A/N: Sorry this took so long, I did mean to have this out shortly after the New Year but writer's block hit badly and we're currently having a mass clear out at home, so sitting and writing all day hasn't really been on the cards.
To the guest review who reviewed recently, Kayla's family will not return as Guardians. That's one of my few hard rules on this.
In other news, I'm becoming an aunt at the ripe old age of 25. Yaaaaay.
DISCLAIMER:- The following is a non-profit fanfiction. The Destiny franchise and its characters are owned by Bungie. I only own Fireteam Storm and other OCs. Please support the official release.
Saga 02: The Monster of Luna
Arc 01: Shattered
Chapter 06: Swarmed
Eriana! Hi!
Sorry for the late reply! Tracking Fallen, you know how that it is! Of course I'll go on a date with you! I know this wonderful little Italian place, La Cantina. The pasta there is to DIE for! Oh, and then there's the tiramisu, and…
Wait…you mean like a…date date?
Moon
Ocean of Storms
Archer's Line
"Are you ok?" Ghost asked watching his Guardian stare out at the vast expanse of nothingness.
"Mmm?" Kayla asked, glancing at Ghost. "Oh, yeah, yeah…Sorry, I forgot how…unnerving this place can be."
The Voidwalker gestured to the white-grey desert beyond Archer's Line. Aside from the occasional dilapidated human structure that marked the boundary of moonbase all that lay beyond them was emptiness. No wind. No life.
"Oh, my word…" Kayla heard Jaeger gasp.
She turned, seeing Jaeger staring at the blue-green bauble that hung in the sky. Kayla smiled and walked up to him. Despite wearing his face hidden behind his mask, she figured that Jaeger's expression was that of a giddy child. He was busy posing for pictures taken by Cheryl.
"Having fun?" Kayla chuckled.
"Oh, hell yeah!" Jaeger said, pulling a lightning bolt pose. "I mean, I've seen Earth from orbit before but…" The Bladedancer turned and stared at the planet that hung in the sky. "Not like this, this is…beautiful."
"Yeah," Kayla said, looking up with him. "Nothing quite prepares you for the from here."
Kayla set off up the rocky expanse with Jaeger in tow, clambering up the cliff side. At the top Kayla found herself in front of the familiar fusion coil accelerator that dominated the area, almost untouched since her last visit a few months prior. While she made her way to the top of a small ledge above one of the Moon's cracks Jaeger noticed a dishevelled banner by what was once the accelerator's delivery platform.
"What was this place?" he asked as he made his way there.
"I think..." Kayla said while Ghost scanned the area. "This is…this was the K1 research station. Or at least part of it."
"K1?" Jaeger asked while unfurling the green banner. "Like the Anomaly?"
"Anomaly?"
"Yeah. Shaxx 'acquired' it for the Crucible, named it after the big…thing in the centre. No one knows what it is though," Jaeger thought for a moment. "A Titan tried to punch it open once."
"Oh no!" Ghost gasped. "What happened?"
"Nothing," the Hunter replied dismissively. "But then the next day, right to the second, a Warsat fell on her."
Kayla's eyes widened as she looked at Ghost in shock. Jaeger continued. "BOOM! Beeline from low orbit right to her skull. Coincidence? Maybe."
The Warlock turned to him. "I-Is….is she okay?"
"She can still throw a hammer, so yeah. Never punched the damn thing again, though."
After Ghost disappeared Kayla headed down to Jaeger. "What are you doing?"
"Figuring out who's here," Jaeger replied, draping the banner over a railing pausing when the banner revealed a hastily spray-painted Fallen glyph on the centre. "Ah."
"House of Exile," Kayla said. "They've been expanding."
"Great…"
The pair turned, heading off to the Anchor of Light. The area was empty of Fallen and Hive. The Hive, Kayla could understand. They normally kept to the tunnels below them and around the Hellmouth, but the Fallen? Normally there was some presence on the surface, but nothing? Something wasn't right.
"So anyway, K1," Jaeger said.
"Hmm? Oh," Kayla murmured, coming out of her thoughts. "Not much to say, really. They were the brightest minds of the Golden Age, but then every research team was in those days. K1 were sent here to dig up something on the Moon, then they just disappeared."
"Spooky."
"Yeah. Clovis Bray sent a team to investigate. The official story was they went mad and killed each other. Moonstroke, they called it."
