Redacted
Silence
I actually was going to release this chapter yesterday, but then Fanfiction kept saying there was an error everytime I tried to upload the document. So, I had to wait until today to put up the chapter. Boo, and here I thought I was actually able to get back onto my regular update schedule. Anyway, enjoy this chapter guys!
His fingers trembled against the glass as his white optics lingered over the pods, seeing them slide against the conveyers as they slowly slid out of view, the numbers and words labeled on the sides all too clear. Despite the soft and comforting hands on his shoulder, he knew that this would be the last time that he would see any of his brothers and sisters.
And Unit I-1
"We warned you against forming attachments."
In any other situation, he would have reacted with rage, with anger at the words of the human standing next to his side. However, instead, he placed the front of his head against the window, and slumped his shoulders, his optics flickering dimly in response to the scientist's words.
"There are other Units under construction," The human added, the tone a bit too cheery and light for his liking, "So do not fret, you will have company again."
'But they are not the same', he wanted to say, 'they are not the same as Unit I – 3 or Unit I - 7, let alone Unit I-1'.
However, he already had seen the consequences of the Unit III's and Unit V's. Lashing out or rebelling against their creators isn't encouraged.
As such, Unit I-0 opted to say nothing, and instead, made a small promise to himself; never again would he lose anymore of his brothers and sisters. And never, would they come to harm, not while he was still alive.
Xxxxx
Echo wasn't reviving.
The older Phoenix's light shone like a beacon in Unit Eleven's optics however, he easily watched as Reaver shifted his shell uneasily against his core, his words incomprehensible but the exasperated look in the Ghost's gaze was enough; something was going on with Echo and the Phoenix model was unwilling to resurrect.
Normally, in any other situation, Unit Eleven wouldn't have minded Echo sulking within the confines of his Ghost however, as he easily dodged another shot from Dusk's Golden Gun, he would be more than happy for Echo to jump back onto his feet at any moment.
"How are you doing that!?" Dusk's roar of frustration permeated through the Plaza as Unit Eleven conjured a shield of light, causing the bullet to splinter into shards of ember, "Only the Unit V's were the main defense of the Phoenix!"
Letting out a breath as to keep his only protection steady, the male Warlock simply gave Dusk a blank stare, "The Unit XI's were considered the best success by the humans, second only to Echo. Can you guess the reason why?"
Hurt and anger easily flashed through Dusk's optics, Unit Eleven seeing the familiar color of crimson as she fired more shots from her solar weapon; more shots than the Exo Warlock was used to witnessing outside of the Crucible. Feeling himself slide back with every fire, the male Exo struck one of his hands forward, the shield of light skidding across the marbled concrete and towards the female Hunter.
Half-expecting for her to dodge, Unit Eleven instead reeled back when instead, he watched Dusk brace her shoulder forward, and brought her arms up, barely seeing her flinch as the light induced shield shimmered around her fiery form and dissipating harmlessly behind. Blinking several times at this action, the younger Phoenix then leaped to the side to dodge another solar bullet, rolling onto his knees as he slowly skidded to a stop, and then propelled himself forward.
Seeing the female Exo reel back in response to this, Unit Eleven barely covered half the distance when he came to screeching halt, just in time to stop as a solar shot crashed in front of him, leaving marked marble as he forced himself to the side, barely dodging another hit. Turning himself around so that he could face Dusk, the Exo Warlock took in a deep breath as he flexed his hands, his optics scanning over the female Phoenix's form as she aimed her solar weapon at him, but kept still, her gaze narrowing.
It was easy for Unit Eleven to tell that the Huntress was trying to keep her distance, and not for the reason that the younger Phoenix has the capability to absorb the energies of others and counter it back; despite her strengths and her capability to force Echo away in close combat, Dusk was more prone for long range fighting, easily from the way how she was easily able to block or dodge most of Unit Eleven's blows, however, seems to reel back whenever he would attempt to close the distance. Having the upper hand in physical strength doesn't always mean victory when it comes to experience.
Flexing his hands as he continued to take in his surroundings, Unit Eleven once again rolled to the side when the familiar bang of a Golden Gun resounded through the air, the younger Phoenix feeling the heat of the bullet brush against his back as he scrambled back onto his feet.
