A/N: So yeah, here you are. This one is very much character building based, as well as exploring the ways each character personally deals with grief. Also, DO NOT, meaning DON'T, (seriously, no sarcasm) read the next authors note early. Prepare for things to change. ;)

As we exited the Phase in a dark, cold room, I could hear the others breathing heavily with the shock of the teleportation. Axton switched on a torch at his shoulder, and we all moved slowly towards the light, our cognitive processes reeling from the emotional torture they were being put through. Seeing our haggard faces in the depressing darkness, I wondered how we would recover from this. Roland killed, Angel dead by our own hands, and Lilith captured.

I sighed; my heart was like lead as I tried to get the others to focus. I didn't want to be the one to break the silence, but it had to be done, or we would be found down here, dead from lack of will to live. Screw the dehydration; it wouldn't be as potent as the hopeless sadness that engulfed us all.

"Does anyone know where we are? We should get moving." I looked around at them, but none seemed to notice me. "C'mon guys. We can at least try to-"

I was cut off by an ECHO from someone named Mordecai, and he was as shocked as we were.

"Vault hunters! What the hell just happened? WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?! Get up here. Jack may have killed Roland, but he is NOT going to kill Lilith." He cut off the ECHO, and the others seemed to return to reality.

Axton was the first to speak. "C'mon guys. According to my ECHO's map, we're in Marcus's backroom, where he keeps all his crap. At least we get some free stuff."

With this he turned, searching for a chest or a case where he might find some money or a weapon. The others slowly came back, turning and searching the series of rooms for valuables. Maya still stood in one place, shivering and holding her elbows, tears rolling down her pale cheeks while she stared at the floor. The shock of what had happened still pounding through her ears. The others were moving further away, and the room was getting darker.

I reached out, and, holding her shoulders, began to encourage her to follow the others. "C'mon Maya. We'll be okay. Just try and focus on moving around, and we can go upstairs to Sanctuary."

She responded to my words, and slowly her eyes rose off the ground and met mine. They were full of so much pain, that my heart reached out to her, and I pulled her into a hug. I didn't know why she, strongest in mind of all of us, was having the worst reaction to it all. I supposed she must have had a strong friendship with Lilith or Roland. I held her close, and she began to come alive again. I didn't force her into anything, and let her come back to the present at her own pace.

"I'm, I'm alright Fletch. Thanks." She gave me the faintest ghost of a smile, and we moved after the others. I led her up the stairs, not caring what the others though as we ascended to the door. She needed my help, now more than ever, and I would be there for her no matter what they said or thought.

What I didn't see as I opened the door and light rushed in, was Axton glare after us, anger and hurt in his features.

We looked out into the firing range in Marcus's store. He looked out from behind his counter in confusion. When he recognised the others, he exclaimed in frustration.

"Ah, how the hell did you get back there?! Friggen Vault hunters." He saw all the equipment in our hands and frowned at us again. "Ah heck, robbed me blind!" He saw the looks on our faces then and decided to go back behind his counter, locking the door behind him.

We walked past without a word, and moved through the town toward a large building with a banner hanging and blowing in the breeze. It was encouraging people to join the Crimson Raiders, who I guessed were the rebels that the Vault hunters had been working with. I also saw a poster with Roland, standing tall and holding his rifle. He had been a real hero to the people of Pandora, and they would miss him sorely.

Some of us already did.

I followed the others inside and up the stairs. We rounded the corner at the top of the stairs, and I looked left out the door there. I stopped in shock. I could see for kilometres, the curvature of Pandora noticeable on the horizon.

Maya looked out with me and spoke quietly, "I guess it shows, no matter what happened here tonight, Pandora is still a big planet, and it will pull through this as wild and free as it always was. And yeah, welcome to Sanctuary, our flying city." I looked at her, the way her hair fell across her face, and the way it accented the blues in her eyes. They were red rimmed from the tears, but she smiled up at me. I didn't know where this new found hope had come from, but it was contagious.

"It will pull through, because people like us believe in it," I said, smiling back at her.

We both walked into the sleeping quarters. I could tell which bed was Maya's, simply because it was made and organised. I lay her down, and she fell asleep quickly, exhausted from the emotional ordeal of the day.

I myself had no chance of sleeping, so I went to explore Sanctuary. I moved down past the desks and out the door, feeling the fresh night air fall lightly on my face. It was so good to be free, but the cost was so high that the joy I should have been feeling was overshadowed by sorrow, doubt for the future, and empathy toward my newfound friends.

