Name: Axton Perry
Occupation: Vault Hunter
Planet of Origin: Heironymus, 2000k-GB system
Height: 5'9", 1.73m
Mass: 86 kg
History: Axton was born on the planet Heironymus, a garden world famously similar in conditions to Terra, Sol-III, and a primary investment interest of the Dahl Corporation. Axton claims to have had an underwhelming childhood; his family was too middle-class to live in luxury, he was too short to be a major sportsman, and he was too bored to aspire to any career or opportunity on the planet.
Begin Audio Log
"… So, I guess, there's not much else to tell. I just didn't see any reason to put much effort into school, y'know? I'm not dumb, wasn't dumb back then, either, but, not, like, smart enough for it to matter. If I'd done like my parents wanted, I'd have gone to a community college, become a civil engineer or something else equally unimpressive, and spent the rest of my life staring out at the stars I'd never get to see."
End Audio Log
Axton grew up surrounded by Dahl propaganda, promising excitement, glory, and a balm for that ache that pulls all of us answer-seekers to the stars. He enlisted in Dahl's military mercenary outfit as an infantryman. After four years of service saw him hopping around the galaxy, rarely waking up under the same gravity he fell asleep in, he was placed under review for advanced Commando training. He survived the process and his life was officially military-or-bust—Dahl is not the sort of company to create multi-purpose killers.
Two more years of service passed, this time in the service of the Dahl Commandos, before Axton was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In this time, he became close to the woman who would become his wife, his superior officer, Sarah.
He and Sarah were married in Axton's seventh year of service, beginning a famously volatile relationship.
Begin Audio Log
"Yeah, Sarah and I were crazy in love. It wasn't no puppy-dog, 'Oh, wow, CO, your tits are so warm and your biceps are so big'—though they were, and they were—it was the kind of deal where, y'know, you'd gladly lay naked in the knee-deep mud with'em while you desperately tried to hold their insides inside while wishing to God that the smell of melting cities would blow off.
We fought a lot, though, later on. I'd always been a bit of a maverick, but, er, well, I did some stuff that, y'know, in hindsight, wasn't so great, and Sarah wasn't the sort'a gal to give me a pass just 'cuz we were married. So, she sentenced me to death by firing squad, divorced me, and ordered me not to flee to Pandora to escape my sentence, because Dahl has next to no presence in the Epimetheus system anymore… God, I love that woman.
...Hmm? Did she have a degree? Well, no, I mean, I don't think so…? The only military jobs Dahl offer that require a degree are medic and combat engineer, but—yeah, she was pretty smart, but—right now? Are you kiddin'!? Ooh-rah!"
[Shuffling]
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Description: Axton, while not exceptionally tall given his planet of origin and military background, has proven to be an exceptional specimen of a human male. He has dirty blond hair, often made dirtier by his seemingly habitual aversion to performing anything more than the most basic of hygienic practices. The man reeks of deodorant most times, claiming to sweat excessively in the Pandoran heat, like some beast transplanted into a more hospitable climate than it is accustomed to. Despite his ability to grow a full, rough beard, he shaves, infrequently, as a half-hearted rejection of Dahl's well-known wartime policy requiring their men to wear beards. He is barrel-chested and brawny, and, when asked, enthusiastically provided data about his physical capabilities.
Weightlifting:
Bench Press 1-Rep Max (1RM): 350 lbs.
Squat 1RM: 500 lbs.
Deadlift 1RM: 650 lbs.
Bicep Curl: (Tirade about inconsistency in measurement, presents data ranging between 60 lbs. and 80 lbs., much flexing, very nice, probably a lot.)
Aerobic*
1-Mile Run Time: 1.75 minutes
3-Mile Run Time: 5.5 minutes
Dahl "Footslog" Training Course: 4.5 hours
Maximum Footspeed: 58 kph
Other
Stamina: Plenty
*Data measured under Pandoran gravity conditions, 0.4 g
Axton is generally good-humored, and prefers not view events too seriously. This can be a mixed blessing, as he rarely puts forth more than the minimum effort required for most things. However, he is incredibly devoted to his team.
Begin Audio Log
"I don't like takin' life too serious, y'know? I spent my whole adult life learning that the only thing you'll manage with a stick up your ass is to die sore.
...Hmm? Well, no, I take fights seriously… Yeah, fights, because that's my job. I mean, if I didn't, then that's not just relaxed. That's the sort of worthless, waste-of-time stuff I joined the military to not waste my life doing. I wanted to make a mark on the galaxies, and I decided early on I wanted it to be a big one.
So, what could I do to make that mark but fightin'? I'm not a philosopher, so why should I bother tryin' to understand the whys and the wherefores of shit? Laughin' helps me remember that.
