Honestly, Zane was a bit nervous over opening a Vault. Yeah, he was a Vault Hunter, which, literally in the title, suggested he was gonna open one sooner or later, but considering the stories about what dwelled within them, he mainly hoped he had the right tools for the job.

He definitely had the right people for the job. That was for damn sure.

The Operative headed for the bridge of the ship, holding the full, complete Vault Key in hand. Granted, he made sure to hold it with his gloved hand; he didn't really want to touch anything Tannis had recently handled, given her…well her weirdness.

She creeped him out still. Nothing was going to change that.

Arriving at the bridge, Zane was thankful to find the others there, including Maya and her little runt, too. The whole sibang was there. Even Holo-Rhys, still rocking that sweet mustache of his.

It grew on him. Heh…there's a funny.

"Great work, Vault Hunters," Lilith praised, standing with crossed arms and a smile on her face. "Maliwan won't forget the beating you gave 'em. Let's see the Calypsos try to spin that, especially with Maliwan damn near abandoning the planet in the process, too. But, more importantly, we've got an opening, and we're gonna take it. Now," Lilith turned her focus to Rhys. "Where's that Vault?"

"F-First off, I wanna say a little something, ahem. You guys saved my skin and the skins of, like, every Atlas employee…and skin's important…gotta stop saying skin…anyhow! The Vault! It's hidden underneath the Apollyon Transit Station."

"It's in the middle of the city?" Ava questioned. "How'd no one ever find it?"

"Lotta reasons, actually," Rhys retorted. "One's that the old Atlas corporation paved right over it! I found it when I took over, but I wasn't the one to pop the top on that thing in a populated area. Reopening a Vault's…messy stuff, after all. A-And this is me speaking from personal experience. But, I'll leave that all up to you guys; with most of the population still off-world, the city's pretty empty. Until then, Rhys, OUT!" The hologram vanished. Least he made a decent exit.

"Alright, we'll have to move fast." Lilith spoke again. "We go in through the skyway by vehicle. Safest and fastest way."

"Got it," Maya added. "I'll take point with the Vault Hunters; help clear a way."

Lilith shook her head. "This one's mine. We're opening a Vault, Maya; you expect me to miss that? I can handle myself down there, Siren or not." She seemed indignant on the topic. Zane liked that, but he also knew she'd be smart to stay outta it.

"Lilith, we don't know what's down there." Maya shot back with an annoyed huff. "It could get ugly! You brought me back to the Raiders for a reason, and this is one of them."

"She's right, Lil'. It ain' gonna be easy, nor safe," Zane spoke up at last, the Operative feeling everyone's eyes on him. "Granted, nothin' fun's safe, but this'll be different. With Maliwan pullin' their boys out, it'll be nothin' but COV all the way there."

"Not to mention there's a high chance the Calypsos know where we are heading." FL4K added, the robot rubbing the head of their skag who…honestly looked a little bigger. Did that fucker become a Horned Skag?

"See? It'd be best for you to stick around here, Lilith, 'til you get your wings back. Then we're opening the next one together. I promise." Lilith seemed dejected and even a bit saddened by that.

"Augh…okay. This one's all you, Maya. Get whatever's in that Vault so we can get it away from the Calypsos."

"ALRIGHT, let's gear up—what should I bring?" Zane visibly cringed when Ava spoke up. She wanted to go with them? He damn sure hoped Maya told her no.

"Nope, stay with Lilith." He relaxed when she said that.

"Let her go," FL4K spoke up again. Zane's cringe returned with a vengeance. "She seeks to become a Vault Hunter through any means, Maya. Let us call this her leap of faith. Besides, if she stays in a vehicle and has a shield, she'll survive. Despite all odds, the COV are notoriously bad shots." Zane couldn't believe what he was hearing, and judging from the others, he wasn't alone.

"Are you fucking insane?!" Moze questioned. "COV'll kill her, FL4K."

"Yeah; I know she's down for a fight, but this one's not for her."

