-ONE-

HOW DID WE GET HERE AGAIN?

PART I

"Zer0?"

"Yes Maya?"

"Remind me how did we end up here?"

The assassin didn't reply to her question. He simply sat on the floor. Ellipses were displayed on his face; he too didn't know how they end up here as well. However, to be bluntly honest, it was their fault in the first to be locked up in a capsule-like-cell. They shouldn't haven't killed those guards in the first place, but it was actually Maya the Siren who had taken things personal. Zer0 only killed them because he was bored. However, he just realized that he shouldn't have done that. The reason why? It was very stupid of him making a rookie mistake. The number one principle that every assassin should know was everything must be timed perfectly. Or else, you're screwed; to which they had paid the price for by having their weapons, shield, ECHOs, SDU'S and Zer0's digi-sword confiscated from their possession. The only thing they had now was Decepti0n and Maya's book. Why they'd left her a book? Probably because they believed Sirens were fiction. That's the reason why Maya had taken it so personally, because all for a petty insult from two-aliens who had detained them.

"You should have not done that/ it was pretty foolish of you/ you're better than that." The assassin spoke in haiku. It was an eccentricity Maya had gotten used to during their times as Vault Hunters.

"Yeah. I know." Maya agreed to his statement. "It was pretty damn stupid of me to take out my anger like that." She shrugged.

"That's an understatement." Zer0 retorted. It sounded somewhat sassy, however his voice had always been monotone.

"Hey, I'm sorry if I'm overprotective about my lineage." She snapped. "Besides, It's cool being labeled as a Siren; interrogation were a lot easier when they think that they going to get thrown out the window."

"I thought you hated that title/ you said that it was inhuman/ why the change of heart now?"

"I don't know?" She shrugged. She said the title she recieved was less elegant. Probably Biotics was their version of Siren's, albeit these Biotics weren't rare. Apparently, some of the prisoners in this jail they were in have similar powers. Except, unlike the conventional Siren, they don't have glowing tattoos. Instead, what they have is a glowing aura around them.

"Also, this dog collar is really annoying." She explained. She poked at the metal chocker around her neck. The device is used to cancel out her Siren powers, and also, it hurts when you tilt your neck to the side.

"I pity you." He coldly spoke with a sad emoticon on his face. Even though (to her own knowledge) Zero can't feel any emotions. It was nice of him to take some consideration.

"Yeah, thanks." She casually replied. "God I'm so bored."

"I know." Zer0 replied. " I need to kill someone already."

"Yeah. I feel you." Maya replied; she began to lie down on the bed she was sitting on. She had told Zer0 not to disturb her as she closed her eyes and began to recollect her thoughts about how they ended up in this prison cell.

Rewind back to the past; Maya and Zer0 were in a small space shuttle. Reason why is that they were searching for something: Planets that had contained Vaults within them.

Maya and Zer0 were chosen for this assignment because one: they were both experienced in outer space travel. Two: Maya wanted to know more about her Siren lineage from these Vaults. Three: Axton, Gaige and Salvador wanted to steal some stuff out of Zer0's stash- a warehouse somewhere in Sanctuary. Lastly, four: Zero was very, very bored. Especially after they took down The Warrior, nothing had been exciting since then. Apart from treasure hunting with (and against) Captain Scarlett, Hunting with Sir Hammerlock and killing Piston during Mr. Torgue's campaign. The latter adventure, however, is something that is not-openly talked about amongst the Vault Hunters. Apart from Gaige and Salvador; those two had a good time, especially when they were doing most of the driving and road killing.

Maya shudder when that image came to mind. They had died at least four-times due to reckless driving. Zer0 asked what's wrong with a simple (?) on his helmet. Maya dismissed him by saying, "It was nothing. I'm just cold, that's all."

"Shall I turn up the heat?" Zer0 inquired. His hand was hovering above the temperature controller.

"No. I'm fine." Maya replied. She explained that she didn't want to die by being burnt to death. The shuttle they were traveling in was simply a tin-can made out of salvaged parts; so technically, in terms of construction, they were flying in a potential death trap.

"Then I'll keep quiet then." Zero replied. His helmet was aimed towards the windshield, but it's difficult to tell where Zer0 eyes are pointing at sometimes. Especially when he (theoretically) doesn't have a face.

Maya doesn't reply to his statement; she was too busy pinpointing where they are now. Space was a vast unknown, so it was best to know where you are.

"Well according to the Map." She explained, "The nearest Vault is some light-years away from Pandora. Cross-referencing with a Galactic Eridium map I stole from Hyperion, the coordinate for a large Eridium deposit is correlated accordingly to the Vault map."

Zer0 didn't reply to her explanation. He was either deliberately trying to ignore her or he was to focused on driving. She didn't bothered to ask if he listened; She'll quiz him after they find this Vault planet.

"So… Zer0." She spoke in her casual tone. "What are you going to do once we land?"

"Land where?" Zer0 calmly replied. "Because Maya, I don't see a planet."

"Huh? What are talking about?" Maya asked. An eyebrow was arched to indicate an alarmed emotion.

Zer0 simply lifted a finger and pointed it out the window. Maya slowly turned her head out when a feeling of ominous had sunk into her skin.