"You believed that?"
"I believed they weren't lying," Kayla said. "But I don't believe they were telling everything. A lot of politicians at the time were complaining about the amount of black ink on the official reports."
Jaeger chuckled. "Maybe you'll solve the mystery of K1!"
"Heh," Kayla scoffed. "I'm not that important."
"Suit yourself."
"IF," came the angered voice of Eris through the comms. "You two have stopped chatting, can you do what you came there for!"
"Are you always this miserable?" Jaeger snarked.
There was silence, then a low growl. "This is not a game, Hunter."
"Yeah, I got that," Jaeger muttered, earning a slap from Kayla.
"We're heading to the Hellmouth now," Kayla said, taking over. "One of the Swarm Princes is hanging around there."
There was an audible sound of Eris grinding her teeth in worry. "Be careful!"
"Always am."
Jaeger rolled his eyes. "I don't know how you cope with her."
"She just needs patience," Kayla said.
"If this is some sort of obligation because of what happened in the Collapse…" Jaeger said. Kayla noticeably flinched. "…Sorry…"
"No, no. You're right," Kayla sighed. "But I'm not letting the Hive return. We don't have to like Eris, but she knows more than the City does. So, we have to trust that."
"Yeah, yeah."
The pair took off through the Anchor of Light while Ghost and Cheryl brought up information on their targets: the Swarm Princes. Before the main counterattack against Sardon, one of Crota's generals, Eris had insisted on Sardon's commanders being taken out first to prevent the chain from continuing. While Storm didn't entirely understand Eris's complexity addictions about 'the tithe' they did understand her order of 'kill Hive leaders', even if Kayla was the only one invested.
The Swarm Princes in question were Banuk, Dakoor, Garok and Merok, named in honour of deities higher than Crota himself, supposedly. While Sardon was the only general they knew was on Earth for certain this meant the Swarm Princes were currently exposed, guarding the Court of Crota that lay deeper in the Hellmouth's tunnels.
"Hey Eris," Jaeger asked over his comms.
"What?!" Eris snapped, making Jaeger wince.
"If Crota's court is so powerful, why are we going after the Swarm Princes."
Eris gave a cackle reminiscent of the Hive below them. "This is not an assassination if that's what you're thinking," her voice turned, becoming cold. "This is a statement. One that will tell that bastard down in that pit that I have not forgotten what he put Noble through…. what he did to me."
There was a silence before Eris hung up. Jaeger took a deep breath before turning to Kayla. "Yyyyup…. that's good enough."
It didn't take too long for the pair to come to out by the Hellmouth. The cracked ridges that scarred the Moon from the Great Disaster loomed over the ancient, eroded fortress that topped the Hellmouth before sinking down into the pit that spewed a sickly green mist from below.
From behind a rock Kayla watched the Hive patrol, stumbling in line behind a large, weathered Knight whose chitin was engraved with green. From Ghost's scans she confirmed that this was Banuk. Although it might not be the best idea to announce their presence now, she figured they'd best take this chance. She turned to Jaeger, finding his eyes wide with horror.
"You alright?"
Jaeger glanced at Kayla, then back at the Hellmouth "Y-Yeah, just…"
"You…" Kayla's eyes narrowed. "Haven't seen the Hellmouth before?"
Jaeger shook his head. "No. I missed the battle. This is…"
Jaeger flopped onto his backside as he took in the monolithic stronghold before them. An awkward silence hung over the pair before the Hunter spoke again, turning to Kayla. "Don't think I'm saying I trust Eris…but if this," he motioned to the pit before them. "Is as bad as she says…"
Kayla didn't need to hear anymore. She merely nodded before motioning Jaeger to follow her. The pair followed Banuk from the scattered rocks that hid them.
"So, that's one of them?" Jaeger asked, looking over the data that Cheryl had received from Ghost.
"Yup."
"Looks sort of…"
Kayla looked behind her, eyes narrowed. "What?"
"I thought he'd look…" Jaeger shrugged. "Different. Not just a Knight…but bigger."
"If we kill Banuk, Ghost and I could probably use his signature to find the others," Cheryl said. "Although…you might not like it…"
"W-What's…What's not to like?" Kayla said hesitantly.
"The Swarm Princes are commanders," Cheryl explained. "We'd have to track them by the Light of the Guardians they've killed."
