[...]

     "We should find shelter. Looks like we're in for some showers." The stranger said as they walked through the purplish wasteland.

     "Oh, awesome. Yeah, let's... let's do that. Can't wait." Rhys said sarcastically before looking over at Fiona, who had a straight face the whole time, "Are you thinking? Cause... looks like you're-you're thinking." She looked back at the stranger as they walked.

     "That suit he's wearing... It looks familiar... But I-hmm. I can't place it." She said.

     "Yeah, yeah. I hear ya." Rhys sighed, "What the hell is this guy getting out of all this? I can't figure it out. This endless march down memory lane. There's gotta be a reason for it."

     "This is gotta be some sort of payback." Fiona said.

     "Payback? You think?"

     "Look there's a long list of people we've only just recently pissed off. I'm sure it's one of those assholes looking for revenge."

     "Well, that is a pretty long list." He sighed with a frown, "I feel like we should do something. If we get to those hills... Maybe we could lose him. Ehh I don't know. What's he gonna do, huh? Shoot us both?" He asked before scoffing, "I seriously doubt that."

     "Don't be stupid. He has a gun."

     "So? He clearly needs us for something. If he wanted to shoot us, he already would have."

     "I think all those shots to the head are taking their toll."

     "That hasn't helped..." Rhys mumbled before frowning, "I'm making a break for it... and you should too. Remember, shhwt shhwt! Zig zag when you run. Okay? It, uh, makes you harder to hit."

     "That sounds stupid."

     "It's not stupid. It's... it's genius."

     "All right. Going on three." Rhys said, "One. Two. Three!" He said before bolting for it as Fiona stayed put, running zig zag and yelping each time he went by them.

     "That's a weird way to run." The stranger said as the two stopped walking and watched Rhys.

     "He's zig zagging. It apparently makes him harder to hit." Fiona said with an unimpressed expression.

     "Of course." The stranger replied, as Rhys ran a meteor landed right in front of him, making him stop dead in his tracks.

     "What the hell was that?!" He exclaimed as they looked up to see large rocks fall from the sky.

     "I don't know!" Fiona said as one landed right next to her.

     "Meteor shower! Get to the shelter!" The stranger said as they ran to the shelter while dodging meteors.

     Once safe, Rhys and Fiona catch their breath while panting. "That was close." She said heavily.

     "It was, wasn't it?" The stranger said as he held up duct tape.

     "What's that?" He asked. They soon end themselves duct taped back up, but it seemed Rhy had shown resistance as he was knocked out with a bloody nose.

     "Ugh. This again?" Fiona asked with annoyance.

     "Clearly, I can't trust you two."

     "But- I didn't even run!"

     "And that's why you're still conscious. So you just gave away Gortys."

     "She was taken."

     "And you traded the assassin who wasn't mortally wounded for another killer who was on the brink of death."

     "Well, we didn't have a choice. But we did need (Y/n) because she knew Helios the best out of all of us."

     "And you were stuck under Vallory's gun."

     "It was a rocket launcher. Okay? It's was massive, even for her."

[...]

     Rhys continued to look around and calling out Vaughn's name. Bandit tells him to shut up before roughly shoving Sasha to the ground, which pissed Rhys off and made him push the bandit back before he knocked him across the face with his gun, Rhys fell to the ground at the impact. Gortys begged Vallory and the bandit to stop before Vallory scolded the bandit. Soon, the caravan arrived and Kroger stepped off the caravan with a heavy sigh. "Sorry, boss. The nerd is gone. Some old dude with crazy hair ran off with him." He said.

     "That's okay, we've got what's important." Vallory said while walking over to Gortys who looked worried, "There, there little one... No need to be upset." She said as the little robot looked over at (Y/n).

     "Is she going to be okay?" Gortys worriedly as Vallory looked (Y/n) and nodded.

     "Of course she is, she'll be fine." Vallory said while kneeling down to her height.

     "Okay. I'll answer your questions. Please just... promise that you won't hurt anyone like you did to (Y/n)." She pleaded.

     "Of course, dear. I don't want to hurt anyone that's being cooperative."

