Alright hey guys! Sorry for the extremely long wait, but it seems that my inspiration to write this fanfic is slowly decreasing. Sorry for that, but I promise, I WILL continue on!

Just a few things here; The series IS indeed coming to an end, so only expect maybe another two chapters. Sorry to say this, but yeah. Please don't forget to comment/review because it always helps me out! And sorry if there are any mistakes, because I've kind of just wrote it literally 10 minutes ago! SORRY!

Chapter 4. Never

The Vault Hunters had been in many battles during their time on Pandora. Most were more gruesome than others, but each battle had the same factor: Death. So, naturally of course, Death was something that surrounded the battle in its presence. The sense of embedding danger lurking around every corner, every shadow that lingered by. Death, was the main tributer in war, but not necessary within a battle.

Axton had been in many wars- due to his lifestyle of the sweet adrenaline rush and glory behind a victorious release. He wasn't much for settling down, having kids and a family to love. No, he was more of adrenaline-junkie, all for the fame (especially the ladies).

But as Axton lifted his Dahl weapon and aimed it at his target, he did something he absolutely never did during battle; he hesitated to pull the trigger.

Zero was much the same, despite his reputation of being an assassin. His blue glowing sword was wielded firmly in his grip, his mind set on the task that needed to be dealt with. But strangely, every fibre in his body warned him not to pursue the protagonist. And as his mind fought with his body, time slowed down.

The rest of the team beside them was in the same manner; shock still settling in. Zero and Axton were the first to snap back to reality, and then along came the others.

"MAYA!" Axton saw the blue-haired Siren wide-eyed, frozen to her spot dangerously."GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Axton shouted, spear tackling her to the ground to avoid the hunk of pure muscle that swarmed her way.

The couple rolled around in the dirt and rubble for a while, trying to compose themselves as they rubbed debris from their eyes. Maya pushed Axton off of her, feeling tears well up in her eyes.

"You can't hurt him!" Maya shouted desperation in her voice, "It's all my fault and you can't hurt him for it!"

"Watch out!" Lilith used her Phasewalk to quickly grab Maya and Axton from being plummeted into the ground by Krieg's incoming fist. The Psycho roared in frustration.

"Brick, Salvador, Zero and Lilith" Axton ordered, "You three distract Krieg"

The four Vault Hunters nodded, running off to move Krieg away from the others. Axton turned to Gaige and Maya. "Gaige, I want you to take Maya and find one of the Travel Stations. If it's still functioning, I want you to go to Tundra Express and find a little girl named Tiny Tina"

"NO!" Maya jumped at Axton, "I'm not leaving!"

A loud explosion behind them echoed all around them, Gaige wasn't even paying attention. The Mechromancer had her head down and her arm out; she seemed to be playing with the device on her robotic arm.

"Listen to me!" Axton snapped, "You're in no condition to take on this threat! I need you to get yourself and Gaige to safety-"

"I got this covered," interrupted Gaige, "its robot fighting time!" And with that, a large floating robot with one large red glowing eye was digistructed beside the Mechromancer. "Guys, meet DT!"

Maya and Axton stared at the floating robot.

"I'm staying, and that's that" Maya turned to Axton, her fists clenched together.

Axton saw the twinkle in Maya's eyes, and he knew, oh he knew, that he wasn't able to stop her. "Fine." He sighed, women.

A loud roar erupted close to them, the sounds of battle obviously in play.

"WATCH OUT! HE'S COMING YOUR WAY!" Lilith's voice yelled.

Gaige ordered DT to pick all three of them up, flying them across the field with a low humming sound as Krieg barely missed them.

Axton had a plan already forming in his head as he landed his feet on the ground, nodding to Gaige in thanks. Turning to Maya, he said, "I've got a plan, but this involves you using your Siren abilities"

Maya took a deep breathe, turning her head in the direction of Krieg as Lilith kept Phasewalking out of the way, Zero creating holograms, and Brick along with Salvador shooting the ground at the his feet.

Turning her head, she nodded at the Commando.

"Alright then," Axton said. "I need you to Phaselock Krieg for a short while I get the others" Axton locked his green eyes on Maya's blue ones. "Are you able to do this?"

Maya nodded, "Alright"

"Good" Came Axton's reply. The Commando turned to Gaige, "I need DT to carry something for me"

"That's algoooood!" Gaige replied enthusiastically. "I wanted to go do stuff anyway"

"Okay, Maya" He gestured with his arm, shouting to the others to fall back.