Ghost gave a nervous nod in agreement. Kayla paused for a moment, bitter at the thought. However…
"It's not the worst we've done," Kayla sighed. "At least we can give them some peace."
The two Guardians continued sneaking along the ridgeline, sticking to the shadows cast by the dim Earth-light. As they followed the patrol Kayla couldn't help but wonder how to get the jump on them. Noticing her concerns Jaeger scanned the area. A warsat had crashed in the area recently and was currently being stripped by Exile Fallen.
"Jae…where the hell are you going?!" Kayla shouted.
"I've got a plan!" Jaeger chuckled as he turned to wave her off, before putting his hood up and continuing to the Fallen crew.
Ghost looked at Kayla. "I don't think this will go well."
As Jaeger half-stumbled down the rocky hill, pulling out his Arma Engine. The Fallen were busy digging into the guts of the machine, ripping out wires and modules with little regard for their purpose. There was no Captain, just a council of Vandals overseeing the group. The sound of bullet fire sent the Dregs jumping for cover. Squawks from the Vandals rallied them to open fire on the Guardian that had attacked them. To their surprise, he stopped, almost jumping in excitement.
"Hey! Bet you can't stop be from stealing your ether supplies!" he (they assumed he was male) taunted, flexing a little before taking off.
The Vandals shrieked an order at the Dregs who gave chase, watched on by Kayla and Ghost.
"It's hard to admire his stupidity?" Ghost said, exasperated.
"No, it isn't," Kayla said dryly, getting up to flank Banuk. "C'mon."
Jaeger vaulted a collapsed metal shack, rolling across to avoid the Fallen's shock rifle fire. Cheryl followed as he hopped dramatically from rock to rock. "Does all this…leaping around-" she started
"Parkour," Jaeger corrected.
"…JUMPING actually do anything?"
"Oh, no," Jaeger replied flippantly. "But I gotta make it look legit, right?"
Cheryl's eye narrowed. "What do you mean 'legit', what does…?"
"Also, I'd hide if I were you."
Before Cheryl could question him, she heard the shriek of a Thrall lunging for her. Jaeger buried a knife into the creature's neck, shrugging it off as it landed on his shoulder. Cheryl disappeared as Jaeger turned to face Banuk, casually giving finger guns at him.
"Banuk, right?" Jaeger said with a sly grin. Banuk's eyes narrowed. "Bet Sardon would be impressed with you stealing the Light of the Hero of Dwindler's Ridge!"
"What's...Dwindler's Ridge?" Banuk asked, starting towards him.
"C'mon, Dwindler's Ridge?" Jaeger insisted while backing up. "Shin Malphur, Dredgen Yor? 'Yours not mine'? Ring any-" The Hunter ducked under Banuk's sword, eying the Acolytes that flanked him. "Careful with the sword!"
"This Dwindler's Ridge must have been a pitiful battle," Banuk taunted. "If you are the hero. Tell me, do they sing your praises in your home?"
"Heh. Didn't even know I was there."
Banuk chuckled, sneering "Of course not."
"Hey!" the Bladedancer protested. "Doesn't mean it wasn't important." Jaeger crawled under the rocky outcrop above. The roars of the Fallen grew closer. From a distance he could see glint of Kayla's Mythoclast. She was ready. The Hunter looked at Banuk's rising sword, before waving while discreetly activating his camo module.
Banuk's arm lowered in confusion before he was set upon by a rabid Dreg. Banuk roared, throwing the Dreg to the ground and piercing its abdomen with his sword. His squad shrieked and snarled as a small group of Fallen descend on them, taking out the Thrall with their shock weapons. Banuk growled, charging into the fray, cutting down the Vandals in his path.
From her hiding spot Kayla scanned the battlefield, the marker Ghost placed above Jaeger's position moving quickly to a new spot. The Hunter uncloaked, cocking his Vanity. Kayla readied her Mythoclast before rushing into the firefight.
The Swarm Prince was busy dealing with a swarm of angry Dregs, his Acolytes pinned by the Vandal's wire rifles, before he heard the gunshots of Lightbearer weaponry crack through the air. Banuk turned, growling at the one in the cloak. The sound of laser fire caught his attention as he saw a Warlock. It was the same one that had killed Sardok several cycles ago.
The Knight growled, throwing the last Dreg off him before crushing it under his foot. His roar alerted the Thralls to charge at the two Guardians, the one in the cloak almost laughing at the prospect. Hypocrites. All of them, thinking they were moral, then swatting the Thrall like pests with bullets and knives.
