new queen of hyperion - a borderlands story

[18.] Powers

"Yes, I will help you." 

"Really?" She seemed surprised, but she was allowed to be. 

"I haven't really done much for you, but here I am now. I am willing to help." 

"Are you sure we didn't alter your brain?"

"Cupcake, I'm serious. Everything I told you earlier is true. I didn't want this for us." 

She was torn, she knew he wasn't kidding but something in her made her still question his loyalty. 

"Okay." She said, huffing, "So you're helping me...and Rhys." 

"Rhys?" 

"We're running the company together."

"Absolute-"

"I already gave him Atlas." 

"You did what now?" 

"Atlas. He owns Atlas. We're doing this together."

"You just gave away Atlas?" 

"I did just give away Atlas."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, "Next time you make a big decision, get some opinions first." 

"You never did-"

"Quiet." 

She smiled as a knock came at the door. 

"Can I please come back in?" 

"No."

"Yes." 

"Don't let him in."

"I'm letting him in." 

"No."

"Hi, Rhys." She smiles, opening the door.

"Thanks." He blushed, directing his attention to her. 

Jack wasn't quite sure if he liked the interaction or not. Yes, he was disgusted and quite appalled. 

"I didn't know where to go." Rhys said.

"Here is fine." She giggled, "I didn't want you to leave in the first place."

"Okay, so are you guys a-" Jack looked between the two.

"Huh?" They both said in unison as they tried defending themselves. 

Jack rolled his eyes, it was clear that chemistry was there. 

"Anyways," Jack groaned. "Rhys, I've agreed to help Aspyn run the company. I assume you'll need help too so."

"Really?" Rhys asked, confused as to why he'd offer.

"Yes, it's obvious that Aspyn wants you to have the company so I am going to help her help you." 

Rhys nods, glancing over to her. 

"And for you- I want you to do the best you can. For starters, we need to let everyone know I am back." 

"But they'll overthrow me." 

"No, not if I make it clear that I want you to run Hyperion. They'll eat that shit up." 

She nods, still concerned if they'd listen. 

"Aspyn, I'm serious." Jack said, placing his hand on her shoulder, "There not going to mess with you. I'm going to protect you this time." 

She smiled as a tear managed to find it's way to her eye. 

"Thank you." 

"Don't thank me for that. It's my job." 

Rhys smiled at the interaction, he knew that she was opening up to him over the course of an hour. 

"I could plan something. Just give me a little bit." She looked over, "Rhys, you need to figure out a gameplan for Atlas. Have it done in," She glanced at her watch, "Two hours." 

He nods, making his way out of her office. 

"Take Megan with you, she can help you out." She yelled before he was too far. 

"Good job." Jack said. 

"For what?" 

"Being assertive." 

She smiled again, "Oh. Yeah, I am used to doing that." 

"What do you mean?"

"Vault hunting, I would lead the crimson raiders. Sometimes train the newer vault hunters, I had to be in charge."

He nods, making his way to his seat — and not her desk chair. 

"Did you like it there?" He asked as she followed him to her seat. 

"For the most part. Pandora is full of bad people though, all power hungry lunatics."

He didn't say anything but his eyes said, go on.

"Moxxi was essentially my 'family'. She took care of me when I was little, helped me learn certain things. She was great." She smiled, "When it came to the others, some were more pleasant than others. Everyone was great, except Lilith had her moments. She said I would say certain things that made her question my intent. She would usually overwork me, make me train more hours than anyone else. She said there was something inside me but she never told me what. I guess that is me being a siren." She shrugged, "I don't know how I didn't know what she meant. It was obviously there. Lilith would push me to my limits, many times I'd become exhausted and unable to do much else for a week or so. But she always would make it up to me. Moxxi would tell me to look at the best in her, so I did. When I forgave her, she'd give me an army to man. That's how I grew as a leader."

"She didn't hurt you, did she?" 

She shook her head, "Not really. She didn't mean it."

"Aspyn, did she hurt you?"

"Yeah." She sighed, "But like I said, she just wanted to see what I could do."

"What did she do?" 

"She'd use her powers on me, seeing if I could use my powers at their full extent." 

"She left marks?"

"No, no marks. Just memories."

"I'm so sorry,"

"You didn't know. You were helping me by staying out of it."

"But you were hurting." 

"Yes, but it would have been worse if you tried saving me."