Five distinct figures appeared at the main entrance of Concordia, the group sticking out like a sore thumb. Civilians gave them a wide berth and did not approach the newcomers; it was clear to everyone that these were mercenaries or Vault Hunters.
The group knew where their objective was and stopped in front of an elevator, looking up at the top of the building.
"So Huxter, the guy you need to find calls himself 'Meriff'. Like, mayor mixed with sheriff— It's stupid, whatever. But he might know how to track down the signal," Jack explains. "This guy's still pulling down a phat retirement plan from Hyperion, from my division. I'm basically his boss. He's pretty much on the team already."
The building where Meriff operates stands in the middle of Concordia. Due to his important status in the city, he could only be found on the top floor.
Stepping into the elevator, they went up to see Meriff, but just as the elevator began to ascend, it stopped halfway with a violent jolt.
"Visitors from Helios... Ah, so, here's the thing, uh, no visitors today." Meriff's voice blared over the elevator's loudspeaker. He seemed so shocked to see his boss among the Vault Hunters that he ended up stuttering his words.
Meriff forced the elevator to descend, causing a gut-wrenching drop for everyone.
The Vault Hunters exchanged confused and irritated glances. Hadn't Jack just said this guy was his subordinate? So why were they being turned away?
"You were one of us, you stupid-named son of a bastard!" Jack yelled, though only the Vault Hunters could hear him.
"Great, what do we do now?" Wilhelm frowned. He had only taken the job for the promise of exclusive Hyperion cybernetic implants. But if things became a pain in the ass, he wouldn't hesitate to turn his back on Jack. His dream of becoming a complete Cyborg was more important than anyone else's goals. He was a mercenary, and he had no loyalty.
"Listen, that damned coward isn't leaving his office anytime soon, so let's continue without him. I need you to keep your eyes peeled and look for information. Maybe someone in Concordia knows about the interference signals."
Claptrap raised his hand. "I KNOW! THERE'S A BAR THERE!"
"Makes sense. In a place like this, information always crosses the counter first." Timothy, being the only member of the group who had no prejudice against the small robot, agreed.
"Seeking information in such an... impure establishment." Aurelia looked at the bar with the kind of disdainful glance one gives when a fly falls into their soup.
"Drinking before work? I'm not against it." Nisha shrugged.
The Vault Hunters stepped into the bar's open space, and the sounds from outside were gradually replaced by music that made the floor vibrate. Neon lights flickered over cigarette smoke and the strong smell of alcohol. Concordia civilians and a few mercenaries mingled, laughing, drinking, and chatting happily.
They headed to the counter, which was at the center of the hustle. Behind it, the infamous Moxxi was serving customers, her tight red outfit accentuating her youthful, voluptuous body. Her conversation seemed focused on a man in military attire that vaguely resembled Dahl, yet the symbol on the uniform was completely different, which eased the Vault Hunters' nerves.
Moxxi smiled maliciously, handing a bottle to the soldier, who just grunted in response. Seeing the newcomers, she licked her lips, her eyes locking onto the Vault Hunters with a playful glint.
"Well, looky here. More fresh faces. What can I get for you, my sweethearts?" Moxxi leaned over the counter, resting her chin on her supported hand. The movement made her assets seem like they were about to pop out at any moment. It was all so natural that the Vault Hunters couldn't help but gawk.
"Holy shi—"
"Top notch."
"They look bigger in person."
Aurelia cleared her throat, shaking off the daze, and approached. "We are looking for information. Has anything out of the ordinary, any strange electronic interference, been happening lately?"
Moxxi tapped her index finger on her lip, thoughtful.
"If you're talking about the space radiation, then yes, there have been interferences in electronic signals, but that's normal around here," Moxxi replied vaguely, her tone suggesting she wasn't quite sure.
Wilhelm pushed Aurelia aside, much to her annoyance, and subtly placed some dollars on the counter.
"Hyperion has been suffering cyberattacks, and a part of the station has been taken by an enemy corporate group. We want to know where that signal is being sent from." Wilhelm explained as much as he could without exposing the actual situation.
Moxxi smiled brightly, gently taking the bills and making them magically disappear into her cleavage.
The man next to her sighed softly. Perhaps out of disappointment or surprise?
"Well, well, how generous. I don't know exactly where that interference signal is being broadcast from, but luckily for you, I know someone who does."
The Vault Hunters groaned simultaneously. Moxxi would probably tell them to go to a person who had the information, but first, she'd ask for a few favors before handing over what they wanted.
"Where can we find him?"
"Right here." Maxwell took a final swig from his beer bottle before turning to face the Elpis Vault Hunters.
"..."
"Expectation subverted, you b*tch!" Claptrap yelled.
"Well, that speeds things up," Nisha muttered, slightly disappointed she wouldn't be drinking anything.
"Where?" Wilhelm asked curtly.
