Summary: Waking up in a prison cell after landing on a new planet is never fun. Especially after listening to some whole speech from an asshole who calls himself the Timekeeper. Who then goes to screw a bolt into your spine trapping you on said planet. However getting the process interrupted by a series of explosions, might as well have made this the luckiest day ever.
Warnings: major slow burn, death, descriptions of death, swearing,
A/n: This is my first ever fic so please be kind to me. I tried to have as little description as possible of the reader other than being female. And I believe y/n is only used once. Also I do NOT speak spanish, so if any is wrong I’m so sorry. Reader is a siren with abilities kind of like Zoey from Kpop Demon hunters so knives lol. NOT PROOF READ.
The explosions knock me from the chair I was tied to, shoving me to my hands and knees. “What the hell?” I sputter coughing as the dust clears. “Really hope I just blew up the right rooms.” A voice calls out from a distance. “Echo-4 check to see if anyone is alive in those rooms, and I’ll check this one.” I hear the voice call out again before a figure approaches me.
“Hell yeah! Two for one.” I look up to see a man approaching me with his gun held up to the sky to show that he’s not a threat. “Are you hurt, are you okay?” He asks, kneeling in front of me. I cough trying to clear the dust from my throat. “Yeah I’m fine, but who the hell are you?” I ask my voice hoarse from the dust and smoke clouding my lungs. “Oh right sorry, my name is Arjay and I’m here to get you out of here.” He explains, as he gently grabs my arm helping me to my feet before continuing. “And in the next room over is Echo-4, my robot.” He says as I look around to get my bearings. Suddenly we hear a series of distant boops and beeps from what I assume is his robot he was talking about. The guy Ajay I think he said runs through the hole blown up in the room and over to the next room.
I hurriedly search the two guards that got killed by the blasts, and grab one of their guns. I pick up what looks to be a pistol and rush over to the next room. As I approach the improvised doorway I see Arjay and his Echo helping up a man in armour and a mask “Eso duele.” He groans as he stands up, his voice slightly muffled by the mask. “I’m Arjay and this is Echo-4. I'm a Vault Hunter with the Crimson Resistance, and I’m here to get you guys out of here.” Arjay explains to the man tossing him a weapon. “ I am Rafa, a pleasure.” The stranger responds while stretching for a second. “And who might you be?” He asks, gesturing towards me; his accent thick. “y/n, also a Vault Hunter, but not with whatever resistance this guy is from.” I say nodding my head to where Arjay stands Echo floating beside him.
“Ay well this is unfortunate for us ¿Sí?” Rafa as we’ve learned speaks while gesturing to our predicament. “As much as I’d love for us to all get to know each other, but we gotta move and fast.” Arjay says interrupting us. “Let us get out of here.” Rafa agrees, nodding his head at both me and Arjay.
As we make our way through the halls the alarm blares loud. “Crap, they've placed this whole thing on lockdown.” Arjay says as we run through the halls. “Not that I’m complaining but why help us?” Rafa calls out to Arjay. “Hopefully my intel was correct but you are both vault hunters right” Arjay asks in response. “Sí.” Rafa says while nodding. “Well the Crimson Resistance is gonna free this whole planet. And I figured we could use all the Vault Hunters we could get.” Arjay explains as we come to a stop. “Okay” he whispers, “there's about 5 guards patrolling this next area. Do you guys think you’re good to fight?” “I don’t think we have much of a choice.” I respond while pulling the pistol I had found out gearing up to fight. We round the corner and start shooting at the guards effectively taking most out with the three of us. As we get down to two, more guards start appearing from the triangles in the ground.
“Shit” I mutter as I run out of ammo. I summon my knives, and send them flying to some of the guards' heads as we finish off the rest of them. Rafa turns to face me, “Woah could’ve mentioned you were a Siren.” “Well with current pressing matters I didn't think it was of utmost importance.” I respond as Arjay thankfully tosses me some more ammo. “It’s not something I like to talk about.” I mutter brushing past Rafa as we continue to make our way through the prison.
