victory_road

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[Jack has been uncharacteristically quiet over the network for the last week and some days. No announcements of his own, no responses to public broadcasts save the one where his shredded mask was so blasphemously displayed.]

[Which is what's brought him to finally broadcasting again, audio only.]

[It's no secret now. That friggin' bastard of a Psycho had ruined all Jack's hopes to keep his state quiet. Fine. Since everybody knows what happened anyway....]

[Jack's voice is low and rough. He's not a happy man. The message is simple and to the point.]

A very large sum of money to whoever brings me back my face.

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I do appreciate it, kiddo. I know I give ya a lot of shit, but...eh, that's me! I do appreciate you.

So what? Screw them. What...what are you getting from them, that you're so worried about what they think of you? Are you sleeping with one of'em? I...god, I really hope not, considering the options there... you could do way, way better.

[But what the hell is keeping Rhys from just...cutting ties and knocking off the sneaking around and everything?]

This is what they do, buttercup. Everything they can to piss me off, to get under my skin, to rub salt in the wounds. Shit, the stories I could tell you about what the Crimson Raiders and their pet Vault Hunters did...

[ Being appreciated by Handsome Jack...that brings some kind of gratification that it honestly shouldn't. Thank god this is audio, because Rhys is grinning like an absolute idiot. Forget the fact that, y'know. Jack tried to kill him or whatever. ]

What? No-no! I'm not sleeping with anybody! [ He's running his flesh hand over his face. ] I, I just...

I traveled with Athena and she remembers everything. Stuff...happens after I wake up on Pandora I guess, and if she knows I'm hanging out with you when she knows what's going to happen to me after, she'll just be pissed.

[ Hook, line and sinker! ] ...What did they do?

Learn to take a joke, pumpkin. I know damn well you're not sleeping with anybody. In general, not just among the assholes you won't remove yourself from.

And so the hell what? So she'll be pissed. She's pissed most of the time, that's kind of her thing. Being angry and aggressive and scary as shit. Trust me, Rhys...she's not gonna do anything to you. Don't get all pissy and offended over this, but you...you're small potatoes, kiddo. She took my daughter. She took my best friend. You're...you're nothing, in comparison. You're just some Hyperion kid that she gets a sick thrill out of keeping away from me. Christ, she didn't even say 'boo' that time I strangled you, but she'll beat me to death over some dude she hasn't seen in years.

[Jack does believe what he's saying. What's Rhys, compared to Angel, compared to Two? He's a friggin consolation prize, is what he is, something that Athena probably doesn't care about at all. She sure hadn't come after him for strangling Rhys that time. Rhys was a pawn.]

Christ, where do I even start? You wanna hear about how the murdered my family? Or about how they decided to ignore literally everything else on Pandora besides destroying everything they could with 'Hyperion' on it? How about how they slaughtered the entire Opportunity labor force? Just regular construction dudes, doing their jobs...till Vault Hunters, sent by Lilith and Moxxi, wiped'em all out. Just cause they worked for me.

She...

[ Okay, a part of him knows that in regards to what happened between him and Tim, Tim got the uglier end of things. Rhys had a pair of hands bruised around his neck and a very sore throat. Tim has facial scarring. And a fucked up voice modulator. The Jack that is not Jack has a lot of shit to recover from; it would make sense that Athena's mad.

But you'd think she would be mad if Jack strangled someone to the point where they, y'know. Passed out. ] That was something completely different... [ It's a very weak argument, honestly. You may not be able to see Rhys' face, but the doubt he feels is crystal clear. ]

I...remember what happened at Opportunity. We were taking bets on...who you would send down next. [ He's rubbing the back of his neck. ] I don't think you did, but...we were.

Yeah, sure. What I did to Two was just business, what I did to you was personal. Kinda...kinda seems what happened to you is more deserving of revenge, but sure, what do I know? You're the one who's close with her.

[Except Jack has a feeling they're not close. And he wants to remind Rhys of that. Athena's taken everything else from him, she's not taking this one, too.]

Yeah, but everybody that got assigned just got murderized. That Psycho bastard with my mask was one of the ones that did it, you know. Killed my girlfriend, too, bragged about it to me when he first showed up.

[The more he talks, the more he really doesn't get it.]

Rhys, why are you with these people?

What happened...to me? [ Now Rhys isn't sure he can agree with that. He got strangled, while Not-Jack's entire face had been mauled, basically. He wasn't sure what to think of that. Or if he wanted to. Jack may not be able to see him, but he can probably hear how uncomfortable Rhys sounds right now. How uncertain he feels. He almost liked things right after Jack strangled him, because this is so messed up and he doesn't know what to believe.

He didn't even know Jack had a girlfriend. And Krieg was probably why.

Rhys shakes his head at the question. ] I, I don't know...

[ And that's the thing! He doesn't! At first Rhys stuck around with them because of Vaughn. Now Vaughn was gone. There wasn't really any excuse for him to hang around with Athena and Not-Jack and the rest of them, because what have they done for him? What did they do so far that was really substantial? ]

I don't have anywhere else to go...

Oh, ow. That hurts, pumpkin, that hurts.

[Like a shark smelling blood in the water, Jack makes a lunge. Metaphorically speaking, of course.]

I told you when you first showed up that I'd take care of ya.

[ Jack did...say that.

Rhys pauses. Swallows, hard. A few months ago, he would have turned down the offer in a heartbeat. Now, he's not so sure. Did Athena really give a shit about him, or just wanted Rhys for easy access to get her revenge on Jack? Vaughn wasn't here, Fi wasn't. Nobody he knew knew seemed to give a shit about him enough.

Except for Jack. ]

What would I tell Athena?

Hell if I know, that bitch is crazy! Why do you have to tell her anything? She isn't your mother, she isn't your keeper! You're a grown man, Rhys, you can do what you want and you don't have to explain yourself to anybody.

I mean, look, kiddo...it's your choice. But you have a place to go. My invitation to come crash at my place is still open. Same with the job.

[ He's quiet for a second or two. The wheels in his head are turning. ]

I'll see what I can do. If...I'll try to explain to her that I want to leave. I don't think she'd miss me all that much, anyway.

...Thanks, Jack. For offering your place. I got a feeling I'll be moving there sooner than later.

You want my advice? Don't talk to her. Don't try and explain anything. Just leave. Unless she's literally forcing you to stay, or locking you up...

Don't worry about it. I told ya, you're one of mine.

[Even if Rhys did crash his space station.]

I...If she doesn't...

[ There was no way to explain this without him sounding like a high school baby. ] If she doesn't...care about me, I'm just going to leave. Because I don't see why I have to stick around if she doesn't want me there. She's always too busy with the other Jack, anyway.

...It's understandable considering, but y'know.

Oh for the love of god, Rhys...

You're making this into a way bigger thing than it has to be. Just chill the hell out, cupcake! You're giving this woman too much power over you. Listen to yourself!

I know I am, but she's just intimidating. I'm afraid that if I leave, she's going to come after me.

[ There's a pause. ] Especially after everything. I just have a feeling she's going to.

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