"At this rate, one of you is going to tire out," Day muttered, the Ghost's words ringing in his head, "and considering Dusk's body is ninety percent Traveler, I highly doubt it is going to be her."
Opting to say nothing at his Ghost's commentary, Unit Eleven focused his attention onto Dusk's features, seeing the anger and frustration building up behind the female Exo's optics, "Patience is a virtue."
Sensing the bewilderment from the white Ghost, the younger Phoenix once again opted to say nothing and instead gathered as much of his light around his person as he can before he raised a hand and snapped it shut. Light can be seen flashing around Dusk's form before rounded shapes reminiscence of glass floated around her, circulating around as if to mock the older Phoenix. Seeing the female Exo momentarily glance at Unit Eleven in both bewilderment and irritation before letting out a startled yelp, barely stumbling back in time to dodge a swing by one of the floating orbs, and earning the Exo Warlock a snarl. Watching her attempting to run and move to get the shapes off of her, Unit Eleven can sense her frustrations growing, her annoyance emanating as every attempt to aim her weapon at the younger Phoenix only made her dodge to avoid a swing by one of the Exo Warlock's orbs of light. Finally, Unit Eleven heard her let out a cry of outrage, Dusk coming to a sudden halt as she started aiming her weapon at the orbs of light around her form and firing, the bullets going erratic as they easily missed their intended target and ricocheted or slammed into any unfortunate targets nearby.
This was his chance.
Further condensing his light around his form, Unit Eleven dashed forward, curling his fingers together as the orbs of light burst into a display of scattering lights and embers, hearing Dusk let out a cry of surprise as she raised her hands to her optics. Using his light to propel himself even faster, the younger Phoenix then leaped forward, slamming himself into Dusk and knocking her to the ground. Hearing her let out a curse as he cradled himself on top of the female Phoenix's form, Unit Eleven then wrapped his hands around her neck and concentrated, his optics dimming as warmth spread throughout his arms, the familiar sensation of energy building up in his chest ringing through his body.
"Not here."
She reeled back, hurt clear in her optics as she glanced at the Phoenix Exo next to her, "What?"
"Not here," Her shoulders slumped as his white optics narrowed, although it lacked the annoyance or anger that had settled into his voice; wariness and fear can be seen in his gaze, "Not when the humans are around."
"But…" Her optics glanced back at the humans around them, hearing them chatter before she added, "We have done this before, we had held hands out in public, have we not?"
"That was before the Unit III's termination," She watched the male Phoenix turn and fix his optics into hers; the worry was more prominent than before, "And they're telling those created after the Unit V's to act as…"
Hearing his voice fade, she then curled her hands near her sides, "… act as what?"
"…As machines, Unit I-1."
Taking in a harsh breath as she turned her optics back towards the humans gathered in front of the pair, denial faded into her mind. True, the humans have expected she and the others of her Unit to 'behave' but, they wouldn't just simply terminate them for the reason that they asked a harmless question… right?
'I am going to ask the humans tonight', she recalls Unit III – 10 beaming, 'we have served them for 'years', only fair we get an answer, correct?'
She hasn't seen her fellow female Phoenix since, all she received was the news that the Unit III's were placed under termination, a 'bug' in their programming.
Although her senses warned against her mind, the Phoenix Exo walked forward, not having to glance back to see the look of alarm and shock emanating from Unit I – 0. Ignoring his silent pleas and cries, she approached the first human in her sight – a male from glancing down at a console – before she asked, "Pardon my intrusion, but may I bother you with a question?"
She immediately received a bewildered look, her instincts further flashing readings of warning; the female Phoenix shoved them to the side, "After witnessing several of your numbers interact in an intimate manner, I was wondering if it is possible for a Phoenix such as I to experience the same emotion?"
No sooner had her question left her when she saw the human's eyes widen, his jaw dropping open before seeing him quickly regain his composure, a smile – strained she noted – as he answered, "Have you, uh, 'experienced' this type of… intimacy?"
"Yes," She watched as the scientist reeled back, "he and I, we are – what you call? – in love?"
