"This is a stupid plan," Parthix grumbled as the group began to climb the hillside. "We're too far from the city, with very little cover."
"If we can help it, we will certainly avoid attacking the enemy on an open field," Brakson assured his comrade. Though many rode on their sparrows, they kept a slow pace due to Brakson insisting on riding his trusty horse, Cornelius. Many others also rode on horseback. Although Parthix had tried to talk him out of the decision, Brakson made it clear that Cornelius had always been by his side, and he would not be separated by his noble steed when such an important event was to take place.
"What's even out here for us?" Parthix questioned.
"The remnants of Old Caprica," Brakson stated. "Tolcum informed me of some allies that are holed up in the city, and we need all the warriors we can get."
"Who are they exactly? Is it a group of refugee humans, exos, awoken?" Parthix raised an eyebrow. He slowly glided across the air on his sparrow next to the galloping Cornelius. The horse was coated in brown fur.
"Humans are there to be sure, but I'm more concerned with those that are with them: The House of Dawn," Brakson answered.
"What?!" Parthix shouted, causing the nearby guardians to jump in surprise. "Fallen?"
"Despite what you may think, Tolcum informed me that they are on our side," Brakson tried to ease his tense friend. "We're in a rather desperate situation, Parthix. With only a few hundred guardians, we're hopelessly outnumbered against the fallen hordes. Desperate times call for desperate measures," he explained. It was after he had finished his explanation that the pair reached the top of the hillside. There, hidden below the rising sun stood the ruins of Old Caprica, and something was quite wrong. Heaps of smoke were rising up from the shattered city, and Brakson made out the silhouette on an army on the mountainside overlooking the ruins. Sounds of gunfire filled the region as Brakson came to the realization that they were too late.
"Well, so much for reinforcements," Parthix stated, almost delighted by the sight.
"Where there's gunfire, there's a fight," Brakson stated. By now, the others in his army had reached the hilltop as well. "We will not give up hope just because the situation appears dire; we've been through worse." He urged Cornelius to turn and was soon staring at all those who stood before him. "Whether fallen or human, those trapped within the city are our allies. The Vanguard turned its back on us, and we cannot afford to be as stubborn as them," he stated. "Today, you ride for the dream that our kind may yet survive. Today, you ride for all those that have perished. Today, you ride for the Last City!" he roared. Cornelius instinctively reared up on his hind legs in triumph. "Now, charge!" Brakson shouted, pointing his arm to Old Caprica. A sea of cheers followed, and soon a stream of sparrows and horses descended from the hill. Guardians, with weapons in hand, raced to the burning city.
"You've always had a way with words," Parthix admitted before joining the group.
Brakson watched his army charge forward, and suddenly felt helpless. "If only my words could save us."
Cayde slipped into Shaxx's quarters. The hulking titan was in the rare situation of having his helmet removed. However, he was facing away from the hunter. "Yoo-hoo," Cayde called out, making his presence known.
Shaxx scrabbled to reach his helmet, swiftly applying it to his head before turning to face the intruder. "Cayde, what are you doing here?!" he questioned angrily. The titan was a giant among men, rising to more than a head above Cayde's height.
"Just came to see how my favorite titan is doing," Cayde lied, putting on his traditional plastic smile.
Shaxx shook his head in frustration. "Get out of my quarters, hunter."
"Hey, didn't you want another hunter to do the same earlier?" Cayde asked, making a rather awkward segue to his main discussion point.
"What is it you want, Cayde?" Shaxx relented.
"I just want to know your opinion on the Tolcum situation," Cayde replied innocently.
"He is banished from the city, never to return. There is no point in having an opinion when what's done is done," the titan stated, crossing his massive arms.
"But, you have to admit what happened was rather bizarre, right?" Cayde asked, tilting his head.
"We get crazies up here all the time," Shaxx replied nonchalantly.
"But an impending attack on the city? Fallen houses uniting? It all seems outrageous, right?" Cayde pushed. "So outrageous, in fact, that it might actually be true."
"I trust Zavala's judgement on the decision, Cayde," Shaxx stated, puffing out his chest in authority. "I will not dispute this with you anymore."
"You're right," Cayde replied, taking a step away from the titan. He put up his arms as if to concede. "Tolcum was a crazy bat. He was mischievous and rather insane. I mean, we've witnessed first-hand that he's conversed with the dreaded powers of the Darkness. There's no way he could've been telling the truth about an impending attack on the city, unless he was."
"Get out!" Shaxx shouted.
"Listen bulky," Cayde growled, pointing a finger to the titan. "Zavala and Ikora may believe whole-heartedly that Tolcum was lying, but what if, just what if, he was telling the truth?"
"He wasn't," Shaxx stated, as if his words held some form of worth.
"But what if?!" Cayde shouted. "If by some stretch of the imagination, he's right, this city will be destroyed." He caught a shift in Shaxx's stance and smirked. "You already know that, though, don't you?"
Shaxx stared at the hunter, unable to find words to say. He looked Cayde over once more before lightly gesturing for the hunter to continue making his point.
"Think about it, Shaxypoo. If we get defenses ready and there's no fallen attack, there's no harm done; but, if we don't prepare anything for our guests and they show up, our civilization is doomed," Cayde explained. He then drew closer to the titan and leaned in. "We can't afford to be wrong about this."
