[ 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’.
[ 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, ]
[ 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.
[ 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.
[ 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.
[ 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.
[ 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. ]
... 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. ]
[ 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.
[ The second Sarah has her gun trained on Maya, Peter has his blaster trained on her. It's a bit of a stand-off, whether the woman knows it or not, and he swears if she even touches a hair on Maya's head--
-- actually, he's not entirely sure what he'd do. Something crazy and violent and scary, probably.
Even when the rifle disappears into the woman's digistruct device, Peter doesn't lower his weapon. Not until Maya calls for him -- and even then, he still has it gripped in his hand instead of holstered as he steps out of his hiding spot.
And he still has his helmet on. For someone who's pretty reckless, most of the time? He's not taking many chances today.
(He doesn't want to end up in a Terran hospital, that's for damn sure.) ]
I find that logic is one hell of a useful tool sometimes.
[ Sarah returns with a pair of uniforms- brown jackets, green pants- and tosses them to Maya. "Put those on," she says. "And do it quickly. When you're done, meet me at my tent. I have some maps and intel for you."
It's kind of a bummer that Sarah doesn't invite them to her tent so they can change, but she gets why. At least there are enough trees around. Maya figures she can keep their clothes in her digistruct, and turns to Peter ] Do you want the honor of stripping down first?
[ Luckily for Peter (or maybe more luckily for Maya, rrrowrrr), Peter isn't one to embarrass easily. Also? He's super comfortable with his body, so. ]
It's okay to admit it, babe. You just want a free show.
[ But he disengages his helmet, finally, since it's definitely not Dahl standard issue, and gets changed. Fortunately for Peter (unfortunately for Maya), the uniform doesn't also come with a change of shirts, so Peter just pulls the brown jacket on over his grey t-shirt. Doesn't mean I won't use this icon, though. ]
[ Or maybe she wants them to take turns so they can make sure no one gets shot.
(But is she totally looking at his ass as he shimmies into those pants? You bet she is.)
Once he's done, she gets changed herself. Unfortunately for her (but fortunately for Peter) combat suit isn't very conducive to wearing it under the uniform jacked, so she strips down to her underthings and zips the jacket over her bra.
She gathers up her clothes and stores them away in her digistruct device, and holds a hand out for Peter's things as well. ]
[ He resists the urge to wolf whistle as she undresses, but only just. (She'd probably slap him for it, anyway. Disrespectful.) When she's finished, he hands his clothing over to her. ]
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They can handle themselves. We should keep movin’.
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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-?
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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.
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[ 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.
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Probably couldn't place them if I saw them, though.
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[ He tilts his head. ] C'mon. We can go chasing after fuzzy animals later.
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[ there are a few thin pillars of smoke rising up in the distance- from campfires, she assumes, and that's where she heads. ]
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[ 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. ]
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[ 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.
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What? What happened to guns blazing?
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[ 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.
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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. ]
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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 ]
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Got it. But-- just be careful, okay?
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[ 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.
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-- actually, he's not entirely sure what he'd do. Something crazy and violent and scary, probably.
Even when the rifle disappears into the woman's digistruct device, Peter doesn't lower his weapon. Not until Maya calls for him -- and even then, he still has it gripped in his hand instead of holstered as he steps out of his hiding spot.
And he still has his helmet on. For someone who's pretty reckless, most of the time? He's not taking many chances today.
(He doesn't want to end up in a Terran hospital, that's for damn sure.) ]
Pleasure to meet you, ma'am.
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Maya just turns to Peter and grins ] I think that went well.
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You're becomin' quite the negotiator, huh?
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[ Sarah returns with a pair of uniforms- brown jackets, green pants- and tosses them to Maya. "Put those on," she says. "And do it quickly. When you're done, meet me at my tent. I have some maps and intel for you."
It's kind of a bummer that Sarah doesn't invite them to her tent so they can change, but she gets why. At least there are enough trees around. Maya figures she can keep their clothes in her digistruct, and turns to Peter ] Do you want the honor of stripping down first?
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It's okay to admit it, babe. You just want a free show.
[ But he disengages his helmet, finally, since it's definitely not Dahl standard issue, and gets changed. Fortunately for Peter (unfortunately for Maya), the uniform doesn't also come with a change of shirts, so Peter just pulls the brown jacket on over his grey t-shirt. Doesn't mean I won't use this icon, though. ]
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[ Or maybe she wants them to take turns so they can make sure no one gets shot.
(But is she totally looking at his ass as he shimmies into those pants? You bet she is.)
Once he's done, she gets changed herself. Unfortunately for her (but fortunately for Peter) combat suit isn't very conducive to wearing it under the uniform jacked, so she strips down to her underthings and zips the jacket over her bra.
She gathers up her clothes and stores them away in her digistruct device, and holds a hand out for Peter's things as well. ]
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We good?
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that horrible moment when you realize you can't make a captain planet reference
you poor, poor thing
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