Silence immediately permeated between the two and it was then, she felt a harsh grip clasp around her arm. Snapping behind her, the female Phoenix opened her mouth to retort only to pause as she locked onto Unit I-0's gaze; never, in her entirety of her existence, has she seen so much fear in his optics.
Feeling him pull her back towards their isolated corner where they stood previously, the female Exo heard a whisper behind her back.
"Reporting in, a Unit I just asked an existential question. Steps to be taken?"
Letting out a gasp, Unit Eleven tore his hands away from Dusk's neck, his optics staring deeply into her wide ones, "You, you were the reason why the Unit I's were terminated."
Watching her lights flicker between her plates momentarily, the Exo Warlock then watched as anger flared in her gaze followed by pain resounding through his chest. The next thing he knew, Unit Eleven found himself on the broken hearth of the Plaza, the static in his optics clearing up just in time for him to view the sky.
"I was young, naïve, ignorant on what the humans were capable of," Unit Eleven saw Dusk's form loom over him, her optics narrowed, "I had thought that all of our years in service, all those years in gaining those precious 'resources', that the Unit I's would be exempt." Her scowl deepened, "In the end, our reward was to be dismantled and recycled into those 'imitations'."
Watching her kneel above, Unit Eleven laid still as Dusk lowered until the pair were staring only into each other's optics, "I read through that AI's files so tell me, little brother, how many of your Units were marked 'defective' after the war was over?"
His lights dimming at her words, Unit Eleven at first thought it better to remain silent, however, as he felt her fingers tap against the side of his head, the Exo Warlock found himself answering, "Including myself, three of us made it to the end of the war, however, the two brothers that were with me were marked for termination, and as such, were not given away as I was."
"For the reason that they believed you to be a 'hero?" Unit Eleven flinched at her words, the younger Phoenix seeing Dusk's optics shift; she had noticed his discomfort, "Just because you had ordered A.I.P to delete any file related to you, does not mean that I cannot simply restore it." He watched as a smirk flashed onto her metallic features, "To think though, that the humans were fooled by one of their own just because a few static in memory was enough to convince them."
"Hwan-Lee knew what he was doing," The smile faded from Dusk's features, "He ensured that I had a second chance."
"At the cost of his own life, correct?" Unit Eleven went silent, "I wonder how that must have felt, pressured into killing the first human that had treated you with sentiency, just so that you can escape punishment."
"Not all humans are blinded by greed, Dusk," The Exo Warlock added, "It is just unfortunate that most are more likely to be blinded by their own arrogance."
Seeing her lean back, Unit Eleven watched as the female Phoenix scanned his features, her optics flashing to their surroundings momentarily before fixing back onto his gaze, "How unfortunate indeed."
It was then he felt her hands grip the sides of his head and before he can even react, he felt his light 'leave' him, wisps of white filtering near the edges of his optics as his vision blurred.
"Finally, that little brat is out of our hair."
Twitching at the words of the man of the house, the male Exo shifted in his seat on the boy's bed, clutching the jar that held Ben's ashes as he continued to listen, "It was bad enough that we were arranged to marry, but to carry around that burden for 'months' just for the reason we had too much to drink that night? Glad that it is gone."
Taking in a deep breath, the Exo stood up from his seat before placing the urn down with trembling fingers on a dresser; he wasn't going to drop the closest thing to family after so many years working for the Martins.
"What are we going to do about the boy's ashes?"
"Display it," The nonchalant answer sent waves of rage through the Exo's body, "and then cry about it every time it is brought up."
"Agreed, to keep our image clean." A scoff can be heard, "only reason we decided to keep the boy, otherwise, I would have just got rid of it years ago."
Curling his fingers into fists as he heard the laughter permeate down the hall, the Exo slowly took slow and steady steps towards the living area.
"What about the machine?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"You saw how close it was to the boy? Do you think there is going to be any negative impacts on its programming?"
A laugh was the answer to the woman's question, "We ordered it to raise the child, not because it 'wanted' to. Machines are just as they are, 'machines'. Talking like as though the thing has emotions, pfeh. It is not going to do 'anything'."