Krovix plunged his elongated shock blade through the vandal's chest, impaling him as the weapon jammed into the wall on the other side of its body. Blood poured out the gaping wound as the Kell of Dawn plucked his weapon free of the corpse. "What a piece of filth, these members of House Devils," he snarled. It was then that his lieutenant came bounding to his side.
"My kell, the enemy is swiftly encroaching on our position," Variksis informed, attempting to catch his breath. "They are flooding the streets with captains, vandals, and dregs. Devil walkers are also on the way."
"What of our men?" Krovix questioned as he stepped in the direction of the gunfire.
"We lost our only walker, and our servitors have been pinned down," Variksis reluctantly stated. He was disappointed he could not give better news.
"Without our servitors, we cannot survive," Krovix commented. "What of the humans and fellow vandals still fighting?"
"They're all putting up a valiant effort, sir. Unfortunately, we just don't have the numbers," Variksis explained.
Krovix lifted his head to the mountainside beyond. The enemy walkers on the cliffside were so numerous he could spot them from his position. "Then it's settled: we're evacuating."
"With all due respect, how?" Variksis asked. "Once we exit the city we will be on the open plains. We'll be sitting ducks out there."
"Then you and the others will go," Krovix replied, tilting his head back to the vandal. "Take the humans with. I will hold off the horde."
"But…" Variksis attempted to protest.
"But nothing!" Krovix roared. "You will do as your kell instructs you."
Variksis stared at his kell, his friend. The vandal's rifle fell to his side as he stared helplessly at the great being before him. "As you wish, sir," he eventually replied, his voice weak with emotion. Variksis then turned and vanished around the corner of a tattered building.
Krovix stared onward, his blades still. A smoke-filled breeze swept past him, allowing his cape to soar behind him. "Best not keep them waiting," he said. The kell then leaned forward, forcing his body to take a step. He stomped onward, a shock blade in each of his forehands. He continued his march for several blocks until the gunfire grew so close he could practically feel it. That was when he saw them. A pair of vandals leaped over a barricade of ruined cars, intent on claiming Krovix as their latest kill. The warriors rushed forward, shock blades in hand. They split off to the kell's sides, presuming that he could not focus on two angles at once. Their eyes glowed with evil intentions as they closed in on their opponent. Their blades were lifted, and they swung. In an instant, flesh was hacked away to reveal bone, and bone was hacked away to eviscerate. Krovix watched with amusement as the vandals fell to his sides, their lifeless bodies split in half. He then reached down and picked up an additional shock blade from each.
"Traitor!" an accusatory voice shouted.
Krovix lifted his head to see a captain stomping towards him. The captain wielded a pair of shock blades. "And who might you be, devil?" Krovix sneered.
"I am Carthix, Devil Baron. What sort of filth addresses me?" the captain stated. He stood a hair shorter than Krovix, and was missing the eyes on the left side of his face.
"The Kell of Dawn addresses you," Krovix replied.
Carthix began to chuckle. "No kell has ever been as puny as you." The baron then sprinted forward. His blades slid along the ground, carving their edges to sharper tools with each step. When he was in range, he thrusted his blades forward, meeting Krovix's. The force of collision forced his opposition back.
"Size does not make a kell," Krovix stated, his teeth clenched in anger. "Only their ferocity!" He then lifted his third blade over Carthix and plunged it into the side of his neck. The baron dipped in height ever so slightly. Krovix then drove his forth blade through Carthix's chest, causing blood to spill out onto the rubble they stood upon. With his final two swords he knocked Carthix's defensive blades to the side and jammed them into his stomach. Then, in one violent motion, he plucked all four swords from his opponent, allowing the body to plummet to the ground. Krovix was given no rest. The boiling heat of a shrapnel round warmed his face as it flew past him. The kell's eyes narrowed as he gazed upon an unwelcoming sight. Before him stood a sea of fallen, all wearing the banner of House Devils. Captains stood in front of the army, with vandals and dregs close behind. Several walkers were also in position. "So, this is how it ends?" Krovix questioned as he raised his swords, ready for his last battle.
The sound of a weapon being fired ignited the air. It was a distant sound, but appeared to be drawing closer. It was like that of a starship taking off. Krovix titled his head, and found the source of the disturbance: a rocket. The projectile crashed into the fallen horde, incinerating three captains along with their company of dregs. Both Krovix and the others turned their heads yet to another sound. The noise of animals vigorously slamming their feet into the ground seemed to be approaching. Beyond that, the sound of a hundred engines could be heard.
The next moment was a blur. Krovix spotted a guardian painted in red raising a mighty sword while on horseback. The guardian slammed into the devils, and hundreds joined him. Explosions shook the city as guardians flooded the streets. Though outnumbered, they had the element of surprise, and tore through the fallen lines.
"How?" Krovix asked, staring out at the carnage which laid before him. More fire ignited across the cityscape as sparrows crashed and blew sky-high. Several rockets splintered and cracked a devil walker as the guardians continued their push.
"Sorry to disappoint you," a human voice chuckled from behind Krovix. The kell whipped around to see a hunter coated in iron on his sparrow. "It would appear, however, that your death will have to come later," Parthix remarked.
Before Krovix could say anything, he heard the galloping of a horse approach. He looked over his shoulder and spotted the same guardian from earlier drawing near. "The others have been successfully evacuated," Brakson informed. "It's time to pull out before the enemy regroups." Both Krovix and Parthix nodded in agreement. Just as quickly as they came, the army of guardians disappeared over the hillside with their quarry.
