Redacted
I am EXO/PHX Unit XI-9
The other half of the update today!
Hope you enjoy! :D
Also, before I forget. I have gotten a few reviews where I appreciate the 'criticism', however, I do not appreciate how disrespectful they are. I know text is hard to 'read' but if I find a mocking tone at all 'and' you're reviewing it as a guest and not an actual account, then I am going to take it as an insult.
_Transcript: Hush_
Source: Ghost of Guardian Hush
Alias: Crystalline
_Transcript of conversation between Ghost Crystalline [g.c.] and [Redacted] [p.n]. Topic concerning the safety of child Guardian Hush_
[g.c]: You can't hide this from the others forever. They are bound to find out, just like how Hush and I found out about you.
[p.n]: I had intended to tell you and Little One when I first encountered the two of you.
[g.c]: So that time when Hush woke up to seeing you was on purpose?
[p.n]: That was not intended.
[g.c]: The others already had noticed Hush's lack of sleep. They will figure out that she has been spending the past few nights with you.
[p.n]: Then I will simply stop.
[g.c]: And make Hush lose her favorite playmate? Sorry, but ever since she declared you as a 'friend', you don't have the option of simply 'disappearing'.
[p.n]: I am still here.
[g.c]: But for how long? From what you told me earlier, you had intended for Knight to be the permanent personality. But here you are.
[p.n]: My first handler wanted to ensure that every time a cleansing was in place, that I still retain my memories. The back-up memory banks must still be intact despite my years of inactivity.
[g.c]: That means they wanted you to have a second chance at life.
[p.n]: I was already given that chance. And I had failed to properly grasp it.
[g.c]: And yet again, here you are, speaking to me with another chance at life. But yet, you want to throw that away?
[p.n]: Despite the Traveler giving me this chance, my past sins and transgressions are still quite clear in my mind. What I have done in the past cannot be so easily cleared.
[g.c]: … What have you done that makes you believe that destroying yourself would make amends?
[p.n]: …
[g.c]: Fine, don't tell me. But at least stay around for Hush if you are not going to answer.
[p.n]: I cannot guarantee but I will stay around to give Little One a companion.
[g.c]: Not just as a companion, [Redacted]. I want you to be her protector.
[p.n]: Protector?
[g.c]: (chuckles) Finally, a question, but yes, her protector. Although I am her Ghost, I am nothing more than an 'assistant'. I cannot do anything if anyone wants to do her bodily harm. If I were to try and interfere, death would be my reward. But you, although you share a body with Knight, you can at least offer her the protection I cannot.
[p.n]: …
[g.c]: Is that a no?
[p.n]: I cannot promise that I will always be there, but if there comes a time when Hush is indeed in need of assistance, then you will see me there.
[g.c]: Thank you, [Redacted]. Now let's get back inside before the others wake. Or, are you ready to tell them everything?
[p.n]: The only ones I trust here are you and Little One.
[g.c]: I'll take that as a no.
_End Transcript_
Xxxxx
"You're a Mutt?"
The echoes of her clan members ringing in the back of her mind, Hush flinched at the name before she bowed, easily feeling the grip of the brunette leave her shoulders before she turned to run. However, as soon as she took a few steps, she felt a hand grip the back of her robes, forcing her to a stop with a jerk and turn her yellow hues; she locked onto the familiar azure of the blonde.
"Well, well." She heard him click his tongue, "And here I thought I had just taken another 'Exotic'." Hush then watch a malicious smile spread onto his features before he turned his attention the others, "Boys, looks like we are going to make our quota after all."
Seeing the man reach out with his other hand towards her, Hush's eyes widen before she swatted the hand away, only for her to see anger flash into the blonde's eyes.
"You want to play rough, Mutt?" She heard him snarl, "Then let's play 'rough'."
Feeling her arm being grabbed, Hush couldn't help but follow with his pull, the throbbing pain in her shoulder a painful reminder of her fragility. It was then she saw the hand coming towards her. The first thing Hush felt was stinging pain on her cheek followed by the force forcing her head to the side, hearing an audible crack ringing through the air, and then, darkness.
"That's enough!" She can see the rage in her father's eyes as he grabbed the wrist of the man before her, stopping his arm in the air and preventing another strike, "Haven't I told you before that she is not as sturdy as us!?"
