"If you're interested in something, feel free to pick one of my weapons. I don't have enough hands to use all of them anyway."
Knoxx flipped the switch, causing the lights in the armory to turn on one by one. The armory wasn't very wide, but it stretched a considerable distance. Various Atlas weapons, and only Atlas weapons, hung on the walls. There was a shooting range nearby for testing.
"A magnificent collection. It will be of great use for our operations on this planet," BT commented, crouched outside since the door was too small for him to enter.
"Why did you even bring him?"
"He's my Titan. Protecting me is his duty," Maxwell shrugged.
Maxwell turned his attention back to the armory. What stood out the most were the elemental weapons. They were easy to identify by their glow, but the same couldn't be said for their quality, as he was still in the era of Borderlands 1, and S&S hadn't gone bankrupt yet. The two brothers hadn't started their small business cataloging weapons either.
Thus, the lights installed on weapons to categorize their quality didn't exist yet, so it took some mental effort to remember the designs of legendary weapons.
It had been almost a year since he had arrived in Borderlands, and he could count on one hand how many elemental weapons he had obtained. He had never managed to get one back when he was stealing money from Marcus' vending machines. The only time he had used one was the Havoc he got from Rook's ECHO.
Knoxx noticed where Maxwell's eyes were focused. A black and white handcannon.
"You've got a good eye for weapons. This one's called the Chimera, and it's a work of the gods," Knoxx said, picking up the weapon and moving to the shooting range. "I don't usually use elemental weapons, but there are always exceptions."
"Is there any reason besides morals? I used one on some Jakobs-created monsters when I was trapped on an island," Maxwell asked, watching Knoxx pull out a box of .44 caliber ammo. The box itself was like any other, but it had several warnings about being highly flammable.
"You've been through some stuff, huh?" Knoxx commented without stopping his actions, pulling out three bullets from the box and loading the Chimera's chamber before spinning it and pulling the hammer. "Elemental weapons are expensive, but they have their uses. Electricity for shields, corrosive for robots, explosive for armored targets."
"But I personally find fire to be somewhat useless, except for making a good barbecue. But that's just my opinion."
*Bang* *bang* *bang*
Each projectile exploded with a different effect. That was the unique feature of the Chimera. It could fire every type of elemental ammunition. In Borderlands 1, the unique effects of legendary weapons were still quite simple, but Maxwell believed that in the coming years, there would be a leap in the development of legendaries among the corporations, reaching the more absurd effects of Borderlands 2 in less than a decade.
"It's already expensive to create a weapon that can handle firing this type of ammo. If they break, the ammo can't be used in conventional weapons. It might be my old habits, but I still prefer the classics."
"Huh, I hadn't considered that. I've only spent a little time using one."
"So, do you want one or not?"
"Hmm, I'll pass for now. What I really want is to see what my cute assassins have prepared for me."
"Cute, you say," Knoxx rolled his eyes. It seemed impossible to have a normal leader these days. Knoxx grabbed a large metal box and typed a code into the panel, causing it to open with a slight hiss of depressurization.
Maxwell's eyes lit up as he pulled out a futuristic scabbard from inside. As he drew the blade, his face was illuminated by a crimson glow, reflecting in the darkest corners of his pupils.
"OHHH shit, holy shit..." Maxwell slowly swung the blade, which, even when handled carefully, produced a sharp, cutting sound like wind. It was like a lightsaber, but without the ability to retract.
"From your reaction, I take it you like the gift."
"Yes, I love it. I'll give her a ra— HOLY SHIT, IS THAT A GUN IN THE SCABBARD?!" Maxwell noticed the trigger and magazine installed in the scabbard.
"It's still a prototype, so it's not a hundred percent."
*Click*
Knoxx grabbed Maxwell by the shoulder. "You weren't going to shoot while I was explaining, were you?"
"Of course not, that would be very rude," Maxwell denied, a slight blush on his cheeks. He was living out a male fantasy, and it was a Herculean effort to resist the urge to have a lightsaber duel.
"Just don't use the gun yet. I don't want that thing blowing up in your face." Knoxx's shoulders slumped slightly but then recovered.
"We'll be ready in a few hours. The Vault Hunters shouldn't take long. I think this is the best time to explain the plan to fake my death."
Hearing the tone, Maxwell sheathed the sword, his expression turning serious, his jovial aura disappearing.
"You'll face the Vault Hunters with a few soldiers, so arm yourself with the best shields and weapons. I want to fake your death, not have you actually die. We'll need the Vault Hunters alive to serve as witnesses, but they don't need you alive. Remember that."
