Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

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[phaselocknroll]

[ She takes a moment to move to the body and pluck the still-folded Sabre turret from it, sticking it into her digistruct device. Rocket would probably appreciate it, and if he happens to nab one of his own, she'll just send it to Axton- he's always said he wanted another turret anyway.

But it seems he had a squadmate or two nearby, and Maya's sniper rifle shot didn't go completely unnoticed, because someone is shouting for him and they're coming closer. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ At this point it's second nature -- Peter's mask flares up over his face, and his blasters are in his hands.

They're going for stealth, though, and while Peter's never been great at the ninja thing, he stillducks behind a tree, motioning for Maya to do the same. He waits until the other guard comes into view, waits for the slightly puzzled expression that crosses his face to turn into alarm, before darting out behind him and slamming the butt of his blaster into the back of his head. For good measure, he hits the guy with a bolt of electricity from his gun once the dude hits the ground.

(One of the funny things about Peter is that, for having once claimed to be a ruthless outlaw, he rarely kills anyone. Sometimes he even goes out of his way to avoid it. Yondu never could break him of the habit.)

And, just because Peter is petty and in a bad mood, he also kicks the guy in the side. You know, just to make sure he's really out.

He whispers, ] See anyone else?

[phaselocknroll]

[ Maya hides and waits, rifle at the ready, while Peter takes out the other soldier. Once the man drops, she steps out from behind her tree. ]

No, but I'm sure they're around.

[ She nudges the fallen soldier with a foot, idly wondering if Axton knows any of these people.

If he does, he probably doesn't care, considering how easily he gave away information and tactics. ]

Let's keep moving.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He nods in agreement before forging ahead, weapon at the ready.

Maya's right about more men being around, of course, and pretty soon they happen upon another group of Dahl employees. It seems they're just sitting around and chatting, though, not paying much attention to their surrounds. (They are, perhaps, arguing about the best weapons and gear setup in the latest fad FPS game.)

Peter's about to signal to Maya to take these guys out, as well, when one of the men turn, suddenly. Peter freezes until he realizes the man has a hand to his ear -- an almost universal signal showing the guy was on his comm -- and the guy turns back to the other soldiers. The word "intruders" is just audible from this distance, and the men pick up their weapons and head west.

-- which is when Peter sighs, a hand going to his forehead out of habit (even if he has his mask on), and mumbles, ]

God dammit, Drax.

[phaselocknroll]

[ Well, that won't do. Maya instantly brings her sniper rifle to bear and lets off a shot, piercing one of the men through the chest as he stands to leave. Again, his body is wracked with convulsions thanks to the electrically charged ammo.

She has just enough time to duck behind a tree before the rest wheel around and open fire. ]

I think I got their attention.

[nostalgiabomb]

Must be your irresistible good looks.

[ He’s ducked behind his own tree, of course, and in a lull in gunfire he darts around to send a few blasts of fire their way. Warning shots, mostly -- he's just trying to get an idea of where they’ve hidden themselves before he gets back into cover. ]

2 o’clock, two behind crates. 11 o’clock and 12 o’clock, one each behind trees. [ His challenging look may not be visible, but it certainly carries in his voice. ] Bet I can take ‘em out before you can.

[phaselocknroll]

Poor boys will be heartbroken when I tell them I'm taken.

[ Oh, she hears that challenge, and the smirk on her face has a definite edge to it. In response, she switches out her rifle in favor of her HellFire ]

You're on.

[ With that, she moves out of cover, letting her shield eat a few bullets in favor of phaselocking the fist poor sap to show his face- he goes up in a torrent of elements, and Maya calls over her shoulder ] One down.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter's tactics are far more flashy. He aims himself at the men hidden behind crates and leaps, triggering his rockets to get him an extra boost. He twists midair, chest facing the sky, and clears the stack of crates. When his back hits the ground, he fires only two shots at the surprised guards, both of whom topple over, convulsing. ]

Two for me.

[phaselocknroll]

Then we're tied, because I got the first one.

[ she grins, moving to offer him a hand up ]

Show-off.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He goes to reach her hand, but movement to his right catches his eye. So instead of hauling himself up, he yanks her down roughly just as bullets rain overhead.

He fires into the overgrowth. A startled cry comes from that direction, followed by a thump as a body hits the ground. ]

... Three.

