In the ruins of the Ishtar Sink, things had gotten quiet. Before where the factions of the Fallen, Vex, and Guardians would spend their time battling for control of the decaying ruins of Humanities' Golden Age was now silent, apart from the sounds of the local wildlife chirping, or what not. The wind continued to blow through the half-collapsed buildings, foliage that had grown over most of the architecture, and in some cases would find a narrow point formed just the right way to create a chilling ghostly wail that could unnerve even the most savage Fallen.
Weary from the fighting, The House of Winter retreated back to their lair, and outposts to bolster up their defenses. Between the House of Kings incursion weeks ago, and the recent skirmishes against the Vex, and Guardians, they needed time to regroup.
Guardians still continued to have a presence on the planet, sending out patrols, and strick teams to root out potential threats to a lesser extent. With the Fallen withdrawing, for now, there wasn't much reason to focus as many numbers on the planet as before, allowing the Vanguard to redirect the unneeded surplus to other areas such as mars, and to reinforce the base they had established on Luna which continues to be a target for the Hive.
But the Vex... Venus was theirs. Maybe not to the extent that Mercury, or the planetoid Nessus was, but there was no mistaking it. They had already infected the planet, begun the process of turning it into one of their many machine planets in their network as the Pattern demanded. The process had been slowed down for a time, the destruction of the Nexus Mind was a huge part in it, but that was not the end of it. The Vex existed on thousands of worlds that they converted, in dozens of realities that they infected, finding a suitable replacement construct would be simple enough.
And with the master of the Vault writing out the final designs of the Vex's plans, The City, the Reef, and every other faction in the solar system would be consumed by the Pattern. It continued its work undisturbed, waiting for its sword to return.
Said sword was continuing its own work. leisurely stepping through the ruins that towered over it, The Legionless Mind was searching. Using its eye as a flashlight, the Vex prowled the surrounding area, scanning for the two Guardians that only temporarily escaped its grasp. It tracked the energy signature of the sparrows, relying on the speed boost its power granted it to give chase, but wasn't quick enough.
The trail had gone cold, the two must have abandoned their vehicles. Most likely the small constructs accompanying them caught on to its method, and advised them to go on foot. It didn't matter. With no ships, they couldn't escape the planet, and with the female in her condition they couldn't have gotten far, Probably hiding somewhere nearby. It looked for anything, any indication of where they might have gone.
Clouds past across the night sky. It had considered calling Vex units to aid in the search, but past engagements reasoned that lesser units tended to get in the way. Still, though they might be helpful searching. That was until it picked up the scent. Several yards away, its scanners registered some recently disturbed soil. Upon closer inspection, they were footprints. The patterns on the soles matching the ones created by the Exo duo. They lead into what the Vex classified as a "Hospital", half-ruined, and overgrown vegetation like the rest of the colony.
Records indicated there were multiple entryways that could also serve as potential escapes. It seemed the lesser units would have their use. The Legionless Mind marched forward through the main entrance, the glass doors long since have been destroyed, clouds forming behind it creating shiny, white, and gold patterned precursor Vex that hit the ground weapons ready. A hydra, and minotaurs held the doors, goblins patrolled the area, and hobgoblins took sniper positions. They had their directive, "Nothing leaves except the Mind"
Inside the abandoned facility, two Exos were hiding. Their Ghosts warned them that the Vex was tracking the energy their sparrows gave off. Bitsine hadn't recovered yet, her Ghost too damaged to do anything Bitsine asked Crux if he could take him into his inventory so Soul could try to help. Soul, of course, was willing to do whatever she could to help, but had no experience with Ghosts as damage as he was. Still, she was going to try.
They found an operating room in the upper levels, intact for the most part. Soul managed to revive some of the power for some lighting, the chipping paint, and rusted operating equipment clear signs that the place had seen better days. So did the former staff if the skeletons were any indication.
After pushing off the remains of a former patient, Bitsine made the operating table her place of rest, which to Crux was incredibly disturbing given the situation. sitting down, she ran her arms up, and down her body, applying pressure here, and there to find where it hurts. As much of a pain as it could be, having sensors to let her feel pain had its uses.
Wincing after checking her side, the Titian started removing her armor by hand to Crux's surprise. "You need some privacy?"
"Why? You think there something to look at?" She teased, dropping her chest piece to the floor.
Crux stuttered, averting his eyes. "N-N-No, no, no! I just thought you want to have alone time for this."
"Right now, being alone is the last thing I want. Not with that bastard out there looking for us. That thing can fight." Her armor off, Bitsine lifted up the suit that covered her mechanical body to see the damage. It revealed leaking cracked metal plating, pieces chipping off from the removal of the suit. "That doesn't look good. Can you take a look?"
"Uh..." Crux stared at the women, unsure how to answer.
Bitsine sighed, "Come on, you have permission to touch me."
hesitantly, Crux walked up to her, leaning closer to get a better view of the wound. His eyes giving him some light he gave it a gentle touch, blue liquid coming out the hole staining his finger. "Doesn't look too bad. I might be able to give you a patch job."
"Really?"
"I might not be a doctor, or mechanic, or whatever, but I do know a thing or two about fixing a battle wound." Crux left for a bit to rummage through some containers, and cabinets, looking for anything that might make a good adhesive. "Here we go." After finding what he was looking for, he returned to Bitsine with a small bottle in had. It was old to be sure, but Golden Age adhesive had an incredibly long shelf life. Now he just needed to seal the leak which meant getting more hand on. Soul might have been able to do it herself, but she was currently focused on keeping her brother alive.
"Okay, Bitsine, I'm going to have to stick my fingers inside to fix the leak. Are you okay with that?"
Bitsine leaned to her other side to give him better access. She attempted using her arm for support, but pain in her upper arm made her retract it. "Do it."
Acknowledging, Crux went in, taking off some loose hanging metal pieces, and found the problem. A slightly cut wire connected to her main power core was dripping coolant. "Here we go." With one hand he squeezed the wire to close the leak. Ignoring the shallow whimpers coming from Bitsine, he applied the adhesive, staying in that position for a few seconds as he watched it harden then let go, giving Bitsine a chance to breath easy so to speak. "Feeling better?"