What she saw was not a planet. Consequently, what was right in front of their space shuttle was a very, very large object hovering in space. It was long in width and was tall as a mountain. In the middle was a glowing blue core with gyroscopic rings spinning around. Maya shouted Zer0 to stop, but he didn't respond. She punched him in the face; but it didn't work on him.

"Zero. For Gods sake. STOP!" She screamed.

"I'm trying. But there are no breaks for the ship."

Back at Pandora, in a room somewhere in Sanctuary, Axton and Gaige were busy playing Poker. So far Gaige was winning and had a pile of loot behind her chair. However, a thought had popped in her head as though she realized something.

"Hey Axton?" the Mechromancer asked.

"Yeah Gaige?" The commando replied.

"Have we forgotten anything?" She inquired.

"I don't know." The older man nonchalantly shrugged. "Did we forget to feed Kreig?"

"Nah. I gave him some Skag steaks awhile ago." The teenager spoke. She had asked Axton if he had anything else to loose besides the clothes on his back and his beloved turret.

"Hm…" He spoke as he browsed his echo. The only thing he had in his possession was some unknown part.

"I only have this left." He digitized the object. Giage had told him to put it on the table next to the pile of cash she was betting on.

"Are you sure your ready for this?" Gaige grinned devilishly. She lightly commented that he was one lose away from his dignity. Axton retorted that he feels lucky as he placed his cards on the table.

"Ha! Beat this." He mocked, pride and all. His manly demeanor began to wobble as the Mechromancer began to laugh.

"Who feels lucky now?" She announced. His jaw simply dropped when she placed her cards on the table. It seemed as though she had won this round once more.

"Now we get to the fun part." She snickered. Winnings were collected with her open arms. The part, known as the shuttle break, was simply thrown into the pile to be forgotten. Only to remembered when Mordecai comes by and asked if they had given the said break to Ellie yet.

Meanwhile back towards the couple's doom. Maya asked if he was serious.

"Would I ever lied to you?" he calmly asked.

"Is this really the time for cryptic remarks!" She shouted.

"No. I don't think so." Zer0 spoke, he seemed thoughtful despite the current circumstances they were in. Their shuttle was about to collide with the great unknown. It would probably be incinerated into ashes due to how bright that core was. Zer0 regretted to come on this trip, however, somewhere deep inside of him. He simply wanted to end his existence. Life had become a bore now; what's the point of living? They say that everything was best "Short and Sweet." It was a philosophy he could agree upon. However, as he looked towards the side, he could see another regret.

Maya was considered to be his partner in crime; the yin of his yang; the aggressor of his passive attitude. A friend you could call it, and a very close one as well. Despite setting a certain distance between them, he wanted to get closer with her. However, according to the Assassin's rule book: You should never be close to anyone. They could be exploited as your weakness; the person who had caused your death. He /She could be the victim you must save or your killer. It was considered to be a taboo to form a relationship with anyone, especially when it's in a form of sexual tension. He had his fair share of experiences during his time as a Vault Hunter on Pandora, but it was not to perfect time to divulge in those kinds of emotions. Maya was now taking the wheel.

"Steer the ship damn it!" She called out. She grabbed the steering wheel with both hands and tried to steer away from the thing.

Crack

"It broke." Zer0 deadpanned. Maya simply looked at with disbelief. That's what you get when you make a ship from scraps. She'd simply throw the wheel, got up, and walked to the back of the shuttle.

Zer0 only watched her moved as their impeding doom comes closer. It was kind of sad for her to give up all of a sudden. The Maya he knew was a strong willed woman. However, you may call it human nature since it's normal for people like her to be afraid of death. The only thing he could do was leave her alone, but he chose not to as he got up and walked to the back with her.

She sat there; in the dark; with her knees near her face. The strands of blue hair had covered her face. Eyes were looking down, and still looking down as he came closer. She didn't bother looking up once he was down at her height.

"Hey Zer0?" she asked out of the blue. "I know we have died before, but…" She looked up towards him as though he held the answers. "What do you think on dying for real? Are you sad, happy, angry or just simply indifferent?"

Zer0 simply stared at her. He didn't want to answer her question. Despite the fact he already had an answer to that kind of question. It was probably due to insensitivity to the now vulnerable Siren. All he wanted now was to tell her it would be all right, even though the situation was now inevitably grim. He wants to be her shinning light in the darkness; the person who would always stayed on her side no matter what. However, he knows that he's not that type of person, but there was no harm on trying.

So taking her by her surprise like his kill. He embraces her in a hug. Despite the fact he was already wearing a helmet. She could feel the warmth of his breathe; the sound of his voice; the tingling sensation in her ear when the wind of his voice blows at it, and lastly the words.

"Don't be afraid my Cherry Blossom/ I'm here for you/ even when the impending storm threatens to break us apart/ I would always stand by your side no matter what."

Maya, for the first time ever in her life, was surprised by the bravado he made. This act, this sign of empathy, had made him almost human in a way. Especially his voice; this was the first time she had heard his actual voice. There were no emotions to describe it and there were no words to say. She simply hugged, embraced, and leaned her forehead against his shoulder. Tears began to flow as their doom draws in closer. Zer0 only could do now was tighten the hug. At least she was close with him.

"Thanks Zer0." She spoke, a sign of happiness lingered in her words. Those were the last words she spoke before their shuttle was engulfed in a bright light.

-TO BE CONTINUED-