Chapter 1: Friendships Forged, Train Crash Survived
A/N: So I'm not sure why I'm starting this Fic, but I feel like I have to retell the oh so famous story of Borderlands 2 my way with my OC. Just for laughs and giggles. Also I'll try my best to make some sense of Pandora. Like how the action skill works and stuff like that. So erm my OC is gonna be called Muery and I'm gonna be writing in Muery's POV for the most part of this Fic… Well pretty much the entire Fic is gonna be from his POV but we'll see. Anyways… On to the Fic! Actually hold up… Before we begin, erm this will kinda be like my OC narrating the Fic from his POV which I know kinda sounds weird… But let's roll with it. Cos MUTHAF**KING REASONS!
~On some train~
Crap. Crap crap crap. Oh shit. Dammit. Shit. Why?
~In some train depot a while ago~
Well this train looks like the perfect place to hide. Plus I don't think it's in operation too! They'll never think of finding me in here! I thought mischievously as I climbed on board the train.
Hmm, I think I should power down my ECHO device so he doesn't find me. I thought as I switched it off and my Heads-Up-Display (HUD) provided by the device flickered away. The ECHO device is a really useful tool in these parts. It grants us a HUD that reads our vital and acts as a digital backpack for all our digitally constructed things. Well it is also a communication device as well. Oh and the most important and coolest thing is that it connects with chips in our bodies to do cool stuff that are called 'Action Skills'. Mine is kinda badass but useless in hide-and-seek so I'm just gonna take a nap now. I'll wake up later to claim my victory.
~On the train~
Why did I fall asleep? Why did I have to fall asleep? I panicked as I tried to decipher what was going on. I might be a 16-year-old orphan, but I still have places I gotta be! Hold on what's that sound and is the floor shaking?
BOOM! BANG CLANG! WHOOSH! BANG! BOOM!
Holy shit. What the hell? I stumbled towards the door at the front of the carriage. I leaned slightly on the door and it gave way under my weight.
"AH!" I yelped as I fell to the floor.
"Woah! I didn't think there'd be anymore stowaways!" A rather young and cute female voice emanated from somewhere above me. Oh right. It probably should since I'm face-flat on the floor.
"I-I'm not stowing away I just-" Before I could finish my sentence though, we were thrown right back in the carriage I just fell out from. There was some kind of explosion at the front of the train and now the carriage is hurtling off the tracks.
"AHHHH!" WE both yelled as the carriage tossed us around before knocking us unconscious. Not again. I thought as consciousness started slipping.
~Somewhere really cold and icy~
"Ergh…" I groaned as I came around. Ow.. That was one helluva ride.. Wait. What ride? Oh yeah the train. Wait shit didn't the train explode or something? Oh my shit where am I?
I frantically tried to look around but I could barely make out my surroundings when the weight on my body finally registered.
What the heck is that? I couldn't really see in the dark so I instinctively felt around with my hands. And I felt something I probably will regret in the next five minutes.
"You freaking pervert!" I heard that same cute female voice from earlier yell and all I could do was realise that she is the weight on me.
"I'm sorry I didn't realise you were a person!" I offered in apology. I really didn't think a girl, or at least who I think is a girl to weigh that much.
"What's that supposed to mean? You think I'm heavy?" She asked as she lifted herself off me.
"Oof! Er no I'm just really battered up! You're not heavy at all!" I still couldn't make out my surroundings too well so I couldn't tell if this person was actually heavy or not.
"Where are we?" She asked again, getting to her feet as I hear the scraping of footwear against the metal of the carriage.
"I don't know. Erm, help me out will you?" I asked as my arms didn't seem to be able to lift my weight.
"Oh, er here." A hand grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet.
"Thanks, I'm Muery by the way." I introduced myself, hoping to identify this stranger.
"Oh erm, I'm Gaige. Hi." Gaige introduced and I decided that Gaige was probably a girl and not a guy with a really cute, high pitched voice. Cause then I'd have to rethink my sexuality.
"You see any way we can get out of here?" I asked as my eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness.