As we make our way through different rooms fending off enemies. Rafa decides to fill the silence with some small talk. “So are we sure that this is a prison? It’s giving off more like luxury hotel vibes.” He jokes with a laugh. “Well It’s called the order for a reason. They like to keep things nice and tidy, people too.” Arjay says with a saddened laugh. I grimace at the reality of the situation. How many lives has this order ruined just for their so-called perfection? And what would happen to us if we don’t get out? The thought makes me urge forward faster, desperate to escape. “Everyone who lands here, ends up here. The only welcome people are the time keepers' domination and trust me you don’t want to meet those guys.” Arjay explains to us as we pass some more empty cells. “Wait, you mean there's not a single person here without a bolt in them?” I ask shocked looking at Arjay. “Almost everyone does. If you don’t then you are one lucky person.”
“Here up ahead should be the security room. If we can get in then we can find a way out.” Arjay says as we jog up a section of stairs. When we round the corner we come face to face with some more security guards. This time taking them out is getting a lot more efficient the more we get a sense of how we all fight. After we take them out we all sprint into the room and seal the door. As Arjay and Rafa head towards the center console, I take some time to loot the room to see if anything is helpful. “Hey guys!” I call to them. “I found a whole chest of confiscated weapons!” “Excelente!” Rafa calls as he heads over to me. I hand him some of the weapons and pick out what I want. “Listen about earlier when I called out your powers, I did not mean to offend.” Rafa says softly to me as we search the rest of the room. “I- I know” I say with a sigh. “I shouldn’t have reacted that way, you had no way of knowing. It’s just a sensitive topic for me. Not everyone sees sirens as people. So when someone calls it out I get a little defensive immediately thinking the worst.” He nods in understanding.
“Guys Echo might have to take a minute to hack the door but I got an Idea. If we can unlock all the prisoners' doors hopefully it can provide a distraction. That way we have a bit more time to try and get your guys’ Bolt jammed. I just need one of you to press the main button over there. It should open the doors to their cells!” Arjay explains, seeming a bit more hopeful than earlier. “Allow me” Rafa says, strutting up to the central console again. I sigh at his theatrics and look at the floor. As the button is pressed all the doors previously keeping the prisoners contained open. Setting off a different alarm throughout the prison.
“Hell yeah prison break!” Arjay exclaims excitedly. We start making our way towards a different set of doors leading out when an announcement rings from every speaker. “This is a reminder that every prisoner should think cautiously about their next actions, and to remember that he. Is always. Watching. There is no escape. No one leaves.” “Yeesh that didn’t sound ominous at all.” I say sarcastically, earning a chuckle from Rafa at my side. “Ah yes I am sure he reads from his how to sound threatening manual, every morning preparing for the star role!” Rafa jokes back with me as we follow Arjay down the hallway.
As we reach the outside me and Rafa stop to stare at the sky in shock. The sky held what looked to be a giant moon with cracks of glowing purple strung through it. Parts of the rock floating around it, and around the moon itself the sky cracking. Looking as if the planet was cased in, and the moon had broken it open. “Hell of a sight huh?” Arjay comments, noticing our stares at the sky. “One day it just appeared, shattering the sky. Raining down and feeling like shards against our skin. Everyone thought the world was ending. And I guess it kinda did.” He explains his tone melancholy. Then to a bit more angered one. “The Time Keeper has been in full tyrant mode ever since.” He then sighs. “Come on, the prisoners won’t make it far but, it’ll give us enough time.”
Arjay leads us across some bridges before we come across some more of the Time Keepers guards outside a building entrance. We band together and take them down as quickly as possible. Not long after Rafa pipes up as we head towards the door. “What did you mean when you said the prisoners won't make it far?” He asks glancing from me to Arjay. “They’re bolted just like us.” Arjay says as we start to descend some stairs. “Won’t be long before the Time Keeper marches them right back to their cells.” “Wait, you're telling me he can control us that easily?!” I exclaim panicked. “Yes unfortunately, that’s why it’s imperative that we jam your bolts as soon as possible.” I looked to Rafa nervously before we carry on.
We make our way through some more hallways, fending off guards here and there. Rounding the corner we stop and a dead end. I pause at the beginning. “Come on guys, we're almost there.” Arjay exclaims, turning back to look at me. “Uh amigo not to doubt your directional skills but that is a wall no?” Rafa says hesitantly. “Thats why I brought these!” Arjay says with a smile pulling out two devices. “Here hold out your arm.” Arjay says to me. I hesitantly hold my left arm out. He attaches the device to my forearm, the inside glowing softly, and then proceeds to do the same to Rafa. “Here now watch me.” Arjay says demonstrating how to use the grappling device. A bright blue line connects to the ledge pulling him up and over it.