"Then why in the Traveler did we decide to let her stay!?" The man snarled as he tore his arm out of her father's grip, "She is weak! Barely able to keep up with the caravan! And let's not forget to mention that she has the blood of those accursed humans flowing in her!"
"Do you not think that I do not know that!? I curse those humans the day they killed my wife! My child!"
"Then why in the world did you take in a 'Mutt'?!"
"Because she has done nothing to us!" She watched the man reel back from her father's words, "How can I abandon a child in the arms of her dead parents just for the reason that she carries the blood of those 'colorless' people!? Despite what the others of our clan say, she is innocent! Until the day she dirties her hands of the blood of the Awoken, our people, 'her' people, then she is considered 'one of us', understand?!"
Watching the man let out a scoff at her father's words, she watched as the fellow clan member turn to leave, prompting her father's eyes to soften as he turned his focus onto her.
"Hush, are you alright?"
She blinked, clearing her gaze of her tears as she watched her father hold out a hand, signaling for her to hold out her arm, and flinching as the Awoken man gentle held the broken appendage in his hands. Seeing him slowly work on the awkward angle of her arm, she focused her gaze onto her father's face when he spoke, "Do not mind them, Hush. They do not understand that there are innocents amongst the 'guilty'. But remember this, despite what others say, you will always be a part of this clan, and you will 'always' be my daughter."
"Are you an idiot or did you forget that mutts are fragile as fuck?! You just lost our glimmer ticket!"
"How am I supposed to fucking know that she can't take as simple slap to the face!?"
Hush took in a stuttering gasp, feeling her heart beat wildly in her chest as her glowing gaze locked onto the familiar lavender form of Crystalline, the female Ghost twirling her back fins once. Hearing the Ghost let out a hush, the child Guardian pushed herself into a sitting position before turning around, and only then understood Crystalline's gesture; the young Titan can easily see the wide-eyed look of the Exo and Awoken children's gaze, some of their jaws hanging open from her sudden resurrection. Lifting up a finger to her lips to signify to stay silent, Hush froze when the bickering of the men went silent through the air, causing her to slowly turn to face her captors; all three of them had their eyes right on her.
"A Guardian?" Hearing the snarl in the blonde's voice followed by Crystalline pressing her shell against her core, Hush took it as a sign to completely break her cover, and as such concentrated her light into her hands and snapped them outwards. Immediately, wisps of violet light entered her vision followed by the familiar buzz of the Ward of Dawn bursting forth from her hands, completely engulfing the child Guardian in its protective light. No sooner had she done this when a resounding bang echoed throughout the room, causing her to jump before she saw a ripple form from the top of the dome, turning her gaze just in time to witness the blonde shove the hand of the brunette down, the small wisps of fresh smoke clear from the muzzle of the revolver in his grasp, "What in the fuck are you doing? Do you want us to lose our potential glimmer count?"
"She's a fucking Guardian," The brunette retorted, "If we let her live, our whole operation is down. Do you want to be in prison or do you want to be a free man?"
That's when Hush saw his azure hues narrow, his lips pulled back in a snarl before he turned his attention towards the black haired of the group, "Come on, help me gather the rest while he takes care of this 'Guardian'."
Hearing the whispers of the frightened permeating behind her, Hush took in a breath, her fingers flexing as she started concentrating more of her light into her hands:
She reeled back at his touch, her yellow eyes staring fearfully into his gold as he blinked, surprise clearly in his gaze before they soften, "Ah, my apologies. You may have gotten used to my presence but, that doesn't mean you're used to making physical contact." He then cleared his throat, "This will make it a bit more difficult but we can manage."
She then watched him take a few steps back, ensuring plenty of space between the two before she can see the familiar wisps of void light at his fingertips. Then, before she can even blink, she saw the familiar dome of the Ward of Dawn snap from his hands, engulfing the two of them in the void light that she so recognizes.
"As you understand, you are a Titan, and more specifically, a Defender." She tuned in onto his words as she reached out and brushed her fingers against the shield, a buzzing sensation crawling up her hand as he added, "And as you know, the Ward of Dawn is the main skill of the Defenders. That includes, you, Little One."
