Disclaimer: I own neither Star Wars nor Goblin Slayer, but if I did I would rewrite Anakin Skywalker in the Prequel trilogy to have an ounce of charisma.
Deathtrooper
Chapter 11
Interlude (Deathtrooper/DT-227)
It took a substantial amount of time to properly skin the many wolves left from their earlier fight. As well as sifting through the dead bodies in the very back of the cave to ensure everyone was accounted for. DT-227 didn't know if he should be worried or saddened by the fact that some remains weren't left behind.
What remained of the bodies, both enemy and victim were burned in a large pile to ensure that no nefarious monsters were attracted by the smell of rot and blood.
Eventually, though, the group had collected their quarry and began the long trek back to Frontier Town. It was silent, and in any other situation DT-227 would welcome it, but given his present company, it was unsettling. Female Knight was something of a chatterbox and it never took much for Heavy Warrior to get him talking.
Now, the former was up a little way to the front, pointedly not looking at either of them while Heavy Warrior walked a few paces behind DT-227. He seemed worried if the concern on his face was anything to go by. DT-227 didn't ask what the issue was, deciding that, sooner or later, it would simply resolve itself.
His patience did not disappoint.
The group set up camp, thankfully setting down their heavy load of direwolf pelts. They gathered around their fire, merely basking in the warm glow as the sun vanished over the horizon. Female Knight's irritation was bubbling near the surface, but she was doing a surprisingly effective job at keeping it down. DT-227 knew she wanted to say something, though he couldn't for the life of him figure out why.
"Why did you kill him?" Female Knight asked quietly, not looking up from the fire. DT-227 looked at her, his helmet deposited off to one side. His hair, clean unlike the others', fell in front of his eyes. With an irritable huff, he batted it aside and, once again, told himself he needed to get it cut.
"Who?" He asked, though the man was fairly sure to whom she was referring.
"The werewolf," Female Knight bit out, whatever resistance keeping her from snapping earlier starting to crumble. DT-227 didn't respond at first, content to drink from his flask for a moment.
"Because that beast deserved it." He responded finally, his voice calm yet forceful. He would debate semantics with Female Knight, nor would he justify his actions to her.
"That 'beast' was a human!" A pity Female Knight couldn't take a hint. DT-227 sighed, leaning back and looking over at her furious face.
"A human does not senselessly kill and feast on other humans, Female Knight." DT-227 explained, trying his damnedest to keep his condescension down, "A human does not lead a pack of wolves to do the same, a monster does."
"He had no control of his actions!" Female Knight snapped, hitting a sore point for DT-227. His calm demeanor shifted then, calm replaced by DT-227's own growing anger.
"No, it had control, it lacked the willpower or the fortitude to resist the hunger. Incompetence and impotence are not justifications to commit unspeakable acts." DT-227 growled, his whole posture now tense. Female Knight was on her feet in an instant, glaring down at him.
"So that justifies murdering him?!" Female Knight demanded, gesturing angrily with her hands.
"What would you have had me do? Allow it to live? Allow it to come with us so it could us all in the night?"
"You don't know that!" DT-227 was on his feet now, their startling difference in size doing nothing to dissuade the young swordswoman.
"I do because that's what I…" He stopped himself short, gritting his teeth as he nearly admitted something he refused to acknowledge. The thought had lingered in DT-227's mind, the thought that he could have and would have become some sort of murderous weapon. DT-227 didn't like to admit it, but sometimes he still acted and fought like that weapon. There was no style, no life to how he fought. Just cool, machine-like efficiency that spoke more about his past than what he was not as a person.
"Forget it," DT-227 growled, getting up, and grabbing his helmet. He slipped it on, avoiding the confused and furious gaze of Female Knight.
"I'm going to patrol around and take the first watch, get some sleep," He spoke more to Heavy Warrior than Female Knight, trying to control his own bubbling rage. The man, clearly not used to dealing with confrontations like this, merely nodded in response. DT-227 left the clearing, the heated stares of his company burning into his back.
DT-227 spent the time setting up his usual sensors wondering, absently, why he spent so much time around Female Knight and Heavy Warrior. He had, originally, requested their help to train him with his sword, but the duo had stopped taking his money after a while. They had, instead, dragged him along on some adventures or to drink at the Guild, acting as if they were… friends.
It was a foreign word to DT-227, one he used to describe only Governess, perhaps. Female Knight and Heavy Warrior had inserted themselves into his life, however. Yet, for one reason or another, he didn't hold that against them.
Their argument aside, DT-227 usually got on pretty well with Female Knight, as well as Heavy Warrior. Both were skilled and strong, with quick wits and sharp tongues. In a way, they were what DT-227 strived to be now that he was free of the Empire's influence. The two of them, while skilled and serious when matters called for it, were generally laid back and laissez-faire. Both knew the dangers of their job, yet constantly joked about nearly dying from one thing or another.
DT-227 was getting better, but he knew he tended to be robotic in places. In a way, he still was like that werewolf. It had been the victim of some monster's choices and lacked the means to escape the nebulous black hole left by their actions.
Not that he pitied the monster.
The now more disjointed group picked up in the morning. Evidently, Heavy Warrior and Female Knight had a sort of argument of their own, as both seemed to use DT-227 as a buffer between them. It was tense, as if at the drop of a hat the three of them may start killing each other. DT-227 felt guilty, this rift being, for the most part, his fault. Naturally, it was his stubborn Imperial pride that ensured he would never admit as much, but the thought lingered deep in his thoughts.
Eventually, they stopped for a late lunch, all of them seemed to want to get home as soon as possible.
It was there that Heavy Warrior got his most brilliant, or perhaps most terrible, idea to date.
"Okay, it's clear we need to discuss this tension between the three of us," He announced rising and beaming down at the other two. Heavy Warrior's smile became a little more forced when both of them merely muttered, refusing to look at the other. He stemmed his fists into his hips, an evil glint appearing in his eyes.
"The best way to find kinship once again? Beating the absolute shit out of each other."
"Doth your eloquence know no bounds, Heavy Warrior?" Asked Female Knight sarcastically, her eyebrow raised.
"You say that now but who will be laughing when you two start brawling? Me, that's who!"
