A/N: Heyo! Hope everyone is enjoying the story. I know I am. Ignoring my chatter, NEW CHAPTER!

Chapter 16: Night Off

Lilith and Zer0 arrived in Oasis using a technical since the Fast-Travel stations weren't secure. After the incident with Angel and Z-12, Commander Lilith ordered a shutdown of all fast-travel stations so all travel was either by technical or runner. The two walked towards the center of town with weapons drawn since they were cautious about the meeting. "I swear Zer0, if we get attacked then Maya is going to have to find a second husband." Lilith growled. Zer0 chuckled, through the helmet since he had donned his assassin gear once more, "We'll see what happens. I have a feeling that we won't be attacked though."

"What makes you say that?"

"No sentries on the rooftops. No one waiting in the allies or in the ruined runners. It's just us and the individual by the fountain."

Lilith looked around and had to agree, there was no one around but them and… "What guy by the fountain?" Lilith questioned. Zer0 pointed to the fountain and exclaimed "That guy right there. The one attempting to hide by lying in the actual pool part." Lilith took a closer look and saw a head appear from behind the fountain. The individual slowly stood up with his hands in the air, announcing "I should have known I couldn't hide from the original." The clone looked almost exactly like Z-12, just a little bit older.

The two stopped 50 ft. from the clone as he stepped out of the fountain with his hands still up. "Why have you called us here?" Lilith questioned. "Because we have a shared problem, but allow me to introduce myself. I am Zer0-1, the original clone and leader of the rouge clones." The clone introduced. Zer0 exclaimed "So Alpha, our shared problem being N1ne?"

"Alpha… I like it… anyway, yes. N1ne is working with Maliwan to undermine the Crimson Raiders using Zer0 clones. He is using a chip that is implanted in their brains that controls them, and if they need to be made an example of, blow their heads off. He can kill one or all of them if need be."

Zer0's grip on his sniper rifle tightened hearing Alpha's explanation. He may have not met the clones but dammit, they were a part of him. As far as Zer0 was concerned, N1ne was messing with his family, clone or no clone. Zer0 exclaimed "We'll do everything we can to help the clones, but we have a problem with Maliwan." Alpha nodded and replied "Thank you Zer0, just knowing about it makes me feel that much better."

Lilith questioned "So what are you going to do now?"

"I need to return to the base before I am noticed missing. There are more of us on the inside doing what we can to slow the operations down without getting caught, but we're running out of time."

"We'll try and speed up our operations and see what resources we can pull to help save your brothers."

Alpha sighed in relief and exclaimed "Thank you. I need to go." Alpha turned and darted off down an alley way, leaving Lilith and Zer0 alone in Oasis. "Alright, time to talk strategy." Lilith exclaimed as she turned back for the technical.

O00000O00000O

Angel walked to Aunt Lilith's house to meet up with Nickoli for their date. She was incredibly nervous about it since she really like Nickoli and didn't want to screw things up… again. She walked up to the door and gave herself a quick look over. She chose to wear a short sleeve blue button up shirt with a pair of black pants and flats. After her inspection, Angel took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

The door opened to reveal a shirtless Nickoli wearing jeans. "Hey, didn't expect you here to early." Nickoli explained as he returned into the house. "Come one in! I'm just going to grab a shirt and we can go." Angel took a seat on the couch and waited for Nickoli to return. He came out of the back wearing a black short sleeve button up shirt. "Alright, you ready to go?" Nickoli questioned as he finished buttoning his shirt.

Angel jumped up and nearly squealed, but she calmed herself and replied "Ready." The two walked out of the house and started heading towards the restaurant they had reservations at. The two walked in an uncomfortable silence since Angel let it slip that the only reason they were on this date was because she lost a bet. They eventually made it to the restaurant and took their seats at a table. "So… how are you feeling?" Nickoli questioned, attempting to break the awkward story.

"A little nervous." Angel admitted. "I've never really been on a date before." Nickoli smiled his normal warm smile and reassured "There's no need to be nervous. Just… talk to me like you normally would."