She turned her glowing eyes towards her fellow Titan, sensing more light gathering in his hands, "Everyone believes that this is the limit to what a Defender can do with a Ward. However," It was then she watched him snapped his hands out and she couldn't help but jump when the bubble expanded, stretching over majority of the training field, "That is all a rumor, given to each other by inexperienced Defenders thanks to their lack of confidence. And to add to the flame…" She then watched him enclose his fist and she watched the Ward flash and the wisps of void light seemingly lash out and stretch, as if attempting to attack anything that strays too close, "You can make the Ward stronger, thicker to withstand more attacks, and to make it last longer. The latter of which, is the most important trait."
Watching him fixate his golden hues back onto hers, she blinked as he stated, "Ianos asked me to teach you how to properly control your Ward of Dawn. Would you like to learn?" She then watched him hold out his hand, a gentle smile on his features, causing her to lift her yellow gaze upwards and immediately, she saw the sincerity in his gaze. The friendliness that she saw in Ianos when he calmed her fears. Will this human be the same though? He is not an Awoken nor is he an Exo and the warnings of her father rang clearly in her mind.
Always be wary of humans.
She hesitated, glancing back and forth between his face and his hand before she reluctantly reached out and intertwined her fingers with his. Freezing at the sight of his fingers crossing with hers, her eyes then widen at the gentleness she felt in his grip before hearing him speak, "What would you like to learn first, Hush?"
Remembering Akiva's words of advice ringing in the back of her mind, Hush took the gathering light in her hands and snapped them out to her sides, the void light expanding to those around her. Immediately, a cry of frustration can be heard from the brunette, a sign of her accomplishment on expanding her defenses to the victims. Although this doesn't mean cannot sense the glaze of fury emitting from her captors, "You getting in the way of our operation, 'Guardian'?" Hush froze when he aimed his weapon at her dome, "Then you pay the price!"
Screams echoed around her when shots fired, her eyes blinded by the flash of the gunfire as she cowered away, cupping her hands over her ears. No sooner had the shots stopped when the buzzing of her Ward hummed into her ears, prompting Hush to glance up, just in time to see the ripple permeating on the surface of the bubble; she let out a sigh of relief.
"Well, that takes care of the danger, for now." Turning onto Crystalline's jittery form, Hush ignored the curses and cries of anger emitting from her captors as the female Ghost added, "But how long can you keep this up?"
Blinking at the words of her Ghost, Hush's shoulders dropped, shaking her head in response to Crystalline's question; in other words, not very long. She then heard the female Ghost let out a breath, "Come here, Little One."
At first, bewildered by her words, Hush complied, scooting closer to the hovering star shaped form of Crystalline. No sooner had she done this when she saw the familiar wisps of light permeating from the female Ghost's optic, watching it hover around her shoulders before disappearing from her gaze.
"This should let you keep the Ward up momentarily." She heard Crystalline say, "but for how long, I'm not sure myself." Hush then heard her pause, "Hopefully long enough for help to come.."
Nodding once in response to her Ghost's words, Hush then jumped as a dull 'thump' permeating from the surface of her Ward, causing her to snap her attention towards the source; it was the brunette, fury still in his eyes.
"You think you can keep up this bubble forever, 'Guardian'?" He snarled, slamming his fists onto the surface of the bubble once more, "Even us 'mortals' know you have a limit. This bubble will break, even if it takes –"
The sound of a gunshot rang through the air followed by the startled cry of the brunette interrupted his words, Hush watching as he took steps back away from the Ward. Looking on bewilderedly as all three men drew their weapons, it was then Hush noticed a robed figure run into the room, the familiar form of a hand cannon in his hands. Cloaked in the colors of bronze and black, the child Guardian can barely comprehend the leather chest piece compacted onto his chest followed by the singular rectangular visor of a Warlock before she saw him slide onto his knees and fired. A scream of pain escaped from the brunette as he staggered back, clenching a hand onto his shoulder before the Warlock leaped forward, curling his hand into a fist before connecting it into the man's face, easily sending him sprawling into the ground. Seeing the other two men react to one of their own being down, Hush barely had the time to push herself onto her feet when the Guardian turned and fired two shots from his hand cannon, hearing the two men let out cries as they flew back, obviously hit from the bullets shot from the Warlock's weapon. She then watched as the Guardian disappeared in a flash of light, only to easily reappear over the two forms of the blonde and the black-haired man before slamming a fist into the blonde's, easily sending him flying across the room before twirling around, lifting a leg and connecting his heel into the black hair man's neck, hearing a sickening 'crack' echo through the air before the latter collapsed to the ground, unmoving.
