Originals

10/22/2012

A New Place

Haunting the Hidey-holes of Borderlands 2.

By: Gus Mastrapa

Filed Under: Action Editorial Experiential Shooters

This is my fourth time in the Bloodshot Stronghold and I’m not sick of the place yet. Two visits have been in prior lives: once as a burly Gunzerker and another as a Siren named Tura. Now, I prowl these subterranean passages as Haji the Mechromancer. This time is different. I am not here to rescue Roland, the leader of the Crimson Raiders and Pandora’s only shot at defeating Handsome Jack. No, I’ve already fought that fight. This time I’m here to deliver a pizza.

This place used to be a hydroelectric plant – the Dahl corporation’s 3rd Memorial Dam. Now, the Bloodshot gang has turned the place into a well-defended squat. The place is laid out like a hair pin. Interlopers must traverse the guts of the dam in one direction, climb up a level and double back the same length before breathing the air topside.

When I arrive I check my HUD to find where I need to go. Patricia Tannis, the hoity-toity scientist camped out in Sanctuary, wants me to lure out and kill a group of mutated Bloodshot bandits. The way to lure them out, apparently, is to coax them from their hiding place with a pizza pie. The blue diamond on my map of the Bloodshot Stronghold appears between the two legs of the hairpin. I assume this means that I must make my delivery atop the dam so I work my way through the familiar cannon fodder.

The turbine rooms are crawling with bandits, psychos and midgets. The far end of one room is guarded by a raider on a turret. I step into the light and he starts to light me up with tracers. With the flourish of my hand I summon my Deathtrap, a hovering robot companion who does nothing but destroy those who would get in my way. He immediately leaps into action, slaughtering an army one slash at a time. His eye beam sweeps the room, vaporizing hapless gunners. I draw my sniper rifle from my back and put a bullet into the forehead of the bandit on the turret. The fight is over quickly. One bandit goes noisily, screaming in agony as his flesh burns from his bones. Then it is quiet.

Since I’ve been here so many times before I don’t bother scouring the area for loot. I pop open a locker or two on the offhand chance that I luck out and score a brick of Eridium. But for the most part I leave the place unmolested – a ripe, untouched crop of green lights. Doors line one wall, but I have learned to ignore them. They won’t open for me. Like all the pitch black caves and tiny huts and tin shacks scattered all around Pandora there’s nothing for me inside. And as such I may not enter, despite there being only a shred of cloth or the cover of darkness between me and those forbidden places. I am sure that Bloodshot Stronghold holds no more secrets for me. But I am wrong.

I pick my way towards the Devil’s Suckhole, a huge pool of violently spiraling water, and work my way upstairs. I double back through the prison where I’d found Roland in so many prior lives. Beyond I find the way to daylight. I look across a panorama – the top of the dam is a shantytown where robots and bandits clash in an important battle. Were I to enter the fray I would kill them all, just as I have done so many times before. But the diamond tells me that my goal is behind me, somewhere in the hairpin.

I retrace my steps, paying close attention to all the walls along the inside of the fortress. In a kind of penance for my inattention I loot every case, open every locker and grab every gun. My pockets are full of ammo and my backpack overflowing with guns by the time I discover my error. In the gutters around the earliest portions of the Bloodshot Stronghold a large sewer grate was now open. I had explored those damp reaches once and since ignored them. But now the way was open and a new place revealed.

The mutants, as promised, show great interest in the pizza I have brought them. I kill them before they taste tomato and cheese and scour their hideout for guns and other goodies. In their inner sanctum I futz with a television until their master crawls from under a small drain – another place I can never explore.  Flinter dies as easily as his four young underlings. I take his gun, climb up a ladder at the far end of the room and open a door – it opens onto one of those familiar passageways and I realize that this door is one that I’d passed many times before. I feel like I’ve just been behind the scenes, like an employee walking around in the guts of Disneyland. There was something behind that facade after all. And now I will be doubly driven to peer behind those paper walls and rattle the locks of those closed doors.

Filed Under: Action Editorial Experiential Shooters

About the Author:
Gus Mastrapa is a freelance writer from Apple Valley, CA. He doesn't believe in zombies.