Banuk's green engraved veins glowed as he roared before charging at Kayla. The Warlock, fighting off the wave of Thrall, turned in time to glide out of the way as the sword came crashing down, sending up rock, dust and stray Thrall as it did so. Kayla landed, throwing out a vortex grenade that ensnared Banuk. The Knight only roared, his engravings glowing more as a large aura shaped like a muscular arm enveloped his own.
"I think you made him mad…" Ghost said hesitantly.
Kayla ignored Ghost, firing with Iris's Rifle as Banuk charged. The Knight jumped, bringing his gold covered fist down where Kayla was standing. Kayla dodged swiftly to the left, switching to her Harm's Way before opening fire. Banuk stumbled at the deluge of suppressive against him. Growling in anger he raised his sword again only to be met with a large knife that embedded itself just above his right eye. The Knight ripped the knife out, along with the eye, and levelled a vicious glare at the Hunter who threw it.
"Hi there," Jaeger chuckled, taunting him with a salute before throwing another knife, this time at his chest.
Banuk grunted, staggered back by the force of the knife. He gave Jaeger an unimpressed snarl before running his aura cloaked hand over his sword, imbuing it with the same energy.
"Right…" Jaeger said awkwardly, reaching for his kukri. "Sword…"
Banuk charged, rushing to impale him only to be met with Jaeger's Arc-imbued kukri. "Oh, look, mine's bigger than yours," the man chuckled, before batting the sword back and spinning around, sending a wave of electricity that cut through Banuk's chest, sending blood splattering across the ground.
"By the Traveller's crack…" Cheryl sighed in embarrassment.
"I did warn him," Jaeger said nonchalantly with a shrug. "Dwindler's Ridge."
Banuk seethed, holding his wound. As he lunged again, he felt the sapping of another vortex grenade. Before he could do anything Jaeger threw several skip grenades at him, followed by both Guardians shredding him with their machine guns. Banuk gave a strained groan before keeling over into the white sand of the Moon.
There was a brief moment before Ghost scanned Banuk's body, his shell shuddering a little as he tracked the remnants of the Light on him. "Those poor souls…" he said quietly.
"They've returned to Light," Cheryl assured him. "They won't hurt anymore."
"Yeah…Even so…" Ghost turned to Kayla and Jaeger. "The rest of the Swarm Princes are in the Gatehouse…though they appear to be on the move. We'll need to be quick."
It didn't take long for the pair to traverse the outer rim of the Hellmouth and soon Kayla had reached the familiar entrance at the Gatehouse. The décor, if it could be called that, hadn't changed much since he previous visit. The hooks and chains were still strung from the walls, crisscrossing the room, and lanterns were stashed in the corners along with the bones and rags of what Kayla assumed were Fallen. Or rather, hoped.
As Kayla descended the steps further into the Hellmouth, Jaeger stood cautiously at the top. He'd seen pictures and books and mission reports of the Hive presence on the Moon, even some of Kayla's own that had made the rounds on the CityNet's social forums, but actually being here felt wrong.
"You ok?" Kayla asked.
Jaeger chuckled. "You could've warned me about the stench!"
Kayla couldn't help but laugh. "Stay close. Don't split up."
Jaeger gave a small salute of acknowledgement before following her into the tunnels. Trudging through the tunnels of the Gatehouse and clearing out the Hive was relatively easy as Kayla followed the route she remembered while Jaeger followed close behind. It wasn't too long until the pair came to a large bridge that oversaw a large chasm.
"Holy…!" Jaeger gasped.
"Yup," Kayla said with a grim nod.
"How far down…how long?"
Kayla shrugged. "I don't know. And I don't think I want to know the second one. Ghost?"
"Traces are heading towards the Summoning Pits. I don't know what they're doing, but the traces are pacing and moving erratically."
"That makes it sound like they're aware that something has happened to Banuk," Cheryl said.
"The Hive may be monsters, but they are not stupid," Ghost replied with a slight concern. "They might not know that he's dead, but they're probably questioning why they can't-"
The tidal wave of shrieks that preluded an onslaught of Thrall flooded the bridgeway, cutting Ghost off.
"We need to move," Jaeger said quickly as the shadows of Thrall swept over the dim caverns behind them.