     "Gortys, hey, look at me." Fiona said as the robot looked over at her, "It'll be alright. (Y/n)'s going to be okay."

     "Now... Tell me about the Vault of the Traveler." Vallory asked.

     "The... the Vault of the Traveler teleports all over the universe... only staying in one spot for a few minutes before blinking away... but once I have my last piece... the beacon that's up on Helios, I can summon the Vault and hold it there... then you... collect treasure or something." Gortys informed.

     "What does the beacon look like?"

     "I... I don't know... but I'll know it when I see it... that's what happened with the last piece." Gortys said cheerfully.

     "Well, that's some exciting news. Thank you, Gortys." Vallory said before standing up straight.

     "You're... You're welcome... Can I get away from you now?" She asked.

     "Of course." Vallory said as Gortys moved away from her and the old woman looked at Fiona who angrily struggled to get the rocket launcher off her body. "Look at you, Fiona... just so angry. Is this about Athena? You're feeling guilty."

     "You said you wouldn't hurt anyone!" Gortys exclaimed.

     "Leave her alone!" Sasha warned.

     "You can't blame yourself. Athena made her own bed."

     "That didn't need to happen. She had nothing to do with this." Fiona claimed while squirming under the large weapon.

     "She was keeping me from getting to you... so she had everything to do with this. Now listen up. Under normal circumstances, your rotting corpses would already be getting torn apart by slags right now... Especially Little Red." She drawled out as everyone looked at that unconscious (Y/n) in August's arm, "That girl is living on borrowed time at this point, should have put her down and out of her misery when the opportunity was given. Now I have to keep her alive." Vallory looked up at the sky where Helios was, "But these are not normal circumstances. And with that last piece being on Helios, I can't think of a better crew than a pair of Pandoran con-artists, a Hyperion stooge and a ex-Hyperion CEO/Vault Hunter, to figure out a way to get it for me." She stops as she stood in front of Rhys and Sasha, turning her head to look at Fiona, "What do you say? And I'll give you a hint. The only right answer is yes."

     "Don't buy any of this bullshit, Fiona." Sasha said while glaring at Vallory.

     "This is not a negotiation."

     "What's in it for us?" Fiona asked.

     "What's in it for you? Well, for starters..." Vallory started before grabbing Sasha's arm and pulling her up, then stabbing a knife through her arm making Sasha hiss in pain and everyone stare in shock, "Things like this will start happening." Vallory said, digging the knife deeper as Sasha let out groans and hisses of pain, "Does that work for you, or do you think we should negotiate more?"

     "Hey!" Rhys shouted.

     "What's it gonna be, Fiona?"

     "Don't give in... I'm fine." Sasha tried to reassure while gritting her teeth together.

     "Hey! You said you wouldn't hurt anyone!" Gortys exclaimed.

     "No, I said I didn't want to hurt anyone that cooperates." Vallory corrected.

     "Yeah, okay. We'll work for you... but we get a cut." Fiona negotiated a bit more.

     "Aw..." Finch sighed with a shake of his head while Kroger crosses his arms.

     "Mm. That ain't a good idea." He said.

     "You're seriously asking for a cut... while I have a knife in your sister." Vallory said with a brow raised.

     "Clearly, I should phrase that differently."

     "We'll discuss terms when you get back." Vallory said before pulling the knife out of Sasha's arm as Fiona nodded.

     "You didn't have to do that." Sasha said while taking heavy breaths and holding her arm, "You shouldn't have given in!"

     "Shut up..." Fiona grumbled while looking away from her.

     "The hell is wrong with you two?" Rhys asked with a frown.

     "We've got principles." Sasha snapped as Vallory went and picked up her rocket launcher off of Fiona.

     "Son!"

     "Yeah?" Answered August.

     "Be a dear and help them come up with a plan. Also, patch up Lil' Red while you're at it, and if she tries anything, kill all of them." Vallory ordered as August looked down at (Y/n), who was breathing softly with an almost peaceful and pure expression as her head rested against his chest before he nodded.

     "Yes, ma'am." He said almost reluctantly before walking over to the caravan, "Let's get crackin'." Everyone headed over to the caravan and Rhys slowly got back up to his feet and followed after them.