Moxxi was inside a Ronin-class Titan, her hands moved quickly, controlling the Titan like a marionette, as the EHR Titanium Series Broadsword glinted in the sunlight. The Titan she was facing, was a sturdy second-generation Titan Legion, Ogre chassis, with its rotary cannon spinning menacingly.
Reaching maximum rotation, Predator Canon began to rain down shots on Ronin. On a plateau with no cover, it was only a matter of time before the weakest of the weak would be defeated.
*BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*
Moxxi reacted swiftly, raising the Broadsword to deflect the incoming barrage. Sparks exploded against the blade as high-caliber projectiles ricocheted harmlessly off its surface, no matter what angle, what speed, or what caliber, Ronin was able to block the projectile in one flash. "Not today," she muttered, pushing her hands forward.
The Ronin moved with agility, dashing forward before disappearing into a shimmering haze of distortion. Legion's optical sensor flared in confusion, scanning the empty space where the Ronin once stood.
Before it could react, the Broadsword pierced through its core. The Legion's massive structure crumpled, falling to its knees as its systems flickered weakly. Its hands gripped the blade, trying to pull it free, but the lights in its sensors dimmed and finally went out, its grip loosening.
"Enemy Titan neutralized. A good death. Combat efficiency enhanced." intoned the Ronin's voice, its distinct tone of detached approval.
Moxxi glanced at the display screens, reviewing the metrics of her performance, or as Maxwell liked to call it, the Aegis Rank. There was still a slight delay between her commands and the Titan's movements, something she was gradually adapting to after hours of combat.
She pulled a lever upward and then pushed it forward, triggering the opening of the Ronin's cockpit hatch. With a practiced leap, Moxxi exited the Titan, her Jumpkit cushioning her descent for a smooth landing.
"Engaging guard mode. Weapons energized. sensors scanning for enemy hostiles." Ronin put away what was to be his sword, which was too big to be called a sword. Massive, thick, heavy and far too rough. Indeed, it was more like a heap of raw iron. Then he pulled out his Leadwall, a shotgun with a triple barrel.
"So, what did you think?" Maxwell carefully approached, the field littered with craters and empty shells scattered across the ground. It was easy to trip and fall in the uneven terrain.
Removing her helmet, Moxxi shook her head, leaving her dark brown hair loose, a little disheveled from the long session. The disarray didn't diminish her charm in Maxwell's eyes on the contrary, it increased it even more. For a moment, he found himself captivated, trapped in her natural beauty.
"I think it's hard to choose. I just want all of them!" Moxxi grinned, her dimples showing as she beamed with joy after hours of testing each of the second-generation Titans. "I really loved flying in the Northstar, but I'm still obsessed with the Ion's Vortex Shield, It's sooooo cool."
"Ugh, you're going to bankrupt me at this rate." Maxwell sighed, running a hand through his hair. He didn't have nearly enough credits to buy the blueprints for every Titan. THE BLUEPRINTS!
It was incredible how Maxwell always felt broke as if things hadn't changed since the days he first acquired his system. Was he going to have to commit genocide against the Psychos just to earn more credits? He had already cleared hundreds of credits by cleaning out Sanctuary.
Maxwell shook his head, shoving the idea to the back of his mind. He tapped his index finger lightly against his lips, pondering which Titan blueprint he should prioritize.
"I think the first-generation Titans might be more useful for our situation. The only expensive thing about them is their shields, which regenerate automatically. They still have customizable abilities and should be easier to manufacture."
With this alternative in mind, he opened the debug mode of the simulation. Angel had granted him admin privileges, allowing him full control over its capabilities. A menu appeared, displaying three Titan options. Maxwell selected all three, causing a trio of massive machines to drop onto the barren terrain.
A notable drawback of the first-generation Titans was the lack of advanced AI. However, Maxwell hoped Angel might find a way to address that.
"Ogre, Atlas, and Stryder..." Moxxi inspected each Titan with care. These three were the progenitors of the second-generation models she had just piloted.
"I think Ogre would be the best choice."
"But Atlas shares its name with the Atlas Corporation. It would make a perfect mascot!"
"That's a fair point, but I'd still prefer piloting an Ogre. Stryders are the coolest, but I like feeling safe." Moxxi shrugged, deciding not to push Maxwell further. She knew he'd been planning this for a long time, and she preferred not to stand in his way.
"How long until I can have the blueprints?"
"Just a few more weeks. We need to hurry before Knoxx arrives on Pandora." Maxwell was being very pessimistic in his calculations. It took him a few months for his first Regeneration, but that was because he was constantly falling into trouble, slowing down his progress.
"The Atlas general? His father fought in the Corporate War. We're in serious trouble if he's bringing the Atlas army here."
"Nah, just watch, the game will turn in our favor." Maxwell scoffed with that 'I have a plan' face that Moxxi was beginning to notice.
