Hard Truths.
A cool breeze comes through the window, blowing across the man and shaking the tuft of hair hanging over his brow. The chill of the air is welcome on an afternoon as warm and sunny as this bright summer day. The man is awake but he sits still and rests his eyes, enjoying the quiet company of the sleeping woman.
Her eyes part slowly under the beams of the afternoon sun, a bright light calling her to wake up. She sits up in the bed and stretches her neck over one shoulder and then the other. Without thinking, she stretches her body up straight before recoiling from the sharp pain in her healing side.
"Careful, young one…" the man says tenderly as he reaches out to support the injured woman.
She waves him away with a smile. "I'm fine, old man. Don't worry," she says and gives him a warm expression. "How long have you been here? Don't tell me you've been sat there since I passed out this morning?" She asks with a concerned annoyance.
The man rubs the short blue-grey stubble on his chin and smiles. "No, no. I attended to some things I'd been neglecting after you went to sleep. I stopped in about a half hour ago to see if you needed anything. I found that you were still sleeping and I felt a little fatigued myself, so I rested my eyes a bit."
"Eyran… did you get any sleep last night?"
He moves the dangling hair away from his face. "Some yes… You know I worry…" he says and his smile disappears.
Marin carefully moves her legs off the side of her bed to face the man. "I know…" she says, reaching out and giving the troubled man's hand a reassuring squeeze. She sits back and looks out the window. "Did The Guardian turn up while I was out?" she asks, doubtful but optimistic.
Eyran breathes out a small huff. "No. He and his ship have still been gone since the night before last. I'm starting to feel he may have… moved on… His people may have had other matters for him to deal with." Despite his obvious attempt to speak with neutrality, his words hide little of his true feelings.
Marin does not say anything for a moment. She looks out the window and listens to the children playing nearby. "… He didn't say goodbye," she says, just more than a whisper.
"I'm sorry, child…" Eyran sits next to her on the bed and opens his arms warmly.
Still looking out the window, Marin leans into the man's embrace and rests her head on his shoulder.
"I know you care for him… And in his own way, I get the sense he… cared for you as well," the bitter Awoken says with a little difficulty. "But you must know, Lightbearers are not like us… With the kind of power they possess, it is impossible to coexist harmoniously with normal people like you or I."
Marin says nothing. She turns her eyes from the window and looks at the old hand canon, proudly on display in her room. Not much later, she closes her eyes and turns her head into the man's shoulder.
Both sit there wordlessly for a time.
"I believe it's time to change your bandages, young one," Eyran points out in an attempt to change the subject.
The woman says nothing. She breathes quietly and rubs a hand across her eye.
"I understand you are hurt, Marin. I know that you know the mind requires healing just as the body does. So how about after we change your bandages, the two of us have a picnic nearby? It would be a good way to enjoy the day," the fatherly man suggests.
"…Yeah, that sounds-" the disheartened huntress stops herself upon hearing the familiar creak of the hall's main door opening quickly.
Muffled through the bedroom's closed door, a voice can be heard as someone enters the building. "Eyran!? Eyran, are you here!?"
Marin's eyes shoot open and she sits up swiftly when she recognizes the voice.
Eyran stands from the bed and runs a hand slowly over his hair. "Let me see what they want. I'll just be a moment-" The Awoken is interrupted as the bedroom door flies open in front of him.
Klutz stands at the threshold with adrenaline pumping through his veins. "There you are!" He says relieved.
Marin stands up and looks at the Guardian with a strange smile. She soon notices the distressed state of his outfit. His robes are singed and burned on parts and ripped and torn on others. "What happened to you?" she asks broadly with a raised eyebrow.
"Don't really have time to explain. We have to get going!" the disturbed Lightbearer replies.
"What do you mean 'get going?' Is there something wrong?" Eyran asks, understandably confused, and somewhat annoyed, by the situation.
"Yes," Klutz answers, while catching his breath. "We can talk as we go, but I need you to gather everyone. There is an emergency and we'll only have a chance to be safe in The City."
"Absolutely not!" the Awoken barks at the suggestion. "'Emergency?' What kind of emergency would put us all at risk? Even you? With your abilities?"
"The Fallen are advancing on us. I saw a few Skiffs not far away when I landed. If we don't start moving… it won't be good…" the Guardian explains, seemingly losing hope with every word.
"A Fallen raid?" Marin asks with surprising poise.
"More than just a raid," Klutz clarifies. "Seems like an all out attack on Humanity… They're coming for The Traveler."
"W-wait, wait a minute," Eyran stammers. "I need to think." He wipes his hand over his face. "Maybe the fiends will be so focused on your Traveler that they will pass right by us? Maybe it's best if we try to hold out here?" he proposes in a panicked voice.
Klutz looks at the frightened man. "That's not a risk we can afford to take. Our people's lives are on the line."
Eyran looks at him wide-eyed and then looks at the injured young woman to his side. "…You're right," he says. "Marin, grab anything you will need and meet us outside Darja's home. It will be a long walk to get all of us to… The City, so prepare accordingly. The Guardian and I will gather everyone and meet you there." He gives the woman a firm hug. "Good luck, my child." He rushes out the door.
"Started to think you weren't coming back," Marin says in a low voice.
"Told you I'd stop by, didn't I?" A pleasant smirk crosses the Guardian's face.
A palpable tension fills the room for a time. A warm, almost physical tension. Like a volcano about to erupt. Marin lets the magma flow as she lunges at the man, pulling him into a deep, tight embrace.