But I'm a Vault Hunter, a Commando, and a warrior. I want to be the best damned combination of those things that I can be, even if it's just so I can say that I did. And, y'know, I, uh, really can't let my team down. I mean, first off, they're all warriors of some kind, too. I like fittin' in, helps group cohesion, even if—and I will hunt you down if you tell them this—I'm not sure if I'm as good a fighter as everyone else. Sure, I'm a good shot, I'm a tough guy, I'm fast as hell, I've got ten years of combat experience, but until I came to Pandora, I only ever needed to be good enough to get back to the evac shuttles when the fights were over. Pandora has been the biggest challenge I've faced.
I think I'm findin' my niche in the team, though. Lemme tell you a story. When we first got blown off that train by Handsome Jackhole, I saw all these dangerous, experienced mercs, and I figured, hey, maybe they know what they're doin'. Maybe I can step down from the leadership role I'd been playin' the past three years.
We almost got killed by Bullymongs three minutes after gettin' our feet. Sure, everyone was an amazing fighter, but not a one of'em was a team player. Zer0 would be lining up a shot, and then Maya would phaselock it and ruin his shot, Krieg got in the way of Gaige and Salvador's bullets—intentionally—and it was just a fuckin' mess. I've done my best to get'em to communicate, work together, play off each others' strengths. I think that's what my legacy is gonna end up bein'—I got a bunch'a better warriors to cooperate!
...Don't tell'em, but I've started signin' off as Sergeant Axton Perry again."
End Audio Log
Notable Relationships (Audio Logs):
Begin Audio Logs
Salvador, fellow Vault Hunter: "Sally's a fun sort of guy, reminds me a lot of the Commandos back on Hades, cannibalism, cruelty, callous indifference and all… I don't like hangin' with Salvador, to be honest."
Maya, fellow Vault Hunter: "She pretends she can't stand me, but she likes having another cooler head in our merry little band of misfits and maniacs. Don't tell'er I know that, though, or she might beat the shit out of me. She's made it pretty clear that she doesn't want anything much to do with me."
Zer0, fellow Vault Hunter: "Zer0's an enigma, but he's the worst sort of enigma, where he thinks that the whole "el mysterio" thing is endearing or cool, y'know? And then, either he's right, 'cuz his true identity is a big deal, and he can smugly condescend us for not thinkin' he's hot shit, or he's wrong, and he's just been bein' an annoyin' git this whole time over nothin'. Other than that, though, he's a good guy to have coverin' ya. Take motherfuckers apart at any distance, any day, yes please."
Gaige, fellow Vault Hunter: "Gaige is a good kid. Reminds me a lot of myself, when I was younger. Bright kid, fresh onto the scene, full'a new ideas and rebellion. I just hope I'm not there when she figures out there are no new ideas and how often rebellion ends in totalitarianism. But, damn, you seen'er in a fight? That Anarchy program she's got installed is insane. And she built that robot herself? It's tougher than a year-old skag-steak marinaded in formeldahyde."
Krieg, fellow Vault Hunter: "I like goin' on missions with Krieg, 'cuz he's a big'ol bullet sponge, and he just keeps on eatin'em up, 'til BAM! Spits all that hurt right back in Charlie's face. Good team player, too—he's got this trick, he does it when one of us are downed, he'll jab ya with a big'ol syringe, pump a bunch'a his own blood into ya, and it's like gettin' shot up with morphine and insta-health and angry. I don't know, y'know, much about his whole slag vendetta thing, but, I'd be there for'im if it ever came up."
Brick, fellow Vault Hunter: "Brick's a nice guy when he's not mad, and he's also a nice guy when he is. I can't really say anything bad about'im, 'cuz he's so cool when he's cool, and so cool when he's runnin' hot, too, y'know?"
Mordecai, fellow Vault Hunter: "Mordecai… There's a can'a worms. We get on okay, but the guy's just, like, permanently depressed, or somethin'. He was gettin' better, over at WamBam Island, but, y'know, I still haven't talked to him much."
Doctor Lilith Cashlin, fellow Vault Hunter, Mercenary Scientist: "Lilith's like my older sister, in a lot of ways. She's strong, lookin' out for us less-experienced Vault Hunters, constantly strivin' to improve herself, always tryin' to do what needs to be done… Just hope she doesn't die like my older sister did, tryin' to keep up with a world that's got hundreds of years' headstart."
Athena, fellow Vault Hunter: "I mean, she told Gaige and I some stories, but her stories were pretty shit, and, y'know, she's kind of arrogant..."