Somehow, DT-227 found himself facing Female Knight, both of them stripped of their armor and standing with but a few meters between them.
Female Knight was dressed in a tunic and loose-fitting pants, certainly a stylistic step down from her over the top armor. DT-227 was wearing merely his under-armor mesh, which did little to protect him from physical blows.
"Okay, try and refrain from any permanent damage and killing one another. Any questions?" Female Knight put her hand up. At Heavy Warrior's nod, she asked her question.
"Does a coma count as 'permanent damage'?"
"If you have to ask, then yes." Female Knight pouted for a second as Heavy Warrior backed up to what he believed to be a safe distance. After a pregnant moment of pause, the man clapped.
"Go!"
To her credit, Female Knight was fast. Perhaps it was her constantly wearing that heavy armor that made her so agile without it? Regardless of why DT-227 had little time to prepare a defense.
He took the knee the crashed into his side with little more than a wince, instead placing his right leg behind her. Right his right hand, the DT-227 tripped the woman and threw her to the ground. She fell, hard, and was pinned by DT-227, who still had his hand on her chest.
His left hand reeled back, forming into a fist before crashing down like a meteor. Just his luck, Female Knight's tunic was loose enough for her to slide down a few inches. DT-227's fist collided into the ground.
WHAM!
"Shit!" He swore, his hand now throbbing with pain. He reeled back, unintentionally letting Female Knight go to cradle his now injured hand. Female Knight took the moment to escape his hold. She wrapped her arms around his right leg, the one supporting most of DT-227's weight. Rolling right, he lost his balance and, suddenly, the roles were reversed.
Female Knight was now on top of him, between his legs, no that isn't a euphemism. A slightly sadistic gleam appearing in her eyes, she threw a flurry of punches at DT-227. The first few hits were diverted, but DT-227 was in no position to completely defend himself. He changed tactics for a moment, deflecting the stronger hits and taking the weakest. The moment her onslaught slowed, DT-227 turned the tables once again.
Her next punch was caught by DT-227. He pulled Female Knight to one side, wrapping his legs around her waist and rolling her onto her back. He straddled the woman, pinning her hand over her head. Her other hand joined the first, leaving the woman writhing pitifully beneath DT-227's weight.
"Give up?" Gasped DT-227, a grin plastered on his face.
"Never!" Cried Female Knight, redoubling her writhing. A pity for her, there wasn't a chance she would be able to throw DT-227 off without the help of her arms, "Okay, maybe."
DT-227 got up, offering his hand and helping the woman to her feet. He felt better, maybe Heavy Warrior had a point. DT-227 turned to tell the man as much, but the shock reflected in Heavy Warrior's eyes gave DT-227 a warning that he had been deceived.
Before he had a chance to turn, a pair of feet collided into his back with the force of a speeder bike driving full speed. DT-227 was unable to catch himself in time, landing face first into the dirt with something weighing him down from behind.
"What the hell," He growled around the mouthful of sand, "I thought you gave up!"
"I said 'maybe'!" Announced Female Knight proudly from her perch on his back.
"You bitch," Growled DT-227, managing to get one knee up. Before Female Knight could do much else, DT-227 planted his hands into the dirt and pushed into a rather pathetic push-up.
As skilled as Female Knight was in combat, she was still a petite, young woman. DT-227's time with the Empire saw him sparring with men three times her physical size. As Female Knight stumbled, evidently not expecting him to so easily throw her weight around. A foolish notion, given that he had, less than two days ago, beat a werewolf into submission with his bare hands…
Okay, plasteel coated hands.
Apparently, that was an impressive feat for someone who hadn't even heard of the beasts until that day.
DT-227 forced himself back to the present, rolling to one side and effectively throwing Female Knight off of him. She gave a small shriek, falling face first into the dirt as DT-227 managed to get to his feet.
Female Knight tried to get up, but DT-227 dove across her back, forcing her down once more. Unlike her, DT-227 weighed quite a lot, even without his armor. She struggled, but this time there would be no escape. DT-227 put his arm around her neck, giving a slight tug.
"Give up now?"
"Never!" Knowing this song and dance, DT-227 tightened his hold, making her breath come out short and quick, "... Okay, maybe!" He tightened further.
"Okay, okay! I give up!" She choked out, struggling beneath his weight. DT-227 smiled, releasing her and rising. As he helped Female Knight to her feet, Heavy Warrior spoke from the sidelines.
"See? Bonding over fighting always works!" He announced with his fists stemmed into his hips and his eyes closed.
"You know what helps better than that?" Asked Female Knight, still slightly short of breath.
"Hmm?" Heavy Warrior opened his eyes, horror dawning in his eyes as both Female Knight and DT-227 rushed him.
"Teamwork." She finished.
DT-227 and Female Knight sat back-to-back, panting and clearly exhausted, but pleased with themselves. They sat in silence, merely staring off in their respective directions for a little. Finally, DT-227 rose his fist, speaking.
"So, are we good now?" Female Knight sighed but bumped his first with the back of her own.
"You're still an ass, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over a werewolf."
"Ouch." DT-227 put on a voice of mock hurt before adjusting himself on the seat they were sharing.
"Great, now that you two have made up, can you get off?!" That seat happened to be a rather beaten and battered Heavy Warrior, who was lying face down in the dirt.
"I don't know, I'm not feeling particularly merciful." Female Knight commented, rubbing her nails on the front of her dirtied tunic before looking at them, "What about you, DT?"
DT-227 sighed, putting his hands behind his head and leaning back more into Female Knight.
"I'm pretty comfortable, I must say." Female Knight, now beaming, pat Heavy Warrior's head.
"Sorry, love, but you're stuck for now."
The usually big and intimidating man whimpered rather pathetically.
Things were pretty amicable after the fight, the trio deciding the make camp there for the night and nurse their bruises before setting out at first light. They talked, joked, and laughed all the way to town, eventually arriving at the Guild after what felt like an extended absence.
As usual, the inside was bustling with activity and people. Cheers sounded at the trio entered, to which the offered their own salutes and waves. Led by DT-227, the group approached the smiling form of Governess, who looked pleased with his return. Of course, her words did little to compound that belief, but everyone had their own way of showing joy.