5,090 Responses to “A New Place”

  1. peiftronica

    dude, you didn’t even mention, that mission’s called SPLINTER group, and you have to kill MICKEY, RALPH, DANNY, and LEE. (i hope i got those right)

    get it? YOU DELIVERED PIZZA TO THEM! IN THE SEWER! ITS A REFERENCE TO SOMETHING! haha i love borderlands 🙂

  2. new cluster headache drug

    Thanks for your strategies. One thing really noticed is that often banks plus financial institutions know the dimensions and spending patterns of consumers plus understand that plenty of people max outside their cards around the trips. They correctly take advantage of this real fact and then start flooding a person’s inbox plus snail-mail box by using hundreds of no interest APR credit cards offers shortly when the holiday season closes. Knowing that when you are like 98% in the American general public, you’ll get at the one opportunity to consolidate financial debt and switch balances towards 0 rate credit cards. poonmpp https://headachemedi.com – new cluster headache drug

  3. thyroid drugs over the counter

    Thanks for your suggestions. One thing I’ve noticed is the fact that banks as well as financial institutions really know the spending routines of consumers as well as understand that many people max out their credit cards around the vacations. They sensibly take advantage of this particular fact and start flooding your own inbox as well as snail-mail box along with hundreds of 0 APR credit card offers right after the holiday season ends. Knowing that if you’re like 98% of the American public, you’ll leap at the chance to consolidate credit debt and transfer balances to 0 annual percentage rates credit cards. cccccei https://thyroidmedi.com – thyroid drugs over the counter

  4. best over the counter stomach medicines

    Thanks for your strategies. One thing really noticed is that often banks plus financial institutions know the dimensions and spending patterns of consumers plus understand that plenty of people max outside their cards around the trips. They correctly take advantage of this real fact and then start flooding a person’s inbox plus snail-mail box by using hundreds of no interest APR credit cards offers shortly when the holiday season closes. Knowing that when you are like 98% in the American general public, you’ll get at the one opportunity to consolidate financial debt and switch balances towards 0 annual percentage rates credit cards. dddccei https://stomachmedi.com – buy stomach drugs

  5. what to take for stomach pain

    Thanks for your concepts. One thing we’ve noticed is banks along with financial institutions are aware of the spending practices of consumers while also understand that most of the people max out and about their real credit cards around the getaways. They properly take advantage of this specific fact and commence flooding your current inbox along with snail-mail box using hundreds of no-interest APR card offers just after the holiday season concludes. Knowing that should you be like 98% of American community, you’ll rush at the possible opportunity to consolidate card debt and shift balances for 0 apr interest rates credit cards. kjjiikm https://pancreasmedi.com – what to take for stomach pain

  10. medication for hair loss

    Thanks for your tips on this blog. One thing I would like to say is that purchasing electronics items through the Internet is nothing new. In fact, in the past decade alone, the market for online electronics has grown considerably. Today, you can find practically any kind of electronic gadget and gizmo on the Internet, from cameras and camcorders to computer parts and gaming consoles. https://hairlossbimedi.com – medication for hair loss

  12. impotence drugs over the counter

    Today, with all the fast life style that everyone is having, credit cards have a big demand throughout the economy. Persons coming from every area of life are using credit card and people who aren’t using the credit cards have made up their minds to apply for one in particular. Thanks for giving your ideas in credit cards. https://impotencemedi.com impotence drugs for sale

  14. scalp psoriasis

    Today, with the fast lifestyle that everyone leads, credit cards have a huge demand in the economy. Persons from every field are using the credit card and people who are not using the card have lined up to apply for one. Thanks for sharing your ideas on credit cards. https://psoriasismedi.com scalp psoriasis

  15. prescription for psoriasis

    Today, with the fast lifestyle that everyone leads, credit cards have a huge demand in the economy. Persons from every field are using the credit card and people who are not using the card have lined up to apply for one. Thanks for sharing your ideas on credit cards. https://psoriasismedi.com prescription for psoriasis

  19. drugs for varicose veins

    Today, taking into consideration the fast chosen lifestyle that everyone is having, credit cards get this amazing demand throughout the market. Persons out of every arena are using credit card and people who not using the credit card have prepared to apply for just one. Thanks for spreading your ideas in credit cards. https://varicoseveinsmedi.com drugs for varicose veins