"Let's head out. I have a gift for you."
Maxwell ended the simulation, pulling both of them back into reality.
Moxxi blinked, feeling a bit dizzy after spending hours in the same position. The simulation pod released a faint hiss of vapor before its doors opened. Maxwell was sitting casually on the railing, holding a syringe in his hand.
"This is your gift? Doesn't look very inviting." Moxxi eyed the syringe with suspicion. The black goo inside, which was clearly moving, gave off an unsettling vibe.
"They're nanites. They won't harm your body. This technology is given to all soldiers." Maxwell grabbed Moxxi's arm gently. She didn't resist, trusting he had no malicious intent.
"You'll feel a bit strange and weak for a while, but that's just the nanites using the minerals in your body to replicate. A good, nutritious meal afterward, and you'll be fine."
Without further ado, Maxwell plunged the needle into the vein in Moxxi's forearm. She didn't change her expression, but she was uncomfortable as the tiny robots entered her bloodstream. It was like ants crawling through her body, an entirely unpleasant sensation.
Moxxi let out a deep sigh, only to widen her eyes in surprise at the ease of such a simple gesture. Rising to her feet, she placed a hand on her lower back.
"My back pain… and my breathing." Moxxi murmured, marveling as the various aches in her body vanished miraculously.
"Well, with those two massive balloons, it'd be surprising if you didn't have back pain."
"That's just the price of being this hot." Moxxi winked playfully.
Maxwell smiled, but his expression soon turned serious, pulling out two other syringes. "They're no better than the version you have, but they're still very useful. I don't want to sound rude, but they help to maintain the ideal weight and health of a person."
Moxxi was confused for a moment, but then she realized why. Her eyes shifted between the syringes and Maxwell's face, thinking it was some kind of prank.
Seeing that she wasn't going to take it, Maxwell put it directly into her hand. He wouldn't be taking no for an answer.
Moxxi put the syringes away, moving closer, she wrapped her arms around Maxwell and pressed her lips against his. For a brief moment, they forgot about everything else, savoring the taste of each other. They parted before things could get too heated.
"Thanks, Max, really. I wish I'd met you sooner, then you would be my first husband." Moxxi buries her face in Maxwell's chest, feeling a little emotional. She cursed internally, why was she so sentimental?
"But you know what, you're the first one I've ever really loved. No one or circumstance forced me to be with you."
Moxxi was silent for a moment, then, calming her mood, she broke the silence.
"My daughter, Ellie... she was a very beautiful girl, as beautiful as I was in my youth. and she still is." Moxxi felt a lump in her throat. "That caught her father's attention... Max, she was just a child, my child."
"He forced Ellie to be his wife, she was going to be fourteen at the time." Tiny drops of tears began to roll down Moxxi's quivering eyelashes. "When we ran away, Ellie was so traumatized that she refused to take care of herself, it broke me inside, more than the hunger and thirst in the desert I had to go through afterward."
Maxwell remained silent, but his fists were clenched so tightly that his fingers were pale. He wiped away Moxxi's tears, feeling his heart ache at the sight of her ashamed, pain-filled face.
Maxwell combed Moxxi's brown hair, letting her vent. Her cries muffled in his clothes, leaving the place wet.
"*Shiiii* Calm down, I won't let anyone hurt you or your children"
"I'm sorry, I'm such a crybaby." Moxxi almost couldn't finish her sentence because she was sobbing.
Maxwell kissed her cheek, finding the scene cute.
"I look awful" She turns away, embarrassed by her swollen eyes and snot.
Maxwell rolled his eyes, picking the woman up in a princess carry and taking her to the nearest room. He spent the next few hours showing his love as deeply as possible.
...
Maxwell's arms reached for her soft, warm body, but when he noticed her absence, he frowned. He opened his eyes in time to catch a glimpse of Moxxi dressed in her pilot's suit. Stretching out on the bed, Maxwell releases a mouthful, rubbing his eyes.
"Are you going?"
"I think I should check on the Marvins. They should be close to finishing up." Moxxi gave Maxwell one last kiss before pulling away, his eyes trailing after her. Her hips swayed enticingly as she walked.
"Oh, by the way, are we setting up the mining operation here or later?" Moxxi stopped momentarily as if remembering something.
"Later. But collect everything from the storage units. There should be some ores from previous excavations." Maxwell decided he'd head to the gym afterward, a bit of hypertrophy training would do him good. "Once we're done here, we'll stop by a small village. I need some Psychos for test subjects and there's someone I'm looking for, a girl who's the sister of a Lance Assassin."
"Got it~" Moxxi didn't pause this time, her velvety voice echoing through the space as she left.
"I think I'm getting addicted." Maxwell covers himself with a sheet, wanting a few more minutes of snooze time.