A Gladiator And A Scrapper

Part 5 - 12 Seconds Of Life

Art Credit To: https://www.deviantart.com/vrihedd/art/Borderlands-Athena-576682276

ATHENA POV

12

Lets think about this. When the shield drops, I can get one of them with how much they're charging Aspis.

11

2 Scavs waiting to maul me to death below my little cove.

2 Scavs shooting down at me, one with a pistol, the second with a Dahl rifle.

10

Deadlift in front of me with the same balls of electricity flying from him, as the contraption that I'm using all my pistol ammo to keep the spheres away.

Think Athena think

9

If I throw Aspis at Deadlift that might stagger him enough to let me stop his electronic spheres.

But if I do that the Scavs shoot and punch me to death.

8

I could use Xiphos (my sword), to kill the Scavs below. Then throw my shield at one of the scavs shooting.

Then that leaves me open to the remaining Scav and Deadlift.

7

Just make a run for it?

Impossible, I can only block in front of me or behind me with Aspis. I could block the shooting Scavs and contraption. Then get shot by Deadlift and attacked by melee Scavs. Or vice versa.

6

Backing out of my cove I would take some hits, before I reached the floor. Using a slam I could kill the melee Scavs. Then all I can do is back away into another wall. If I jump off I'm a sitting duck.

5

I guess it's time to accept my fate, nowhere to run. No strength to fight. Aspis can't hold much longer.

4

I holster my pistol and lift my scarf to my lips with my free hand, placing a kiss against it. I'm sorry Jess, I let you down again sis.

I wish I could have got to know Janey better too. That woman's been through enough already. I thought I could help her, and she would be there for me as I would be there for her.

3

I sit for a moment taking in the aroma of my scarf as I untuck it from around my neck. I tie it around the gauntlet that Aspis returns to every time I throw it.

2

I reach to my side with my right hand and draw Xiphos. A ring of metal as the blade leaves the bands of steel that form it's sheath.

1

Here we go, I'm gonna take as many of them with me as I can

Aspis

Xiphos

Let's do this.

0

I launch out of the hole, throwing Aspis with the spin of my hips. Aspis collides with one of the Scavs shooting at me. I slash Xiphos down in two lightning quick swings dicharging the contraptions attacks. Then, using my o2 kit, slam down and the elemental explosion kills both of the Scavs below me.

I might stand a chance afterall.

Aspis returns to my hand and I see my hope die as Deadlift slams his hand into the ground again. But this time I'm too slow.

I scream in pain as the electrified ground fries my overshield and leaves my armour smoking. The electricity subsides as a fall to my knees, barely holding on. I feel some of the energy of Aspis recharge faster. 18 seconds reduced to 10.

Deadlift stands in front of me and speaks.

"Impressive short one. But not impressive enough." He says, and I hear his overshield is getting close to starting to recharge.

Wait did he really just call me short...

"I'm happy to say this is the end for you Vault Hunter. Any last words." I hear his electrical spheres being produced from his gauntlets. A soft hum that's growing louder.

Behind him I see a bit of movement, Nisha and Claptrap are both lying on the ground weakly trying to move. But I don't see Wilhelm anywhere. And then I do

I stand up to look at Deadlift and I say "I have to tell you, you really should have better battlefield awareness." As Wilhelm spun him round and punched him in the face. I grabbed Xiphos from where I'd dropped it next to me, and stuck it in Deadlift's back.

He jumped away from both of us to the platform where the Scav with the Dahl rifle was. He was trying to reach his back to pull Xiphos out but his arms weren't long enough to reach.

Me and Wilhelm watched him struggle. This was our last try at this. I might have more than 12 seconds. But me and Wilhelm are both low on health and ammo

But maybe I'll see Janey again afterall...