The pair took off as the swarm of Thrall rushed the bridge, some of the Hive unfortunate to be kicked or shoved off the ledges from their own momentum. Kayla spun her foot, throwing out a vortex grenade in the doorway to thin the ranks, stumbling slightly as she found her pacing again. A little ahead Jaeger was fumbling in one of his many pouches, grinning as he pulled out a small mechanical orb.
"What's that?" Kayla asked, eyes narrowing.
Jaeger merely chuckled, throwing it in the air behind him. The orb split into six pieces before flinging into the cavern walls, creating a web of electricity between them. Jaeger took off once more, prompting Kayla to follow.
"Other way!" she shouted as the screams of Thrall and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.
Jaeger turned on his heel and sprinted after Kayla as she followed the inner ring of the Hellmouth, shadows cast be the sickly green light emanating from the pit dancing around them. More Hive shrieks erupted around them as the crack of boomer fire filled the air.
The two Guardians barrelled through an open doorway. Kayla grabbed some of the jutted rocks on the door and began pulling it close, Jaeger grabbing the other one and dragging it shut. The shrieking and banging on the door continued for a few seconds, before quietening and stopping altogether.
"Why…did they…stop…?" Jaeger said, catching his breath. "They can open that door."
"Because we're in the Summoning Pits," Kayla replied, heading off. "Where the others are."
Kayla's footsteps echoed while Jaeger looked down the gloomy corridor, sniffing once before following.
The Summoning Pits hadn't changed much from Kayla's last visit. As she stepped through the doorway to the greater arena she took in the stagnant stench of the Hive's sacrifices to their greater gods. The scorch marks that were scattered across that room were stinging reminders of the fight against Phogoth. Reminders that she couldn't save another person.
In the centre of the room, kneeling around a glowing Hive glyph were three Knights. The harsh whispers of their prayers echoed through the cavern. A small, shimmering rupture hung above the glyph and, from their spot on one of the Pit's ledges, they could see the vague outline of a Knight with golden chitin.
"That must be Sardon," Kayla whispered.
The pair moved silently, keeping to the long-cast shadows of the walls to get a better vantage. Jaeger motioned silently for Cheryl to scan the rupture. One of the Swarm Princes glanced up slightly, growling a little. From behind her pillar Kayla motioned at Cheryl to hurry up.
"Just take what's needed!" Jaeger hissed in panic as each of the Princes rose.
"Infections!" the tallest boomed.
"Bit late for that…" Kayla said quietly.
The three Knights stepped forward as the glyph disappeared, and Sardon with it. Like Banuk, they all bore the standard Knight morph with slight distinctions. The left one was the bulkiest and emitted a reddish aura, with a large sword on his back that appeared to be made of a sharpened spinal cord. The middle one emitted a purple aura and was the tallest, and the thinniest. In his hands were two hook-like maces on long chains. The final one was the shortest, armed with pieces of elongated bits of born that appeared to tear through his wrists and were shaped like scorpion pincers. His aura was blue.
Kayla gestured silently to Jaeger. The Bladedancer nodded and activated his cloaking device, the Warlock stepping out from the shadows. The three Knights eyed her with caution as she jumped down to meet them.
"Sardok's killer…" the red one growled.
"I take it I'm in the presence of the Swarm Princes?" she asked formally.
The purple Knight glared at her, rage and hatred stinging his chest as he felt the urge to hanging her by the chin on one of the Pit's beams pulsate inside him, worming its way through his chest. "Merok," he snarled.
"Dakoor," hissed the blue one
"Garok," the red Knight growled.
"Why are you here, Infection?" Merok glowered.
"I'm sure you already know," Kayla replied tersely.
Merok let out a laugh, with the other two Knights following in tow. The noise filled the room, echoing like a mixture of rusted chainsaw and death rattles. They stopped as abruptly as they started.
"Where is the other one?" Merok asked calmly.
"Don't know what you mean," Kayla replied with a half-hearted shrug. The shimmer of Jaeger's cloaked form moved slightly on a platform above the Knights. "I hate to be cliché about this but, I'm assuming you're not going down without a fight?"
(The Rampager [Phase 1]- Borderlands 3 OST)
No sooner had Kayla spoken, Jaeger leaped from the platform uncloaked as he sent down several electrified knives. The arc web they created caught the Princes off guard, Merok growling before screaming something unintelligible. Both Dakoor and Garok lunged off at frightening speed.
