My first installment of a Borderlands series I plan to create based off the plot and characters developed by Gearbox in the credit for refernced material, characters and such goes to them.
***Spoiler Alert***
Jailer Invasion Arc...
Axton rose from his bunk in the Crimson Raider HQ and walked out to the balcony overlooking the center of town. He leaned up against the wall and gazed out at the view. He let out a long sigh at the sight of the citizens of Sanctuary all going about their normal lives.
"Seems like such a quiet place now..." He said to himself
Axton knew however that even though the fight was over they still had a long road ahead of them. Ever since the Vault Hunters brought down Jack it seems things on Pandora finally calmed down. Of course there was the usual bandit attack here and there but nothing that could really compare to recent events. All in all in the end all their fighting had paid off but now there wasnt really anything to look forward to. No big battle to had and nobody needed killing. No one important at least...
"Heh, I guess Brick and Salvador really did have the right idea!" Axton laughed
Brick and Salvador had quickly grown bored to tears at the lack of action. They had decided to get a head start on the other vaults located on other worlds. Leaving the rest of their friends to manage the restoration effort.
Axton's relaxing daydream was suddenly interrupted by the sounds of a group of people approaching from the staircase. Maya walked up along with Lilith and Mordercai.
"Hey whatcha doin up here? We were all down at Moxxi's having a good time!" asked Mordercai
Axton turned and leaned his back up against the hard concrete wall with his arms folded.
"Isnt it kind of early to be having a 'good time'?" He asked with a smirk on his face
"All we had was some pizza. Nothing else." Maya stated
"NOT ME! Pizza aint no good unless you chase it with some good ol' rakk ale" Mordercai said jokingly shaking his canteen so everyone could hear the liqour sloshing.
Everyone couldnt help but laugh.
"Ah so whats the plan for today Lilith?" Axton asked
"Well..." Lilith said making her way over to the map.
"Today we all have something on our plates for once. Ive got Mordecai and Zero heading over to Opportunity to oversee some development of the residential sector."
"Should be fun." Mordercai said sarcastically. Lilith just gave him a look telling him to suck it up...he did
"Where is Zero anyway?" Asked Maya
"He's already making his way there as we speak. You how he gets when he's b0red" said Lilith
Everyone just shook their heads in agreement.
"Besides that: Axton, I want you and Krieg to go and ensure our plan to occupy the Buzzard school over in The Dust goes off without too much resistance from the local bandit population." Lilith said with a serious tone.
"Right, so kill everyone that gets in our way?" Axton said with a grin on his face.
"Thats why you got Krieg going with you." Lilith said in a more humorous tone
"Yeah, this outta be interesting." Axton said as he walked out of the room while yelling for Krieg
"As for you Maya, you're going to accompany me on a rather important mission." Lilith said staring Maya in the eyes
"Whats the mission?" Maya said a bit frightened by Lilith's change of demeanor
"I cant say here. Ill tell you along the way to the Eridium Blight. C'mon" Lilith said gesturing her to follow.
"Thats always soothing." Maya said as she shook her head and followed behind her Siren sister as they made their way to the fast travel station.
Mordecai had echo'd ahead to ask Zer0 where he was. Despite the fact that Lilith told them she wanted them in Opportunity, Zer0 had set up a position more along the out skirts of The Highlands atop a rock formation overlooking the Hyperion bridge leading to opportunity. When Mordecai arrived at his position he found Zer0 laid out on his stomach with multiple types of sniper rifles set around him.
"Nice set-up you got here amigo." Mordecai said approaching him
Zer0 just stared down the sights of the sniper he was holding
"You realize Lilith wanted us actually INSIDE the city right?" Mordecai said slightly irritated that Zer0 had gone out and did his own thing again.
Zer0 looked up at mordecai from his sights.
"The Siren's orders were clear. I, however am...worried" he said using his signature cold tone.
Mordecai didn't like the sound of that
"Worried? Since when does a stone cold assassin get worried?" he asked
Zer0 gestured for Mordecai to lay next to him.
"Hey I don't like that amigo." Mordecai said jokingly
"Your jokes are un-amusing Hunter. Now is the time for discretion" Zer0 scolded coldly
Feeling like a child now, Mordecai laid next to Zer0. He handed him one of the rifles to look into. Mordecai aimed down the sight in the direction Zer0 was.
"Alright so what are we looking at and whats got you all moody?" asked Mordecai
"Straight ahead. Exiting from Overlook." Zer0 pointed out
Mordecai looked towards the now abandoned city. He saw a flood of troops he didnt recognize leaving overlook. They were heavily armed with seemingly mid to long range weapons. All ones he didnt recognize either.