His gaze darkening at the man's words, the Exo decided to make his presence known, coming to a stiff halt near the opening to the living area, just enough to gain notice, "Ah, there you are! Be a good bot and bring another bottle."
Watching the man turn and shift himself back into his seat, the Exo took long strides until he was behind the human, narrowing his optics down at the back of his head before suddenly, he snapped his hands around the man's neck. A surprise choke was his reward followed by a horrified shriek as the Exo felt the human struggle underneath his grasp before with one swift movement, twisted, a sickening crack echoing throughout the room.
Turning his attention towards the female as he let the limp form of the man fall from his hands, the Exo watched as the woman fell from her seat before scrambling towards the exit, causing the former combat Exo to slowly make his way towards the screaming woman with little effort.
"You defect!" He heard her yell as he grabbed her by the arm, pulling her form back towards him, "The others will hear about this! This will bring the end of you accursed- "
He didn't let her finish as he twisted her neck, the all too familiar snap of a snapped bone resounding in his ears as the woman fell, leaving the Exo feeling numb as he stared at the body. The Exo should feel satisfaction, shouldn't he? The one Ben had called his 'parents', who had openly mocked and celebrated his death should have been enough to sate the anger bubbling in his chest. But instead, all the male Exo felt was the grief, the rage that the deaths of these 'humans' were too quick, not painful enough for how long the boy had spent bedridden, in agony because of the illness that had taken over his body.
"Someone has to pay." He whispered to himself as he turned his attention towards the front of the house, his gaze locking onto the door, "Someone has to."
With a shout, Unit Eleven shoved Dusk's hands from the sides of his head before snapping one of his own forward, letting out a blast of light from his fingertips. A cry of shock was his response, taking the sound of staggering footsteps as a sign to twist himself onto his chest before clumsily pushing himself onto his feet, shaking his head to remove any sign of static in his vision before preparing himself for another assault.
However, as he locked his gaze onto Dusk's optics, to his surprise, instead of anger, he saw bewilderment, confusion, curiosity.
"You didn't kill the Martins and the other humans for your mistreatment?" Unit Eleven paused at her words, "You killed them because of that child?"
Blinking several times at the female Phoenix's question, the Exo Warlock found himself lowering his guard, taking several steps back to place more distance between himself and his fellow Phoenix, "…Yes."
"Why?"
"Was your interaction with humans that limited, Dusk?" Unit Eleven watched as her expression went blank, her optics dimming at his words, "Did all of them treated you with such prejudice and hate that you believe that 'all' of humanity are the same? That even a child could carry so much arrogance?"
He paused at her silence, seeing the uncertainty in her gaze, "…Have you even met a human child, Dusk?"
No sooner had he finished speaking when her optics darkened, "You mean besides the ones that my handlers forced me to kill?"
Flinching at her answer, Unit Eleven decided to add, "Then, you do not know the innocence of a child's mind."
"Does it matter? They will all learn the matters of greed when they mature," Dusk snapped, "As long as humanity remains, greed and arrogance will be prominent, they will never see themselves as nothing more than beings higher than those around them."
Once again pausing at the female Phoenix's words, Unit Eleven finally let the emotions of grief slip through, his shoulders sagging and pain lingering in his optics, "Echo and I, the two of us thought that there would be hope for you."
He watched Dusk tilt her head, her gaze dimming, "I had held hope for the two of you as well." Then, Unit Eleven saw her optics blaze to life, "But, I can see that none of us will get what we want."
Seeing her body tense, and her legs pressing against the floor, Unit Eleven hardly gathered enough time to bring out his hands, and felt an impact slam into his palms. However, pain then reverberated through his right hand, causing him to flinch as his optics glanced over, only to see the heated blade of a knife sticking through the back of his hand. Fixing his attention back onto the female Phoenix, all Unit Eleven saw was a smirk flash onto her metallic features before she twisted, letting spikes of agony permeate through his right appendage. Letting out a grunt in response to this, Unit Eleven felt his body contort with the direction of the rotation, only to feel his feet fly out underneath him, the male Phoenix once again finding himself on the floor once more.
