Chapter 3

"Avgust in charge and people end up dead? Why am I not surprised?"

The Titan turned at the sound of the voice, but the speaker had moved. All he managed to was catch a glimpse of a cape disappearing behind trees. A cape he recognized. Avgust clenched his jaw and followed.

No matter how quickly he moved, he found he was always steps behind the figure as it moved lithely between trees and through the underbrush. All he ever saw was the white cape, the majority of it covered in a black stylized lion. Eventually, he lost sight of even that. Mocking laughter sounded in his ear.

"Pariah!" he shouted at nothing.

"Pariah!" This time the word was less of a shout, and more a sound gasped out as the Titan bolted awake, his heart hammering in his chest. His eyes darted about wildly, searching the area around him while the fact that the chase had only been a dream sunk in.

Avgust pushed himself up off the ground and surveyed the area around him. A few of the former followers of Osiris were awake and moving, but most were still sleeping. It had been a long, harrowing night, so he was not surprised.

After arriving back at the ruined house, Avgust checked on the survivors before searching through all the corpses of the Fallen with Svarog's help, searching for the jamming device they had been using to keep him from calling for help. Eventually, they had tracked back to where he had engaged the aliens to try to buy the civilians time and discovered the device laying among the trees. A snarl had ripped from the Titan's throat as he smashed it.

Once the jamming field was down, he was able to communicate their new position and situation with the Tower in hopes that a rescue could still be carried out for the survivors. Upon his return to the others, he had aided them in digging a shallow trench to place the bodies of those the Fallen had killed in their attack.

He had then set here to keep watch and had apparently fallen asleep at some point. Fallen asleep and dreamt of her for some reason. Why her? Avgust sighed and removed his helmet, rubbing a gloved hand over his face.

"Oh," a female voice gasped, and Avgust turned his head. Cassandra stood near the corner of the house, staring at him, a look of shock on her face. "I'm sorry," she stammered, "I just… I thought the Light healed Guardians wounds?"

Avgust reached his right hand up, touching the scar tissue that covered that side of his face, as well as the spot where his ear should have been.

«Da,» he replied. "It usually does, though I have known some Guardians to sustain injuries that were not healed. This, though, was from before. My old life."

"Oh," she said, stepping closer. "Do you remember it at all?"

Avgust shook his head, though that wasn't entirely true. He may not have remembered it, but during a mission in what remained of Moscow, in the old country known as Russia, he had stumbled over a mechanical remnant of his past that still held a grudge. That incident has resulted in him learning a considerable amount about who he had been before the Collapse. He felt no need to tell this woman of that, however.

Cassandra made another non-committal noise and stepped closer, eyes fixated on the scar tissue and studying intently, as if trying to determine what the source of the injury might have been. The scrutiny made Avgust uncomfortable, and he pulled the helmet back down over his head. Cassandra turned away, embarrassed.

"Sorry," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Avgust turned his attention toward the sky, willing the transport ships to show up. There had been no sign of them, but the skies had also remained clear of Fallen ships as well. So long as that portion of the situation held firm, their situation was at least stable.

"We have some food," Cassandra spoke up after a couple minutes of silence. "It's not much, but we can share with you, for what you've done for us."

«Nyet, spasibo,» the Titan shook his head. "No. Your people need it more than I do. Please, take care of them. I will let you know when I hear anything."

The woman nodded and turned away, casting a glance back at the Titan before making her way back to the other refugees who were trying to set something up. From where he stood, Avugst could not quite make out what it was, but he guessed it had something to do with the offer of food.

"How many times have we done this, Svarog?" the Titan questioned. "How many stragglers have we brought home, and how has it changed anything?"

"We've helped many people, Ava," the Ghost emerged from phase and replied, using the familiar diminutive, "and it changed everything for them."

"Then why do I not feel like it has accomplished anything?"

"I don't know," Svarog answered. "I wish I could make you see."

Avgust grunted and gave a dismissive wave. Svarog floated in front of him, the central "eye" of the Ghost twisted in concern.

"Ava…"

"Keep listening for transmissions. We need to know when those transports are on their way so that we can have these people ready."

