Chapter 288 - My SI Stash #88 - A Borderlands Tale - The Quest for Reconstruction by GundamChief (Borderlands)

-The best kind of trap there is~ A SI-Claptrap! ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Sypnosis: So yeah...another typical SI doing a thing in some setting right...Not really. When you are a Claptrap, NOTHING is just "doing a thing", unless its opening doors, NOT climbing stairs, making a thing/situation even worse, or being annoying. As a former human in such a unit, I can't help but want to break apart out of embarrassment...then again why should I be just a normal, run-of-the-mill Claptrap? Heck no! If I'm gonna be the most annoying thing in the world, then I'll be the most F$#@ing best one there is....DAMNED VOCAL CENSOR!

Rated: ???

Words: 20K

Posted on: forums.spacebattles.com/threads/the-quest-for-reconstruction-borderlands-claptrap-si-oh-god-wtf-am-i-doing.832475/ (GundamChief)

PS: If you're not able to copy/paste the link, you have everything in here to find it, by simply searching the author and the story title. It sucks that you can't copy links on mobile (´ー｀)

-I'll be putting the chapter ones of all the fanfics mentioned, to give you guys a sample if you wan't more please do go to the website and support the author! (And maybe even convince them to start uploading chapters in here as well!)

Chapter 1-3 (exceptional)

I am a Claptrap. I can't climb Stairs, I can only open doors, and that is UNACCEPTABLE!​

--

It was a clear, sunny day in the Arid Badlands. Pandora's sun beat down upon the dry ground, making it barely tolerable for the people of Fyrestone. Most of them stayed inside their small dwellings to avoid getting a heatstroke, a bullet, or becoming a Skag meal. The same couldn't be said for a small, yellow, robot that milled about the small town on his single, non-stair climbing wheel. Its designation was CL4P-TP. Better known by the inhabitants of Pandora as Claptrap.

"♫Doo-de-doo-de-dooo♫" it sang mindlessly as it rolled about. The tr.a.p.ezoid shaped machine whose primary purpose was to open doors, help out people when it was asked, even when the orders went against its own well-being, which was often.

"A sunny day! Temperature level…Hot! Good thing I don't have to worry about heat like humans do."

The sudden and loud whirr of a cooling fan on its last legs punctuated anything else the robot was about to say, making its eye swivel about for a moment, looking to see if it was actually alone.

"Heheh…glad no one was around to hear that."

Only there was. Behind the closed weapons shop, within a shadowed edge on the rocky knoll, a Green model of the same machine sat cooling down. Truthfully, it was where it was because it was tossed up there. It didn't know who or what put it there. Could have been a Skag, or a Bandit, or a Runner…a Bandit Skag driving a Runner, it's F%$#ing Pandora! It could have been anything!

Whatever the case may be, this claptrap was stuck in its spot. It can't climb down because it didn't have a climbing program, because somehow that seems unimportant in the Badlands for some reason. It tries to shout for help, but it was just ignored as the few people in town just stayed indoors. So it was stuck.

It sighed, drooping for a moment before perking back up.

"Oh, woe is me! I am stuck on this relatively tall spot with no means of getting down despite the fact I could just…slide. This shadow keeping me cool is my only benefit of my complicated situation, and my only comfort to stave off boredom being my musical and dancing talent!"

Melodrama gave way to sounds of drums and rubbing vinyl as it spun in place, doing several arm waves. It stopped and then cried.

"Waaaaaah! I'm stuck here! Forever! To become a shell of a bot into the future when the world is covered in ruin! I beseech whatever higher power there be, can you provide this poor bot a sign!?" it shouted, arms waving dramatically as it pantomimed kneeling and praying.

In another time, and place, it would have indeed fallen to the very fate it had described.

This time and place…not so much.

Thunder sounded, and the claptrap looked up in bewilderment, its eye looking to-and-fro, before a bolt of light stuck upon its eye, burning directly into it.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGH!" It shrieked freezing stiff before falling onto its back.

For a few moments, silence reigned before the eye once more lit up…but instead of a blue, it glowed yellow. After a few moments, it moved, stiffly, and with it came realization, followed by confusion. Realizing the difference in the situation from what it was, the Claptrap could only say a few words.

"…What the F#$#...Did I just get bleeped!?"