"It may or may not be; none of us known, except Fate and Death." The Beastmaster snapped their fingers, turning to leave the room, their pets joining them as, now, Zane saw they all grew; the jabber was larger and armed with a shotgun, and the Spiderant was now on fucking fire. Zane went ahead and hoped that wouldn't lead to the seats getting damaged in the shuttle.

"…well, Ava," Maya shrugged. "Go find a gun and shield, then, and meet me down at the drop pod. Guess we're gonna have to take that."

"Does it come with barf bags?" The two of them walked off, and Zane started to follow suit, genuinely worried for once. He understood FL4K was sort of…crazy about these sorts of things but, plain and simple, Ava was a dumb kid and should be kept as far as possible from the battlefield. But it was said and done now…so…Zane was gonna hope, if she fucked up, he was at least close enough to mitigate the damage.

…or…rather when she fucked up. He was being too generous with that if part.

"So, Apollyon Station's the last stop on the central line," Moze listened in on her ECHO as she boarded a Cyclone, turning it on. "Take the central arterial highway out of the city." The others were already beginning to move. Moze turned the ignition on and zoomed off after them, hearing Lorelei's voice in her ECHO.

"Slag me, you're really openin' up the Vault?"

"Fraid so. Kinda risky, but…" Moze shrugged, even though the coffee soldier couldn't see it. "Lilith says it's what we gotta do."

"Well, good luck, and whatever you find in there…try not to lead it into the city."

"Will do."

"Uh, hey, heads up," Rhys butted in, much to Moze's chagrin. "Maliwan's fortified the access ramp. You'll have to get rid of 'em if you wanna get through. I'm sending Atlas forces that-a-way to support you!"

"You read my mind," Lilith chimed in. "Vault Hunters, secure the ramp and push through. Looks like this'll be a group effort this time." Moze brought the Cyclone to a halt and dropped down, wasting no time in open firing at any Maliwan soldiers in sight. FL4K brought their technical to a halt, their skag leaping out and tackling a soldier.

"I taught Mr. Chew a new trick," FL4K spoke as they stepped down. Moze looked over just in time to watch the skag fling the screaming soldier in the air, who was grabbed by the jabber and, subsequently, pile drived into the ground. "Still needs works. Broodless forgets her part."

"What the fuck is her part in that?" Fiery web shot right past Moze's head, coating the downed and, now, screaming soldier. "…ah."

"Yep. But, for what it's worth, it's still a pretty sweet technique." FL4K snapped their fingers and pointed. Another soldier was subsequently yanked up and, of course, given the same treatment. Moze just…did her best to ignore the screaming Maliwan troops and went back to gunning them down. She knew they were dicks, yeah, but it was sort of overkill to pile drive them into the ground, then subsequently set them on fucking fire. But, then again, she did sort of the same.

"Oi, Mozzy Moze," Zane called from the back of his own technical. "Why ain'cha calling yer robot?"

"Not yet. Once we're ready." Besides, the soldiers were already dead. Moze dropped her spent mag and slammed a fresh one into her Dahl assault rifle, turning just in time to watch Zer0 cleave through the energy wall with his sword. It was…pretty impressive. With the way cleared, Moze tossed herself back in her Cyclone, firing it up and zooming down the cleared path.

"What's up, chucklenuts? It's been a grip." And there was Tyreen again. Oh good. "Katagawa shit the bed, but you knew that already, all things considered. Troy's whining that we haven't opened the Vault yet, and I can't get properly laid 'cause I keep leeching my partners to death!" Moze was convinced Tyreen was just venting at this point. Made sense. "Oh, are you busy? Hopefully not opening the Vault, cause then we'd have to come kill you."

"Don't blame us for your absent sex life, queen bitch," FL4K was at it again. "Baffles me to begin with anyone would willingly lay with you outside of the intoxicated. And I think even they have enough better judgement." And, like before, Tyreen was quiet.

"Good work, I guess." Moze muttered and sped her Cyclone up. She was legitimately glad FL4K was on their side, all things considered.

And she really needed to ask them why they thought it was a good idea to teach a jabber wresting moves.

