Okay, public service announcement! (Please read!)
WOW! I am incredibly sorry for how absurdly long this update took! I wont't bother you with the reasons, it was mostly just life getting in the way.
However, (This is where the service announcement actually begins.) I have also been thinking a great deal about this story and I have decided to make a change to better suite me and I think it will benefit you all as well.
Originally this was going to be a story that went through the entire main story of BL2 and beyond. However that would make this story incredibly large and unfortunately that is something I do not have time for right now. Therefore I have decided to change how the story will progress. I will still be following the main quest, however I have decided to focus on what I feel are the key moments as opposed to every single mission. The rest of the story will focus on the moments that happen outside those bits we all got to experience in the game.
I want to stress that this will not affect the quality of the story! I am simply shifting where to focus my attentions. This will likely have an affect on the over all length of the story. However I am still estimating between 20 and 30 chapters. The benefit for all of you will be the following.
This will allow me to focus far more on the character interactions and developments.
More frequent updates, as I will no longer be trying to recreate so many of the moments from the game.
You will likely see an increase in chapter lengths as I love writing character interactions and development outside combat.
This will also allow me to reveal that secret character I mentioned in a fashion that will actually work better for the story. (Not an OC, I promise. Highfive to whomever can guess who it will be!)
Okay, that's it for the service announcement. I hope that all made sense and you understand why I will be making this change. Normal musings about the chapter at the bottom!
There was no way that this was going to work. Seriously, it was just ridiculous to even think that the Bloodshots would let them into their stronghold just because they were driving a vehicle that looked like theirs. They would send someone out to check who was driving, ask for a password, something! No way just honking the horn would gain them access.
Maya had been thinking these things for the entire drive over to the bandit fortress, that's why she could only sit there dumbfounded when the gate opened for them after Axton simply honked the horn. These bandits really deserved to die, they were just too damn stupid to let live. How they had survived this long she would never know.
"Alright, so what's the plan?" Asked Axton as he carefully guided the large vehicle into the compound. "Just jump out and start killing everyone?"
"Well Lilith did say these guys are pretty tough, maybe we should make some kind of plan?" Maya offered as she looked out the window. There were only a few bandits actually outside, but she was sure that the inside of the dam was full of them. Maybe they should try and be a little bit stealthy? At least try and make it inside without being discovered. Getting swarmed out here would probably be very bad, there wasn't a lot of cover. If they were going to do this carefully then she should probably ask their resident ninja.
"Hey Zero," She turned to look at where he was sitting beside her in the back seat, "You think- Where the hell did Zero go?"
At her words both Axton and Salvador spun around, surprise entering their expressions as they saw the empty seat. An idea formed in her mind and Maya reached her hand out to the empty spot, it wouldn't be too out of character for him to simply be sitting their cloaked. Her hand encountered no resistance however.
"Well what the shit?!" Exclaimed Axton, looking back ahead. "Oh damn, looks like we are about to be made."
Maya looked over his shoulder to see a bandit walking over to their vehicle, he looked at ease but was motioning for them to roll down the window. As he came closer everyone began readying their weapons. She saw Axton discreetly ready his pistol to kill the bandit when he got closer. The bandit reached the vehicle and Axton rolled down the window, she could see him grinning as shock and alarm crossed the bandits face. The next second his eyes were rolling into the back of his head, blood sprayed from his throat and all over Axton. The bandit dropped to the ground and Zero materialized just behind him, bloodied sword in hand. Axton wiped the blood from his face, Maya couldn't tell if he was annoyed or just surprised.
"We must move quickly/ The way ahead is cleared/ The alarm will sound soon."
Maya was the first to jump out of the vehicle, the others quickly followed. Zero took the lead, sprinting across the open ground towards the dam entrance. His long legs quickly took him ahead of the others. Maya glanced around as she ran, she counted six dead bandits by the time she reached the door. How the hell had Zero managed to kill all of that in such a short time? Nevermind how he had managed to leave the vehicle without her noticing. He may have been a bit of a cliché, but he was a damn good one.
By the time they had all reached the door, Zero was already gone. She hadn't actually seen him go inside, but the slightly ajar door was enough of a hint. Axton led the way inside, Maya was right behind him, keeping her SMG raised. The corridor beyond was populated only by a single bandit who was lying in a pool of his own blood. She glimpsed Zero's form shimmering out of existence as he rounded the corner ahead.
As they followed him she seriously began to wonder if they should all just hang back and let Zero handle this. After all he was probably a pro at this sort of thing. That thought didn't last long though, no way she was going to let him have all the fun. She needed to experiment with her powers after all. Spurred on by that thought she actually overtook Axton and rounded the corner first. She entered into a large room, pipes and other machinery that made up the dams inner workings filled it. Also bandits. A lot of bandits.
