A/N: So before I begin the long awaited update, I've got to first point out some changes that will be happening to the story. Firstly, my 'style' of writing has changed significantly since the last actual chapter, and I don't mean the filler chapter, so I'd appreciate feedback on my new 'style'. Secondly, after going back and reading through what I wrote before, I've realised a lot of problems with the story thus far that really would call for a rewrite, but I think I'll leave the first six chapters as is, and just continue with better pacing and development, just to hopefully give all of you guys a clear picture of where I started, where I currently am, and if my style changes in future, where I'll be as well. Lastly, the characters will also be feeling a lot more natural from here on out, because I felt the characters were too forced and weird previously. So they will be a little off-character (probably) from the previous few chapters, but moving forward they should feel more complete. And I'm also going to kinda turn down the relationship between Muery and Gaige a little as it felt way too forced and frankly, really fake before. So from here on out, there relationship won't be as cutesy as before, but in place of that, should be a more holistic feeling relationship between the two characters. Hopefully. Oh, and for the sake of my sanity, I'm renaming Muery's Action Skill too. I don't think I can stomach calling it "Party Cannon". So from here on "Party Cannon" is officially renamed to "Mauler Blaster". And I'll include some reasoning at the end to Zer0 being female despite what existing evidences of Zer0 may exist. Anyways, long note aside, let's get back into the action, shall we?

Chapter 8: Road to Sanctuary (Part 1)

[Three Horns Divide - Early afternoon - En route to Sanctuary]

The sun shone brightly in the sky overhead. The snow seemed to glow under the radiant sunlight. The scenery in front of us was basically white, save for a rickety looking metal bridge that overlooked a small valley between two ice shelves.

"Well, Sanctuary shouldn't be too far, so let's get going."

Axton stretched his arms into the sky as he started for the valley between the two ice shelves. Salvador kept pace with Axton at the front of the group. Maya and Krieg fell in behind, with Zer0 trailing a little behind the four.

"Hey, lean on me if you need to alright? Don't over-exert yourself."

Gaige nudged me softly with her elbow, a small smile on her face. I nodded a little.

"Yeah. Will do."

I started after group, and Gaige kept pace with me, hovering a little closer in case I were to fall over.

Vrr…

"Hey, does anyone hear that?"

Axton held up a fist and stopped.

"Sounds like a vehicle?"

Maya looked up at the ice shelves. The sound grew louder, and it became clearer it was coming from above.

"Probably an Outrunner! Most common mode of transport for those who use the 'Catch-a-ride' service!"

Salvador nodded as the sound grew closer.

"An Outrunner? Here in this snow? That seems rather impractical."

Axton turned to Salvador with a doubting look, an eyebrow raised. Before anyone could say anything else, a somewhat small looking car sped across the bridge. The car skidded to a halt, before a mounted cannon-like appendage swung towards the bridge.

"You Bloodshots can stay in your hole! Sanctuary is off-limits!"

Whomever was commandeering the Outrunner yelled back, before the sizzle of an ignition filled the air.

"Get down!"

Salvador quickly dived into the snow, pulling Axton and Zer0 with him. Krieg and Maya had started to dive as well. A missile erupted from the mounted launcher on the Outrunner.

"Oh crap."

I cursed under my breath as I threw my arm around Gaige and brought us down.

"Eek!"

An explosion rocked the ground a little, before the thunder of falling rubble came crashing into the snow. Smoke and mist washed over me, as coughing filled the air around me.

"Vault Hunters! Are you alright?"

"Minions! Are you okay?"

I could barely hear Hammerlock's and Claptrap's voice through the ECHO, my ears ringing a little from the explosion.

"Yeah!- We're- fine! I think."

Axton's replied in between bouts of coughs. I slowly got up to my feet, as everyone else was crawling to their feet as well. I offered Gaige a hand, to which she gently rejected before getting up by herself.

"Don't push yourself too much! Sheesh!"

Gaige pouted a little, as she dusted herself off.

"Al-"

"Everyone okay?"

Axton interrupted me, before I could respond to Gaige.

"Ah, I'm fine compenheiro!"

