new queen of hyperion - a borderlands story

[08.] News

Timothy Lawrence.

As soon as she saw him, Aspyn bolted. He caught her in his arms, embracing her into a hug. 

"I missed you!" 

"I think that was pretty clear," He said, letting go of her. 

Lilith stepped forward, knowing Timothy doesn't just come to visit, "What are you doing here?" 

Timothy pulls a tiny box out of his pocket, "Well, it was our girl's birthday." 

He hands it over, smiling at her. She graciously took it from him, inside was a tiny golden locket with a picture of the two of them. While he may look and act a lot like Jack, he seemed to care more for her than anyone else. 

"Oh, Tim!" She smiles, "I love it so much!" 

"You're welcome, but that's not all I came here for." He turns to the group, "As you all know, I don't just visit. Someone sent out a signal, Vasquez has been kicked from his position on Helios, but they are looking for someone to fulfill the job." 

"What does that have to do with us?"

"I'm getting to that. Some people have discovered that Aspyn is still alive, they believe it's the closest they'll get to having Jack back."

"They want me?" Aspyn smiles.

He nods, "Yes, don't feel obligated thou-" 

"I'll do it." 

Jack's expressions merge from bored to shocked. Everyone else is just shocked in general. 

"Aspyn, are you sure?" Lilith says.

"Of course I am sure." She smiles, "I've wanted this for so long." 

"You don't know how to run a company." 

"No." She looks to Rhys, "But he may." 

"Wait, you want me to help? 

"Yes, I will run Hyperion with you." 

While they all stand there, the echo radio stand starts emitting signals. 

'In Hyperion news, Helios is now looking for the daughter of Handsome Jack. Some call her by her birth name, Aspyn. Others are calling her the NEW QUEEN OF HYPERION.'

Lilith groans, "What about-"

"Pandora?" She smiles, "You all cannot be bandits if I am one of you."

Lilith only smiles, "Fine."

"What do I have to do Timothy?" 

"Come with me to Opportunity. Your friend can come too, we need to be there tomorrow morning." 

Aspyn felt her heart do flips, this was the dream she'd had for years. As far back as she could remember, she wanted to run Hyperion. Granted, the older she became the more she resented the idea of being CEO of the company. 

"Do I need to pack my stuff?" 

A smile crept onto Timothy's face as he stood there, "Just clothes. They will probably make you change anyways." 

Throughout the remainder of the evening, the group talks about the whole situation that has come up. Timothy pulled Aspyn over to the side to talk to her. 

"Are you sure this is what you want?" 

She nods, "Of course, Timothy." 

From a few feet away, Jack's AI watched the two talk. It was weird to see his doppelganger talking to his daughter, the two never met while he was alive. He noticed how he'd given her a birthday present and gave her attention that she deserved. 

"Are you going to help her?" Jack asked, looking over to him. 

"Yes, I want to." 

Jack nods, still watching Aspyn and Timothy talk. He'd placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled. Jack missed his daughter now more than he ever had. He wanted to be in Timothy's place, which made him think. 

If he were able to talk Rhys into letting him use Timothy's body as a vessel, he could be back. The only issue is that Tim would have to die in order for this to work.