Klutz raises his arms in surprise, then he rests one around her shoulder and the other around the small of her back.
They stay that way for a few seconds. Enjoying the fact that they have each other to hold, even just for a short time.
"Sorry to interrupt," Spark apologizes awkwardly as she appears next to the pair. "I'm happy to see you as well, Marin! Although we don't really have time for pleasantries…"
"Right…" Marin releases the man and adjusts her messy hair. She gives the Ghost a guilty half smile. Then she turns back to the Guardian. "You gotta help Eyran gather folks. I just have to grab a few things real quick and I'll join you."
"Alright… No risks, okay? I don't want to see you get hurt again," Klutz says with a troubled look on his face.
"Eh, playing it fast and loose has got me this far," Marin jokes while she holds a hand near her sore wound. "Let's just try and make sure no one else gets hurt, huh?"
Klutz's smile is outweighed by the worry in his eyes. He nods to his Ghost before she dematerializes and he makes his way to the front door.
Imminent Storm.
Klutz can hear voices outside as he pulls open the creaky door. He joins Eyran out front as he addresses a large group of villagers.
"This means our best option for a chance at safety is to join the Guardian and seek refuge behind the walls of The Last City." Eyran struggles to get the words out but he stays composed in front of the congregation.
All manner of questions and concerns are quickly voiced by the unsettled crowd.
"We must abandon our homes!?" an elderly woman shouts.
"Are you sure those things are coming here? What do they want from us?" asks a younger woman with a baby swaddled around her front.
"We should stay and fight the beasts! We need to defend our home!" Shouts a headstrong young man.
"You can't trust The City!" cries an old man near the front of the group.
Eyran tries to address their concerns calmly but the gathering soon spirals into shouts of anger and confusion. Realizing he is losing the attention of his people, Eyran raises his hand to draw attention and raises his voice even higher. "Listen! Listen to me!"
Most of the arguing stops. Many are surprised to see their elder yell.
"We truly do not have a choice… I too would rather stay and face the devils… but if we went down that route, I fear few of us would survive. I know many of you do not trust The Guardian. I have my own reservations… But without this Lightborn we may have no chance…"
The group is mostly quiet. Only the sound of nervousness whispers passed around.
"Where is Marin? She will protect us, won't she?" Shahid, the young huntsman asks. He looks at the elder and then to the Guardian.
Klutz moves to answer but Eyran speaks first.
"Marin is still healing, but we will look out for her just as we will look out for your father," the village's sole awoken explains.
"She has killed Fallen before!" a middle aged woman points out. "I heard she has killed dozens of them!"
"Remember when she scared off those poachers from hunting on our land a few summers ago?" another woman asks excitedly.
"She spent time with that rough group, years ago. I heard they hunted packs of Fallen for months!"
"Marin must know how to keep us safe! She has always been the one to look out for us, long before this Guardian showed up!"
Disorder breaks out among the people again. The shaky, wishful belief that the village's wounded protector will save them from whatever comes next, speads amongst them.
Eyran desperately attempts to calm the group down. His pleas and explanations are largely ignored as some of the villagers announce their intentions to return to their homes and prepare to defend themselves from the coming storm.
Klutz feels his heart rate skyrocket. He knows the village has no shot at survival if The Fallen send even a small organized force. He knows that even if Marin were in better shape the best chance they would have would be behind The City's walls. He knows they are losing time.
He doesn't know how right he is.
A terrible red glow tears across the sunny sky in the distance. It stretches and warblers out a loud hum that does not fail to catch anyone's attention. Long waves of pulsing purple light scream out of the hole in the sky, forming into a vague shape of a flaming hourglass. Suddenly, all the light collapses in on itself and blasts out a massive pressure wave in all directions. The wave is strong enough to rattle the buildings of the village with a violent tremor. Most of the villagers need to find their footing as they look up in horror at what comes next. An enormous Fallen ship races out from the sky bound anomaly. The Fallen Ketch blocks the sun as it speeds across the sky, casting a huge shadow over the small village. It is flanked by dozens of Skiffs, armed for battle.
"What the hell is happening!?" Marin asks as she swings the door open.
The woman arrives just in time to witness two other tears rip the sky open further away. Their bright glow falling in on themselves in much the same way to reveal another pair of Ketchs and the smaller ships escorting them.
"Holy shit," she says softly as she watches the alien spacecraft fly above.
Most of the villagers are too stunned to panic. A child cries as she runs to grab her fathers leg. One man begins screaming, a mostly incomprehensible mess of words related to his doubts about anyone's survival.
"We're too late…" Klutz says, almost at a loss for words.
Eyran looks at the Guardian, shocked. "If we start moving now, will we have a chance?!" He darts his vision toward Marin.
"The hike will take over an hour… even if we rush," Marin answers, somberly and sits down on the old wooden steps. She sets down a small leather bag she had slung over her shoulder and holds her cane over her lap.
"No, no! This can't be!" Eyran exclames in frustration. "Guardian, please, there must be something you can do!"
Klutz spots a number of distant Skiffs dip down from the sky and move in the direction of the village. He sees the people around him choked by fear and despair. He does not know how to help them. He then feels a strange heat near his hip. He looks down for a moment to see what is causing the strange heat. A split second of confusion passes over him before he realizes it is a message from Spark. He quickly paws at the pouch on his waist and his eyes light up. "The Armory!" he shouts.