"What the hell? Who the Hell are they?" Mordecai asked with rising emotions
"Unknown, but it looks like theyre planning an ambush..." replied Zer0
"An ambush? On who? And how do you know?" Mordecai asked confused
"Their armament consists of a weaponry that gives them the edge in long range combat. Using the element of surprise from the proper position-"
"Its easy pickin's for them.." Mordecai interrupted
Zer0 nodded in agreement. Struck by Zer0's theory Mordecai becomes slightly frantic.
"Okay, well who do think they're after? Can't be bandits." Mordecai speculates
"No, not bandits. You could surprise Bandits with an army of Deathtraps heading straight for them." Zer0s humorous side shined a litle at that moment
"I believe they're after Opportunity..." Zer0 said in a cold calculating tone
Mordecai was shocked but not surprised. There wasn't anything worth attacking in the Highlands besides the Wildlife preserve and Opportunity and Opportunity being the more valuable target of the two.
"Whoa there Amigo. Who would be crazy enough to attack now. Hyperion ain't exactly a downed dog right now. Not to mention these guys would have to storm the bridge to get there."
Zer0 looked away from the sights and at Mordecai.
"You forget this is the ambush squad." He replied
Mordecai looked back at Zer0.
"Then where else would they attack from. Opprotunity is a damn near fortress surrounded by water. Theres no other way but the bridge."
"Have you forgotten already?" Asked Zer0
Mordecai tilted his head in confusion. Zer0 looked back down his sights and continued surveying the force. He slowly let go of the front grip of the rifle and pointed up towards the sky. Mordecai looked up and was confused even further until he finally realized Zer0's hint.
"No way..." Mordecai said with fear in his voice
Meanwhile in the city itself a huge celebration was being held. Jack's once Pleasure Palace had been reformed mid-construction to become the new HQ of the Crimson raiders. The entire city attended the event in honor of the Vault Hunters victory over Jack. Amongst them was a mercenary named Archer who had been hired by Hyperion law enforcement to assist in providing proper security measures. He had a youthful look to him. His hair was a dark brown color, almost black in appearance while his eyes were green with a slightly blue hue. He was also very clean shaven despite his separation from Atlas. He wore khaki colored pants with straps that held his extra ammo going across with thigh and a black cargo jacket with "Atlas" imprinted in white on the upper portion of the sleeve underneath the jacket was a simple black shirt. His boots had a weathered black appearance and his back was his backpack that supported his wide arsenal of equipment.
He was renowned on the planet of Pandora for his past service with the Atlas corporation under the Crimson Lance. He was considered one of the most lethal members of the Lance until he separated from them during their departure from Pandora. He was also their youngest member at the age of 22 with skills that topped even some of their oldest veterans.
Archer had been placed to guard the front entrance of the lobby. when the doors slid open a young redhead girl with pigtails passed him.
"Can I help you miss?" he asked
She kept walking until he put his hand out to stop her.
"Sorry this is for Crimson Raider personnel only."
Her face turned into a frown.
"Whaddya mean Crimson personnel only? I AM CRIMSON PERSONNEL YOU NOOB!" she yelled as she stomped her foot
Archer couldnt help but laugh at her childish behavior and use of the word "noob"
"Listen, why dont you just head on back to the celebration outside? A young girl like you shouldnt bee wandering around a military HQ."
She threw his hand off her shoulder and walked away from him steaming with anger. Archer immediately ran after her. She quickly turned around and a light shined from her hand. In an instant a huge floating metal robot with insanely long claws stood in front of him.
"Don't mess with me doorman." She said with a smirk
Archer was just about to raise his gun at the robot but was stopped midway. it was Lieutenant Jessup: his commander for the event. Jessup had been a private during Jacks reign of terror but was promoted shortly after for the crucial part he played in the evacuation of Sanctuary.
"Easy Archer. You're good with a gun but she isn't the one you wanna get into a tussle with." Jessup said as he looked up at the robot.
"Eh.. The same could be said for her robot." He said with a nervous tone as they walked around it.
'Gaige! So glad you could make it! At least one of the vault hunters was able to show up to the grand opening." Jessup said holding out his hand to the girl.
The young girl shook his hand with a smile on her face.
"You know I wouldnt miss this. Me and Deathtrap just enjoy being fashionably late." She replied
"Better late then never." Jessup replied back
He grabbed hold of Archer by his shoulder and pulled him over to them.
"Gaige I'd like you to meet Archer and old friend of mine before I even arrived on Pandora. He's a mercenary with quite the record." he paused for a second
"And age to boot" he said nudging Archer's arm
Archer took another step towards Jessup.
"Sorry about that misunderstanding earlier. You're just so young to be a Vault Hunter!" Archer said with astonishment
Gaige's head was all big from the compliment now.