"You're back, here you had me worrying that you had died," She said with a forlorn shake of her head and a tut. DT-227 grinned from beneath his helmet, leaning on the counter as best he could, given the weight of the wolf pelts on his back.
"I know, it must pain you to see me alive and walking once again," DT-227 responded, the decidedly neutral tone he was taking mixed with a healthy amount of mirth.
"What, lose my favorite subject of mockery?" Governess reeled, a hand going over a heart as she looked horrified at the insinuation. During the course of the conversation, Female Knight approached and handed over the contract. It was relatively clean, surprising given Female Knight's usual scatterbrainedness. Governess accepted it, putting the contract aside and, from beneath the desk, pulling out a sack of coins.
"I forgot how much love there was here. Female Knight and Heavy Warrior were just too likable and kind, it felt wrong." Responded DT-227 with his own pithy remark. He accepted the payment from Female Knight while still talking.
"We're getting a drink, join us?" The woman in question asked pocketing what was left. The three of them were still filthy, coated in blood and sweat from the past few days of walking and fighting, and DT-227 would kill for a drink by this point, but…
"In a minute," He said, pointing up a finger. Female Knight shrugged before nodding Heavy Warrior towards the bar, likely about to get shit faced drunk. Despite how much the woman drank, she couldn't hold her alcohol worth a shit.
"Did I miss much?" DT-227 asked upon turning back towards Governess, knowing full well his rather conversational tone clashed with the voice-distorting feature on his helmet. Governess cocked her head side to side before responding.
"Not much, it's been pretty boring and quiet without you." DT-227 was touched, so much so that he responded with another sarcastic jab.
"Oh, did you miss me?"
"Much in the same way one misses a fungus." Scoffed Governess, her arms crossed as she stared up at the face of DT-227's helmet.
"You wound me." He said theatrically, a hand over his chest. Governess merely rolled her eyes, picking up the contract she had set aside earlier.
"Get, go to your drinking buddies, I need to sort this away." Governess ordered, waving him away whilst brandishing the contract. DT-227 smirked beneath his helmet but responded via putting a thumb up and walking away. The collection of people who had taken to staring at him quickly looked away, finding something rather interested with nearby tables, chairs, and walls.
DT-227 didn't much mind them, finding his duo of comrades at the bar, already drinking. They had deposited their pelts on the counter, much to the clear distress of the bartender herself, not that she could do much about it.
Female Knight was already a bottle down, making DT-227 wonder if she, perhaps, had a drinking problem.
"What are we drinking to?" DT-227 asked, waving the bartender over and just pointing to what they were having. The woman gave a quick nod, horror displayed on her face as DT-227 also deposited his bloody pelts and furs on her counter.
"To DT," Female Knight decided, raising her glass, "For beating a werewolf into with his fists and fists alone!"
Her announcement brought about silence to the entire bar area, all eyes searching out DT-227. The man sat silently, feeling rather awkward under the searching stares of his fellow adventurers. Though it didn't look it, the armor probably made it seem as if he were ignoring them all.
"You expect us to believe that?" Drawled one naysayer off to the far side of the bar, a sneer set into his face. Heavy Warrior cracked a grin, leaning back in his seat. He called over to the man without even turning around to face him.
"Believe it. I didn't see the fight, but I certainly saw the aftermath. DT here is the closest a knight can get to a monk."
"Sure," Scoffed the man, to the nervous chuckles of his friends. That was when DT-227 rose to his feet, turning to face the man.
"You want a demonstration?" The man growled from behind his helmet, his voice sounding animalistic with the distorter in effect. The naysayer quickly realized who it was he had insulted, the Demon Slayer. DT-227 was of two minds on his nickname, but it had its uses.
"D-Demon Slayer! I-I didn't realize!" The man's voice grew high and wavering, panic clear on his face as he met the faceless mask of DT-227's helmet. DT-227 just scoffed and retook his seat, opening a small port on his helmet to drink. Chatter slowly revived, though many people seemed to explain to newcomers and the uninformed who he was and what he had, allegedly, done.
"You fought a werewolf?" A young voice came from DT-227's right. The Deathtrooper looked over to the speaker, a young man perhaps sixteen, maybe younger. DT-227 chuckled, swirling his drink.
"I got lucky, it didn't expect me to see it in the dark," The young man's eyes became as big as saucers, reverence in their depths. He turned and spoke to the girl on his right as DT-227 returned to his drink.
"You're going to start gathering groupies if you aren't careful, DT." Female Knight ribbed, leaning back into her seat as Heavy Warrior spoke animatedly with a spear-wielding man with, perhaps, the worst hair DT-227 had ever seen.
"Maybe I should get almost killed again, that'll throw them off."
"Hardly, they'd probably just think you're a demigod who's unkillable."
"Damn…" DT-227 turned and looked out over the crowd, more of them than he had hoped were looking at DT-227with the same reverence displayed by the boy to his right. Deciding it was best to leave, DT-227 paid his tab and made to beat a heated retreat
"Oh, DT! Don't leave!" Female Knight pleaded, pulling on his arm. DT-227 smiled under his helmet as he, with his free arm, hoisted the furs up.
"Love to, but I'd rather not have my armor stink like death and rot for the next few months."
"Pansy…" She muttered before returning to her drink, allowing DT-227 to slip through the crowd, mostly, unhindered. He headed towards the entrance when he noticed Governess, Goblin Slayer, Priestess, and Guild Girl all talking at the desk, much to the annoyance of a few other nearby adventurers. Deciding his intervention might be needed, DT-227 swooped in.
"You know, DT, I hear cleaning does wonders for one's complexion." Governess said the moment she noticed DT-227 approaching, her nose scrunching up ever so slightly at the caked blood and guts. DT-227 rubbed at one patch, feeling a little self-conscious.
"I was intending to do that, just need to drop these direwolf pelts off," DT-227 explained, calm as ever as he shifted the pelts on his shoulder. They were starting to feel heavy, after all, even Deathtroopers have their limits.
Perhaps putting some money aside for a horse wouldn't be all that bad…?
