T(20): C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! We're not gonna be near the front if we don't hurry!
C1: Calm down Toles, we're gonna make it. As a Guardian I gotta look good to the public. Somethin' you're gonna have to learn.
T: I won't get the chance if you don't hurry your metal ass up!
A(G): Language young lady!
T: English Al!
*C1 comes out, fastening IL cloak to shoulders*
A(G): *turns to C1* I blame you for her behavior.
C1: Calm down Al. She's excited. Got your everything you need?
T: *nods*
C1: Cool. Let's go see if a Ghost choses you.
Colored blurs came into focus as Alastor's system's started up. Rising from his position from inside his Guardian's hood, next to Cain's face, his back fins idly spun as the Ghost began to run the typical diagnostics he did every day on Cain's armament.
Guns? Well maintained. Cloak? Cleaned of any and all lint. Armor? Polished and repaired. Cain's spare memory banks? Intact and well protected. Alastor's beam of light ceased as he began inspecting the room. The sun of Pandora had yet to even begin to color the horizon. Such was his routine every day. Seeing all was in order, Alastor flew down and out the small flap door provided for him so no windows or doors had to be left open.
Flying out across the roads that ran through Sanctuary, Alastor was greeted by Moxxi who smiled and waved on her way to her bar, and Tannis, who, once again, tried to capture him to study just what he could do.
After evading the less than sane doctor, Alastor flew out the front gate. The guards on watch simply nodded to the small Light, having had this happen many mornings before.
Crossing across the icy plain of Pandora speedily, ice quickly turned to grass, then to sand as Alastor flew.
He passed Ellie's place of living and idly looked through the many cars that her area held. After a while, an item of note was found. Alastor flew through the pile of vehicles and scanned the object. It was a stone.
It seemed to be made of Eridium, yet at the same time not. Purple and white swirled within the stone as would a storm. The top appeared to be almost a glass cover for how clear one could see the twisting colors within. It was no bigger than Alastor's core, but he knew Cain would both enjoy the rock's look, and want to study it. As Alastor transmatted the odd stone, he realized something. Over the centuries, he and Cain were never separated once, save the time for Oryx capturing Cain. Alastor tittered happily. He loved his Guardian, and he was glad he was Cain's Ghost.
The Ghost finished transmatting the stone right as dawn began to beat back the darkness of the horizon. Seeing the beauty of the orange horizon bleeding to purple as the sun rose, Alastor watched it for a brief moment, taking a still shot of the awakening sky, then flew off.
Alastor thought about his life before his Guardian, the centuries spent searching. He started at the colonies on the outer planets and systems. Beginning on Titan, the Ghost searched endlessly among the sea colonies. He searched and searched and searched, but there was nothing.
He moved to the Reef. Again nothing. He was lucky to escape with his Light intact. The Awoken regarded him warily but did not impede his search.
He met a black shelled Ghost on Mars who's mind had begun to go from centuries of searching and once getting caught by the wyrm-cursed Hive and escaping. The poor Light was stricken with madness. Alastor never understood any of the maddened gibberish the Ghost uttered, and had left it to drift after attempting to help as much as possible.
Next came Earth. The City had not yet been built. They were just rings of fires and lights. No walls to protect them. His Guardian was not among the first Risen and those at Felwinter Peak. Alastor moved on, not once doubting he would succeed. The Traveler had entrusted the Ghosts to find Guardians. Alastor refused to let that trust have been in vain. He set out again for his search. This time, he would try Venus.
He found Cain at the entrance to the Ishtar Academy's Collective.
He felt different than the other Exo frames he had seen. He felt...homely. Like they were connected. Alastor knew he had found his Guardian. With a flying spin of excitement, he began resurrection.
He watched his Guardian rise on shaky legs. A hand covered his face. His eyes flashed in a blink. The Exo looked to the little Light.
"Who...what...are you?"
The unnamed at the time Alastor could barely contain his joy. "I'm a Ghost, your Ghost, Guardian."
The confusion on his face was the beginning of the best centuries of Alastor's existence.