"I will be when this damn hole is gone." She moved her hand to cover the hole in her side. "Anything you can do?"
Crux looked at the hole, then down at the chipped off metal that fell then back again. An idea formed in his head. "Maybe." He picked up the fallen pieces, and tried to put them back on her side. Using the adhesive to stick them back, Crux kept his hand on the patch job until the substance hardened. "That should do for now. At least until a Ghost can fix you up."
The pain easing, Bitsine felt relief though much of her body still hurt, most likely further internal damage caused by the Vex. "That thing hits hard."
"Yeah," Crux rubbed his abdomen, remembering how he was sent flying. "It does. So where did it come?"
"You're asking me? I don't got a clue. As far as I know, Vex are supposed to be those slow, predictable robots that are easy to kill, not what that was."
"Well, it had to come from somewhere. I heard that the Vex can time travel so... maybe it came from the future?"
"I doubt it," Soul disembodied voice announced, "Files taken from the Vex said that the Legionless Mind has been around for years."
"Soul!" Bitsine was delighted to hear her voice, "How's my Ghost doing?"
"Stable for now, but I need to keep my connection to him intact or else he'll get worse, and he'll only get better once were at the Tower. There's equipment there that was built for situations like this. That also means I can't heal you right now. The divergence in power might weaken the connection."
"That's fine, just keep him alive."
The two Guardians stayed where they were, waiting for their backup to arrive. Bitsine reattached her armor piece by piece, being extra careful not to cause herself more pain. Crux adored his helmet once more, standing guard by the room entrance, looking down the halls for a certain unwanted Vex.
When Bitsine was done, she laid down on the operating table, the event that led up to this moment replayed in her head over, and over. It was her fault. She didn't listen to her Ghost, and now he was dying, their ships were blown to hell, and now they were stuck in some run down hospital hiding from some mutant, or whatever the hell kind of Vex chasing. "I'm so sorry."
In Crux's inventory, The Light of two Ghosts were intertwined. Being inside a Guardian's inventory was different from being outside. Matter transformed into data loaded into the complex data streams perfectly woven into a Guardian's armor thanks to many accomplishments of the Golden Age, as well as the use of the Traveler's Light. Since technically they weren't material beings at the moment, they couldn't truly feel anything like they could in reality, but they could detect, and read the machine language of whatever their Guardians had was turned into, including other Ghosts.
Even as data, Bitsine's Ghost wasn't doing well. The damage he sustained, now presented as corrupted information, was not being repaired, just being kept from getting worse. He slipped in, and out of consciousness every now, and again, the main company he had being Soul whose own Light was very comforting. In the background, he made out Bitsine's whispers, Hearing her talk about her part in the situation. She sounded so sad, so guilty. Did she really think this was her fault? She couldn't blame herself. "...Bitsine..." He barely had enough energy to get that out.
"Don't talk," Soul said, "We'll be out of here eventually. Just rest."
He didn't want to rest. His Guardian was in a rough patch, and needed comfort, but he couldn't do it. Not in his condition. Not when he could barely speak. 'Bitsine...'
Outside, Crux continued standing guard, finger tapping the side of his Last Word, Turning around every minute, or so to see how Bitsine was doing. Seeing her lying down with her arms crossed over her stomach put him at ease a bit. After what she went through she definitely needed it. "How are you feeling now?"
Bitsine rolled her head to the side to look at him. "Better thanks to you." she smiled.
Crux returned the smile, not that she could see through his helmet. "That's just me, Crux-14. Sharpshooter, gentlemen, medic, etc."
Bitsine laughed, "Medic? Really? I'm pretty sure a medic wouldn't need to go rifling through cabinets to find supplies. They would already have what they need."
"Thanks for the advice. Now I know better for next time. Might even go to medical school."
Bitsine laughed harder, stopping after a few seconds from the pain. "Stick with shooting things."
Crux chuckled, nodding before resuming his watch when he heard something. Bitsine was still having a laugh before Crux shushed her. "What is it?" All joy that Bitsine was feeling vanished. She sat up, dragging her legs over the edge of the table
"Not sure," Crux kept his voice low, "Stay quiet." He shut his eyes, focusing on any sound his receptors could pick up. At first, there was nothing, but then it came back. A clanking sound like metal on tile, faint at first, but grew louder as seconds when by. It was steady, rhythmic like... "Footsteps."
"what?"
"Stay here. I'll check it out." Crux left at a slow pace to avoid causing a ruckus, leaving Bitsine to wait alone for his return.
"Be safe." She whispered knowing that was impossible.
Crux wandered down the hallway, passing empty rooms, and leftover gurneys that still had the skeletal remains of former patients. Trash littered the floor, pieces of ceiling, and walls had rotted away leaving big holes, and chunks of ceiling on the ground. The footsteps matched Crux's step by step, the sounds echoing in his head. He turned a corner, narrowly bumping into a cart carrying an assortment of medicine bottles, and equipment, stopping when he came up to a window overlooking the main lobby. The glass was broken, pieces laying on the ground, leaving sharp, jagged edges around the frame waiting for some clumsy fool to trip, and get his neck cut open.
Crux pressed his back against the wall, holding his Last Word close to him. Leaning closer to the window, butterflies flew around inside him, memories of their recent defeat making him edgy. Scared. With Bitsine in her condition, getting into a fight would prove disastrous, especially if it was that thing. His vision peaked out, at first he saw the adjacent platforms across the dark open space that presided over the main lobby downstairs. Looking down, the night vision his helmet was equipped with showed the main lobby just as decrepit as the rest of the building. Trash scattered around, broken waiting chairs, and skeletons.
But what really disturbed him was the sound. clank, clank, clank. It continued over, and over. Crux scanned the floor below, so far not seeing the source when a bright white light lit the place up. Blinded with the night vision on, the Hunter pulled his head back, shutting his eyes before Soul deactivated the night vision. At first, it had gotten quiet, only the wind outside could be heard then it started again. Dipping into his reserves of courage, Crux dared look out again, following the light to its origin point at the main entrance.
