Location: Earth, old Russia, cosmodrome.
Time: 11:45pm.
Id number: ghost id,4677. Guardian Id unknown. New light, fresh from the grave.
Broadcast frequencies: all. Priority, emergency lines. In desperate need for backup. Pinned down by-!
The ghost's emergency transmission was interrupted as a tall, young man with blond hair and blue eyes came charging into the room. His toned body damp with sweat and his rifle smoking. Upon entering, he immediately spun around, grabbing the door to the garage I was hiding in and slamming it shut behind him, gasping for breath as he scanned the room for anything else to barracked the door with.
To some, this might seem like an heroic retreat. That my Guardian is running away after gunning down an army of Hive knights, or just narrowly avoiding some kind of Rogue Guardian hell bent on devouring his light. And if this was like the other resurrection my friends always brag about, all this would be was us hunkering down and holding the threat back as we unleashed a barrage of well aimed shots and perfectly managed skills. Something to display the sheer power and skill of my chosen Light bearer.
But alas, this is not one of those types of resurrections. This is my Guardian's. And he…well, he could use some work.
"We're gonna die! We're gonna die!" He screamed in a blind panic, rushing toward a work bench on the other side of the room, completely ignoring the much heavier and closer file cabinet in the corner.
In his panic, the rifle I scavenged for him, our literal only means of defense, slips from his grasp and fall to the floor, the impact causing it to go off firing some round just past my Guardian causing him to trip and fall on his face with a deafening thud, making me roll my eye in response.
Seriously? This is the guy I've spent centuries looking for? Guy flipped out when I first revived him, ran straight into Fallen occupied territory screaming at the top of his lungs. By the time I got to him, he had already attracted everything damn pirate for miles!
With a sigh, and a roll of my eye, I float over to him as he picks himself off the ground, hand pressed to his nose to stifle the blood flow.
"Here." I say, casting my Light over the injury, closing it instantly before I float a little ways back, hovering over the fallen gun.
"You're probably gonna want this. Once the Fallen breach this room, it'll be your life line. Can't be much of a Guardian without a gun." I say, rolling my eye at him once again. Fortunately, none of the enemies we've encountered so far have been very tough. Mostly low level Captains or Dregs. It was nothing worth freaking out over, not to a Guardian of the Light.
Unfortunately my Guardian seems to be a special kind of Guardian. The easily panicked kind.
"Once they breach the room?! What do you mean once they do?! We can't win, not against that many!" He screamed, grabbing the gun and trying to jump to his feet, only to trip once again and land face first, breaking his nose once again.
I let out a sigh and half close my eye for a second before forcing it open, shining my Light onto him again, healing his injury.
"I mean, the Fallen have ravaged this area for centuries." I explain. "They know every nook and cranny we could hide in. And this room is easily accessible from with the vent on the ceiling or the two doors, neither of which can be locked. Which, by the way, barricading them would do much when one opens upwards, and the other opens inward."
"Wha-?!" His cries of shock are cut off as a loud clatter above us alerts me to the company he no doubt attracted with all his screaming. Looking up, I'm just in time to see a Vandal drop from the vent, a blade clutched in his hand as he lets out a scream in our faces.
At the same time, a swarm of Dregs led by a Captain barged in from the door my Guardian failed to lock. As well as the garage door being thrown open by another Captain, this time with a whole host of Vandals and Dregs flanking his side. A flaming shotgun was clutched in his hand which he brandished at us, ordering his lackeys inside.
"Aaaahhhhh!" My Guardian screams, his tone so high one might mistake it for a young girl's. (Note, my guardian doesn't have a normally high pitch when speaking.) Scrambling back as he backed himself into a corner as I take shelter within his Light.
"What do I do?! What do I do?!" He screamed, making me internally scream. Did he need to repeat everything twice? And to be told the obvious, he had a gun, he was being aggressively attacked, I would think most people would be able to put two and two together.
"Well, gee, I'm not sure. Let me think for a second" I replied telepathically, making sure my sarcasm is clear. "You could, I don't know, SHOOT them maybe?!"
Panicked, my Guardian fumbles his gun, nearly dropping it again as he raises it again, barrels somehow pressed against his shoulder as points the stock at them "threateningly."
"Stay back! I know how to use this!" He yelled, practically screaming he doesn't. This, this is beyond the level of embarrassing I've ever seen. At this point, I'm pretty sure the only reason we're still breathing is because the Fallen are either pitting us, or are so confused by his display, they can't tell if this is some elaborate joke or not. Honestly, I'm not sure which is worse.