Amara dropped down from the technical, looking up at the building in the distance. They'd arrived at the destination and, of course, Maya was ready and waiting, standing by a busted up Fast Travel station with Ava in tow.

"Hey badass," She called out. "You ready to crack open that vault?"

"I've been ready." Amara smirked. "Though I'm still concerned about bringing Ava with you, considering where we're heading."

"Your robot friend says she's good and I've seen them work, so I'll trust them." Maya mashed her finger to her earpiece. "Ellie, we'd like to make it to the Vault in one piece; you got something for me?"

"Heh, I've been waitin' for you to say somethin' like that. Get ready for Project Double-D!" Was…Ellie referring to a bra—

Her thoughts were interrupted when something digistructed nearby. For the most part, it looked like a heavily reinforced, toughed up Bandit Technical. Maya smirked and boarded it, motioning for Amara to get in as she secured herself. "Need you to drive, Amara; I need my hands free for what we're doing."

"Sure thing. Can't be harder than driving that piece of shit behind me." Amara climbed into the technical and floored it, turning the steering wheel and getting them moving for Apollyon Station.

"Hey, Amara, this thing got any tunes?" Maya asked. Amara checked the radio and raised a brow when weird, chill techno music played. "Heh, classic…this'll do."

"Hmm…it's new, to say the least. I like it." She grinned, though that faded when she heard some static from her ECHO.

"Hey, superfan! What's the hurry?" Tyreen was back at it. "Going somewhere important? You wouldn't mind if—oh, I dunno—broadcast your location to every maniac on the planet? No? You sure? Cool, I was gonna do it anyway." Amara frowned. Maya sighed.

"Don't worry about her, Amara, we got this. Just like on Athenas, right?" Amara's grin returned. "Here they come! Light 'em up!" Amara didn't hesitate to fire a barrel from the technical, slamming it into a bandit and watching them explode into bits. The car zoomed off the bridge and to the ground, Amara hearing the others following in their own vehicles as she launched barrel after barrel at the enemy Cyclones and technical.

"Wooo! Eat that you fucking assclowns!" Moze shouted, Amara looking over just in time to watch the Gunner atomize a Cyclone.

"Your friend's quite the shot." Maya chuckled. "Reminds me of Salvador…back in the glory days."

"Chin up," Amara looked over her shoulder, flashing a smile. "That day'll come again. Always does."

"Yeah. So, let's keep moving so we live to see that day." Amara nodded and, prompty, swerved left to avoid a speeding Cyclone; said vehicle being atomized by one of Maya's blasts.

It didn't take a long time to reach the station, though upon delving within, Amara frowned when she saw…well plain and simple, there was a bigass hole in the wall, and she smelt an odor of urine and insanity.

The COV beat them there.

"Damnit," Ava called. "They're already here!"

"That's right, you dumb shart-tarps," And there was Tyreen, right on cue. "We've had our followers combing the city for the Vault since before you got here."

"Tch, idiots. Did you really think you were going to beat us to it?"

"No," FL4K answered, Amara stepping to the side as the Beastmaster walked past. "But you did just clear the way for us, and considering we have the key, your followers just saved us quite a bit of effort. So, thank you; I'll be sure to give your followers a merciful death before I open the Vault."

"J-Just shut up!"

"How about you come make me, bitch boy leech? Oh, that's right, you can't. You come within five feet of me, I'll hang you by those sorry excuses you call gauges and let my jabber pelt you with his leavings." FL4K ended the transmission, leaving Amara, once again, stupefied by her friend's sass towards the Calypsos. "Let's get a move on. That should leave them fuming long enough to give us ten minutes of radio silence."

"Then let's not waste it." Zane spun the barrel for his handgun and pressed on, as did the others.

Amara's fears of opening the Vault were eradicated; now she wanted to open it purely to spite the Calypsos and deny them the thing they slaved over for so long. It was going to be a magnificent feeling.