"Yeah, same here."

"A little explosion won't kill me!"

Salvador, Maya and Krieg responded immediately. Zer0's helmet beeped, before a ':)' appeared across her visor.

"I'm- I'm fine.- I guess.-"

"Me too!"

I answered in a small bout of coughs. Gaige was gently patting my back as she replied.

"What the-"

Before Axton could finish, the Outrunner seemed to have have started off again, filling the air with the hum of its engine. As the Outrunner's engine slowly faded, a more violent and louder sounding engine suddenly filled the air.

"AHAHAHAHAHA! A BROKEN BRIDGE ISN'T GOING TO STOP US, CRIMSON RAIDER! GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

A maniacal voice was barely audible over the loud rumbling of engines, and two trucks suddenly shot across the gap, completely ignoring the broken bridge beneath. The violent rumble eventually died out as well.

"What the hell was that?"

Gaige panted a little, voice a bare whisper.

"I don't know, but I'm willing to bet they were heading for Sanctuary."

"Sí, it seems that way, if the Outrunner was Crimson Raider."

Axton's face became one of frowned annoyance. Salvador didn't seem as jolly as well.

"Erm, that's a good thing right?"

I wasn't too sure why they seemed so upset. It means that we're in fact close enough to Sanctuary, doesn't it?

"Yeah, Muery's right. We're definitely close to Sanctuary, so what's with the faces?"

"Trouble."

Krieg almost immediately responded to Maya's question in a low growl.

"Krieg's right. The two trucks that jumped the gap, I'm pretty sure they're bandits. We're probably going to get involved with trouble once we get to Sanctuary."

Axton shook his head a little before slouching.

"So what do we do now?"

Gaige sounded rather worried.

"We go to Sanctuary as planned."

"But you just said there's going to be trouble!"

"Yeah, and we'll try to help. I've heard of the Crimson Raiders before, I think. They used to be Dahl military if I'm not mistaken. Now, they're rebels against Hyperion and Handsome Jack, if memory serves me right."

"So we should try to make them our allies?"

"Of course! They're our best bet at getting revenge on that cocky Hyperion bastard who tried to kill us."

Gaige and Maya seemed a little skeptical about Axton's words.

"Ah, but we'll need some way to follow them. We're going to need something to cross that gap with if we want to follow them."

Axton grumbled a little before lady from earlier appeared in my (and everyone else's) H.U.D. once again.

"I detect a 'Catch-a-Ride' station ahead. You guys can digistruct a vehicle from it to make the jump."

"Gotcha 'Angel', thanks."

"Don't thank me just yet Mr. Axton. My sensors indicate none of you actually access to the 'Catch-a-Ride' service."

"If that's the case, why'd you bring it up in the first place?"

"My sensors also indicate a deactivated Hyperion adapter in a bandit camp ahead. If you guys can retrieve that adapter and attach it to the 'Catch-a-Ride' terminal, I can get you guys free rides."

"Gotcha 'Angel'."

Axton seemed to be conversing with 'Angel' as we treaded carefully around and over the wreckage of the bridge.

Groor…

There was a rather familiar sounding growl in the air, as I noticed some rather familiar holes in the ice walls to either side.

"Great, all those explosions probably woke up the Bullymong in the area. Get ready to fight!"

Axton barked, before a large Bullymong emerged from the closest hole and growled angrily at us. Another four more Bullymongs emerged as well. Three smaller ones and one other large one.

"Stand still!"

"Time to compensate!"

"Sabre Turret deployed!"

"STOP SCREAMING!"

"The true world revealed / Weaknesses now known to me / Time to go to work."

One of the large Bullymongs was lifted into the air within a purple sphere, as Maya shot at it. Salvador pulled out a second gun from his inventory and started shooting the Phaselocked Bullymong. Axton deployed his Sabre Turret in the snow, which started firing on the smaller Bullymongs. Krieg charged toward the other large Bullymong, buzzaxe in hand, roaring at the top of his lungs. Zer0 suddenly appeared by one of the smaller Bullymongs and plunged her digistruct blade into the Bullymong.