--

--

I stood up, staring down at my…clamps. Were they clamps? I dunno. I'm gonna call them clamps. My pathetically thin, and weak clamps that look like they would break if I bent them too hard. Of course, the state of my new appendages are the least of my problems at the moment. The fact I was somewhere else, that it was daytime, and I was no longer human were the big ones really. That last one especially.

I could wax on about how I thought ROB was responsible for my being placed wherever I was, but I think that would be giving that plot device way too much credit this time. Because, otherwise, it would have to be a particularly petty, bored, and/or cruel one to place me where I am.

Like I had seen in so many shows, and read in so many stories, I could panic at the realization of the world I was on now, and then adapt and to become OP with my LOLPLZNRF abilities that I was granted somehow and then cheat my way through whatever contrived situation I was in.

Except that isn't going to happen since my emotions are fairly numb for some reason except this overriding desire to be peppy and uplifting. Also, the fact I was a robot with a very specific voice pretty much killed any and all mystery of where I was, and what I was now. Pandora. Borderlands.

I was angry…very. For a variety of reasons…but I felt too PEPPY to give in.

"I feel like I could explode…and damn this voice for sounding so damned cheery!" I said in what was mistakenly the voice of a certain annoying/lovable robot from a certain awesome/I'm totally F#%$ed setting.

I sighed��and it actually sounded like I felt. Progress!

"Well…time to get off this rock and into wherever I am." I said in that intensely upbeat voice…I was never annoyed by that…but now that I actually have it, I think I might rip out my speaker if it keeps up.

I rolled forward, and fell straight on my face.

"O"

Pushing myself upright, I quickly found my balance and…legs…so to speak.

"I can tell this is gonna become very irritating, I can tell…and damn my cheery tone!"

I quickly rolled over to the edge of the rock I was on…and it was a good twelve feet down. I braced myself and rolled off…and I immediately regretted it. I screeched as my balance threw me to my side, and I clanged off the rock face and into a pile of garbage and refuse.

"…Joy." I grumbled/cheered.

At least I was off the damned rock…but now I had to find out where I was. I found that I was in some kind of wandering path, with a direction to my left, and right. Given I had seen buildings to my right, I wandered in that direction. My fear of whether I was where I had thought I was gained confirmation when I saw the all too familiar town I knew so well.

Fyrestone. Population of…either 24 or 1. I felt a wave of nostalgia flow over me as I looked upon what I knew was Zed's Medical Clinic. The Fast Travel Station was next to it, deactivated…and looking to my surprise more like it's Borderlands 2 counterpart than what was in the first game. I knew Fast Travel was canonical to the setting, but not "New-U" stations, so I guess Hyperion removed the Dahl version already, or placed a new one?

Zed's was open to my joy/relief and I rolled on over to the wide-open garage like area, but found no one in it. The medical vending machine present, but unpowered, as I saw the lack of a module on the side. I felt my non-existent heart skip a beat. That meant that either I was before the events of the first game, or it was after sledge had been killed off. I had to find out.

"Hellooooo? Is anyone here?" I called out.

Silence was the reply. I called out again, and got no reply, again.

"Oh boy." I cheerfully mumbled.

"Hey you!"

I jumped at the loud, high pitched voice that was behind me. Turning around, I came face to face with the titular character, and one of the icons of the whole franchise. Claptrap himself. Before I could say anything, Claptrap placed his clamps on his "h.i.p.s" and gave the impression of a glare.

"Where have you been? You didn't report to your station as you were required to."

I stared, and found myself unable to really answer intelligently. "Umm.."

"Umm is not an answer pal! As the designated greeter for the Fyrestone Bus Stop, you are supposed to greet any travelers that arrive in our fair town! We are expecting a new arrival soon and you are very late! Report to your designated zone. I have enough work to do watching the board being empty to man your station as well!"

I just watched and listened, caught between feeling amus.e.m.e.nt, and feeling stupefied. In the back of my mind, it did answer the question of who the one Claptrap was.

"Report to your station before I report you, and have you disassembled for malfunction. And do not forget to close the outer gate."

That brought me out of my mental wandering. Knowing how this world actually was, I knew this was no idle threat, even from this guy. So I did what any pragmatic person did, I played the part.

"Yes sir! Sorry sir! I'll go now! Ahhh!" I said before rolling off towards the motel near the main road. I could hear the melodramatic sigh, and a tick of anger at the words "Noobs."

I rolled through town, and found the gates were already open, and assuming that was how they were supposed to be, pass through until I saw the road. I passed through the final gate and looked at the control mechanism…and it was at that moment I realized I knew how to use it.

