Aksis grew wary as they entered the astroid belt, the Queen of the Reef had called upon them and their Ketch was escorted by the Awoken's ships had the soldiers on edge, only for Hinata's gentle humming of an unknown tune to soothe their ease. "I've never seen such a mysterious sight before." she whispered to herself, seeing the the Reef for the first time as its mysterious glow allured her. "I'm smelling Wolves here...Skolas!" Aksis snarled as Hinata tapped her foot once in mild irritation. The Archon Priest quelled his anger as he bowed his head dutifully. "Hold your rage Aksis, perhaps we might learn what has become of the Wolves and why Skolas never showed in the battle you spoke of." Hinata reasoned as many of the Devils chittered to each other.
They too, wondered why Skolas betrayed them. As they docked, Hinata and Aksis with their own small squad of guards walked alongside them as they beheld a Vandal of all things with mechanical prothetics for forelimbs and a staff, bowing his head. "Greetings Priestess, I am Variks of House Judgment." he spoke in perfect English. "How can it be...? They were all wiped out if I recalled..." Aksis muttered. "House of Judgment?" Hinata could not help but ask.
"Yes, scribes of other Houses, peacekeeprs and knowledge of laws, know many things yes." Variks nodded his head as he turned to them. "This way, Queen awaits you at the throne..." he gestured as he began escorting them towards the heart of the Awoken Kingdom, all while trained snipers aimed from afar. Hinata was no fool, they were cautious, wary of outsiders and it was relatable when a kingdom is in hiding. The Devils were doing their best to restrain their aggression, the scent of another Fallen House was making them wary of any potential ambush. But the deathly silence once they made it to the throne room did not help the slightest, especially since the kingdom was built similarly in design with Fallen technology.
There, sitting at the throne was the Queen of the Awoken, Mara Sov herself, and another male Awoken by her side, with two Fallen Vandals equipped with spears at the sides of her throne. "Wolves..." Aksis snarled as Hinata raised a hand to halt, causing any attempts of assault from starting. "Your Grace..." Hinata greeted with a polite bow, which the Devils followed suit as the Queen stood from her throne. "These Wolves are mine, as the Devils are yours." Mara Sov spoke. Her voice was elegant, yet it held the faintest hint of steel in it as she looked down at the Priestess. "Tell me child, why do you aid these Fallen in their...attempts for survival?" she inquired.
"To give them a second chance to live, to live and grow Your Grace." Hinata politely answered as she looked up. "So, kindness to those struggling to survive in the places the dark has its hold? You are brave child, braver than any person dares to travel." she spoke as Hinata eyed the Queen of the Reef from behind her visor. "I would politely ask for the reason of these summons if I may?" Hinata politely asked as Mara Sov stood. "Perhaps we can come to an agreement of sorts. The Hive have grown rather restless, for the Monster of Luna stirs from its slumber. I think it would be in our best interest to aid the Guardians in their endeavor against them."
Hinata knew that the queen was referring to the ghouls the Devils always talked about, and of the Hive's dark magics that have been a thorn in the Eliksni's sides for many a House. She knew nothing of the lore behind these nightmares and knowledge of enemies is vital in survival against an overwhelming force. "I seek your council Aksis," she requested as the Archon walked forward and lowered his head to hear what she has to say.
"I've only know small amounts of the Hive, we need more information, their tactics, even the smallest hints of what they may be up to if we agree to this." Hinata whispered. "Agreed, but no House except Exiles lurk in that moon." the Archon Priest whispered. "Do you think we can bribe them for intel?" she asked. Aksis paused in thought, recalling what he knew of the House of Exiles. They have no Kell, no Prime Servitor, just collections of abandoned or banished members of other Houses desperate to survive. "Perhaps rations of ether would suffice. Ether is a high value currency to a House with no Prime." he reasoned as Hinata nodded her head. That was when Kovik, the High Priest of the Splicers cautiously walked up to them. "Yes Kovik, do you have something to say?" she asked.
"Great Priestess, I think we might gain an advantage if we knew their biology. After all, we Eliksni have had bad blood with the Hive for some time. If we knew how their biology works, perhaps create a weapon meant to harm them, yes?" Kovik spoke. Hinata and Aksis looked at each other before looking back at Kovik and then back at each other. An idea was brewing in their minds at a collaberation project. "Hire them to either kill or capture Hive for experimentations...A win-win for us." Hinata muttered before she turned her attention to the Queen. "I accept this suggestion, my House has bad blood with the Hive for years, and seeing one of their 'gods' slain by the City would teach them a thing or two about underestimating us." she replied while Aksis looked to Variks.
"Scribe of Judgment, where is the Rabid?" the Archon inquired as a gutteral hiss from Variks got their attention. "Skolas defeated by Queen, Queen now Kell of Wolves. Skolas locked in Prison of Elders, for all time." he answered. Aksis remained silent as he processed the information and realized Skolas never truly betrayed the other Houses that fateful day. He was extremely wary of the Awoken now, for they have a secret they used to defeat the House of Wolves and enslave them. Best be allies, then enemies.
"We will take our leave, Your Grace." Hinata bowed as the rest of the Devils paid their respects and began to leave. "Child, I gift this to you." Mara Sov spoke as she tossed something to Hinata. It was a purple handcannon with the Queen's Crest on it. "Best to know how to use a gun, then rely on that little sword you carry. Especially if the Guardians pick up your scent." the Queen warned her.
She knew the lightsaber's flaw.
Hinata was calm on the outside, but her inner self was panicking at how the ruler of this realm knew about it when she never revealed it to anyone else yet. A terrifying woman that should not be trifled with.
*Venus*
Many of the Fallen were rushing across the planet with Hinata's latest constructed machinery. They were harvesting the vegetation of Venus and converting it into an organic matter so Sirius Prime could consume and convert into reserves of ether. They did not question her, for they too seek revenge on the Hive. Experiments and having the cursed ghouls of the City slay their god like they did with Sepiks Prime? Maybe then the Hive will know what despair feels like, yes?
This ration of ether was to 'purchase' services of the House of Exile into coralling Thrall and the occasional Knight from the Moon for experimentations on a new weapon against the Hive. This incintive will keep the Hive busy while the 'Guardians' aim to stop their god from awakening. This taste of revenge was as sweet as the pure ether itself. And the Fallen will rise up with this new knowledge and secrets the Hive's biology contain within.