"I see a little bit of light coming from there." Gaige said, and I assumed she was pointing at somewhere.
"C'mon!" She grabbed my arm and pulled me along.
This girl is pretty assertive. Oh crap… My foot stubbed on something as I tumbled over, dragging Gaige down with me.
"Ouch sorry." I groaned as she slammed on me for the second time in like five minutes or something.
"Thanks for being a great pillow again." She joked and I felt her breath on my face. Wow she is really close right now. Like really, really close. Why am I being bothered by this? CALM DOWN DAMMIT!
"Er help me up again?" I mumbled as I felt her weight lift off me again.
"Yeah here." She grabbed me up again and resumed our little trek over to the light I am starting to see. Man my eyesight is horrible. Shit. Did I hurt my eyes or something?
"Dude, I think this is the window in the door of the carriage. Help me open it up." Gaige's voice cut through my thoughts as I realise we reached the light source.
Oh. Right that door. The one I literally just stood in before I was flung into unconsciousness.
"Okay back up lemme power up my Action Skill." I warned her as I fumbled for my ECHO device.
"And why? What is it?" Gaige asked, and from the little light coming from the window I see her hands on her hip.
"Cos it's a Digistructed Hand Cannon of Awesomeness?" I smirked as I hit the power button on my ECHO.
"So? I'm waiting." Gaige smiled sweetly as she backed away a little bit.
"Erm… I think my ECHO is broken. I can't power it up." I messed around with my ECHO for a little bit before dumping it on the floor.
"Haha let me try. My D374-TP bot should be able to rip that door open." Gaige pulled out her ECHO
"Wow, that's erm a cool name." I shrugged a little as I had already forgotten the name a little.
"I guess I call it Deathtrap as well. Since it kinda… Erm…" Gaige's voice trailed off and I filled in the blanks myself.
"Hey, you didn't mean to though right?" I wasn't sure what to say but I could hear the remorse in her voice.
"No. It was a miscalculation in Deathtrap's programming." Gaige's voice was barely audible as she started to sob silently.
"Hey, accidents happen. I mean I thought this train wasn't in use when I decided to hide in it." I didn't know how else to comfort her.
"Hide? What? What were you hiding from?" Gaige calmed downed a little as she seemed to be a little concerned.
"Erm… My friend." I admitted sheepishly as a smile started forming on her face.
"Your friend?" Gaige asked, clearly starting to get a little amused.
"Hide-and-seek." I mumbled almost incoherently. This is kinda awkward…
"How old are you Muery?" Gaige asked, a smile really prominent on her face.
"I'm 16, in high school. I know. Kinda childish." I shrugged as she burst into laughter.
"Really? You're 16? And you still play hide-and-seek?" She was literally lying on the floor in laughter.
"Hey it was that or go hunting some life-threatening creatures!" I lied. I just wanted to explore the depot a little and the only way to convince my friends to go there was to talk them into playing hide-and-seek there.
"Really? Where do you come from?" Gaige wiped tears from her cheeks as she sat up.
"I erm…" I was abruptly cut off by the door being wrenched open from the outside.
"I FOUND TWO FLESHIES!" A really loud and deep voice emanated from outside.
"Holy crap. I think I just shitted myself." Gaige broke the silence with probably the most funny thing I've ever heard a girl say.
So I laugh. Like an idiot. And she thinks I'm laughing at her possibly shitting herself so she proceeds to kick me real hard in the side.
"OW!" I screamed as I curled into a fetal position, gripping my side.
"That'll teach you to laugh at me!" Gaige growled at me, clearly taking a lot of offense.
"No. It's just I've never heard a girl say something like that before! Plus it's totally funny in context right now!" I giggled a littler while groaning in pain.
"Oh… OH MY GOSH I'M SO SORRY!" Gaige knelt beside me awkwardly as I groaned in pain.
"Oh hey two more kids to the group. Whoopee…" A rather deep and frankly quite annoying male voice came from outside.
"Shut it Axton I'm only a year younger than you." A mature female voice followed shortly.