She nearly tripped over the first body, looking up she saw Zero slash deeply across anothers throat. A second bandit came around a group of pipes to get a good view of the scene. Maya was about to drop him but in one smooth motion Zero spun, letting the body fall away, his free hand pulling free a pistol which fired off two shots into the bandits skull. She was surprised when the weapon issued almost no sound. In fact the only reason she really knew it had gone off was because she saw the blood spraying from his skull. Since when did Zero have a silenced pistol? He suddenly ran forward, holstering the pistol he began running up a nearby wall, hand grabbing the edge of a catwalk, he threw himself over, landing silently behind another bandit. Not even a second later he had decapitated his target and was already running towards another, cloaking in the process.
Okay, that was enough staring like an idiot. It was her turn. Maya moved into the room, sighting in the first target she saw. He was dead with a single burst to the head. Then all hell broke loose. Immediately all the bandits turned to her position, those that could see her began firing while the rest started running to a position where they could. She was forced into cover. A grin on her face. She wasn't even nervous about battle any more. She was just excited. There were so many targets for her to experiment on!
I have to admit that I am a little bit annoyed at the Siren. My plan of clearing the room without raising any alarms has been ruined by her. As much as I love up front battles, there is something so satisfying about clearing an entire room of hostiles without them ever knowing I was there. The adrenaline rush after every kill is intensified upon the knowledge that I could be discovered at any moment, then when I make my next kill it only multiplies. It feels like ages since I have last fought a battle like that, although in actuality it has only been one year-six months- and thirty seven days. Still, I had been very excited at the prospect of getting to do it again.
I actually have to repress a sigh as all the bandits are shouting at eachother and my companions. Gunfire is echoing loudly through the room as the bandits advance on them, although I have to admit my allies are doing a rather admirable job. The Commando has already deployed his turret, the machine effectively blocking off one of the bandits avenues of advance, while he supports the Siren. The Gunzerker is on the far right, his dual shotguns obliterating any and all opposition he encounters. The Siren is in the center, her tattoos are glowing fiercely as she hurls her powers about the room. Groups of bandits are caught in the distortion field, helpless in the air for a few seconds before they are ruthlessly cut down by SMG fire. Perhaps this wasn't such a bad thing after all. I do enjoy watching her powers at work, watching her kill. I can see a grin on her face the entire time, she is enjoying herself, I find this very attractive.
The bandits have not located me, from my position up here I can see everything. I could just stay and watch the battle unfold, watch the Siren. But that would not be as enjoyable as getting my own kills. My position is an excellent one for sniping, it would be a shame to waste it. Without a second thought I ready my rifle and aim down the sights, not two seconds later I have pulled the trigger and see a psycho's head explode. Rather satisfying. I quickly switch targets to a bandit who is firing wildly at the Siren. He is dropped with a double tap, one in the chest and one in the head. A single shot to the head would have been enough, but the effort of pulling off two shots in such rapid succession is quite satisfying.
Unfortunately I am only able to achieve two more kills before the room falls silent. My allies have definitely improved at working as a team. I quickly leap off the catwalk, landing just infront of the door. My allies quickly move towards my positon. The Siren is still grinning, I feel my own lips twitch in response, as if to mimic her grin. Just as I am about to open the door, it fly's open and a psycho runs through, screaming his eligible speech. He only makes it two steps before I move into his path, ducking under a wild swing of his axe. I bat away the follow up strike with my rifle before slamming a knee into his gut, spinning out of the way as he doubles over I press the barrel of my rifle against his skull and fire. Blood sprays on the ground and across my body, a dozen droplets striking my mask. It is not enough to obscure my vision but it does cause a very satisfying feeling to rush over my body, I can smell it through my helmet, almost feel it on my skin. A smile comes across my face at the rush of excitement. The Commando quickly moves past me, likely checking the room beyond for more hostiles, the others are right behind him. I follow, although I put my rifle away and ready my blade. I want to feel that again.
It isn't long before we find Roland, although our rescue is interrupted by the arrival of Hyperion forces. We quickly give chase, emerging onto the top of the dam, and into a dream. The entire dam has erupted into a battlefield. Bandits and Hyperion forces engage eachother in vicious combat, dozens upon dozens of them. I get to kill them all. Without any hesitation I charge into the fray, my blade slicing clean through a psycho as I run up behind him. I continue forward, ramming my sword through the back of a bandit, quickly pulling it away I spin to avoid the fist of a loader. I move forward, slicing off its leg then as it drops to the ground I remove the head. The oil that sprays from the wounds is not nearly as satisfying as blood. The loaders are now a nuisance and obstacle blocking me from my immediate goal, I want more blood.
