The Demon of Destiny Ch.9

Good evening to all you readers~! Thank you for returning :) Please enjoy. Any questions that you have please feel free to ask!

Chapter 9: Factions of Fractioned Light

"Who are those weirdos?" Kanta asked, eyes suspicious of the 'black and white back ally bums' he thought they were. "That is Dead Orbit, one of the three factions here in the city, each faction has cause in which they recruit Guardians to fight for." Amanda said, aloofly as she toyed with her tablet while Kanta began to rant.

"What the HELL!? RECRUIT GUARDIANS!?" Desert Punk yelled, finding these factions COMPLETELY obnoxious already! "What do you mean!?" Mori tapped him then on his shoulder, "Well, you see, they don't have any soldiers themselves, so they use the only force available, Guardians~" she said. "So what you're telling me is they want something done, and Guardians do it for them!? What FREELOADERS!" Punk yelled out again, tensed by these factions making jackasses out of the Guardians in his opinion.

"Well, perhaps when you reach each Faction leader, you can hear their causes, maybe you'll agree?" Mori asked Kanta, hoping he'd agree, he scoffed, then walking over to the Awoken man, his attention on a man who was wearing wrist device, fixing it for him so it showed a holographic 3D visual of the Dead Orbit insignia. When they arrived, the Awoken happened to finish fixing it, sending the man away so he may greet his guests. "Ahh~ Hunters, those who venture out into the darkness first, and return alive~ you are the foundation of what Dead Orbit is, I thank you." He spoke, his accent thick as can be.

Kanta gave him a strange look when he bowed to them "Arach Jalaal, Representative of Dead Orbit, at your service, Guardians." He bowed to them, his silky black hair moving with his head a tad too femininely for Punk's taste. "So, what is it you guys do?" Kanta asked somewhat callously, with a little curiosity scratching it's way to the surface.

Jalaal turned away from him before answering his question, looking to what little he could see of the sky outside the hangar "Guardian, might I answer your question with a question? Why are we all here? Why are we not out there among the stars?" Kanta replied immediately "That was two questions, and I'm not entirely sure. Perhaps because this is where we're supposed to be? Where we're meant to be?"

"Ahh~ you'd think that. But in truth, as our ancestors before us, we are destined to live among the stars! The Traveler did that for us once, and look what happened to it. It is left crippled, meaning it cannot give us anything else. Now that it gave us what we need to seek out the light BEYOND the darkness, the stars call out to us, and this planet is no longer safe. The Darkness invades our ancient homes of Earth, Venus, Mars, even our Moon, and BEYOND! We must push outwards and leave the system, BEFORE it is too late-" Arach Jalaal stated, before being interrupted by Desert Punk.

"So you pretty much just wanna turn tail and run? Run from all that we have? Give it all to the darkness? Just so you and whoever comes with you to fit on your probably CRAP ship can go to a place you've never been? Where exactly are you going to get this fleet anyways?" Arach Jalaal retorted "we'll build our own, with the aid of our most powerful asset, Guardians~" he said, his head tilted toward Kanta, who felt the awoken' pressure in joining their cause, which was not even enough to make Kanta flinch. "If you wish to aid us, then by all means, you are free to do so. You are also free to join those stubborn jar-headed imbeciles at New Monarchy, if you believe fighting is the way, and changing this already dead city. The Executor there in New Monarchy laughed at me, but they will the imbeciles destroyed by the darkness when it reaches us. If you wish to aid us, your support is welcome."

"I see, I'll... Keep that in mind. We're done here." Kanta said, turning away from the Awoken 'charity case' as he walked up the steps, back toward the shipwright, Arach Jalaal calling out "I hope to see you again, Desert Punk~!"

"Great, even HE knows my name..." Kanta grumbled as he and Mori headed toward Amanda Holliday, who put down her tablet to greet them, Kanta giving her his opinion of Dead Orbit. "Freeloading cowards." He said to her, she responded by sending them toward the flight of stairs that was on the far right in the back corner of the Shipwright's station.

When ascending the stairs, the locale and interior of the purple walled room with white, yellow, and red lines bordering its edges. The room was very quiet, sort of empty, but luxurious; couches and ceiling-to-floor windows that viewed the entire hangar surrounded the 'pad'. People donning the symbol were also found, sitting on the couches and conversing among themselves and their own devices.

Standing in front of the giant window was an EXO woman, garmented in the purple of the theme, she was a white color upon her metal skin, with red decal dashing down her face from left, right, and the center of her face. The red lines dodged around the three augments that rose from her robotic head. Teal eyes glowed as she looked down at her yet another tablet device, these seemed to be popular among directors of factions and leaders of each cause here at the tower.

When Punk approached her, her almost aloof-looking gaze didn't even rise from the device. "Can I help you?" She asked, notifying that she DID in fact notice that the two Guardians were there, looking up finally as Kanta stared at her, speaking after finally taking in the EXO woman, "What the hell does FWC stand for?" He asked rather callously. "Is that any way to speak to one with which you mean to gain knowledge from?" She asked, her thick-accented voice was still the same aloof tone.