"Huh…well at least this will not be a problem."

I clicked on a series of buttons in a sequence, which led to the closing of the gate, and an involuntary "aaaand Close!" coming from me.

"Where did that come from!?" I shouted incredulously. Did I still have quirks from the Claptrap I was now taking the place of? That might get old very quickly if that was the case.

The motel was off the to the side, looking lifeless and untouched, aside from the holographic sign that still worked. Not knowing where I was "supposed" to be, aside from near the road, I made my way to the shade under the sign and sat.

As I sat there, I honestly felt…more than a bit lost. I had no real direction of what to do since I had been hit rapid fire with realization after realization. If I had been smarter, I'd have spent time on that rock doing that, but the realization, and hope that Zed might help out, made me jump the gun a bit.

Sitting here did give me that time though, as I remember as much of what I could about Borderlands. I hadn't yet played the third game, but I knew the story via reviews to know what was happening, ruined story aside. Plus, there were the events and things in Borderlands 2, the Pre-Sequel, and the Tales series. I had to admit…aside from the major events and more memorable things, and people, I was fuzzy on a lot of the smaller details. Remembering more than anything, Jack, he wasn't here yet as I didn't see Helios in the sky near Elpis. The Lost Legion is up there right now guarding that vault, the Destroyer and Warrior are on this planet.

Tannis…she was pivotal. Angel is in her chamber…I have no idea if she's already here on Pandora or back wherever Hyperion is. The Crimson Lance are already on planet, having pushed people out of Old Haven and into the ramshackle of a town in a garbage dump that was New Haven. The Lance controlled Sanctuary at this point of time which was still just a grounded ship over a cesspool of toxic ecosystems filled with…

Oh yeah. Threshers weren't a thing on this world yet. That dandy brit hadn't sent out for them at this time.

I wonder if Cyro-weapons are a thing here…or was that just the moon at this time?

As I contemplated the situation to the best of my memory, and thought of the possibilities, a distant rumble filled the air. One I didn't take notice of until it was nearly upon me. I rolled out as I saw it. A bus. THE Bus. It stopped, and I heard the voice of the oh-so-familiar merchant.

"Well, we're here~" I heard. Oh…the nostalgia. I hit me like a wave, and more so with the follow up laugh. The door slid open and I could see the shift in the vehicle as people stepped off, especially the last one.

The bus drove off, and I saw them. I froze as I looked over them.

Roland. Tall, muscular, straight shooter. Former member of the Crimson Lance. Marked for death due to leaving said organization, for disobeying an order to massacre people…though I can��t really recall if it was for that reason specifically.

Mordecai. Kinda a hippy. Has a bird…oh HAI Bloodwing! Oh my god, burb's alive! I shivered a bit. Anyway, hunter, master of rifles, and pistols, and a big ass "Knoife".

Lilith. More lovely in real life than the game shows. Fiery red head who "happens" to be a Siren. Powerful, and knows it. Attitude to match.

And then there THE man. My favorite character, and the first character I ever played.

Brick. Mountain of meat. Fists of Boom. Heart of Gold…if you can dig for it. All around badass.

"So. This is the place." Roland stated. Oh my god! Nostalgia!

"Looks like a dump." Lilith replied. Sassy.

"Eh. Gotta start somewhere, ya know." Mordecai chipped in. Mellow.

"Places like this usually got trouble. Dibs on the first thing we face." Brick…is Brick. Love him for it.

"Is that…robot staring at us?" Lilith asked out loud, and everyone finally noticed me.

I remembered myself, and taking a metaphorical breath, I rolled forward and did the thing.

"Hellooo travelers!"

==================

Chapter 2

So, I started my "Claptrap" act out without stuttering like a dumbass. So far so good, given I was nervous as a mouse in front of a well-armed, psychic powered, berserker tiger.

"I am Hyperion Model CL4P-TP, but you can call me by my local, and arguably, nay definitely derogatory designation, Claptrap." Brick openly chuckled, while Mordecai and Lilith only smirked a bit. Roland was the only one who was cool and stoic. Roland is best Vault Hunter, because he doesn't chuckle at shit ten-year-old find funny!

Oh, who am I kidding. It is funny. Plus, Roland doesn't respect Claptrap anyways, if Pre-Sequel is anything to go by.