Regardless, they get their answers when, somehow without realizing it backwards, my Guardian pulls the trigger, immediately shooting himself in the shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground, blood pouring out of his shoulder. His gun clattering next to him, where it gets hit by one of his flailing limbs, sending it spinning out of his reach before hitting one of the Captain's feet, coming to a complete stop.
I see the aliens exchange a confused look before one of the Captains shrug, then signals two of their underlings to move in. They Arc knives glowing in the moonlight, casting my Guardian's face into the light.
I sigh once again and prepare for resurrection. I had hoped he would be able to get to the city before his first death, but right now, I think I'll just settle on him getting there. If this is how he handles a couple low level scavenging parties, I can't begin to imagine how poorly he'd handle…well, anything really. This area is a training area for younger Guardians and if he's having this much trouble, oh boy am I in for a long partnership.
But before the blade can come down, the deafening sound of gunfire breaks through the night, causing the Dreg's head to suddenly explode! Sending a shower of their blue blood (I think they call it Ether.) and skin splattering down on my Guardian.
Immediately, the Fallen turned to face the garage door, where the sound came from. Only for a second bang, blasting the head off another Dreg, the other one that had moved in, causing the enemies to scatter.
Seems my distress signal was reserved. Just in the nick of time to!
A lone Huntress adorned in red was running towards us, a sniper rifle in her hands. It had a black frame with a white interior, bearing several blue symbols I don't recognize on the white metal, but gave it an appearance of an old, pre-Golden age sword that high ranking officers might carry. Adding to this appearance was how the stock was shaped, not unlike a handle with the scope and magazine position in just the right place to make it look like a guard.
But before I could admire the weapon anymore, a roar from next to my Guardian drew my attention. One of the Captains, has raised his own Arc sword, angrily gesturing at the approaching Huntress, bellowing an order that was most likely meant attack.
Though before he could finish it, two more bangs echoed through the night, both bullets slamming into his head, one breaking his shields, the other cracking his rebreather. Seems out Huntress was quite a good shot, to be able to hit a shot like that without losing speed was a very impressive feat.
Which was good, because the next second, the other Fallen broke from cover, charging out to greet their new opponent.
Taking the front line were the Dregs, immediately spreading out to try to lay down as much covering fire as they could. Meanwhile, a half of the Vandals took the high ground where they readied their snipers while others activated their cloaking tech, hiding behind rocks to make their opponent lose sight of them for their next stealth attack.
However the Huntress didn't seem fazed. Instead, she calmly emptied her magazine onto the floor before loading a new one, slowing only a bit to avoid tripping over the empty cartridge.
Seeing their barrage bouncing off her armor, the enraged Dregs changed tactics, charging head first toward their opponents drawing knives to stab into the slits that surrounded the armor, while simultaneously drawing her attention to them, and away from the blurry shapes of the Vandals as they snuck around cover to flank the girl.
Seeing this, the girl slid to a stop, raising her rifle and began firing with tremendous speed and accuracy, cutting down the Dregs as they neared her, reloading so fast that the other wouldn't have the time to get near her.
But with only a four bullet magazine, it was only a matter of time before they started closing in, their gleaming eyes fixed on the girl as she took a few steps back, cutting down another batch as she went.
And just as she dropped another empty magazine, one of the Dregs shot forward, leaping into the air, pulling its knife back to stab it deep into the Huntress' neck. At the same time, all three Vandals leapt out from behind rock, their swords drawn as they rushed her from all sides, giving her no place to run to.
At this point, I expect her to pull a knife or sidearm to defend herself. But instead, a smirk appeared on her face under her slick helmet as four opponents descended upon her. Quickly as she could, she reached behind herself and grabbed the edge of her cloak, pulling around her like a blanket, showing off the beautiful rosé engraving.
And then, just like that, she vanished. All four weapons stabbing the ground where she had been moments ago.
For a stunned second, the Fallen froze, looking around completely confused as to what had just happened. That was no Nightstalker vanish, nor was it a Bladedance blink. That was something they had never seen before and quite frankly, neither had I.
That was pure speed. She had moved so fast, both myself and the Fallen had lost sight of her. It was akin to some kind of instant Amplified speed boost, those I've never heard of such a thing. I wouldn't have even thought it was possible had I not seen it with my own eye. A part of me still doesn't if I'm being completely honest.
Yet there was no denying it. Looking up at the Huntress silhouetted against the moon several feet above the Fallen, her small, yet graceful figure loading another magazine into her gun, her entire body seeming to float weightless above the battlefield, I dare say even Mis. Shinobu would be proud.
She hung in the air for a second, time seeming to slow as she slid another magazine into her gun as she hovered in the air for a second. Then, spinning in the air, she came crashing down, driving the stock of her gun down onto one of the Vandals, caving in its head immediately.