Feeling weight climb onto his chest, Unit Eleven only enough time to lift his head to gain a better glimpse of the female Exo only to feel a sensation similar to a punch slam into his neck, just right underneath his jaw. Only feeling a dull thrum, the Phoenix Warlock parted his lips to comment on the attack, only to hear nothing but broken static and incomprehensible whispers. It was then, only then, that he shifted his attention away from Dusk's face, down to her arm, and then her hand, seeing her fingers wrapped around the handle of another knife of solar light. Although unable to properly see the blade, it didn't take much for Unit Eleven to understand what had occurred.
Shifting his attention back onto the female Phoenix, the younger Exo then felt a cough escape him, white liquids spilling from his lips as he finally felt his lifeblood leaking from the opening in his neck, reaching out with his left hand and clamping it as tightly as he can around Dusk's wrist.
"D-Dusk…" He managed to croak out, and it was then, he saw the frustration, the anger fade, only to be replaced that is reminisce of grief.
"I really didn't want to do this, brother," Dusk whispered, her optics dimming, "but you and Echo, you two got in the way. I didn't see any other path besides… this."
It was then he saw wisps of light permeate up through the female Phoenix's arm; Unit Eleven can easily sense the panic from Knight and Day.
"What are you doing!?" It was Day, "Do something! Don't just lay there and take it!"
Muttering incomprehensibly under his breath, Unit Eleven forced the sudden sensation of grogginess to the back of his mind, and concentrated, seeing Dusk's force contort into one of confusion and frustration as the familiar sensation of being rejuvenated jumpstarted his senses, his vision slowly clearing.
Pain spiked throughout his neck, Unit Eleven taking in a sudden breath as he felt the knife dig in deeper, his bleary vision connecting with Dusk's.
"Do not fight it," He heard her hiss, feeling a hand cradle the back of his head, firm but gentle, "Do not make this anymore painful than it needs to be." Though static nearly consumed his vision, he heard the sincerity in Dusk's words, her voice soft as Unit Eleven heard her add, "Accept it."
Grief can be felt emanating from the back of mind, although, Unit Eleven is confused if it was either Knight and Day's or his own, the sensation of failure of stopping his sister lingering strongly within.
"I told you… that my name was Unit Eleven." He can sense the bewildered stare he received from the female Phoenix, "That… that name was just an attempt to run from the past." The Exo Warlock took in a shuddering breath, "My real name… is Nine."
That is when the sorrow finally took him, feeling his life slip through the cracks of his plating as the wails of both Knight and Day echoed in his head, as darkness finally taking him.
Xxxxx
Feeling her brother go limp in her arms, grief settled into Dusk's chest as she finally tugged the knife free from his neck, letting the light fade from her fingertips as she stood up from the body.
"Nine…" She repeated the name, the female Phoenix's thoughts lingering back to their first meeting, the introductions when they had first met in the caves. Dusk had always had a suspicion that somehow, the name, 'Unit Eleven', didn't feel right with her younger Phoenix brother, the title sounding too new, too foreign on the tongue of the male Exo. Now though, the name Nine sounded more natural, more familiar as he admitted his true name as the female Phoenix took the last wisps of light from his form, although, Dusk can still feel the parts of the Traveler strongly within; although a small piece, Nine will rise again, although, it will take some time, long enough for the Huntress to finish her task of claiming the City under the name of the Phoenix.
At least, that is what she had thought when she turned around, only to feel the lingering sensation of solar light burst behind her. Startled, Dusk turned around in time to see a white blur slam into her, feeling hands grip the front of her armor as she felt herself being lifted.
"You killed him!"
Reeling back, the female Phoenix glanced down onto the face of Nine, the wound in his neck still bleeding but healed just enough to stem the flow as she spotted the flashes of grief and anger in his optics, "You killed Nine!"
Confusion further building up in the back of her mind, Dusk's optics then widened as her young brother's words echoed to the front.
"It seems your 'followers' had failed to inform you that there is another consciousness inhabiting this body."
"He was not lying," She whispered, seeing 'Nine' – the other consciousness – flinch at her words, "there really is another sharing his body."
