War starts with Terror (3)

"If you're looking for an artificial intelligence I know just the place. It's your bloody lucky day! You can grab yah Grubbs from the Drakensburg. I hear the Bosan and the Skipper. Who I believe run the place are well-known collectors of the rare and nifty intelligence of the artificial persuasion." Pickle explained. Dracule, not hearing just continued to stare at the poster.

'Who would it be? Those children I wonder. The markings... The markings... Anonymous... Capone, I'll be seeing you soon,' Dracule thought.

"You alright Dracule? Is Something on your mind?" Claptrap asked Dracule.

"Nothing just thinking on that reward money," Dracule lied before turning to Pickle.

"Did you say Drakonsberg what that?" Dracule asked.

"Did you not hear me?" Pickle asked.

"Yeah, was too focused on the wanted poster. The bounty looked quite hefty," Dracule lied again.

"Well, the Drakensberg is that big ship over there. It crashed before the cracking and was once commanded by the legendary captain Zarpedon... Well before she got promoted. I've been scouting it for a while now. The Bosan and The skipper as I said is in charge of the place. I hear they love collecting rare fings yah know? Especially the technology sort." Pickle explained again.

"The problem is how we're gonna get one from them. It's not like you can just go to the front and ask for an AI," Pickle refuted.

"Is that a challenge?" Dracule joked.

"It probably our best shot anyway," Athena admitted.

"Cocky aye?!" Fair enough. I've seen what you can do with a few words I wonder what you can do with what you have. You see the Skipper and the Bosan are a tricky pear you see, but maybe just maybe they will let you on board right of the bat. Here are the coordinates with a direct route towards there, I'll update you on anything when you get there," Pickle explained tapping away from his computer setup.

***

Flying over towards the Drakensburg the gang passed many buildings and abandoned factories which were once populated with Dahl personnel. Large cracks on the crust of Elpis broke of many factories and buildings leaving them either in ruins or dust.

Seeing the pipes still mounted on what seemed to be small islands of land Athena frowned. The whole area had been devasted with a passage on being possible through a vehicle anyone foolish enough to travel any other way was either a fool or dead.

"They left quite the mess here," Athena muttered.

"They sure did," Claptrap answered.

"Hopefully Pandora doesn't follow the same fate as Elpis. A planet being destroyed would be quite the news," Dracule replied.

"Indeed," Athena agreed.

"Though Pandora does deserve it. The horrors committed on that planet do deserve this actually. Let's hope the planet doesn't die but people on it do" Dracule corrected.

"And what about the innocents on the planet?" Athena asked.

"No one's innocent the moment they enter onto that planet even the best of good people there have to do vile acts to survive. Most even thrive of off it. The place is the definition of chaos. Maybe Zarpedons aiming at the wrong place." Dracule argued.

"John! I want an update on the Helios situation." Tassiter ordered his voice booming from Claptrap's ECHOdevice.

"Sir, I've got my best people working on a way to retake the station," Jack answered.

"That's the Hyperion CEO? Is he much of a bottle and glass arse as I hear? I heard he sticks a stick up his bum and that's why he's always stuck up!" Pickle spat.

"Who the hell is that?" Tassister asked with disgust.

"That is the ten-year-old we hired to help us," Jack admitted.

"You're fired, John," Tassiter replied.

"Hey Jack, are we still getting paid?" Dracule asked.

"I'm working on it... Things have gotten complicated but Elpis still counts on us," Jack replied.

"Alright then. For the greater good they say or something," Dracule replied.

"We're here," Dracule announced now hovering over the Drakensburg.

***

"So if he didn't get paid what do you think would've happened?" Lilith asked.

"He would've still stayed around only difference would've been that Jack wouldn't be the CEO of Hyperion... He would be." Athena explained.

***

Dracule seeing the ship looked similar to a large rectangle which gave of cyberpunk feels. A quarter of the ship was broken off with the wires and tubbing were spilling out like a waterfall.

"Who are? What are you doing in my air space? This is my ship and you! Are not allowed on it," A voice spat from the ship communication system.

"I was wondering if you can kindly give us an AI?" Dracule asked kindly.

"No, you aren't getting anything of the sort! Die! You are trespassing on my property and air space! Eat my turrents! Or the correct term would be, die from my turrents. Those are lovely turrnet are they not Darling?" The Bosan asked someone.

"Yes, those are some lovely turrents." A feminine voice replied.

"Darling we- talked about this you have to call me Darling back. Come one we discussed this now you are embarrassing me in front of the trespassers who are about to die." The Bosan replied clicking a switch activating large turrents with shield all over the ship. Dracule seeing the many turrents that number in double digits frowned.

*Bang*

"Hyperion really does carry these things like berries" Dracule sighed looking at the blue translucent shields automatically up before opening the door to outside.

"Where are you going?" Athena asked.

"Probably the only thing I'm good at," Dracule muttered as he dropped down out of there his sword drawn. Dropping down like a torpedo all canons aimed towards him firing away blasts of energy coming towards him. Dracule unbothered quickly deflected each and every blast. Concentrating he crash-landed onto the ship unscathed.

Getting up his eyes glowed golden, dark mist seeping from his body. With his sword in one hand and a pistol in the other. Blasting away he destroyed most of not all turrents their shields finally giving in after all the torment. Dracule walking up to the final turrent slashed it, its schematics and hardware splattered against the floor. Sheathing his blade he made his way towards their space shield that had landed.

"Do you always have to show off, we could've helped," Athena stated.

"Yeah, we could've helped," Claptrap chimed in.

"Now's not the time for Pickering the people of Elpis need saving beside I- no We need to still get paid," Dracule corrected finding the entrance and entering via override key that he still had on him the effect being somewhat less effective.

"My GOODNESS! Those were my flipping turrents! I'm, going to kill yoU! I will FLIPPING KILL YOU AND STOMP ON YOUR LIFELESS BODY AS I SHIT ON YOU BEFORE CHUCKING YOU INTO A MEAT GRINDER. AFTER THAT IM GOING TO GRAB YOUR MEAT PASTE AND PUT IT INSIDE MY SHOE AND THEN EAT YOU AGAIN!" The Baron Spat his anger fuming while his intelligence dwindled.

"..."

"..."

"..."