"Crisis Scar. At an old Dahl Communications Facility." Maxwell stood up, not before giving Moxxi a discreet wink and grabbing the pilot's helmet from the counter.
"Follow me. Concordia went on lockdown the moment you came in. It seems there are traitors in your midst."
The Vault Hunters exchanged glances, sensing that this information would infuriate Jack even more. The man seemed angry, sad, and desperate all at once, and they didn't understand why. They assumed it was the stress of being in the middle of a conflict, but it seemed like there was something more... something personal.
They followed Maxwell toward the back of Moxxi's bar.
"Who are they and how many of them are there?" Wilhelm began, following the unknown man closely.
"Obviously, it's abandoned, which means it's become a home for Scavs," Maxwell replied without turning. "And their numbers are typical for Pandora, so you'd better bring plenty of ammo."
They stopped in a small, dark room that didn't seem to lead anywhere. There was only one of Moxxi's classic slot machines leaning against the wall.
Without a word, Maxwell pulled the machine's lever. The reels spun and stopped with three cherry symbols in sequence. With the characteristic sound of a win, the cash panel opened, revealing a bright red button.
Maxwell pressed it, and the entire wall slid open with a hiss, revealing a secret workshop full of equipment and robot parts. But what caught Wilhelm's eye the most were what looked like prosthetic arms, legs, and cybernetic items that wouldn't be practical on robots, but rather on humans.
"You seem pretty close to Moxxi... err, hmm, are you two a thing?" Timothy couldn't resist asking.
"Yes, I met her in Pandora. We've been together for over a year now."
Timothy seemed to deflate like a popped balloon.
"It doesn't make sense," Wilhelm took his eyes off the items in the workshop, thinking about the information he'd received. "If we're hunting the source of a sophisticated cyberattack on a space station, Scavs are the least of our worries. They barely know how to turn on a radio."
"Who knows?" Maxwell shrugged, walking into the workshop. "Maybe a deal was made with the Scav leader of that territory with the Lost Legion of Dahl."
"This job just keeps getting more complicated."
"If the pay isn't adequate, the doors to my corporation are always open to the exceptional." Maxwell made the offer without much expectation.
"Be part of a corporation?" Wilhelm's face soured as if he had bitten into a lemon. Just as he was about to refuse, he stopped for a moment, then fell silent.
Maxwell just gave a small smile and put on his helmet before opening the exit door.
The Vault Hunters passed through the workshop exit, which closed with a metallic click behind them. Their Oz Kits automatically activated when the sensors detected the lack of oxygen. Now outside, they realized they weren't alone.
In a rigid formation, several soldiers were waiting outside. Their uniforms were matte black and dark gray, bearing a snake emblem that the Vault Hunters had never seen. They were not Dahl and certainly not Hyperion.
But what immediately caught their attention and heightened the tension were not the Lance Assassins, but the massive Titan figures standing guard.
"You'd better hurry up; your presence must have already been reported to Zarpedon. Who knows what that woman is planning to do," Maxwell said, crossing his arms and ignoring the group's tension.
"Whatever." Wilhelm walked past Maxwell without a second look, with the other members following close behind. The others may not have noticed, but as the oldest member of the group, he caught sight of the man holding the hilt of a blade beneath his arm.
All the Vault Hunters followed Wilhelm after a last look at the Titans, wondering if they could win if both groups faced off.
"Pilot, I perceived a certain interest in who appears to be the group's leader. My analysis of the individuals you chose suggests a high ability to evaluate potential allies under the wing of Ouroboros," BT knelt behind Maxwell. "Is there anything special about that individual that caught your attention?"
"Certainly, BT. That man is Wilhelm, from Hera." Maxwell continued watching Wilhelm's back as he walked away. He just found it odd that the group of Vault Hunters seemed to have shrunk.
Shaking his head, he returned to the topic.
"When he was a child, Wilhelm was discovered to have a rare disease called Bone Waste. It was a mild case, but it required him to install cybernetic implants at a young age."
"..." BT was silent for a minute before responding. "After a quick search on the ECHOnet, I found that such a disease has treatment in the early stages. But my sensors indicate that 16% of Wilhelm's body is cybernetic."
"With almost his entire skeleton replaced, there is no longer any need to continue adding more implants. Continuing to replace body parts can lead to serious psychological problems, even if it doesn't drastically affect health."
"Sharp as ever, my friend. Wilhelm developed a cybernetic addiction and a desire to become a complete robot later in life. It seems the disease caused Wilhelm to lose faith in his own flesh and deposit his faith in steel."
"A natural path for a mercenary. I now understand your intentions, Pilot. It will be a great help to have such an individual testing implants before our own pilots."
"THAT IS SO TRUE! Wilhelm crushed the most Dahl guys' heads, he's very tough!" A screeching yell came from the side.