The Legionless Mind examined the lobby, scanning, and registering everything that came into view. The darkness meant nothing to it, the light from its eye chasing it away. It scanned everything around it, looking for any trail it could follow when it managed to pick up a pattern. A trail of trash, and dust recently disturbed, kicked about like somebody walked through it. The direction it leads was traced to the stairwell leading to the upper levels. It picked up the scent.
Crux's eyes widened, watching the Vex follow the path they took to hide. "Fuck!" he muttered quietly.
"Crux, we have to go!" Soul told him.
"Yeah, no shit!" Crux took his back off the wall, turning to head back the way he came. In a rush, he passed the cart again, wanting to get Bitsine, and get the hell out of there. So focused on escape, he wasn't paying attention when his elbow knocked over a glass bottle that was sitting on the cart. The glass breaking on the floor sent a shiver up his body, the same kind you get when you're sure you just signed your own death warrant.
He didn't move, silently praying that it went unheard. The sound of footsteps coming faster kill those hopes. "Shit!" Throwing stealth out the window, Crux booked it, bumping into a stretcher making it fall on it side.
Bitsine, hearing some ruckus, got off the table, heading to the door to check it out right when Crux showed up, and bumped into her, knocking them both down. The fall made Bitsine wounds act up, putting her in a world of hurt. "Ahhh, Damn it!" Bitsine curled up, wincing in pain. "What the hell?"
Crux scrambled to his feet, grabbing the Titian by her elbow, and yanking her up. "We've been made! Got to go!"
The pain was bad enough, but that news was worse. Finding her footing, Bitsine wrapped her arm around his shoulders, and the two took as fast as they could with the Titian in her condition. They hobbled down the hall, away from the source of the clanking behind them, pushing anything in their path out of the way, or pulling them down behind them as a way to slow their pursuer down if only for a moment. "There got to be another exit!" Bitsine said.
"Go right at the next corner, and there should be a stairwell a few doors down on the left you can take down to an emergency exit." Soul informed using her scanners to get a lay of the building.
With no other options, the Guardians decided to follow Soul's directions. They were about to make the turn when Crux felt something hot pierce the shoulder he supported Bitsine with. The force of the impact cause Crux topple over, taking the wounded Bitsine down with him, the sound of their armor hitting the floor echoing. "Ah, Fuck!" Crux turned over on his back to see the shooter.
The Legionless Mind stood at the other end of the hall, its nearly blind eye illuminating the space in from of it, heat radiating from the barrel of its line rifle. "Targets reacquired."
"Crap!" Thinking fast, the Hunter kicked a nearby wheelchair, blocking the next shot that came at them. He got up, aiming his Last Word, and firing. The bullets did little to hurt the Vex, but then again Crux knew that would happen. His real target was its weapon. After several unsuccessful tries, he hit his mark. A bullet punctured the metal of the gun, lodging itself into the barrel, clogging it. "Come on! I'll cover you!" Crux pulled Bitsine up, pushing her ahead of him while he stayed behind to stall it.
The Legionless mind examined the gun, paying no mind to the metal that continued to strike it. Tossing it aside, it checked it energy reserves. Using its abilities tended to drain its power. The problem was being improved over time, but it still had to monitor its energy levels. "Energy reserves: Sufficient." Electricity dances along its armor.
"Shit." The Vex charged with lightning speed, obliterating any inanimate object unlucky enough to be in its way. Crux jumped out of the way, the Vex smashing through the wall ahead of it leaving a nice big hole, and a cloud of dust. The loud crashing made Bitsine turn around to see the damage, and Crux getting away. "Keep going!"
The Legionless Mind busted out of the wreckage, enlarging the hole it made, and smash the floor with its fist, sending a torrent of arc power in the direction of its targets.
Seeing the stream of death coming, and the stairs they were looking for, Crux picked up the pace, tackling Bitsine through the slightly ajar door, breaking it off the hinges, and sending the two Exos tumbling down the stairs. Crux held onto her, taking the brunt of it until they came to a stop. "Damn! You could have given me some warning." Bitsine said in pain.
"No time." They got up, heading down to the first floor. Crux kicked the door open. "Which way!?"
"Head left," Soul said.
They did as she said, making their way to freedom. It seemed like a clean getaway. Halfway through, the building around them started to rumble.
The Legionless Mind, that was still a few floors up, decided to make its own path to follow them. It smashed right through the floor, the age-old unmaintained material giving way. The process repeated several times before it hit the bottom level, debris following it down the hole it made for itself.
Crux looked back wide-eyed. "God damn, that thing's persistent!"
The Vex was about to resume it assault when something happened. The intense vibrations combined with the structural damage severely weaken the structural integrity of the building. It started of as a type of metal groaning sound that soon escalated to one of the floors above them collapsing onto the next. The sudden increase in weight made the next floor fall as well, then the next, then finally hit the bottom.
The two Guardians got out of the way just in time, a pile of debris blocking the path between the two side, a dust cloud filling the air. "Let's go." They continued for a few more steps then heard another crash. "Damn it."
The Legionless Mind smashed through the wall deciding it would be too much hassle to go through the debis, and was now back in the main lobby.
Crux let Bitsine go. "Bitsine, Keep going. I'll buy you time."
"What!?" Bitsine said shocked.
"What the hell are you thinking!?" Soul asked near outraged.
"Don't argue." Crux held out his hand, the two Ghost he had on hand with him materializing. Bitsine's Ghost, still too damaged to take flight, rested in the palm of his hand while Soul maintained the connection they had. "Go with Bitsine. Get out of here." His voice completely serious.
"Are you out of your motherfucking mind!?" Soul was sure he was becoming demented. "How long do you think you'll last without a Ghost!?"
"Probably not much longer than if you're with me? That Vex knows what it's doing. If you come you'll just get killed, and Bitsine Ghost too, but this way you two will have a chance. You can find another Guardian, but Every Ghost is irreplaceable."
"No, screw that! I didn't get your ass off Mars just too-" Crux grabbed her, and handed both Ghosts to Bitsine.