Knoxx nodded, his mind already listing the inventory to be used in the confrontation.
"Leave Mordecai, the Vault Hunters' friend, in a nearby location to be rescued, and initiate the self-destruct sequence. We'll need to blow up part of the Crimson Armory to make things more believable. My Siren will be recording everything to broadcast on the ECHOnet, so we'll focus on mining Eridium while Atlas' enemies do the rest of the work on Promethea."
"Do I need to elaborate more, or is that enough?"
"No, it's perfect. I'll fill in the gaps."
"Of course you will. You've got a good brain between your ears. You'll handle everything when the time comes." Maxwell gave Knoxx a few light pats on the shoulder before walking away.
Maxwell turned around before the doors closed.
"Don't do anything stupid. Athena would be very sad, and so would I. Now, if you'll excuse me."
Knoxx watched as Maxwell quickly drew the plasma sword from his waist, making exaggerated movements. Then the door closed, leaving only the muffled sound of Maxwell's voice.
"Ryujin no ken wo kurae!"
"..."
"Pilot, after a brief search on blade art, I believe you have no idea what you're doing," BT's voice sounded muffled through the wall. "I recommend consulting an expert for advice on how to handle a sword properly or, given the lethality of this object, you may end up losing some limbs."
"I know what I'm doing, BT. I studied the blade."
Knoxx let out a brief laugh. Turning back to his armory, even if they were storing everything in the Odyssey, he couldn't help but feel a slight pang of regret at having to blow up the place, but for Promethea, there would be no hesitation!
...
Injured, irritated, and humiliated.
There were no better words to describe the current state of mind of the Vault Hunters. Perhaps it was the urgency to rescue a dear friend or the taste of revenge dripping from their mouths after being dominated by a group of girls, but none of them considered how insane it would be to drive a Runner to the enemy's lair with just three people.
"Why is there almost no one at Crimson Tollway?" Lilith held her flowing hair, her voice almost inaudible over the demonic roar of the Runner's engine and the cutting wind.
"I have no idea! Maybe they're setting up an ambush or something?" Roland shouted back, not taking his eyes off the road. Bloodwing, with a bandaged wing, screeched as if accepting the challenge.
Brick was silent in the gunner's seat. He seemed cold, his eyes focused on the fortress on the horizon. His hand slowly slid to his abdomen, feeling where the cut had been made. He swore he could feel phantom pain, or maybe just survivor's guilt.
At the speed they were going, it didn't take long to arrive. The place seemed empty, or at least that's what their vantage point allowed them to see, unaware of a massive ship behind the Crimson Armory.
Using various objects for cover, the Vault Hunters sneaked up to the entrance. When they got close enough, they spotted two soldiers dragging Mordecai into the building. The sniper was visibly injured, his head hanging low and his arms limp, unable to react.
Lilith and Roland were ready to open fire but hesitated. A poorly aimed shot could hit Mordecai. Brick didn't wait for permission. Without a second thought, he charged toward the entrance, his fists could not friendly fire. Roland and Lilith followed close behind. Bloodwing ran as fast as her claws could carry her but was eventually left behind.
The corridors of the fortress were labyrinthine, but the heavy sounds of the soldiers' boots echoed like guides. The trio ran at full speed, dodging debris and crates. The lights flashed crimson red, the base's emergency system activated, indicating that something big was about to happen.
As they turned a corner, they came across a massive, half-open gate, light streaming through the gap, revealing a vast space. The metallic floor reflected the red alert lights, and the air was filled with the smell of oil and gunpowder. Mordecai lay motionless, his blood staining the cold metal.
And there, in the middle of the space, stood Knoxx.
His red Devastator was a masterpiece of modern warfare. The armor gleamed with an intimidating shine, not as tall or armored as a Titan, but it would protect more than a simple shield strapped to the waist. His helmet hid any expression, but the way he stood made it clear he had been waiting for them.
The Vault Hunters stopped, realizing they weren't alone. Knoxx raised his hand, and the metallic groan of his armor echoed through the hall.
"You arrived quickly," he said, his voice amplified by the communication system in his helmet. "Good. That means we can get this over with."
Brick clenched his fists, veins bulging along his arms, finally speaking after his long silence. "If you did anything to Mordecai, I'LL KILL YOU!"
"If I got a dollar every time someone said that to me..." Knoxx laughed. "But I ask... is that a promise?"
Suddenly, the walls around them began to move. Machine gun turrets emerged, and side doors slid open to reveal armed soldiers surrounding the Vault Hunters.
Amid the chaos, the cameras in the room seemed alive, following the movements and recording every moment.