Alastor preened in happiness. He remembered that day fondly. It had been a while since then.
Atheon in the Vault. The scattering of Guardians and Ghosts through time.
Crota in the Hellmouth. Darkness nearly consuming them whole.
Oryx with his dreadnought. A new fireteam. Far from the Traveler's Light, suffocated by the Dark.
Aksis and SIVA. Corruption all encompassing as they fought to end the blight the Iron Lords failed to.
They lost many Guardians.
Many Ghosts.
Far too much Light.
But he and Cain always made it through, pulling miracles against gods. Each time healing the Traveler. But it still had not awoke.
Alastor stopped his search for anything interesting briefly. He hadn't thought about his creator in a long time.
The Traveler.
Humanity's salvation and damnation.
Alastor continued his flight in silent thought. He held loyalty to the Traveler, he did, but it seemed like it almost...fed humanity to the Darkness. It appeared then shortly after the Darkness followed and crushed humanity. It killed Cain by proxy, but without it, he never would have met his Guardian. Hell he wouldn't have existed.
But the thought persisted.
What did the Traveler want from Humanity?
The Ghost didn't know if he wanted to find out anymore.
Alastor cast off those thoughts and decided to return to Sanctuary. He would explore a bit.
The trip around town was eventful. Tannis, once again, tried to capture him and failed. He ran into Maya, quite literally in his fleeing of Tannis. She quickly cupped him behind her and when asked, denied seeing him. Alastor flew from her hands once the doctor left.
He dipped in a small thankful nod and glided back to his Guardian's abode. He found Cain going about his morning ritualistic training, sitting in a meditative position. He gave the Ghostly equivalent of a smile and nestled into a spare cloak's hood with a small circular bed set in it that Cain had set up. It was the one gifted to him by his Master upon the completion of his mentoring under them. The two parts of the cloak cloths bore the golden symbol of the Iron Lords proudly.
Alastor watched his Guardian contentedly from his perch as Cain meditated and communed with his Light.
/ / \ \
/ / \ \
/ / \ \
Darkness.
Nothing.
A spark.
An ember.
A raging fire.
A vibrant sun.
The fire of Sol burned brightly in his left hand which was laid across the knee with palm up.
Nothingness.
Empty yet full.
Tearing open reality.
Ripping physics asunder.
Cacophonous silence.
Power in the absence of all.
Void energy flowed around his right palm, lazily drifting in and out of tangibility.
He took another mental breath.
'Two. Good. Lets try adding Arc now.' The Exo thought to himself. Sparks danced along his arms as he brought the hands closer together, attempting to merge all three Lights together.
He almost had it.
He could feel the storm inside raging.
The Light of Arc wanted to run free.
Who was he to deny it?
Why would he?
Why SHOULD he?
A little more and it woul-
"DRINKING TIME!" Axton called. The door slammed open into the wall as a boot kicked it in. He strolled in and the door swung shut behind him.
The ball of Light Cain had been working on exploded from the lack of singular concentration and sent the Hunter sprawling.
"Traveler dammit Axton don't you know how to knock?" He asked rubbing his head and dusting himself off.
"Know how? Yeah. Want to? Hell no." Axton slurred. He slammed a few bottles down on the table.
Cain sighed and reluctantly allowed his built up Light to fade. "Why now?"
"I don't know how they do it where you're from, but on Pandora? Battle buddies are drinking buddies. So we are drinking!" He laughed.
Cain sighed once more. "I know you won't leave until we do. So get get everyone else. Then we will." This would give him time to properly prepa-
"Oh they're outside. C'MON IN GUYS!" Axton cheered.
The door fell in from the combined weight of Krieg, Gaige, Maya, and Salvador leaning on it. The more sane of the group had the decency to look sheepish. A dull thud was heard as palm met face. Cain sighed once more and pulled the various chairs from around the room closer together. "You're fixing that door."
/ / \ \
/ / \ \
/ / \ \
"Systems looking good Fox. Timegate stable." Commented Skitter.
