Cypher Control
A/N: Sorry for the delay. I had to work on concept a bit more (I want this next arc to be much more Fallen-focused, take more liberties with the source since we're limited by gameplay in my eyes), and I finally got my hands on Monster Hunter 4. The next update should be on time Thursday if things go smoothly. Hope you enjoy arc two.
"Viksis! Ramiks! Stand down!" ordered Morik, coming up the rusted stairs.
The two Archon-level Guardians lowered their weapons, glaring at the House of Kings Barons not ten meters away.
"Unless you have a plea for death or peace," said Morik, all native, "I suggest you Kings turn and run. I am in no mood for games with your House."
The two Barons lowered their heads, their weapons slung and untouched.
"As our message stated, House of Kings simply wishes to speak in person. And here we are. We come not for combat."
"You plotting Kings are always looking for trouble," said Ramiks, calming, his legs still set, arms ready to snap his gun up.
Viksis just snorted, his stance the same.
"Trouble, yes, but not between our Houses. House of Kings will offer allegiance… In return for information."
"You ask us to spy on the City?" said Morik, his tone level. Ramiks started to speak, but Morik raised a hand, silencing him.
"House of Kings asks for many things. Mapping data chief among them. We do not offer lightly, and are prepared to pay in kind. Our House sees many things, things the Cabal are doing, things House of Winter does… Things House of Light does."
Morik snorted next. "You have nothing worth the trust of my comrades, nor the Light that drives us. I repeat only once more: Unless you have a plea for death or peace, leave."
The Kings were silent. Viksis saw motion on his radar to the left, off altitude, and tapped his gun twice. Morik glanced up, not moving his head, and saw a few curious Dregs peering down at them from above atop the cliff beside them at least ten meters up. He looked back at the Kings, waiting.
"We will go," said one of the Barons. "But we are ordered, should you refuse, to offer a warning instead. House of Kings is prepared to do much worse than before. Your Twilight Gap will appear a simple war game, mere practice, should you refuse our offer. Will you reconsider?"
Morik drew a large auto rifle, sized for him after he had received his new armor months before.
"Viksis, Ramiks. We will kill only the whelps. It takes but one to deliver a message, after all."
Ramiks started laughing spitefully and sprinted forward. Viksis jumped, much higher than something his size should be able to, and landed in front of ten Vandals and about thirty Dregs. Void Light turned his glowing eyes purple, and his many enemies barely had time to cry out. Morik gunned down one of the Barons as Ramiks picked up the other and threw him down the flight of stairs behind where it had stood. The Baron hit the bottom, scrambled to its feet and looked up. Morik and Ramiks stood at the top of the stairs.
"You will regret your disrespect! House of Kings will not tolerate-"
Viksis landed heavily right behind the Baron, denting the metal walkway. He snarled at the Captain-level Fallen, who remained silent. Viksis stepped aside, clearing his way home, and the Baron walked by. Its shattered pride shone through its gait, shoulders squared in mock dignity.
Morik huffed and turned, his team mates following after him.
"Your Kell speaks! Silence!" yelled Ramiks, walking into the basement chamber ahead of Morik, back at the Tower. The chattering of the House of Light died away instantly, and all turned to the door. Viksis and Morik walked in when it was quiet.
"Today, House of Light has received its first threat! Guardians! They say Twilight Gap was a game, mock our fellows! They threaten our City! Our City! From this moment on, every waking hour, all of you will prepare for this threat. Kings will field many houses. The cowards will likely not show their own hides. We are small, but we are strong! My House! Let us show these Kings, let us show our fellow Guardians, and show the stars our true strength!"
The House filled with snarling and roaring.
"Viksis, you will help me spread our strength. We will plan supply and delivery bounties for the House and the Tower. Ramiks, you will select a fireteam and confirm this threat. If you cannot discover proof, discover where the Kings hide. I will not have my House be idle before this, false or not. In fact, I intend to jump our strength and strike first! You find their Kell, you tell me. He will meet Morik himself!"
"Yes, my Kell," said Viksis, echoed by half a second by Ramiks. Ramiks immediately called out a Captain Warlock and a Vandal Titan. They said their good-byes and rushed to Ramiks' side as he exited the chamber.
"My Kell," said a Vandal near the door. "House of Judgement sends an emissary."
"I will see them."
The Vandal stepped aside and Variks walked in, his staff at his side.
"It appears I could not have come at a better time, yes?" said Variks in English.
"Hard to believe it is coincidence," said Morik.
"Hard to believe it may be, but so it is. House of Judgement has recognized your House. They send their approval, and a gift."
Variks removed a package from his belt and unfolded the cloth, revealing an ether cypher.
"Judgement apologizes for the delay, Kell of Light, but communications over such long distances take time."
Morik stepped forward and received the cypher. "House of Light appreciates and accepts your gift. We have great need of it. Unlike Houses seeking the Great Machine, House of Light struggles little. We have powerful allies who aid in the retrieval of salvage for ether, and our stores grow ever larger. With this, we can cease stealing sups and ration our own ether. In fact, allow me to extend the offer of support, should your House ever require the resources."
"I will relay your offer, and thank you on behalf of House Judgement," said Variks, bowing his head.
"Is that all for your official business?"
"Yes, Kell," said Variks, looking up once more.
"Then, personally, allow me to thank you once more. Your support months ago made this possible. There would be no House of Light without you. I have neglected, as well, to visit your Kell to relay the same. If you would, tell her I intend to make the trip when this affront to my House is dealt with. I am sure she will understand."
"Yes, you are most welcome. I will speak with the Queen as well. I will take my leave, then, Kell."
Morik nodded, waiting for him to go before turning back to Viksis.
"You've been busy," said Soren, seeing Morik walking into the Vanguard hall.