"Eh don't worry about it merc. I know my skills are just too good to believe." She said rotating her arm above her head
Archer laughed
"Jeez, she doesn't look much older than me and yet she's a Crimson Raider? A Vault Hunter no less?" he thought in amazement.
"So Jessup, wanna come with me to check the place out?" Gaige asked
"Sorry Gaige but I got work to do. Im not just in charge of guarding the door to the HQ in Sanctuary anymore!" He said with a laugh
"Why not take Archer here with you? Its time for his break anyway." Jessup added
Archer looked at Jessup to see a tiny smile forming on his face.
'Yeah why not? C'mon merc, you're with me." she said signaling him to follow her.
Archer followed behind her and Jessup went back outside. When he stepped outside and saw the celebration still going he couldn't help but notice a man standing off to the side. His hair was short cut and jet black while his skin was somewhere between pale and light. He wore a long black trench that he had buttoned up over a white shirt and tie along with black slacks and dress shoes. He was talking into a transciever until he finally stopped, looked directly at Jessup with a grin on his face and skulked off down the staurcase he was standing next to.
"Who the Hell was that clown?" Jessup said with a suspicious tone
Meanwhile back inside the Crimson Raider building Arher and Gaige were touring the top floor which was the observation deck. From there they could see the entire skyline of Opportunity. Gaige looked out over the horizon.
"Looks so much better without Jack's bitch face everywhere." She said with with a smile
Archer stood behind her with so much questions he wanted to ask.
"So how long have you been a vault hunter?" He asked abruptly
Gaige turned around to face him with her back leaned against the glass.
"Around one and a half years nows. Feels shorter than that though y'know? i got into it right in the middle of high school after I left home." she answered
"What made you wanna become a Vault Hunter? I don't imagine thats a job they talk about at a high school career fair in high school." Archer asked with curiosity
"Well nothing did really. I had to ditch the planet I lived on cause of..well.. an accident haha" Gaige said nervously scratching the back of her head
Archer opened his mouth to ask what happened but Gaige quickly cut him off telling him not to ask.
"Jessup said you're a mercenary with a good record. Whats he mean by that? Did you like, kill a gigantic monster or something?" Gaige asked now interrogating Archer
"I was with the Crimson Lance before Atlas up and left Pandora. I was the youngest ever member to join the lance. I even outdid some of the vets while I served with them." Archer said letting his cocky side out.
"Eh I guess thats pretty cool too. Im The youngest Vault Hunter amongst the Crimson Raiders AND the most badass too. I guess we both hold a bit of a record huh?" Gaige replied back trying to one-up him
"You're the youngest Vault Hunter, Im the youngest Crimson Lancemen. Its like were meant to be together." Archer said in the same cocky tone but as a joke
"Sorry there bud but I already got someone in my life." Gaige said laughing as Deathtrap floated over
"It was a joke there big guy..." Archer said backing down some
Archer went on to ask Gaige about their fight against handsome Jack. They talked for a little while until Archer's break was over.
"Hm time for me to get back to guarding the door. You gonna meet back up with Jessup then?" Archer said making his way to the elevator.
"Yeah I should. Seems like everyones out doing missions while were both stuck here. Im sure he'll be over joyed by my presence." Gaige said
Archer and Gaige made their way back down to the front entrance where they found Jessup escorting a man dressed from head to toe in black.
"Whats going on here? Whose this schmuck?" Asked Gaige referring to the man in custody
Jessup dragged him over to them
"I noticed him communicating to someone on an echo transmitter. When I asked him why he was acting so suspicious all he had to say was that judgment is about to be passed." explained Jessup
"Whats he mean judgment is about to be passed? Is he some kind of lunatic?"
At that very second the sound of what seemed like an explosion went off outside. the three Raiders looked at each other and quickly ran outside, dragging along the prisoner.
When they got outside they saw that the celebration had stopped and everyone was looking around for the sound as well. Archer grabbed the man in black by his shirt and pinned him against the wall of the building.
"Whats going on here? Do you know what that sound was?" Archer said in a loud voice
The man looked Archer in the eyes and then peered up into the sky.
"Parties over..." he replied
All of a sudden huge drop pods came raining down from the sky. Jessup pulled out his echo device and started yelling into it.
"RAIDERS! WERE UNDER ATTACK! WERE UNDER ATTA-"
Before jessup could continue a massive mortar round struck the center of the courtyard knocking him, Archer, and gaige out cold...
This was the first part to this arc. Mainly was to just set up a bit of the plot and introduce almost half of the characters I plan to use. Hopefully you guys enjoyed this and are satisfied with the length. I wanted to do as much as I could with this chapter without going on into the next event after. PLEASE LEAVE REVIEWS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CHAPTER!
~ Sincerely
RaizerHayato,Purveyor of the Fine Arts