~You

We fast traveled to the Outlands to meet up with everyone at this sewage plant heading towards this old Dhal Ship. Once getting close enough Nisha and I hopped out and regrouped with Tim and Wilhelm.

Arix: "We're back, what's the situation?"

Wilhelm: "Dumb bandit destroyed the bridge, we're gonna make a new one."

Arix: "How exactly?"

Timothy: "You'll see, I hope your sense of smell isn't that great."

Claptrap (Echo): "Methane dumpage activated!"

There was a loud metal screech as a pipe from below started to fill the lava lake with a horrible substance that manages to freeze over the lava.

Pickle (Echo): "The lake should be safe now! Let's get to the Drakensburg so you can find that AI ya need."

Arix: "Uh, who's the kid?"

Pickle (Echo): "Oh! Ya must be the missing member the robot was fussing about! Nice to meet you, name's Pickle!"

Claptrap (Echo): "I wasn't fussing, I don't fuss, I'm too cool for that!"

Arix: "We get it, let's just meet up then alright?"

Wilhelm: "Follow me."

We nod as Wilhelm takes us down to where the others were and this was where the smell entered our Oz kits.

Arix: "Oh geez that smells awful"

Wilhelm: "I wouldn't know."

Athena: "Hold your breathe if you need to, let's go."

We all quickly made our way across the lake with Athena and Wilhelm's help bashing a few kraggon back into the ice as our Echoes radioed in the big bad of the ship

Bosun (Echo): "The Drakensburg is mine! Not yours! You can pour as many liquid farts into the ground as you want, it won't get you a single step closer to my domain!"

Arix: "Well this guy seems like fun..."

Nisha: "Can't wait to meet him."

Claptrap: "I can!"

After climbing our way up we made it to the other side of the bridge and entered Pity's Fall. The ship looked worn out, almost had a haunting vibe to it but we pressed on making sure to refill our Oz kits.

Pickle (Echo): "This used to be Zarpedon's own ship, you know before she got promoted. They say it went down before the crackening happened!"

Arix: "The companies do like leaving their messes behind don't they?"

Athena: "You have no idea..."

Suddenly another annoying voice came on the Echo.

Tassiter: "John, Arix, I want an update on the Helios station."

Jack: "Sir, we've got our best people working on a way to retake the station."

Pickle: "That's the Hyperion CEO? Is he as much of a bottle and glass arse as I hear?"

Tassiter: "Who the Hell is that?"

Arix: "Pickle, please shut up. Um uh, he's the ten-year-old boy we hired to help us."

Tassiter: "... You're both fired."

And like that he hung up. I stood motionless as I stared at nothing.

Tim: "Uh, you okay buddy?"

Arix: "F-Fired..." I started to shake "How am I gonna pay my loans... What will people say... Oh god oh god..."

Nisha: "Aw, it's okay handsome, want me to lead a manhunt on that bastard?" She hugged me from behind to calm me, making the others surprised and curious

Jack: "Arix, listen buddy, it's gonna be fine. Keep it together, we need you."

Arix: "B-But we're fired, shouldn't we-"

Jack: "No, the plan stays the same, trust me buddy, we get this down and they'll beg us to come back. Just keep going"

Arix: "Yeah... Alright, sure. Keep going."

Nisha: "That's the spirit, try cracking some skulls, always cheers me up"

I shook my nerves off before walking up ahead, to no surprise the wannabe bandit boss sent goons after us, even activated a few turrets shot at us but a few place shots took them down and I think I'm getting better with my shotgun, killing nearly just as many as the others, still surprised Tim is holding on considering he's just a doppelganger but he's surprising holding his own. When entering the ship I was honestly surprised to see it still had power, sure a few walls were down but there was air and lights.

Bosun (Echo): "How dare you board my vessel, after all my polite warnings! Prepare to die! Horribly!"

Arix: "Anyone taking this guy seriously?"

Everyone: "Nope"

Arix: "Didn't think so."

Entering the next room another gun fight happened, if you wanna call it that. With our weaponry everyone in the room became nonexistent within a few seconds, only traces were the blood on the walls or ash covering the ground, confidant we just scroll on through until a force field lit up in our faces.

Bosun (Echo): "Evil laugh! Hahahaha! I'm the captain of this vessel and you, squalid looter, will soon face my wrath! Actually, as I've just blocked the path to my wrath, you'll face my men's wrath instead! My girlfriend and I will enjoy watching you die from the safety of the captain's chambers l, won't we my luscious snuggle bunny?"