SWARM PRINCES
GUARDIANS OF THE SWORD
Kayla glanced at Jaeger, who'd landed on the cobbled flooring with a few graceful hops. Her attention was quickly taken by Garok's lunging sword. Kayla ducked, moving slightly to the right whilst firing with Iris's Rifle. Garok growled in frustration as the bullets lanced his arm. He turned but, as he did so, the sword began to curve according to the vertebrae segments that made up the weapon's blade. Kayla cried out in pain as the swords serrated edge embedded itself in her arm. Grunting as she tried to pull herself free, Kayla fired on Garok once more. The Knight merely laughed in response as Kayla felt something hook deep into her back. Before she could process what was happening the hook yanked back, tearing her arm free from Garok's weapon as she was dragged back to Merok.
"Kayla!" Jaeger shouted.
As he moved for her, Dakoor quickly skidded in front of him and charging with his pincers, pinning him down. "I wouldn't if I were you," Dakoor chuckled.
Jaeger grabbed his Vanity firing into Dakoor's stomach. The Knight roared in pain before lunging with his right arm. Jaeger knocked the arm away before pistol whipping Dakoor across the face. Dakoor growled before roaring at the Bladedancer, the Knight's mouth like a bear trap of long needles.
Merok, busy tormenting to Kayla with his maces, turned to Dakoor, rolling his eyes. "By the wings of Eir…" Merok sighed in annoyance, turning and throwing his other mace at his fellow Swarm Prince, the chains wrapping around Dakoor and pulling him off the Hunter.
Kayla took the chance to run for cover, biting her bottom lip to ignore the pain in her right arm as she reloaded her weapon. Ghost appeared beside her, looking from her torn arm to the gaping, mangled hole in her back.
"Back," Kayla ordered quickly, switching Iris's Rifle to her right hand and unsheathing Harm's Way with her left. "Do it quick!"
Ghost nodded and disappeared behind her. Kayla grunted as she felt the wound on her back regrow and fuse back together. She closed her eyes, slowing her breathing to untie the knot in her stomach and calm her racing heart and clear her head. The sounds of Jaeger's gunshots and the clanging of the Merok's chains on the floor echoed around her.
After a long exhale, Kayla turned and jumped for the higher ledges, grabbing it with one hand before swinging herself upwards. She stood, overseeing Jaeger's struggle against Dakoor before opening up a channel.
"Jaeger, tagteam on Merok."
The Bladedancer, busy duelling Dakoor with a blade and sidearm, ducked under Dakoor pincers before firing on Garok as he lunged for him before hopping up a small flight of stairs behind him. "Which one's that?!"
"Chain guy!"
Jaeger paused, seeing Kayla running along one of the higher platforms with her Mythoclast at the ready. The Hunter backed up slightly, throwing out several electrified knives at Dakoor and Garok before taking off to Merok, reloading his Vanity in the process.
Merok slowly moved away from the incoming Warlock, casually spinning on of his maces in anticipation. The Knight grinned, readying his attack, only to be hit by several rounds from the Hunter's hand cannon. He stumbled and growled in annoyance, glaring at the Guardian until the sound of Vex rifle fire alerted him to Kayla. The Warlock came crashing down, booting him in the chest and knocking him to the floor as she continued to fire on Merok.
As Merok roared in anger, Dakoor came flying out of the shadows and tackled Kayla to the ground. Anticipating a counter, Kayla released a vortex grenade between the pair of them forcing Dakoor to let go as they skidded across the ground.
Jaeger moved to help but came face to face with Garok. The bulky Knight chuckled, blocking the shots of the Hunter's Vanity with the hilt of his blade before knocking it out of Jaeger's hand, the force sending the revolver tumbling off the edge of the Summoning Pits. Jaeger watched the gun disappear.
"Ok then…" he muttered, unsheathing his kukri and twirling it in his hand.
Garok merely laughed. "That's your best blade? Pitiful…Your Light shall be offered to Xol in the name of Crota!"
Over by the pillars, observed by Merok, Kayla was busy running and ducking as Dakoor darted around her like a whirling dervish, his deep bass laughing maniacally. The Voidwalker felt a little twinge at the back of her mind.
It was Ghost. "I've analysed his attack patterns. He'll be coming from the front next, but he won't fall for the same trick twice."
"Noted," Kayla said.