FL4K wrenched their blade from another, dead Eridian. They expected these so-called alien guardians to make for better sport, but alas and alack, they fell just like everything else they fought. They'd be disappointed, but FL4K focused on the positives to the situation; the more of these Eridians they slaughtered, the less they had standing between them and the Vault.

They just wished Mr. Chew would stop trying to eat them. They were going to have to put that skag on a diet.

"How close are we to the Vault now?" FL4K turned towards Maya, the older Siren proceeding down the tunnel, Ava in tow.

"Not too far, from what I'm guessing," She looked about, SMG at the ready. "And it looks like there aren't anymore Guardians or COV to stop us. Looks like we're clear."

"So, straight shot to the Vault, then?" Zane sat on a rock nearby, trying on a new, wrist mounted handgun he ripped from the arm of a dead cultist. "I'm lovin' this murder spree, but the sooner we get that thing the Calypsos are lookin' for, the sooner we can get outta here 'fore they flood this place with their goons."

"What? Scared of some more bandits, old man?" Moze teased. Zane scowled.

"I ain' keen on bein' up to me balls in bodies, Mozzy Moze. Ain' a good look…also blood's a bitch to get outta me coat." The Beastmaster let them banter as they continued on, reloading their sniper as the tunnel widened out gradually, as did the scenery.

Now, they stood in what looked like a desecrated, clearly abandoned temple, with statues of those Eridians settled about…this was clearly the place.

FL4K assumed as much when their optic focused on the massive, archway across the room. The sigil for Vaults and, in a sense, the sigil for Vault Hunters.

"Get ready," Maya approached the arch, weapon at the ready as Ava hung back. "The creature the Eridians sealed inside the Vault has been sleeping for millennia. It's gonna be pissed when we wake it up."

"Good. I came all this way for a proper challenge; If I don't get one, I'm going to take my frustration out on all the COV on the surface."

"I won't stop ya. But, here," Maya neared the archway, the Beastmaster's hand going up when she tossed over the Vault Key. "Put the key in the pedestal right in front of it…and get ready for a fight."

"So be it," FL4K set the key within said pedestal, hearing their beasts corral close to them. "The hunt has led me to this moment…and now we shall send a greater bounty to Death."

"Alright, here we go—" Maya was cut off as the arch lit up, and something leapt out. It was a horrendous, hideous looking creature, said beast slamming its hands into the ground and letting out a hideous roar.

"Unleash hell!" Radiation crackled on their hand as, in a flash, all three beasts were enlarged and irradiated, barreling towards the creature and swarming it. Moze was already within Iron Bear, peppering the beast where she could as Zane and Amara did the same.

"What the actual fuck is this thing?!" Moze asked amid shots, FL4K backpedaling close to her and taking potshots at the creature's legs to cripple and slow it.

"I think the texts called it 'The Rampager'," Maya called, taking cover behind a pillar in the room as her and Ava fired as well. "Pretty accurate, if you ask me."

"Yeah, no kiddin'!" Zane called, slamming down his Barrier and open firing. "Don' let it get close; I'd hate to see what hands like those do to a person—WHOA SHITE!" A large rock slammed into the ground nearby. FL4K looked up to see the ceiling was collapsing as well; the beasts rampage, pun intended, was going to inevitably destroy the room they stood in.

"I got an idea!" Amara sprinted past FL4K, the Siren slamming her fists together before shooting them forward. Her Astral arms shot out to slam into the Rampager just as it flung away Meat-Thief, the Eridian guardian reeling and letting out an enraged screech. The Beastmaster quickly recalled their beasts when their boost ran out, motioning for them to take cover where they could as they continued to pepper the creature from where they were behind Moze's Iron Bear.

At least, until, a strange, cyan dome encompassed the Rampager. And cyan, flame like wisps drifted towards it.

"Um…what the fuck are those?" Moze asked.

"I dunno, but we should shoot them." Maya answered, open firing at them and popping one like a balloon. The others did the same, swiftly, FL4K's optic widening when they saw the creature's body beginning to grow and expand, as if it were getting larger.

And turning into more of a monster, if such a thing were possible.

