The Titans stopped at the entrance to Pity's Fall. The place was littered with mountains of scrap and twisted metal. In the center, imposing and decrepit, lay the Drakensburg, a Dahl war colossus, now more a home for Scavs than a weapon of war.
It was like watching a dead god slowly being consumed and profaned by worms.
"This used to be Zarpedon's own ship, you know. Before she got promoted, I mean. They say it went down before the Cracking happened. Imagine that..." Davis mimicked Drakensburg with his hand, making a downward motion, expanding with both hands when he reached the "ground."
whistling noise
"Crash! Bang! Oohh, would 'ave been something to see."
"The most incredible thing would be what brought down something so big. When we arrived here in Elpis, we had seen three more of these." Maxwell gave his point of view.
He didn't clash with Zaperdom out of kindness or anything like that. He currently only had Odyssey and was reluctant to enter into an unnecessary and completely avoidable conflict.
That was the main reason why he needed Felicity. She was an AI specialized in navigation and space warfare. Knoxx was a general specialized in planetary conflicts and did not have in-depth knowledge about this aspect, as not everything in space was about killing and destroying efficiently.
The strength of a corporation in this universe was also measured by its ability to dominate the great void of the universe: controlling trade routes, projecting force, and defending its assets across star systems.
A corporation without a powerful fleet was like a nation on Earth without a strong navy. The only difference was that, instead of seas, in Borderlands, they navigated the cosmos, where dangers ranged from meteor showers and radiation storms to space pirates and ruthless rival corporations.
Their advance attracted more Scavs, but those who dared to oppose them were crushed and disintegrated with a brutality that made their resistance nothing more than a slight inconvenience. The path to this point left a trail of destruction that led directly to the carcass of the Drakensburg.
They approached a side entrance, an armored gate that would allow access to the interior. Suddenly, two automatic turrets emerged from the walls of the ship, locking onto the Titans. At the same time, the door opened with a screech, and a dozen Scavs with grenades in hand launched themselves into a suicide attack, screaming insanely as they flew toward the metal giants.
"BT, focus on the turrets! The Scavs are mine," Maxwell commanded, already pulling his Wingman from its holster.
The enemy turrets' fire consisted of energy projectiles that pierced Vortex's shields without being absorbed. Maxwell's decision to focus the Titans on the turrets was correct, as the threat they posed if not taken down quickly was real.
As BT, Minerva, and Elliot fired together, their cannons and machine guns tearing through the metal of the turrets in seconds, Maxwell jumped off BT's back. With the Wingman in hand, he fired a precise shot at each of the approaching Scavs.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
The powerful caliber of the weapon transformed the grenades into explosions that tore apart the threat before they could cause any damage to the Titans. He finished off the survivors with the lethal Plasma Sword.
In a matter of seconds, the suicide attack was completely neutralized. The side entrance was clear, finally ready for use.
("How dare you board my vessel, after all my polite warnings! Prepare to die! Horribly!") Bosun was even more enraged when he saw that the ambush had failed to cause any casualties among Maxwell's group.
Maxwell wasted no time talking to Bosun and advanced into the interior of the Drakensburg. The ship, despite appearing to be in ruins on the outside, was relatively well preserved by bandit standards on the inside, with the smell of rusty metal, trash, and dirt dominating the air.
BT led the way, his scanner detecting potential threats. They quickly reached what appeared to be the Commander Center, a main room located right in the center, with paths leading to the rear, where the ship's engine was located.
The room was empty, but the route to the Captain's Chamber, where Bosun was, was obvious. But as they approached, a pulsating orange force field materialized out of nowhere, completely blocking their passage. The force field was powerful enough to stop even the Titans.
The high-pitched sound of distorted laughter filled the communication.
("Evil laugh! HAHAHAHA! I'm the captain of this vessel, and you squalid looter, will soon face my wrath.") The image of Bosun, the ugly and arrogant goblin, appeared on Maxwell's HUD.
("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 from the safety of the Captain's Chamber, won't we, my luscious snuggle-bunny?")
("Yep.") Skipper replied, without much enthusiasm.
("We've talked about this, my love! You're to address me as 'baby' or 'my dear', especially in front of the others!") Bosun shook his head in frustration.
("Of course... my... dear... Bosey.") Skipper rolled his eyes before spitting out the words forcefully.
("Maties! ATTACK!") Finally satisfied with the answer, Bosun turned his attention back to the intruders.
There was silence on the line. Bosun, looking completely confused, glanced around as if expecting his men to appear out of nowhere.
"It seems that morale among your men is low, Bosun. What are you going to do now?" Although he didn't want to waste his breath on the goblin, Maxwell couldn't resist mocking him when he saw that the Scavs were cowering.
"HA! All your soldiers are hiding!" Davis took the opportunity to mock him, too. This was the first time he had seen Bosun in such a complicated situation.