"What armory?" the Awoken asks. "If we had a real armory we would be much better prepared for whatever peril will befall us now."
"In the cellar! I can get us through the door!"
Marin looks up in surprise.
Eyran raises an eyebrow. "How do you know about this door?" He waves his hand and shakes off his annoyance. "Ahh, no matter. Do you believe we will be safe there? Is there space for us all?"
"I entered a similar door a while back. Behind it was a large, secure facility that will be a hell of a lot safer than out here!"
"I see! Help me gather our people and we will put this safe haven to the test," Eyran says with a new found hope. "If what you say is true, we may yet live to see tomorrow!"
The villagers are panicked and spread apart. Some have left to spend what they believe to be their final moment with loved ones and others are still crippled by fear. A handful of brave folks have grabbed weapons and hunting equipment, ready to fight for their home.
Marin stands, with the help of her cane, and slings her bag back over her shoulder. "Hey! Everyone!" Virtually everyone within earshot turns to listen when they hear the woman's voice bellow. "The Guardian is gonna keep us safe! But I need y'all to gather anyone who ain't already here and bring them down to the cellar in the community hall!" Her voice carries far across the troubled village. "We'll hold out underground as long as we can while The City kicks the bugs back across the system!"
Faces in the crowd begin to fill with hope.
"Y'all know I'd rather fight the bastards as well. It'd be good to spill some of their blood for a change!" Her words are met with a few hoots and encouraging shouts. "But the truth is, they've got the numbers… so the best we can do is wait 'em out for now… Though you can be sure that when they're running scared from whatever beat down The City's got waiting for them, we'll kick 'em in the ass on the way out!"
The crowd ignites into cheers and quickly mobilizes to gather anyone that is absent.
"I've often said you have the spirit for leadership, my dear girl," Eyran says proudly.
"Yeah, yeah," she says with a hint of embarrassment. She faces Klutz with a serious look in her eyes and says, "You go make sure everybody gets over here quck. I'll lead them down to the cellar and try to keep things calm. Once we've got everyone, you pop that door open and we'll all try and take cover inside." She takes a deep breath and appears optimistic. "If all goes well we all might just make it through this."
Reckless Endangerment.
The hot sun beats down as Klutz escorts the last group of worried villagers. One holdout took some convincing to follow along, but eventually he listened to reason and joined his peers to seek shelter. They pass by a small house near the center of town and face the large building the others have gathered at.
Eyran stands at the entrance, reassuring his distressed people that things will be alright and counting heads to make sure no one is left behind.
As the group quickly walks toward the main hall, Klutz notices the Fallen Ketchs parked near The City's walls above the horizon. He wonders if they are testing The Vanguard's defenses before they plunge into the assault. While he looks into the distance, a noise catches his attention from behind. He turns around to see a Skiff flying fast and low toward the village. "Everyone hurry!" he yells.
Some of the villagers look to see what the cause for concern is. Others pick up the pace without investigating, trusting that the Guardian's warning is evidence enough of the danger.
The Skiff arrives quickly and readies its weapons on the fleeing villagers. Its first shoots are impatient and inaccurate. Missing the mark wide as the people hurry inside.
One of the villagers, a woman with a small child held tightly in her arms, trips over her own panicked feet, and crashes into the ground as the large plasma cannons blast holes around her. The child rolls across the dirt path, screaming and crying as its mother struggles to get back to her feet.
"No!" Klutz cries and draws his weapon with lightning speed. He fires off a flurry of bullets at the hovering ship. The shots are almost totally ineffective against the large vehicle but Klutz hopes they are at least distracting. His gamble pays off as he watches the cannons turn to change targets. He cants his head to check on the young family.
The woman picks up her child with maternal determination and rushes to meet Eyran at the front door.
The Awoken guides her through the door with a comforting touch on her shoulder. With everyone accounted for he looks out toward the Skiff and shouts, "Look out, Guardian!"
Klutz sees the Skiff's guns charge bright with blue energy. He hears the swelling sound of power about to peak. He dives to the side in an inhuman display of agility, narrowly avoiding the impact of the gun's blast. He charges up a power of his own in his off hand. A chaotic collection of swelling wisps of Void Light. The Guardian throws the Light, hard and fast. The wisps split apart, multiple small seekers headed toward their target with destructive intent. When they collide with the Skiff's cannons they warp and eat through the metal before exploding in a dazzling display of purple fireworks.
"Good work, Guardian! The Skiff's cannons are no longer functional," Spark says in his helmet.
With its weapons disabled, the Skiff flies lower and extends a number of slender spring boards from its underside. A squad of armed Fallen descend from the ship and perch themselves on the boards. Their Arc weapons and matching red armor show they are prepared for battle. Before they leap toward the ground, one of the creatures falls forward dramatically. Its head explodes into a cloud of Ether when the Guardian's shot hits its target. The other Fallen jump quickly and face off with the Lightbearer while their ship retreats.
Outnumbered by the small squad of attackers, Klutz rolls behind a modest wooden home and reloads his weapon. One of the aliens ducks down and charges his position, armed with a pair of Shock Blades. Another leaps on top of the building to flank his cover. When the sword wielding Fallen lunges with its blade, Klutz catches it by its outstretched wrist and delivers a devastating kick to its body. The creature drops its swords and collapses to the ground, gasping for breath. Klutz takes the opportunity to finish off the foe with a meaty stomp to the back of its head. Ether sprays out wide as the body goes limp. Immediately after, Klutz feels a pain in his back and has the wind knocked out of him by the powerful shot of a Wire Rifle, aimed from the roof of the building he is hiding behind. The shot knocks him back out of cover and he is quickly hit with another Wire Rifle shot from a sniper in front of the main hall. The sniper hits him square in the shoulder and sends him on his back. He hears the roof bound shooter charge up another shot and quickly readies his own rifle. With only a fraction of a second to spare, Klutz shoots first. Two shots land in the center of the Vandals chest and a third rips through its neck, sending it tumbling off the roof.
