Several weeks went by and the Vault-hunters continued on with their daily routines, except for a couple of them still held an aura of depression for the fallen ninja assassins. Amita was currently unaware of what really happened after being told the same thing, "They're on vacation, here's a postcard." As the original Vault-hunters placed all their focus on the new vaults scattered across the galaxy, the others sort of did their own thing. Maya helping with Amita, Axton working on his turrets and relationship, Salvador at the Marcus' gun range, Gaige fixing Death-Trap up with a new mask that was salvaged from a junk pile in Thousand Cuts, and Krieg yelling random obscene phrases in Moxxi's bar. Tiny Tina was hanging around Tannis working on an online game while holding a tired expression. Even though no one really knew Zer0 or Kaz, without them around felt awkward.

Just outside the Crimson Raiders' main building, Gaige stretches her arms after finishing installing the new head gear with the intention to cheer everyone up. "Amita, Tina! Get out here, I got something for ya!" Gaige hollered. Soon Amita along with Maya walked towards the Mechromancer and later Tiny stumbles out with bags under her eyes. Gaige grinning then commands Death-Trap to turn around revealing a helmet belonging to Kaz, but Gaige was unaware to that fact seeing how rusty and damaged it was. "It's brother! Hey brother!" Amita shouted out and waved. Tina on the other hand trembles and asks, "W..where did y..you get that?" Gaige answers while scratching the back of her head, "Hmmm, when we explored Thousand Cuts. I just came across this thing and it looked just like Zer0 and the little Zer0. The best part is that this thing has some pretty kick-ass beats." Gaige snaps her fingers and large speakers pop out of Death-Trap's chest, unleashing a ground-shaking bass. As Gaige head bangs, the others were vibrating to the point that they were hovering over the ground.

Before Tina couldn't take Death-Trap playing Kaz's music anymore, she yelled stop but was cut off by Sir Hammerlock's shouting,"Turn off that infernal dub walk music!" Gaige did what she was told, but corrected the veteran hunter on his music knowledge,"It's dub-step, Sir Phonograph." Sir Hammerlock just coughs and turns to Maya and speaks, "Gather your posse, Miss Maya. A native from Aegrus seeks assistance with rescuing her friend." Suddenly a tan girl, who was a little shorter than Tina, in a tattered leather hoodie big enough to look like a dress on her, feet wrapped in rags, white markings painted on her legs, a rifle that was a bit big on her back, and to top it off, a pink Borok skull covering her face. The mystery figured starting mumbling, "...h...help...f...friend...in d..danger." Tina was already annoyed and stomped in front of the girl and ripped off her mask revealing a pair of golden eyes and long silver hair. A few seconds past until she screams and took out a bone club from behind her then gave Tina a good thump on the head. Tina fell down with stars in her eyes and the native girl quickly scrambles for her mask.

Lilith runs out and says,"What's all the buzz... What happened to Tina?!" Sir Hammerlock offered an explanation once they were inside, while Amita stayed outside with Tina poking her in the cheek. Once Salvador and Axton joined the group, Sir Hammerlock announced,"We have a task needing skilled hunters and by jove, you people are the only ones skilled enough for it." Axton asks,"Whose 'we?" The girl from before still hides behind Hammerlock only showing her head. Sir Hammerlock speaks again,"This lass right here of course. Found her knocking on my cabin yesterday about needing help." Maya steps in with another question,"There must be something in it for you, Hammerlock. Did she promise you some rare animal or something?" Hammerlock turns away and changes the subject quickly," Any who, this gal shall tell you all her story so everyone has an idea of what is being asked." All the Vault-Hunters, excluding the original four, paid close attention to the girl who was about to speak, "I...I'm N..Nia of the N..night Kin, please HELP ME?!" Nia bows her head, causing the mask to fall again leading to another panic attack and Axton asks,"Well, you need to tell us what we need to know first." Nia was a little more confident and begins her story.


Flashback:

Nia was in her small village of regular Savages belonging to a quiet clan, sharping some stone tools when screams rang out alerting everyone. The remaining worshipers of Handsome Jack were attacking the village and showing no mercy to the Night Kin. Many were Demon warriors making the situation hopeless. All Nia could do was hide from the massacre knowing she was only a huntress in training and facing anything above a Blood Warrior was out of the question. So going from cover to cover, Nia maneuvers around through burning village without catching the enemies' attention. Just when she thought it was clear to escape, the huntress bumps into an Omnd-Omnd-Ohk. The savage does a battle cry and slams his shield against the defenseless Nia knocking her across the air as well as knocking her mask off. Dazed, Nia struggles to get up to her feet, watching her kin get slaughtered. She started limping towards her mask and falls again. The Omnd-Omnd-Ohk steps in front of her then picks her up by the neck. The Omnd-Omnd-Ohk places her blade against her neck, preparing to finish off the last of the village.

