"Pandora. A world full of things we don't understand. But all of that is about to change."

Angelica sat with her head on her desk. She wanted to learn about Pandora, Hyperion, and maybe learn what her permanent tattoos that she had from birth meant, but sitting through a boring lesson wasn't what she had in mind. She imagined that she would've been selected to go with her classmates to attend one of Handsome Jack's speeches, but of course, her teacher thought otherwise. "Hey, Angelica," one of her classmates, Axel, whispered. She turned her head slightly, "What is it?" Axel was one of the kids who she knew nothing about. Axel continued, "What if I told you there's we could get you to come with us to Handsome Jack's speech?" This caught her attention. Before she could respond, the bell rang, announcing the end of class and the start of lunch.

"Wait, you're going to try to sneak me onto the trip?" she asked. He nodded with a smile.

Throughout the entire lunchtime, she asked him many questions, which he gladly answered, as if he knew what she was going to ask. "It's simple. I'll distract the teacher, and you quickly run onto the bus." Angelica whispered, "Are you crazy!? That's awesome! Of course I'll go with this plan!" This was perfect. No one would expect this to happen. She would see Handsome Jack, and she would hopefully be able to get a career as a Hyperion soldier.

After school, she noticed that the kids who normally bullied her weren't there. She shrugged it off, and began to walk home. An orphanage that went by the name "Perfect Angels." It was a complete lie. Ever since she had first arrived at the orphanage, she was treated like an outcast, a discarded piece of trash that no one wanted. She wasn't allowed to be adopted by anyone. Not a single person wanted her, anyways. Tomorrow, she would find her purpose.

The next day.

Axel was already distracting the teacher by the time Angelica arrived. Without hesitating, she slipped onto the bus, finding an empty seat in the front. The bus driver simply smiled, "Eager to see Jack?" She nodded, "Of course!" He chuckled, amused by her joy. Students starting getting on the bus, Axel being the last one on. He sat next to her, "It worked. We're also lucky that the teachers won't be going with us. We'll have a Hyperion worker with us." Angelica squealed, "A Hyperion worker? This is going to be the best day of my life!"

The ride normally would've been a boring one, had it not been for her and Axel's friendly conversations. They talked about what they wanted to be, what they liked and disliked, stuff like that. When they arrived, she stared in awe at the Hyperion capital. It was a glorious sight to see, the giant 'H', a statue of Handsome Jack, everything. They started getting off the bus, Angelica trying her best not to run into the building by herself. The Hyperion worker that was waiting for them wore a fancy suit, her black hair tied in a bun. She had a warm smile, "Welcome to the Hyperion capital. It's a pleasure to have young minds to meet Handsome Jack in person." She led them into the capital, giving them information about Hyperion. "Handsome Jack was the man who opened the first Vault on Pandora. He single-handedly killed the Destroyer of Worlds, and discovered a new source called Eridium."

Angelica was so into the story that she barely noticed that Axel had grabbed her hand. "Hey, I think I saw Handsome Jack over there," he told her. She stared at him, "But, shouldn't we be following her?" Axel shook his head, "They didn't do a head count of how many students were here, so they won't notice." He dragged her with him, so Angelica followed him. Axel led her down a hallway, then turned left. They kept walking until they reached a dead end. "Wait, where's Jack?" she asked, looking around. "That's weird, I swore I saw him," he replied, his usual friendly tone now gone, being replaced with a different one. One that sounded almost as if…

She was knocked to the ground by someone behind her, her face meeting the floor. Angelica looked up to see the two boys who had been bullying her, and Axel in between them. A menacing glare that was accompanied by a smile was painted on his face. "You're so stupid to think that Handsome Jack was actually over here," he sneered. He turned to the boys, "No one will notice you're gone. The school won't miss ya, anyways." Then they started to kick and punch her, refusing to let her up. She did her best to crawl away, but she kept being dragged back. She screamed, "Stop it!" Axel punched her in the jaw, "Shut up, freak." Angelica began to cry as pain shot through her body, with a dull snap and more pain stabbing at her arm. She realized it was broken when she couldn't move it. The pain refrained her from moving, so she couldn't do anything other than lie there, taking the blows.

Then it stopped. She heard the boys struggling, and Axel shouting, "Hey! Let go!"

