Beta: None
Original release date: 7/26/15

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Borderlands and Infinite Stratos universe. Obviously this is Alternate Universe. This story includes characters from any of the Borderlands Games, some that may be in the Pre Sequel [and not everyone may have played it yet], and may contain spoilers. As almost always, this is Alternate Universe because of my imagination may run away with this.

Tightening the last nut on her IS, Gaige wipes off her forehead as she inspects her work. Multi-shielding with four individual shields from Pandora covering the area that the pilot occupies, with a modified Torgue rocket launcher, an unbranded laser weapon, and an unbranded and modified SMG. Jumping into the IS, Gaige begins running tests, varying from weapons tests, system checks, and the likes. Two hours later, and still somewhat covered in sweat, Gaige exits and begins looking over the data contained on a tablet, before smiling.
"Will it work?" inquiries a feminine voice.
Nodding her head, Gaige replies, "The accuracy of the laser weapon is off by 7.6 percent, but a 92.4 accuracy isn't too bad. Every other test was successful."
"GOOD! NOW GO AND BRING EXPLOSIONS TO EVERYONE!" declares a familiar masculine voice.

"Get in the IS and prepare to be launched to Earth" states the female speaker.

Entering the IS, Gaige follows the large form of Mr. Torgue and the new leader of the Vault Hunters, Lilith to Helios Station's Moonshot canon, entering the round itself, for the IS being too large to be stuck in the standard shipping container. Engaging the onboard life support system, Gaige gives a thumbs up, before being fired out of the canon, heading for the center of the IS Academy grounds.

Monitoring her heart rate on the screen in front of her, Gaige notices the increasing breathing pattern, begins to focus on slowing her heart down, despite having an estimated ten more minutes of available oxygen.

Beginning with an empty seat in the classroom, Maya swallows nervously before introducing herself to the almost entirely female class. Starting the self-introductions, Miss Yamada calls out, "Smith, Gaige" right before a large object collides with the ground just outside, visible to all.

Hurrying over to the window, everyone peers at the large bullet shaped round partially buried in the dirt, including Miss Yamada, as an unidentified, oversized, dark green, suit of armor-like IS machine exits before standing idle.

In the IS with various Torgue markings around it, Gaige pauses just outside of the Moonshot round as she reruns various quick tests, now on a planet, and answers her in-ear communicator which is tied into the IS unit's communicator.
"You know full well that we need information about our missing…cargo and personnel" reminds Lilith.
"AND DON'T FORGET TO MAKE EVERYTHING EXPLODE!" adds Mr. Torgue.

Smiling, Gaige replies, "Understood. Gaige out", before turning her sight towards the academy. Spotting a bunch of faces in all of the surrounding windows, the IS begins facial recognition and in seconds delivers a report indicating which classroom she should be at, based on previous assignment. Looking at the data, Gaige growls as her primarily defensively based IS didn't have the power to get more than a dozen or two feet off of the ground for more than fifteen seconds. Exiting the unnamed IS, Gaige quickly gives instructions to the unit to find out where it was to be stored, and to learn everything it can around it.
Walking towards an entrance, Gaige smiles as her not very average IS begins its task. Knowing that her unit was the only one with a hybrid Operating System, working and merely assisting the pilot when the pilot is inside and operating it, the IS also has a self-learning AI system which operates in various ways, one of which controlling the unit and dodging incoming attacks if the pilot suddenly becomes incapacitated, alongside learning the different combat styles of opponents and how to better defeat them in battle, amongst other tasks.

Taking a few deep breathes, Gaige mentally prepares herself as she nears the classroom she should have been in seven minutes ago. 'I am now Gaige Smith, freshman IS pilot at an all girls' academy, with only one known male pilot. Pandora is to be all but forgotten. I am a pilot from America, shot towards the ground for testing purposes only.' Entering the classroom, Gaige bows to Miss Yamada, apologizing for being late.
"I-it's alright Miss Smith-" begins Maya before a silent Chifuyu interrupts, "And for being late, you get to do your introduction in front of everyone."

Remembering that the individual behind her had won the first Mondo Grosso, Gaige rises from her bow and smiles before jumping in, "I'm Gaige Smith, but you can call me Gaige. I'm an engineering genius according to my few friends, and I hate people who bully others and those who steal my intellectual property", with a hard glint in her eyes with the last portion.

Taking the only seat, Gaige is surprised when Chifuyu's eyes are focused solely on her, and prepares to reply when the inevitable question comes, "Miss Smith, do you mind telling me why your IS currently wandering around the campus, making inquiries about accommodations? And why it is able to do so as well."

Smiling, Gaige replies, "I assumed there is a main location where everyone's IS is stationed at when not in use, and to your second question, it is a new model, a test model you might say, with a hybrid OS that works with or without a pilot inside."

"Well now, that is most interesting. Is Dr. Shinonono aware of such an IS is under your command?" inquiries Chifuyu, voice still cold.

"Tabane works with us at our facility. She loves our variety of equipment and to tinker around with everything. Although she holes up in the Research and Development department for days on end" replies Gaige sweetly.

"And where do you get off calling my sister by her first name?" growls a now standing and angry Houki.

"Considering that I've worked side by side with her on many projects, and that we refer to each other by first name, I think that is reason enough" replies Gaige.
"Ha! You're just some wanna be genius" declares Houki, arms crossed.

Smirking, Gaige wordlessly summons Death Trap who just hovers beside Gaige, analyzing everyone, waiting for any attacks.

"My word, what is that…thing?" declares a feminine British voice.

"He is Death Trap, my BFF and personally built robot. With digistruct claws, the ability to cause explosions just by clapping, the ability to restore my shield energy, and with a laser from his eye, he is the ultimate companion" replies Gaige.
"ENOUGH! Now, we need to get a class representative. Any nominations?" announces Chifuyu.
"I nominate Orimura" suggests one girl.
"I agree, Orimura should be the rep" speaks up another nameless girl.
Slamming her hands onto her desk, the British girl speaks, "I, Cecilia Alcott, will not stand for this! This male can not possibly be representative of an all girls room, especially as I am England's Representative Candidate."

"I, uh, want to reject the nomination" speaks the lone male in the class, identified as Ichika Orimura by the dossier that pops up on Gaige's personal tablet screen.
"Once nominated you are unable to remove said nomination" declares Chifuyu.
A quiet voice speaks up, "I nominate Gaige" before the speaker's head falls to the desk in apparent sleep.
Grinning, Gaige speaks up, "Then I nominate Shinonono. She must have some sort of skill."

"Alcott, Orimura, Smith, Shinonono then. Any other nominations? No? Then Monday we shall have a battle to see who becomes the class representative" announces Chifuyu.
"Ma'am, may I recommend a team match, between Orimura and I against Alcott and Shinonono" inquiries Gaige quietly.
Pausing to think it over, Chifuyu replies, "Next Monday, tag team match of Alcott and Shinonono versus Smith and Orimura. I believe Arena 3 will be available for this match. On to the lessons."

The rest of the day progresses calmly, without any major conflict between Cecilia and Gaige, resulting in a productivity and informative day for everyone else.

Author note: As expected, this may take some characters out of their normal tone and while I'll try to limit it, I can't promise anything. The abilities of Death Trap will expand further and further as I continue to level my Gaige character up on Xbox One and/or 360.