Bosun's face contorted with rage on the screen. The Scavs lost all fighting spirit when they saw that the other side hadn't broken a sweat, and, like bandits, they lacked loyalty and decided to flee the battle.
He thought they would be similar to Vladof's mechs, the famous Iron-Bear. Although Vladof and Dahl's mechs were strong, these machines ran out of fuel very quickly, lasting no more than a day of use. But it was a mistake to compare the Titans, since even in situations of great stress and energy expenditure, their reactor could supply them for days before finally failing.
Angel's voice sounded over the communicators.
("Maxwell, the force field controls are close. I can hack into the system and deactivate it.")
"Wait," Maxwell replied, without taking his eyes off the HUD.
("Why? The passage is blocked, and Bosun can use this time to escape. I could deactivate the force field and end this quickly.") Angel insisted, not understanding why he wanted to prolong things even further.
"I'm waiting for the other side to make contact," Maxwell said calmly. Skipper would betray the other side when she realized there was a chance to escape. Considering the way she was treated by Bosun, it was no surprise.
It didn't take long for Angel to understand what he meant. Bosun's communication was suddenly cut off, and a private channel opened, with Skipper's voice addressing them directly.
("Hey there, sorry about all... that. Look, I'm not really with Captain Arsecrack here, to prove it, I'll pop the door for you.") Skipper took a chance. She knew there would be no other chance to escape like this. ("If you want that force field down, you need to go to the engine room.")
("Why should we trust you? Davis said that you and Bosun are partners, so you approach us at this moment could be to lead us into a trap.") Angel's reasoning was quite sound. Maxwell almost shed a tear when he saw how much the girl had grown.
("Listen, the Bosun's pretty much holding me prisoner and making me do... things for his entertainment. But you're here, and you look like the rescuing type.") Skipper felt a little desperate, but she kept trying to gain the trust of the group. She couldn't stand being trapped anymore.
"They are corpo, so they're more the arse-kickin' type!" Davis introduced them enthusiastically. He had always heard that suits were jerks, but Maxwell and Angel seemed reasonable.
("Kind of the same thing in my book.") Skipper seemed more interested when she heard that the other side was a corporation. She originally belonged to Dahl and was reluctant to leave the claws of the Scavs, only to end up in the hands of other savages.
"Our goal is to acquire a Military AI Unit for the Ouroboros mothership. Although, as Ms. Angel pointed out, your sudden approach is suspicious, I can conclude from my pilot that your statement is sincere." BT trusted his pilot's judgment.
("Perfect! I know that you can get an excellent military AI! Just find me. First, I'll have to show you how to shut down the Bosun's barrier.") If Skipper had hands, she would be clapping her hands with joy.
"That won't be necessary," Maxwell replied. "We'll be able to open it ourselves. Can you monitor Bosun's movements and report back to us on his plans?"
("Great! I'll try to help along the way where possible, but I can't let the Bosun know we're working together, so... sorry in advance for anything I have to do.")
"No problem." Maxwell didn't care much; Bosun, without the support of his subordinates, could do nothing.
"Angel, turn off the force field."
("Executing phaseshift.") At the sound of Angel's voice, the lights inside the Drakensburg began to flicker, and the force field went down as the power seemed to stabilize.
("WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!") Bosun shouted in disbelief and panic when he realized that an entire session of Drakensburg had slipped out of his control in seconds.
("Know what?! I WANT you to reach me! I WANT you to have my boot crushing your mangy body to be the last thing you feel!") Bosun was like a cornered animal. Even though he knew that his chances of survival were slim, he had no choice but to fight.
"Be careful what you wish for."
Maxwell and his group crossed the rest of the bridge leading to the Captain's Chamber. That part of Drakensburg was quite dilapidated, as it was possible to see a lake of lava below.
The first thing they saw upon entering the Captain's Chamber was Bosun, the goblin, in his floating chair. He had his back to them, busy typing on a virtual interface with a large map of Elpis above it.
"Now I'm REALLY pissed off!" Bosun stepped back when he noticed the presence of strangers. He was about to continue his monologue when the lights in the Captain's Chamber flickered, and the futuristic chair he was sitting in began to shake before failing, causing him to fall onto the cold floor.
"Ouch!" Bosun screams in pain as he falls face-first onto the floor, his nose bent at an unnatural angle.
"He's not really a fighter. I swear we could have killed him a thousand times. Who turns their back on their enemies with such confidence?" Minerva comments as she climbs down from her Stryder.
"How did this guy manage to command a ship full of Scavs? I thought lunatics only respected the strong." Elliot also approached, kicking Bosun's fallen body, now curled up in a ball.
"Perhaps some of the crew survived the crash, and that piece of shit was the only one who could operate the Drakensburg's systems."
Maxwell drew Wingman, pointing it at Bosun's face.
