//------------------------------// // Chapter 32: Seraphs End // Story: Borderlands 2 DLC: Vault of the Consular // by NightStream //------------------------------// There are a lot of things that any creature can tell you about when it comes to pain. Some would valiantly say that it's just weakness leaving the body. Others who would be more qualified in the medical department of things would say that whoever told you that has no idea what they’re talking about and try to fix you up. However, pain isn’t always what we think it is, but at the end of the day, it still hurts regardless. Right now, to Starlight, she was going through something similar. Her head was aching, her ears were in pain, and the only thought on her mind was the last thing she remembered. Her pushing the lawbringer Nisha off a balcony, her impalement… and then it all went dark. Even though she was the victor of the duel, Starlight personally didn’t want to have it come to this. To her, the unicorn felt that what happened now went against what she had been learning from Twilight. That she impulsively made a decision without thinking and left the friends she came to save in danger because of it. Everything felt… cold for a moment. But it was only a moment. For when her eyes opened again, she found herself in an area that looked like an office or security station. Bandages were all over her forelegs and, from what she could feel, one of her ears had a strange pressure to it. She felt… weak. Like how a unicorn would feel after using every ounce of magic in her body. Just where was she? W-what was going on? Then, someone familiar. “H-hey, Axton? I think she’s waking up!” That was a voice she recognized briefly. One of the soldiers of the guard, but her mind was a bit hazy on the details. “Hey there sunshine, how do you feel right now?” snapping was then heard. “Gotta make sure you’re all awake here.” “H-head… hurts.” “You did take one hell of a beating, but you managed to survive and kill Nisha.” If she were honest, Starlight was hesitant to really respond. Sure, she did ‘stop’ them, but death was not what she was trying to do. She never knew what it would feel like… to end someone’s life like that. Why did it feel… satisfying? “I-is everypony else… o-okay?” “They are going to be fine, but the better question I have for you is are you going to be ok? Mentally anyway.” He’s worrying if she’s okay? There was something more important to worry about than her right now and that was the friends they came to save! “Are the o-others okay?” “Lilith and Zer0 are on their way to them right now. So in short, yeah they will be fine.” She hoped that he was right… but words weren’t going to be enough. Starlight had to be certain. “For now however, are you physically able to fight through?” Axton then swapped to being a soldier, “Because I don’t want you to suddenly become a cadaver when we are going to meet up with them. Also for the fact we don’t know where Jack is at the moment. So are you absolutely certain you can still fight?”  “She looks drained,” Flash was heard from the back, “Not sure if it’s magical or physical exhaustion, but it would be too risky to move her. If your two friends can get the Princess up here, then she might have a better understanding.” “Sounds good, with that Starlight you have to stay put or you could very well risk killing yourself trying to move.” Axton then stood up. “They will be fine and besides, Lilith and Zer0 will be back in no time.” Right on cue, a voice could be heard over the ECHO device on Axton’s person. A familiar voice from someone Starlight was with not too long ago, “Come in, this is Lilith. Can anybody hear me?” “This is Axton go ahead.” “We found who we’re looking for, but something got the rest of the inmates here up in a frenzy. What’s going on up there?” “Nisha is dead, thanks to Starlight here. So anything else that happened, I’m not too certain.” There was a hefty silence for almost a minute, before the siren spoke up again, “That might be the reason for things now. Hell, with no one to watch over what she calls thugs, this place is almost like Pandora… in the sense that it’s effectively lawless. We’re getting the others out. For now, stay where you are and we’ll come back to you. Kill any inmate you see-” “The chain lady is dead!! WE’RE FREE!!!” “Well, now the cat’s out of the bag.” Axton said as he readied his gun and his turrets primed. “Not that I figured it would’ve been that way for long. See you when you get here.” The ECHO device went silent, before Starlight felt a nudge to her side and heard Flash speak again, “If we’re holding down this point, what can I do to help?” “Well, for starters, ever wanted to know how to handle a gun?” Axton asked as he moved one of his two turrets into a position closer to the door they came in from. Flash’s face was… unsure. He did want to help, but he had absolutely no clue how Axton’s things worked. “I… guess-” “Well no time like the present then.” Axton then looked Flash up and down. “Hmm I think a shotgun might work for you since you have that armor on.” Axton then handed him one. “Get a handle of it first, see how it feels for you.” The guard was… not sure how to handle the newfound weapon in his hooves. In fact, when he attempted to fire it once, the recoil was enough to make him fly off balance. “Ok, maybe handing you a Jakobs shotgun was not the best option.” Axton admitted. “Then I guess maybe try a pistol then.” Then, a familiar voice was followed… and a haiku with it. “Axton, I must ask/ What the hell are you doing/ Just standing around?” “Getting Flash here to help out since he otherwise has nothing to do. Also to protect Starlight since she isn’t fully ready to move around yet.” “You believed that / arming him with a shotgun / was good idea?” “I thought his armor wasn’t for show, you know, to help with the recoil.”  