As Ghost predicted, a flash of blue light in the shadows heralded the incoming attack of Dakoor. Kayla moved slightly and struck him with her palm. Dakoor stumbled, feeling the Void sap his strength before Kayla opened fire again with the Mythoclast.
Dakoor grunted as the laser fire lancing his right shoulder. "That's a nice little Vex rifle you have there," he chuckled, circling around her. "I bet the Sorrowsmiths could do wonders with one of those."
Kayla did the same, making a mental note that Merok had moved. When she said nothing Dakoor continued, nodding to Jaeger's position. "Seems like your ally has met his match."
The Warlock instinctively turned, seeing Jaeger duelling Garok with his kukri. The sound of Dakoor kicking off the ground caused her to move, firing on him again. Dakoor took the hits, skidding around again and aiming his fist at her again. Kayla holstered the Mythoclast and readied another palm strike, both lunging and staggering the other.
"I know what I'm going to do," Dakoor sneered, pushing forward. "I think I'm going to skin you and make your buddy eat your face."
The stalemate was broken by the sound of rippling Arc energy shaking the room. Dakoor turned, his face falling in horror when he saw Jaeger coated with electricity, his kukri, now enveloped, twice as long.
"WHAT?!" Dakoor exclaimed, before being headbutted to the floor by Kayla.
The Warlock tried to make her way to the Bladedancer but stopped when Merok's maces lashed the ground in front of her. She turned, seeing Merok swinging one of the hooks around.
"I wouldn't, if I were you," he taunted.
While Kayla was busy fighting Merok, Garok was having a hard time keeping up with the Bladedancer's speed. The Swarm Prince couldn't understand it. The Sky was dead. These fleshy things were weak! Crota proved that cycles prior! So why now? What had changed?
Garok roared as Jaeger darted around the Hive Knight before launching himself with immense speed. Garok flexed his blade and swung it round but the Hunter stopped short and struck the stagnant air with his small kukri sending off a wave of Arc Light, the force enough to send Garok flying backwards and crashing into the back wall.
"Jaeger, little help here!" came Kayla's voice.
Jaeger, panting, looked around seeing Kayla trying to dodge Merok's frantic attacks. The Hunter switched to his sidearm, slowly advancing on the Swarm Prince while firing. The sudden attack from the second Guardian caught Merok off guard. Shielding himself from the bullets with his arm Merok backed off to another position.
"What's the plan?" Jaeger asked, hurrying to Kayla.
The Voidwalker switched to Harm's Way before glancing over to the struggling Dakoor. "Grab Merok's chains," she said.
Jaeger leaned out slightly to look over her shoulder before grinning from ear to ear. "Haha, I LOVE it when we fight dirty!"
From his spot in the corner Garok struggled to his feet, using his sword to balance himself. The sight of the pair rushing Merok caught his eyes. "No…!" the angered Prince growled.
"Kayla!" Jaeger shouted as the roar of Garok alerted the pair to the charging Knight. "I got this!"
"Roger that!" Kayla replied as Jaeger leaped up to take Merok head on.
Merok growled, throwing one of his maces at Jaeger as the Hunter fired on him with his small pistol. As the hooks reached him, Jaeger rolled in midair. To Merok's horror the Bladedancer managed to hook the chains with another of his knives. He merely grinned before yanking the mace away from Merok, prompting a furious barrage of Hive cursing.
"Got one!" Jaeger shouted.
Kayla vaulted the equally angered Garok and unleashed a barrage of bullets from Harm's Way into him, smirking a little.
"Kayla, behind you!" Ghost yelled.
The Voidwalker didn't have much to time to react as the second of Merok's maces came swinging round for her with Garok lunging for her too. Kayla frantically dove to the side, leaving the hooks to collide and impale themselves deep into Garok's abdomen. Seizing the chance she'd been given, Kayla threw a vortex grenade in Merok's direction. The burst of Void Light immediately began to devour Merok's chitin armour. In a single moment of panic the Prince dropped his second chain. Kayla quickly grabbed it and ripped the hook from Garok's chest, striking him with her palm for good measure.
Picking up the bundles of chain as she ran, Kayla yelled to Jaeger. "Use these on Dakoor!" she ordered.
Jaeger watched as Kayla ran past him. "Which one's Dakoor?"
"The pincer one!"
