Dec0y
Gaige was practically giggling as she pulled her sandskiff back into the Oasis docks. She was dizzy from the adrenalin coursing through her body. Those pirates hadn't known what hit them.
She felt much better now. The barrel of her shotgun was still warm to the touch as she walked along the docks and into the deserted town. It was growing lighter; she glanced up at the Hyperion moonbase as she passed the fountain. The morning lunar supply shots were already under way. She should really get -
Gaige blinked and redirected her gaze to the top of the nearby buildings. She could have sworn she'd seen movement up there. After a second, she shook herself off. It was probably a stalker, or a bird flying by, or Shade even. If it was anything at all, that is – goddamn Zer0 and his assassin paranoia, it was rubbing off on her. Yes, it was just a trick of the light. She started making her way down towards the outskirts of the town.
The crack of a sniper rifle split the silence. Gaige spun around, looking back at the top of the building she'd been looking at before. This time there was no mistaking it – there was a dark figure up there, silhouetted against the blue light of the moonbase. Gaige raised her left arm to summon Deathtrap, before realising that the shot had pierced through the wiring in the arm, rendering it useless. Gripping her shotgun tightly, she turned and broke into a run. The Fast Travel station was not far, and the assassin was behind her on the roof. She could make it easily so long as she kept moving.
She looked back at the roof. The waiting silhouette had not moved. Even as she watched, however, it vanished.
It took her a second to realise what this meant, and this was not quick enough. While her head was turned, she collided with something rather large and cold. The large cold something proceeded to knee her in the stomach. Winded, she collapsed backwards onto the ground. Her shotgun clattered away over the bricks. The large cold something placed its boot on her chest and bent down, siezing her by the arm and pulling her to her feet.
Catching her breath at last, she struggled for her other weapons with her free hand. The assassin laughed coldly – she quickly found out that he had already disarmed her. Blinking dust out of her eyes, she looked up at the assassin. He was tall – as tall as Zer0 – and clad in a similar stealth suit. His helmet, however, was more angled than Zer0's was, and his suit was emblazoned with the number 1 over about where his heart was, assuming he was human.
"Nice to meet you," sneered the assassin. His voice was similar to Zer0's, but with a far more menacing undertone.
"Who the fu-"
"Now, now. Language." The assassin smiled. Even though Gaige could not see his face, she could tell that he was smiling, and she didn't like it.
"I am 0ne," continued 0ne. "Holloway sent me. He asked me to convey his… warmest regards." The sarcasm in the last two words bit deep.
"So you're here to kill me?" Gaige managed. "Then just kill me already. Spare me the… joviality." Gaige struck back with her own sarcasm, which just made 0ne laugh.
"No, no, no… that wouldn't be good enough for my employer. I have instructions, and I quote, that you are to die screaming."
Gaige lashed out with her leg. She felt a surge of hope when it connected with 0ne's leg, but that hope was quickly crushed as he kneed her in the stomach again.
0ne chuckled as Gaige doubled over as best she could. He bent down and spoke into her ear.
"I would advise against trying to escape, little lady. It'll just work out worse for you in the end."
0ne paused and straightened up, apparently listening for something. Still keeping a tight grip on Gaige, he raised his pistol in his free hand, turned and fired once. There was a muffled shout of pain, and Zer0 uncloaked several metres up the road, clutching his right arm. 0ne dragged Gaige with him over to Zer0, placed his boot on Zer0's chest and pushed him backwards onto the road.
"Sloppy, Zer0. Sloppy." 0ne laughed harshly again. "See what happens when you develop feelings for someone? When they're in danger, your reason clouds. You blunder in. You make mistakes. And then it all goes wrong."
Zer0 groaned and turned his head to look at Gaige. Even without an emoticon on his helmet, Gaige was stabbed by a pang of regret.
"Zer0… I'm sorry."
Zer0 shook his head. Gaige wasn't sure how to interpret this.
"Honestly," muttered 0ne. "You two are making me sick."
A door opened nearby, and a slightly oversized head with a very oversized hat on poked out.
"What's going on? I heard shots -" Shade made a squeaking noise of terror, like a mouse being trodden on, as he saw 0ne. The assassin turned his head to look at Shade.
"Back inside, little man, or you're next."
Shade obliged immediately with another squeaky noise, and the door banged closed. Gaige swore under her breath. 0ne kneed her again.
"What have I said about language?" The assassin chuckled. "Anyway, I've got to make the little lady here suffer. I think a good start to that would be to dispose of my… old friend here." The sarcasm stung Gaige again. "Seeing as you two seem… attached to each other."
"Don't!" gasped Gaige, still struggling. "You came for me, leave him!"
"You're hardly in a position to bargain with me, little lady. And besides, when I learnt that Zer0 was here as well… well, let's just say I could hardly miss an opportunity like this."
"No contracts on each other, 0ne," gasped Zer0, getting his breath back.