"That's kinda difficult when we're actually on a date."

Angel took a deep breath and sighed "We should talk about why we're actually here." Nickoli looked at the table and replied "Yeah, you lost a bet."

"There's… more to it. Yes, I did ask you out because I lost a bet with Z-12, but it is also because… because…"

Angel knew her face was an incredibly bright red as she tried to confess her feelings to Nickoli. "Angel, do… do you have a crush on me?" Nickoli questioned. Angel admitted "Yeah, I know I told you before that I only thought about you as a friend, but that was before everything with Maliwan. After you risked everything to save me… I kinda started to like you." Nickoli reached across the table and took Angel's Siren hand, chuckling "Then I'm glad you lost that bet. I never would have been able to ask you out after you kinda shot me down before."

"Well… this is our first date."

Angel squealed a bit "I'm so excited!" Nickoli chuckled "I never would have imagined you like this. All excited and nervous."

"I can't help it! We're finally on a date!"

The two sat and ate and talked the entire night until it was starting to get late. They eventually left the restaurant, but didn't head home. Instead, they walked about the city and continued talking. Angel took a seat on a bench, Nickoli taking a seat next to her and putting his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into Nickoli, resting her head on his shoulder.

The two were enjoying their moment when Angel looked up at Nickoli, staring into his brown and red eyes. Nickoli looked down at Angel, staring into her sparkling blue eyes. The two closed their eyes and started to lean towards each other for a kiss. They were about to meet when a high pitched voice shouted "Cyborg!" Nickoli raised his head and groaned "What is it Claptrap?"

The old Hyperion steward bot rolled up to the two and exclaimed "It is time for my weekly mechanical check!"

"Can it wait? Kinda in the middle of something."

"No it cannot! Let us make haste or I will inform the Mechanic Minion!"

Nickoli leaned his head back and groaned "Fine. I'm really sorry about this Angel." Angel sighed "It's okay. Maybe next time?"

"Next time."

Nickoli stood up and grumbled "Come on Claptrap, let's get your check done." Claptrap spun and cheered "Excellent! Let us make haste!" The two turned and rolled towards the Research and Development building, leaving Angel to think about how close she came to her first kiss.

O00000O00000O

Meanwhile, in the Bloodwing Park, Lynn, Z-12, Patrick and Justin are sitting under a pavilion simply chatting. Z-12 reaches into the box he picked up from the store and pulls out a beer. "Am I the only one able to drink?" He questions as he removes the bottle cap. "Get me one, you fucking drunk." Lynn orders as Z-12 takes a drink. Z-12 rolled his eyes as he handed Lynn a beer, who tore the cap off and took a drink herself.

"Justin? Patrick? Care for a drink?" Lynn questioned, handing them her bottle. "I'm fine." Justin replied as Patrick simply shook his head. Lynn shrugged and took a drink as Z-12 questioned "Can I ask you a question Lynn?"

"Sure, go right ahead."

"What's up with how much attention you give Angel?"

Lynn looked at him with a raised eyebrow and questioned "You're kidding, right? You mean you haven't… wow… awkward." The three guys looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Lynn sighed and confessed "The reason that I've been paying Angel so much attention is because I'm trying to sleep with her." All of the guys went wide eyed as Lynn went on "I'm a lesbian… I like girls." Z-12 took a drink and exclaimed "Wow, that's a surprise. I thought you were straight."

"Aww, sad at a missed opportunity Z?"

Z-12 rolled his eyes and questioned "So what's the next new project on Justin?" Justin exclaimed "I've been working a little harder on my Battle Borak. It seems like a little more useful than trying to balance a minigun on your shoulder."

"Well, can we see what you've got?"

Justin hopped from his seat and took out a small metal box about the size of two decks of cards. He tossed the box and with a flash of light as it hit the ground, a large mechanical borak appeared with a turret similar to his father's. "Damn, that looks terrifying." Z-12 chuckled. Justin shrugged and replied "It's still not as good as Dad's turret."