"The sniper, Klutz!" Spark warns.
Pushing himself to his limit, Klutz leaps from the earth with a burst of Light. Barely avoiding a headshot and landing on the roof of the nearby building. He charges forward in a full sprint across the roof to meet his opponent. Panting breaths and the taste of blood with every step. When he reaches the end of the roof he pounces forward and dropkicks the sniper in the head and upper chest. Both opponents hit the ground hard, but the sniper loses hold of its weapon upon impact. The Vandal shakes off its injuries with admirable focus and reaches for its sidearm. In a quick draw it is able to land a pair of shots dead on the center of the Guardian's dark helmet. Klutz recoils from the hits and replies with a palm strike of powerful Light. The strike cripples the Vandal's firing hand and knocks the gun away. Klutz gets up with some difficulty and points his rifle at the marksman. The crippled creature stares at the Guardian with hateful eyes and lets out a defiant cry. Klutz finds himself once again as the unhappy triggerman in a battlefield execution. He hears the sound of someone moving behind the building's old door. He pulls the trigger.
Spark appears and scans over the man as he breathes heavily. "Heads up, Klutz. I noted at least one more hostile drop down from that Skiff." She begins to heal his wounds while staying observant and cautious. "I don't know if it ran off or is hiding from my scanner. Whatever the case, it may show up at any time, so stay alert."
Just as the words leave the Spark's vocal synthesizer, Marin steps through the creaky door.
The Guardian and the Ghost both turn to look at her with deep concern.
"Get back inside, Marin! It's not safe yet!" the man warns with fear in his voice. As if on cue, Klutz hears the bone chilling sound of footsteps making quick strides and a Shock Blade powering on. He spins around to meet the hooded Marauder as it appears out of cloaking to strike. He hits a swinging blade away with the end of his gun but the second sword lunges up from one of its other hands and slides under his ribs. A wet cough and a spittle of blood are all that escape his mouth as his vision begins to fade. Everything goes numb and quiet as he slips away. An ear ringing bang is the last thing he knows before it all turns to black.
Last Hope.
He feels at peace when his senses start to return. He feels the gentle pressure of a hand on his arm and the far less comforting feeling of wet blood pooled in his helmet. He rises quickly, pulls off the headwear, and drinks in the air deeply. A quick hiss ekes out as the helmet is removed, blood drips from the bottom. He wipes his face clean and feels the comforting hand move from his arm to support his back. He parts his eyes finally and sees his Ghost floating above, remnants of blue light escape her as her shell closes. Then he looks to his right and sees the woman at his side. She is knelt carefully and cradles his back with her left hand, in her other hand she holds a large worn hand cannon, a small wisp of smoke leaves the barrel. He sees her strange expression. A blend of horror and relief. In front of him lies the Marauder. It's head has been blown off almost entirely, leaving its tattered hood to wave in the cool breeze. A bloodied sword rests in its dead grasp.
"Welcome back, Guardian!" Spark says enthusiastically.
"Thank you, Spark." he replies, getting his bearings and finding his feet. "And thank you too, Marin." He looks at the body of the Fallen and then at the woman holding the revolver. "Are you okay?"
Marin reflects the question. "Am I okay!? I watched that thing kill you! It skewed you and I popped it in the head as fast as I could but…" She swings out the weapons chamber and lets the sole bullet casing drop into her hand. It burns slightly at the touch but she looks at it in her palm with an almost remorseful expression before she hides it in her pocket. She then places the gun back in her small leather bag and looks at the Guardian with troubled eyes.
"It's alright, Rin. I've got Spark with me for more than just good company," Klutz says with a comforting smirk.
"Yes, I'm also an excellent cook and I have a great singing voice!" Spark boasts playfully.
"Is everyone inside?" the Guardian asks.
Marin shakes off the shock and stands up from the ground. "Yeah, we've got everyone inside. You sure you can get that thing open this time?"
"One way to find out, I guess."
When the old door creaks closed behind them, Klutz sees a number of men and women readying arrows and old firearms under the old hanging rugs around the hall. The bulk of the villagers have crowded the cellar down the stairs, but a few brave souls stand ready above ground to defend their community.
Eyran walks up the cellar stairs and passes through the door into the main hall. "Marin! The Guardian is with you?" He rushes over to guide them down to the packed cellar. "I was beginning to worry. We have everyone here but there is barely room to breathe down below. We must get into that 'armory' if we wish to survive another attack."
When they reach the floor of the cellar, Eyran joins the crowd and speaks in encouragements and reassurances. Klutz makes his way through fearful families and frail old folks, packed shoulder to shoulder in the small space. He approaches the door with Marin close by and stares up at the taunting red light. All manner of doubts and bad thoughts race through his mind. What if this Armory is much different than the one in Old Chicago and has no room for all these people? Could The Fallen break in? What if The Spider simply burned him and the badge fails to open the door. He collects himself and remembers he can not live his life based only on 'could's' and 'if's.' He takes one more deep breath and holds the badge up to the light. He hopes and begs with every fiber of his being that something will go right for once. A few deathly silent and agonizing seconds go by as he waits for his answer. Then suddenly, the dark cellar is lit with a bright green light.