All Axton could hear was a deep sigh, before the voice on the other end changed back to one that he was hoping to hear from as Lilith was back on the ECHO device, “If you two are finished, can we work on an escape plan please? Trixie and I got Tina to defuse her toys and get the girls out, but there’s no way in hell that we are getting out of here without a fight. Axton, can you regroup back with us?” “Alright, be there soon.” “Axton then turned to Flash. “We will have to continue your gun training another day.” Personally, Flash was relieved by that. For he wasn’t sure if he ever wanted to actually hold one of those things ever again. So, instead of carrying a weapon, he carried Starlight on his back instead. “Where are we going?” “Right now, time to regroup with Lilith then maybe get you two the hell out of this place.” “And everypony else, right?” “They are with Lilith right now, so let’s walk and talk if you have any more questions.” “Let’s hold off on that. I do have questions, but I don’t think we have the-” Just as he was speaking, the whole building started to violently shake, “-time.” “Yeah, sounds like we have overstayed our welcome.” Axton then started running towards the way out. Flash didn’t waste any time either, holstering Starlight onto his back and picking up the contraption that was next to her body when they found her as they scrambled to find a way out. “Oi, what’s going on over there?” Mordecai could be heard over the ECHO device, “Talon’s starting to freak out-” “I wish I could tell you off hand, but all I know is we need to get the hell out of here.” Axton responded. “Also Lilith found our missing ponies so rescue is a success at least, and Starlight killed Nisha so that’s a bonus.” As he said that, a structural pillar that supported the foundation of the building began to crack and crumble as more pieces were falling apart. If what was happening earlier wasn’t a reminder for them to haul ass out of here, then they definitely got the message now. “Talk to you as soon as we get out of dodge.” “Let’s just hope everypony else is okay.” “I think they might be relatively safer than they were before.” As they hurried out of the gulag to meet their friends, Flash had another question on his mind as he gently set Starlight down on the ground, “What about your friend, Gaige? Will she be okay? She was the one that orchestrated… well, all of this.” “Honestly, she’ll be fine considering she knows how to make an exit just as much of an entrance.” The pegasus could only give him a semi-concerned look, “I hope you’re right-” Only for the conversation to get interrupted as the Commando got pounced on by a familiar teenaged alicorn, “Axty!! There you are, you silly dum dum!! We’ve been looking for you!” “Good to see you are just fine Tina.” He then adjusted Tina to carry her on his back. “Also good to know you were looking for me, I was just leaving this place anyway.” “Leaving? But we’re not all here, silly! You can’t just leave after splitting the party! That’s the number one no-no in Bunkers and Badasses!!” “In that case let's meet up with the others, they’re waiting for us.” For some reason though, Flash felt that there was still more to do. That all of this felt too easy. What if this… thing that Gaige is up against proved to be more than she could handle? The moment that he realized that the vault hunter that led the assault started making a bee-line straight for them, Roland noticed that despite bearing a confident face, Jack was not exactly thrilled about what was happening at the minute. Not only did Gaige bring her own army to combat his loaders and minions, but she dispatched Wilhelm so quickly that he didn’t even hear him let out any cries or screams. From the soldier’s position, it looked like Jack was trying to throw shit at a wall to see what would slow her down. Yet, every time it failed, the more that his patience began to grow thin. “Well Jack, things aren’t looking so hot for you anymore.” Roland calmly said. “Anything else you need me for anymore? Because I think it is safely coming all apart from what you planned.” Roland had a smirk growing on his face watching Jack slowly lose composure, yet couldn't shake a small feeling of dread forming as well.  “Oh, don’t you give me that smug ass look. You know you wanted this,” Jack retorted, fighting between maintaining his usual demeanor and giving into his anger, “Even in this predicament, you wanted to resist the situation you’re in. And to add salt into the wound, you dragged my daughter into this too. Just like on Pandora!” “Well, so what if I did? It doesn’t change the fact of what's happening right in front of you. If I didn’t know any better I would almost say history is starting to repeat itself for you.” Immediately as he said that, Jack drew a gun on him. A weapon unfamiliar to him, but one that he gripped firmly. “Shut your mouth!! Do you really think that this can be over so easily? I’m not going to have myself die here, in this wretched waste!! Not when I am so close to-” Immediately, the plateau they were on overlooking the carnage below started to shake as the sound of gunfire got closer and closer. For a brief second, Jack turned his gaze away from Roland as a rocket flew past his head and exploded underneath the cliffs overlooking them. Cracks in the stone started to fall as giant shards of rock began to rapidly descend towards them. “Aw, son of a taint!!” Jack cursed, before immediately taking off. Not even caring if Roland followed, but more focused on his own personal safety and trying to put as much distance between himself and the Vault Hunter coming for them. “Don’t think I’m going to let this end like last time!!” Roland shouted