“Now you guys try!” He yells from up top. Rafa steps up and presses the device effectively launching him up and over like Arjay had done. I nervously step closer and use the device. As it launches me up quickly I yell in surprise trying to find my footing quickly. Unfortunately I stumble as I land ungracefully forward. Suddenly two arms in front of me go to steady me. I look up, and am met with the glow from Rafa’s mask as he continues to steady me. “Falling for me already hermosa? We haven’t even known each other for a whole twenty four hours yet, how scandalous!” He jokes as a blush quickly rises to my face. I quickly step back and brush myself off. “You wish” I scoff walking past him and Arjay awkwardly standing there, watching the whole ordeal.
We jog down before being faced with a huge slope leading down to water. “We have to slide down, it's the only way forward.” Arjay explains sympathetically seeing the look on my face. “Here I’ll go first.” Arjay says before sliding down and jumping off using his grappling hook to swing him up and over to another ledge. “What is he crazy?!?” I exclaim panicked. “There’s no way I’m pulling that off.” “I don’t think we have a choice.” Rafa says with a sigh behind me. “Ladies first.” I hesitantly step forward before just saying fuck it and sliding down. As I quickly gain momentum from sliding, I try using the grapple like Arjay did, however when I try to use it, it wont work. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” I yell as I miss the point and go falling over the edge towards the water.
I splash hard into the water and it rushes into my mouth as I try to swim up. When I break the surface coughing I hear an excited yell and the words. “Cannon Ball!” I quickly look over to see another splash in the water. Rafa quickly breaks the surface, his mask flickering for a second. “Rafa!” I exclaim. “Did you also miss the point, why are you down here?” I ask confused as we tread the water. “I couldn’t leave you by yourself could I? Arjay knows his way around. You and I however do not.” He explains while starting to swim to the bank. I quickly start to swim after him and wade through the water onto the land. “So why not follow him since he knows where he’s going?” I ask still confused, trying to wring the water out of my hair and clothes. “What can I say? I like a little adventure.” He says, I can practically hear the smirk most likely behind that mask.
The walkie we’ve been carrying crackles to life, Arjay’s voice filtering through. “Damn looks like we got separated. You guys good?” “Rafa is always good!” Rafa speaks over the walkie. “So escape successful? Are we clear?” He asks Arjay over the walkie as we start to make our way forward into the forest. “Not exactly.” Arjay responds sheepishly over the walkie. “The order is going to have search parties combing through these woods. I stashed us a ride though. Let's meet up ahead.” “Guess we better get going.” I say with a sigh as me and Rafa start making our way.
“Arjay if the Time Keeper can take us over with this bolt shouldn’t we just rip it out? I uh don’t like being watched…” Rafa asks over the walkie as we step over branches in the dark. “Woah no no no” Arjay’s voice crackles from the walkie. “That thing is in there, hitched to your nervous system. When people try and rip their bolt out, it turns ‘em crazy. Or just straight up kills them.” I grimace at his words, the reality kicking in once more of our situation. “How lovely.” I say sarcastically. “Ay cara mia, that is definitely not good.” Rafa responds as we crouch under a rock formation.
“So Arjay” I ask over the walkie, “Why bother running if it’s just a matter of time?” “Not with Echo-4 on our side. He’s jamming my bolt and hopefully yours too if we can get to safety.” Arjay answers, “But what if we don’t get to safety in time, what if the Time Keeper gets to us before then?” I ask starting to get really worried. “That won’t happen. I will get you both to safety then we’ll fix this.” He answers softly over the walkie. His reassurance calms my thoughts for a moment. Rafa motions for us to keep moving forward, his suit glowing softly in the dark.
We continue on through the woods moving quietly through the dark. I continue to follow Rafa when he holds a hand out, stopping me from walking forward. Suddenly a bright search light passes in front of us, barely missing us. “That was a close one, thank you.” I whisper, “Of course no problem hermosa.” He responds softly, “Let's move.”