"Just a few more adjustments and it would be better! I mean, it's a high powered automatic turret connected to a mobile battle beast. Already pretty awesome."

"Do you really think so? Like… do you think they would use them in the Raiders?"

Lynn laughed "I'm surprised they haven't asked you about using them yet." Justin smiled as his Battle Borak digistructed back into its box. Lynn took another drink and questioned "What about you Patrick? Our Mute Mutilator? Do you have some fun weapon?" Patrick reached behind his back and pulled out a grey stick about an inch thick and 6 inches in length. The others looked at the weapon with raised eyebrows until Patrick picked it back up.

Patrick stepped back and flicked his wrist, the stick extending until it was nearly two feet long. "Dude! You've got an asp!" Justin exclaimed. Patrick rested the large asp on his shoulder and smiled as Lynn proclaimed "I bet that beats using a metal pipe." Patrick shrugged his shoulders and slammed the top into the ground, collapsing the baton back into its original form. Patrick sat back down and Lynn questioned "So Z, what's it like having a family?"

Z-12 finished off his bottle and replied "It's… nice. I train with Dad on honing my skills and help keep the place clean to help Mom out. Angel is just… the greatest sister. She's stood by me since the day we met." Justin informed "She's really happy to have you as a brother, even though you'd technically be more an uncle since you are a clone of her father."

"Even so, we treat each other like brother and sister and that is what we will seen as."

"So how does Aunt Maya treat you?"

"She treats me like she gave birth to me, not like I'm a clone but like I'm her son."

Lynn jumped in "So how does being the son of a General and the leading scientist of Crimson City go?" Justin answered "I feel like I'm held up to an incredibly high standard to either be really brave and strong like Dad or ridiculously smart like Mom." Patrick spoke "Don't worry about what others think. Only worry about what you think because that is what truly matters." As Patrick finished his statement, the night was almost completely dead silent. Lynn chuckled "Chills man. Nothing but chills."

Z-12 laughed "That is the most I have ever heard Patrick ever speak. Bravo man, bravo." Patrick nodded and smiled as Lynn polished off her bottle. Lynn sighed "So… is everyone ready for our big operation?" Patrick and Justin nodded as Z-12 proclaimed "We're going to tear Maliwan apart."

Two days later…

A Technical rode through the Dust, Z-12 drove while Patrick sat in the turret. Angel, Nickoli, Justin and Lynn sat in the back and talked about what happened over the last two days. Lynn took particular note to how Nickoli had his arm draped around Angel's shoulders. "So what's going on between you two?" Lynn questioned with a raised eyebrow. Angel leaned into Nickoli's shoulder and explained "We've finally started dating."

Justin chuckled "It's about time. Patrick and I were about to start a pool on when you two would get together." Nickoli exclaimed "I'm finally happy we're making a move on Maliwan. So what was the operation?" Lynn answered "We're going to infiltrate the Friendship Gulag, which is now under Maliwan control. We get in, tear out some information, and get out and probably cause a lot of hell for Maliwan."

"You've been just as excited about this as I have, haven't you?"

"Oh yeah. I've been waiting to give Maliwan a good kick in the ass for what they've done."

There was a moment of silence, so Angel questioned "So how did your guy's hang out go? I heard from Z-12 that you guys had a little get together." Lynn nodded her head and replied "We did and it went really well."

"Did… Z-12 fit in? I'm really worried that he might not get along with everyone."

"Well you don't need to. We had a great time just sitting and talking. Z-12 fit in perfectly."

"That's good. I want him to be able to go out and have fun without me being there to stand by him, even though I want to."

"Damn, you really are a good sister."

Z-12 pulled off the broken highway and into the sands of the Dust, heading towards the Raider Dust Outpost and Vehicle Hub. The wall of junked vehicles and garbage surrounded the outpost with a single door that was under watch of several machine gun turrets. The technical stopped in front of the door, a Raider barking "Who goes there!?" Lynn stood up and shouted "We are group 11-204, reporting to Major Salvador." The Raider looked at his note pad and exclaimed "Alright! You're cleared to enter!"

