Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me. The settings, characters and story line belong to Gearbox. I am simply expanding on what they have created.
Note: The story will contain scenarios from my own head cannon that are expanded upon by some of the ECHOS found in-game, sometimes the text is copied directly from the game, to stay true to the story, but I add scenarios that do not occur in the game. Hopefully it will not be too dull :) I am also taking artistic liberties with Zer0's origin and the appearance of the other planets as well as some places on Pandora.
Eden-5's massive glass and steel parliament building loomed ahead of him, its windows glinting in the last rays of sunlight from the twin suns.
The assassin's visor flashed an ellipsis before he got to work climbing the conveniently designed facade.
"Fifty floors to go/Why do I need to strike now?/Stupid contract terms." He muttered to himself. Usually he chose his own assassination time, but the contract given to him through his middleman indicated the assassination must be done after sunset.
Below him loomed a huge chasm, filled with liquid propanol. Why such a volatile liquid was kept in proximity to such an important building was difficult for anyone to guess, he assumed they kept the chasm shielded.
The parliament was built on a heightened plateau overlooking the capital that itself had sprung up like a huge open sore of a metropolis in the dry, rocky landscape of Eden-5's central desert.
His lean muscles pushed him upward grabbing the footholds with deceiving ease. Of course he had turned invisible, shifting his skin cells to scatter and bend the light that hit them.
His specially modified suit maintained that illusion.
When the four-fingered hands finally reached the roof ledge, he decloacked and crouched low. The schematics he had removed from the dead architect's computer had shown him to a hatch, built in for emergency exits.
He knew exactly where to strike.
The hatch opened silently and the assassin glanced through the crack. A head with garish purple, flowing hair was bobbing about. The owner attached to a desk, listening to music.
"Ghosting." The apparition's whisper was inaudible. With conditioned agility, the assassin lowered himself into the room. His blade digistructed and with one silent "shick" sound, the president of Eden-5 lay dead at his feet.
"Now the challenge starts/Security will hunt me/But they are the prey." His deep voice arrogantly smirked before the door burst open.
He camouflaged while the unaware troop of guards started manically shooting the decoy he deployed. He saw their weaknesses light up on his helmet HUD and readied his sword to strike. He swiftly dispatched of the two guards in the back.
As soon as the other guards noticed, his holographic decoy exploded, catching them unawares.
"My reflexes grow/I can perceive every move/Their eyes slow and dull." Ghosting once again, he slipped in and out of reality, like a phantasm of death.
The ten troopers that were sent had fallen to the ground and the hatch quietly closed as if the wind had touched it...
The siren sat in her bedchambers, alert. The walls were draped with exquisite dark blue silk and kashmir. No light entered to betray the time of day. In her shaking hands was a tablet with PANDORA written in large letters over the top. She glance furtively at the stainless steel door in front of her and held her breath. The sound of footsteps could be heard approaching forebodingly in the distance.
The woman heard brother Harker chastising the initiate.
"Our Goddess is meditating, any attempt to disturb her will be punished."
"Yes Brother Harker, I came simply to inform you that the criminals will be ready shortly..."
"Indeed, thank you."
The footsteps shuffled back and Maya breathed a sigh of relief. She cradled the tablet to her chest, remembering all the while what had transpired between her and the head of the abbey.
Brother Sophis had called Pandora the planet of convicts and cannibals. He warned her to stay lest Athenas itself fell into chaos. Then he added that there was nothing of importance connecting her and the mysterious planet. She never believed any of their bullshit, and returned to her room, as the head-monk had directed her.
The door suddenly swung open to reveal Brother Harker. The shaven monk bowed deeply and beckoned for Maya to follow him to the audience room.
"NO! Please NO!" A voice screamed bloody murder.
"What's going on? What is this?" The siren looked around confused.
"Today is a great day, Maya. Today your training is finally put to use." She couldn't believe for a moment as the blue-eyed Brother Sophis stared at the man tied on the floor with hunger.
"Who are these people?" She quipped, inquisitively.
"Terrorists. Criminals. Evil men. You will destroy them, as is your duty. This is what you have trained for!"
"What? To execute unarmed men?" Her anger started to flare.
"Do not question me, child! These men are a danger. Brother Harker, bring the first sinner forward."
"Yes, Brother Sophis."
"Oh God, not her-NOT HER!" The man wailed and kicked, trying to get as far away from Maya as possible.
"What is this man guilty of?" She demanded, rage barely contained.
"Do not question-" Sophis began.
"I promise-I'll pay! I'll get you your tithe, just don't let her near me!"
"What?" The siren bellowed with utter disbelief.
"Do not listen, child! Execute him!"
"Ah, to hell with it." In an act of courage, she phaselocked the monk.
"What are you doing, child? Put me DOWN!"
"Twenty-seven years. For twenty-seven years you've been using me to keep these people frightened, haven't you?" She seethed.
"You don't understand-"
"SHUT UP! You didn't want me to protect this planet. You wanted me to keep it scared, keep me locked up so these people would do what you asked. Nobody's gonna disobey the Order if they've gotta face the wrath of a Siren-is that it?!"
"You know nothing! Child, you have SO much left to learn. You don't-"
That was the final blow. Maya concentrated her elemental energy into the phaselock. Sophis screamed in terror as his flesh was burned alive.
"Don't. Call me. "Child." Everyone get outta here! You have nothing to fear from the order anymore-I'm leaving to Pandora. I'm gonna find some answers."