Moving through the bushes and foliage Arjay calls to us up ahead. “Good to see you guys made it. They’re looking for us everywhere, remember to keep a low profile.” “Yes I think we’ve noticed the big search light amigo.” Rafa quips in response with a chuckle as we kneel next to Arjay. “Right, sorry.” Arjay says with a small laugh.
Moving forward we battle dog-like creatures Arjay tells us are called Manglers. Arjay and Rafa make conversation about vaults. “So have either of you actually opened a vault?” Arjay asks. “I- uh no this is sorta a new.. Gig for me” Rafa says with an awkward chuckle. “What about you Arjay?” “I was actually born here on Kairos, I only learned of the vaults recently off of off-worlders who crashed when the moonfall chaos started. I took my chance and ventured out on my own. Been training up ever since.” “What about you?” Arjay asks, turning the attention on to me. “Oh I haven’t actually opened a vault either. I've spent years studying them though. That's why I came to Kairos. I wanted to try and open my first vault.”
“I’ll introduce you to the leader of the Crimson Resistance when we get out of here. I only joined up recently but it’s exactly what this planet needs! A whole rebellion, fighting together for freedom from the Time Keeper. And how I can’t wait to rub it in his shiny face when we crack that vault of his.” I chuckle at Arjay’s enthusiasm as he leads us towards where he said his ride is.
We track through water and down slopes leading further into the forest. When Arjay points out a building not too far away. “There, we’ll go through that order plant!” I look to where he points to see a massive building with faint glowing lights up top. “Geez” I whisper to myself as Arjay and Rafa slides down from the ledge. I look down to see Rafa holding his hand out to me, his mask glowing faintly. I take his hand as he helps me down from the ledge, feeling the warmth from his hand helps the cold I've been feeling from the night air. “Thank you" I say softly as I pass him to continue on.
The building seems much bigger as we approach it silently. “It’s awfully quiet is it not?” Rafa asks when we approach. And almost right after he speaks a ship from the order flies over to where we are causing me and Arjay to groan loudly. “Ay mierde! How was I supposed to know that would happen?” Rafa yells trying to defend himself as we begin to fight off the order. “I thought it was like a universal rule to never say that!” I yell to him over the sound of gun fire as we shoot at the order. “What are you like five? I thought that was made up! Like when people say to not step on a crack or they’ll break their mothers back.” He argues back as he reloads his gun behind cover. I duck and hide behind a box across from him to reload my pistol. I look over and glare at him “Well in this case your timing sucks.” After a few more minutes of fighting we finally get rid of all the guards.
Me and Arjay throw a look over our shoulders at Rafa who throws his hands in the air defensively. “¡Dije que lo sentía!” he angrily whisper yells. Arjay turns to start getting Echo to open the door. “Huh this wasn’t locked before. Weird.” Arjay comments “Well anyways our ride should be right behind this door!” “Thank God” I groan, ready for this day to be over.
Suddenly we hear the lock click open. “There we go! We can finally get to our ride. Maybe even pick up some of the priso- ners…” Arjay exclaims as the door opens as the door clicks open his tone falls. Inside we are met with a gruesome sight. Countless bodies are laying on the floor covered in blood. Some prisoners hold weapons in their hands on the ground others just lay lifeless with stab wounds. “What… what happened to them?” I exclaim horrified at the sight. “Oh no no… he..” Arjay whispers as he rushes forward into the room forcing me and Rafa to follow him silently. Occasionally glancing at the bodies around us. As we make it further into the room we see a lone prisoner standing looking horrified at the knife in his hand. “He made me!” The prisoner cries, dropping the knife in horror. Tears streaming down his face, he looks as if he’s to say something else. Before he suddenly stands eerily upright and a gold glow starts to emit from his eyes. He speaks again, this time his voice sounding strange like it wasn’t quite right for his body. “There was a time I might've used a gentler touch with these… Wayward creatures. Now they serve a greater purpose, now you see the true bars of your cage. There is no escape, you cannot break free.” And as soon as the voice came it was gone. The prisoner quickly brought his hands up to his head and snapped his neck. His body quickly dropping to the floor.
“What the hell.” Rafa mutters as me and Arjay stare in shock at what just happened. “He killed them. Not only that he- he forced them to kill each other and then themselves.” I say horrified. “I thought he;d march them back to their cells.” Arjay whispers “I never imagined he’d… Butcher them all.” “We need to get your bolts jammed as soon as possible!” He says speaking louder. “Echo hack the door” I stand still stunned looking at the bodies of the prisoners when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn to see Rafa standing to my left. I nod in response, silently thanking him. The door opens and Arjay urges us forward.