I run towards a group of bandits who are finishing off two of the loaders. I decapitate one before they even notice me, but now I have their full attention. Good. I roll forward, avoiding a burst of gunfire, I slash open a nomads gut as I rise, smirking at the sight of him trying to hold in his intestines. With a spin and a flick of my wrist I slash another's throat. Blood sprays across my arm and chest. I see a bandit taking aim at me, I hurl my sword at him, watching as it buries deep in his chest. He simply stands, staring wide eyed at the blade the killed him. I bolt forward, grabbing my sword as I kick him in the shoulder, finally sending him to the ground. Three psycho's charge me and I smile as I meet them. I duck under the first blow, weave past the second, and block the third. I slide my sword down the blade of the axe, shoving the weapon aside before burying my blade deep into his chest. Out of my peripheral vision I see an axe descending on me. I grab the dead psycho's axe as it falls from his hand. With a spin I pull my sword free and block the incoming axe while slamming my own into his skull, nearly splitting it in two. The third psycho screams as he attacks, giving me plenty of warning to duck and slide my blade across his stomach before rising and decapitating him.
I can practically feel the blood running down my body, dripping from my blade, my fingertips. Even more has splattered across my mask, it is almost becoming an obstruction but I do not wipe it away. I want more!
I charge into the fray once more, decapitating a bandit as I run towards a larger skirmish. Three loaders are battling against a dozen bandits. A psycho turns as I run towards the battle, he swings his axe at my neck. I drop to my knees, sliding under the attack while my blade slices his leg clean off. He screams in pain or joy, I can never tell, either way I silence him with a thrust through his back and into his heart.
Two of the bandits and one of the loaders have turned their attention on me. I focus first on the loader, knowing it to be the most dangerous opponent. Too bad it doesn't bleed. I duck under its wild swing, coming between its legs, but before I can remove one it tries to crush me underfoot. I quickly roll away, narrowly avoiding the surprising attack. It punches at me again but this time I am ready and with a side step I avoid the blow and remove the things arm. I bolt forward, finally cutting off its leg, causing it to fall so I can thrust my blade through its head.
With the loader dealt with I can focus on the bandit, but they have succeeded in eliminating the other two machines and now their focus is solely on me. Several of them begin firing on me, I flip to the side, taking cover behind the destroyed loader. Quickly I activate my cloak and my hologram. I run from the cover as fast as I can, flipping to avoid incoming fire. But within three seconds I am clear, the bandits continue firing at my double who is still taking cover behind the loader. As I manoeuver into position my allies join the fray. Within seconds they drop half the bandits who are taken by surprise.
"We got your back amigo!" Shouts the Gunzerker, looking at my double.
I reveal my position by decapitating a bandit from behind while simultaneously shooting a second in the head at point blank range. The blood rains down on me and it is glorious. I can't help but grin as the adrenaline surges through me and I charge off to seek another battle and more blood.
The bandit falls dead at my feet, giving a final gurgle as the blood flows from his mouth. The dam is silent now, all my foes lay dead. I roll my shoulders, feeling the tinge of exhaustion running through them. It has been a day full of battle and bloodshed. It has been a very good day. My armour has practically gained an extra layer of blood. I am nearly blinded by the sheer amount of blood covering my visor. I actually had to switch to my thermal vision to continue fighting. I still don't want to remove the blood, the smell coming through my filters is intoxicating, that faint rusty smell. The smell of death, the smell of my victory. Part of me longs to remove my mask, to take in the unfiltered smell, to feel the liquid on my bare skin. But I cannot, the others may see.
Speaking of…I turn to scan for my allies. Only now do I become aware that it has been some time since I have seen them. How long I cannot be sure for I lost myself in the bloodshed, but they have not been with me for some time. I begin retracing my way through the carnage, enjoying the destruction that I have wrought. I lift my blade to examine its bloodied surface, it has been fed a great deal today. For the first time in a long time, my bloodlust almost feels satisfied. Through sheer volume of course. I still yearn for the blood of my true rival.
I come into a large opening where the sit remains of a dozen loaders and the large circular machine that had captured Roland. The others are there as well, trading words with the Raider leader.
"There he is!" Shouts the Commando, gesturing in my direction. The others all turn to look at me, I can see the faint shock in their face at my appearance.
"Glad you could finally join us," Says Roland, giving me a once over before looking at the others. It is easy to tell that he is upset I did not stick with the others. "We need to get back to Sanctuary right away, there is a lot to talk about."
"Sure thing buddy, mind if we rest up before the journey back though? Kinda been a long day." The Commando's tone is light as always.