Watching the Warlock flip back and forth between the three men with his weapon, Hush froze as the Guardian then lowered his hand cannon, seeing him let out a nod of satisfaction before his gaze turned towards hers.
"You alright, kid?" Reeling back from the question, Hush nodded numbly as the Warlock sheathed his weapon, watching him approach her bubble as he stated, "The name's Quinn. I'm one of the few Guardians of the Tower the Vanguard were willing to send out to look for you and the other victims. You're safe now-"
A resounding 'bang' echoed through the air followed by the familiar sound of shields shattering ringing through air and Quinn slamming into the front of her Ward with a groan. Eyes wide, Hush glanced over the Warlock's shoulder in time to see the brunette pumping his shotgun, aimed the weapon at the Guardian's back and fired once more. Hearing Quinn let out a scream in response, panic settled within Hush's chest as she quickly reached out, gripped the male Guardian's shoulders tightly, and tugged. Falling onto her back, Hush froze at the sound of a shotgun ringing through the air, although let out a breath of relief as the brunette let out a string of curses.
"You got lucky, mutt." Hearing him snarl in response, Hush opted to focus her attention onto Quinn, glancing down worriedly when the Warlock let out rasping breaths, watching his body flinch as pain wracked his body. Scanning his back to find the source of impact, the child Guardian took in a breath as she saw crimson leak onto the floor from the wound, her shaking hands pressing against it in vain attempt to stop it.
"Just because they are human doesn't mean they all deserve death." Her father's words echoed in her ears, "If they are innocent and you have a chance to save them, do so."
"There's no need to do that." Hush jumped when a violet and green form of a Ghost materialized near her, causing her to snatch her hands away from Quinn's wound, "I'll handle it from here."
A flash of concern crossed over her features, prompting Hush to hover her hands back over the injured Warlock's back.
"Guardians are resilient, Hush." The child Guardian turned her attention towards Crystalline, the female Ghost then added, "Not to mention one of our duties as Ghosts is to heal injuries that Guardians sustain."
"Although it will take a moment." Hush focused her attention back onto Quinn's Ghost, the latter of which had started beaming their light onto the Warlock's injury, the young Titan noticing the lack of shivering from Quinn's form, "some of the pellets didn't penetrate his armor but enough made it through to cause some damage. He won't be walking for at least a few minutes."
"Few minutes?" Hush can easily hear the exasperated tone in Crystalline's voice, "We don't have a few minutes!"
"What makes you say that?" Sensing the annoyance emitting from the Warlock's Ghost, Hush instead focused her attention onto Quinn, tuning out the conversation between the two.
"Where in the Traveler did you get that?" Lifting her gaze up towards the men, Hush saw the blonde man push himself onto his feet, clenching his shoulder; more than likely where he had gotten hit from Quinn's hand cannon shots, "I thought high powered shotguns like that are only acquired by Guardians."
Hush heard the brunette snort in response, "How else do you think I got it? I scavenged it off the body of one of those 'Soldiers of Light' when we were selling those glimmer bags outside of the Wall."
"And you can use it?"
"Heavily modified so I don't blow out my shoulder but powerful enough to knock a Guardian off their feet."
Seeing a smirk form onto the blonde man's face, Hush let out a gulp as the former added, "What makes you think that it can break through that bubble?"
"It better break through." The black-haired male stood up, one hand on his neck and one on his side, "After what we had to deal with today, I say, break it. Kill the Warlock and then sell that mutt alongside the others."
Hush watched the blonde turn and narrow his gaze at his comrade, "What makes you think that we can control her?"
It was then she watched the black-haired man nod his head over Hush's shoulder and the young Titan didn't have to glance over to know what he was gesturing at; he was hinting at Crystalline, her Ghost, "Those Guardians can't 'come back' without their drones, right? Capture it and you can keep her under control."
Seeing the blonde's azure eyes widen at the idea, Hush then let out a whimper, hearing Crystalline pause at the sudden realization, the female Ghost hovering closer to her shoulders as the man let out a sinister smile before turning his head towards the brunette, "Do it."