Right on cue, the other Fallen spun, snarling at the Huntress, moving in to kill her before she had completely landed.
But before they could reach her, the one she had crushed with her gun suddenly let out a jolting burst of Arc lightning, stunning the gathered Fallen, sending the Vandals reeling and disintegrating the Dreg. Giving the young woman enough to time land and level her gun at her remaining opponents. Only this time, she took aim at the other snipers.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three shots rang out from her gun, blowing off the heads of the three distant Vandals, three lifeless bodies not even hitting the ground before the young Huntress fired her fourth and final shot into another Dreg's chest, knocking it into the air before crumbling to the ground, dead.
Moving quickly, the Huntress ripped her magazine out, dropping it to the ground as she readied another. But the second it entered her gun, one of the sword welding Vandals lunged at her from behind, blades poised to slash the back of her neck open!
Fortunately, she seemed to have noticed first. Moving fast as lightning, she rolled forward, dodging the blade and turning around in the same movement. Then, the second her feet were planted, she countered attacked by swinging her gun by the muzzle, slamming the fresh magazine into the Fallen's face, cracking its skull while simultaneously releasing a powerful burst of lightning that vaporized not only the one she struck, but the other two in the right next to it.
At the same time, there was a dull clicking sound from her gun as the muzzle seemed to let out a faint glow indicating something had changed. And while I'm no expert in snipers, I know an Exotic when I see one. Meaning whatever she had done when she hit the Vandal, it had triggered the secondary ability of the weapon.
It seems I was in for quite a good show indeed.
But it seemed I'd have to wait a bit as before the Huntress showed off her gun's ability as first, she spun around, facing the Captains once again, running like a Titan toward them!
In response, the remaining Dregs and one of the Captains opened fire, raining shots down, forcing her to leap into the air to avoid one of the scotch cannon blasts that landed too close.
But she had clearly expected that, as in a single fluid movement, she opened her palm, immediately creating a sphere of pulsing Arc Light, one that crackled with the energy of life itself. The electrons within practically bursting at the seams, desperate to escape as well as draw in more.
Taking aim, the Huntress threw the mass of energy into the center of the Dregs, creating a repeating burst of Arc energy at the point of impact, completely turning the Dregs to ashes as bolts of lightning jolted out, striking each one with terrifying precision. One bolt even shooting out, hitting the Captain causing him to stagger, he next cannon shot flying way off as a result.
Taking advantage of the situation, the Huntress landed, raising her gun the second her feet touched the ground, taking aim at the still shielded Captain who was now charging her. Squinting at her target from behind her helmet, she steady her breathing to reduce movement as her finger brushed against the trigger.
Time seemed to freeze as the Fallen leapt toward the girl, aiming to destroy her gun before she could get her shot off, a desperate attempt to save itself from almost certain annihilation, its Arc shield protecting it from any form of kinetic energy as it dove, relying on that to protect it long enough to land a decisive blow. It knew this battle would be decided by whomever landed the next blow!
And it wasn't wrong.
BANG!
The next shot rang out like a cannon blast instead of a gunshot, echoing far into the night as the girl herself was thrown back from the force of her gun going off. At the same time, the Fallen Captain lurched, its entire body being thrown backwards as the shot tore straight through its head, blasting it off as well as his shoulders and a hood portion of its chest. Its shield shattering instantly against the sheer force it was up against!
Time seemed to freeze once again as I watched the Captain's body fall to the ground, its life ended before it even realized it. All from a single shot from a girl about half its size. I doubt it ever even realized it had died, everything had been so fast, even I could barely keep up. This girl lived up to the reputation placed upon her kind, and all that skill must have come from somewhere.
Scanning over her attire, I notice how worn it is, how well used. I can't stop myself from imagining where they've been, the things they've seen, the monsters they've killed.
Honestly, it's stuff like this that reminds me why I was so dead set on finding my Guardian. To go out on our own adventures, dig up our own loot, learn the secrets of the system and use them to fight back the encroaching darkness. Something I still dream about.
And as I watch the Huntress walk up and finish off the last remaining Captain, I think back to that dream and am reaffirmed in my belief that I'm getting closer. And that someday, it'll be us responding to a distress call and beating back the Fallen just as effortlessly as this Huntress.
With the battle over, I see the Guardian's Ghost appear next to her, scanning her for any injuries and immediately healing them up as she approaches us, offering her hand to my Guardian.
"You okay?" She asked in a surprisingly young sounding voice. "I got your distress call. Came as fast as I could. You aren't injured, are you?"
"T-thanks." My Guardian replied, taking her hand and being pulled to his feet. "I mean, I totally could have handled it, but thanks for the assist! They got me in my shoulder when they knocked me down. I don't feel it so I hope it's not infected or anything. You don't happen to have any antibiotics do you?"
