June 14, 2026
3:45 P.M.
Concordia

Jack and I sat in the Meriff's office and awaited any contact from the Vault Hunters. Jack was watching live feed of a Vault Hunter's ECHO device, and I was doing just the same.

Springs had appeared. "How ya going? I finally got all my stuff back here. Welcome to my store: "Springs' Emporium O' Stuff". There was an "f", but it fell off." I giggled.

Jack looked at me. "What's so funny?"

"Well, the 'f' had fallen off of her sign. It's just funny" I said. He smiled and pulled my body closer into his side.

Springs spoke up once more and our heads turned to the monitor. "Moxxi said you're after some military AI. Big soz, but your best bet's a mate of mine, a little ankle-biter by the name of Pickle. Lives in the Outlands. He's almost impossible to reach, mind, but I can help with that. Take this scrambler." We watcher the Vault Hunters take the scrambler. I guess the scrambler will help with the location. I don't exactly know. I haven't been out in battle before so I wouldn't know.

"Now, then – I'll upload coordinates of an old Dahl garage to your ECHO. Get goin', I'll explain on the way!" She said, and the Vault Hunters were on their way. Where is the old Dahl garage?

Jack and I sat back and waited for any contact from the Vault Hunters. They needed to get through to "Pickle" first before anything. That name sounded familiar, and I do not know why. I mean, I guess I'll find out when we see who "Pickle" is.

Jack's grunt brought me out of my thoughts as I was sitting on his lap and facing him. I never took to notice of the position I was in and blushed, placing my hands over my face. Hands pulled away mine that shielded my blush-ridden face, revealing Jack with a genuine smile on his face.

"Don't hide, you're beautiful" he said, and he caressed the side of my face. I grabbed his hand and held it with a tight, gentle grip.

Then, Springs piped up and Jack spun the chair sideways so we could both see the monitor. "It ain't easy to get to Pickle's place on foot, but I can help you out with – ready for it? – a Stingray. It's old Dahl tech. They're not much to look at, but Moxxi tinkered with the design so now they jump like a skag in heat. Problem is, Stingrays aren't easy to get your meathunks on. So happens that scrambler, uh... came my way. It's supposed to unlock digistructing at that old Dahl garage I'm sending you to. Once you unlock a Stingray there, I'll fix it so all Moon Zoomies are Stingray'd up." I love Stingrays! I used to ride them around a lot back on Pandora before I was grabbed by Hyperion.

We watched as the Vault Hunters arrived the garage and they needed a combination to a door. Everything looks so familiar, but I can't put my finger on it as to why.

"I forgot about that door! Combo's 8-0-0-8 – don't ask me how I know. At least the place still has power!" Springs chimed in, and made me jump at the sudden pitch of voice. Of course, Jack thought it was funny.

I gave him a glare. "That wasn't funny." I crossed my arms and he continued to chuckle lowly at me.

"Oh, but sweetheart...it is hilarious to see you like that" Jack replied.

While he and I were talking, the Vault Hunters had gotten the Stingray and everyone jumped on one. They all were heading to a gate to head on their way to "Pickle's" place.

Then, the stupid bitch we all hate chimes into the contact link. "Vault Hunter, this is Colonel Zarpedon of the Lost Legion. Soon, Elpis will be rubble. I will be dead from the explosion, along with everyone on Elpis and most of those living on Pandora below. I've seen you fight, and I respect your skill. If you agree to leave now, I will send you an interstellar ship. We will not follow you. Think it over."

I growled in annoyance and just pure anger. "She better knock it the fuck off." Little did I know that Jack was liking the attitude I had. Little did I know that he was wanting to see me fight, wanting to see how I can use my anger to use.

Then, a male voice entered the contact line. "Hey – it's Jack, right? I'm Roland. Moxxi dropped me a line, said you need a hand building robots? My, uh... colleague, Lilith and I spotted some old Dahl industrial complexes dotted around the area. A scout around might solve your hardware problem. We'll let you know."

Jack instantly smiled at the help he was receiving. "Sounds good! ECHO me when you got something." He looked at me, "Finally things are going my way...the right way."

I smiled back at him. "This will all be over, and that bitch is going to know who she shouldn't have messed with."

"Good to meet ya!" A voice yelled, causing me to jump once again, "Springs says you're trying to get yer mitts on some military AI. Well, it's yer lucky day! You can half-inch one from the Drakensburg! I hear The Bosun and The Skipper – who run that place – are well known collectors of rare and nifty intelligences of the artificial persuasion. Trouble is, it's not like you can just walk right up to the place and ask to have an AI."

The body double used his cockiness to try and impress, just like Jack would. "Ehhhhh, I don't know about that."

"Cocky, eh?! Fair enough, they're a tricky pair, but maybe they'll let you on board right off the bat! I'm updating your ECHO with the most direct route there! Truth is, I've 'ad my eye on that wreck for a while, and you going in for a bit of a look-see would let me do a bit of shopping meself!" Pickle cheered. Wait, I do know who this is!

I looked after a boy named David Pickle a while ago. I remember I sent Pickle to a safe location after his parents didn't come back, even his sister, during "The Crackening". Stupid Dahl and their orders try have to follow. They separated this family and many more families with their mining.

I muted the contact line, and Jack looked at me in confusion. "Why did you do that?"

"Because. That dialogue and monologues you have to listen to as they talk, it gets boring. Plus, they can't hear us, but we can hear them" I said, "besides, it's not gonna matter. They haven't gotten the AI yet."

He nodded. "True."

Time passed and then I heard Pickle speaking. "This used to be Zarpedon's own ship, you know. Before she got promoted, I mean. They say it was went down before the Crackening happened. Imagine that – (whistling noise) Crash! Bang! Oo, would 'ave been something to see."

So, Zarpedon used to be a lower rank, like Jack? Huh, you learn something new every day of your life.

Then, my boss gets onto the line. "John! I want an update on the Helios situation." I wish Tassiter would die already.

Jack and him converse privately, amongst themselves, then I hear Jack growl in annoyance.

Tassiter fired Jack. HE HAD THE NERVE TO FIRE HIM! NO ONE MESSES WITH ANYONE I CARE ABOUT UNLESS THEY WANT TO DIE!

I look at Jack. "We are killing Tassiter after this." This made Jack give a sadistic smile towards my comment.

He hooked his arm around my waist. "Yes we are."

5:30 p.m.

We retrieved the AI, and a lot of stuff had happened during that time. The Vault Hunters fought against someone named the Bosun, they found out the lady helping them was military AI we needed, and we decided to use her AI in the robot army.

Then, a female voice chimed in. "Jack? Lilith here. Good news is we found an old Dahl robot factory, abandoned for the most part! We'll ECHO the Vault Hunter. Bad news is the scavs living there do NOT like us!"

I blanked out after that. I didn't hear anything, and my eyes stared at one little place on the floor. I stared at the blood staining the floor and remembered that Jack almost died today.

Then, I get up and walk to the fish tank and look at the fish swimming around. They are enclosed within their own danger: themselves. They swim around, waiting to be fed, but it never really happens.

I heard Jack talk once more. "Okay, let's check out the factory and get things moving ASAP -- we need mucho robot bodies if we're going to retake Helios and save the day and stuff. Capiche?"

My watch went off. It read 6:45 p.m.