  24. buy hypertension drugs

    Today, with all the fast life style that everyone is having, credit cards have a big demand throughout the economy. Persons coming from every discipline are using credit card and people who aren’t using the credit cards have made arrangements to apply for one in particular. Thanks for expressing your ideas about credit cards. https://hypertensionmedi.com buy hypertension drugs

  26. best medicine for multiple sclerosis

    Today, with all the fast way of living that everyone is having, credit cards get this amazing demand throughout the market. Persons coming from every discipline are using credit card and people who not using the credit card have made arrangements to apply for one in particular. Thanks for giving your ideas in credit cards. https://multiplesclerosismed.com best medicine for multiple sclerosis

  39. osteoporosis threatment

    I realized more something totally new on this fat loss issue. 1 issue is that good nutrition is very vital whenever dieting. An enormous reduction in junk food, sugary food items, fried foods, sugary foods, beef, and whitened flour products can be necessary. Possessing wastes bloodsuckers, and wastes may prevent desired goals for shedding fat. While a number of drugs quickly solve the condition, the terrible side effects will not be worth it, and in addition they never supply more than a short-lived solution. This can be a known indisputable fact that 95% of diet plans fail. Many thanks for sharing your thinking on this web site. https://osteoporosismedi.com osteoporosis meds for sale

  41. bronchitis drugs over the counter

    I definitely wanted to jot down a brief message so as to express gratitude to you for all the lovely instructions you are placing at this website. My incredibly long internet look up has at the end of the day been honored with reasonable knowledge to talk about with my great friends. I would repeat that we visitors are unequivocally fortunate to exist in a remarkable site with very many perfect professionals with useful strategies. I feel truly lucky to have seen your entire webpages and look forward to some more fabulous times reading here. Thanks a lot once more for everything. https://bronchitismed.com how to cure bronchitis quickly

  43. bronchitis drugs over the counter for sale

    I just wanted to post a quick note to say thanks to you for the pleasant secrets you are posting here. My prolonged internet lookup has finally been paid with useful suggestions to write about with my two friends. I would suppose that we website visitors are very lucky to live in a very good website with very many wonderful professionals with very helpful tips and hints. I feel very much privileged to have used your entire website page and look forward to tons of more pleasurable times reading here. Thanks a lot once more for everything. https://bronchitismed.com bronchitis medication over the counter

  46. treatment for osteoporosis

    I acquired more new stuff on this losing weight issue. Just one issue is a good nutrition is vital if dieting. A big reduction in bad foods, sugary foodstuff, fried foods, sweet foods, pork, and white colored flour products may perhaps be necessary. Retaining wastes harmful bacteria, and contaminants may prevent aims for losing belly fat. While specified drugs momentarily solve the matter, the bad side effects are usually not worth it, they usually never give more than a short lived solution. It can be a known incontrovertible fact that 95% of fad diet plans fail. Many thanks sharing your notions on this site. https://osteoporosismedi.com treatment for osteoporosis

  48. termometr bezdotykowy

    Dzięki za wskazówki dotyczące naprawy kredytu na temat tego wszystkiego blogu. Co ja chciałbym rada ludziom jest zrezygnować z tej mentalności że mogą teraz i zapłać później. As a as be a} społeczeństwo {my|my wszyscy|my wszyscy|wielu z nas|większość z nas|większość ludzi} ma tendencję do {robienia tego|robienia tamtego|próbowania tego|zdarzyć się|powtórz to} dla wielu {rzeczy|problemów|czynników}. Obejmuje to {wakacje|wakacje|wypady|wyjazdy wakacyjne|wycieczki|rodzinne wakacje}, meble, {i|jak również|a także|wraz z|oprócz|plus} przedmiotów {chcemy|chcielibyśmy|życzymy|chcielibyśmy|naprawdę chcielibyśmy to mieć}. Jednak {musisz|musisz|powinieneś|powinieneś chcieć|wskazane jest, aby|musisz} oddzielić {swoje|swoje|to|twoje obecne|swoje|osoby} chcą {od wszystkich|z potrzeb|z}. {Kiedy jesteś|Kiedy jesteś|Kiedy jesteś|Jeśli jesteś|Tak długo, jak jesteś|Kiedy} pracujesz, aby {poprawić swój kredyt|poprawić swoją zdolność kredytową|zwiększyć swój kredyt|zwiększyć swój kredyt|podnieś swój ranking kredytowy|popraw swój kredyt} wynik {musisz zrobić|zrobić|faktycznie potrzebujesz|naprawdę musisz} dokonać kilku {poświęceń|kompromisów}. Na przykład {możesz|możesz|możesz|możesz|będziesz mógł|| możesz|prawdopodobnie możesz} robić zakupy online {aby zaoszczędzić pieniądze|aby zaoszczędzić pieniądze|aby zaoszczędzić} lub {możesz przejść do|może się zwrócić|może odwiedzić|może obejrzeć|może sprawdzić|może kliknąć} używane {sklepy|sklepy|detaliści|sprzedawcy|punkty sprzedaży|dostawcy} zamiast {drogie|drogie|drogie|drogie|drogie|drogich} domów towarowych {dla|w odniesieniu do|dotyczących|odnoszących się do|przeznaczonych dla|do zdobycia} odzieży {termometr bezdotykowy|termometry bezdotykowe|termometry bezdotykowe ranking|termometr do czoła|termometry do czoła|termometr bezkontaktowy|termometry bezkontaktowe|termometr koronawirus|termometr|termometr na podczerwień|termometry na podczerwień|termometr lekarski|termometry lekarskie|szybki termometr medyczny|szybkie termometry medyczne}.