"Though Guardians like any others, my House looks to me for guidance. It is culture, yes?"
"Well, that… But I more meant that your House in general has been busy. Do you really think the Kings were serious?"
"Serious, maybe not. But a threat, most certainly. If they speak false, or if they speak true, it matters little. House of Light, my fellow Guardians, will strengthen the Tower as our base. Then, we strike. No waiting to be stricken."
"Spoken like a true 'striker,'" came a familiar voice. Enki, in civilian clothes, approached. Kaara, in her Guardian armor, was with him. Soren chuckled, shaking his head.
"You are well, Enki?"
"As good as I can be, I guess. Getting declared unfit for combat nearly tempted me to take the memory reset. But being an advisor isn't so bad."
Enki crossed his arms. "That aside, I can see you're doing well. The Tower's full of Eliksni and Earthlings running about on your orders. I agree with what you're doing in principle, just don't get carried away. I know it's in your nature to be aggressive, but Twilight Gap was no joke. And if the Kings say they can top that, I'm more ready to believe them than I'd like. If you're going to strike first, you'd better take all the firepower you've got. Multiple Raid teams, I'm talking. If you listen to anything from me, listen to me when I say those Kings are not to be taken lightly."
"Short of waiting beyond the Reef, there isn't much the Kings could do to hide preparations on that scale from us," said Soren.
"Wolves waited beyond the Reef. A certain Awoken Kell saw them broken against its rocks," said Morik.
"That's another thing," said Enki. "She intervened then because it was in her best interest. If the Kings are preparing a force larger than the one at Twilight Gap, and they're doing it beyond the Reef, if she tries to stop them it would be suicide. They might even attack her first, out of sheer spite. As of now, though, there's no way of knowing what's going on out there. The Traveler is recovering, but just like the Kings, it seems content with rallying strength while keeping a firm grip on its foundation."
"At worst, House of Light will fight beside all Guardians and repel the Fallen. At best, we stop Kings before they attack," said Morik.
"I hope you're right, big guy… I hope you're right," said Enki. He sighed, the lights in his mouth flaring up and dimming.
"I am here to see the Vanguard, ask my House to return tonight for a short time," said Morik. He took the cypher from his belt to show Enki, Soren, and Kaara.
"About time! When did you get that?" said Soren.
"House Judgement acknowledges House Light. This was their gift."
"That's probably a bigger deal than we understand, isn't it?" said Enki, still looking at the cypher.
"Until today, House Light has needed careful ritual and aid of two Archons to ration ether. Much has been wasted, and many Guardians remain weak."
"I haven't seen any Eliksni in your House docked. Isn't that enough? You've got nearly thirty members now," said Soren.
"None docked, for all are proven by their Light, but we store sups for emergency and use Tower Prime to feed. Without cypher, Prime fills with ether and wastes it. Too much and it leaks. Viksis and Ramiks must be together for proper control, and they remain busy as well. Now only I am needed, and House Light can grow again."
"Ahh," said Enki, "So that explains the storerooms full of sups and scrap metal in the basement. Were you worried that the Prime would malfunction storing so much ether?"
Morik nodded.
"So the sups were in case things went wrong, but now you can use metal like other Houses?"
Another nod.
"House of Light is going to be full of Captains and above, isn't it? Aren't you worried one of your Archons will overthrow you, like other Houses?" Enki's tone was more testing than serious, asking more to hear the answer than to bring a threat to the fore.
"House of Light," said Morik, "Will not be like other Houses before it. I am Kell, leader, but not king. No ruler, no despot, no tyrant. Morik says 'ours,' other Kell say 'mine.' Kell of Light fights with House of Light. Other Kell let their House fight for them. Culture says this is right, that the House must serve Kell who rewards ether and leads from above. Kell must keep his House blind, only his sight far-reaching, to keep power."
"I see," said Enki. "Looks like I don't have much to worry about. You've learned pretty quick, and you've had problems to deal with I didn't know about. Seems to me like the Traveler chose right when it chose you. Not that that's a surprise, I guess. Many Guardians have the same potential for leadership and strength, and there are never many of us. We've all got to be heroes…"
"Praise is appreciated, but unnecessary, Enki. Thank you. I must go, however. Tonight, House of Light will take another step."
"Good to see you," said Enki, nodding his head.
"Let me know when Viksis is free," said Soren. "I need to exchange notes with him on ether properties. Omolon is breathing down my neck about it instead of doing things themselves."
"I will send him to you shortly," said Morik.
He turned to approach the Vanguard commanders' desk.
"Transmission recording incoming," said Morik's Ghost. He and those of his House who had returned from their missions were gathered around a long table, waiting for this exact event.
"House of Kings remain in their lair, my Kell," came Ramiks' voice. "'King's Gate' complex is large, but mapping is almost complete. Kings are known to detect comm transmissions, therefore we will be silent while completing close-range mapping. Next contact will be live audio. End transmission, we go!"
"Those who are tired, rest," said Morik. "I will leave for King's Gate with Viksis later tonight."
The last fireteam entered the basement chamber, closing the metal doors behind themselves.
"And now that all who need feeding are present," he began quietly, "My House! Gather! We have our cypher, and long overdue cypher control is in order!"
The House of Light gathered in front of Tower Prime, Morik facing them, his back to the Prime Servitor. He held the cypher with both hands, the mechanism beginning to glow with ether.
"Tonight, all will be made strong…"
"House of Kings' gathering hall located. Kell and Archon spotted. Mapping completed. The only objective left is to kill them all," said Ramiks. "We must go, and relay this to Morik. A Raid is in order."
Ramiks and his team turned and left, Ramiks' spiteful laughter too far away to warn the Kings of their impending demise.
Shattered Gate coming soon...