[phaselocknroll]

[ Maya finds herself half-on top of Peter. It's a place she's been many times, and at this stage in their relationship, she doesn't even blush. She just lays there a moment while her brain catches up to what just happened.

Oh-so-eloquently, she breathes out an amused, ] Well okay then.

[ And why with the mask, Peter? She'd like to give him a kiss for that one, but as it is she just musses his hair a little as she hauls herself to her feet. ]

You may be winning now, but the day isn't over with.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He makes a noise of indignation (wow Maya do you have any idea how long it takes to get curly hair like his to look this way???) before running his hand through his hair to fix it.

He hauls himself up to his feet, brushing himself off. ] That's the spirit, sweetheart. Keep up that optimism while I go on to thoroughly trounce you.

[phaselocknroll]

You're only ahead of me by one. Enjoy it while you can.

[ Her smirk fades a little, and she glances in the direction their little cluster of soldiers had been heading. ]

Sounds like we're on the radar now. Thoughts?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He’s sorely tempted to head to wear Drax and Gamora had head off, since they’ve clearly drawn attention to themselves. But that also means the straight shot path should be relatively clear for Peter and Maya, so he shakes his head. ]

They can handle themselves. We should keep movin’.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She gives him a mock salute, and continues traipsing through the foliage.

As she walks, something small and brown and fast- a rabbit actually- darts from under a bush, crossing her path before vanishing again. It doesn't startle her, exactly- they're in a forest, she expects wildlife. She's just never seen anything like it.

As much as she doesn't want to ask questions, as much as she doesn't want Peter to dwell on where they are, it pops out of her mouth anyway, ]

What was that-?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Even if Maya doesn't start, Peter totally does, and he was a split second away from blasting the poor thing. He was expecting another attack, not a furry woodland creature, and holy shit. He hasn't seen a rabbit in twenty-six years, and-- he can't help it. He smiles a little behind his mask.

At her question, though, he pauses and realizes these creatures are as alien to her as the beasts on Pandora were to him. ]

Just a rabbit. [ He sounds fond, almost amused, because that was a bunny, and it's hard to be upset by one of those. ] It's not dangerous, or anything. They're cute. We keep 'em as pets.

[phaselocknroll]

Rabbit. I've read about those.

[ She tilts her head a little, trying to reconcile the creature she just saw with the mental image she put together from her books. ]

It was kind of cute, actually.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His smile widens a little. ] Yeah, pretty sure bunnies are waaaaay up there in terms of cute Terran creatures. Right next to, like, kittens and puppies and baby chicks.

[phaselocknroll]

I've read about those things too.

Probably couldn't place them if I saw them, though.

[nostalgiabomb]

We won't see any out here, I can tell you that much.

[ He tilts his head. ] C'mon. We can go chasing after fuzzy animals later.

[phaselocknroll]

Right. Let's see if we can hit the main camp, figure out what they know about the Vault.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He starts heading off toward the main camp -- or where he thinks the main camp is, anyway. ] And then we shoot them for all the trouble they've caused and go out for milkshakes. Gotcha.

[phaselocknroll]

Sounds like a good plan to me.

[ there are a few thin pillars of smoke rising up in the distance- from campfires, she assumes, and that's where she heads. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

I'm asking for fifteen cherries, by the way, and no one can stop me.

[ At least killing these assholes has put him in a better mood, it seems. Only with the Guardians can murder and mayhem be a recipe for a good time. ]

[phaselocknroll]

I wouldn't dream of it.

[ She's grinning, at least. It's good to see him in a better mood.

The pillars of smoke are looming closer, and there are muffled voices up ahead. Not that he really needs it, but Maya motions for Peter to keep quiet as they approch.

The voices become a little clearer as they creep closer, one man and one woman. The man addresses the woman as Sarah, and Maya actually has to stop for a moment and listen to make sure she heard that right.

Isn't Axton's ex-wife named Sarah? And wasn't she his CO?

She did Axton a solid once, despite whatever it was that made their marriage fall apart, taking care of another soldier who had been sent to dispatch Axton for going AWOL. It was possible that she could be reasoned with. They could just stroll on through the camp.

Wouldn't that be nice?

One way or another, Maya had no real desire to shoot the woman who at one time may or may not have been married to one of her fellow Vault Hunters.

She tugs Peter aside, and whispers in his ear, ] We need to try and talk to that woman.