"Get going." Crux armed his Last Word, and went for a doorway that lead to the lobby. Before leaving he took one last look at the three. They couldn't see it, but he gave them a smile, followed by a quick salute before heading off.
"Crux? Crux!? Crux, you son of a bitch!" Soul was losing it. "Don't you fucking leave you bastard! We're getting out of here together!" She tried to shake herself loose of Bitsine, but her grip was firm. "Let go! he can't do it alone!"
Bitsine stared at doorway her friend went through, completely oblivious to Soul's continued demands for freedom. This made two. Two friends whose lives were in Jeopardy because of her. Her carelessness is what left her Ghost vulnerable to being hurt, and unable to heal her wounds, and because of that she was slowing them down, and now Crux... "Damn it."
Soul thrashed around in her hand, trying to get free to rejoin her Guardian. "He'll die without help!"
"I know." Bitsine walk in the other direction with a slight limp. "We have to go."
"No, please!" Soul pleaded.
"You heard him. he's doing this for us. to give us a chance." Bitsine did her best to keep her voice from breaking.
"But-"
"Soul, please" It was Bitsine's turn to plead. "If you go with him, my Ghost won't survive."
Soul was about to argue again when her words sunk in. Her Ghost would die without her. She was the only thing keeping him alive right now. The range their connection had was limited. If she went tries to follow Crux, that connection will break then... 'He'll die.'
The words Crux shared with here played back in her mind. "You can find another Guardian, but Every Ghost is irreplaceable."
She wanted to deny it, to say that it wasn't true, but it was. When a Ghost dies, that's it. They were not blessed with self-resurrection like a sun-singing Warlock. There were no new Ghosts being made. Their kind was finite. But Guardians could be found out in the wastes that lone Ghosts dare traveled in search of a partner. Just waiting for one to find them. 'That doesn't mean that's what I want.'
Soul ceased her fidgeting, sucking in her emotions to say, "Fine." Giving up, Soul disappeared with Bitsine's Ghost into the safety of Bitsine's inventory. "Let's go," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.
Bitsine picked up the pace. "I'm sorry."
Crux traveled down the hall knowing it might be the last thing he might ever do. It was funny. He always thought he'd probably met his end on Luna being dragged down the Hellmount kicking, and screaming while the hive fed on his light like so many others he saw go down during the Great disaster, or blown to hell on Mars by the Cabal as payback for that ship he stole. But instead, he was willingly walking to it in some decaying, moldy ruin on Venus. "Oh, well. At least it took a super Vex to take me down."
Following the faded signs on the walls, he found the lobby, hearing the sound of Vex moment inside. "Let's do this." Holding his breath he rushed in, pointing his gun in several directions, finding a familiar eye looking back at him. "Hey, miss me?"
The Legionless mind looked right at the Exo. "Target reacquired." It checked it power levels again. 'Energy reserves acceptable.' Its body charged with arc power again, the eye at the center of hits head turning white-blue.
turning off his night vision, Crux switched on the flashlight built into his helmet to avoid being blinded, making out the silver-blue shading of the Vex's armor. "Yeah, you've been looking for my sweet ass haven't you." he patted he behind. "Well come get me, motherfucker." Crux pulled the trigger, the barrel flash lit up the room.
the bullet bounce of the metal with a spark, initiating the fight. The Vex dashed forward, its speed turning it into a blur. Crux used his Light to jump out of the way, spinning in the air to continue shooting. The mind slammed into the wall making another hole that rocked the building. More impacts on its back making it turn around to see the Hunter trying to keep his distance. "Changing tactics." Two slap rifles appeared in its hands, aiming both then firing a torrent of Vex fire.
"Oh shit." Crux ran, returning fire while trying not to get shot. The return fire did little to bother it as it stood still while shooting. The Legionless mind ran simulations on Crux's movements, determining the most likely path he was going to take. Adjust one arm, it firing into the path directly ahead of him, using the other one to keep him running. Crux took time away from reloading on the move to look in front of him. "Uh, oh." he slid across the floor, narrowly avoiding getting shot up.
Seeing an opportunity, the Vex switch out one rifle with a line rifle, firing a single shot on the prone Hunter. Hearing the sound Crux let his body go limp, the shot an inch away from nailing his head. He kicked over a nearby table, giving himself some cover to shoot from behind. It from to be a decent barrier, stopping the following energy bolts from striking him. Switching to his 1000-Yard Stare, he zoomed in with the scope, prematurely firing when he ducked from another potential headshot.
The round pierced the Vex's armor, embedding itself into the shoulder. In response, it dropped both its weapons, bringing its hand up to its chest when its eye glowed purple. Void power orbs formed in its hands, scattering in the air after being thrown in Crux's direction.
It might have been a new Vex, but Crux could recognize a grenade when he saw one. "Oh shit!" the bombs detonated on impact, ultimately shredding the cover he was using to pieces. Unable to outrun them in time, Crux was blown away by the force, landing on another table some feet away then rolled onto the floor with a thud. His brain rattled, he didn't notice the table next to him being lifted up, and thrown away like nothing. He tried to get up, a metal hand grabbing his neck, slamming his face back into the floor then throwing him across the room into a pile of junk. Landing on top an old chair, the sound of it breaking filled the room. "If I survive this, I'm totally gonna have back problems."
His thoughts refocused at the sound of lighting, the Legionless mind jumping into the air, both hand together preparing to land on the Hunter with fists infuse with electric havoc. In no position to get out of the way in time, Crux channeled his light into his hand, creating a smoke grenade. Throwing it, it barely managed to stick to the side, turning into a cloud of hindering smoke. Just like that the Legionless Mind's power was disabled reverting it back to its standard appearance. Memories of his time using that in the Crucible flooded his mind. He laughed remembering how many fellow Guardians thinking they had him with their Light only for a little smoke to ruin all their dreams. Unfortunately, this time his sense of nostalgia would not end well. While the grenade did suppress the Vex's power, it did not negate gravity's effect on it.