"Of course, you guys have more than earned it. But the sooner we get back to Sanctuary the sooner I can offer you warm beds and a hot shower."
"Oh I am in. Let's move it!" The Siren looks excited at the prospect of the luxuries. She has a fair bit of blood and oil staining her body. I can't fathom why she would want to rid herself of such a symbol of her prowess though. Humans were odd though.
"I'll second that actually, let's move it!" The Commando led the way back into the dam. The others were quick to follow him, I took my position at the rear.
Now that we have activated the fast travel station out here we can get back much quicker, but it will still be a short drive. The others are moving at a surprisingly quick pace, but my long legs allow me to easily keep up. As we walk I realize that I didn't have much time to watch the Siren in battle. Although this is mildly upsetting I cannot deny the joy I felt today. Only now are the intoxicating effects of battle beginning to wear off. It is a strange feeling, like I am entering the world once more. My mind is now filled with more than just thoughts of blood.
I try not to allow myself to get lost like that, it can be dangerous. My rational mind would never allow me to fight with my visor in this state, I can barely see out of it. But in the battle, with so much death and destruction around me…I cannot help it. It is all I can think of, all I care about. My years of rigorous training have lessened the effects to a great extent. I can still remember my youth, how completely and easily I would lose myself. It has been three years since such a thing has occurred. I know that I must be careful, that I must control myself. As with many things however, it is far easier said than done.
As we near the truck everyone begins climbing inside, Roland and the Commando take the front, while the Siren and Gunzerker begin climbing in the back. I quickly climb onto the roof of the vehicle, situating myself in the turret. No matter my own inclinations, I am aware that my current state gives off a smell that the others may find unpleasant. This is a simple solution to the problem. The truck quickly roars to life and we speed from the compound.
It doesn't take long to reach the fast travel station. Everyone is quick to climb out and cue up at the machine, Roland is first to go, at the Sirens insistence. She follows, with the Commando stating that ladies went first. He and the Gunzerker go in rapid succession then I follow last. As my vision clears I once more find myself standing in Sanctuary.
"Alright everyone, lets head back to the HQ. You can all rest and get cleaned up. Tomorrow we will have a briefing. Thank you all again."
"No problem chief," Says the Commando, giving a mock salute as he heads towards the building in question. The group follows him, but I notice the Siren hanging back, glancing I my direction. As I begin walking she quickly follows my pace and walks beside me.
"So, where did you get off to during the battle?" Her look is questioning, but not accusatory, I may even detect traces of humour in her tone.
"There were many foes/ It was an amazing fight/ The first so far here."
"So you enjoyed yourself did you?" She asked with a faint chuckle, obviously looking at the large amounts of blood covering me.
My response is to project a smiley face, something which causes her to laugh again, along with forming her own smile. Once more I find myself enjoying that action. As we reach the HQ she stops and turns to face me. Curious as to what she wants, I do the same. Her hand reaches out and with her thumb she brushes away the blood right where my left eye is before quickly doing the same to my right, effectively giving my bloodied visor two eye slits.
She smiles again, "That's better. I may not be able to really see your eyes, but at least this way I can pretend I am looking you in the eyes." Her smile holds for another second before she turns and heads into the building. "See you later Zero!"
I can't help but stand frozen for a second. She touched me. It shouldn't mean anything, it shouldn't cause any kind of reaction on me. But it does. She touched me. I can't remember the last person that has touched me outside of a fight. She didn't even touch my true skin but I can feel it…tingle. It was as if a current swept through my body as her fingers touched my visor. How could she cause such a thing, have such a power over me? Is it because she is a Siren? Could this be some form of her species power? I must find out. If she is my true rival then I must know all the powers she has, I must be prepared for everything. I need to think on this, to plan.
Alright, just a few quick notes.
First of all, sorry for the length of this one. Originally it was longer but after some time I felt that it was too long, it just had a feeling of being dragged out, mostly with combat which just didn't really add anything to the story. Anyway I feel this one strikes a much better balance.
Decided to toy with the idea of Zero having a bit of a berserker state. Not a crazy, mindless rampage, just an obsession with killing everyone up close because of this whole love of blood thing.
Also, I am still working out how the mental process will work for Maya's power progression, which is one reason most of this is in Zero's POV. I just cant figure out a good way to do it yet.
Had some more fun with Zero and Maya and the reaction she caused at her touch. One day maybe Zero will figure it out...maybe. Ha ha.
Okay that's all for notes. Nothing much to mention in the reviews that I can think of.
The support for this story has been incredible! Thank you all so much for your kind words! I promise that in repayment you will receive more frequent updates!
Thank you all again for following, faving, or reviewing! You are all awesome people!
Stay Classy!