DT-227 turned, getting Goblin Slayer's attention and completely blindsiding Guild Girl. He purposely ignored the muttering that came from under the woman's breath.
"Just got back from goblin hunting, I assume?" DT-227 asked, expecting some short answer that did little to truly explain what the man was feeling or thinking.
"Yes," Goblin Slayer did not disappoint. A smile grin spread across DT-227's face as he noted the contract in Goblin Slayer's hand.
"Huh… Going out again immediately?"
"Yes," DT-227 nodded slowly in response, the man's short, concise answers to everything rather endearing to the soldier. A look of realization spread across Priestess's face before excitement quickly took its place. She turned to DT-227, a soft smile and hopeful expression in her eyes.
"Oh! Sir Deathtrooper, you should come with us!" DT-227 raised an eyebrow, rather amused with the uncharacteristic forwardness of the young woman. She had come quite a ways from the young woman DT-227 had first met, terrified of some much as speaking to him. She had likely learned to not fear him as much given that DT-227 let Governess verbally abuse him. Then again, the man had made several violent spectacles of goblins, so some fear might be in order…
Numerous days were spent in that dungeon, even he got bored of the same old, safe way of killing goblins.
"Sure, but why?" Not to say that DT-227 didn't want to go, though the pay was terrible, but these two had proven they could more than handle goblins and the like.
"The next place we're going is an old fortress, I figured someone of your expertise would do well there!" Priestess explained excitedly, her usually calm, sweet voice coming out more like a squeak than regular human speech.
"Which expertise?" DT-227 asked with a hint of amusement in his tone. He was, after all, a man of many skills. Humility, it also seemed, had been lost somewhere along the way.
"I think," Governess responded in Priestess's stead, "She is referring to your ability to cause large explosions and obscene amounts of damage."
"Ah," DT responded, looking back to Priestess, "Very well, it will be my honor… Going that Goblin Slayer accepts my help."
Priestess looked as if she wished to refute Governess's earlier statement about DT-227's skills and what they needed him for, insinuating that someone was an arsonist or anarchist of sorts was out of character for her, after all. Her complaints were, however, cut across by Goblin Slayer, responding in his usual short fashion
"Okay." DT-227 cracked a smile but responded with a near identical, emotionless tone of voice.
"Okay, I'll be back soon, I need to sell these and clean up," DT-227 announced, shifting the pelts atop his shoulder before leaving the group to their gossip. Or, perhaps a little more poignant, the girls, their gossip, and Goblin Slayer just kind of standing there.
It was a quick affair, DT-227 seeing to it his pelts were sold quickly, efficiently, and for enough to keep himself, Governess, and Governess's spending habits afloat. The owner had tried, initially, to swindle DT-227, but the Deathtrooper had picked up a few tricks over the months of being here how to counter these sorts of people.
He cooly stared at the man without a word, and the man eventually folded and gave DT-227 a decent sum.
That out of the way, and the speedy affair of clean his armor done, DT-227 linked up with his two newfound party members. Priestess, who was hugging to her chest a quiver full of arrows and what looked to be… cloth? She seemed pleased enough, especially as DT-227 approached.
"Ready?" Goblin Slayer asked simply, turning to face DT-227.
"As I'll ever be," The soldier responded with a similar tone, nodding to Priestess as he spoke. The young woman tried to wave, nearly dropped the arrows. She was forced to adjust herself lest the arrows fell and made an inconvenient mess. DT-227 cracked a wry grin at the young woman's antics, wordlessly taking the quiver from her and slinging it over his own back, next to his blaster rifle.
As she exclaimed her thanks, the trio set out.
The walk was silent at first, Goblin Slayer leading the company with Priestess and DT-227 a few paces behind. Priestess, though usually shy and reserved, seemed rather happy and in good spirits. It was a bizarre shift, but DT-227 wasn't one to question another person's motives.
Finally, DT-227 broke the silence.
"What can you tell me about this fortress and its occupants?" He asked, directing the question at Priestess but ensuring he spoke loudly and clearly enough for Goblin Slayer to hear. Priestess looked thoughtful for a moment or two but was spared having to formulate an answer by the gruff, flat tone of Goblin Slayer.
"It has one known entrance with ramparts, several levels, and a dungeon. Three adventurer teams have attempted to assault it from the front, all have failed. The goblins have been harassing local towns for weeks now. A direct attack is impossible." Cold, direct, and no preamble, DT-227 felt his respect for Goblin Slayer only rise. The man would have made a good Deathtrooper… going that one could get past the manipulation and kidnapping aspect.
"Assuming the goblins didn't make a secondary entrance?" DT-227 asked, his own tone subconsciously changing to the emotionless mask he displayed come to combat. Goblin Slayer, without turning around, gave a brisk nod.
"They likely made several, though locating them will be difficult. I plan to burn them out," Goblin Slayer explained, indicating to the bow over his own shoulder.
"Burn them?" DT-227 repeated incredulously, wondering how the man intended to do that seeing as the goblins could just as easily escape via the massive front door, if not the dozen smaller ones.
"She can use one of her miracles to create a shield wall, trapping them in…"
"... Thus either killing the goblins or forcing them into their tunnels where we can finish them off. Clever." DT-227 finished, though still a little confused over what miracles exactly were. Sure, one had been used to save his life, but the man didn't like to have an unknown resource on any playing field that he knew nothing about.
"What are miracles?" He asked, his tone reverting back to the more conversational 'DT' version. The man scarcely noticed the difference, tough Priestess seemed to be relieved at the change. Priestess, upon realizing DT-227 was talking to her, gave a little jump.
"Oh… er… Miracles are magic. Each mage, wizard, or priestess has a certain amount they can use per day." Priestess explained helpfully, though that did little help DT-227 ascertain what the limits were. Could they cause massive explosions, bring down starships, they already proved to be able to bring someone back from the jaws of death. The applications could be limitless.
"I meant: what miracles are there? What are they capable of? What's their limit? What can you do?" Priestess blanched under the rapid-fire questions, faltering under the intense stare of DT-227. Well, she assumed it to be intense, his face and head were still hidden in the depths of his helmet. In actuality, DT-227's expression was one of pure curiosity. He wasn't much of a Deathtrooper, not everything needed to be utilized as a weapon… yet.