"You're still younger than me kiddo. So can it." Axton's voice came again as two beefy arms reached in and pulled me and Gaige out.
"YOU ARE REALLY SMALL FLESHIES!" This really large and beefy man screamed at us as he hoisted us out of the carriage.
"Erm thanks?" Gaige muttered as he put us on the ground.
"You can stop shouting at the top of your goddamned lungs Krieg." Axton spoke and I turned to face a rather young man with short blonde hair.
"NIPPLE SALADS!" Krieg yelled out then roared loudly, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Ah I see you've found more compenheiros Axton!" A short man with a lot of hair on his face came walking by.
"Yeah Sal. I found more buddies… Whoopee…" Axton grumbled at Sal. Sal has to be a nickname right? I don't think Sal could be a full proper name…
"Hey we're right here jerkhole." Gaige glared at Axton as Axton stared back down on her.
"Yeah can it kiddo. You here for the Vault too huh? Seems like any kid and their mom are looking for the Vault too huh?" Axton glared at me next. Why did Gaige have to say something. I mean she could have just kept quiet. Just keep looking pretty. Ergh…
"What's it to you huh? Why do you care?" I growled a little at him. If Gaige was gonna douche on him then I'll do it too. Can't let the lady take all the shit from this dude right?
"Easy tiger. I'm not gonna shit on your girlfriend." Axton smirked as I realise I played into his trap. Great erm… Comeback… Got it.
"At least I have one eh?" I glared at him and I could already feel Gaige staring daggers into my back.
"Hey-!" Gaige started to object but Maya cut her off.
"He just divorced with his wife and had to leave his regiment to avoid an execution. Cut him some slack kid." Maya placed her hand on Axton's back.
"Oh. Erm… Well Gaige and I barely even know each other actually…" I admitted sheepishly as I felt Gaige's glare soften a little.
"You got a sharp tongue kid. We just might become great friends." Axton smiled warmly, I think, and extended a hand. I shook it firmly and put a grin on my face.
"Finally people / You are getting along now / Can we move on then?" A full-suited figure suddenly appeared from nowhere.
"Eep!" Gaige shrieked and jumped into me. I caught her from falling over. She blushed a little as I straightened her up. Score for me? I think so.
"Who are you?" I asked, not sure who or what this 'thing' was. He had four digits on each hand. Is he even human? Is he even a he?
"My identity / Shall remain unknownst to you / Let's keep it at that" He said before a 3-D smiley face hologram flashed on his faceplate.
"Oh okay then. Well, er, where can we go?" I asked, unsure if I could trust this person/thing. And that faceplate is pretty cool. I've never seen anything like that before.
"How about we jus get a move on first in some general direction?" Maya suggested. Everyone nodded in agreement. I mean I sure as hell didn't want to hang around and freeze my ass off.
"And everyone stay sharp. We aren't in the best condition to fight so we better avoid conflict as far as we can." Axton ordered. Well at least it felt like an order after knowing he was an ex-soldier.
"I shall scout ahead / Report anything I find / In a moment's time" The odd figure disappeared again as Axton sat down.
"Well let's wait for Zer0 to get back then." Axton said as he rested against some distorted part of the train.
"His name is Zer0?" I asked arching an eyebrow and sat down too.
"Well that's what we decided to call him since he displayed that number on his faceplate when we asked him the first time." Maya shrugged and leaned against some piece of towering wreck.
"Oh…" I mumbled and let the awkward silence set in.
I read on the ECHOnet somewhere that 4 seconds of silence makes silence awkward. And this was getting kinda awkward since everyone was just sitting around and twiddling their thumbs. I would have gone on my ECHO to try to find a way to get back but it got busted during the crash.
"Hey, erm, where are we exactly? Like right now?" Gaige suddenly asked, breaking the somewhat kinda sacred awkward silence. Hmm, I realise I didn't even know what planet we were on either.
"If any of us had our ECHOs we'd tell you but none of what we were carrying on us survived the crash." Maya explained shrugging, while Axton was making a silent impression of Maya with exaggerated hand gestures.