"OHHH!" The Vex landed right ontop him, the sheer weight of it enough to break his chest armor, and cracking his metal body underneath. It bounced off him, landing on its back, the effects of the smoke hindering its movement, keeping it from getting back up for a few seconds. "AHHH!" Crux howled in pain, gripping his chest. Trying to get up, pieces of his armor flacked off hitting the floor. Crux found himself unable to say anything. The pain was so great that even mutter a sound made it worse. 'Is this what its like to have your ribs broken.'
Elsewhere, Bitsine was making slow, but sure progress. The sounds of gunfire, and explosions echoed from down the hall, the most recent thing she heard was Crux howling which was not a good sign.
'Damn it, Crux.' Soul tried to focus on her sibling, failing to do so with the fight being heard.
Following the signs on the walls, Bitsine found what she was looking for, more or less. "So our escape plan is a big hole."
"Yup."
As Bitsine said, their way out of there was a massive hole in the side of the hospital. Judging by the burnt outer side, and the positioning of the nearby scrape around in conjunction with the entrance it must have been caused by an explosion. But whatever the case it was their key to escape. "Let get out of-" The moment Bitsine was able to see the inside of the tunnel that lead to the outside, she saw that there was a rather unwelcoming party waiting on the other side. "Shit!"
White, and gold plated Vex opened fire on the Titian, Goblins, and Minotaurs pouring everything they had to stop her from going further. Bitsine got away as fast she could. "Damn it, they got the exits blocked. Is there another way?"
"Yes, but chances are that-" Soul never got to finish.
More energy shots came from behind. Turning around Bitrsine laid eyes on those odd fancy looking Vex coming through the woodwork. "They're following us." Equipping her Sawtooth Oscillator, Bitsine mowed the robots down, relying on short bursts, her condition making her unable to handle holding the trigger down.
In the Lobby, Crux managed to get back up, the pain fading he looked over at the Vex still having trouble getting back on its feet. "Nightstalker, Bitch."
The Legionless Mind turned its head to the side, see the Hunter a good distance away, armed with something else. Something loaded with explosive ordinance.
Crux Leveled the weapon on his side, hands on the wooden grips, the blue, and gold design reflecting the light coming from the only entities in the dark room. "And this is my Prospector." He spun the drum magazine filled with eight bombs, liking the sound it made. It had been a while since he last used the grenade launcher, and now seemed like as good of a time as any. "How do you like me now?" He fired, its eye turned purple.
The sound of bombs being shot out of the barrel was like a Symphony to him. Small metal balls of death following a gentle pumping sound that repeated eight times, flying through the air towards their intended target. Crux smiled like an idiot. He forgot what it felt like to use it. 'I've got to use it more often.'
There was a flash, a lavender-colored aura illuminated the darkness that surrounded them, bright enough that a flashlight was not needed. The first bomb detonated, then another, and another, each one making a cloud of smoke combining together, making it next to impossible to see through, aside from the glow shining through the thinner layers. Crux tightened his grip in angst, the cloud dissipating to reveal something that would be seared into his memory for years to come.
The Legionless mind, up after the effects of the smoke bomb wore off, stood in the center of a bubble. A lavender colored energy barrier protecting it from harm. Void power flowed off the barrier, vanished inches away from the origin point.
Crux arms dropped, his Prospector hanging lossy from his hand. "You got to be fucking kidding. You got a Ward of Dawn too?"
"Defensive measures: effective." The Legionless Mind held its arms out, hands touching the smooth energized surface, and begun absorbing the excess energy back into its body. In amazement, Crux watched the sphere get sucked into its hands, the surface looking like it was being pulled inside then vanished, leaving the Vex with a dim glow before returning to normal. "Energy levels: replenished." It looked right at Crux with an answer to his question. "Largely unimpressed."
"Fuck you." The Vex charge up with arc power. "Okay then, we'll do it your way." Crux put his grenade launcher away. standing barehanded, electricity danced along his body in a blue aura, a machete size blade forming in his right hand. Putting his left leg forward, he held out his free hand taunting it to attack. "Come get me."
For a moment, the Legionless Mind's eye flashed red. "Request accepted."
In a blur, it was right in front of him, taking a swing for his head. Crux ducked, bringing his arm around to slash its chest. The Vex, seeing the counterattack, jump back a step, the tip of the knife leaving a small cut on its chassis. Focusing power on its leg, it stomped the floor to create a shockwave to throw Crux off balance. He jumped forward to avoid it, spinning over the mind, and grazing the top of its head, landing on the other side then throwing a solar knife laced with arc. The Vex leaned out of the way, grabbing the edge of a table then spun around, slamming it into Crux, knocking him down.
dazed, but not out, the Hunter sat up in time to see the Vex in the air attempting to bring its fists down on him again. At the last second, Crux blinked, disappearing from the point of impact. After it landed with a thunderous pound, its target reappeared directly above it, landing, and latching onto it back then jamming his knife into it, almost puncturing straight through its body. The flow of electricity coming from the blade caused it to freak out, thrashing its body in every direction attempting to get the invasive intruder of it.
Crux held on tight, grunting every time it rammed him against the wall, or reached behind to pull him off. "What do you think of me now!" Enough was enough. With the damage it systems were taking, It had to get him off. Intentionally it fell backward, pinning Crux to the floor. Despite the pressure he was feeling, he was sure he had it where he wanted. At his mercy. That was until it started getting really hot. "What are you doing?"
"Initiating system repair." Its eye turned bright orange, the rest of its body followed suit, engulfing it in a solar aura.
It became clear that Crux's plan backfired. Unable to get out from under it, he was forced to endure the burning sensation coming from his opponent ontop him. the heat scorching the armor touching it, and passing through, singeing the metal body inside. "AHHH! GET OF ME! GET OF ME! AAGGHH!"
The knife in its back vanished, whatever damage it sustained repaired itself, and the individual that wouldn't let go finally did. "Repairs complete." The Legionless Mind got back up, turning around to see its next victim lying on the ground. "Recalculating threat assessment."
Crux's body twitched in agony, his Neuroghast armor burned, and part of his Exo body partly melted on the inside. He could move, every attempt too painful to get anywhere. Even speaking felt like was going to make him fall apart. "Come (cough) on. Is that... all you (cough) got? agh."