Marin beams and squeezes the Guardians hand. For a moment she does not feel the dull ache in her side. She only feels brilliant relief and hopeful excitement.
The villagers work quickly to move food and supplies into the expansive space. They rest crates on clean work tables and gawk around in awe of the brightly lit facility. Beautifully crafted weapons, in various states of assembly, line the walls in sealed displays. Powered terminals light up at desks, as if to welcome the new visitors. There is plenty of room and utilities to house the entire village for a short time, even the ones prepared to fight upstairs.
With the door sealed and the last of the villagers inside, Eyran finds the Guardian alone in a small corridor, away from the noise and commotion. He stops for a moment before entering the Guardian's view and thinks. He closes his tired eyes heavily for a short time before approaching the Lightbearer. "Guardian," he says as a greeting.
Klutz turns his head toward the Awoken.
"I know we have had our… differences. And I know I have been quite the unwelcoming host toward you during your time in our little corner of the world." Eyran speaks thoughtfully, his voice waivers a little. "It is difficult for me to say this but I feel it is the right thing to do. I apologize for my behavior."
Klutz is at a loss for words. His only reply is his stunned expression.
"I don't know if I will ever be able to truly trust your kind, but I do know that I am grateful for what you have done for us today."
"I… really appreciate that, Eyran. I know we both just want what's best for people," Klutz says after a moment of slight disbelief.
Eyran nods silently. "Whatever happens next, I know now that the universe has an ironic sense of humor. I've spent most of my life with hate in my heart for Lightbearers. Now I count one amongst my people." He smiles warmly.
Klutz smiles back with pride.
"I know Marin was looking for you only moments ago. I'll let her know where to find you when I next see her." The elder nods once again and returns to the other room.
Thinking on the warm yet conflicted feeling in his chest, Klutz eyes over the Golden Age bunker he has sought refuge within. The rooms and equipment bear a strong resemblance to the weapons lab he uncovered in that nightmarish tunnel in Old Chicago. This facility uses the same ingenious Golden Age engineering in most every inch of its space. Although there are differences in its layout, its purpose seems similar, if the multitude of advanced weaponry is anything to go off of. Klutz looks over the thick walls made of a strange dark aloy and up at the low ceiling, hidden beneath the old village. "What do you think our chances are down here?" he asks.
Spark phases into form and answers, "Much better than out there."
Klutz gives her a less than amused expression.
"This place seems very tough. I suppose it would need to be to survive all this time," she says, somehow shadowed with a strange doubt. "My fear is the door…"
"Think they could blow it open?"
"If The Fallen are determined enough, I bet they could bomb this place out of existence," Spark says morbidly.
Klutz grimaces at the thought.
"Although, I'm sure they are saving most of their munitions for The City's defenses…"
"The City has got to have them beat, right?"
"Personally, I would never bet against Guardians. But we have never faced a threat as large as this… I imagine it will be a bloody battle on multiple fronts…" Spark's shell hangs low and somber.
Klutz reaches out his hand to comfort his troubled Ghost. "I'm sure it will be tough, but I believe in them. I believe in us."
Spark perks up a little.
"You mentioned you were concerned about the door to this place? Anything we can do to make it more secure?"
The Ghost's shell shifts around. "If The Fallen try hard enough, they will get in. If it comes to that, you will need to go out there and stop them if we are going to keep these people safe."
Klutz nods with focus.
"However, I'm worried they may just drop some kind of small ordnance on us. Not enough to cave in this facility, but enough to collapse the buildings above." Spark tilts upward. "If the community hall fell into the cellar outside our door, escape would be very difficult. With your power, I'm sure you could get us unburied eventually but digging through about ten thousand pounds of debris with no tools would be long and tedious work, even with help. After the battle ends, we can hope The City sends someone to assist, but something about this place blocks our comm signal, so I don't know if they would even know we are here…"
"Yeah, that's not really my preferred scenario, if I'm being honest." Klutz chuckles lightly then sighs.
"Right now, our best option is to just wait it out and be prepared to fight if it comes to it. Speaking of being prepared, we should delve deeper into this place. We may find something special." Spark's eye lights up and her shell swirls around quickly.
"You think there may be another 'black hole gun' in this place?" A smile starts to cross the man's face.
"With luck, we may even find something better!"
"Better than a gun that shoots black holes?" a feminine voice asks doubtfully. "Guess I'll believe it when I see it." Marin walks toward Klutz with a little assistance from her cane.
"Hello, Marin!" Spark says happily. "Is this place as interesting as you hoped it would be?"
"Hi, little Ghost. This place is amazing. I had no idea it would be this big. Crazy to think it's been hidden under our feet all this time." She looks up for a few seconds. "So did I hear you guys are gonna find yourselves another super weapon?" Marin asks curiously.
"Hopefully. Need every advantage we can get against The Fallen," Klutz says as he stands from the wall to greet his friend.
"Planning on taking 'em head on?" the woman asks with a cocked eyebrow.
"Trust me. If we find one of these guns here, their heads won't be on for long," Klutz boasts in a half joke.
Marin giggles a little. "Because the gun is that good or because the guy shooting is?"
"A little bit of both. Mostly the undeniable skill of the devilishly handsome shooter." Klutz strikes a humorous pose.