It currently made sense to the female Exo, how the look in his optics seemed younger, fresher than Nine's, and his tone of voice just a tad bit higher than the older mind's; not different enough to spot the difference immediately, just enough to know that a wholly different persona was speaking, in control.
Instead of responding to her analysis, Dusk instead felt the younger mind toss her, a cry of outrage sparking from his throat as the familiar sensation of flying overtook her senses. Regaining her composure, the female Phoenix concentrated her light around her form, twisting to allow herself to contort in the air and land back onto her feet, lifting her gaze just in time to see the younger mind reel back, his optics wide in surprise; apparently, he had expected to do some damage.
"How long ago were you created?"
Although Dusk can easily sense the anger aimed towards her, she also can easily see the slump in his shoulders, and she took note of his hitch breathing, a near hiccup in her gaze; not long ago, in other words, too young for her to comfortably kill him, and she had barely gathered enough will and strength to kill Echo and Nine. Dusk is unsure if she can kill something that somewhat resembles a 'child' in the years of an Exo, let alone one that was created most likely by her brother.
As she further contemplated her choices, a wary cry snapped her out of her thoughts, giving her enough time to step to the side and swing her leg forward, flipping over the charging form of the younger Exo onto his back, hearing him wheeze in response.
"You have a long way to go before you can take on someone like me, youngling." Dusk commented as she heard the younger mind let out a cough as she watched him slowly flip over to his side, "let alone stop me."
"… Why?" The female Phoenix blinked at his question, "Why? He was your brother, your 'family'."
Hesitating at the words of the younger Exo, Dusk silently stared as the youngling staggered back onto his feet, "… He was in my way."
"…Is that all?" She watched him lift his gaze, and instead of the anger, she saw grief, loss, anguish, "Just for the reason that he got in your way, you killed him?"
"...I didn't want to do it."
"But you did anyway!" The anger was back in his tone, but Dusk easily saw the vastness of sadness lingering in his optics, "Did you know what Nine's last thoughts were?" A bitter laugh emanated from his lips, "I thought it was going to be Ben, the child that he had raised as his own in his previous life." Dusk then watched him shake his head, "But no, despite the love and care he had in the world towards him, his last thoughts weren't of the human child he raised in the Golden Age. It was you." The female Phoenix went tense at his words, "It was 'you' who he had thought about, how much guilt he felt for being unable to save you from your hate, from your thirst for revenge." The laughter died from his throat, his optics going blank, "Before we found out about you, before all 'this' even happened, he told me how vengeance can feel great momentarily, how 'satisfying' it will feel when you enact out on it. But, then he said it won't solve 'anything', that no matter the reason, no matter the action, it won't have undone what had occurred. The dead, will stay dead, the past, will remain the past." Dusk watched him give him a grief-stricken look, "Nothing you do will matter."
Flinching at his words, the female Exo simply said nothing but slowly approached the younger Exo, summoning her knife back in her hands. If the male Exo had seen the weapon, he showed no sign of it as Dusk slowly came to a pause in front of him, the female Phoenix taking note of the unblinking stare he gave her.
"Do it." She paused at his words, "Do it, so you can live with the guilt that not only did you kill your brother, but that you also killed his 'creation', his 'offspring'."
Staring deeply into the dimming optics of the younger Exo, Dusk complied, shoving her knife into the crook of his neck, in between the shoulder blades as he let out a shuddering gasp, feeling the edges of her knife dig into the core that took place of the heart in Exo autonomy, and watched as the life faded from the younger Exo's optics. Releasing her hold on her weapon to allow the body to collapse, Dusk then noticed the trembling in her fingers, causing her to bring her hands close to her chest as she turned towards the Traveler.
"You confound me," She whispered as she took steps forward, as if to close the distance between herself and the dormant god, "You chose humanity as your chosen but yet, you resurrect my brethren into a war to fight for them, to fight as they did in their previous lives." Dusk momentarily paused, searching the Traveler's broken form, "Why? Did we not do enough back in the Golden Age? Did we not act as the proper 'machines' that humanity demanded of us? Were we not 'obedient' enough?"
