Crow squinted into the dark maw of the cave, scrutinizing the silhouettes within so he can spot the captain of this Eliksni band. They all seem similarly sized - unlike a more normal crew. The strangest part was the lack of docked arms: each shadow had either their full lower arm or were along the way to regrowing those limbs. Hopefully meeting the Thriceborn could explain this structure, more Eliksni following the traditional ways of life is great news for the late city.
"I'm not here as a foe, I'd like to speak face to face." He leaned onto his holster, showing he did not plan to shoot first.
"Your companion sitting half an atmosphere up suggests otherwise. How can I trust that they will not harm my people even if you two choose to slay me?" The shadow shifts into a crouch and gestures its band further into the cave.
"My 'guardian angel' has held her blade before, and-" At my mental cue Glint reveals himself to the world, "I will have my heart open to the world so you can end me as well."
"Are you sure about this? I'm not a big fan of being a hostage!" The usually upbeat construct sounded ready to beat me to death with his shell alone.
"I suppose I must return the favor; thank you for understanding my worry." A fifth eye, similar to a segmented iris, appears and bobs along as the figure steps into the light.
-scene change-
Atalanta stares into the small view screen and attempts to understand what she is seeing leave the cavern. A shining leg steps out onto the sea rock followed by a gleaming chest and head of white and blue. The Eliksni was fully machine and reminded Atalanta of Atraks-1 from the raid upon the Deep Stone Crypt. Four digital eyes stared at Crow as her grip tightened on the eject lever.
"Ata, look next to it." Hippomenes, her ghost, finally spoke and drew her attention to the small orb flying next to the Exo, a ghost-sized orb danced around its head. She zooms the scouting camera even more and notices it has a similar pupil and design to a standard ghost. What could have led to this impossible creature?
With a frustrated sigh at every prediction and battle plan she had been made useless, she unlocks the ship's ejection lever. " I need answers, now."
The titan falls with the grace of a diver as she prepares to have words with this impossible stranger.
-scene change-
I watched the eyes of the Awoken widen as the sun hit me, warmth flowing across my steel and denying the secrecy I cherished. "I am Coeniks-1, light-bearer of the Great Machine, and the only Exo of my kind I have ever heard of."
With a slight jump, the Awoken snapped out of his stupor, "I am Crow, Guardian of the Last City and previous servant under the Spider; it is a pleasure to meet you Coeniks-kel."
A sharp bark of laughter caused deep cobalt to flash from the depths of my throat. "I am as much a Kell as you, I simply seek to learn from and protect those who sheltered me here, a guardian of what I can"
"The world is constantly changing, You may not have to stand alone as a guardian for long. I'd like you to meet my mentor once she finishes landing - we may be able to provide your people with safe quarter." With a lean backward, the Crow turns his head skyward to watch the white figure drop.
The figure hits the shallow ocean bed with the rigidity of a statue before rising and removing its helm; a mop of unkempt blonde contrasting starkly with the polished armor. "I am Atalanta, one of the breakers of the Deep Stone Crypt, I personally shut down the operations of House Salvation at the site and slew Taniks for my third time. How the hell do you exist?"
"Do you have the memories of your first birth? I do not remember more than sing-song scraps of my life before the little great machine, and all I have left of that life is a weapon of human craftsmanship."
Apollo retrieves the only clue to my past life, a bullpup rifle with two barrels appears within my upper arms' embrace. The icey white metal sharply contrasting with the matte white and black trigger and main body. "It fires both a tracking round and seeking rounds, the only writing on the rifle is 'Clovis: Europa Division' and what I presumed was my name, seeing how I died holding it."
The human, Atalanta, holds her hands out and a rifle of similar design appears within them. "These were found during the raid upon the Deep Stone Crypt, that rifle there must be newer than our assault. Ikora is going to be very intrigued by yo-"
"And Zavala is going to send me to an asteroid for finding him. I need you to help explain this to them. They already must be mad you ran to meet me." The Crow cut into her thought process, annoyed at how long this is taking. He turns back to look at me. "The Last Cities comms are filled with the buzz of a new Eliksni district and laws surrounding it; we can get your crew safe passage and a home if they agree to join house light."
"They already worship the great machine feverishly due to my existence, and the weight of protecting them all alone is...straining. I shall discuss it with them and prepare our two skiffs, but I will need you two to fly us in. Give me an hour and I can give you a full headcount on the numbers who will be taking this pilgrimage." I extend an arm to the Crow and he takes hold in a gesture of mutual respect and trust. "If this opportunity is as safe for them as you suggest, I will do whatever it takes so they may sleep in the great machine's shadow."
I turn to the warrior studying me like a hatchling learning to wire skiffs. "I understand that this situation will be complex, but know I seek to fight for the Great Machine."
Her face shifts into a toothy smile. "Mithrax-kell is going to be overjoyed to meet you; know you will be taught by the noblest Eliksni I've ever met."
"No sense to keep him waiting, then" With a few short steps and a bound, I enter the den proper and begin preparations.