  60. NamCHouman

    Hey There. I came across your blog site using msn. This is certainly an extremely well written article.
    I’ll be certain to bookmark it and return to read through
    much more of your useful information. Thanks for the post.
    I’ll certainly return.

    Here is my blog post – NamCHouman

  72. wallet for notebook

    Heya i’m for the initial time here. I found this board and I in finding It really useful
    & it helped me to out a great deal. I am hoping to provide something
    again and help others just like you helped me.

    Also visit my webpage – wallet for notebook

  74. JameeIBoivin

    I at all times employed to read article in news papers the good news is while i am a person of
    internet thus from now I am using net for content, because of web.

    Look at my website :: JameeIBoivin

  75. chic sparrow nano

    I’m curious to find out what blog platform you possess been using?

    I’m experiencing some minor security issues with my latest
    blog and I might like to find some thing safeguarded.
    Do you have any recommendations?

    My web blog … chic sparrow nano

  76. coffee date

    This is very fascinating, You’re an excessively professional
    blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and sit up for looking for extra of your wonderful post.
    Also, I have shared your website in my social networks

    Have a look at my site :: coffee date

  77. KizzyLGoulas

    It’s really a nice and useful component of info.
    I am happy that you shared this helpful information with
    us. Please stay us informed this way. Thanks
    for sharing.

    Also visit my web site: KizzyLGoulas

  79. kawaii food stickers

    I enjoy the helpful information you provide inside your articles.
    I’ll bookmark your weblog and view again here regularly.
    I am quite certain I’ll learn plenty of new stuff on this site!

    Better of luck for the next!

    Look into my web site; kawaii food stickers

  80. travelers notebook

    Hi there! This article couldn’t be written significantly
    better! Dealing with this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
    He continually kept preaching about this. I will send this post
    to him. Fairly certain he’ll have got a great read. Thank you for sharing!

    my web site … travelers notebook

  82. planners

    Its like you learn my thoughts! You seem to understand a
    good deal approximately this, such as you wrote the guide inside or something that
    is. I think that you simply can use some p.c. to force the content home slightly,
    however as opposed to that, that may be wonderful
    blog. A fantastic read. I am going to certainly come back.

    Also visit my webpage: planners

Leave a Reply

  • (will not be published)

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

The Latest:

  • Originals

    Swan Song

    This is a tough one to write. For those of you who know me, in person, by my writing, or…


  • Originals

    The Fool and the Villain, Part II

    (Warning: In Second Life, pixelated tits and dicks abound. Abandon all hope, all ye who enter this article at work.)…


  • Commentary

    The Edge Of The Ocean

    The problem is to plot the map. My sense of geography is spotted with black holes. There’s the Chinatown and…


  • Originals

    Play Everything

    Play everything. No, I’m serious, play everything. Play that game of hopscotch those kids drew up on the sidewalk with…


  • Commentary

    Genre In Question

    Why are there so few video game comedies? At least twice in the past year I’ve bumped into conversations trying…