“I hacked an order ship. Hopefully it's still down here. Come on, let's move.” We move quickly down the ramp towards the opening. As we make it to the opening we see the ship Arjay was talking about. I breathe a sigh of relief. “We are getting out of here!” Arjay exclaims, running towards the ship. However as soon as he gets close the ship explodes sending Arjay flying back knocking him unconscious. “ARJAY!” I yell, when suddenly the warden who captured us in the first place floats above the burning wreckage. “No one leaves!” The warden yells before starting to attack us.
“Mierde this day just keeps getting better.” Rafa exclaims, pulling out his gun. We see more guards start to teleport down. “You take care of the little guys, I'll take care of this guy.” Rafa yells at me and I nod in return. I quickly run to the left firing my pistol at the guards spawning. Using my knives when I have to reload. I hear Rafa fighting the warden to my right, taunting him every chance he gets. “You really think you can kill me? Ha!” I hear the warden ask as bullets fly. “Ay maybe, maybe not but surely it doesn’t hurt to try no?” Rafa laughs, continuing to fight. After what seems like forever we finally win.
I breathe in a sigh of relief before panic hits me again. “Arjay!” I yell running towards him as he starts to sit up. “Hey can I get a hand up?” He asks as I make my way to him. “Of course” I say as I go to help him up he suddenly speaks. “All part of my master plan” He says with a groan “This is where I betray you” he says with a serious tone before breaking into a laugh. I chuckle softly with him. “Terrible time for that joke” I say with a smile and reach out for him to take my hand. As he stands up suddenly my body doesn't feel like my own. “No no no no!” I try to exclaim but my mouth won’t move, my arm won’t let go. “Not now please not now!” I think to myself. Arjay tries to pull away but my hand wont let go. “Hey we gotta get out of here before the Time Keeper-” Arjay starts to say before I hear Rafa’s voice interrupt him. But it’s not Rafa’s voice. It's strange like when the prisoner spoke. “Too late,” he says. I try to turn my head to look but I still can't move.
“What are you- aw crap” Arjay says as he starts to realize what’s happening. “I’m always watching.” I hear Rafa’s voice say this time closer to my left. And before I can process what's happening my body moves on its own punching Arjay and sending him to the ground close to the edge. “I wanted to see how useful my new vault hunter could be in action” I hear my own voice say. Arjay groans from his place on the ground while pulling the knife from his belt. My body moves forward knocking the knife from his hand. I hear Rafa speak again, “Besides, it's more fun getting your hands dirty when they’re not your hands.” From my peripheral I can see Rafa has now crouched down on my left facing Arjay on the ground. I feel my body move forward again this time my hands go to Arjay’s throat starting to choke him. “E-Echo transfer to dual ownership.” Arjay groans.
I gasp as suddenly my body is my own again. I quickly back up and away from Arjay. Seeing Rafa do the same. “Arjay I-” I begin to say but stop myself as Arjay begins to rise slowly. “¡Ay maldición!” I hear Rafa say from somewhere to my left. “Arjay, are you ok?” I ask hesitantly. As he grabs the previously discarded knife. “Arjay?” I ask, trying to get his attention. When he finally looks at me my stomach sinks. His eyes are gold, same as the prisoners when the Time Keeper took control of him. Rafa begins to curse behind me. Arjay stands, starting to speak and gesture with his hands while his left still holds the knife. “What use is a vault hunter?” He asks in that strange voice. Before either of us could reply he answers himself. “None at all.” Arjay then shoves the knife deep into his chest.
“NO!” Rafa yells moving to Arjay. I stand shakily stunned at the scene. Arjay's mind returns to his own but it’s too late the damage is already done. As he looks down at the knife in his chest he briefly looks up before his body collapses to the ground. Behind him from the ledge three order ships rise and their weapons lock on the ground beneath me and Rafa. I go to move but it's too late. The ships fire, sending us to the water.
A/n part 2: Hope you guys like it. If not, I am so sorry. Dividers are by cursed-carmine. Comments are appreciated! If you guys do like it should I continue?
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