"I would give you a free Echo Device unit, courtesy of the Dahl corporation, but as I was…damaged, recently, I am unable to do so and must refer you to the second Claptrap unit in town. Follow me, and I shall allow entry into the town of Fyrestone."

I tried to turn, only find myself staring at the group, unable to move. I had a moment of confusion before realizing that a "programmed" part of me required a reply from to the affirmative from whomever I was speaking to. I felt panic rise in me as I repeated the mantra of "Please answer, please answer!" over and over as I sat there, waiting for at least some acknowledgement. It was starting to get awkward/terrifying after ten seconds, as they stared back at me.

"Is it stuck?" Mordecai asked, mouth in a slight sneer. Yes, I am! Help!

"Broken Junkbot." Screw you Brick!

I would have pissed myself in despair if I could as Brick looked at Mordicai and shrugged, then walked past me. Mordicai did the same, though he at least looked at me. Lilith shrugged in a "ah well" manner, and I was crying inwardly. She was about to walk off, but stopped as she noticed that Rolad hadn't moved. She looked back at Roland curiously. He was looking at me for a moment before he c.o.c.ked his head.

"Lead on?" he said.

"Thank god!" I shouted, making him and Lilith jump back a bit, leaning away like I was a snake.

"Because of the…damage, I couldn't move until you acknowledged me what I had said…Imagine not being able to move at all until someone answered a query. It was terrifying! That had never happened before! Thanks for not just walking off, leaving me a statue in the road!" I said as I emoted wildly with my body.

"Uh…you're welcome?" Roland answered, still somewhat wary.

I stopped, realizing what I was doing, and slumped in place. "Sorry about that. I need to get fixed. Let's go."

Without another word, I turned and rolled towards the gate, ignoring two that walked away. You're on my list of shitheads now. Even though I know their characters as good guys, I remembered the simple fact, "good" is relative on this world.

I rolled up to the gate control and started inputting the code when I heard the sound Runner engines. I only sighed as I stopped and leaned into the gate.

"The hell is that?" Mordecai asked, looking in the direction of the sound.

"Bandits Incoming. Take cover." I said loudly, but in as dull a tone as I could as I rolled back out of the way, and behind Brick, for he is the designated meat shield. The thunderous roaring of engines filled the air as the bandit runners jumped the gate, finally making the four Vault Hunters act. Roland and Mordecai had out their rifles, while Lilith had an SMG. Brick grinned and pulled out a shotgun seemingly from thin air. SDU Backpacks at work no doubt.

"Yeah! Get some!" he shouted and charged, before realizing the gate was still closed. Then the explosion made him stumble back.

"Brick, get over here!" Lilith shouted irritated from her spot behind sheet metal.

The sound of the vehicle faded as Brick pouted and lowered his shotgun. "No point now. They're gone."

I rolled forward and began work on the gate controls. "Those bandits have been around for a while, and are the reason I'm damaged. Knowing them, there will be some for you to face. Possibly some attempted murder, kidnapping, and a fair bit of ****." I stated matter-of-factly since…. that is what they were there for as I recalled.

The word had the effect I was looking for with Lilith and Roland.

"****?" she asked me narrow eyed.

"Yes. The bandits come here often to get women to "breed". Their words, not mine." I was bullshitting here, but the game did show a bandit wanting to do exactly that before the player murders them, so why not?

The gate opens and I lead the way. Before long I did see a single runner take off with a roar past the second gate, and a few bandits left behind began shooting at us. I simply moved over to the shanty ruins as they shot in our direction and waited it out. The sounds of guns going off in rapid succession, plus Lilith simply disappearing into thin air was enough to make me shake with fear. The sound of bullets punching through sheet metal near me making me yelp. Before long, it was over, and after a few seconds I rolled out, seeing the four looking amped up on adrenaline and looking for more bandits.

"The inner gate's up ahead." I said in passing.

Following along, the four take money and items of value from the bandits as we passed through the path. Signs for the local shops cover the walls like graphiti, showing how cheaply people did things around here. We soon began to hear the shouting of a bandit.

"-need your woman to come out and…give us a hand!"

"aaaand there's the would-be rapist." I snarked in my cheery tone.

It should go without saying that the next few moments were quite violent, mostly from an angry Lilith unloading an entire magazine into a guy's groin.

"Damn." Roland muttered in mute shock, as Lilith brushed her hair back while sporting a feline grin.

I agreed. Scary girl.