"Get them out of here," a stern, but somewhat familiar voice commanded. Soon, the noise died down, and Angelica turned her head, wincing at the pain, to see who had come. "J-Jack?" she stared almost in disbelief. He was kneeling at her side, "Hey, kiddo. You alright?" She turned her body slowly, painfully sitting up. Jack picked her up, cradling her. "Don't worry about the boys," he told her, "they'll receive their punishment." She whimpered, tears streaming down her face, "My arm hurts."

"It's okay, we're going to take a look at it," he cooed. He carried her down the hallway, and for once in her life, she felt safe. "W-why did you help me?" she asked. "Am I a f-freak?" He shook his head, "You're not a freak, little one. Why would anyone call you that?" The walked into a room, where she was sat on a table. She sniffled, "I don't have any parents. I u-used to, b-but then they died. They k-keep making fun of me, and the orphanage won't let me be adopted by anyone. Then there's these str-strange markings I was born with…" He sighed, "Yeah, I know that feeling." He turned his attention on her face, "What markings?" She moved her unbroken arm, "These markings, underneath my sleeve." He carefully rolled up her sleeve, then he paused, staring at her arm in awe. "So you are a Siren…" her murmured. Angelica gave him a curious look. "What's a Siren?" He stood up, "Well, it's a little complicated. You see, Sirens are women with supernatural powers."

"Does that mean I'm special?"

"Yes, it does."

She scarcely noticed that her broken arm was in a cast, while her other injuries were already bandaged. "By the way, what is your name, kiddo?" Jack asked. She stuttered, "A-Angelica." He smiled, "Well, Angelica, how would you feel if I adopted you?" Her eyes lit up, "R-Really? You really mean it?" He nodded, "Of course!"

"Handsome Jack, sir, it's almost time for your speech," a voice cracked from his ECHO Recorder. Jack turned to it, "Already? Time flies when you're in the middle of a conversation." He faced Angelica, "Can you still walk?" She nodded, standing up. "Good. I think I might let you experience the show up close." He led her down another hallway and to what appeared to be a stage. "Can one of you get her a seat, please?" he asked one of the workers. "Right away!" he responded, and immediately grabbed a chair. Angelica sat in it, listening to all the people that were chatting on the other side of the curtain. "We're all set, sir," a worker reported. Handsome Jack clapped his hands together, "Then let's get this show rolling!" The curtains opened up, and Jack was now visible. Some people muttered, but they were drowned out by the cheering.

"Hey there! Handsome Jack here!"

Years later…

Angelica stood behind Jack as he conversated with his employees. Being a Siren made her feel powerful. She could use basic Siren powers for now, having yet to unlock her own. But that hasn't stopped her from doing anything she can to help Jack find the Vault. She didn't question his orders, she had no reason to yet. She had been taught to use a gun, how to use an ECHO Recorder, and she was given her own section of Hyperion soldiers to command, though she had yet to know who her second in command was. Her shirt had only one sleeve that covered the arm that had the markings. Her gaze swept across the room several times as she kept a careful eye on everyone. Any one of these employees could be a spy or a hired mercenary, and she needed to make sure no one would hurt Jack.

The meeting ended with no sudden moves being made by anybody. The room emptied, and her and Jack made their way to his office. "Y'know," he started, "I've been thinking. You haven't met you're second in command. Fortunately, I invited him."

"I'm guessing I won't know who it is until we start talking?" Angelica asked. Jack shook his head, "I have a feeling you two know each other already. You can't grow powerful until amends are made." He opened the door, and Angelica almost gasped. The boy standing at the desk turned around. His facial features were all too familiar. "A-Angelica?" he stammered, a shocked expression plastered on his face. Angelica hid her shock from him, and she nodded slightly, "Axel." Jack walked out of the room, "I'll leave you two to chat. I have some reporters to answer." The door closed, leaving the two in awkward silence.

"S-so… do you want to, uh… hang out?" Axel asked. She held her serious expression, and Axel began to show signs of fear. She approached him, and he took a step back. "After all the years of you tormenting me, you finally ask that question?" she questioned him in a stern tone. He was trembling now. He thought he could just appear out of nowhere and expect her to immediately be friends with him that easily. She was the one in power now.

