June 14, 2026
12:50 P.M.
Concordia

We arrived in Concordia and I held onto Jack's hand tightly, scared to let go. He looked at me from time to time, but he gripped my hand tightly, but it was a gentle squeeze. I saw more people walk up to him and I hid behind him.

Then, an intercom sounds off. "Fellow Concordians, I urge you to remain calm. The battle raging above us is NO cause for alarm. The laser striking the surface is merely speculating for deposits. For your own safety, Concordia will remain locked down for the next several weeks. That is all!" The intercom sounded and it turned off.

"Jack, how will we get there now?" I asked.

He paced around back and forth. "Screw this. Let's go pay him a visit. Like I said, don't get trigger-happy. If he's got info, I don't wanna hear him gurgle it through blood. He has horrible diction to start with."

He walked off and I run up to him to keep up with him. "How are we going to get up there if it's locked?"

"The Merrif's elevator is sealed, remember?" Athena stated. I looked back at Jack. He looked frustrated.

"That's just great" he said, and let out a groan of frustration. I could tell he was mad. He had a roadblock in the mission and I know he didn't want the help from anyone, but it has to be done.

Moxxi piped in. "I do have a recording of the Merrif talking sexy to Sereena, the custom bot's favorite squeeze." Maybe that could work.

"Jack that could work. We could-" I said, but I was interrupted by Jack.

"Nah, that wouldn't work" Jack said in a pessimistic tone. I was going to say blackmail. I know it could work.

A Jack look alike look at the real Jack. "Well, remember that recording we got of the Meriff and the geisha bot-thingy? We could use that to blackmail our way in. Maybe" I swear...if he took my idea-

"Yahtzee! Let's go find ourselves one soon-to-be outraged Customs CL4P-TP! Get that recording ready Mox" Jack ordered. I am going to explode in a minute.

I stomped behind Jack and followed him with my arms crossed. I was really pissed off. Jack went along with and idea that I had and someone else took credit for it.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked. I grunted in response and continued walking.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me behind a customization machine. "Hey, what is up with you?"

"I'm fine, Jack" I stayed sternly and tried to walk away, but I felt his hand grip my arm again.

Jack forcefully turned me around to face him. "Winnaya, don't you give me that bullshit."

I shook my arm away from his grip. "I'm fine."

I walked away, but then he pulled me back once more. Not to yell, but to kiss me in a rough manner. I could feel the anger...but I could also feel the passion put into the kiss. I kissed back with as much force as I could, but his lips dominated mine. He pulled away from the loss of breath between us.

I panted, and my chest had risen and fallen heavily. "That was...literally breathtaking." He chuckled and leans his forehead against mine.

"So now will you tell me what your deal was back there?" He asked. I groans and looked down. Now he ruined it.

"Jack. You ruined the moment." I said in a monotone, yet annoyed, manner. He sighed.

He grabbed my hand and slightly pulled me along with him to go find a Customs ClapTrap Unit. I mean, I did see a claptrap unit here. Of course, it was the security detail worker. Speaking of the little robot, we saw him at yelling at a door.

"Come back here – I am the LAW! The law doesn't make mistakes!" He yelled. I guess someone is in trouble with the "law".

Jack wrapped his arm around me. "Hey! Lawbot!"

The robot turned around and faced us.
"You've just interrupted an officer carrying out his duty." I rolled my eyes. He was probably banging on the door and no one was there.

Jack was looking straight at the Lawbot. "Uh, we're here to file a complaint. Your awesome Meriff's been breaking the law. We have evidence." So, are we actually going to use the recording as blackmail?

His one blue eye brightened. "Breaking the law? Why don't you tell me all about it? Thank you for your concern, citizen – rest assured it shall be logged. Long live the Meriff!"

I spoke up and looked at the Lawbot. "That's the thing. It's about he Meriff..." He is not going to like this.

Jack told Moxxi to play the recording and listening to it once more was terrible. I felt like I was experiencing this and I wanted it to stop. This was something I wanted to escape.

"Oh, blimey! You really know how to listen to a bloke's problems, I'll give you that! You sure I can't book you for more, uh, ehhhh.... physical services? I'm a bloody stress volcano right now and could do with the uh, with the um... relief" said the Meriff.

A female voice soon spoke up. "You know that's not what geisha bots are programmed for." Was the Meriff trying to engage sexual intercourse? By the way she was denying him, it was as if he were harassing her, trying to pressure her even.

"Sereena, REALLY? I'm your Meriff! You'd be doing Concordia a public service! I'd make it worth your while – I'm SWIMMING in Dahl money right now!" He replied with a whiny tone. He sounded like a little kid at a grocery store.

The recording quit playing over the intercom and I took a look at Jack. He had a sinister, yet attractive, grin turning onto his face.

I turned around and Lawbot was pissed. I could tell. "The Meriff's interfacing with my Sereena?! NOOOOOOOO! I feel so betrayed! And according to my records, the Meriff doesn't have the appropriate paper work to engage in such... activities, which kinda makes my outrage morally justifiable! Awesome!" I guess he was ready to kill the Meriff for what he was doing.

Jack piped in, playing along with the Lawbot. "Hey, I'm with you, pal! Word is, he's got another appointment booked with Sereena right now." I listened to their conversation, but the voices faded every once in a while. I heard a faint yelp, and then the intercom went off once again.

The Meriff's frightened voice chimes in. "Citizens, that was not – that may have sounded like my voice but... I-I-I've been impersonated by... someone who sounds like me! I appreciate you allowing me privacy at this difficult time." I rolled my eyes at his statement. The citizens knew what the Meriff sounded like, and he thought he could lie about it.

I heard a masculine voice speak up, making me jump. "What a douche." I turned around I saw a familiar man. Although, I gave a look of confusion to them and to Jack.

"Sorry, everyone..." he began, "this is Winnaya."

Every person looked at me, but one stepped forward. "My name is Athena."

I inspected her so I could remember her. She was somewhat short with purple short hair. She had a shield, to which had to bear an abnormal marking. On that note, she wore metallic armor. That must be heavy on her shoulders, her body in general. Two more females stepped up after her. They introduced themselves as Nisha and Aurelia. Nisha looked like a cowgirl, and Aurelia looked like she loved winter.

Two other males and a little robot stepped up after the females, introducing themselves as Wilhelm, Jack, and ClapTrap. Now, I am definitely need to look for a difference between the real Jack and the body double. Wilhelm looked like a cyborg, a man with metal implants.

"This guy's SO busted! Without an Interorganic Fraternization License, I'm going to make his life a LIVING HELL!" The Lawbot screamed. I jumped at his voice suddenly speaking up. He wheeled over to the elevator and he finally got it open for us.

The robot got it open and cheered. "C'mon, elevator, let's go! Sereena, I'm coming my love!" I guess Sereena and himself are a close couple.

Jack lets out a chuckle. "This is more like it" I smiled at him and he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the elevator.

"Aaaand, here we go! To the Meriff!" and with that, the elevator...started to lower itself? I thought the Meriff's office was up, not down.

"Jack?" I asked. He looked at me, "Shouldn't we be going up instead of down?"

He watched the elevator go down. "Seriously? You idiot machine? The offices are UP."

"Right! I'm such a kidder! Up we go!" He said.

With that, we were off to the Meriff's office. I hope the Meriff is ready to get what is coming to him. Yet, I hope Jack doesn't find out that I stole a Hyperion gun and some ammo. It's not a bad thing. I just want to help with the mission. It sucks to not be able to help all of the damn time. 

I took a quick glance at Jack's watch. It was 2:20 P.M.