Before Gaige or I had anytime to react, the five Bullymongs that showed up just moments ago laid in the snow as lifeless corpses. Axton recalled his Sabre Turret, Salvador returned the second gun back back into his inventory and Krieg holstered his buzzaxe back into its straps.

"Great work guys! Let's keep going!"

Axton took the lead once again as we headed up the incline. The snow abruptly ended as we came upon some dingy metal fence running to what seemed like the end the iceberg. Following the fence, an opening in the form of some weird gigantic skull indicated an entry into whatever laid behind the fence. Immediately across from the makeshift entrance appeared to be some vending machines, a terminal and two digistructing platforms.

"This the bandit camp, 'Angel'?"

Axton spoke up suddenly. And responding to his question, 'Angel' once again appeared in my (and everyone else's) H.U.D.

"Affirmative. My sensors indicate the Hyperion adapter is in the vicinity ahead."

'Angel' had faded from my (and everyone else's) H.U.D. as soon as she finished her response to Axton's question.

"Alright, you heard her. This is a bandit camp, so we're going to expect some resistance. Mury, Gaige, I want you two to wait out by the 'Catch-a-Ride' terminal."

"Hold on, what? You want us to just sit around and do nothing?"

"Yes. I don't want you to suffer any more unnecessary injuries before we reach Sanctuary."

"A well deserved break / Avoiding complications / Will be for the best."

Zer0 put her hand on my shoulder as I voiced my objection to Axton.

"Yeah, you've already helped us a fair bit in retaking Claptrap's ship back in Liar's Berg, so for now, rest up."

"It would be for the best compenheiro! Take it easy!"

"Don't push yourself too hard, kid. There'll be more action to come, so you don't have to worry."

Maya, Salvador and Krieg all also expressed their desire for me to sit out the avoidable conflict ahead.

"Y-You guys can't be serious. I mean I'm feeling much better already! I've had three days of rest!"

I'd already rested the whole way here from Liar's Berg! I'd think that was enough rest, considering I feel much better now than I did three days ago.

"Kid, this is for your own good. You may feel fine, but your body might not have fully recovered. I mean three days hardly seems like enough for the number of near-death incidents you've had back in Liar's Berg."

"Yeah, Axton's right. Even if you do feel fine, it's better to be safe than sorry."

Axton and Maya both quickly rebutted, as Zer0's grip on my shoulder tightened a little. A ':(' emoticon showed up across her visor.

"C'mon Muery, sit this one out, okay?"

Gaige held my hand as she finally spoke up to plead with me. I looked at everyone, knowing the best course of action I should take. I really didn't like it, but everyone was right. Three days really isn't nearly enough rest considering everything my body had to go through in Liar's Berg. Especially that accident with Deathtrap before we were going to leave.

"Kuh- Fine. I'll sit this out. But if things go south, I'm going in to help!"

"No, Gaige will. With Deathtrap. You're prohibited from entering the bandit camp till we've cleared it out."

Axton quickly shut me down again, and Zer0 let go of my shoulder.

"I can just send Deathtrap in, right? I don't actually have to go in with him?"

"Yeah sure, if that works."

Gaige heaved a sigh of relief, as her face fell a little.

"Alright, Sal, you maintain the perimeter. Make sure none of the bandits get out of their camp. Everyone else, secure the camp. Kid, Gaige, stay by the 'Catch-a-Ride' terminal."

Axton ordered and started for the bandit camp. Everyone else followed after Axton, while Gaige and I headed toward the 'Catch-a-Ride' terminal.

"Hey, you okay, Gaige?"

"Hmm? Y-Yeah! Why?"

"Well, you seemed kinda down when Axton brought up Deathtrap."

"R-Really? Y-You're just imagining it!"

Gaige and I sat in front of the vending machines and used them as backrests. Gaige sat hunched forward, hugging her knees. She seemed rather troubled, especially after the mention of Deathtrap earlier.

"Hey, are you feeling okay?"

"Hmm? Y-Yeah! Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, you seem kind of troubled, something on your mind?"

"N-Not at all! I'm fine! Really!"

Gaige forced a smile as she talked, hugging her knees closer.