"Well what planet is this again?" I decided to ask. Ignorance might be bliss in some situations, but not this one. I really wanted to know which hellhole I had landed on.
"This is Pandora compenheiro! My beautiful home planet!" The dwarf dude, Sal spoke up cheerily. I was about to say something about the beauty of the planet but decided against it.
"Right now it looks more like a shit hole to me." Gaige muttered under her breath and I bumped her in the arm. She turned to me and I grinned at her and stuck out my fist. She is the first girl I ever fist bumped.
Sal didn't seem to hear Gaige and didn't care for our fist bump as we continued to idle around in silence. I felt uneasy with the silence but I didn't know what I should talk about. The Vault? What was that? I recalled hearing about somewhere before. Something about it being some kind of treasure maybe? Wait so these guys were all treasure hunters? Or what did Axton call themselves? Vault Hunters? Yeah that's it… So these guys are Vault Hunters…
"So where is this Vault you guys are looking for?" I asked nobody in particular. Axton bent forward and started drawing something in the snow with his fingers.
"You this big 'X' kid? That's where the Vault is and that's where I'm going to claim its loot." Axton grinned as he presented some weirdly drawn map of well, some random squiggly lines and a gigantic 'X'.
"We don't know where the Vault is. That's why we're Vault Hunters?" Maya laughed when she noticed the confused looks Gaige and I were exchanging about the map Axton drew.
"Oh haha Axton really funny." Gaige grumbled as she tried to recover from looking like a fool.
I just sat there and scratched my head. What am I supposed to do? I didn't exactly come here to look for this Vault. I mean hell I didn't even mean to be on this planet. Like what the heck?
"So you two said you weren't here for the Vault right? Why are you here then?" Axton asked Gaige and I all of a sudden.
"I er… Kinda fell asleep no the train while playing hide-and-seek in a train depot…" I admitted, knowing that Gaige wouldn't be too keen on sharing her story.
"WHAT?! Hide-and-seek? How old are you? 5?" Axton burst into hysterical laughter as Maya and Sal couldn't help but stifle their laughter as well.
"Hey it was that or hunt some crazy dangerous creature that would probably kill us…" I gave the same excuse I gave to Gaige. Heck these guys deserved to know the truth less than Gaige if anything.
"And what about you girly? What's your story?" Axton asked at the end of his laughing fit, wiping the tears away. Gaige sat there uneasily and I decided to speak up for her.
"If she doesn't want to share I'm fine with not knowing." I smiled at her, pretending I didn't know her reason.
"Bullshit kid. You two were in the carriage for a while surely she already told you!" Axton reasoned, an I had to admit that was some goos logic… But of course, I had some logic up my sleeves too.
"Well what do you think she did after I told her why I was here?" I said deadpanned. Axton burst into another fit of laughter.
Gaige gave me a small smile and I could read from her lips she was mouthing "Thanks." I smiled back and shook my head a little, telling her "No sweat it."
"There is no one else / Around here we can leave now / Let's all move along" Zer0 suddenly reappeared from nowhere.
"Dude, how do you do that?" I asked, really intrigued by how he disappeared and reappeared so suddenly. A smiley face appeared on his faceplate again before he turned away and led the way.
"Fine, whatever." I muttered to myself as I fell behind the group. Gaige was kinda walking with me too, seeing as how we were both the same age and she might consider me to be a better friend than the others.
"Thanks again for saving me back there dude." Gaige thanked me again, bumping into me softly as we walked.
"Haha hey I'll take every chance to help this damsel." I smiled and bumped her back. She turned away and I could see the red on her face as she turned. She looks so pretty right now. I need to focus. Focus on staying alive and keeping warm. This place is kinda really snowy and icy and cold in general. We moved along the wreckage of the train, that seemingly decided to spread itself all over the landscape because as far as the eye could see right now, there was nothing but burning bits of wrecked train. Then Zer0 stopped dead in his tracks and Axton raised a fist. That mean stop? I guess so since everyone seemingly stopped.
