Dust Rock Blues.
The hike to the designated location is long, rather calm, and uneventful. Klutz is treated to some beautiful views on his journey, but his mind is too occupied to appreciate the sights. He thinks of the grim work he is headed toward. He thinks of what Osiris' reaction will be when he reports on this detour. He thinks of Marin. He planned on visiting her today. He wonders what she will think when she realizes he won't be stopping by.
In a flash, Spark appears and zooms forward to peer over the cliff edge the man is approaching. "This is it," she says quietly.
Klutz joins her and carefully peeks over the edge himself. "And there they are…"
Nestled in the canyon below, a large group of Fallen gather in a small camp. A disorderly line has formed as they wait to receive their share of Ether from the very large Servitor in the center of the camp.
"That thing is massive!" Klutz says in hushed surprise.
"That Servitor is at least four times the size of the one you disintegrated back on Earth!" Spark exclames in a shocked whisper.
"Spider didn't think it was important to let us know about this 'little' detail?" Klutz scans over the rest of the camp.
Most of the Fallen are grouped up on the edges of the camp. Some are sifting through scraps, others seem to be resting and conversing with each other. A small gathering of the creatures tends to strange bundles in the back of the camp. All are rather diminutive when compared to the Spider. Few seem to be armed.
"These are pirates?" Klutz questions as he focuses on the group near the back. It is hard to make out what they are doing from a distance. He can see the glow of their blue eyes as a few of them rock side to side. Clutched in their gentle grasp are dark bundles of cloth. "What are they doing?…" He squints his eyes to focus further. Just then, he catches a glimpse of it. The same glow emanating from the tightly warped rolls. The glow of tiny eyes. He stands back from the edge and lets his weapon hang loosely in his hand.
"What's the matter, Klutz? What are they doing?" Spark asks in a worried tone.
"They've got- They have- There are… little ones…" He struggles to speak. A mixture of surprises at what he's seen and anger that the Spider had failed to inform him of some important details.
"Little ones?" Spark looks back over the edge. "You mean Dregs? I don't see any of the larger ones around…"
"No Spark… I mean they have kids…"
Spark returns from the cliff side. "Why would the Spider want us to hurt the young of his own kind? I don't understand the Fallen at all…"
"I'm not doing it, Spark. The Spider lied." Klutz sits down and places his weapon on the floor.
Spark floats down to meet the Guardian. "How are we going to get our ship back? He will keep it as collateral if the… job isn't done."
"I'll take it from him if I have to... These Eliksni are just trying to survive, and I'm not going to hurt them just because some crook told me to."
"Alright, let's head back quickly. The Spider will know something's up if we take too long." Spark vanishes soon after she finishes speaking.
Klutz grabs his rifle and rises to his feet. The moment he slings the weapon over his back, he hears a voice chime in over his radio.
"Cold feet, huh?" The Spiders voice is low and disappointed. "I don't feel like renegotiating our agreement. So instead, I'll give you a little more… motivation."
As soon as the call ends, a loud pop rings through the canyon, followed by the sound and shake of an explosion below the cliff.
Klutz dashes over to the edge to see what happened.
A number of bodies are strewn about around the aftermath of the rocket's impact. It landed right in the center of the Servitors line up. Most of the camp's inhabitants flee and shriek in the chaos. Some ready their weapons and eye around to find any sign of their attacker.
Klutz quickly looks for the group of caregivers. He is somewhat relieved to spot them fleeing with most of the other Eliksni. Their hatchlings swaddled securely in tow. His attention is then drawn to the massive Servitor in the center of the camp.
The machine radiates angry violet light. A low roar rumbles throughout the area. Soon after, the great Servitor lets out an ear piercing cry. The sound summons a pair of smaller Servitors to join. They form a dazzling weave of energy between each other. The energy creates a bright shield around the enormous machine. It's eye pulses menacingly.
"What the hell was that!?" Klutz exclaims, his grip now tight on his rifle. He spots the shooter on the other side of the canyon. A tall Vandal, brandishing a sizable rocket launcher. A rocket launcher pointed in his direction. In a quick reaction, he takes aim and presses his finger over the trigger. Too late. His aim is shaken violently at the trigger pull by the Vandal's second rocket blast. It lands only a few feet down the cliff side, causing the man's footing to shift and crumble. A bullet flies out far from its intended target as the man flails for any sort of purchase or foothold to stop his now rapid tumble down the cliff face. His leg connects with a jutting rock protruding from the wall, flipping him head first toward the hard floor below. Only seconds away from the sudden impact, Klutz steadies his breath and focuses. Almost instinctively, he points the palm of his free hand toward the ground and channels the Light in a pale, enveloping force. The force pushes off the rocks below and reorients him upright in a swift, calculated moment. He then channels the same force through his lower extremities. A billowing covering of white light surrounds his legs as he gracefully glides to the ground beneath. He takes a brief moment to breathe.