"O-Oh… Uh… Well, there are tons of types of spells. From benign light magic to spells capable of causing great forest fires or explosions. There's a reason people, like Witch back at the Guild, speak slowly and pause at random intervals. Someone like her, who is immensely powerful in magic, have to be careful lest they say the proper combination of words to cause a disaster. All miracle users are limited by how many miracles they can use, I heard that Witch could use thirty, where I can use… only… t-three…" The young woman bowed her head and flushed with embarrassment, clearly put out over her perceived uselessness.
DT-227, in an increasingly common show of compassion, put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Priestess nearly collapsed in fright, but upon realizing that she wasn't in any danger, relaxed somewhat.
"I can only assume you will get better with age and experience, both of which you will earn around Goblin Slayer." DT-227 joked, gauging both Goblin Slayer's and Priestess's reactions. At Priestess's confused look, DT-227 explained.
"Experience, as you travel around and fight, you learn more. Age, all the greying you'll be having as you pick up the pieces to put Goblin Slayer back together, given how he fights." The jab at Goblin Slayer was not missed by Priestess who, upon realizing what DT-227 had meant, seemed to be horrified at the connotation. Clearly, no one much cracked jokes about Goblin Slayer in his presence, much preferring to mutter behind his back.
"Heh." Was all Goblin Slayer commented, neither turning nor doing anything more to acknowledge what DT-227 had said. This seemed to overload Priestess's mind, as her eyes grew as large as dinner plates. The way her head twitched when she looked from DT-227 to Goblin Slayer amused the former to no end.
DT-227 allowed her a few more minutes to try and comprehend the fact that Goblin Slayer could not only acknowledge jokes but did so vocally. Finally, he spoke again when Priestess's dinner-plate like eyes fell upon him again.
"You didn't answer my last question," DT-227 stated, seeming to snap Priestess from her reverie. The young woman gave her head a quick shake, looking slightly irritated as her golden hair became entangled in both the staff she was wielding and itself.
"What was your question again?" She asked absently, trying to pull her now ruined hair free of the staff's grasp. DT-227 cracked a slight grin but repeated it nonetheless.
"What miracles can you use?" Priestess looked up at him for a second before setting back into the work of freeing her hair.
"Oh… er… I can… create a wall of light, summon a ball of light, and heal minor wounds."
The more tactical side of DT-227's mind quickly compartmentalized this information before sifting through it all to find combat uses. The ball was near useless to him, given that fact that the Deathtrooper had night vision built into his helmet and, if not that, then a flashlight on his rifle. The wall could be useful, depending on how much punishment it could it take. How long would the wall fair under intensive small arms fire, or against laser cannons mounted on walkers, or turbolasers fired from a capital ship? The minor healing could be used by medics in the heat of battle, but it really depended on 'magic's' definition of minor. It might just be that bacta and bacta patches were the better product.
The more personal and compassionate side of DT-227's mind, which was rather new and still about as compassionate as a Rancor was huggable, merely smiled. The man gave Priestess's shoulder a squeeze before letting her go, leaving the young woman to the task of freeing her hair.
The company of three, far different from his last party, arrived at the fortress nightfall the following day. It was certainly a spectacle, raising the question as to why it had been abandoned by… whoever the ruling government was in the area. The only sign that there were any occupants in the building, aside from the sentries above, was the flickering of light within.
The building had to be five or six stories at least, though a large portion of it had clearly seen better days. Much of the outer wall had crumbled, offering little cover for the goblin centuries atop the stone structure. It would be a simple task, putting down the sentries before one could get out an alarm. There arose two problems, however, namely the fact that the bright red of the bolts would attract unwanted attention and this was Goblin Slayer's operation. The man had a plan, and DT-227 was not one to get in his comrade's way.
The trio stopped just inside the tree line, all studying the fortress at hand with varying degrees of scrutiny.
"The goblins could escape from there," DT-227 indicated to the most dilapidated part of the wall, where it stooped down nearly half the height of the building itself. Goblin Slayer followed the outstretched hand before giving his head a shake.
"Any survivors can be finished off." The man responded brusquely, earning a flinch from Priestess and a reproachful glare from DT-227.
"Perhaps the first few will be, but some may survive the fall unhurt or otherwise not affected."
"Then they will be finished off." Goblin Slayer repeated before pulling the bow from his back. DT-227 looked back at the last of their company, who had been silent during the exchange. Priestess was hard at work, wrapping arrows in close and what DT-227 assumed to be some sort of oil before sticking them into the ground.
For the first time in his career, DT-227 felt a twinge of fear. Not fear over the mission, mind, but over a… separate subject.
"What about survivors?" DT-227 asked, looking away from Priestess and back to Goblin Slayer. The man seemed to stiffen, as if the idea had either not occurred to him or he had hoped nobody would bring it up.
DT-227, nor his now former kin, was ever one too much care about civilian casualties. It was, after all, not their mission to care about collateral damage. That was the old DT-227, however, and now he felt a twinge of guilt and fear that there may be someone still alive among the goblins.
"Survivors?" Priestess repeated with realization dawning in her voice. DT-227 looked back at her, noting the expression of panic and fear dawning on Priestess's face.
"Survivors, or prisoners. I doubt the goblins killed them all." DT-227 explained, turning once again to Goblin Slayer, who had yet to move from his position. A few pregnant moments passed, Priestess's hurried and panicked breaths the only sound in the dead of night. Goblin Slayer must have been thinking, as he finally turned and studied DT-227 from behind his helmet.
"If there are, we won't be able to save them. A frontal assault is impossible, as well as sneaking in-"
"So you were going to burn them?!" Priestess demanded, anger beginning to take hold in her increasingly shrill voice. Goblin Slayer was about to speak when DT-227 cut him off by rising.
"It's a good thing you brought me along, then. Don't move."
"Sir Deathtrooper-" Priestess started, realizing what DT-227 was implying he was going to do. Goblin Slayer also rose but seemed to think better of it. As good at fighting as the man was, he wasn't all that effective at subtlety.