"Ragging frigging scrap. Another train crash. Handsome Jack's been busy." A rather high-pitched and kinda robotic voice emanated from somewhere ahead of us.
"Hmm.." Zer0 muttered and Axton huddled us around.
"Alright there's something out there, origins unknown, I'd guess one target, but I need everyone to find some weapon of sorts anyways." Axton said, pulling his combat axe from its straps.
Maya's fists glowed blue, or rather the tattoos all over her fists glowed blue. Sal raised his fists wearing some kind of brass knuckles on them. Krieg pulled a rather gigantic axe, or what I think is an axe, from the straps on his back and looked as if he was about to burst from excitement or anticipation or something. Zer0 digistructed a blade and wielded it like a samurai wielding a katana. Or maybe it was a digistruct katana. Gaige raised her arm. And none of us noticed till now but she had a robotic arm. It was all metallic and stuff. Wow… I raised both hands palm open. I didn't have any weapon on me except well, my Action Skill… You know, the hand cannon I failed to digistruct? Yeah I mean I wasn't expecting to end up on Pandora and needing to defend myself so I figured my Digistruct Hand Cannon would suffice…
"Great… You wait here. Everyone one else, try to fan out as far as possible. We want to maximize our numbers so let's try to surround whatever it is that's out there." Axton ordered, and Gaige raised her hand.
"Maybe I should stay back here with Muery. I mean if anything comes up behind us you know?" Gaige suggested and Axton fought down another burst of laughter, wearing instead this goofy stretched out grin.
"Muery? What kind of name is Muery? Ha!" He teased me quietly before nodding to Gaige and signaling everyone else to move out.
"Asshat." I muttered under my breath as the others left.
"Thanks." I said to Gaige, who didn't at all seem like she was looking out for other possible threats. I don't blame her. I think after her Deathtrap accidentally killing a someone, I'm guessing a schoolmate or someone from school, I don't think she's too keen to kill anything herself…
Gaige just stood there silently, holding her hands together and shivering slightly. I took off my shirt and draped it over her. Yes, the only shirt I was wearing. Why? Cause screw it I want to impress her. Plus I have a decent tolerance to cold. Well more like I hid and slept in a freezer unit once and won because no one bothered searching there. And I didn't freeze to death. So yeah. Plus it was kind of a drapey top anyways.
"Hey put your shirt back on! You'll freeze!" Gaige tried to shrug off my shirt but I held it over her firmly.
"I had to sleep in a freezer once. I'll be fine Gaige." I smiled reassuringly as I pushed lightly to the ground and sat down myself.
"I'm not even gonna ask why…" She smiled at me before sneezing. That. Was. Really. Freaking. Adorable. Why? I mean I've seen girls sneeze before but Gaige just looked so adorable.
My arm instinctively slid around her neck as I kind of hugged her a little. Like very little. Almost not hugging. Then she leaned in a little and I decided to hell with it. And hugged her close. She really quiet but I could see the red on her face again as she tried to keep her head turned away from me. I wanted to say something to break the silence. But I decided the silence was awesome. At least while it lasted…
A/N 2: AND THAT IS CHAPTER 1! YAY! Hope those reading this enjoy it so far. I tried to keep as true to the game as possible, like character-wise and all. But I realise Gaige will be OOC sometimes or rather just the girl I believe she should be.. Cos she witnessed her own creation killing someone she knew. AND SHE IS 16… SO YEAH PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT TRAUMATIZED? AND SCARED? SO DON'T BITCH ABOUT HOW SHE'S A SUPER BADASS IN THE GAME I GET IT SHE WILL GET THERE… For now though the more logical character of a frightful and traumatized girl. SO anyways hope you guys enjoyed this also come check my Youtube, where I am doing a new series I called #NoSkillAxton where basically I try to play Borderlands 2 as Axton without using his Sabre Turret. Yeah… So help me out review this Fic, check out my video that will be up as soon as I make a thumbnail for it and keep looking forward to more content guys! See you guys next time!