A smirk forming onto the man's face, Hush prepared herself as the brunette pressed the barrel of his gun against her Ward, and his finger slowly press against the trigger. A resounding bang then echoed through the air, the young Titan's jaw hanging open as the brunette's head exploded into a mesh of blood and bone, the gore splattering against the surface of her Ward before the shotgun fell from his hands and his body falling to the side. Before she can further comprehend what had just occurred, the black-haired male let out a scream, Hush snapping her attention towards the man as he was easily lifted into the air and then slammed back onto the floor, hearing a resounding 'crack' echoing through the room before his body went slack. As if not pleased by this, Hush then watched as a foot pressed against his chest and a single scout rifle aimed at the head, a single shot all it took to ensure that the man stays down.
"What in the bloody fuck!?" The blonde man stumbled back, his face pale and his eyes wide with fear, "I thought Guardians don't kill the populace of the City! I thought the rules state-"
Hush watched as the attacker easily closed the distance between himself and the man, hearing the blonde let out a choke as the former easily lifted him by his neck, and the human started kicking in a vain attempt to gain lift and take in air. As if amused by this vain action, the attacker tilted their head before stating, "I am not a Guardian."
When Hush watched him press the barrel of his scout rifle under the man's jaw, the child Guardian glanced away, clenching her jaw as the familiar fire of the weapon resounded through the air. Moments passed in silence, the only sound were of the frightened whimpering of the captives behind her before she heard a dull 'thump' resound through the air and footsteps approaching her Ward.
"Hush?"
Familiarity instantly rang in the back of her mind but instead of the young Titan turning her gaze towards the front of her bubble, she opted to close her eyes, fearful of what she was going to see.
"Little One."
Her eyes snapped open, recognition now fully comprehensible in her mind, and instantly, she snapped her attention forward, her yellow hues locking onto familiar white optics, the Exo's white clad form tinged red from the slaughter but nonetheless, his robed form was still recognizable. Sliding out from underneath Quinn's form, Hush pushed herself onto her feet as she released her light, letting the void light licker out around her as she rushed towards the Exo Warlock's form, and wrapped her arms around his waist in an embrace.
"Thank the Traveler." Hush heard Crystalline let out a sigh of relief, "Took you long enough, and here I thought your random trips into the City were nothing."
"The trips are not random, they are to patrol the streets and to -"
"Ensure that they are safe for those 'prosecuted' by the humans, we have heard it before." Taking in the female Ghost's words, questions popped into Hush's mind, prompting her to unwarp her arms from the Exo Warlock's waist and holding out her hands to sign to her comrade. That was before she heard the click of a hand cannon behind her.
Eyes wide, Hush turned around to see Quinn in a sitting position, the Warlock aiming his weapon at the Exo Warlock; immediately, the child Guardian placed herself between the human and the Exo.
"Get out of the way, kid." Hush gulped at his words, "I don't want to accidentally hit you."
"Now, now, calm down." It was Crystalline who spoke, "I say we can talk this out."
"There's a reason why I let those men live." Quinn stated, "They could have information on other bases such as this. Information that we can use to save more lives. And he just killed these men, dooming the others like the civilians behind me to their fate."
"If I had not killed these 'men', they would have found a way to escape prison time." Hush heard the Exo speak, "then they would have returned to the business at hand."
"Despite that you 'killed' humans. 'Normal' humans who stood little chance against Guardians like us."
"…Those shotgun shots you took to the back says otherwise."
Hearing nothing but silence from Quinn, Hush easily can see the Warlock's grip tighten around the handle of his hand cannon, easily sensing the anger emitting from the human. This caused confusion to permeate through her mind and the young Titan turned her attention towards the captives behind the Warlock, expecting a sense a gratitude from the people. However, to her surprise, she instead sensed fear from the young Awoken; even some of the Exo stared on with wide optics filled with shock.
"There's a reason why the Consensus decreed that us Guardians do not take the lives of civilians." Hush heard Quinn state, "They already fear us as enough as it is. Easily taking lives just instills that fear."
"…I am not a Guardian."
Bewilderment oozed off from the human Warlock, "But, those marks. You're Shining Knight, the newborn."
"This body is Shining Knight's yes, but my name is not, Knight." Hush returned her focus back onto the Exo, curiosity clear in her glowing eyes as the Exo Warlock finished, "I am Exo Phoenix Unit Elven – Nine."
Quinn belongs to AQY
AQY - Here's the full part of Quinn that I had intended before I had to cut the previous chapter short. Hopefully it's up to par!
And yes, we finally get a formal introduction of Knight's 'other personality'. And don't worry about the lack of a name, he will get one later on in the story :D