Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

Comments

[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.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's still wearing his mask (safety first, after all; and also? it looks cool as fuck), so his look of confusion is probably lost on her. His voice, though, carries it well enough, even in a whisper. ]

What? What happened to guns blazing?

[phaselocknroll]

I'd rather not run in with guns blazing at Axton's ex-wife, thanks.

[ She's not entirely sure it is Axton's ex over there, but better safe than accidentally murdering her. ]

I think she might be able to help us.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ ... wait what. ]

Wait, what?

[ He peers at the woman in question. ]

... Are you sure? [ Strangely, after that little bomb was dropped, Peter doesn't sound doubtful. He trusts Maya, after all. But it's dangerous to lose the element of surprise, so -- he wants to be sure this is the best course of action. ]

[phaselocknroll]

Pretty sure. [ Mostly. Kind of. Sort of. A little. ]

Wait until she's alone. I'll approach her. You keep out of sight, and if things look like they're going badly, shoot her.

[ but don't kill her, goes unsaid ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter nods as he gets his blasters ready. He thinks to himself, Set phasers to stun as he knocks it down to its lowest setting. ]

Got it. But-- just be careful, okay?

[phaselocknroll]

I'm always careful.

[ That might not be entirely true, but she's certainly one of the more careful people on the team.

Dunno what that says about the team, really.

She creeps a little closer and peers through the trees- she can make out a younger male soldier addressing who she assume is Sarah. They talk for a bit, and Maya is sure she hears the word "intruders" said once or twice.

Sarah dismisses the soldier with a sharp order and a wave of her hand. Maya waits a moment or two more, gives the man time to put some distance between them. When she's sure the other woman is alone, Maya slings her gun over her back and stands, arms raised. ]

Sarah, right? [ Obviously, this startles her, and the soldier jumps, aiming her assault rifle at Maya, who quickly adds, ] I'm just here to talk. I'm a friend of Axton's.

[ That earns her something of a Look, so Maya quickly adds again, ] Just a friend. From Pandora.

[ Sarah's look shifts into something a little more calculating, and she lowers her rifle a smidge. "Go on."

So Maya explains- she explains how she knows Axton, first, then she explains about the mess Dahl has caused, and why they were sent by the Nova Corps. She explains that this planet is not like Pandora at all, and that if things were to go south, then the results could be potentially devastating. She does all of his calmly, coolly, with her arms in the air.

Sarah's gaze narrows, the gears in her head clearly turning, but she doesn't raise her gun again. "And I should work with you, because-?" ]

Because it's better than being against us. We're taking that Vault, one way or another- and if the Corp hasn't been completely honest with you about why you're here and what you're doing, wouldn't you rather avoid the bloodshed?

[ She has, of course, no fucking clue what Dahl tells and doesn't tell their employees, but she gets the feeling that if a lot of these people knew that Earth was populated and actually fairly peaceful, they might have some qualms.

Not everyone was Hyperion.

There's silence by way of response for a moment or two, then Sarah nods, and her assault rifle goes into the digistruct device on her thigh. May lets her hands drop. "Fine, but I want you to make sure this doesn't lead back to me.

If you want to walk through my camp, you'll need a uniform."

It's then that Maya glances over her shoulder and calls, ] You can come out now.

And one for him, too, please.