"Is this how you treat possible faction members?" Kanta retorted, Mori breathing in a bit, her partner was more brazen than she thought. The EXO responded "Very well, you have my attention Guardian." She spoke again "It stands for Future War Cult. I am Lakshmi-2, ambassador of the FWC. What brings you to us, Guardian?" Lakshmi asked.

"What's your cause? What is it you're trying to do?" Kanta asked, awaiting her response, he crossed his arms. Lakshmi didn't give him an inch, she stared him for a moment, eyes glowing yet cold, his steel gaze matching her's. A sort of small and silent respect was caught between the two cold gazes, even if only for a moment. Lakshmi then spoke "What if on some dreadful night, the darkness comes creeping up on you and whisper in your ear 'This is war is ALL that there is for you'... Would you be ready to stand and fight? We are."

"Oh I am. The Darkness has never seen anything like me." Kanta said, his smile of arrogance showing, his boldness leaking through as his confidence radiated from him. Lakshmi was seemingly unimpressed, looking back down at her tablet. "That kind of confidence is welcome here. Though, paint yourself in the blood of darkness, season yourself with the war that the darkness is bringing to our doorstep. Then we shall see if you stay or run... Dead Orbit wishes to run. Misdiagnosing our problem with distance, when the matter is actually time. War is a constant in our world, Guardian, for that reason, we hold our secrets close."

Kanta nodded, noticing just how secretive the EXO had been in this entire conversation. 'Shady...' Punk thought. He proceeded to turn, Mori Boeing to Lakshmi slightly before leaving, showing respect in place of Kanta's prideful ignorance, Lakshmi speaking up as he was turning to leave. "Harden yourself... Show the War Cult what the Demon of the Desert can really do.." She said, returning then to her tablet again.

On their return to the Shipwright to review what he had seen, Kanta's opinion was as followed: "Shady Freeloaders..." He grumbled over and over again until they reached the front yard area of the Tower, after being sent that way by Amanda whom had just about enough of Kanta's stubbornness about these factions, and his perverted gestures toward her.

So there they were, the two Hunters traveling from one side of the tower to the other, passing through the tunnel, as per Amanda's direction. When they reached the end of the tunnel, turn left, and they did. What they saw was a whole area painted in red, with a white streak across the wall. The triangle symbol with the three dashes showing up once on the wall, in great size. Punk first noticed the man with the red head-dress and fur-clad shoulder guards, all in the red robe he wore. The human man seemed focused on speaking to two other Guardians, the only word Kanta heard in their conversation was "consensus". Looking around more, behind the stacked crates of supply that towered behind the human man clad in red, Kanta saw the fire-pit relaxation area that citizens who wore the insignia were hanging around on the couches, relaxing and even drinking a beverage or two around the fire.

Punk's eyebrow arched at the sight. "What is this? A party house?" Kanta asked Mori, who shrugged her shoulders cutely. "You there." The male human in red called to the two Hunters, who walked back to him when he waved them over.

"Welcome friends, this is New Monarchy. I haven't met either of you, but I've heard all about you, Desert Punk." Mori smiled, due to the reasons of her partner's already rising reputation, and the comic relief that it brought her as Kanta fumed at the fact that he had eyes on him at all times, or ears out to hear about him. "What the hell!? Do ALL the factions watch me!?"

"I see those Future War Cult freaks weren't very subtle; surprisingly enough. Always talking about 'the War', worried more about fighting the Darkness then rebuilding our own civilization." Kanta nodded his head back a little, beginning to understand. "Okay, I can see what you guys are up to, trying to 'rebuild' a lost society~ for 'the noble cause'. Like I haven't heard that one before, tell me, what's the angle?"

"How presumptuous. You haven't even bothered for my name yet." He said, rather irritated by this. "I am Executor Hideo. Our cause is simply to rebuild the Golden Age... And-" Hideo was stopped by Desert Punk, who blurted "AHA! What's the catch!?" Kanta asked presumptuously.

"There's no catch! Only change in unifying the consensus of leaders here in the city! The Speaker is the unofficial leader, but WHO put him there? No one that we no of, he's even shady enough to hide behind a mask. That's 'Future War Cult'-shady, we need a leader we can trust, one we elect, THEN fight the Darkness..." He explained, continuing. "We have to work to create the Golden Age that we once thrived upon. Dead Orbit doesn't seem to get it, they just want to run. Run away where? To a system claimed by no one? Where the light can't reach it? That's ridiculous! If we can sustain order, and elect a proper leader, we can actually move forward, and not rely on a masked man who sits in his laboratory all day, talking to the Traveler."

Punk nodded, agreeing with him, his points actually making some sense, however, his disagreement on certain aspects arose. "Exactly what happens if you elect the wrong leader? Or doesn't do what the people tell him, or her? What happens if someone corrupt takes the 'throne'. And tell me, what exactly can a 'king' that's picked by what's left of an endangered civilization DO against the overwhelming darkness?"