"That…that can't be good, can it?" Zane asked.

"It can't." Amara raised her arms to block a hit; the Rampager's fist colliding with her and sending the Siren flying back, though thankfully, Maya was there to break her fall via Phaselocking.

"Thanks, Maya," The older siren released her and resumed peppering the creature, Amara doing the same as FL4K saw the beast was reeling, and after a series of rocket shots to its head, courtesy of Moze, it finally slumped over and fell dead.

They had just killed an Eridian guardian, and FL4K never felt better.

"Yes, YES! THIS is what it means to hunt!" Their blade was out as they approached the fallen creature, cleaving through its head to rip out a fang they pocketed. And now they had a worthy trophy; proof of a mighty kill! "Now, let us see what awaits in the Vault."

"You do that," Maya looked over the corpse, kicking it with her foot. "We'll stay out here and watch for reinforcements. I'll radio you if the COV decide to have their boys come running." The Beastmaster nodded and, joined by their team, stepped through the swirling portal.

FL4K wondered what loot they would find within such a place…hopefully another sniper. Then again, would the Eridians even have snipers, considering they were supposed to be a highly advanced race…?

"Well, least we didn't miss it." Ava smiled to herself, looking over the dead body of that weird ass creature the Vault Hunters throttled. Sure, she didn't get the killing blow, probably, but she at least helped, and that's what sorta mattered. "Thanks for letting me come down here, Maya."

"Thank the Vault Hunter, really," Her mentor checked her ECHO, keeping an eye out. "Honestly, I was going to leave you with Lilith."

"Heh, glad you didn't. I'd just follow you down here."

Maya sighed. "I'm well aware…you really need to listen more, Ava. I'm still new at this whole mentor thing, but everything I do is to protect and help you."

"Yeah…yeah, you're right." The teen sighed. "Thanks for not chucking me off a cliff, also."

"Welcome. Thanks for not actually stealing my book. It's practically worthless."

"…it is?" Ava suddenly felt a chill wash over her. Something was very, VERY wrong.

"Well, look who did all the hard work for us," She whirled around and practically went pale. The Calypsos were standing right there, a few cultists with them, all aiming at the two of them. "Didn't think you could get any dumber, but hey, miracles happen, sometimes. Just ask the Make-A-Wish Foundation."

"Ava, get behind me." She did as asked and stepped behind Maya, the Siren keeping her gun at the ready.

"Yeah, looks like you did all the hard work for us; you Vault Hunters only think with your trigger fingers, don't you?" Troy smirked, crossing his arms and leaning against the dead creature.

"Yep; keep this up and I'll be a god for real!" Troy's face fell.

"Uh—WE'LL be gods."

"That's what I said. Now…let me do my thing." Ava's eyes widened.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" She exclaimed, despite Maya trying to shush her up.

"Taking what's ours." Troy smarmily declared. "See, the monsters don't protect the power of the Vaults. They are the power of the Vaults. And by you killing it for us, you literally did all the work for us and then some."

"And now," Tyreen grinned. "All the power's mine."

"Hey, save any for the 'parasite'?" Tyreen rolled her eyes and dropped down, locking her arm with Troy's. Ava's fear grew as she saw those tattoos glow, and Troy looked even more…demented. As if he was getting stronger.

"We're leaving, now." Maya whispered. Ava wanted to say a lot of things, like how badly she wanted to kick their asses…but she agreed. She could handle Maliwan, yeah, but two Sirens? Not a chance.

"Oh, did I say you could go?" Tyreen snapped and the cultists all aimed at them. "And who's the brat? You, I get, Maya, but what's her deal?" Fear clung to Ava, the teen moving a bit more behind Maya.

"She's no one," Her mentor said. "I'm your problem."

"Oh, I know. That's why neither of you are leaving this place." Tyreen vanished in a spire of fire. Ava turned just in time to feel a hand clench her neck, the teen panicking as she realized the bitch was holding her up, still wearing that grin the entire time.