DT-227 slipped into the shadows of the great fortress, leaving both Goblin Slayer and Priestess behind. Despite his size and weight, DT-227 seemed to glide silently as a leaf through the wind. He reached the wall, none of the goblin sentries any the wiser. With the manipulation of his wrist control, the green lights on his helmet dimmed and the grappling hook activated. Leveling his wrist and aiming at the ledge high above, DT-227 fired his hook. It whistled quietly up, catching on the edge of the deteriorating wall. Sending a silent prayer to whatever local or galactic god was listening that the bricks would support his weight, DT-227 rose quickly.
After a few moments, DT-227 reached his mark. Quiet as a womp rat, the man pulled himself up and onto the landing, rolling away from the edge before climbing to his feet. The nearest goblin was a few meters to his left, the right empty of any hostiles. Deciding on the path of least resistance, DT-227 slipped alongside the shadows in the direction of an opening in the wall.
Eventually, a doorway revealed itself to him, allowing DT-227 onto the opposite side of the catwalk. Far below, goblins danced about pyres of fire. Bodies littered the dirt ground, many still being defiled by goblins. On the pyres were, unless his eyes deceived him, humans or otherwise humanoid beings.
DT-227 pushed a button on his wrist, zooming his view in as to get better study the situation. There was upwards of fifty goblins present, more than he would be able to handle on his own even with the drop on the entirety of them.
It was then that the trooper spied someone, a survivor stuck off in one corner. It, or perhaps she, was a young woman secluded aside by herself, seemingly ignored by the goblins as a whole. She had filthy blonde hair with her knees tucked up to her face, clearly shaking as sobs wracked her dirtied form.
DT-227 deactivated the binocular function, deciding the path that held the highest chance of success. A few sentries over watched the festivities, clearly upset at the turn of events that led to them being placed on overwatch. DT-227 more than happily ensured that they wouldn't be missing the party below, nor much of anything else.
By utilizing his grappling hook as a garrote wire, DT-227 made short work of the four on the inner catwalk. Their bodies left on the catwalk itself albeit hidden from view best they could be, DT-227 reached the area of the ledge just above the young woman. In the time it had taken the Deathtrooper to reach the area, a goblin had begun harassing the woman.
DT-227 didn't spare a moment, using a specialization on his grappling hook to stick it into the catwalk. He lowered, quickly, by some miracle not being noticed by the goblins below. DT-227 lowered himself right behind the goblin, ignoring the pleas of the woman, who was cowering before the green monster.
Its sickening cackles were silenced by the snapping of its neck, the green beastie's head turned a full 180. The shock on its face would be the last expression the goblin would ever have. DT-227 wasted not a moment, gathering both the goblin and the screaming woman in his arms and rising back to the catwalk. Much to DT-227's relief, the woman managed to keep herself from screaming or otherwise being a nuisance.
He set her and the goblin aside, peering back down at the collection below. Much to his disgust, the goblins failed to notice either their missing comrade nor the prisoner.
DT-227 turned back to the woman, who was staring up at him with equal parts thankfulness and fear. Understandable, his present appearance was far from approachable.
DT-227 kicked the dead goblin further to the wall, hoping to keep it out of sight while speaking to the woman.
"Are there any other survivors?" He asked, attempting to keep his voice as calm and level as possible to ensure the scrambler nor distorter made him sound… demonic.
The woman, not speaking, gave a quick shake of her head.
"Are you sure?" He repeated, DT-227 wasn't going to leave anyone in this hell if he could do something about it. She nodded this time, speaking with a quiet, damaged voice.
"They took us all out of the dungeon." She murmured, averting her eyes from the visor of DT-227's helmet.
"I wish to check, where is the dungeon?" DT-227 asked, the young woman looking horrified at the prospect of him leaving her there. The man, rather exasperated by this turn of events but still understanding her strife, pulled his sword from its scabbard.
"Take this to protect yourself. I shouldn't be long, now, where is the dungeon?" The woman stared at the sword with equal parts shock and reverence before accepting it. It took a few moments for her mind to catch up, finally pushing the young woman to crawl over to the ledge. DT-227 kneeled at her side, taking in the macabre scene before him once again.
The woman, pointedly ignoring the events below, pointed out a half-collapsed doorway that seemed to lead underground. DT-227 nodded his thanks, sparing the woman naught but a glance as she quickly dragged herself back to the wall and curled up, making an effort to hide everything below from all her senses.
It was a pity that the smell of charred flesh and the howls of goblins could not be so easily ignored.
DT-227 quickly walked around the perimeter of the catwalk, reaching the area directly above the entrance to the bowls of the fortress. He freed the grappling hook from his wrist once more, rappelling down to the ground level. As to be expected, the goblins failed to notice him. The Deathtrooper didn't wait around to give them the chance, slinking away to the aforementioned entrance and slipping into the shadows.
It was far cooler and damp here, if DT-227's helmet readings were indeed correct, meaning the sensors were going to have one hell of a time trying to pick out goblins. Water always seemed to mess with the sensors, memories of Kashyyyk flooding back to DT-227.
He shuddered, bringing his mind back to the present. The path towards the dungeons was rather straight forwards, helped by the fact that every other hallway and door was collapsed in by fallen rubble. The cries of the goblins above became lost in the winding, seemingly endless hallway. So quiet it had become that even DT-227's light steps or soft breathing seemed to reverberate off the walls, echoing with increasing volume the further he went.
DT-227 knew better, of course, his helmet had a system in place to amplify sound, but that thought did little to alleviate his paranoia.
The man reached what seemed to be the end of the twisting hallway, a line of cells before him. As the woman had said, they were all empty. DT-227 sighed, not knowing what he had expected from coming down this far when the woman had already-
A low growl was the only warning DT-227 got before a hefty object made of what seemed to be equal parts wood and metal slammed into his side. The man cursed, bracing himself as he slammed into the stone wall to his left. DT-227 fell to the ground, disorientated but still able to clearly make out his assailant.
A goblin, though it was not of the usual breed. This goblin was several times not just the height of a normal or hobgoblin, but DT-227 himself. It was not obese nor scrawny like its kin, this beast was built much like a tank, bulging muscles rippling with barely restrained strength. It leered down at DT-227, a club the side of a Rancor's leg gripped tightly in one toned hand. The other held an equally large sword, held aloft at one side. Its eyes, glowing with both amusement and malice, seemed to hold a modicum of intelligence in their depths, though that was overpowered by the anger.