Maxwell and BT turned to face the creature on a wheel. It was undoubtedly Claptrap.
"..."
"WHAT THE FUCK?"
"YES! That was my reaction too!"
"No, that's not it. What are you doing here?"
"Gosh, I was going to ask the same thing!" Claptrap realized it was better to explain, or Maxwell's hand, which was already dangerously close to the holster, could slip and turn him into a sieve. "For some reason, I am physically unable to move forward an inch."
"I'm not buying that. There are no stairs here." Maxwell's eyebrows were firmly furrowed. Claptrap's wheel didn't appear to be damaged, so how was he physically unable to move?
"OH, how do you know my greatest enemy? OH! WAIT, WAIT! AMBUSH! PUT ME ON THE GROUND!"
Before a tragedy could occur, a pair of soft arms grabbed the little robot.
"Sorry, Maxy, I know I shouldn't have shown up, but I sensed Claptrap nearby and couldn't resist. I'm worried about what my father might do to my little friend here." Angel held Claptrap close to her chest. The familiar voice made the little yellow robot pause for a second.
Maxwell sighed, his shoulders visibly slumping.
"No worries, Angel, they're gone now." Maxwell calmed down; he already knew that Claptrap had been Angel's only friend during her time in captivity.
"ANGEL! YOU ARE ALIVE!" Claptrap shouted in surprise. "Young lady, you have no idea how angry your father is! He's about to start a second Corporate War with Dahl!"
"Shhhh, don't yell, Claptrap. I'm not going back to Hyperion. You don't want to see me locked up again, do you?"
"Why did you suddenly become so docile?" Maxwell asked, confused. The normally extroverted Claptrap suddenly seemed depressed.
The sound of Claptrap's shouting drew attention. Moxxi appeared in the doorway that had just closed, tilting her head with interest.
"Why all the ruckus, my sweethearts? You're scaring away the clientele," she said, though a playful smile lingered on her lips.
Maxwell nodded. "Are you ready to go?"
Moxxi blinked, tossing a strand of hair over her shoulder. "I just need to close the bar. It'll take a minute, and then we can go."
The Vault Hunters watched the couple. Not only did they have a traitor in their midst who was aligning with the Lost Legion, but now they were following the man who rescued Jack's daughter—and was dating Moxxi. Things were about to get a lot more complicated.
"..."
"WHAT THE FUCK?"
"YES! That was my reaction too!"
"No, that's not it. What are you doing here?"
"Gosh, I was going to ask the same thing! Are we soulmates?" Claptrap realized it was better to explain, or Maxwell's hand, which was already dangerously close to the holster, could slip and turn him into a sieve. "For some reason, I am physically unable to move forward an inch."
"I'm not buying that. There are no stairs here." Maxwell's eyebrows were firmly furrowed. Claptrap's wheel didn't appear to be damaged, so how was he physically unable to move?
"OH, how do you know my greatest enemy? OH! WAIT, WAIT! AMBUSH! PUT ME ON THE GROUND!"
Before a tragedy could occur, a pair of soft arms grabbed the little robot.
"Sorry, Maxy, I know I shouldn't have shown up, but I sensed Claptrap nearby and couldn't resist. I'm worried about what my father might do to my little friend here." Angel held Claptrap close to his chest. The familiar voice made the little yellow robot pause for a second.
Maxwell sighed, his shoulders visibly slumping.
"No worries, Angel, they're gone now." Maxwell calmed down; he already knew that Claptrap had been Angel's only friend during her time in captivity.
"ANGEL! YOU ARE ALIVE!" Claptrap shouted in surprise. "Young lady, you have no idea how angry your father is! He's about to start a second Corporate War!"
"Shhhh, don't yell, Claptrap. I'm not going back to Hyperion. You don't want to see me locked up again, do you?"
"Why did you suddenly become so docile?" Maxwell asked, confused. The normally extroverted Claptrap suddenly seemed depressed.
"Why all the commotion? I could hear it from inside." Moxxi appeared, tilting her head with interest.
"Just a Claptrap." Maxwell nodded. "Are you ready to go?"
"Oh, so that's it," Moxxi blinked, watching Angel holding a claptrap unit. "Why wouldn't I be ready? You came here just to pick me up. I just need to close up the bar. It'll take a minute, and then we can go."
...
...
...
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"..."
"What now?"
"Not yet."
"..."
"And now—"
"Angel, please do that... thing, stay quiet for five minutes."
"Executing Phase Shift"
"WAIT! THAT'S CENSORSHIP! NOOOOOO—"
"..."
"It's only been a few minutes since we left," Felicity answered through the communicator.
"Really? But it shouldn't be long until Odyssey."
"Pilot, after a quick calculation, I estimate that it will take us two hours, forty-two minutes, and ten seconds to reach Odyssey."
"Thank you both, I think you'll get along very well."
"You're welcome." BT and Felicity answered at the same time.