"Ava!" Maya clenched her hand and, in a flash, Phaselocked Troy, yanking him over to her and locking him in a neck hold. "Put her down, right now." She hissed. Ava saw Tyreen's grin leave her face and, thankfully, her grip slackened, causing the teen to land on her side, coughing and gasping.

"That's what I thought—" Ava looked over and, now, felt more afraid than ever.

Troy's hand was on Maya's forearm, and he was draining her, like his cunt of a sister did to so many others!

"Maya!" She could literally see the life draining from her face…that sick bastard was going to kill her…and then the Vault Hunters, and—

Click.

Her eyes darted down to her Maliwan handgun; the gun she used to help fight her way down here. It must've fallen loose from her hoodie in the struggle. Her hand went for it, grabbing it just as pain shot up her side, the teen hitting the ground as she realized Tyreen casually knocked her out the way. Her gaze was on Maya the entire time, seeing more and more life drain from her mentor's face…she didn't have much time left. If she shot Troy, then Maya would live…but…she was scared. Scared shitless. Her hands trembled as she held the gun, tears steaming down her face as she watched Maya get weaker and weaker.

"…in laymen's terms, it's a leap of faith." FL4K's words echoed in her head. This was it! This was her leap of faith!

But…was she ready to take it?

BAM!

"OW! FUCK!" Troy's hand let go of Maya's and went to clamp down on his metal one, sporting a rapidly growing, acidic hole. Maya collapsed to the ground, huffing and panting, as Tyreen's gaze snapped to her.

"Kill the brat." Ava's eyes darted to the cultists, the men approaching her, guns at the ready…and so she started shooting.

"…you either catch yourself and start shooting, or you die." FL4K's voice once again played in her head as she emptied her clip, watching the cultists drop to the ground, either clutching their wounds or outright dead. The teen scrambled to grab one of the fallen shotguns, hefting up the clunky weapon and—

"Bitch!" She felt something ensnare her. She couldn't move, and she could barely breathe! Looking around, she quickly realized she was locked in a bubble of Siren energy…Maya's Phaselock.

"I thought you could only take from me." Her eyes snapped to Troy, seeing his tattoos glowing, and a demented smirk on his face. Tyreen was next to him, the bitch crossing her arms as her brother shrugged.

"I guess it's…any Siren. Including me."

"C'mon, we got what we came for. Leave the brat to get mauled by our boys." Ava felt herself get lifted higher before pain raced through her body, the teen feeling numb as her eyes stared up at the ceiling. She was clearly on her back, no doubt having been slammed into the ground…and everything ached.

"Sorry, kiddo," She watched Tyreen walk into view, kneeling next to her with her grin returned. "Looks like you didn't have what it took. But, hey, look at the bright side. Least you and Maya over there can get torn apart by our boys. You have that going for you." She disappeared from view, Ava hearting distorted footsteps before a woosh shot through her ears…they were gone…and she was gonna die.

…she had no business being a Vault Hunter. She leapt…and she fell.

Gunshots rang out; for a moment, she thought she was dead, until she saw the corpse of a cultist fall next to her, and to feel hands scoop her up, Ava turning her head to see she was being supported by FL4K.

"She's stable. Took some head trauma, but she's stable." Their voice was muffled, but at least she could hear it. When FL4K turned, she saw Amara was helping Maya up, relief flooding her when she saw her mentor was still breathing…that sick bastard didn't kill her.

"Let's get back to the ship. These two need medical attention and…" Ava tuned out. Darkness crept in the corners of her vision as, at last, she succumbed to her pain and blacked out.

(So, here's a twist. I had to really tweak this scene, so it fit the idea I had in mind, but I hope this newer outcome isn't considered unfavorable to fans. But I saw so many reviewers speaking about this and wondering how I was going to handle Maya's death in the game. I came up with my own rendition; one that fits into the redemption of Ava, and something else altogether. It's not perfect, no, but I personally feel it'll work more for the retelling I'd like. So, enjoy.

Also, as the intermission stated, sorry for the lack of a chapter next week. Hope this one compensated for my mental breakdown.)