"I know the rules," sneered 0ne. "I don't have a contract on you. Nothing in the rules says I can't put a bullet in your brain just because I don't like you. We'll just call it…" here 0ne paused, and Gaige could tell he was grinning under his helmet, "freelancing. Besides, I'm doing the Group a favour by getting rid of you. You've gone soft, Zer0. An assassin who goes soft is as good as dead anyway."
"You can't -"
"I can, and I'm going to!" snapped 0ne, losing his patience. "Enough messing around!" He raised his pistol arm. "I'll give you ten seconds to think up some memorable last words."
"You bastard."
"Uninventive. Shame. We'll leave it at that, shall we?"
"No," said a new voice. 0ne swung around in a smooth movement and pointed his pistol at the newcomer. She was tall, he saw, and looked thoroughly pissed off. Her submachine gun was directed at 0ne's chest.
"Oho," he chuckled, "and what are you going to do about it, my dear?"
"This," said the woman, and raised her left fist. There was a flash of blue, and 0ne shouted as he was lifted several feet into the air. Gaige fell to the ground. Zer0, on the other hand, leapt up in a smooth motion and drew his sword with his left hand.
"Well timed, Maya," he said, as Gaige scrambled for her shotgun and stood up as well.
"Yes. Got your note," said Maya. "Then Shade ECHOed me. Said you were in a bit of a situation. Thought I'd better hurry." She unclenched her fist, and 0ne fell out of the air, landing on his feet. Zer0 immediately kicked him in the chest, causing him to sprawl backwards onto the ground, and directed his sword at 0ne's chest. The assassin looked up at the assassin and mamaged a weak chuckle.
"You son of a bitch."
"Uninventive," said Zer0. "Shame. We'll leave it at that, shall we?" He drove his sword forward, then pulled it back. 0ne made no further comment. "Going soft, my ass."
Gaige and Maya lowered their weapons. Zer0 sheathed his sword, then turned to Gaige.
"You left the city."
"I know…" Gaige hung her head.
"I warned you not to leave the city."
"I know…"
"This was why."
"I know!" Gaige rushed forward and threw her arms around Zer0, burying her face in his chest. "I'm sorry…"
Zer0 patted Gaige on the shoulder slightly awkwardly. "You're safe, and that's what matters."
Maya cleared her throat, and Gaige and Zer0 pulled apart. Gaige blushed slightly.
"I think we should continue this in Sanctuary," said the siren. "The others will be wondering why I sprinted away this morning."
"What do we do with…" Gaige poked 0ne's body with her foot.
"Leave him," said Zer0. "These things tend to clear themselves up in the end."
When they got back to Sanctuary, it became clear that Zer0 was quite cross with Gaige. After escorting her into the Crimson Raiders HQ, he sat her down and spent the next five minutes explaining to her, in great detail, exactly how stupid she had been. Maya, Lilith and Brick watched on, hardly daring to interrupt Zer0. As best she could, Maya explained to them the events of the last few days. Eventaully, Zer0 stopped talking and sighed, sitting back in his seat.
"All right? Good. Now please," he said, by means of a conclusion, "remember that you and I are only still alive because we are very lucky, and because of Maya."
"Sorry…" said Gaige in a very small voice. Zer0 hesitated, and flashed :) onto his helmet.
"It's all right. You're alive, okay? I'm alive." Gaige hesitated, then smiled as well.
"Good. Now, go have something to eat, and repair your arm. You look dreadful."
"You don't look so hot yourself, Slab," said Brick, clapping an enormous hand on Zer0's shoulder and almost tipping him out of his chair. "Follow your own advice."
"Yeah… we need to repair your arm too," said Gaige. "Come on. Let me get my tools."
"Good morning, sir."
Mr Holloway sat up in bed and yawned as his butler opened the curtains, letting the sunlight stream in.
"Ah… good morning, Basil." He stretched his arms out. "Anything interesting in the news this morning?"
"Not that I've seen, sir." The butler placed a tray on the bed. "Breakfast, sir."
"You are a gem." Holloway tucked in to his bacon while the butler filled the coffee cup.
"This morning's post, sir." The butler placed a pile of letters on the side of the tray. "There's a letter there with a Pandoran postmark."
"Excellent!" said Holloway, putting down his knife and fork and picking up his coffee cup. "That'll be news from 0ne. Read it out for me, would you?" Holloway took a sip of coffee.
The butler picked up the envelope from the pile and slit it open with his fingernail, pulling out and unfolding the letter inside. He hesitated.
"This may not be the news you are expecting, sir."
"Rubbish, man. Go on, read it!"
The butler cleared his throat quietly and looked down at the paper. "'Dear Mr Holloway, is that all you got? Love, Gaige. P.S. Sorry I killed your daughter.'"
Holloway spat coffee across the bed.
A/N: And that, I think, is the end of that. Hope it's been enjoyable, and sorry if it's wound up a tad shorter than people would have liked. Like I said back in chapter 2, I didn't think I could draw it out too far - it would have just gotten repetitive. Catch you all later, and thanks for the support!