The Ghost sighed and bobbed a nod. Avgust turned his attention back to the sky, waiting. It wasn't much longer when Svarog spoke up again.

"Transmission incoming."

"Patch it through."

"Guardian Avgust, this is Tower Transport 212 do you copy?" came the voice, and Avgust felt a faint glimmer of hope that surprised him.

"Transport 212, this is Avgust," he replied.

"Good to hear you are still out there, Guardian. We are on route to your last broadcast position for pickup."

"We had to move due to Fallen pursuit," Avgust said. "Svarog, give updated coordinates."

There was a brief silence, and then the pilot spoke again. "Roger, coordinates received. Oh, and Guardian? We're detecting large amounts of Fallen chatter as well, so we'll be coming in hot."

"Noted. I will have the refugees ready."

"See you soon, Guardian."

The signal cut, and Avgust was already in motion. He spotted Cassandra walking slowly among the remaining civilians, speaking to each one, and he made a beeline toward her. His movement drew the eyes of the refugees, including hers.

"We need to get these people ready to move," he said. "Now. Transport is coming, but they are also detecting Fallen chatter. We have to load fast."

There was a brief flash of fear in her eyes at the mention of Fallen chatter, but it disappeared quickly, and Cassandra began calling out to those around her. They all began to move, a bustle of organized chaos as food was discarded and supplies were packed back up. Avgust was somewhat impressed with how quick they were able to get things together, and that they didn't make more noise doing so. This was clearly not the first time they'd had to pack and move in a hurry.

It could not have been more than an hour when Avgust heard a crackle in his communicator followed by, "Tower Transport 212 closing in on your position, Guardian Avgust. Are those civvies ready?"

«Da,» he replied. "Ready and waiting."

Avgust thought he could hear the sound of the engines approaching, and scanned the skies again. Off in the distance was a dark speck that could have been a bird, but he was convinced was the approaching transport. The Titan strode toward the refugees.

"The ship is coming," he said. «Byt' nagotove.»

A ripple of excitement spread through the gathered crowds, and Avgust saw a few faces break into wide smiles. He glanced to Cassandra, and only she seemed to be showing any sign of concern. Avgust's eyes narrowed. Had she not mentioned to them the possibility of the Fallen still being around? Doing so now would serve no purpose. Avgust sighed, and locked eyes on the dot he had seen in the sky before. It was growing rapidly, and clearly now not a bird.

The ship came in quickly, its engines screaming. Several of the refugees placed their hands over their ears, mostly the young ones. It passed overhead, banking up briefly before the Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) thrusters activated. These thrusters twisted and turned, leveling off the transport vessel, then lowered it toward the ground. Bushes and grass shook violently, as did any loose clothing. Several of the refugees were wearing hats which they had to grab suddenly before they flew away.

As the ship dropped down, a hatch in the back opened and a ramp was lowered, touching the ground when the ship was still about a meter from the ground. A man in a flight suit appeared at the hatch entrance, waving furiously, gesturing for the refugees to come forward.

Cassandra and Avgust herded the people to the ship, making sure all were aboard. Once they were, Cassandra boarded as well, then turned back to Avgust, who was still on the ground.

"You're not coming?" she asked, shouting over the roar of the engines.

«Nyet,» the Titan shook his head. "I have my ship above. I will fly escort."

"Is that everyone?" The man in the flight suit called out. Cassandra nodded, and the platform began to rise, the ship already in motion.

Avgust stepped back, watching them ascend and turn on their path toward the Last Safe City before Svarog transmatted him onto the Outrageous Fortune. His mind was so focused on getting into position that he did not even notice the transmat effect. Instantly, his hands were on the controls and getting the ship moving, pushing the smaller craft to catch the transport.

Just as the transport came into view, Svarog alerted him, "I'm detecting two Fallen jumpships."

"Where?"

Markers appeared on scanners then, indicating the position. They were behind the transport by a good distance at low altitude, apparently just beginning their pursuit. From where he was, Avgust should be able to move in and kill them before they were a problem. He yanked the controls, kicking his ship into a sharp dive. The angle and speed of his approach had the desired effect, and he was able to shoot down both jumpships before they were able to fire a shot.