Nope. It grabbed him by the ankle, lifting him over its head, and slammed into the ground like a hammer. Crux felt his damaged body crack from the force pieces of his insides shaking loose, leaking a combination of fluids out. It didn't stop there. Crux was tossed around, beaten, and picked apart. Without his Ghost, he could heal, couldn't get up to defend himself as the Vex exacted vengeance upon him, It eye bright red the whole time. It picked up his broken body by the neck, walking over to one of the few remaining pieced of furniture that survived the fight, and used him to break it to pieces.
One the ground, Crux mustard whatever strength he had left to pull out his knife, wincing in pain the entire time, to use it against it, but it was naught. The Legionless Mind kicked out of his hand, breaking a few fingers in the process, and stepped on his arm. The same one he used to stab it. It increased the pressure, Crux howling as it bent down to grabbed his forearm, and pulled, snapping the metal, and wiring connecting it to the rest of him. With one last jerk, it was off, sparks flying out of the elbow. It tossed the appendage aside, examining its satisfying work. "Target incapacitated. Threat level: none."
Crux did say anything, fading in, and out of consciousness as his body was failing, unable to continue supporting him for long. 'Guess this is my last stop.' He managed a chuckle. All things considered, there were far worse ways to go. It knelt down, grabbing his helmet to pull it off. Crushing it, the flashlight attached shut off leaving Crux with only the Vex's eye as a source of light. His red eyes flickered, the white lines on his head scuffed, his left antenna broken off. "It (cough) doesn't look... to bad right (cough)?" It stepped on his chest, putting the majority of its weight on it. Crux could feel his metal chest crack, threatening to cave in. "Guess... so."
Bitsine was knee deep in shit. Despite gunning down the first wave of Vex that follow her back inside, more kept coming. She currently was cornered in the employee break room, using the tables as a makeshift barricade to block the doors. She hid behind the counter, reloading her machine gun all the while hearing the robots chasing her pounding on the doors. "Got any ideas?"
"Not really." Soul in truth wasn't in the mood for ideas. Try as she might, she couldn't get Crux off her mind.
Bitsine peaked over the counter, the blockade still holding, but shook with every hit the Vex gave it, occasionally switching to gunfire. She doubt some goblins, or hobgoblins could break through, but it a minotaur decided to give it a try... "Last Stand." She mounted the Sawtooth Oscillator on the counter, giving in one last cock. "Okay then. Bring it."
The sound of the Vex grew more intense. They really wanted her dead. Bitsine fingers tapped the sides of the gun anxiously. Even if she was going to die, she'd prefer to get it over with instead of waiting around. She considered throwing a grenade open it for them, maybe taking out a few of them in the process when something happened. The sounds of guns shooting could be heard down the hall from the break room, however, this was not the typical kind she would expect from Vex weaponry. It sounded more like... "Shotguns?"
The Legionless mind took its foot off Crux. Done waiting, it equipped a line rifle. "Commencing termination." It raised its weapon, ready to deliver the final blow when something happened. The precursor Vex were engaged with new variables.
'Paracausl entities detected.' Using its connection to the lesser Vex, The legionless mind started collecting data on the new hostiles.
Quantity: 4'
'2 classified as "Warlock." Species: Human, Females.'
'1 classified as "Titian." Species: Awoken, male.'
'1 classified as "Hunter." Species: ...'
There was a bright blue flash, that's when it realized that one of the variables suddenly vanished from its previous location, and was now... "Danger!" At the last moment, it activated its power, narrowly avoiding getting sliced in two by the arc sword that swung at the space it was standing in. Its feet grinded against the floor coming to a screeching halt, knees bent ready to move again when needed. looking up, the eye, now white-blue, started scanning the being that was now in between it, and its victim. "Eliksni, male."
Valiantly standing his ground for the sake of his friend, Pekis twirled the arc sword in his hand, readying himself in a defensive position, his cloak waving in the open air. "You Speak?" The glare he gave off burned with an intensity equal to the power that created an electric aura around him. Eyeing up the Vex before him, it was clear that it was no machine of hate. The design, color, movement all suggested that it was something different. Something unique. But most of all, the power it had. The machine gave off the same kind of energy he did, although clearly, it was no Bladedancer. He might have been a recently forged Guardian, but he had experienced enough, both in his old life, and new, to recognize it.
Aepvis pick up on it as well. Going over the scans Soul shared with him, and comparing them to what he was getting himself, there was no mistaking it. "Pekis, that Vex... It has... It actually has..." Aepvis was in too much disbelief to continue. It couldn't actually be true. There was no way.
"The Light." Despite knowing full well it had to be true, Pekis also found himself doubting his own words. "You possess the Light."
Crux, barely clinging onto consciousness, overheard what Pekis said. 'Damn it. I was right.'
"CRUX!" The voices of two Guardians as they entered the Lobby helped Crux wake up. Two familiar voices.
Ellie, and Avez bursted into the room weapons drawn. Seeing there comrade dying on the floor, they rushed to his aid with a certain relieve, frantic, and equally pissed Ghost in tow. "YOU FUCKING IDIOT!"
Aven took position beside Pekis, holding his Grim Citizen III in a death grip, giving his enemy a death glare from behind his helmet. Ellie knelt down beside Crux, letting Soul out to do her job. "You can help him, can't you?" Ellie said fearfully that she might be witnessing the end of her friend.
"Of course, assuming he isn't going to try, and abandon me again!"
"Then do it!" Pekis didn't take his eyes off the Vex for a moment, prepared to strike should it make the first move.
The Legionless Mind, now outnumbered, began recalculating its odds, all the while focusing its scanners on the second Hunter. "Warning: Energy beyond average levels of others of the same classification."
Ellie's, and Avez eyes shot open. "It can talk?"
"Yes. Be ready." Pekis ordered. "It wields the Light."
"What!?" Avez was totally dumbstruck. This Vex had a connection to the Traveler's Light?
"Trust me, it's worse when it used on you." Crux sat up with Ellie help, his wounds healed, but was incredibly sore. No way he could help anymore. "I don't think I can fight."
"Ellie, get him out of here," Avez told her. "Pekis, and I will deal with this thing."