as he rolled towards the way Jack left before the rocks landed on him. Or so he thought. For when he opened his eyes again, he saw the sight of a large metal claw holding up one of the boulders that would’ve crushed him in a heartbeat. Alongside the giant robot Deathtrap was the Mechromancer that Roland remembered bringing on to the Crimson Raiders long ago. Only this time, they were on separate ends of the conflict… and she was the one pointing a shotgun at him with a single question on her mind. “Where’s the Jackass?” “Ran down the hall without a second look back. He’s all yours if you don’t want my help.” Roland stated while getting up. “Why would I even consider your help after what you did?” Gaige said, before looking away, “Look, I’ll deal with you later. After I make sure that Jack is back where he belongs six feet under.” “Fair enough.” Roland then muttered under his breath “Not like I could do anything.” Gaige had already started moving before Roland could say anything. The mechromancer had a lot that she could say to the man that let her into the Crimson Raiders, but that could wait. Jack was the bigger problem and she owed it to Angel to see it through. Luckily, it did not take long for her to try and find him. “You give me back my daughter, you bandit scum!!” The proclamation was fired by several shots fired straight at her from different directions. Some were from above her, but also attacking from the side as Gaige got behind one of the rocks that fell from the cliff-face. “Well, that’s just like Jack.” “Care to explain, Angel?” the mechromancer glanced at her arm as the Siren’s voice echoed in her head. “He’s using a set of what he calls ‘Expendable Assets’. Digistructed versions of himself to help him or be a hindrance to those trying to fight him. Something that is usually seen with his body doubles back in Opportunity.” “So, he’s either trying to make a run for it or just hide in the hopes we don’t find him,” the vault hunter said, but not before an idea surfaced as she grabbed her ECHO Device, “Hey Axton, you got a second?” “I’m all ears right now, what's the plan?” “Jack’s trying some stupid fake out plan to try to hide. Using the same kind of holograms Tannis took to make Digistruct Peak,” she replied, “How much artillery do you have?” “Simple answer is yes, more accurate answer is I’m ready to bring the rain.” Axton then chuckled a little. “Ready to fire whenever you need me to, and also Tina says Hi.” “Do it then. Also, tell Tina I said hi back. We’ll talk more once we’re out of this mess,” Gaige said, marking the area ahead of her and sending the coordinates to Axton’s ECHO device, before ending the call and putting her ECHO back on her belt. “Any second now…” “ONE ORDER OF EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE INCOMING!!” Not that long after the order was called, a symphony of explosions went off in sequence. Through the sight of her weapon, she watched as each one of the Jack copies cried out in painful agony. Whatever debris was out and about was now scattered as Gaige now had a clear sight on the real Handsome Jack. And he was not happy. “Well… For a child murderer, you’re rather resourceful.” “At least I don’t need to hide behind my own ego,” Gaige snarked back, just as the newfound arm she constructed began to glow. “But on that note, there is someone that wants to say a few words.” Before Jack even realized what was happening, the arm on the mechromancer fired out from its socket as the hand that jettisoned toward him grabbed him at the throat. He tried to struggle, but the stranglehold made it impossible to focus as he ended up dropping the gun he had on him. “It’s been a while, dad.” the voice of Angel said, almost dripping with a pride that was absent when alive back on Pandora. “A-Angel… W-why? T-They’re bandits-! They-” “They showed me more kindness than you ever did,” she shot back, the arm rising higher in the sky, “You talked about wanting to make paradise while I was in a prison of your design. You treated your own flesh and blood as nothing more than a tool of your twisted machinations, all while you had the nerve to tell me to be grateful for everything you’ve done for me!” At this point, even Gaige was a bit caught off guard. She thought that Angel would just snap his neck and be done with it. But this… this was not what they talked about. This was not part of the plan! “Angel, what are you doing?” “I’m sorry Gaige,” the voice of the siren echoed, rising even higher as the arm glowed bright red, “But after everything he’s done here and home and what he’s done to us… Just this once, I want to at least right the wrongs I’ve done before… and show this bastard HOW GRATEFUL I AM!” “ANGEL-!” In an instant, there was a bright flash as a massive explosion went off. Blood and gore rained down from on high as a part of the cliff-face that was there was now gone as if it never existed. The mask worn by Handsome Jack now broken and shattered into pieces and the arm that once held Angel now a hunk of burning trash. From Roland was, part of him felt satisfied being able to actually see Jack die. Something that was robbed too soon back on Pandora. But… that was short lived by the voice of another farther into the cliff-face. “So, you must be the one who’s been defying all my expectations. A curious one indeed.” When the mechromancer turned around, she was now face to face with the last thing she anticipated. A tall bony figure with a robe of flesh in its body and a staff of what looked like bone. Ghostly wisps floating around its form as its singular eye was the same color as them. It wasn’t even focused on the remaining soldier here, almost as if it lost interest in them. Only for that interest to be rekindled as it looked at Gaige. “At last… we meet.”