Skipper (Echo): "Yep."

Bosun (Echo): "We've talked about this my love! You're suppose to address me as "baby" or "my dear" especially in front of others!"

Skipper (Echo): "Of course my... Dear Bosey..."

Arix: "Oh yeah, that relationship sounds healthy. Wilhelm, Nisha, cover me while I get the door open.

Wilhelm/Nisha: "On it!"

They go in guns blazing as the others stand guard around me, I open a nearby fuse box as Timothy walks over to me.

Tim: "So, you and Nisha seem close now... What happened?"

Arix: "Yelled and threatened her, killed bandits together, and made love surrounded by corpses." I casually explain using my Proto-Eye to scan the box.

Tim: "Ah okay that sounds- Wait what?"

Arix: "I know, surprised I'm still alive. Just don't go spreading that around like a high school rumor, alright?"

Tim: "Uh sure, dang man, I'm modeled after a "good looking and suave man", contract forces me to say that, but you're getting more action than me. First Moxxie now Nisha?"

I freeze and look over to him.

Arix: "Uh, What?"

Tim: "Dude, you screamed in my face you didn't touch her while on Moxxi's bar. I'm not a genius but I can put 2 and 2 together." Before I can say something he puts his hand on his chest "I won't say a word, you don't have to worry, after what he did to the Merrif I rather not see what he'll do to you."

I nod and thank him before going back to the box, having more difficulty than I originally thought I'd have

Athena: "How's it looking Arix?"

Arix: "It's a miracle this place still has power but it's still old and nearly broken. I can't shut the power down without turning everything off, including the air."

Skipper (Echo): "Perhaps I can help?"

Arix: "Uh, What?"

Skipper (Echo): "Listen, sorry about all... That. Look, I'm not really with Captain Arsecrack here, to prove it, I'll pop open the door for you." Just like she said a door just, we all looked at each other curiously "If you want that force field down you need to go to the engine room."

Arix: "Alright... Just so you know if this is a trap you're just killing more of his men."

Skipper (Echo): "I'm counting on it" We call just agreed and went forward before she continued, "Listen the Bosun's pretty much holding me prisoner and making me do... Things for his entertainment. But you're all here and you look like the rescuing type!"

Arix: "Uh, well we're vault hunters, we pretty much kick ass and get paid."

Skipper (Echo): "Same thing in my book"

Wilhelm: "No, we're here for a military AI."

Skipper (Echo): "Perfect, I know exactly where you can get an excellent military AI! Just come find me first, first I'll have to show you how to shut down the Bosun's barrier."

We all looked at each other and reluctantly agreed.

Arix: "Fine, don't betray us and run. I won't forget"

Skipper (Echo): "Very well."

And so we traveled deeper into the ship towards the engine room. We got hit a few times but nothing we could handle, though I know I'll be sore tomorrow. Though agreeing to help is she did have to keep up the ruse being on the Bosun's side and sent more scavs after us and activating a turret. But after destroying them and hearing a bit of a freak out from the Bosun she admitted to this being fun. Once actually arriving at the engine room the plan was made. Clap, Athena, and Wilhelm would follow Skipper's instructions on destroying the flow regulator while Jack and his digi-clones covered them. Aurelia and I were left taking most of the Scavs head on, using our ice and fire powers.

Aurelia: "For someone who hasn't had their powers for more than three days you aren't half bad throwing that around. Still bad in form and grace but you still manage to kill, bravo"

Arix: "Oh, well thank y-"

Aurelia: "But you'll still never be as good as moi, but you can try, no matter how pointless it may be."

She threw a shard right into a group of scavs who just came out a door

Arix: "There it is, well either way your diadem is very impressive, stylish, and deadly"

Aurelia: "Yes isn't it? Only a select few see up this close without dying, consider yourself lucky."

Arix: "Oh believe me..." my proto-eye lit up scanning the diadem "I am"

With a large shake and alarms booming the engine blew and fell out the ship making Pickle happy having something to loot.

Wilhelm: "The thing is down! Let's get going!"

We all ran out before reinforcements could arrive and made it to the force field controls, simple push of a few buttons and pull of a lever it went down and we were eager to meet Bosun, after meeting Poop Deck his first mate that Skipper "accidentally" crushed with a door. Now it was a straight shot, though his men were really eager to have us killed. They seemed to be coming out of everywhere like roaches.

Arix: "Okay, starting to feel overwhelmed!"

Athena: "Damnit... Wilhelm, Nisha, Clap, we're keeping these guys back. Rest of you get that AI!"