"Okay. Come on Crux." Ellie helped him up, carrying supporting him on her shoulder as he made their way out.
The Legionless Mind paid no mind to them. As far as it was concerned, there was only one that required its attention. 'Requesting recommended actions.'
In the Vex underworld, Time's Conflux could see all the timelines connected to it, including the threats that emerged within them. And there was no miscalculation. There was no mistake of the threat this abnormal Eliksni posed. He could unravel the Pattern. 'New Directive: Make priority target.'
Zooming in on Pekis, The Legionless Mind said, "Directive accepted." Before anyone could think about what it meant, It was right in front of Pekis.
"Pekis!" Avez was caught off guard by the Vex's speed.
Pekis too was surprised, but kept a level head. Up close, the two were, more or less, equal size. His heartbeat pounded loud enough that the noise was in his ear. The Vex, fully charged, went on the attack, Its own power clashing with Pekis at close proximity. Pekis' trained senses became hyper-focused, everything seemingly slowing down around him, locked in a vicious staredown. Pekis swung his left blade, missing when his target ducked. Crouching, the Mind went for an uppercut, its power increasing in intensity when he vanished again, its arm punching the open are sending electricity in the same direction. The hunter reappeared behind, the position giving him the perfect angle.
The Mind's reflexes kick in, Spinning around in time to block his arm, holding onto it, and raising leg for a roundhouse to his side. Vibrations of pain traveled up his spine, the two sources of Light flashing greatly from the aggression. Wrapping his lower arm around the leg to hold it in place, he brought down his upper right. In too awkward a position to pull free, it leaned back, placing both hands on the floor, kicking the other leg off the ground, and using the momentum to do a reverse cartwheel, pulling Pekis along with it, throwing him off. He spun in the air, adjusting to dig both swords into the floor to slow his momentum.
Avez decided to get involved, going in his body glowed bright blue as well. Recovered from its acrobatics, It registered the incoming attack, parrying the first fist Avez through, and locking its arm around his, increasing the pressure until his bone broke, eliciting a cry a pain before it was stopped by a blow to the chest. The force pushed Avez to the ground, clenching his arm.
The annoyance dealt with, the Legionless Mind turned its attention back to the main objective when it saw a long blade like object coming right at it. It moved out of the way, the arc sword passing it by and instead forcing its way through several walls before disappearing. Pekis blinked above it, slashing at its head, taking a horn off. Detecting structural damage, it zipped away, pouncing after stopping with a powered fist ready. Pekis' feet hit the floor running, Picking Avez up, and out of harm's way of the following explosion.
Jade finished healing Avez's arm when Pekis came to a stop, and let him down. "Thanks."
"Lat-" Pekis was punched into the next floor, Avez swatted away by a metal hand whose body followed the Hunter. Getting up Avez wasn't about to be kicked to the sidelines so he pursued.
Meanwhile, Ellie, and Crux rendezvoused with Kelly, and her injured friend. Kelly's Ghost took over for Soul so she could get back to Crux. Just in time too. "You stupid piece of retarded metal!" needless to say she was not happy. She hadn't stopped her angry rant since getting Crux to safety.
"Is he alright?" Kelly asked, kneeling next to Bitsine.
"More or less," Ellie answered, nonchalantly.
"You almost died you dumbass! What's next? you gonna let the Hive torture you for days while I watch!?" Crux couldn't help, but laugh. "What the hell is so funny!?"
Crux held his hand out to see Soul in his hand. His face was one of genuine relief. Before she knew it, his fingers latched onto her, pressing her body against his shoulder close to his neck. "I missed you too."
All her ranting ceased. This warm gesture placating any further resentment she had against him. "Well, um..." She pretended not to be touched by the moment. "Don't do that again, Or else Avez will be in charge of bad jokes." She wiggled free, putting some space between them.
"Well, we can't have that." He joked. He looked at Kelly, "How is she?"
"Peachy," Bitsine answered.
"Her Ghost is in critical condition," Kelly said. "We need to get him back to the City."
"That shouldn't be too hard now." Crux said gleefully. "You guys have ships, and I bet right now Pekis, and Avez are turning that Vex into scrap metal."
As if to prove him wrong, the break room shook, pieces of ceiling falling, thrashing, and crashing could be heard on the upper floors. Signs of a great battle. Pekis let out a roar of pain followed by the sound of something breaking making Kelly's heart skip a beat.
"Or not." Ellie let Crux go, arming her Invective shotgun. "Crux, you stay here, and cover them. I'm going up."
She pumped her gun, turning around to leave when Crux grabbed her shoulder. "Hey if you're going, I'm-"
Ellie slapped his hand away. "No. You already went three rounds, and it turning you into a piece of crumpled tin foil. And your still not a 100%. STAY. HERE." She finished getting right in his face.
He saw it in her eyes. There was no changing her mind. "Fine." he back off, finding a good enough chair to sit down in, cursing that he wasn't going to get a third crack at it, and she was off. Crux made a big puff, "Women." forgetting the two that were with him, giving him looks for that. He looked over at them. "What?" Neither of them responded, just turned away. "Okay."
Brushing it off, Kelly's thoughts went back to Bitsine. "How are you doing?"
"Aside from me getting be beat up, my Ghost getting shot up, my ship getting blown up, and Crux getting beaten down, I'm cool." Bitsine tried to feign her usual bravado, but knowing her Ghost was near death put a hamper on that. "You're here now so we got this... right?"
Kelly saw through the act, but she didn't want to kick her went she was down. "Yeah, you know Pekis. He'll fight tooth, and nail for us."
"...Yeah."
Upstairs, Pekis was at a disadvantage. His super worn off, relying on his own strength to fend off his attacker with minor success. Physically, he was by far the strongest Hunter the City had, but the Legionless mind was meant to be a force to overwhelm any threat it was put against, from the mightest Titian, "Ahh!" to the swiftest Hunter. Pekis locked hands with the Mind in a match of strength, electric power being absorbed painfully into his body. It wasn't the first time he had to go through it, but it was definitely the most intense. Whatever this Vex was, it was an exceptional opponent compared to the rest of kind. With a rush of adrenaline, he drew his pistol, firing rapidly into its chest. It pulled him towards it lifting its knee to meet with his stomach.