"A new light, huh." She states cheerfully. "Bet you're fresh out the grace, aren't you. Well, don't worry about infections or anything, I think you're Ghost can take care of that."
"I already did." I cut in, rolling my eye. "And I'm pretty sure shooting yourself doesn't count as them getting you."
"Ghost!" He whines, turning to me red faced. "Could you please not embarrass me right now?! I'm trying to make a good impression!"
"A good impression? You shot yourself in the arm with your own gun. You're lucky to have survived at all." I chastised, floating aggressively floating up to his face. Making him take a step back. "Need I remind you we were in this situation because you ran off screaming despite me telling you it was dangerous! If you had just listened to my explanation for more than thirty seconds then we would have been in the Last City by now! If I hadn't sent that distress call-!"
"Hey, guys."
We broke off at the Huntress' call, turning our attention to her, noticing she was looking outside the garage door. Confused, we turned to look as well and immediately I felt my heart drop.
There, scattered outside all over the cosmodrome were Fallen. Multiple Captains and their squads, all united under the purpose of killing a Guardian, their mortal enemy. Must be close to a hundred of them gathered here! They must have heard the fight and rushed over to see what lot they could pick off our bones, waiting until they had surrendered us before emerging to attack. Cowards!
"Haha. That's…that's not good." My Guardian says, taking a few steps back, his entire body shaking like a leaf as he turns to the Huntress. "Umm, Miss. Guardian lady, you ahh, you wouldn't happen to have a team nearby, would? Cause…uh, I can't fight this many."
At this, I see a smirk spread across the Huntress' face. Confidently, she strides forward, cramming another magazine into her rifle before swinging it onto her back.
"Umm, miss Huntress?" My Guardian calls nervously from inside the garage. "Unless that fancy gun of yours can call an airstrike, I don't think that's a good idea. We're kinda outnumbered and definitely outgunned. I think we should retreat and-."
"Ruby Rose." The girl says, stopping my Guardian in his tracks as she glanced over her shoulder at him.
"First, my name isn't Huntress, it's Ruby Rose." She says with a smile in her voice. "Second, this is a high powered sniper rifle that can combine up to four bullets inside the chamber into one, enhancing its destructive power to several times its normal capacity. Meaning it'll only take a few shots from this to take out Drake Tank."
With that, she turns back towards the slowly advancing Fallen. Calmly, she slid her feet back, crouching down as she opened her palms, spreading her arms wide with one tucked behind her back and the other extended forward.
Upon seeing this, one of the Captains' let's out a roar. Gesturing with his Arc sword at the girl, ordering his men to attack and making them race across the field towards her, being quickly joined by the other Captains and their crews. Each one dead set on looting the bodies of the two Guardians.
But despite a hundred Fallen barreling down on her, Ruby seemed completely calm, not moving a muscle even as a sniper round shot past her head, burning itself into the door behind her.
"And thirdly," She says, hand flexing slightly as she shifts her feet slightly, her voice resonating with complete confidence. "I know my way around a fight!"
With that, Arc Light engulfed her, wrapping around her with enough energy to power a city! Impossible bolts of lightning shot off her armor as it glinted off sparks. In her back hand, a long staff made of lightning appeared. Long, thin, elegant, and impossible. Bolts of lightning twisting together into a mass of solid matter that was made out of pure energy. Being neither of this world nor any other. It was simply made into being by the power of Ruby's will.
It was beautiful, elegant, and deadly. A complication of all her experiences etched onto its nonexistent form. An impossible tangle of twisted reality made possible by the Traveler's Light, gifted to this small girl and made her own. A skill notorious among Hunters. One honed in the wilds where none dared travel.
But that is all the time I have to take in what I saw, as the next second, Ruby shots forward, charging headfirst into the Fallen, effortlessly tearing through them with minimal effort, sending body and body parts flying up into the air as her Arc Light rips them to pieces.
Effortlessly dancing through the enemy, every one of her moments are practiced, precise. Not a single wasted move or unnecessary step as she cuts their numbers down, until finally, at a shocking rate, the last Captain hits the ground, life fading from its eyes as Ruby, swings her staff up, calmly holding it behind her back as she stands at the center of the carnage. Her enemies shells and casing raining down around her as her cloak billowed out in the wind.
And as her staff disappeared into thin air, I let out a breath I didn't know I was even holding. At the same time, I hear my Guardian breathlessly chime in with his own, very short and simple thoughts on her incredible display.
"Wow."
Yeah, that about sums everything up.
Recorded by Ghost Juniper. Ghost to Guardian Vomit Boy. (Name change pending.)