Angelica bursted out laughing no longer being able to contain herself. "What's so funny? Wait a minute - what!?" Axel stumbled over his own words in confusion. She did her best to laugh too loud, "Sorry, sorry. You should've seen your face! You really thought I was serious, haha! Of course I'll hang out."

Axel had chosen the private gardens as a place to hang out. Only people with special access could enter, and there were no cameras, which both of them seemed to like. "So, why here?" Angelica asked. Axel sighed, "Well, I really know how much you trust Jack. I don't know how to say this, but…" She gave him a questioning look, "But what?" He shook his head, "I-it's nothing important. Really shouldn't ruin our first day of being friends, should I?" Angelica really wanted to know, "Listen, I promise I won't tell anyone." He took a deep breath, "It's about Jack. He's… using you." She stared at him in disbelief, but she didn't completely believe it was a lie. "For what?" she whispered. Over the years, Jack had been growing more and more demanding of her, sometimes even striking her when she didn't comply. She grew suspicious that he didn't really love her.

The answer she got was the one that confirmed her them

"The only reason why he raised you. A Siren is needed to open a Vault, so he plans on using you to open it."

Last night.

Angelica couldn't sleep. With her suspicions confirmed, she was afraid of Handsome Jack, and what he was capable of. She sat up, staring at her hands. If only there were a way… she didn't finish the thought when a knock at her door startled her. "Come in," she answered while she simultaneously tried to hide her worried expression in case it wasn't Axel. Fortunately, it was him, and she sighed in relief as he closed to door behind him. He had promised to tell her the rest tonight, since no one would be awake. Or at least they hoped so. "I disabled the camera in here, so no one should be watching," he told her. She sighed, "Well, tell me what I want to know."

"This Handsome Jack is a clone. The real Handsome Jack died a couple years ago after he opened the Vault of the Warrior on Pandora."

"How do you know all this?"

"Because I'm a spy. After you disappeared, I regretted playing to role of the bully. I ran away and found myself with the Crimson Raiders."

"Crimson Raiders? The supposed 'bandit' group that Hyperion's trying to wipe out?"

"Yes."

She fell quiet, unable to find any words. "Who all is here?" she managed to ask. He replied in a whisper, "I can't say their names." Silence fell over them once more. She broke it, "Then you'll help me escape."

"W-what?" he quietly exclaimed. Angelica crossed her arms, "You heard me. If Jack wants to use me, then I have to get as far away as possible." He nodded in understanding, "Then I'll get you out of here tomorrow. Just be prepared to run for it when I make an opening."

Present time.

Angelica leaned on the wall near the back entrance of the Hyperion facility, silently waiting. Axel was waiting at the controls. She wouldn't be able to see him, but he would tell her when he was going to open the door. She just hoped it was soon. "No one's coming your direction. I contacted the Crimson Raiders about you, so they should be ready to find you," Axel's voice cracked over her ECHO Recorder. She kept an eye on the hallway and she responded, "Good to hear." She didn't tell him that she had access to the camera feeds from her holo-device that Jack had given her a year ago.

"You'll be coming, right?"

There was silence, then his voice responded on the ECHO Recorder, "There's a high possibility that I may not survive." She sighed, "I understand." She heard the door unlock itself, "Opening the door." The door slid open, and she didn't hesitate to leave. She didn't stop running until she was far enough away that the soldier would take awhile to get to her. She watched the camera feed of the control room. The door behind Axel had opened, and her eyes widened as she recognized Handsome Jack. "Behind you!" she shouted to Axel. Her warning came too late as Jack shot him in the chest, blood splattering on the window. He collapsed onto the controls, his body sliding to the floor, leaving a trail of blood. Jack looked directly at the camera. "You disappoint me, Angelica," he grumbled, then shot the camera. She stood there for a moment, slightly traumatized by Axel's death. She collected herself, threw the holo-device onto the ground, then smashed it into pieces. Without a second thought, she took off, trying to put more distance between her and Hyperion.

Hello! CrystalBorf here! So I might've started a bit too fast with the action. This is my first Borderlands fanfic. So, uh… yeah. Feel free to leave reviews and advice on how to make this better, in case it doesn't seem good.