It let one of his hands go, striking him, repeating the attack until he was on the floor, hurt, but not out. Lifting its leg, it prepared to stomp him when Pekis rolled over on his back with his Lord of Wolves, a burst burning into its chest. Staggered, it was helpless for Avez, coming from behind, his own power activated, giving the Mind a supercharged shoulder charge sending it through the wall. "Pekis!?"
"I'm fine." Aepvis healed his wounds.
Before he could get back up, the Legionless Mind came back, tackling Avez, engulfing him in a blue wave, driving him through multiple walls in revenge, ending its momentum by spinning around, and throwing him across the room. He crashed through a desk, coming to a stop to be destroyed when the Vex slammed its fist on the floor, sending a shockwave of arc Light towards him. Jade materialized to begin the revival process when she now found herself under the gaze of the Mind. "Oh, crap!"
It reached out wanting to crush her in its hand, stopping at the sound of a shotgun blast. "NO!" Ellie ran up to it, utilizing the full automatic feature of the Invective, the close range burst putting some dents in the metal. Annoyed, It turned its attention to her, covering its eye from another blast then yanked the gun out of her arms, bringing its other around to hit her.
Halfway there, Pekis came back, his Light recharged he sliced off the attacking arm, cueing the Mind to flee right when Pekis took another swipe at it. Despite its speed, Pekis was more than capable of keeping up in his empowered state, taking their battle all over the floor. Every time it stopped the Hunter was there just as quick, not giving it a chance to repair. Occasionally, they move with such speed, and purpose that, for a moment, they would become one with their Light, transforming into pure spectral beings of Light, their power crossing over with each other's when they collided together creating a blastwave pushing everything around them at that moment away.
Avez, and Ellie did their best to follow, relying on the trail of electrical damage their presence left behind. "This is insane! How can a Vex have Light at all, much less take on a whole fireteam at once with it?" Ellie asked running.
The chase came to an end when the Mind jump through a window into the outside world, falling several stories, feet stomping the grass when it powered down. "Energy levels depleted. Recharge commencing."
It wasn't alone. Pekis didn't hesitate to follow it outside using the same exit it made. The two were now surrounded by the urban jungle, the sky completely overcast, dropping light rain upon them. Water trickled down their forms, Pekis' flashlight reflecting off the Vex's wet body, his water-proof scarf, cloak, and fur allowing the rain to harmlessly bounce off. Pulling out his knife, his breathing was heavy, but controlled. The Legionless Mind scanned its arm, doing a diagnostic check, it didn't have the means to fashion itself a new arm, but was capable of fixing the burns, and dents it sustained.
The metal body glowed orange, fixing itself, it calculated its current odds with it severed appendage. 'Probability of directive completion decreased by 23.17%.' A slap rifle appeared in its other hand. 'requesting assistance.'
Pekis steadied himself, gipping his pistols tightly, and keep his knife at the ready. Using the moment of respite, He took the time to gather his thoughts. He didn't like his chances of facing it without his Light, especially if replenished its first. He needed to buy time. An idea formed. If it could speak, then maybe... "Can you understand me?" Perhaps he could distract it.
The Legionless mind tilted its head at the odd question. This was the first it had ever been asked. Having a dialogue with the Eliksni seemed utterly meaningless, and it was not helped when two of his companions caught up with them.
"Pekis!" Ellie, and Avez came out of the wind they came through, Landing on either side of him, guns raised.
The Legionless Mind's eye turned red, steading its weapon for use.
"Hold your fire." Pekis command was met with confusion on all sides.
"What? you can be-" Avez started.
"I am. hold." Pekis what hopping to get some intel out of the Vex if he could. The Legionless Mind kept its weapon ready, switching between targets. Avez, and Ellie looked at each other, unsure of what they should do. It sounded crazy, but they trusted Pekis. He must have had an idea so they did as he said, lowering their weapons, but keeping their fingers on the triggers.
The Vex's eye turned white again, perplexed at the turn of events. But then again it shouldn't be so surprised. After all, those who wield that which cannot be simulated existed outside causality. They cannot truly be predictable. Not even itself.
"Can you understand me?" Pekis started again.
The Legionless Mind was undecided on what to do until its master's voice told it, 'Commence dialogue.' Such a rare event could provide new insight into their enemies.
"...Affirmative."
Ellie thought she was going to pop a gasket. Was this really happening, or a weird dream?
"What are you?"
"...Unit designation: Legionless Mind. Primary function: Elimination of threats to Pattern."
"How do you have Light? Only Guardian's are known to wield it as you do."
It took a moment for the Mind to understand. Vex didn't use the same terminology. "...Answer: This unit possessed what cannot be simulated prior to initial conversion. Cassie has been modified over the course of multiple engagements to allow for additional use of energy."
If they heard that right, could it actually have been... "What modified you? How were you converted?"
"Answer: Irrelevant." It stated firmly.
Pekis could tell he was onto something. "Why? What turned you?"
Its body twitched. "Answer: Irrelevant."
"Why is it irrelevant? Tell me why won't you answer?"
"Answer: Irrelevant." It crushed its rifle in its hand, tossing it aside.
"Answer me!" Pekis demanded. "Who converted you!? Where did you come from!? What ordered you to come here!?" Pekis body glowed brightly. Putting his guns away, replacing them with two blades. "It is clear you are only a servant answering to a higher power! Who is your master!?"
The Legionless Mind eye flickered red, 'Recharge completely.' At the same time, Vex clouds started forming everywhere, dropping off precursor Vex around them, dozens of red eyes focusing on them. Its body became the center of a violent storm emanating from it. Surrounded, the Guardians readying for a fight.
The rain intensified, soaking the armored warriors, doing little to bother them. The sounds of thunder echoed in the air, drowned out by the Legionless Mind's final answer. "Answer: OUT OF YOUR REACH!" It hit the air like a bullet, coming back down to rain everything it had on its primary target who held his blades up in open challenge.
"TERMINATING DIALOGUE!"