"Alright," Marin laughs. "Whereabouts can we find this thing?"
Spark floats between her human companions. "In the facility in Old Chicago, I found the weapon contained in a secure box near the back of the lab. I think it may have been packaged for transportation at the time, but I suggest we check around the back of this place anyway… Or maybe…" Spark zooms past Marin's head, deep into the unexplored area of the armory.
Klutz and Marin share a look of confusion before following the strange little light.
Every Waking Moment.
"This is what I was looking for!" Spark announces as the others join her near the small firing range. She scans her light over a tall, high tech locker, built into the dark wall. "I noticed a compartment like this one when we visited the range in the other facility. Although when I inspected it I found no evidence of any contents." She turns to face the pair. "This one however, is giving off high signatures of Arc energy!"
"Arc? Not Void?" Klutz asks.
"Yes, Arc. I guess we won't find a black hole gun in here, but the jury is still out on finding something better!"
Klutz pulls out The Spider's badge and holds it up to the locker. It pops open with a squeak and a hiss as the door slides to the side. Lights turn on inside to illuminate the contents. In the center stands a compact and meticulously designed bow with wide metal limbs connected to curved devices that attach to the string wheel. The body is a light blue shade. A long spool of string hangs next to the bow. It appears to be made of some kind of insulated metal.
"A bow, huh?" Klutz says while admiring the wonder of engineering. "Right up your alley, Marin."
"Never seen a bow like this before…" Marin opens a compartment below the weapon. "Just look at these things!" She grabs hold of a strange arrow and shows it off. The arrow is wide, seemingly made of three combined shafts, each with their own sharp tip. "Three for the price of one?" she jokes. "You said this is an energy weapon?"
Spark begins scanning the weapon. "It's not an energy weapon in the strictest sense. It appears as if it amplifies its projectiles with Arc energy for added power!"
"Saying it'll shock whoever it sticks?" Marin asks as she thumbs over the arrow in her hand.
"With the kind of power this weapon is capable of, I think it will do a LOT more than just shock who it hits!"
Marin grabs the bow out from the locker and gets a feel for it. "I use a recurve for hunting but I had a compound bow sorta like this a few years back. Fancy piece of City gear that served me well for a good while." She grabs the string from the locker and begins fitting it to the bow. "I could nail a Dreg between the eyes at a hundred yards." She tightens the string and gives it a tug. "Ended up having to trade it for some supplies. Miss the sound it'd make when I let the string go…" She holds the bow up and admires it for a time. The corner of her lip curls up. She presents the bow to the Guardian.
Klutz is a little surprised by the offer. "Want me to take it?"
"No shit. If someone has to deal with the bugs, it's gonna be you. I ain't in any shape to fight… and you're the Guardian after all…" A subtle sadness follows her words.
Klutz takes the bow from her and flicks out the digital sights mounted on its side. "Thanks, Marin. Gotta be honest with you though, I don't really know how to shoot a bow."
The archer looks at him with a puzzled face. "Did your Ghost have to teach you how to shoot a gun when she found your dusty bones?"
"No, that just came to me naturally. It was like I already knew how to handle a gun somehow… This thing though, I'm clueless."
Marin purses her lips and then smiles. "Good thing we've got a range right here."
Klutz stands just as his instructor told him. He nocks the strange arrow and pulls back on the string. He feels her press up behind him and correct his form by straightening his elbow.
"That's right, bring it all the way to your chin. Now just look through the sight at what you wanna hit. When you're ready, I want you to relax your fingers and let the string just slip right out." Marin eyes the target down the range and makes a small adjustment to the Guardian's outstretched arm. She steps back and gives him a gentle pat on the ribs.
A breath escapes his lips and he lets the string escape just as smoothly. The arrow flies straight and true toward the target in the center of the range, but to everyone's surprise, it splits into three separate shafts mid-flight. The center arrow finds its target with decent accuracy but the other two hit wide on either side.
"Ain't that quirky!" Marin says through a laugh. "Not sure what the Golden Age eggheads were thinking when they came up with this one. I mean, what are the odds you'll find three targets just far enough apart for each of the arrows to hit?"
Klutz looks down range to inspect his shot. "Yeah, seems a little strange… I was pretty awesome though. Right on target, huh?"
"Yeah, yeah. You're a regular Artemis," she says with a sarcastic clap.
"A regular what?"
"Artemis. She was some ancient archery goddess I read about. Blessed hunters with good luck and provided her followers with bountiful harvests," she explains enthusiastically.
Klutz looks at her with a skeptical but amused face.
"I'm saying it was a good shot, you dolt." Marin shakes her head. "Hey, Ghost. You said this thing could charge the arrows with energy?"
"Oh yes!" Spark answers. "It needs to build up a charge first, but I believe Klutz could jump start it with a little Arc Light."
The Guardian looks at the Ghost with wide concerned eyes.
Marin notices his troubled expression. "Something wrong?"
Spark sinks down a little and looks at the man apologetically. "Oh, sorry. I forgot you have been struggling with Arc."
Klutz sighs. "Just need practice is all… You've seen what I can do with Solar Light now."
"Yes! It's very impressive! You don't need to put much Arc energy into this weapon. Just a little jolt and it should handle the rest." Spark nods supportively. "I know you can do that!"
Marin looks on with curiosity.
"Alright…" Klutz holds the bow up with one hand and directs the fingers on his other into a pointed, open grasp. He focuses and breathes rhythmically. Tiny arcs of plasma jump between his fingertips and grow in regularity. Soon the arcs are connecting and crackling with noise. Hopeful he has built up enough of a charge, Klutz flexes his fingers and directs the electricity into the weapon.