It was dressed in ill-fitted armor that seemed more for show, given that much of it failed to cover the goblin.
Its name came to DT-227 as he remembered it vaguely. He had heard of this sort before, he had just never seen one. This was a Goblin Champion, the second most powerful goblin subtype. They were infamous for giving even silver ranked adventurers, like Goblin Slayer, a good and proper thrashing. DT-227 swore, of course, he had somehow missed the massive beastie. Had it been in a cell-
DT-227 rolled to one side, barely managing to avoid the club that aimed to turn his chest into a pancake. The soldier was on his feet in a moment, avoiding a clumsy swing of the oversized sword. The sword, being much longer than the club, slammed noisily into the wall, catching for a moment. The Goblin Champion roared its annoyance, managing to pull the sword free. Alas, it failed to notice DT-227 closing the distance.
The man, using acrobatics that should have been impossible for someone of his size, jumped and landed on the knee of the Goblin Champion. Using that as a stable object to jump from, he leaped again towards its head. A knee collided with its already crooked nose, earning a howl of agony as DT-227 flew behind it. He twisted in mid-air, rifle raised and aimed at its back.
The gun roared to life, spitting forth a veritable cloud of bright red that would have turned even the most heavily armored of combatants in a pool of blood and ruined body parts. Alas, the emphasis was on 'world have', had the Goblin Champion not apparently held a natural resistance to the blaster cannon.
DT-227 landed on his back, cannon still raised in shock as the goblin twisted. The unintentional tears rolling down its ugly face had mixed together with the blood that came from its shattered nose, but this didn't little to distract from the sheer, unending rage deep in those beady eyes.
DT-227 rolled to his right, avoiding the crushing descent of a club that he now suspected was the remnants of a battering ram of sorts. This roll allowed the man a moment to get back to his feet, jumping backward out of instinct. And thank the maker for those years of conditioning, as at nearly the same moment the elongated blade passed through where he had stood.
The Deathtrooper knew he needed to end this fight, lest the goblins above become wary of the roars and gunfire in the dungeon. DT-227 raced forwards, easily ducking beneath another desperate swing of the club. He leaped, not high like before but forwards, increasing his momentum. A leg shot out, its black boot colliding with the bent knee of the goblin.
Had a normal person tried such a ludicrous attack, they would have bounced off uselessly and been thoroughly crushed by the club current held in the goblin's hand. Sadly for the goblin, however, DT-227 was far from an average person. His damn near suicidal attack brought results, bending the powerful goblin's knee the opposite direction. It's howls of rage and agony barely registered for DT-227, who rolled backward to avoid the collapsing weight above.
He was on his feet in an instant, using its other undamaged knee as a jumping board. As he sailed, DT-227 pulled free a thermal detonator from the bandolier around his chest. The explosive gave a small, satisfying ding as it came to life, though the warning sound of its imminent detonation was muffled somewhat when the ball was lodged into the mouth of the Goblin Champion. DT-227 flew past, landing in a roll, before ending with a near picturesque kneel. At that moment, the juicy core of the detonator… well, detonated. The warm viscera and bones pelted DT-227's armor uselessly, only registering on the sensors as little more than hail or rain.
DT-227 rose and turned, giving his handy work a once over.
"Waste of a bloody detonator," He muttered, wishing he hadn't left his sword behind. This whole operation turned out to be a bust as well as a waste of his already limited resources. DT-227 rose, slinging his messy rifle over his back and walking back the way he came, grumbling all the way.
The goblins, as it turned out, hadn't noticed a damned thing, so engrossed in their ritualistic partying as they were. DT-227, deciding that he didn't have the time nor the inclination to fight them all himself, rose back to the catwalk via grappling hook.
The woman was as he had left her, her knees tucked up to her face with the sword held tightly in one. She did light up at DT-227 return, though.
"Come on, we need to go," He stated immediately, picking up the woman with no warning. Her squeak and complaint were both ignored in favor of a hurried extraction. DT-227 near sprinted to the exit, rappelling down to the dirt on the other side of the wall, not once being spotted.
Priestess had finished her job of prepping the arrows, though she seemed decidedly subdued. Goblin Slayer, on the other hand, noticeably flinched at DT-227's arrival. If that was because of the man himself or the woman he was carrying, DT-227 wasn't exactly sure.
"Sir Deathtrooper!" Priestess announced, her voice hushed yet relieved at his arrival.
"There aren't any other survivors," DT-227 said in lieu of a greeting, "Now would be a good time for you to execute your plan."
Goblin Slayer responded with a nod as DT-227 set his passenger down, signaling to Priestess. Priestess, though looking decidedly put out with the typically silent man, rose and jogged to his side, a bundle of arrows in one hand and her staff in the other.
The plan, as to be expected, went perfectly. Priestess had created a shield, ensuring the goblins were incapable of escaping the fortress without throwing themselves to their deaths, as Goblin Slayer barraged the interior of arrows of flame. Within minutes, a great fire was roaring throughout the fortress, rendering any goblin lacking the courage or intelligence to escape to little more than ash.
Priestess was more than capable of holding the shield up for a long time, meaning DT-227 and Goblin Slayer were given a chance to clean up survivors. DT-227, relying on his usual sensor droid, led the charge around to the many surviving gangs of goblins. They were in small pockets, for the most part, few having the time or the presence of mind to escape while they had the chance.
The few that did either lacked the numbers or the stamina to put up much in terms of resistance.
The duo arrived at the last group, their leading hobgoblin dispatched from afar with DT-227's blaster rifle. With ease, they cleaved their way through the survivors.
"That's the last of them," DT-227 stated, pulling his sword free from the back of a now dead goblin, eyeing the blood and grime coating its gleaming blade with disgust. It was as sharp as the day he had gotten it, gleaming brilliantly despite the mess.
"Thank you," It was so out of nowhere that DT-227 didn't even comprehend something was said, still talking.
"We should get back- Wait, 'thank you'? What for?" DT-227 asked, turning to face the other man. Goblin Slayer was kicking over a goblin, not turning to face DT-227 as he continued to speak.
