First off, Gearbox and 2K studios own Borderlands and I have absolutely NO claim to the Borderlands title or characters. I just thought I would put my own twist on characters and events. I hope you enjoy it.

This is my first fan-fiction (go easy on me). I am using this as practice and to relieve the ideas that I have pinned up in my head. I did have some trouble with this prologue so it might be a little rough in some areas. So, with that being said, please review. If you have some constructive criticism I'd love to hear it. Also this will be rated M for language, violence and suggestive themes.

The Dahl Invasion

Prologue

Peace, happiness, expansion and security-this is how Axton would describe Sanctuary today. Shortly after the death of Handsome Jack, the Hyperion corporation fell into ruin at the hands of the Crimson raiders. The Raiders expanded and soon gained control of all the Highlands and other regions; acquiring Opportunity and bringing in vast amounts of materials to build Sanctuary up to twice its original size. What was once a ragtag city of misfits and refugees, is now a beautiful city of towering interconnected structures full of families and businesses. The sheet metal and concrete buildings now stand replaced by glass, steel, and high-strength concrete. The city bears little resemblance to its old self and more towards a blend of Sanctuary and Opportunity.

Axton has a family now. Sanctuary is his permanent home; it's the longest he's ever stayed in one spot since leaving home at the age of sixteen, and he wouldn't have it any other way. The air smells sweet as he stands on the north perimeter wall overlooking the city. Things have been pretty quiet as of late. His shift is about to end, just as the long Pandoran day is coming to a close. "Just another dull day on Pandora," he says to himself.

Suddenly a scream rings out. It's a woman's scream and it's oddly familiar. Axton realizes something's not right. The woman screams again, more desperate this time. He scans down around the city, alarmed. No one else seems to have noticed; people continue to go about their business unfazed. Just as he is about to investigate, the distinct rumbling sound of ships engines reach his ears and distract him. Axton spins around to see a faint group of large ships off in the distance.

"What the hell..?" he says. Axton quickly gets on the ECHO net. "Headquarters, this is Axton. We have a large group of ships inbound. Are we expecting company?" There's no response. "HQ this is Axton, please respond."

The massive star ships are moving at an incredible speed, getting closer by the second. They come to a sudden stop just over the city, casting long shadows. Axton can see black and green coloring across their hulls with a logo in block lettering along the sides. "Is that,..? No, it can't be!" Star-fighters begin jettisoning from below the ships.

"HQ, we have fighters of an unknown origin flying over the city! Do you copy?" Static is the only response. Axton's heart rate increases. He knows what's about to happen; he's seen it before. Blood pounds in his ears as he races to collect his thoughts. "This can't be happening. Not here. Not now!" Troop transports fly into the city un-hindered and begin to deploy soldiers onto the streets below. "Shit! HQ where the hell is our shield? I've got hostile forces dropping into the-"

Explosions rock the buildings around him as the enemy fighters launch volleys of missiles into the city. People in the streets scream and run for cover as glass and concrete rain down, and explosions rip up the streets. "No!" he yells desperately and looks around him. All of his men that were on the wall before are nowhere to be seen; there aren't even any friendly ships in Sanctuary's airspace. Quickly he runs inside a command post. He reaches a control console and yells into his ECHO.

"Get those AA turrets up and running! I need men with missile launchers up on the wall and soldiers in the streets. NOW!" Again, there's no reply as the commando frantically tries to interact with the console. It flashes red with damage reports but won't respond. "User not recognized," it says. His thoughts become more desperate. "What the hell is this? Where is everyone!?"

A smooth female voice speaks over the ECHO net. "Attention all personnel in the city. You are hereby authorized, under Reclamation Order 172005-3, to use any and all means necessary to evict these bandit squatters from the corporate mining ship Sanctuary. Good hunting." The transmission ends and he gives up on the console and runs outside. "I have to do something!"

Gunfire and cries of terror reach his ears and Axton's horrified by what he sees: blood running through corpse filled streets, debris strewn everywhere, and flames reaching out of jagged holes in the Raiders HQ. The once magnificent buildings of Sanctuary now lie in ruin. "Why is this happening?" He sees a group of helpless civilians in the street being slaughtered by a squad of soldiers. The sight makes his blood boil and he rushes down to meet them, rifle at the ready.

"You sons-a-bitches!" Axton raises his rifle and unloads on them, each round finding its mark. But the soldiers continue on, unfazed. He reloads and fires round after round into their vital areas-the bullets just pass right through them. Not a single mark is made on their green and black fatigues. Unwavering, he throws a grenade and watches in disbelief and anger when it has no effect. "Why can't I kill them!?"

He's about to raise his rifle again when he notices something is different. A carbine with green and black camo rests in his hands with the same logo as the ships stamped onto it. His pants and jacket bear the same pattern and logo. His body goes numb as a sudden realization rocks him to his core."I'm one of them?" His hands tremble violently and his rifle drops as he collapses to his knees, burying his face in his hands. Destruction rains down around him filling the air with fire and screams that he'll never forget. "No, no, no, no!" the ground shakes violently and he falls to the ground.

There's grass underneath his back. He's in the Highlands. A deafening explosion rocks the earth as Sanctuary is engulfed in flames above him, falling out of the sky. "How...How did all this happen? What did I do...to cause this? Is this punishment for what I've done?" His questions go un-answered and time slows as the burning city looms closer and closer. Axton doesn't care. Every feeling is numb as his entire world is crumbling around him.

Memories flash before his eyes: dark brown hair, sapphire eyes and the sweet scent of perfume-his wife; hopes, dreams and plans for the future that will never be; his home and his family that are gone. Those memories fade now and are replaced by the massive structure that is right on top of him, about to crush him. His mind is enclosed in guilt.

"This is all my fault." His words are heavy with sorrow. "I led them here... I did this." Debris falls around him in a fiery rain. Everything he ever cared about is gone now- He is truly broken. "There's only one thing left to do." The broken man looks up, feeling the scorching heat on his face. He raises his arms and embraces his own destruction.