Almost in slow motion, a steel blade slices the savage diagonally all the way through, from the shoulder to the lower hip. The grip loosened around Nia's neck causing her fall on her bottom. Looking up, Nia watches as the Omnd-Omnd-Ohk's top half slides off, leaving his legs behind. Standing behind the corpse was a tall figure with an outfit similar to the slain foe, but he had a savage warrior mask, only one sword, grey and black scaly skin, and a tail. The figure picked up Nia's mask and hands it to her before picking up the Omnd-Omnd-Oh's blade. Just when Nia thought he was going to do a battle cry, it was more like a monster roaring. Closing her eyes and cupping her ears in fear, the little huntress braces herself for what was going to happen.

Seconds felt like minutes and minutes felt like hours. Feeling a tap on her hooded head, Nia looks up to see the warrior covered in blood then turns her head to see the opposing warriors scattered around as if they were put through a blender. The warrior speaks in haiku,"Stand young warrior/For you shall gain skills to kill/And avenge your kin." Nia was speechless and could only obey as she stood up, taking his strange hand. Walking beside him for some time, Nia finally asks,"W..who are you?" The figure answers,"Kaiman." Nia says quickly,"Nia."

So, over the past few weeks, Kaiman teaches Nia not how to use melee weapons, but teaches her the complete opposite, sniper rifles. Nia adapted quickly, just like how she saw Kaiman as family. Even in her village, everyone was a stranger, but having someone watch over you felt nice. Kaiman kept his on mask on all the time, but never covered the fact that his tail was still out. Nia at some point was too curious and attempted to uncover his face every other night, only to fail in the end. One time she was close but a tail wrapped around her and placed her back on her sleeping mat. Even with training she was enjoying her time with her master.

Two days before the Present:

Kaiman was overwhelmed by elite savages loyal to Handsome Jack at the expense of letting Nia escape. Now in a high security cage, the huntress watches from afar as her only friend disappears into the enemy encampment. With a day of thinking, Nia remember Kaiman talking about Vault-Hunters willing to help the needy and so Nia ran as fast as she can to the nearest Fast Travel station being Sir Hammerlock's cabin. The huntress begs the hunter for help and receives it after giving him the description of her friend where he confirm with her,"A lizard man, you say? Well what are waiting for? The Vault-Hunters await."


End of Flashback:

Everyone, except Krieg, said,"Lizard man?" Nia nodded and waited for an answer to her plea. Another surprise guest appears with a shocking revelation."Kaiman? If I'm not mistaken that's the name of one of the experiments from the logs we obtained." Said Tannis from behind a computer. Maya in an up lifting tone says," This has Zer0 written all over it." Salvador laughs out loud, thinking about the assassin's quote on how they never die. Axton smiling also adds,"If that's the case, we have to go save him." Gaige plays along saying,"Wonder if he can lend me all his helmets."

With everyone in agreement, Nia escorts the group to Aegrus, leaving behind Sir Hammerlock who wished them luck. Tina finally wakes up to see Amita poking her on the nose. Getting up and asking what happened, Nia could only say that the strange hooded girl left with the others. Without getting outraged, Tina quietly walked back into the building to test out her game with the others. Following the same storyline as the Assault on Dragon Keep, Kaz and Zer0 were NPCs in the game. Zer0 was a gate keeper giving riddles in the form of haiku and Kaz as a ninja companion always playing his music. Brick quickly chooses his character while Lilith, Roland, and Mordecai simply watch over the game play.

Hours later, Brick finally defeats Handsome Sorcerer after cheating in order to figure out Zero's riddle to obtain the ultimate weapon needed to beat the main quest. Lilith then asks,"What happens now, Tina?" Tina pouting answers,"Well it's not finished yet but I will make a badass appearance soon and there will ninja babies." Roland in question,"Ninja Babies?" Tina frustrated,"Yes Roland my man, ninja babies that only eat crepes and despise salads." Lilith face-palms,"I knew that was going come back to get me." Mordecai was too drunk to get involved so he didn't. The vault-hunters did know Tina was hurting, but didn't ask. Then Sir Hammerlock walked through their door announcing,"Great news everyone, my hunt just gets better and better if I do say so myself." Roland asks,"What news?" Sir Hammerlock couldn't hold back a smile,"The hunt for the rarest game, my boy. Another one was spotted in Oasis." Lilith asks another question,"What's in Oasis?" Tannis then budges in,"The lizard man apparently."