Going silent, Dusk waited patiently, only for her optics to narrow at the lack of an answer, "Why won't you say 'something'!? Anything!? Tell me if my actions are wrong then! Are they wrong!? Or am I justified!?"
She waited, only to let out a scream, "Say something you corpse of a god! Or else I 'will' burn 'and' destroy this pathetic place of a city! Of a Haven! Say! SOMETHING!"
Grief settled within her chest as she heaved out, "Then did I kill my brothers for nothing? That even if I do raze this place to the ground, that humanity will remain as your chosen? And that the Phoenix really was the result of their greed? That we are a product of theft? That we really aren't your 'chosen'? That it was all 'coincidental'?"
Dusk went silent again, her optics scanning the broken god before a weary sigh escaped the female Phoenix, her gaze slowly lowering to the floor, "Fine then, if you will not answer…"
Fire then slowly consumed her form, a cry of rage and grief escaping her throat as she let the light lash out, crawling against the Plaza as it sought out destruction, charring the very surfaces that it brushed against. However, as her senses stretched out, Dusk felt a powerful light approach from behind, feeling them charge through her fire, and slam into her back.
A short gasp escaped her lips as she felt her light suddenly come to a halt, her fire immediately dispersing from her gaze as Dusk felt herself immediately fall back, only to feel comforting arms slow her descent.
"I'm sorry," The female Phoenix felt her attacker cradle her form in his arms, "I'm sorry, forgive me."
At first, confused by his words, Dusk focused her attention down to her chest, only to see what resembled a white blade protruding through her plating and armor, white fluids seeping through the wound. Although unsure of its origins, she can easily feel it draining her light, her 'life' as the one who carried her brought him closer to his chest, her fading optics pressing against his shoulder as he continued to murmur out apologies.
If her attacker had attempted to kill her earlier, Dusk would have snapped, would have fought in order to remain alive. However, she was tired, exhausted of the world around her. As such, she decided to press herself in her lover's arms, before she let out one final sigh of content.
Xxxxx
The blade was made from the Traveler's shell.
As loyal as any Ghost, Reaver had been there when Echo felt the call of the Traveler pull him towards the space underneath its broken form, only for the Exo Titan to find what resembled a pointes word hidden behind some rubble. It didn't take long for the whispers of the Traveler to reach his chosen; it was a blade that enhances the light of the user, and drains the light of those it harms.
At first, the pair were confused by this sudden 'gift', especially when Echo had attempted using it, it indeed made utilizing the light more efficient, to help the bearer gain more stamina. However, for a being that held the pieces of a god, it did little to give him any aid and as such, the weapon had laid forgotten in their vault, collecting dust over the years. But when Reaver heard the news of Dusk's ability, when he had witnessed her resurrecting without the aid of her Ghost, it didn't take him long to put the pieces together; the Traveler had foreseen the female Phoenix's arrival and had selected Echo as the one to end the coming threat.
Deciding not to say anything to Echo, Reaver remained silent when the Exo Titan finally placed the pieces together, and for the first time since the Ghost had known his Guardian, despair took over the chosen's features. It took the form of anger, Echo cursing at the Traveler before he broke down, sobbing to Reaver that he would not be able to do it, that he would not be able to kill the one who he had loved in his previous life.
But what can Reaver do? He was just a Ghost, a simple piece of the Traveler that was released after it went into dormancy. There wasn't much he could do except convince Echo to somehow talk Dusk away from her wrath, in hopes, that perhaps the blade wasn't needed.
Now, the black Ghost felt useless, blank as he watched the anguished form of his Guardian cradling Dusk in his arms, the weapon that the pair had hoped to avoid using lodged into her chest. Despite the grief that pulled strongly in between their link, the best Reaver could do was sigh; it won't be long until more Guardians and eventually, the Vanguard, will stumble upon the despairing Echo, and questions would be asked. Questions, that will inevitably lead to the discovery of the origins of the Phoenix.
Turning his attention to the slumbering form of the Traveler, Reaver shifted their white optic over its decaying form before saying, "We made it this far. So please, help me keep Echo together, at least, just a bit longer."
Not to his surprise, just as his other prayers he gave to the Traveler, all Reaver received was silence.