"Good work on the bandits, but there are probably a few still around in the town itself. You're all pretty strong, so I'll open this gate and let you kick @$#." I paused and grumbled about vocal censors as I rolled over to the control console for the gate. After working it over, and smacking it a few times as it sparked.

"Great! This is broken now." I turned and looked at the group who looked irritated now, including Roland. I shared the irritation.

"Follow me, we'll go in the back way." And I rolled to the spot in the fence I knew was there due to the flags hanging over the opening. With a push, it fell down, opening a hole that I rolled through.

This area was what I could only call the town dump because of all the junk, refuse, and whatever else was in the little area. The four quickly followed through, though Brick had to crawl through.

A few bandits later, a few turns, and we reached the town center. I saw OG-Claptrap poke his head out from around the corner behind Zed's place after all the fighting was said and done.

"Is..is it over?" he asked in a genuinely scared tone. I waved him over.

"Come on out now. It's been taken care of."

"Whew. Bandits. Not very nice people." He stated as he approached.

I gave whatever equivalent of a nod I could as he stopped near us. "The bandits, and some other stuff, prevented me from giving them the proper introduction. As the senior employee, I leave it to you to give them the Echo devices they need while I go about the town and calm things down."

"What!? You didn't-Hey!" he waffled as I turned and went over to Zed's place, leaving him with the group. He stared for a moment before turning to the group awkwardly.

"Eheh…yeah. Well then! Welcome to-"

I tuned him out when I knocked on the door to Zed's place. "The situation has been handled citizen. The newcomers are friendly and took care of the problem."

A nearby speaker came to life, and the sound of Zed's voice filled the air. "Well shoot. I thought I was a goner that time. Let me open the place up for them."

I moved over to the garage door like section of the prefab and waited near the door switch. When it opened anyways, I raised a non-existent brow at the small change of the universe. With the door opened, a man walked from the inside cabin. I stared at Dr. Zed. He looked just like in the game, though I could see the wrinkles of age, and the grizzled, leather skin from being under the sun.

"You alright?" I asked, still sounding overly cheerful but with a minor concerned tone.

He glanced at me before turning back to this table that had…a dead guy on it. Said dead guy was gray skinned. Not gonna comment on that.

"I'm alright. No bullets hole for me today." He says all mellow like. Hearing the sounds of the group approaching, I turn about and roll out of the way as Claptrap led the group over, and began speaking to Zed.

They meet, greet, yadda yadda, "lost my license", med vendors, etc., etc., losing a skeleton…it goes more or less the way the game did as I remember, aside from the additional information. How does one lose a whole skeleton while the patient is alive?

"This here town has been hit by the bandits a lot. Most of it coming from a couple of fella's working for the big gang around these parts. No need to worry too much unless you get on their radar though."

That was a bit different, as an admission that there was more than meets the eye in the bandit situation.

The four seem to take it in stride, though I could sense the eager energy in them to actually go and do something with that knowledge. Murder-hobo syndrome at its finest. Speaking of which.

"If you wanna help out for a bit, I got a few things that need doin'. There'll be things in it for ya, such as access to my stock."

That got my attention. One of the first things I had to do for myself, if anything, was to get my hands on a shield.

Why Claptrap didn't have one, aside from possible programming preventing him from doing so, I had no real idea. Actually, it was likely programming since Jack had to re-program Claptrap just to hold a gun.

The group turning to leave drew me out of my musing, and it was at this moment I had a realization. I could try and tag along with them…or I could stick around and figure things out. It took only a few moments before I realized it would be best to figure things out while the Vault Hunters went and did their thing. So, I watched as they left before turning to Zed.

"What about the bodies of the bandits?"

"Eh?" he turned as if remembering that I was there. Seriously? Then after a moment of thought, blinked before shrugging. "What we usually do." Before he got back to whatever he was doing.

"Which is?..."

Now he looked at me with a quizzical expression, despite the face mask hiding most of his face.

"…taking them out of town and leaving them for the critters. You alright there?" he asked.

"I might have taken damage, and forgotten a thing or two." I lied easily enough.

He blinked slowly, and then sighed with a shake of his head. "Well, that's a problem. There should be a repair kit around here somewhere, but I'm not really a mechanic, let alone a robot mechanic." He looked to me and nodded. "You best talk to your fellow Claptrap after you find that kit. He might be able to do something…or make things worse." He stated, muttering the last part.

I stared at him for a bit before I heard gunfire. I jerked in place and like a lightning bolt, I was struck with memory of the current event. Crap.