"Eyes up, Klutz!" Spark warns over the radio.
Klutz heeds the warning, and turns his attention to the threats before him.
The huge Servitor radiates an unsettling hum. Its smaller subordinates join in the whiring chorus. Shielded by the other machines, it appears invincible. It roars loudly, as if to gloat about its inpenitiple defense.
"Multiple combatants, Guardian! Find cover fast!" Spark cries, as a dozen armed Fallen swarm from around their gargantuan machine, it's eye gathering with volatile power.
Spark's orders are obvious and sensible. Klutz dives out of the way of the Servitor's sudden blast. He rolls to a kneeled stance and eyes over the arena. The Fallen press his position. Some equipped with small arms and others with crude melee weapons. Their eyes glow bright with hate and rage. He hesitates for a moment. He wishes he never came to this cold rock. In a bright blast of Light he pushes off from the ground and lobs a vortex of Void energy at the nearest approaching group. The four unfortunate attackers are instantly consumed by the singularity, unable to even scream before they are disintegrated. Grazed by a few shots in his short flight, the Guardian lands behind a makeshift hut near the back of the camp. He peeks out from his cover and finds a lone, knife wielding Fallen approaching fast. Only a few steps away, Klutz projects a quick blast of energy from his palm in a swift strike. The blast knocks the knife-man on its back and sends its shiny bronze colored weapon hurtling away. The Guardian points his weapon at the creature. An opportunity to finish his downed opponent.
The Dreg looks up at him for a moment, recognizing its imminent doom. To its surprise, this doom is in fact not so imminent. It lays there, breathing heavily through its filtered mask as it looks up at the Guardian. It watches him turn the gun away and duck back behind cover. The Dreg takes the opportunity to collect its bronze knife and retreat.
Klutz peeks out once more and is rewarded with a flurry of scattered shots in his direction. He hides behind the hut, narrowly avoiding a few of the haphazard projectiles.
"Eight active Fallen still on sensors, Guardian-" Spark's update is interrupted by another cry from the large Servitor. "Also, I think the big one is getting angry…"
"Big one's gonna have to wait his turn!" Klutz spins out from behind the hut, peppers out a few rounds from his rifle, and tosses a bright ball of Solar Light at the center of the battlefield. The molten ball bursts apart, projecting a great wall of fire across the middle of the combat zone. Klutz crouches with his weapon ready and watches as the Fallen shoot randomly through the obscuring flames. He steadies his breathing and reloads his weapon.
The Fallen halt their attacks. One lays on the cold floor, clutching the fresh gunshot wound on its neck as the Ether slips out and evaporates. The rest look through the flickering shroud for any sign of the Lightbearer. The great Servitor above them focuses its powers and prepares for another blast. If the Servitor fails to destroy him, once again, the Dregs will be ready to attack when the flames die down. Diligently, anxiously, they wait for the Machine-Spawn to make a move.
Another chest pounding roar comes from the Servitor as it blasts its devastating payload straight through the burning border. The explosion of the impact is grand and dramatic, although the Fallen are immediately focused on a more dangerous sight.
Just as soon as the Servitor's blast connects, Klutz somersaults through the hot barrier and directs his firearm in a deadly flourish. The first couple of shots take out a Dreg armed with a short electric dagger. The next burst of gunfire finds a trio of unlucky gunmen before they even have time to aim. Ether fills the air as the Guardian leaps above the remaining fighters. He feels the sting of frantic, desperate gunfire as he glides above them. With a quick snap of his fingers, small orbs of Solar energy bounce forth and engulfs one of the shooters. He lands heavily on top of another, knocking the gun from its hand and forcing it back first into the hard dusty ground. The pined Fallen manages to grab hold of its blade with impressive speed. It slashes a deep cut across the Guardian's calf that forces a muffled cry from behind his helmet. Klutz reacts with a powerful strike across the side of the alien's four eyed head. The blow makes an audible crack and the Dreg drops the blade from its limp hand. Klutz stands swiftly and takes aim at the final remaining Fallen.