The door opened and Z-12 drove the technical through the doors, seeing the massive number of armored techincals that were being outfitted with weapons and additional armor. A female voice barked "Watch what cher doin! Or else yer goin to hurt cherself!" The group headed towards the main building to see a woman that was nearly the size of half a runner. She wore overalls that probably also acted as her pants along with a very low cut top that exposed an unnecessary amount of cleavage. She had short cut orange hair and a heart tattoo on the left side of her chest.

As soon as their technical stopped, the woman turned towards them and proclaimed "Oh howdy! Nice to see y'all made it here okay. Little ol' Sally's been worried bout all y'all." Z-12 jumped out of the driver's seat and informed "We're here to talk with Major Salvador about our operation."

"Let me just get him for you. He's out back training some troops. Just follow me! My name is Ellie by the way."

Ellie started to walk, to the surprise of the group, and led them around back to a firing line of Crimson Raiders who were dual wielding assault rifles and SMGs. A man that was about half the size walked in front of them and barked "You pendejos are here because you are the best! If shit hits the fan, then we will respond! Do you understand me?" The line of 10 men shot to attention and responded "Sir Yes sir!" Major Salvador retained his spikey blue hair, but had removed his bead.

He wore a short sleeve desert camouflage shirt with matching pants along with a vest that held various ammunition pouches. He looked over to the group and ordered "At ease!" Once the soldiers relaxed, Angel moved to the front of the group and cheered "Uncle Sal!" Salvador approached the group and cheered "Mi sobrina e sobrinos! How have all of you been? Angel, you've grown into such a beautiful woman, just like your mother!"

"It's good to see you too Uncle Sal."

Salvador moved down to Patrick and laughed "Patrick, still a man of few words?" Patrick simply shrugged and smiled. "Don't ever change sobrino." Salvador laughed as he moved down the line. Salvador gripped Justin's shoulders and questioned "So Justin? What new invention do you have to improve the army?" Justin pulled out his metal box and announced "A Battle Borak. A mechanical borak with an automatic turret attached to it."

Justin tossed his box and deployed his Battle Borak, the soldiers ogling at the mechanical weapon. "That is awesome!" Salvador cheered. "That would double the number of soldiers we have! How many can you make us?"

"It's still in the testing stages, trying to refine the system and targeting A.I. so it may take a bit."

"Come see me when you've finished with it. We could use something like this!"

The Battle Borak timed out and digistructed back into its box as Salvador exclaimed "So, who are the two new comers?" Angel slid to her friends and introduced "This is Z-12, my brother and Dad's clone. This is Lynn, a girl who can wield the elements as weapons. And finally, this is Nickoli, the group technical savant… and my boyfriend." Salvador laughed heartily and exclaimed "Boyfriend? Good luck in what remains of your life before Zer0 gets a hold of you." Nickoli responded "Mr. Zer0 and I are on… fair terms. I don't see him having any issues with me dating his daughter."

"Again, good luck. So, what is the plan?"

Angel explained "Z-12 will take up sniper support and keep any reinforcements from getting behind us should the plan go south. Nickoli and I will sneak into the prison's power system and take it down. While that is happening, Justin and Patrick will back up Lynn and take out their armory. Once inside, Lynn will hack the system and pull out every bit of information there is. Simple, except not at all." Angel started going into detail about the plan when something caught his eye, the glint of a scope. Using his robotic eye, Nickoli calculated that the sniper was about to take a shot at Angel, and they were lined up for the kill.

Nickoli quickly jumped in front of Angel as the shot rang out, him feeling the bullet tear into his chest. He dropped into Angel's arms, who was frozen seeing Nickoli covered in blood from taking a bullet for her.

A/N: Dun dun duuuuuuhh! Nickoli took a bullet for Angel! But who took the shot? Until next update! PM or review your thoughts comments or concerns.

-Chief