The 0ne in search of zer0

Chapter 4

The vaulthunters continue to stride up bunker hill. at first they came with determined attitudes, hoping to find Zer0. but now, as they walk up the hill, trying to avoid tripping over the dead bodies, they all feel cautious. Gaige whispers to Salvador "hey Sal, i know we are all tough and stuff, but im pretty creeped out. its all red everywhere." Salvador gets shivers and says "i know how you feel right now, i knew Zer0 was an assassin and all, but i never thought he would do all this. 

Maya looks back, "hey, we are almost at the gate. everyone brace your weapons, just in case." Axton wittingly says "what? you think he'd kill us or something?" Mordecai readies his rifle "im not scared of Zer0, im worried about who he is meeting up there.

with that notion, everyone clicks on the gate that takes them up to bunker hill. 

they all enter, but before taking another step in, Maya signals to ready their weapons.  they cautiously make their way up the hexagonical steps of bunker hill, until they reach the platform, they each duck as maya signals to get down. she saw something.

they sky is gray, and the sun setting behind the bunker gives off a red glow to the sky. th wind blows gently and the breeze makes a low howling sound.

the vaulthunters peek their heads to see whats going on,  they all stand wide-eyed as they see Zero, standing infornt of the steps of where BUNK3R would lift off. his sword still sheathed, he stands there as if waitng for something, not even moving a single muscle.  all the vaulthunters get startled as Zer0 yells "Stop hiding! i dont have the time to idle while you plan your grand entrance, stop wasting my time!" 

as Zer0s voice fades, 9 figures materialize atop the steps. all of them bearing the same suit as Zer0  but the numbers two through ten. the helmet of the fourth bearing a large scar on the faceplate of his helmet, and the sixth wears the Infern0 helmet. 

the vaulthunters who watch from a distance all get the shivers rinning down their spines. even kreig, who is usually hyperactive, stays calm and almost scared to make any movements.

the sixth makes the first movement and opens his arms in a welcoming embace stance "Zer0, its been a long time! its so great to see you havent changed a bit, still wearing that old helmet? i never did understand why you didnt get rid of it. have you finally decided to rejoin us again, seeing as how you left all your weapons behind, that has to be the only reason.. right"

"i didnt come here to join you 51X, i would ever join you filth ever again"

"ohh, whats this? you couldnt have possibly come her to kill us, because that would be outlandish, correct" 

Zer0 faces his helmet at F0ur, "if i wanted to, ther would only be 8 of you here, if i didnt hold back." 

F0ur looks directly at Zer0, his mask bearing the large scar on his faceplate, shines red against the light of the sky.

51x speaks "you know, F0ur never did forgive you for what you did"

Zer0 interupts "yeah, im sure he regrets underestimating me, i bet he wont do it ever again, i grow tired of your mind games 51x, you said you offered a challenge. but the only thing you are challenging is my patience! what is it that you want!?"

                                                                       .................. 

"What we want... simple... we want to erase a stain, a stain that has left its mark in the brotherhood...

...and we will go to any lenghts to acheive this!"

as he finished his scentence, he materializes a black revolver and shoots it, but not at Zer0. Zer0 feels the bullet fly right by his shoulder, then he hears a faint yell behind him.

                                          Mordicai!!!!

Maya yells as she rushes to aid mordicai, blood gushes out of his shoulder and he screams of pain.

"i thought we told you not to bring your friends Zer0, tsk tsk, you should have listened." 

IM GONNA KILL YOU 51X!!! Zer0 yells as he sees mordicai standing with a bullet hole in his shoulder,  Maya trying to heal him with her powers.

the other assassins dissappear. only six stays infront of Zer0, then in the blink of an eye, they rematerialize behind the vaulthunters and pin them down, they each unsheath their blade and hold them to their necks. 

then 51x speaks "what will you do Zer0, if you would have listened, this wouldnt have happened, but its quite fortunate that it ended this way. now, if you want your filth of companions to live, you will do as i say and come back to the brotherhood, there were still test to be done!!"

Zero says in a low tone "so.. you think that you have me trapped, you think i have no other choice but the ones you offer, you are wrong, i made my choice when i left, that proves that there are other choices outside of yours. ill never submit to you!"

"oh really?.. is that so. 51x pulls out his revolver again and shoots Maya in the leg and shoots kreig in the stomach. the loud bang of the gun startle Zer0.  Zer0 hears the agonizing pain of his comrades. 

Axton, struggling to speak, yells "what they hell!! why arent our sheilds working!?" 

51x scoffs "shields?? those measly things? that has no effect on my revolver. this revolvers name is "the reaper" it completely ignores sheilds, it was specifially manufactured for assassins."

Zer0 can hear maya and kreig struggle to not fall on their knees in pain, maya tries to beak free but the assassins remain unmoved. 

" Now now Zer0" 51x yells.  "if you really wont submit, then ill have to take you by force, why dont you remove that helmet for me." 51x says as he points his revolver to the vaulthunters, his finger touching the trigger tightly.

"i refuse."

"oh, you still believe your secret is worth anything? do you still believe that you can keep it hidden forever? REMOVE THE HELMET! OR I WILL KILL YOUR MEASLY FRIENDS!! DO IT NOW!!"

zero motions his head back and looks at his friends, maya makes direct eye contact with Zer0, even though she has no idea where his eyes are, Zer0 can still feel her eyes burning through his helmet, he can see the pain in them, the suffering. 

Zer0 faces 51x, and motions his hands to his helmet. the vaulthunters all tense up, they feel a blood rush as they anticipate Zer0s reveal, even mordicai, who struggles to remain standing, removes his goggles.

                                                          *hissss*

Zer0s helmet lets out air and he lifts his helmet off his head, he holds his helmet in his hands and tosses it off the side of bunker hill. he can hear the helmet tumble down the rocky slope.  the air howls again and a breeze hits the vaulthunters.

"good, it seems all you needed was motivation, now, turn around, let your friends see who you are before i rid them of their insignificant lives, let them see the man who lied right to their face of who he is.  do it!!"

Zer0 struggles, he clenches his fist, he doesnt want them to see his face, not like this, but he has no other choice"

Zer0 moves his feet and turns to the vaulthunters slowly.

in the eyes of the vaulthunters, he looks like he is moving in slow motion, they are all tense, their hair stand on their ends down their spine, and eyes wide open, they stand speachless, Zer0s teal glowing eyes stare directly at the vaulthunters, they all stare, speachless..

exept Maya. in a low tone, she whispers

               Zero.... y.. you... are you....

                          What... are you?!.....

                                                    ...