I quickly rolled out and wheeled over to the table where I saw a repair kit, marked as "Dahl General Repair Kit". With a deft motion, I grabbed it and turned just as the hunters finished the last of the bandits that jumped over the fence.

I rolled out towards them, knowing Angel is probably talking to them, and I was right as I came close.

"Well, you heard the lady." Roland with a small shrug.

"Are we really listening to some ghost chick?" Mordecai grumbled in a suspicious tone.

"Well, we aren't getting out of here without the gate getting open so…"

Lilith turned towards me and stopped as she saw me next to the fallen robot who was going on about leaking oil. I rolled to her and held up the tool kit.

"Oh! Uh…thanks." She said uncertain as she took it from me. I rolled back, and out of the way.

"What about that one? Can't he open the gate…hey. Hey! Where's he-" Brick said as I rolled back to town.

"Leave it be Brick. Let's fix this one." Roland interrupted.

I knew they would fix Claptrap, but I didn't want to take the chance of simply leaving me holding the bag by opening the door for them. Besides, I had things to check.

Going back the way I came, I passed by the bodies of the various bandits the Vault Hunters killed. It was a real mess, and flies were already beginning to swarm. I wasn't expecting the other bodies to be any less gruesome, but to my surprise, they were gone when I reached the second gate. Bloodstains and drag marks, along with the tell-tale signs of Skags told me the fate of the bodies.

Food for the critters indeed.

Going around the corner from the path, I gazed my eye upon the Fyrestone Motel. While I had doubts about certain things in game being real, like the distinct lack of loot boxes just sitting around for anyone to open and take things in, I had to check regardless in case the game was reality.

My eye would have widened if it was able to, but it was made up with learning that I had a form of zoom function for my visual abilities.

"I guess the game can reflect reality." I spoke outloud as I saw the loot chest on top of said motel. It looked old and a bit rusted, but it was there. For the moment, I was tempted to just go and get it, but where would I put the stuff inside. I didn't exactly have a bag, or means to carry firearms if there are in fact guns inside it. I would have to have an SDU, except I was a robot…did I already have one? Or do I need to buy them?

"CL4P-TP Gate Unit. Please Report to the Bounty board." I heard in my head. I hesitated, before mentally nodding. If I wanted answers, there was only one person who could answer my questions.

"If he doesn't do, as he is known to." I muttered as I rolled back to town.

Chapter 3

As I rolled up to the Bounty Board, I saw Claptrap sitting there looking fit as a fiddle. Not bad for a robot that was out of commission no more than five or ten minutes ago. Tells me the damage wasn't severe, but was serious enough to require help, and he might require more.

I stopped just in front of him, about speak, when he beat me to the punch.

"Gate Keeper, the kind newcomers who had repaired told me that you were instrumental for beginning that process. I called you over to say…Thanks! You are a good comrade! That is all! Please return to your designated position."

then he turned and began to…stare at sand. Huh…so he actually was studying sand. Heh. I stood there for a few more moments before clearing my throat.

"Yo."

"Ehh?" Claptrap said, who finally realized I was still here.

"Yeah…I need a bit of help here actually. Can you render assistance?"

"Oh! Of course! Anything for a fellow robot, especially one that helped save my life! What do you need?"

It was strange to acknowledge, but due to the Pre-Sequel, I knew that Claptrap was very happy to actually be assisting me. Either because of programming, or because he's Claptrap, the robot who wants friends.

Well, after Pre-Sequel, I am his friend.

*��� ♫I got a good lookin' mainframe ♫.

"Well, it's not easy to explain, so I'll state it right out. I was damaged at some point and…I've forgotten how to do a lot of stuff."

Claptrap stared at me for a few moments before his shoulders rose straight into the air, arms wide and clamps open in a gesture of shock.

"What!?? How did this happen!? How bad is the damage?! *Gasp* ARE YOU LEAKING!?!" he shouts, suddenly rolling around me quickly, scanning me with his eye for damage. I jerked at his moments before reaching out and stopping him.

"Calm down Bro." Which had the surprising effect at making the hyper robot stop in place and actually calm down.

Huh. Is he reacting to tactile reaction? Or me calling him "bro" as a form of comradery? Both? Probably both. I released him and rolled back a bit and begin to gesticulate as I spoke.