Roland, former Vault Hunter: "Seemed like a great guy, but I didn't know'im well enough to really say, sorry."
CL4P-TP, former Vault Hunter: "Alas, for our poor, formerly Vault-Hunting friend, Claptrap. He will be missed. No, you said former Vault Hunter, no need for euphemisms, I get it, he's kicked the bucket. Bit the bullet. Boarded the 11:59 express. Poor guy. Next?"
Sir Hammerlock, hunter, scholar, and gentleman: "Hammerlock? Oh, he's a riot. Really tryin' his best to understand the wildlife of Pandora. But, y'know, who else has invited all of us to a huntin' lodge on the other side of the planet, just 'cuz they wanna hang out and have some adventures with us? He's an honorary Vault Hunter, s'far as I'm concerned."
Mad Moxxi, criminal mastermind: "Ah, ahem, yeah, Mad Moxxi. She's a, ah, a real piece'a work, huh? She's got that whole, whew, mad-hatter aesthetic goin' on. Yeah, well, y'know, I really do like her. She took a huge-ass—oh and it is—risk leavin' the Hodunk clan, and she cares so much about her kids—it's hard to see her so torn up."
Scooter, mechanic: "Too soon, man."
Ellie, mechanic: "She's a special kind'a gal. She's got the bandits of the Dust so terrified of'er, they don't go within a thousand feet of'er. I dunno what she's done to get that level of notoriety, but she's managed that on top of bein' one'a the sweetest, most helpful gals I've met, so I like her."
Marcus Kincaid, arms dealer: "Marcus sells me ammo and, rarely, other weapons, and hires me for jobs sometimes, but he's a bit of a cock."
Zed, not actually a doctor: "Doctor Zed's a favorite of mine, 'cuz he's got a business, and he sells us insta-health syringes, and black-market surgery specialized for Pandora, but he's also a nice guy, like, if you ever just chat while he's workin' on somethin'."
Crazy Earl, black marketer: "You're really scrapin' the bottom of the barrel of people I know."
Mr. Mr. Torgue High-Five Flexington, the soul of Torgue: "He's got a fistful of dynamite and a headful of loud. He's a nice fella, though."
Shade, entrepreneur: "Literally who?"
Captain Scarlett, pirate: "I mean, she stabbed us in the back, but we had full disclosure, from her, from the beginning, that she would, so, y'know, I can't hate'er for it… Well, I could, if we hadn't won. Then I'd feed her remaining limbs to Salvador."
Tiny Tina, explosives enthusiast: "She's a little kid with no sense of reality and she's gonna die, crying, because she's too stubborn to admit she needs help or acknowledge danger."
Mr. Handsome Jack, former Hyperion CEO: "Jack's dead, too, Tannis, I don't have no relations to dead people."
Angel, former daughter of Handsome Jack, former Hyperion CEO: "God, you're probin' pretty deep here. I didn't know it 'till I met'er, but Angel was the reason I was fighting Jack. Her, and everyone else that delusional psycho hurt...I wish I could'a saved the kid."
Doctor Patricia Tannis, interviewer: "Well, I mean, I appreciate how you helped us with the Vault. And you hired us a couple'a times. I'd like to say—yeah? Oh, you know it. You—what? You want me to say it again? C'mon, I already regret sayin' it the once, it's kinda embarrassin'. I just—ugh. Fuckin' fine. You owe me. Ah-hem… Ooh-rah!"
[Shuffling]
End Audio Logs
Combat Style and Skills: Axton has training as a Dahl Commando, which provides an enormous spectrum of battlefield skills. The Commando in concept is meant to be a one-man army, able to adapt to any role a battlefield might present. His Sabre Turret and startling alacrity allow him to maintain a presence across an entire battlefield.
Axton is a skilled marksman, but he, by his own admission, is not a nearly the perfectionist that Zer0 is when it comes to shooting. "Close enough" is "good enough" for Axton. This is just as well, as much of his energy in combat is already devoted to coordinating his teammates. His years of experience in squad-based combat, combined with his wide battlefield presence, allow him to function as a sort of unrecognized, unacknowledged, unofficial team leader among his fellows.
Gear of Note:
1 x Dahl Manufacture Sabre Turret. Warning: Multiple third-party modifications have rendered the warranty on this tool void.
1 x Dahl-Manufacture Combat Hatchet. This tried-and-true design can be adapted to most any field purpose. The high-grade carbon-steel composition and mono-edged blade came standard; the names notched off the blade did not.
1 x Wedding Ring, gold.
1 x Flask, containing a mixture of 200-proof liquor and dissolved nitrous oxide, labelled "Always a warm day in Hell!"
2 x Titanium-Plated Balls.