"More ships incoming," Svarog announced. "I think we've stirred up a hornets nest." He paused. "The transport is trying to reach us."

"Put them through."

"Guardian Avgust," the voice of the transport ship pilot sounded over the communication line. It sounded to Avgust like the man was trying to keep any tension from his voice to keep from spooking his passengers. "I'm seeing a number of bogies here. Are you seeing the same thing?"

«Da,» the Titan replied. "We will do what we can. Continue to the Last City, best possible speed."

"Roger that," the pilot said, and was gone.

Avgust's lips tightened to a grim, thin line as he looked at the data coming through his ship's sensors. He couldn't recall the last time he'd seen this many Fallen ships at once. He did not like his odds at keeping them all off the transport.

«Vy gotovy?» he asked the Ghost.

"You ask that like I have I have a choice," Svarog said, his shell giving a pensive twist.

Avgust worked the controls, causing the ship to bank hard while accelerating. The sudden g-forces forced a grunt out of him, but he continued to push the jumpship to its limit. As Svarog had asked, was there any other choice?

This time, there was no element of surprise. These Fallen had come ready for a fight. It took all of Avgust's skill as a pilot to avoid the incoming fire, and even then there were several close calls. The biggest problem was, there were too many of them. He pulled back hard, banking upward as something exploded below him. Even as he did, he could see several ships peeling away to pursue the transport.

He angled after the pursuit craft, his ship's engines straining as he strove to catch up to them. Firing, he raked one of the ships with fire. Something exploded inside it, and the ship went down. Sirens sounded as something struck the Outrageous Fortune from behind. Avugust sent the ship through several evasive maneuvers, briefly losing track of the other ship.

"Guardian Avgust, we are taking fire," came the distressed voice of the transport pilot.

"Svarog, take the controls," Avgust said through gritted teeth.

"What?" was the surprised response.

"Take the controls," the Titan repeated. "Evasive maneuvers, and head away from the transport, try to draw the jackals away."

"Why?" the Ghost asked. "What are you going to do?"

"Something stupid. Transmat me outside."

"No. That's not stupid, it's suicide."

"Just do it," Avgust nearly growled the words.

Svarog sighed, and Avgust braced himself. Seconds later, he found himself on the outer hull of the ship. Immediately, the wind tried to rip him from the surface, and he scrambled to find something to hold onto. His fingers closed around a piece of metal jutting from the surface of the craft, and he held on tightly. The Titan craned his head, searching for the transport and its pursuer.

Once he spotted the craft, Avgust focused on his Light, drawing on the Arc energy, feeling it flow through him, the electric feel of it crackling along his nerves. He let the charge build, filling him to overflowing, then kicked away from the craft with his powerful legs. As he did, he surrounded himself with the Arc energy, letting it propel him forward like a rocket, a projectile charged with destructive force. Blue Light trailed after him as he soared through the air, eyes locked on his target. He struck with enough force to punch straight through the alien vessel. There was a detonation of Arc Light as he did, the released energy completely obliterating the craft.

Avgust saw this all in the instant of impact. He also saw he was too late. The transport ship was on fire and dropping from the sky.

…

AN

Thanks guest for the kudos.

FF:

Thanks to SelinkFicter for the author and story follow!

SelinkFicter: Thanks, glad you like it. Yeah, I know what you mean with going deep. Probably not too much here, since this isn't my character, he actually belongs to Wendigo E17. You should check out his stuff, you'd probably like it.

Marcellasnow231: I think I remember seeing that character. Avgust belongs to a friend of mine, we were doing a character trade, so he's been working on something with Celeste, Claney, and Zillah as well. He used to be a more noble character with a bit of a brighter outlook, but has become disillusioned and jaded over the years. I figured I would write something adding to that.

Big delay in publishing chapters, I know. Even bigger in my other story. It's funny, I'm home during this Covid-19 mess, but feel like I have less time to do stuff. This week is disruptive because of Iron Banner, and last week was Guardian Games (Go, Titans!), but I hope to try to set up an actual writing schedule next week to get back on track.

Stay safe. Talk to you soon.