The smaller creature stands only a few feet away, unmoving, stunned by the sudden violence. It maintains a tight yet unfocused grasp on its tiny bronze knife as it stares at the singed killer.
Heavy breaths flow in and out from the Guardian's mouth. He keeps his gun pointed and says, "Go… C'mon… get out of here…"
With its legs shaking, it stays in place and raises its weapon.
A splitting shriek explodes from the Servitor as it projects a powerful wave of pressure around itself. The pressure shakes the supporting Servitors and lunches the two grounded individuals several feet away.
Klutz rises to one knee rather quickly and looks around to see where the panicked Dreg ended up. It doesn't take long for him to spot the Dreg, lying lifelessly in the dust. It's neck twisted and limbs crooked. Klutz looks down and removes his dirty helmet. He coughs deep from his chest and spits out blood on the dry rocks.
The deadly machine cries out once more. A call to fight.
Klutz feels heat swelling inside him. He punches the ground hard enough to send bits of debris high into the air. He shouts gutteraly and stands tall with fire in his eyes. The flames spread across his body, shining through him with Radiance. With a powerful jump, he blasts off the floor, leaving a scorch mark behind. The flaming warrior propels himself up and over the massive machine, raining down orbs of charged Solar Light upon the machine defenses. Still burning with power, he lands on the ground behind the Servitor. He is shocked to see his flaming barrage was seemingly ineffective.
"You have got to target the small ones, Klutz! They are generating the Shield!"
A high jump followed by a powerful kick off the canyon wall, sends the Guardian flying toward one of the protective Servitors. He lands on top of the round machine with unsteady footing. His boots burn the contraption and it screeches loudly to express its discomfort. Klutz builds a bright ball of heat in his hand as he struggles to balance atop his unhappy podium. With a quick assessment of the angle, he tosses the grenade at the other small Servitor. The thermite burns through it like it were a ball of cotton. As the Servitor burns, it suddenly stops its energy projection before falling to cinders on the floor. Klutz shifts his attention to his frustrated footstool, and conjures a long flaming sword. He thrusts the blade through the glowing eye he stands above, shutting down the machine and sending them both falling toward the ground. The blazing Guardian rolls out of the fall and turns his attention to the surviving Servitor.
The huge raging orb notices its protective barrier fade away. The threatening eye fills with terrible power. It growls deeply. Small rocks and gravel bounce and vibrate around the canyon. A final warning before it releases its devastating attack.
Klutz clenches his jaw to stop his teeth from chattering under the force of the Servitor's growl. He feels the pressure in his chest and stomach. He builds white hot flames in his hands and prepares himself for the final assault.
The energy in the Servitor's eye swirls and shakes, bursting forth, desperate to be released. The machine screams a deafening, scratching, metallic cry as it focuses on the flaming man. The long cry is abruptly interrupted by a new pained screech. Arcs of electricity surge through the great synthetic beast and turn the bright glow of its eye to nothing more than a struggling flicker. Its powerful sound peters off into a quiet hum. The machine can no longer find the strength to maintain its place in the air. It falls to the ground with a loud thud, revealing a Skiff positioned behind it, as well as a long charged harpoon sticking out from its backside. The disabled Servitor rolls to a stop against the canyon side and the last of the light disappears from its huge eye.
"Put that fire out before you damage my prize!" the Spider barks over the radio. "My associates have the machine subdued and your job is done here. You're welcome to collect your reward back at my establishment, after you've licked your wounds. It may not have gone as smoothly as expected," he chuckles, "but you've done good work." The signal cuts off.
The Guardian lowers his hands and the flames quickly die away. He drops to his bottom and rests his arms over his knees.
Spark appears in front of him and passes her light over his tired body. "Let me take a look at you. You got pretty dinged up in that battle… yet you seem to be almost totally uninjured." She sounds surprised and slightly confused.
"Huh?" Klutz asks. He feels for the wound on his calf where he was slashed. He finds his skin undamaged under the torn pant leg.
"You must have healed your wounds with Solar Light," Spark declares.
"Didn't know I could do that…" He stands and watches as a crew drops down from the Skiff and ties up the sleeping Servitor with dense coiled ropes.
"I've heard of other Guardians healing themselves with Light, but I assumed it required practice. I guess we can surprise ourselves in stressful situations…"
"Well, it's no replacement for you, Spark." He smiles at his Ghost. "Now let's head back to Spider… I want to leave this rock as soon as possible."