"The damage appears to be more…software based then hardware. I seem to have forgotten data about random things. For example, I remember that we were designed and built by the Hyperion Corporation, and I know of the president, Mr. Tassiter, and I remember how to open doors, but…I don't remember how to use my digistructor…or if we have SDUs or not. Or if whether we are just assistant helpers to our human friends, or are capable of combat operations if needed."

Being a robot, I had to form a body language on purpose in order to express my intentions properly. Kind of a weird, but seemingly necessary, habit for robots to possess in order to keep humans calm. Now I have to have form this habit as well…that or get a better vocal processor and robot eyebrows…and maybe and eye color changer.

Claptrap listened while holding a "thinking pose", humming as I spoke, giving a nod of the eye.

"Interesting! But nothing we can't fix right now. Simply open your Echo-net so I can re-insert the data into you."

I stare for a moment. "…How do I do that?"

"…. Oh…Well…Uh…I don't know. I just do it." Claptrap responds lamely. Looking lost.

"…Is it a physical thing? Or is it a wireless interface we're talking about?"

"Wireless!"

"Ah…welp. I'm F#$%ed then." I said crossing my arms.

Claptrap gasped. "Language Gate Keeper! Foul language is not part of our programming, and even if it was, you shouldn't speak as such! It besmirches the reputation of Hyperion…and it's rude." he chastised melodramatically.

I would give him an irritated expression if I could, but I could only stare.

"Though…the fact you didn't know you even had an echo unit built into you, or how it was to be utilized…this tells me this problem is more serious that it appears! This officially requires a Hyperion Technician! I will call one now!"

Then the sound of…him connecting to the internet…90s style…filled the air. Wow. That sound takes me back…and makes me worried. Just how backwards is Pandora? I mean, it's a corporate defiled hellhole with everything literally trying to kill you, but even so, it's the 28th​ century for crying out loud!

Oh, who am I kidding. We still have Stone Age societies back on my Earth despite it being the 21st​ century. Like that island just off of India, or all the tribes in South America. Africa. Etc. Why can't Pandora be just as schizoid about it?

"Message and reply received. Hyperion has acknowledged the request and will send a technician in 9999.99 Hours."

I stared at Claptrap, rolling the numbers, and realized that it was over 400 days.

"Well then. I guess I'm stuck like this until a year has passed…which might get- ".

I was interrupted by a sudden message bloop from Claptrap.

"Ah. It looks like they canceled the request!…oh." he replied, drooping slightly. Now he looked a little sad. Better chin up for him.

"I was just about to say, it might get canceled. So…looks like I'll be doing this the hard way." I say, pantomiming cracking my nonexistent knuckles. "No problem. Humans learn through books and teachers, so why couldn't I?"

"Who would you get to teach you though?"

I stared at him for a few moments in dead silence, and the bot finally got it.

"Oh…right. Well then, let's get started my student! Professor ClapTrappington shall endeavor to educate you in the ways of the Claptrap!" He shouted in a heroic tone, posing like he was high in the sky. He stuck to the pose before finally facing me and nervously chuckling.

"So…what do you need help with?"

I robo-smirked. I don't see what was annoying about this adorkable robot. Maybe it was the constant exposure than anything.

"Oh! I know! I'll teach you to dance!" claptrap exclaimed as he began moonwalking while swinging his arms and doing dubstep.

Ah. Okay. Listening to that all the time would get annoying.

"Sure, but only after I learn the things that actually allow me to function. Like my digistructor."

���Oh! Right. So let's get started with the basics of the Hyperion Portable-"

The sound of footsteps interrupted us, and we both turned to see the Vault Hunters returned from whatever they were doing. A glance to the hand of Lilith and I saw a power coupling in under har arm. Ah. So, they were doing that particular mission.

They also looked a bit scr.a.p.ed up with claw marks, so I guess the Skags gave them more trouble than the game showed. Roland looked as stoic as ever. Lilith looked a bit irritated. Mordecai was feeding Bloodwing something meaty, probably Skag Guts. Brick was covered in blood, and it didn't look like it was his own. Given the grin he had, it was a good guess.

The group passed by without eyeing us though Claptrap greeted them enthusiastically as he always does.

"Hello blood covered friends! Hope you aren't having too hard of a time out there! Can I be of assistance?"

"No. Thank you." Roland spoke up as they walked by. At least he was polite.

"Very well then! I hope the best in your next violent venture!" Claptrap finished with a wave.