Noticing a shadow above him, Bosun raised his head only to see a gun pointed directly at him. The threat of death was certain as he was surrounded by three pilots, their red visors like a harbinger of the hell to which he would be sent with the squeeze of the trigger.
"Goodbye, my sweet Skipper! I know you never betrayed me..." Bosun could only console himself with this thought, verbalizing his emotions to his companion.
"Actually, I totally did. Sick idiot." Skipper said without blinking. Even if the other side was so capable that it didn't need her help.
"Skipper! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Bosun let out a heart-wrenching cry.
BANG!
The bullet lodged deep in Bosun's giant skull, ending his life in an explosion of brain matter and bone fragments.
"Oh damn, his blood splattered on my boot."
("I'm at AI HUB. You need to open this door now.") Skipper's voice sounded relieved.
With Bosun dead and the way clear, they headed to the AI HUB, where Skipper was. Angel had to get off BT, as the passage to the location was too small for a Titan to pass through. So Maxwell, Davis, Elliot, and Minerva continued on foot.
The moment the five entered the room, the temperature dropped dramatically. The place was filled with servers and computers, which required a powerful cooling system to prevent overheating. But something seemed strange; there were no humans in sight. The room was completely silent, except for the hum of the fans.
The realization hit Davis when the central window of the room opened, revealing the image of Skipper on a screen. She was in her standard holographic form, completely navy blue. Her eyes glowed a vibrant shade of green, and her digital body seemed ethereal and illusory.
"WOW! The Skipper's an AI! Well, blow my cotton socks off!" Davis shouted in surprise; this was a plot twist he hadn't seen coming.
"Got it in one, kid! You're sharp. The Bosun, aka Keith, used to be an AI tech working for Dahl. He made me into... this after he, uh... wasn't exactly a hit with the ladies." Skipper seemed visibly uncomfortable and embarrassed to the point of avoiding giving further details.
"So that's why I had a strange feeling about you, you're not human!" Angel finally understood why he couldn't sense any vital signs from Skipper's ECHO. "Where is your core?"
"You're looking at it. I used to be military grade, ran this ship when it meant something, until The Bosun reprogrammed me to be his 'companion'. If you want to plug me into something more interesting than this dead ship. I'm all yours. Too many terrible memories here."
"Can you remember what caused Drakensburg's downfall?" Although it was an off-topic question, Maxwell couldn't resist; he wanted to know how Drakensburg had actually been shot down.
"I don't know if the fall destroyed any servers with those memories, but I remember that when I was ready to land on Elpis with Drakensburg, we were attacked by some strange entities, although many of the tribulationists to this day, as well as a large part of the population of Elpis, believe that the catastrophic event known as The Cracking was responsible for the fall of Drakensburg."
"Well, that puts things into perspective a bit. It seems that the Eridian Guardians took advantage of the climatic effects to conceal their movements."
While Maxwell was busy trying to uncover the secrets of Elpis, Angel went to retrieve Skipper's Core. She thought she had some affinity with artificial intelligence, as her first friend had been Claptrap, although her father didn't like it very much.
"I'm ready, yank me."
Angel seemed a little hesitant.
"Although I won't be affected by being disconnected from the Drakensburg servers," Skipper explained, with a hint of hesitation in her digital voice, "I will still suffer a significant loss in my processing capabilities."
Angel nodded. "That's not a problem. Odyssey has its servers, which are often better than those junk computers."
Angel's confidence reassured Skipper, who seemed happier with the idea. Skipper's core resembled a motherboard, featuring a golden centrepiece. Angel carefully removed it from the server, and she carefully embraced the nucleus in her arms. Meanwhile, Skipper's image on the screen faded completely.
("Mission accomplished, good work, pilot. What's our next move?")
"I think that's enough for today, BT. Let's go back and rest before continuing." Maxwell could see that Angel was tired, both physically and mentally. It was surprising that she had lasted this long, considering that she had spent most of her life sitting in a chair. "Furthermore, I think Angel should take a closer look at Odyssey."
Angel's ears seemed to perk up when she heard about visiting Odyssey.
"WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR!" Angel grabbed Maxwell's wrist and pulled him out of the AI HUB.
"Okay, okay, just let me talk to the kid first." Calming Angel down, Maxwell kneels down next to Davis.
"Thanks for your help, kid. If you want a place to stay, come with us. We're planning to go to Promethea after we finish our business in Elpis."
"Nah, I still have a few things to do around here." Davis seemed hesitant, the reluctance in his eyes evident. He just wanted to come to Drakensburg to retrieve his parents' ashes and couldn't leave until he was done. Maxwell understood the reason behind his decision and didn't press him.
"It's your call. If you change your mind, just give us a call." Maxwell ruffled Davis's hair with his hand before walking away. He knew Davis wouldn't go anywhere until he was sure his sister was dead.
The team returned to their Titans, leaving Davis alone in the Drakensburg. The boy knew how to get by; he had broken into the ship a few times before.