The limbs of the bow feast on the power and begin to vibrate and sputter energy throughout the intricate components.
"Heh, kinda tickles," Klutz says as he watches the bow surge with life.
Marin eyes the weapon and the man holding it with amazement. "I love this stuff. Even little miracles like this just blow me away…"
"Hold on, Rin. We haven't even seen what this thing can do yet." Klutz grabs another arrow.
"Not talking about the bow, dummy! You just made lightning shoot from your fingers! That's crazy! I've seen you use some of that space-magic before, but somehow it's still amazing to me." Marin stares at the Guardian with wishful eyes.
"The effect ain't lost on me either. I'm still learning what this gift means… What it means to be a Guardian."
The room grows quite for a time before Marin gets them back on track. "Better test this thing out before we all die of old age… Or, well… Guess that doesn't really apply to y'all."
Klutz aims down range, just as before, and pulls the sparking string back far. He feels Marin move close to correct his position, but she moves away after a quick look. He breathes in sharply and lets the arrows loose with his exhale. The trio of arrows fly down the range, licking the walls with arcs of power. When they land on target, they link together with great bright bolts of lightning, exploding in a burst of incredible Arc energy. The lightning crawls across the walls for a brief moment before dying out.
"Holy shit!" Marin exclaims. "That was nuts!"
Spark stretches her shell wide and bops about with glee. "My energy readings on that are unbelievable! Close to a billion volts in one shot! This thing is VERY dangerous!"
Klutz looks at the discharged bow with amazement. "Wasn't expecting that." He turns to the woman and holds out the bow. "Want to try it out? I can charge it back up." He notices a strange, warm look in her eyes.
Marin rushes him but ignores the bow. Instead she holds him in an excited hug and plants a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Wasn't expecting this either." He places the bow on the counter and reciprocates the embrace.
Spark observes them for a moment and slowly tilts to the side before dematerializing.
They embrace for a few peaceful heartbeats before Marin lets out a muffled, pained grunt.
Klutz backs away and sees her move a hand down to her sutured side. "I'm sorry…" He helps her down as she sits on the floor with her back against the wall.
"Eh, don't be sorry. My fault I ended up this way…" She closes her eyes.
"That's not true. I should have protected you. I should have kept you safe…"
Marin opens her eyes and looks at the man's guilt ridden face. "See, that's the problem. I think the same way."
Klutz raises an eyebrow.
"I've always been so focused on looking out for folks, trying to keep them safe and fed. Always worried about myself last."
"Just means your heart is in the right place."
"I don't have a Ghost like you. I don't have The Light. One bad mistake and it won't matter what place my heart's in…" She pulls the bullet casing from her pocket and rolls it around her fingers. "What's it like to die?"
The man's mouth drops open at the question.
"I saw you fade away out there… I've seen people die before but I've never seen anyone come back. I know that wasn't the first time you passed on. You have to die to become a Lightbearer. So what's it like?"
"I, uh… I don't remember the first time." Klutz looks away from the woman. "It must have happened a long time ago because when Spark found me, I was just a pile of bones in some ruined clothes…"
"But you remember the times after that? Does it scare you?"
"I fell soon after I rose. I was scared when it was happening but when it all started to go dark… it was comforting. It was cold and dark but comforting. Like finally going to sleep after a long day."
Marin holds the casing tightly.
"But that was only the first time. Hasn't been nearly as comforting since."
"Because you know Spark will bring you back."
"That's part of it." He turns back to look at the woman. "Mostly it's because I know I've still got something to live for."
Marin looks touched but her expression shifts and her eyes go a little glassy. "…When I was a girl, I watched my mother die…"
Klutz is shaken by the words but not surprised.
"I was maybe eight or nine, honestly I couldn't tell you how old I am now. My mother took me with her on a caravan of pilgrims and refugees headed to The Last City. Never knew dad, mom told me he was a fisherman that died at sea. She wanted to give me a better chance. We traveled for days and days. I remember being hungry all the time. The group had stopped to rest a few hours before sundown, so I took the opportunity to explore. Mom told me not to stray too far, but I've always been a bad listener." Marin rubs her hand above her injury. "I was playing in the woods nearby when I heard the commotion… The Fallen dropped in on us fast. I ran back to look for her but I stopped scared when I saw them. They were just killing everyone. Didn't matter if they were young or old. Didn't matter if they were fleeing or fighting. It was all the same to those sons of bitches. I was so scared that my legs turned to mush. Then I saw her. She was screaming my name and running toward me with her splintered bow in one hand. I yelled back but she didn't hear me. One of the big ones chased her down and pushed her into the dirt. She swung at it with the bow and it snapped in half against its leg. Then the bastard laughed. It laughed as it ripped out her arms and squished her under its foot. I was so scared… then I was angry." She drys one of her eyes with a white knuckle.
"I'm so sorry, Marin. I… I can't imagine…" Klutz sees the pain she is reliving. "How did you get away?"