Fox gave a thumbs up to his fellow Warlock after nodding to his Ghost who began to start up one of the more massive timegates on Mars. The Gate Lords had been rent asunder upon their entrance to the dance with clearly better contenders. The six Guardians didn't even bat an eye as they tore them apart.
Sevin turned to Fox. "Can we get back safely?"
Fox nodded and held up a handheld device. "Yep! Just have to press this lil' bad boy Skitter made. It will open the gate on this side and get us back."
Shift-13 spoke up as he honed a knife's edge. His head covered by a purple glowing helmet. "And the communicator works as well?" The normally silent Hunter asked.
Skitter nodded. "Checked it yesterday. The science behind it is confusing to anyone who hasn't messed with the inside of a Vex noggin, but it works."
There was the crunch of grass as Toles walked over, Nyx hovering beside her. "All locked and loaded boys?" She spoke with a grin. She received a variety of affirmation from every member of the fireteam. "Then let's go get Cain back. Fire up the gates. We leave in five minutes!" Her tone brokered no room for argument. The elder War Hounds chuckled.
"She's got a fire that one." The lone Titan, Jabaho, spoke up. He wore the armor of the Iron Banner gifted to him by Lord Saladin.
"What do you expect," spoke Sevin. The Hunter wore a silver cloak and monochromatic armor. "Cain is the one who found her when her family was killed. He's all she has for the most part."
The Guardians all nodded in agreement after a moment of silence for the dead. They would find Cain-1 and bring him back home.
No matter the cost.
They transmatted into their respective ships and the timegate hummed as it was activated.
"Gate stable. Go!" Skitter called.
One by one ships went through the gate.
Once all went through the gate disappeared without a sound.
The War Hounds had gotten the scent of their leader.
They were zeroed in.
Pandora's system was about to become a bit more crowded.
/ / \ \
/ / \ \
/ / \ \
Cain groaned as he attempted to sit up. Keyword being attempted. He felt weight on his upper torso.
Weight that should not have been there.
Readying his Light as his eyes flickered on, he looked for the source.
He would have blushed if such a function existed in him.
On him were many of his female companions sprawled across him in various states of dress. Krieg laid on a broken chandelier bare as the day he was born. Axel held a gun in one hand and a large bottle in the other as he sat asleep against a broken wall of concrete. Claptrap was hung by a parachute from a fountain. Salvador was the only conscious one and was surprisingly sitting calmly reading a book.
A book on guns.
Ah, that was more like him.
He noticed Cain's awakening and waved.
"Buenos dias sleeping beauty! Quite the night we had!" He called softly. He held up a video monitor as Cain disentangled himself very carefully.
The metal man groaned. "Ughhhh...what happened exactly?"
Salvador chuckled and gave a genuine non-bloodthirsty smile. "Drinking, games, you know how it gets." He passed Cain the small monitor. "Would you like to see?" Cain cautiously took it. Something about Salvador's tone unnerved him. Probably the fact the little insane man was calm. Who knows? Cain pressed play.
The tape started the as the door fell in from the combined Vaulter group's weight minus Axton.
A dull thud was heard as palm met face. Cain sighed and pulled the various chairs from around the room closer together. "You're fixing that door."
Cain had set chairs into a rough rectangle with the table in the center then proceeded to plant himself on the only couch with his hood down and helm vacant showing his scarred but mirthful face.
Salvador had taken the chair across from him, Axton two from his left, Zer0 on his direct left, Gaige stole the seat at his right from Maya who took the chair two away from his right and Krieg took the final chair on Salvador's left.
"So what kinda poison you Vaulties got?" The Nighthawk asked.
Krieg lowered a massive box onto the table, its sides fell off to show a wide assortment of alcohol.
"Easier question is what don't we have amigo!" Salvador cawed. "Handsome Jack Daniels, Sanctuary Wine, Maliwan Firey Icewhiskey, Haven's Heavenly Hell, Psycho Tears, Vaulting Vodka, Hyperion Holy Water, Dahl Daiquiri, Tannis' Tequila, don't tell her we stole it thank you, and the most rare drink," he pulled a glowing purple bottle from the core of the assortment. "Eridiuic Bliss," he said reverently. "Made from pure Eridium crystals, mixed with an extract of a flower found on Pandora's highest mountain." He wiped a tear from his eye. "I found this for you amigo. For the honor of allowing me to wield the divine Gjallarhorn." The dwarf held the bottle out to Cain.