This left them all a little more irritated than before, each for their own reasons. Which…really was their own fault. Knowing that Claptrap was really trying to make friends and be a good robot to everyone changed how one viewed him. For me it did at least.

I didn't say anything as they walked by to Doc's place and just looked back at Claptrap.

"So, as you were saying."

"Right. As I was saying the Hyperion Portable Digistructor-"

He spoke about the device in question and I listened intently as to how it actually worked, asking a few questions here and there regarding the more abstract ideas I had regarding it. I didn't even notice the group leaving until they passed my view as they were leaving town. I noted it and paid more attention to my "teacher" as he explained a few cool things I hadn't known from the game, plus an answer to one of my questions.

"So, we have Storage Deck Units in our bodies, and the Digistructor can store items as needed in said SDU?"

"Correct! Although we aren't allowed to utilize it without proper authorization from Hyperion, we can more or less store anything we want in our Units, and with Upgrades, we can store even more! But we aren't authorized for that."

That will be useful initially, and if I am operating outside the paradigm of the standard robot, I could do it despite restraining programs.

"How many items can we store?"

"All Claptrap units can hold up to twelve items in our SDUs."

Definitely will have to upgrade. "Is there a limit on what we can store?"

"Well…no, aside from objects bigger than ourselves. Aside from that one limitation, we can store anything as needed. Weapons, equipment, tools, and more! We cannot use weapons of course, but we can hold them for someone else. Provided we have authorization of course!"

I nodded. He continued on, and went on tangents now and then, but gentle leading kept him on track. The day passed, and the sun rolled on. It was high noon when we finished.

"Right then…let me see if I can do this now."

"I believe in you fellow bro-bot!" Claptrap cheered while hopping in place. Heh. So, he likes me already. Good.

When I approached the door before, I simply knew how to use the gate controls. It had come to me naturally rather than anything like a "sudden inspiration", or cliched realization like that. It just was. Here…it might just be a matter of willpower. With a focus, I thought "Retrieve Echo Device". I focused that thought to what felt like my navel, which was the digistructor. For five minutes I focused, trying all kinds of "feelings" that I got before suddenly the digistructor opened up, and out an Echo-Device popped out.

I kind of just stared down at it, while Claptrap's should pads exploded upwards in shock, and he began cheering.

"You did it! I actually taught someone something! Wow…I actually did! Let's celebrate with a dance!"

I ignored it for the moment, focusing on that feeling before retracting the device back into my SDU. The Digistructor closed, and I felt it go in. That feeling of expelling outwards, like pushing out the stomach muscles, and the pulling in. I kept that memory…it will be important.

I turned to the dancing robot who was dubstepping, and with a chuckle, I decided, why not and joined in. With a spin, I did what I felt was inline with the style of music.

It didn't last as suddenly an explosion of immense scale filled the air like thunder.

"YAH! TAKE COVER!" Claptrap shouted as he ran to his sign and dove behind Zed's place. I was facing the gate when it happened and saw the cloud of smoke arise in the distance where the skags would be. I then remembered that in order to get to Skag Canyon, or whatever that place was called, you had to blow the entrance. Which means that the Vault Hunters were working with TK, and going after Nine-Toes. Already. They worked fast!

Which meant I had a limited window if I was going to be part of their story or not. Then again…given I already knew where everything was…did I have to be? I could make my own story here. I turned to the shivering Claptrap who was coming out of his hiding place and decided…yeah. Given the H-Source, Shadowtrap, and more…this was more important in my opinion than the destroyer.

Besides…all of the events of the games were already going to happen regardless of my actions anyways. The only way I can outright prevent things from occurring is if I killed Jack before he gets to the second Vault. Or killed the two kids of the first Vault Hunter who were probably…adolescent right now? I don't know how old they actually are, but Troy is basically the Seven Siren when it comes down to it. Hmm…maybe get him away from his bitch sister? That might be better to do. Oh…right. I just realized I knew all seven sirens in existence right now.

Maybe contact Angel? Maybe help her escape Jack? I hummed at the possibilities.

"Whew! Don't know what that was!" Claptrap exclaimed as he glanced about.

"The newcomers are going to Skag Gully to face Nine-Toes" I said offhandedly.

"Really! Wow! I hope they can handle the guy! Otherwise I will be sad with their inevitable demise."

"they'll be fine. They're a tough bunch." I said as I turned and rolled over to him.

"Next lesson. Explain the Echo-Net to me."

"Huh? Oh yeah! Next lesson of the Professor of-"

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