"For saving the woman. I… assumed there was a chance of survivors, but there was no way I would have been able to reach them. I… swore to kill all goblins, to ensure no one else went through what I had to. And even still, I've failed again." The man's hand tightened around his sword, his usually stoic voice breaking slightly. Whether he was talking to DT-227 or not beyond the former soldier. DT-227 felt rather awkward, not exactly knowing how to broach the topic and merely staring at the other man. Goblin Slayer wasn't supposed to be emotional, or feeling, or… human.
In a way, the man was as close as a civilian could get to being a Deathtrooper. Lacking emotion, lacking mercy, for the mission always came first. A few months ago, DT-227 had been exactly like the face the man put forth for others.
"You're one man," DT-227 said, making Goblin Slayer jump as if he had just remembered he'd had an audience, "It's not your job to protect the world. Do what you can, but there is only so far you can go."
"What about you?" Goblin Slayer asked turning to face DT-227, his expression being unreadable from behind his helmet.
"Me?" DT-227 repeated before smirking, "I've got an advantage, I was taken as a child, altered physically, and trained from an early age by the most ruthless bastards in the g- on the continent. Even I know that I have limits, though. I can't save everyone, nor do I expect… or much desire, too. You've got people to protect, Goblin Slayer, like Priestess, focus on them and do what you can in between."
Goblin Slayer nodded slowly, seeming to turn DT-227's words over in his mind before looking up.
"We should probably get back," Goblin Slayer stated with his tone back to his usual deadpan, as if nothing had occurred.
DT-227 merely nodded in agreement.
In the day following the quartets return to Frontier Town saw DT-227 doing his usual sparring with Heavy Warrior and Female Knight.
He was facing the latter, instructing her on her form of movements. DT-227 himself was wearing his full set of armor bar the helmet, which lay discarded near the blaster he had brought with. A bruise on the side of his cheek, where Female Knight had landed a lucky hit, was the only sign the man carried that he had been fighting. Not even sweat deigned to visit his features.
Female Knight was the opposite story, looking rather harried over the last hour of DT-227 mercilessly pummeling her whilst offering solutions as to why she had failed to break his defenses. The difference in skill between the two of them was staggering, as well as weight and speed. As fast as Female Knight was, she didn't have the best Imperial cybernetics this side of Coruscant pounding through her body.
The woman had abandoned her armor for the loose tunic and trousers she had donned last they brawled. Her clothes were filthy now, however, covered in dirt and blood that had begun leaking down from her nose. Even the woman's pretty face was marred by where DT-227 had landed hits or she had fallen harder than she had intended.
Despite her wounds, Female Knight seemed undeterred. She had her fists raised and a glint in her eyes that, if DT-227 wasn't confident in his ability to ward her back, he would be terrified.
"Remember: be unorthodox," DT-227 explained, his own fists raised as he prepared for her renewed assault, "I'm bigger, stronger, and faster than you. Do something I don't expect."
Female Knight didn't respond verbally, merely giving a quick nod and launching herself at DT-227 like she had been fired from a cannon. DT-227 was disappointed, he had been expecting Female Knight to be better than aimlessly throwing herself at him.
DT-227 prepared to meet the woman fists blazing when another presence made itself known behind the Deathtrooper. Heavy Warrior, who DT-227 realized had moved from his position of watching the duo fight, was now behind the Deathtrooper. Before DT-227 could move, Heavy Warrior's arms wrapped around his midsection, pinning the former soldier's arms to his sides and leaving him exposed to the cackling Female Knights punch.
DT-227 did something rather unorthodox himself, becoming deadweight in Heavy Warrior's. Heavy Warrior, not expecting the sudden shift nor weight, struggled to keep DT-227 up. Alas, the Deathtrooper had dropped down just enough that Female Knight's punch sailed just over his head… and into Heavy Warrior's perfectly exposed face. Heavy Warrior recoiled, his grip further loosening on DT-227 as Female Knight began trying to apologize profusely. DT-227, kicking off the ground, tackled Female Knight to the ground. Her cry of shock sounded as DT-227 rolled and came back to his feet, fists raised and prepared for retribution.
Female Knight and Heavy Warrior did not disappoint.
"What happened to you?" Governess asked as DT-227 approached her table, an amused lilt to her voice. The cocky smirk on her lips certainly didn't make his aches feel any better
"Female Knight and Heavy Warrior decided to double team me," DT-227 muttered, a little put out as he gave his shoulder a painful roll.
"Who won?" Governess asked, supporting her head with one hand as she absently stirred the bowl of soup before her, clearly far more interested to hear about him being pummeled… or others, she was never one to be picky. DT-227 regarded with what he could only really call a cross between a scowl and a smirk.
"Female Knight's concussion tells me I win, but my bruises and battered limbs tell them they won, so it's up for debate," DT-227 joked, naturally exaggerating. Female Knight's skull was tough as durasteel, a blaster bolt to the head wouldn't be able to stop her. Governess, evidently sensing the sarcasm, rolled her eyes before setting back into him with a smirk.
"Maybe I can act as referee next time?" She asked as DT-227 spotted the approaching waitress. He waved her away, scoffing at the young woman's question, regarding her with dark amusement.
"Sure, in a few weeks. Did you know that the blast mesh doesn't stop blunt attacks? Me and my kidney certainly didn't," The jingling tone of her laughter certainly made him feel marginally better. DT-227 scoffed, continuing as he rose to his feet, "Laugh it up, I'm going to bath and rest my poor kidney."
"You don't want to stick around and have something to eat?" Genuine concern was in her voice as the man gave his back a good crack. It sent a shiver of pain up DT-227's entire aching body, but the man made no comment about it.
"No, I'll eat at the room. Need to watch it, my stomach is rather tumultuous at the moment." DT-227 responded, waving her off.
"Using big words doesn't make you smart." Came Governess's retort, which DT-227 promptly ignored as he left the Guild building with his head held high.
Of course, he would just miss the arrival of three newcomers, all looking for the duo known as 'Goblin Slayer' and 'Demon Slayer'... or 'Hunter', depending on the dialect.