Maya took a deep breath, stepping forward as the other four Vault Hunters ran back to join by their sides. Through all of this, Maya kept thinking it was her fault.

She had destroyed one of his precious memories, and possibly killed his inner sane self. If she hadn't been selfish, if she hadn't started experimenting with her powers, Krieg would never have done this. And now, Mordecai, and probably most of the civilians in Sanctuary, are dead.

Krieg sprinted towards Maya, his muscles tensing with the anger and rage that seemed to boil over him. All he could see was blood, and soon, so would they.

Lifting her arm while summoning her powers to play, Krieg was caught in Maya's blue and purple swirling Phaselock. Krieg struggled to move, only able to move his mouth as the invisible force pushed his body into a defenceless position, exposing his chest.

"Gaige!" Ordered Axton from behind Maya as she stepped back, lowering her arm. The flying robot known as DT appeared with a steel cage in his grasp, unknown to Maya at how he could carry such a thing.

DT dropped the cage directly under Krieg, Maya's bubble of energy still conserving him defenceless.

"Now, Lilith!"

A flash of orange and then there was a ring of fire surrounding the cage, the flames licking hotly against the bars. The smoke vapours lifted into the air, consuming all the oxygen.

"Maya" Axton came. The blue haired Siren nodded, retracting her Phaselock to release Krieg.

With a thump, Krieg landed heavily inside the large metal cage, DT moving to close its top to seal Krieg inside.

But even then, that didn't stop the Psycho.

"MEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!" Krieg banged against the cage, his large fists already bending the element.

Axton stumbled back in disbelief. No, he had thought this through. The flames around him should at least disorientate him enough so that the lack of oxygen would disable him. He should be unconscious now.

Instantly, the cage was torn apart.

"Holy-" Gaige was cut off as Krieg roared once more.

Then, without another second's hesitance, Krieg ran straight for the flames that fenced him off from his prey.

"NO, KRIEG!" Screamed Maya, her eyes wide. "DON'T!"

A black figure emerged from the flames. Oh God.

"What?!" Lilith gasped. "He should be frying now!"

Krieg ignored them, not even feeling the slightest of pain as the fires still licked at his skin. Fire didn't seem to hurt him.

"I'm sorry, Maya" Axton turned to face his teammate. "But I have no other choice"

Silence.

"FIRE!"

"NOOOOOOOOOO!"

Maya could only watch in horror as her fellow Vault Hunters shot at her partner. Krieg was her partner, wasn't he? Even after all these years?

She found her vision blurred in tears, the sounds of gunshots and explosions all around her as she sunk to the floor. He was going to die. And It was all her fault.

Maya watched in horror as bullets tore through Krieg's tanned flesh. Blood oozed from his wounds as he collapsed to the ground, trying to get in a swing at Zero and Salvador.

Axton yelled for them to stop, pulling up a fisted hand as a gesture. They stood unmoving as they stared down at Krieg. A twitch was his only response.

"I think that's quite enough" Came a foreign voice.

Maya didn't even care. Yelling out his name, Maya crawled desperately over to Krieg's side, lifting his head to cradle in her lap.

"YOU!" Axton yelled. "BUT YOU'RE DEAD!"

"Hush" the voice interrupted.

There was a soft hissing noise in Maya's ear, though it was only barely audible.

The ground shook as Maya's teammates fell to the ground, screaming out in pain at the noise, leaving only Maya and Lilith standing.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH! I KILLED YOU!" Lilith screamed.

"That's enough"

Maya heard a pop sound, almost like a gun was shot, then clicked like a seat belt. Another vibration ran through the Earth as Maya heard Lilith moan in pain.

But Maya kept her eyes on Krieg. Never. Never would she leave him again. All because of her, he was going to die.

"He will heal," the foreign voice came from behind her. "In time" A warm hand clasped her shoulder. "Come, Mye Mye. We have much to discuss"

Sorry for that cliffhanger, I know its cruel.

Please forgive me for anything that was left unclear, but everything will be explained in the next few chapters.

P.S Sorry for the fight scene, it was pretty basic, no cool backflips were done so... yeah XD Also, thanks to those people that reviewed and helped with the characters! Much appreciated! Hopefully this is more... character-like? If not, then I sincerely apologise. Anyhow, thanks for reading! Please leave a review/comment and I'll get back to you with the next chapter!