Heyo!

I was planning on holding off on updating this next chapter but then all of you successfully guessed Zer0's secret identity anyway and I figured I should just get the update over with.

So in this I will finally answer the question of who Zer0 actually is. From that point on we can get into the actual plot (maybe).

Revelation

Zer0 limped into her room and fell down on the bed, Gaige followed behind her.

Gaige shut the door as soon as they were inside.

"Answers bitch. Now."

"Can't this wait until-"

"I just hauled your ass from the Fridge all the way to Overlook almost got killed at least six times, fought through a Hyperion installation, stalker territory, and a Dahl hit squad. You said you'd tell me what was going on when we got back. We're back. I want answers. Now."

Zer0 sighed.

"Alright I'll tell you everything. But will you please hand me that Insta-Health vial first? I really don't want to bleed to death in my own room."

Gaige tossed her the syringe and Zer0 caught it. She jammed the needle into her leg and winced in pain.

"Much better."

"Answers. Now." Gaige repeated.

"Alright, alright. Sit down first. This is going to take a while... I guess I should start at the beginning... You see I wasn't always an assassin. I used to be a member of the Dahl special forces."

"Like Axton?"

"Yeah, like Axton... You know what? This might be easier if I just show you the Echo."

Zer0 stood up and limped over to a drawer. She pulled out an Echo-Device and flipped it on.

She walked back to her bed and sat down next to Gaige.

An electronic voice spoke from the Echo, it said: "What you are about to see is highly classified and for authorized Dahl personnel only. If you are not Dahl personnel or do not have the proper clearance, know that by viewing this tape you are breaking several dozen laws, and you will be prosecuted to the full and most ridiculous extent of the law."

"Yeah cause that's really gonna stop me." Gaige said sarcastically.

Zer0 shushed her and directed her attention to the Echo's screen.

Zer0 stood tall and straight in the middle of a large dark room. There was a single light on the ceiling directly over her. She held her helmet under her left arm and her fingers fidgeted nervously, drumming on the helmet.

"Commander."

"Sir!" Zer0 said snapping to attention and saluting.

"At ease."

Zer0 relaxed just a little bit.

"Soldier, as a part of Dahl project number 427812, code named Project Zero, you have received special training in the arts of assassination, stealth, hand to hand combat, and marksmanship. You have also received several prototype units of experimental Dahl stealth suits and a digistruct blade for use in close quarters combat, along with extensive training with both of them. But you were aware of all of that weren't you soldier?"

"Sir, yes, sir."

"What you don't know is what all this training, high tech gadgets and secrecy is for. You see, one of our competitors, Hyperion, has recently had a hostile takeover by one of its own, a man who goes by the name of Handsome Jack. Jack poses a threat to Dahl and its assets. We want him gone. Currently, Jack is on Pandora and he's looking for Vault Hunters. You are going to pose as one of those Vault Hunters and take down Handsome Jack and Hyperion from the inside. Is that understood?"

"Sir, yes, sir."

"Good. As part of your cover we've released tapes and files on the Echo-Net that will give you a new identity to assume, that of a political assassin, one of the best in the business. That's someone that Jack is sure to want working for him. Intelligence says that you will likely be placed with several other Vault Hunters; an outlaw from Eden-5, a failed Hyperion experiment, a siren from Athenis, a native Pandoran, and an ex-Dahl commando. That last one, the ex-soldier, goes by the name of Axton Rhodes. I don't suppose you know him soldier?"

"I did sir. He was my husband before he went AWOL."

"Oh... Well in that case, just to be absolutely clear, under no circumstances are you to reveal your actual identity to anyone, especially Axton. Is that understood?"

"Sir, yes, sir."

"Good soldier. The full briefing will be given to you on your way out. Your flight for Pandora leaves at 07:00 tomorrow morning. Good luck Sarah."

The screen went blank.

Authors Note: Plot Twist!

Gaige didn't say anything for a minute or so.

"So you're Axton's-"

"Ex-wife? Yes."

"That's uh... Well..."

"Yeah it's a lot to take in."

"So why are you still here on Pandora?"

"What do you mean?"

"We killed Jack didn't we? Why didn't they re-assign you or something?"

"Because they wanted someone to keep tabs on the planet. In case you haven't noticed Dahl doesn't really have a presence here on Pandora. Or at least that's what used to be keeping me here. A month or so after we killed Jack they told me that the Crimson Lance was becoming a threat. They wanted me to get rid of you guys."

"Dahl wants us dead?"

"Everybody wants us dead really. When we took down Jack it opened the planet up for everybody else. So they all want us gone so they have a clear shot at Pandora. It's a hellhole, but it's a very valuable hellhole."

"So what did you do? About your orders?"

"I politely told them to go fuck themselves. I may have listened to orders more than Axton ever did but there's a line. And killing good people for profit is where I draw that line."

"So should we be worried about an imminent Dahl invasion?"

"Probably not. They don't exactly have the manpower right now. In a few years it might become a bigger problem. Although they may occasionally send another hit squad after me. They don't like it when valuable men and material go rogue."

Gaige just sat there quietly.

Zer0 patted her on the shoulder.

"It's a lot to take in all at once. I'm sorry about that. But in my defense, you asked."

"What do I call you now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well I know your real name now. Should I call you that? Should I still call you Zer0? Do you want me to combine the two and call you Zara?"

Zer0 laughed.

"Either or is fine. Just don't call me Sarah in front of the other Vault Hunters. They don't need to know. Not yet at least. And please don't ever call me Zara again."

"You got it Z."

"Don't call me that either."

Author's Note: So yep, Zer0 is actually Axton's ex-wife. If you have any questions regarding this, please send me a PM asking about it.

Author's Other Note: Isn't this a nice little cult following that I managed to get. Thanks for following this you guys.