Staggering to his feet, Dakoor roared at the pair before rushing them again. "Insolent little INFECTIONS!" he screamed, seething with hatred. "You'll be a feast for Yul for the rest of YOUR DAYS!"
"Please work…" Kayla said quietly, launching one of Merok's chains at Dakoor. If there was a god in this pit, she prayed it was the right one.
The chain curved around one of Dakoor's arms before automatically wrapping around and constricting his body. Dakoor stumbled slightly as the force of the chains collided with him. Not wanting to give the Prince a time to react Jaeger swung his own chain around Dakoor as well, leaving him to struggle. No sooner had Dakoor realised he'd been trapped the sounds of Void energy cracking the air caught his attention, but it was too late. Kayla's Nova Bomb was already careening to him.
Garok stared in disbelief as Dakoor disintegrated, his agonised screams echoing throughout the cavern. He felt a rage he'd never known before boiling up inside him. Without thinking, and to Merok's shock, Garok charged the pair of Guardians with a Hive war cry.
Kayla looked behind her then to Jaeger. The Hunter nodded before activating his cloaking device again and disappearing, leaving Kayla to reload Harm's Way. Garok said nothing, merely screaming in Hive black speech as his serrated blade swung down on Kayla. The Voidwalker held up her already injured arm again, tanking the hit as the sword buried itself deep in her flesh, and taking the opportunity to unleash a point-blank barrage of machine gun fire on the Swarm Prince in front of her. Garok roared as the bullets poured into his already wounded chest. The Swarm Prince backed off, allowing Kayla to take the sword from him before quickly switching to her Mythoclast and lancing him with a volley of laser fire.
Merok's third eye twitched in rage as Garok's charred and bloodied body fell to the floor. He could sense the Deep's blessing inside his fellow Swarm Prince get snuffed out on impact, blinded by the overwhelming tsunami of Light. This can't be a random choice of assassinations. This was calculated Suddenly, his eyes widened in realisation.
"You…" Merok fumed, breaking out into a run.
Kayla pulled the sword out of her arm and braced herself. Merok lunged with a heavy fist. He was met with the Void covered palm of Kayla. The Knight felt her buckle under his weight, cackling and leering over her as he forced her to her knees. Kayla's sudden chuckle caused his own laughter to trail off.
(End Rampager)
"What's so funny?" Merok demanded.
"Eris sends her regards," Kayla replied with a grin.
Behind Merok Jaeger uncloaked, plunging his kukri deep into his back. Kayla quickly moved and impaled him on Garok's sword. Merok let out a faint, stunned croak as his body convulsed slightly. Slowly Merok looked down at the two blades he'd been beaten with. The spike of Light felt when Sardok was killed drifted into his mind.
"Oh…" Merok wheezed, looking between the pair. "Well done…"
Kayla and Jaeger let Merok go, leaving the Knight to stagger and collapse to the ground. Ghost appeared beside Kayla and began to idly heal her arm. Kayla winced as she felt Ghost work his magic on her. Jaeger, panting, ripped his kukri out of Merok's back.
"Ugh, that's gross…" he grumbled, shaking the Hive guts off his blade before sheathing it.
"You should've seen the hole in my back," Kayla said dryly, prompting Jaeger to chuckle. "God, that hurt..."
When Ghost was finished Kayla flexed her arm before contacting Eris. "Good news, the Swarm Princes are dead. Cheryl also managed to get some intel on Sardon."
There was silence before an eerie chuckle came over the radio. "Wonderful. For now, come back and we will work on eliminating Crota's Fist. Also…bring me Merok's horn."
Eris signed off, leaving Kayla to look at spooked Jaeger.
"You are not making me be friends with her," Jaeger said sternly. Then he sighed, frustrated. "How do we know we can trust her?"
"She wants the Hive dead," Kayla replied icily. "That's good enough."
Jaeger folded his arms. "Oh. I see what this is about."
"What do you mean," Kayla asked with narrowed eyes.
"You wanna get back at the Hive for what they did to you in the Collapse."
Kayla looked away, flustered. Jaeger sighed again; this time concerned. "Kayla, I'm not going to advice you on what you should do. That's Delta's job. Just…please be careful with this."
There was a moment of silence as Kayla closed her eyes, hearing the screams of the Cosmodrome's highway on that day.
"I will."
NEXT TIME:- Eriana's team comes together and Aunor moves to find out what she's hiding in Chapter 2-7: Fireteam Noble