Cain was surprised. He didn't realize Salvador thought of others. He took the bottle. "Thank you Salvador. I can't imagine this was cheap."
"Free actually." Zer0 stated. "He stole it from a corpse."
Salvador waved the Daft Punk rip-off off. "It was nothing friend. Enjoy!" He himself took the tequila and uncovered the top and held it up. "To killing Jack." The other Vaulters who had grabbed drinks, Axton with Handsome Jack Daniels, Maya with Haven's. Gaige attempted to grab Psycho Tears, but was stopped by Cain who thought for a moment then shrugged and let her take it. Zer0 had grabbed the Hyperion Holy Water.
The bottles clinked as they met in the center, "To killing Jack!" Then they began to drink.
Cain actually drank part of the gift and felt...odd. He shook his head. This drink...was not normal. Was the Eridium effecting his Light somehow? It felt...suppressed. He felt a buzz enter his mind.
How, how was this effecting him?
He was an Exo for Traveler's sake!
He shrugged. Didn't matter it, wasn't killing him, his inebriated mind reasoned. He took more drinks. The night continued with idle chatter for a hour then Cain began to tell a story.
"So here I am, *hic*, surrounded by atleast a hundred Hive thralls, knights and acolytes. There were even a, a few *hic* Wizards."
"What're those?" Gaige slurred, blush present across her face from the alcohol's effects.
"Oh, right, right, sorry. The Hive." He growlingly slurred. Damn Pandoran Alcohol hit hard and fast. "Are a species that made a deal with worm gods. It makes them immortal but it changed them too. They...are not good. Not a single one. Thralls are the lowest tier. *hic* Only instinct. Acolytes right above and actually have intelligence. Knights, sorta leaders in lieu of Wizards. Like name says, sword and shield types. Wizards are flying bastards and lead them all. They can fling attacks from their hands and help resurrect the Hive, certain types can at least. Ogres are *hic* big ass Thralls that can fire a beam from their eye. Kind of the heavy hitters. Anyways. So there's a hundred or so right? I'm dead center. I had gone on a Dark Heavy mission solo. *hic* Not my brightest idea I know. But I think, 'Well. I had a good run, but not like this.'" He clapped his hands. "So I had Alastor here do me a little favor." He cackled. "And transmat me in a Armored Construction Vehicle from the area. I hopped in. And took it for a drive." He smashed the palm of his hand against a fist to imitate something bouncing off the hand. "So much road kill. But then a Cursed Thrall. They explode *hic* o-okay? One gets under my ride and blows it to hell. I fly into the wall and tear my cloak. That was a gift from an old friend. I mayyyyyy have overreacted though. I sorta maybe kinda totally destroyed the cave with my rage. Almost died."
"How did you not die? Cave-ins aren't easy to survive. It is impressive." Zer0 stated seemingly unaffected by the alcohol.
"I'm veryyyy fast Z. Very agile. That and I used a Knight's sword to slice any debris in my way. I met back with *hic hic* my boss, Zavala, and boyyyy was he mad I went alone. He threw me off the Tower. He apologized so much after for losin' his blue military cool." Cain laughed. He was soon joined in by the rest.
Two more hours passed and then something interesting happened. Alastor had been getting affected due to his connection to Cain's Light and was thusly also, for a lack of better term, drunk off his ass. Thus, when Cain told him of an idea, he was all for it.
The bits of a old Earth tune Cain had found years back bearing only the words Party, _ W.K., began playing though the Ghost as the residents of Sanctuary felt a chill go down their spines at the coming storm. Thunder sounded and an engine revved.
There off in the distance from the wall was a massive party of Hyperion infiltrators. They cloaked and began to approach the town of Sanctuary.