The New Monarchy Executor had no response, crossing his arms in thought. He puzzled and puzzled on this... Shaking his head finally, "I honestly don't know. If you find the answer to that one, tell me. You'd be doing New Monarchy a great service." Kanta closed his eyes and smiled a cocky smile, shaking his head slightly, before waving the Executor off with a "sure, yeah, whatever." Leaving him with Mori still by his side.

In the tunnel, Mori asked Punk when they were far enough away, "So~ what did you think of that one-?" She was answered all too quickly; "Rebellious Freeloaders!" He shouted, stomping into the center courtyard. "These assholes all want freakin' CHARITY work! As I freakin' expected! They all want me to work for free!? Like I'm some fuckin' cock thirsty bitch!? Fuck that! I work for me! And me alone!"

"Wait... Kanta... You know they all pay you for your services during patrol, right?" Mori asked, confused by Kanta's anger, which suddenly boiled out. "They... They pay!? WHY THE HELL DO THEY MAKE THEMSELVES LOOK LIKE BITCH-ASS CHARITY CASES WHEN THEY ALL-!..." Kanta's rant was halted suddenly, his face's red suddenly disappeared, his snarl replaced with a smile... An evil smile, his brain concocting his own schemes~

Pulling poor Mori in under his wing, he began to whisper. "What if I get on ALL THREE of their payrolls? I'll be the richest Guardian here by far if they all pay for services, along with the Vanguard's pay, I'll be SWIMMING in glimmer made of GOLD!" He chucked, his scheme, however, was lost on Mori, who just stared at him. She then began to speak, "Y-You know, Kanta... There are many Guardians who pick up missions from all of them... Their pay is often the same as the pay from the Vanguard..." She did, pressing her index fingers together, her big blue eyes looking down, blushing at being under Kanta's rather muscular arm.

"... Those cheap BASTARDS! WHY DOES THIS TOWER SEEM TO SCREW ME!?" Kanta screamed to the sky! On his knees he was as Mori patted him on his back quickly, consoling her partner. "It'll all be okay... At least we get treated well by the City and its people. "She's right." The voice from inside Desert Punk spoke, his Ghost floating up and forward, looking at him. "What else do you need money for besides food and bed, right?" Kanta's Ghost said. "Shut up Blinky. There's more to life than just food and a place to sleep." Desert Punk groaned, his short spiky hair lowered to Mori's view, the Ghost diving downward to keep eye-contact. "Honestly, the Glimmer supply that flows into your pocket is the least of your worries. Remember, as a Guardian, you're financial issues are covered by the city. All your needs and wants are your's."

"Yeah, but what the hell did I give in exchange!? My life!? My servitude!? When the hell did I even ask for this!?" Kanta asked, leaning over the edge of the Tower, looking down again at the city below, as he did a few hours ago.

"Kanta... Th-this isn't the world you knew anymore... Like I said, this IS survival, and this is how Guardians survive." She said, turning him to look into her moonlit blue eyes. "The world is truly different from the savage desert you once knew... The people have learned to unify... Against something darker than the people who were once alive in your world. I-I understand i-it goes against everything you believe... But this is the way the world is... And y-you were brought here for a reason..." She said, clutching his arm lightly, looking into his eyes of steel, hoping this would be sensible enough for him... She continued to move her hands down, proceeding to hold his hand, and the moment was silent between them, a blush tearing through even Kanta's prideful facade...

"Well, still, what the hell is running this city anyway?" He grumbled, calmed by the Mori, but still bothered by the ways of these flawed mentalities. "New Monarchy is gonna BREAK this city apart! Over-throwing the Speaker is gonna cause MASS panic! Not to mention, messing with the flow of things is gonna start a war with the Future War Cult, which I bet WANTS that to happen! But who knows with those shady pricks!? Then there's Dead Orbit, which is too chicken-shit to even STAY! All three are fucking stupid!"

"... Then why not just serve the Vanguard? No one said you HAD to join a faction..." The Ghost said, minimizing Desert Punk's overdramatic dilemma and display. "Kanta, all I'm saying is-" she spoke as she brought his hand to her chest "-everything will be okay... We just have to continue the work we've been doing... And move forward~"

By now, the moment between the two guardians was a rare one, especially for Kanta, of all people, one who never truly understood the sincerity of another's affections, as she looked at him, drawing herself closer, the moon shined over the two as they moved to one another...

Together the two Guardians walked throughout the courtyard toward the Guardians' Quarters, and when it was time for Kanta to head toward his own room... Guardians throughout the halls swore they saw Kanta enter her room instead...

HA! LEFT YA HANGING! HAHA! I understand that any romance is TOTALLY a outside of Desert Punk's character, but remember they may be some changes. Don't worry, Kanta is still (mostly) Kanta, just adapting to this new and VERY different world. Still deciding if to add another character from our beloved Desert Punk series, if so; who? And when?

Also, I'm not sure Desert Punk would loot the bodies of Fallen, only because what's on them is probably too foreign for him to understand. However, I do understand he should be overjoyed when he discovers the loot caches in the cosmodrome and elsewhere.

Once again, thank you for reading~ please R&R! :) later!