"Didn't try to get away. Not at first." The woman explains. "I charged at that monster as if all fifty pounds of me was gonna barrel right over a Fallen Captain. Then someone grabbed me. Someone I'd never seen before. He was a tall man wearing a long brown cloak. He grabbed my arm tight with his cold glove and pulled me away. He crouched down, looked at me, and told me to stay put. I saw my angry face reflected in his visor and tried to fight him off. He pushed me on my ass like I was made of paper. When I sat up I saw him work. He rolled toward the Captain and flung a knife at it so fast I could barely see it! He drew his revolver and fanned off a bunch of shots right into its gut. The Captain fell forward and he pulled the knife out of its skull before it hit the dirt. I was stunned. I'd never seen someone move so fast." A dull smile crosses her face but does not last long. "I saw him look at what was left of mom and then back at me. He picked up her broken bow and crouched down to meet me again. I'll never forget what he said to me. 'Your mama did her best to look after you.' He gave me her bow. Then he said, 'Now you gotta look after yourself,' and handed me his revolver." Marin grabs the old hand cannon from her bag and holds it up. "I asked him why he was helping me and how he was going to fight without his gun? Then a big group of Dregs swooped in and started blasting. He held me close and put himself in the way of the shots. I thought he would drop after taking so many hits. Instead he spun around and threw out two hands full of burning knives that blew The Fallen to bits. He stood tall with fire glowing all through him and said one last thing to me, 'When you grow strong like me, you look out for folk that can't look out for themselves.' A whole lotta Fallen started to swarm and he shouted for me to leave, so I ran back into the woods."
"The man was a Guardian?" Klutz asks.
"He was definitely my guardian at the time. I'd never seen a Lightbearer before. Think I'd heard stories but seeing him in action was something else…" Marin eyes over the hand cannon and speaks with pain in her voice. "I ran until my legs were weak. Then I limped." She holds the gun up by the butt. "I held the broken limbs of mom's bow close to my chest and practically dragged the revolver. It felt so heavy. Eventually the sun started to set and I couldn't hear any more fighting, so I settled down on an old log… and I cried." A tear drops down her cheek before she wipes it away. "I cried for a good while until I saw something in the darkness. Something headed towards me. Something with a glow in its eyes. I dropped the broken bow and pointed this big ol' gun with all my strength. It stepped closer so I closed my eyes and pulled the trigger. Thing kicked so hard I fell flat on my ass. Didn't hit anywhere near my target. Although that's a good thing, because after I tried to put a hole in him, he called out and made it clear he wasn't gonna hurt me. I sat up and got a better look at him. He was a normal looking man, aside from the blue skin and soft amber glow in his eyes… He introduced himself, 'Hello, young one. My name is Eyran. Are you lost?' All calm and understanding . As if I didn't just try and put a bullet in him."
"I'm guessing he took you back here to the village?" Klutz shows a wholesome expression.
"Yeah, he brought me back, fed me, and cleaned me up. Eyran has looked out for me for years. Always treated me like I was his own." Marin lets out a laugh. "Didn't stop us from butting heads though. I was always so angry growing up. I wanted to be more than I was. No matter how much I practiced, or pushed myself, I was still too slow, too weak." She looks down at the stitches in her side. "Too powerless." She shakes her head subtly. "I've been pretty jealous of you since the day we met... I always wanted to be a Guardian."
Once again, Klutz is caught off guard. "You don't need The Light to help people. I've seen you do so much for this village, Rin. Seen you provide for them, keep them safe. You've done much more for people than I have."
"Never felt like enough," she says and hangs her head for a moment. "I was really on the edge when I was just becoming a woman. Had all this doubt and pain in me. Eventually I ran off with this militia group that hunted down small packs of Fallen. I even killed a Captain all on my own. Did that for a few months but I still felt like I wasn't good enough. Eventually I spent some time in The City, learned more about Guardians. Learned how they did the things they did… and where they came from. I wanted to be like them so bad. I wanted to be strong, wanted to look out for people that couldn't look out for themselves. One night I decided it was time. I knew how people became Guardians and I thought I'd take the chance. I had so much hurt in me that it felt like I had no other option." She squeezes the gun tightly. "I put the barrel in my mouth and closed my eyes."
The man scoots closer and puts his arm over the woman's shoulders.
Marin leans into the man. "I was at my lowest then, but I didn't go through with it. I'm not in that low place so much these days, but the thought is always at the back of my mind though. This itch, calling me to the void. This chance that I could leave my pain behind and come back as something more. I know it's dumb. I've seen a lot of folks die before, but none of them ever got picked by a Ghost. I ended up coming home and saw that I broke poor Eyran's heart. He must have thought I died the day I left. He hugged me so tight I thought he'd never let go. Been trying to look out for everyone here ever since, help them as best I can. But I always made sure to save one last round for this thing." She holds the casing up to the light. "Somehow it settled my mind, knowing I had the option." She tosses the empty casing over the counter and into the range. Then she takes a long look at the empty gun in her hand before she puts it away.
"You're strong, Rin." He twists his body to look her in her teary eyes. "I look up to you and sometimes, I feel like you do. Like I'm not enough. Things often get overwhelming and I don't know what to do. Spark keeps me steady, but when I'm really lost… I think of you."
She smiles with a genuine warmth and holds on to the man's hand.
"You keep me going, give me purpose. You set an example that I want to meet." He moves closer. "My life's been short so far, but I know it could be long… Very long. I don't know what will happen to me in all that time… but I'm happy I'm spending right now with you."
Marin stares at the man's face, mear inches from her own. She sees the longing in his eyes, feels the warmth of his breath. Her eyes return a similar longing. She feels heard, understood. She feels like, for once, she is enough. She closes the gap and their lips meet. The couple share more than just passion or need in their embrace.
They share trust. They share acceptance.