Chapter Five- First Encounter
"Even the mightiest of Light Bearers fall prey to the Darkness" -unknown author
The Shadow Fang, Orbit Around Mercury
Enali moved her unarmored fingers lightly across the console, typing in line after line of code.
"Ghost, prepare the prototypes and bring Salem and Halima up to speed" she called out, momentarily reaching with her left hand to touch her stomach.
"Yes ma'am"
Ghost disappeared and reappeared before Salem and Halima, her central core spinning rapidly.
"The prototype weapons and armor are almost ready, do be careful as the armor will only take overloads two to three times"
Salem nodded, bringing his helmet down over his head.
"The weapons charge with light and draw it in from life sources"
Halima looked over at ghost.
"So they absorb light from our bodies to supercharge?" She asked, thumbing the hammer on her new hand cannon.
"No, they draw in energy from the life forces around you. It's guardian safe!" Ghost said, floating around them.
"Enali to Hangar One"
"Go ahead ma'am, we read you loud and clear" Salem said, picking up a rocket launcher.
"I don't know what you'll find down there but please be careful. If you get into too much shit, I'll drop in as a last resort" Enali called out.
"I think we will be ok, just worry about yourself and the baby" Halima replied.
Ghost looked the two over before popping the hatch.
"The two fighters will take you down to the surface and be waiting nearby for immediate extraction"
Salem and Halima nodded, moving to their respective fighters.
"Good luck guys" Enali said over their systems.
Mercury, The Surface, Dropzone Alpha
Halima looked upwards at the tall door that resembled the Vault of Glasses door.
"There's no spire to form or anything." She said moving her hand across its surface.
"I say we just knock, maybe the kind keepers of its treasure will let us in" Salem said stepping to her side.
Halima shook her head, giving a small giggle.
"Your so attractive when you act dumb you know that" she said as she patted his back.
Salem smirked and pushed the door inward.
A loud roar echoed from within, pushing air out the door.
"Uh.. Are we going in there?" Salem asked, his right hand holding up his launcher.
Halima poked her head in, looking around.
It was dark, darker than any place she had ever been.
"I'll light the way" she said stepping into the grand hall.
She moved with a fluid grace, her hand cannon resting firmly in her right hand as her and Salem moved through the halls.
A rush of air moved past them, causing their radars to go off.
"Keep an eye out, we have no idea what is in here" she said as she readied her weapon.
Salem marveled at the tall ornate structures that lined the halls.
Halima stopped, her radar going crazy.
"We're surrounded..." She whispered as Salem moved to her side.
Before he could say anything, a loud screech echoed, like it was coming from a large pack of thrall.
"MOVE!"
Salem pushed Halima into the adjoining hall, both running at full speed.
Halima turned, priming a solar grenade as she jumped upwards turning to throw, wiping out a section of thrall.
"What are thrall doing here?! They aren't normally anywhere but Earth and the Moon.." She called out as she rejoined Salem.
Salem didn't respond and it was but a moment before she found out why.
Before them stood what appeared to be a guardian only surrounded by shadows and what appeared to be several thousand thrall and a few Knights.
"Fuck..." Salem said as he shuffled Halima behind him.
The Shadow Fang, Orbit Around Mercury
Enali flipped through the photos, staring intently at the screen.
"So that device will erase all memory or trace of you from people?" Her ghost asked.
"It will allow you to choose to what extent memories are erased..." She whispered.
Her ghost spun on its axis, taking in all the data.
"So you think it will help with what you have planned?"
Enali sighed and ran her fingers through her short hair, remembering how long it once was.
"Yea, David doesn't need me or this kid to slow him down... I love him to death, but I'm afraid that we will only cause pain" Enali said as she stopped on a photo of what appeared to be an awoken woman of nobility with the legendary Shin Malphur, each holding a child.
"What the hell..."
"Vortex One to Shadow Fang, we have a small issue down here!" Halima's Voice echoed over the ships systems.
"Report!" Enali said pushing the picture back to another screen.
"There are a large gathering of hive and what appears to be a guardian leading them"
"Repeat that Halima, you said a guardian?!"
The coms exploded with thrall screeches and radio chatter from Salem and Halima coordinating their attacks.
"Damnit.." Enali said pushing off from the pilots console, storming off to the armory.
"Ma'am your not supposed to go down there.." Her ghost said, locking the door.
"Open the fucking door, I am not leaving my friends to die this time around.."