I walked down the lane, toward the centre of town. It was quiet here, and the stars lit up the town well. As I walked past the New-U station towards a big sign saying Moxxi, I heard it activate. I stopped and looked in through the door to see who would be arriving at this time of night. It was probably one of the Crimson Raiders returning from a mission, and thought it would be good to greet them on their return, and maybe tell them what had happened.

But as more of the traveller began to appear from the machine, my draw dropped and I could barely breathe. I saw the tattoos winding up her leg, the black skin tight suit that came down to her ankles, the black hair falling down to her hips, and the pale skin of her face.

Angel.

The New-U station closed down, and the girl dropped to the floor of the room, unconscious. I ran over to her, calling for someone to come and help. She was breathing normally, and had none of the marks and implants that Jack had put in her for the Eridium. One of the Crimson Raiders ran over, and I told him to go find someone in charge immediately, and tell them to meet me in the HQ as soon as they could.

I picked Angel up off the floor, and began carrying her toward the HQ. She was as light as a feather, and as beautiful too. I carried into the HQ, past Axton, who was sitting at the computer terminal, his head in his hands. As I walked in, he looked up, having a double take at the girl in my arms. He said nothing, staring in shock as he recognised who it was. I met his eyes, and motioned for him to follow me up. Whatever happened now would need to be decided upon by all of us.

We made our way up the stairs. I walked straight through the sleeping quarters to the control room, Zero and Salvador staring in shock, just as Axton had. I looked over and saw an exclamation mark hologram pop up on Zero's visor. I nodded toward Maya, and he moved to wake her. Salvador followed behind Axton, and they stood next to me as I lay Angel down on the table in the centre of the room.

I turned at a noise on the door, and saw Maya walk in and spot Angel. She stopped, and her eyes widened. Zero came up behind her, and moved past, waking her from her trance. Maya walked over to me and continued to stare down at the daughter of our enemy.

I heard someone coming up the stairs, and recognised one of the voices as Mordecai. They were making quite a noise, so I moved to the door. They spotted me, and stared in shock. One was extremely tall, buff and had a massive scar on his right shoulder. It looked as if he had gone toe to toe with a massive beast, and by the man's size, I didn't find it hard to believe he had won. His face was covered in a very fine layer of brown stubble, the same colour as his short hair. He almost completely blocked my view of the man behind.

This man was much smaller and wiry, but carried a sniper on his back that looked at least a third more powerful and heavy than Zero's. He was wearing a mask that covered most of his face as well as goggles that were reflective and tinged with red. He had a long pointy, dark brown beard that stuck out and curved up at the point.

The pair looked at me with suspicion, but Axton came up behind me and spoke quietly, reassuring them, "Its ok guys, I'll explain in a minute. But you need to come and have a look at this first." I stepped back and let the sniper and his meat filled friend pass me into the room.

I moved in after them, and stood next to where Angels head lay, looking around at each of them. I was about to speak, and ask what everyone thought we should do, but as I opened my mouth to speak, Angel stirred.

I immediately leant down and tried to help her wake up, Maya right beside me. Angel groaned quietly, and her eyes fluttered open slowly. She shifted on the table uncomfortably, not recognising where she was.

Maya reached out and touched her shoulder, quietly speaking, and soothing her. "Angel, hey, over here."

Angel responded quickly, and looked at her sister Siren. Recognising Maya, she sat up on the table, and looked around at each of us. When she got to me, she frowned slightly, before remembering who I was.

"Fletcher, right?" I confirmed with a slight nod, and she smiled "You were on one of the watch lists I was given by Jack. I was the one who deactivated your implants when you gained your Siren powers. If I hadn't, well I don't think things would have gone quite as well for the rest of you."

I stared in surprise, as much at my own forgetfulness as her involvement in my life. She had saved me twice now, and once without me even knowing. If she hadn't, I would have been killed as quickly and efficiently as Zero could shoot. I was in her debt, and was determined to pay it, no matter the cost.

"Well," she said, "I guess my death contingency plan worked. I'm alive, I'm in sanctuary and I have a mission."

Her voice trembled with rage at her next words, and her eyes blazed with emotion as she stared into mine.

"I have a father to hunt."

A/N: Oh my god, right? So yeah, surprise, Angel's alive! It's time for some fun, some cool powers, and other badassery. Also, a shout out to Haycop, SW4G M4N, and others for the support. Next chapter up soon! :D