Aurelia: "Very well, let's go subordinates."

Tim: "Yeah we can handle this, totally..."

Nisha quickly walked over pecking my cheek.

Nisha: "Shoot him in the head for me, darling"

I nod holding her hand before running off to join the other two. While on the walk there Zarpedon made another announcement.

Zarpedon: "People of Elpis, you must understand, this is necessary."

Again the laser from Helios shot out into the moon's surface.

Arix: "Okay, let's hurry now!"

We book it to the command center to find that AI as Aurelia complained being too rich too die. Yeah well money ain't worth Anything if you're dead. We get back inside and down an elevator to hear and see the prick in person.

Bosun: "Now I'm really pissed off! Welcome to your death, landlubber!"

His chair rose from the ground as he faced us, guns pointed and shield bubble up from pylons around the room.

The three of us immediately split up. The Bosun called in scavs for his assist. Aurelia tried her luck shooting him with her sniper but it didn't do anything. The drones kept Tim busy while I looked at one of the pylons, using my eye to scan one their defenses were weak meaning if we destroyed them he'd be defenseless. I got my shot gun and shot down a pylon, though it worked I got the Bosun's attention to me, I kept running between walls before I Echoed to Aurelia and Tim.

Arix: "Tim, keep the Bosun and his scavs distracted, Aurelia, shoot out the pylons. I'll help anyway I can."

Aurelia: "Whatever you say."

Tim: "Pretty much my job being in the spotlight, count on me."

Tim quickly constructed his digi-clones doing quick work of the scavs and drawing the Bosun's attention. Aurelia took advantage shooting a few down to which the Bosun got really angry shooting at her leaving me to get another Pylon. Furious he shot out lasers and shot anything that started to move. Made getting shots on him difficult but thinking of something I yelled over to Aurelia.

Arix: "Aurelia, freeze the lasers!"

She nodded and shot two shards to the Bosun freezing over the laser guns he had the guns had trouble moving.

Bosun: "C'mom! Fire! Fire! This should melt right through!"

Aurelia: "My ice is colder than the tundra actually."

Arix: "Let me warm you up!"

Jumping at him I grabbed his throat punching while my gloves were covered in fire. I then lifted him up and jumped off his chair to slam him down to the ground. His face was even more of a mess as he tried to crawl away. Tim put a foot on his back and Aurelia stood in front of him with her sniper.

Bosun: "I guess this is it, goodbye Skipper, I know you'd never betray me..."

Skipper (Echo): "Actually I did, the entire time."

Bosun: "W-What...?"

Arix: "Aurelia, want to do the honors?"

Aurelia: "Gladly."

She put the barrel to his head and fired, blowing it off.

Tim: "Woah... That's uh brutal but um cool!"

Skipper: "You need to come open the door now Vault Hunter."

Tim: "You go ahead, I'll go get the other and tell them the news, go team Handsome!"

Aurelia and I agree and head to the back opening the door. Seeing a control panel I started to read off what was on it before I saw the name Skipper and AI in the same programming.

Arix: "Wait... Skipper is an AI?"

Skipper: "Correct, before Keith became the Bosun he made me into... This after he wasn't a hit with the ladies."

Aurelia: "And the military AI?"

Skipper: "You're looking at it, I used to be a military AI when this ship meant something... if you wanna plug me into something more interesting than a dead ship I'm all yours. Too many terrible memories here."

Jack (Echo): "The hot chick is actually an ex-military AI reprogrammed to be some geek's fake girlfriend? Sold! Grab the lovely lady and get going! We got some freaking robots to build!"

Arix: "Downloading now."

I use my Proto-Eye to scan and download the AI and Skipper's personality. A glitchy figure appears before me until appearing as a blonde woman in a black uniform.

Skipper/Arix: "This is new."

Jack (Echo): "What happened? Is the AI okay?"

Skipper: "Yes, I'm here. No worries just feels good being out of this ship."

Arix: "Huh... Yeah, let's get going."

Aurelia: "About time, I swear I think my coat has gotten dust on it since being here."

Aurelia walks out ahead of us as Skipper and I look at each other.

Skipper: "Well... Shall we?"

Arix: "Yeah, let's, it's nice to actually meet you."

Skipper: "Likewise, thank you for rescuing me. I'll be glad to be of service."

She nods as we both walk out together side by side. It's a strange thing, Aurelia didn't seem to notice so it may have just been my eye letting me see her. Something new to explore and dabble with, but for now, I guess I can enjoy some new company.