"Is this about Deathtrap, by any chance?"

Gaige flinched at the mention of Deathtrap, before turning away from me and shaking her head a little.

"Hey, what happened with Krieg, it was an accident, alright? It's not your fault!"

I tried my best to sound reassuring as I put my arm over her shoulder.

"It is! If I'd performed better tests and calibrations with DT, none of that would have happened! If I'd reacted a little faster, you wouldn't have lost so much blood! Everything that's happening, it's all my fault!"

Gaige suddenly turned and shrieked at me, before bursting into tears. I quickly pulled her closer, and hugged her best I could in our awkward sitting position.

"Hey, it's not your fault! Accidents happen! And isn't a bit much to say everything that's happening is your fault?"

"But it is! The incident at the school's science show back home and again with you! It's my fault!"

Gaige sobbed against my chest, the cold quickly licking my dampening shirt.

"Hey, both times were out of your control, alright? I don't blame you for what happened. The other day and at your school's science show. I mean, I guess I don't really have a say about the other incident, but as far as I'm concerned, I really don't blame anybody for what happened the other day. I mean, I'm kinda at fault as well, for jumping in so recklessly."

I pat Gaige's head a little as she kept sobbing into my chest. I could vaguely hear the battle within the bandit camp in the distance, as a cool breeze blew by, sending a shiver down my spine.

"I really don't blame you for what happened the other day, so stop blaming yourself, okay?"

I kept patting her head as she sobbed.

"..."

"What was that?"

Gaige started mumbling something in my chest.

"I'm…"

Gaige seemed to mumbling one line over and over again. She's what?

"I'm really sorry, Muery! I'm really, really sorry!"

Gaige's mumbling became louder, as did her sobbing.

"It's fine! Really! I'm fine! So I forgive you! Or rather, I never blamed you to begin with!"

Gaige didn't seem to hear me, as she kept sobbing and apologizing. Without thinking, I lifted her fringe a little and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. Gaige seemed to have felt that, as she stopped sobbing and looked at me.

"W-Why did you kiss my forehead?"

"Because I forgive you. I accept your apology and I'm forgiving you. Is that okay?"

Gaige stared at me, teary eyed, as she sniffled a little. She quickly buried her head into my chest again as she nodded. I pat her head a little and rubbed her back, as she slowly started to calm down a little.

A/N: Alright, and that's a wrap for Chapter 8! Again, I'm still putting off writing action scenes because I'm still rather unfamiliar with them, and writing an action scene with seven different characters from a first-person perspective is also rather challenging, so I'll be trying to divide the group in future and try to write out action scenes with lesser characters. Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, I'll be starting on the headcanon as to why Zer0's character in my Fic is who she is! Or, at least a little bit of backstory to the headcanon.

[Dahl excavation site - Undisclosed location - Undisclosed time]

"Patricia! You're okay!"

"M-Megan? What're you doing here? And what happened to you?"

"I'm here to rescue you! The other researchers told me they couldn't find you when they were evacuating!"

"But how'd you find me? And what happened to your hands?"

"I had a hunch you'd be here. I mean this is the place you keep talking about whenever you talk about this site."

"Ha… I guess you're right, but what happened to your hands?"

"Accident. I'll fill you in on the details once we're out and safe. C'mon!"

We made our way out of the site alive. I really couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Megan. I was sure I was going to die. I got so caught up with my research that I'd neglected the evacuation warnings. If it weren't for Megan, I probably wouldn't be reposted to Pandora right now. I'd be dead.

But even so, Megan never told me what happened to her hands even after we got out alive. She'd lost both her pinky fingers, and she looked like she was on the verge of death when she rescued me. Before we got the chance to talk, the medics had immediately taken her away for immediate treatment while I was given a routine check. That was the last time I'd seen Megan.

At least, the last time I saw Megan as Megan.

A/N: And that's some backstory for headcanon! I'll probably do on at the end of each chapter as a little something extra until it's all done! Though this headcanon bit shouldn't go for more than 2-3 more chapters so yeah! Hopefully this will make sense of Zer0's character being female!