My husband." She gave Scooter a serious look. "And you'll treat him with respect, understood?"
Scooter nodded vigorously, but his distrust was clear. He still remembered Lucky, Moxxi's last partner, and how he had hurt his mother years ago. It reminded Scooter that he still had to kill that bastard.
Moxxi looked around, searching for Ellie.
"Where's your sister?" she asked, but a thick, country-accented voice echoed through the workshop before Scooter could answer.
"Scooter, how long's it gonna take ya to change them filters?" Ellie appeared in the doorway, hands on her hips and an irritated expression. But her anger turned to shock when she saw Moxxi.
"You?!" Ellie pointed at Moxxi, her eyes wide. "You hag! What in tarnation are ya doin' here? And what's with that getup?"
Moxxi sighed, walking over to her daughter.
"Is that any way to treat your mother after all this time?" she asked, pinching Ellie's chubby cheeks. "I'm happy to see you're doing well."
Ellie deflated like a balloon, feeling a twinge of guilt. She lowered her head, murmuring, "I missed ya... but I'm still sore 'bout all that 'take care of yourself' and 'wear makeup' hogwash."
Moxxi hugged her daughter, who was a head taller than her. Her hands couldn't quite reach Ellie's back.
"I know, sweetheart. And I'm sorry for being so insensitive. I won't bring it up again, I promise."
Maxwell, who had been silent until now, felt out of place. He looked at Scooter.
"You got a car I can borrow?" he asked. It was better to come back another time.
Scooter hesitated but eventually gave in.
"There's a red runner outside. Just don't wreck it, okay?" Scooter said, tossing Maxwell a key.
Maxwell nodded and turned to Moxxi.
"I'm going for a drive. Enjoy your time with the kids."
Moxxi smiled, waving at him.
"Come back to the Red Light later, dear. I'll take the kids out to eat and drink." Noticing the way her mother addressed the stranger, Ellie gave her a questioning look.
"Some things never change, huh?" Ellie muttered as Maxwell left. "At least this one's easy on the eyes."
Moxxi ignored her daughter's comment and pulled two syringes of nanites from her ECHO deck.
"I've got a gift for both of you," she said, holding up the syringes. "Nanites. Incredible technology that'll improve your health."
Ellie looked at the syringe with suspicion but eventually gave in after Moxxi's insistence. Scooter, on the other hand, seemed excited and injected himself immediately. Even in a galaxy full of incredible technology, some inventions never made it to the public. Scooter had seen theories on the ECHOnet about nanites keeping corporate leaders young.
"Wow, my pain's gone!" he exclaimed after a few seconds, flexing his arms. Mechanic work was tough, and muscle and joint pain were so common they'd become part of the routine.
Ellie shrugged after injecting the nanites.
"My leg pain's lessened, but it ain't nothin' special."
Moxxi smiled, but there was something sinister in her gaze. She didn't mention that the nanites also helped control metabolism, burning excess energy or slowing it down when necessary.
"Let's go to the bar," Moxxi suggested. "Scooter, take the day off. I'll bring some Marvins to help out here later."
...
Hours later, Maxwell parked the red runner in front of the Red Light bar. He was accompanied by a blue-haired girl who seemed young and naive, bearing no resemblance to Athena except in appearance.
As they entered, Maxwell noticed the bar was nearly empty, with only a few girls cleaning the tables. Moxxi was behind the counter, serving drinks to Scooter and Ellie. Her eyes lit up when she saw Maxwell, and she came out to greet him with a hug.
"Welcome back. Did you bring the girl?" she said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him.
The two siblings watched the scene with disgust. How could their mother be so shameless?
"Yeah, it was easy. I offered her some candy, then got her into the car," Maxwell laughed, licking his lips after the kiss. "Is that vodka?"
"Sit down if you want some more."
"More kisses?"
"More vodka, you idiot."
Maxwell was relaxing as Moxxi poured him a drink when his body suddenly shuddered. His eyes darted frantically into empty space.
Meanwhile, Jess looked scared, glancing around the bar as if it were a completely hostile place. Moxxi, always attentive, noticed the girl's discomfort and decided to intervene.
"Sweetie, do you want something to eat?" Moxxi asked with a warm smile, not noticing Maxwell's sudden strangeness.
Jess shook her head timidly. Moxxi sighed, shaking her head, but soon turned her attention back to Jess. She leaned over the counter, trying to break the ice.
"I'm Moxxi, the owner of this bar. And you, sugar? What's your name? How old are you? What were you doing before you got mixed up with this guy?" she asked in a light, welcoming tone, sliding a glass of juice toward her.
Jess hesitated for a moment, but Moxxi's gentle, maternal smile seemed to calm her. She opened up a bit, grabbed the orange juice with both hands, and quickly drank it.
"I... I'm Jess," she said in a low, timid voice. "I'm fifteen. I lived in a small village nearby, but... Maxwell said some bad people were going to destroy the village if I stayed there."
"I understand," Moxxi said, placing a hand over Jess's in a comforting gesture. Before she could turn to face a frozen Maxwell.
"Maxwell, you're so insensitive. How could you drag a girl like this into a place like this without even explaining what's going on?"
"Max?" Moxxi asked again, not understanding his silence.
"Hide the girl. Now," Maxwell commanded, pushing Jess to the other side of the counter.
Moxxi, hearing the seriousness in his tone, did as he said without question, pulling the girl under the counter. Just in time, as the bar door opened seconds later. A white-haired man walked in with slow steps, taking a drag from his cigar. His eyes scanned the room before landing on the counter to order a drink, a few soldiers escorting him.
"We're not open yet," Moxxi said, but Knoxx ignored her.
"Give me the strongest drink you've got," he ordered in a tone that brooked no argument.
Maxwell slid a glass toward Knoxx with an ironic smile.
"Denying someone a drink in the desert is a sin, don't you think?" he said as Knoxx picked up the glass, wondering what this mercenary was up to. From his clothes, equipment, and mannerisms, he seemed quite experienced.
Knoxx raised the glass for a sip but paused mid-motion when he noticed a red card with the white skull of a strange animal with curved horns on the counter. He looked at Maxwell, his eye narrowing.
"Do you like revolutions, General Knoxx?" Maxwell asked a glint in his eyes.
Knoxx's eye flicked back to the card, murmuring its title.
"Apex... Predator?"
Hey, has it been a while? If you want to support me, I can understand how to work with p-a-t-r-e-o-n. I'm still accumulating chapters, but I just want to warn you that this book won't have a paywall.
I unga therefore a bunga
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