I am alive! It's been a few weeks since I uploaded and I swear I actually have a good reason this time. I was on the other side of the country for a week with a bunch of family. We were cruising in a houseboat and I did not have any internet. I just got home last night. The good news is that I had plenty of time to write while we were out there. Also man those houseboats are too damn small. Constantly hitting my head on roofs, always too big for my air mattress, and I couldn't fit into the damn shower.
None of that is important. I'm back with the newest chapter. And today is a very special day. It's the 1 year anniversary of Witches and Warlocks! Hooray! It's been a wild ride and it's not over yet.
Chapter 39: New Light Shines
"I discovered the first knife." -The Winnower
Sarkarae's weapon hummed with power as it began to glow. Luz's eyes widened as everything seemed to slow down. She was vaguely aware of other students behind her screaming in fear. Camilla pulled Luz behind her, as if that would do anything to protect her. The cannon fired and a beam of death carved through the air towards Luz.
She closed her eyes, resigned to her fate. Everything she had done would come to an end here. She wasn't good enough. She had let everyone down.
A second before the beam tore her and her mother apart, something landed between it and her. She heard crackling electricity and the sound of the beam slamming into something. She cautiously opened her eyes.
Venator stood before the survivors at Hexside, furiously spinning an Arc staff through the air. Her Light molded into a shield that blocked Sarkarae's attack. The beam scattered as it hit the shield, shooting out in random directions. One portion hit the crest of the doorway, causing it to explode and collapse. Luz and her friends dove out of the way of the collapsing archway. Unfortunately, they were now trapped outside with the Vex.
Sarkarae growled and stopped firing its beam. Its arm slid back into place as its blades extended. Venator dropped her shield and shifted into a low stance. The Hunter glanced over her shoulder.
"Sup."
Sarkarae roared and the Hunter charged forward to meet it. It swiped through the air, an attack Venator easily slid under. As she did, she brought her staff up, sending a wave of lightning into the Typhon's knees. It retaliated, savagely striking at her. She caught the blow against her staff, but the force sent her flying. She crashed into the ground, forming an impact crater. Her helmet bounced off her head before fading into transmat. Sarkarae prepared to fire on her but was interrupted by a massive Abomination and a swarm of vines.
"Come on, keep it busy!" Amity shouted. Willow nodded, redoubling her effort. As the two tried to hold the Sub-Mind down, a few Goblins appeared near them. The Vex leveled their weapons on the girls but their friends were already dealing with it. Hunter was first, grabbing a broken metal pipe and wielding it as a makeshift staff. He skewered a Goblin through its glowing white center, causing the machine to spasm as it died. Luz drew her revolver and blasted three of them apart with quick, controlled fire. Unfortunately, she was forced to reload before the last one went down. Camilla took on the last one herself, pulling out her bat and bludgeoning the machine to death. She continued to bring the weapon down on the construct long after it had fallen still.
While the organics dealt with its servants, Sarkarae tore itself free of its binds. It glared at Amity and Willow and drew a spell circle. The ground molded around them, boxing them in. The walls began to close and the two tried to use their magic to hold it back. Before they were crushed to paste, Venator emerged from her crater and threw her Arc Staff into Sarkarae's head. The Sub-Mind roared as lightning surged across its body. Venator took her chance to regroup with the kids.
As she drew closer, she took sight of Camilla, still whaling on the limp Goblin with her bat. She watched for a second and felt herself hitch as she witnessed one of the most beautiful women she'd ever seen going to town on a Vex.
Business first, she thought, Then pleasure.
"I think you got it, hot stuff," she said, elbowing the woman. Camilla looked up in surprise.
"Are you referring to me?"
"Here," Venator ignored her, pulling out her scout rifle and offering it to the Latina, "Try this instead." Camilla gingerly accepted the gun, holding it loosely.
"Just remember; rack, tap, and clear," she instructed, quickly demonstrating how to use the weapon properly. Sarkarae howled as it clawed at the Arc Staff, finally tearing free. Venator turned to Camilla and offered a flirtatious wink before drawing her knives and diving at Sarkarae. As she did, the rubble at the front of Hexside shifted. Matt, using his construction magic, forced his way out. Boscha was right on his heels.
"We need to abandon Hexside!" Matt shouted, "If our glorious president is alright with that?"
"In light of recent events, I believe an exodus may be in order," Boscha admitted, "Move out people!" Sarkarae tried to turn on the fleeing students, only for Venator to dash between its legs, dropping grenades as she ran. Explosions rocked the Typhon, staggering it. Its blades carved through dirt and stone as it tried to strike at her. However, one of Amity's abominations crashed into it. The Typhon grappled with the creature as Willow's vines snapped at its heels. It stomped on the plants, crushing them underfoot.
"With each step, I uncover vast and disgusting horrors!" Its left arm shifted into a cannon, and it unloaded into the Abomination, causing large chunks of it to explode. It stomped the ground and spun a circle through the air. Jagged spikes of stone shot out of the ground, threatening to impale the students.
"We need to get out of here!" Skara shouted, "Initiate evacuation plan thirty-two!"
"Where are we going to get twenty Rat-Worms?" Matt shouted back. The two were forced to dodge more of the stone spikes. The ground finally settled, allowing the two to steady themselves. As they did, Blip appeared before them.
"Greetings," he chirped, "If it is an evacuation you need, I know a safe location you can go."
"How do we know we can trust you?" Boscha accused, shoving one of her fingers in the Ghost's face.
Blip remained unphased, speaking in his usual even tone, "I implore you to consider the alternative." The students looked over at the fight, watching as Venator dove through the air and plunged her knives into the Sub-Minds face.
"Come on asshole, focus on me!"
"Point conceded," Boscha said, "Everyone, do what the little floating thing says!"
"Head to the shoreline at these coordinates," he instructed, projecting a map of the Isles and highlighting the docks, "Unless you wish to- Be torn apart by the Vex and have your consciousness tormented for eons to come! -remain here." Sarkarae turned to watch them flee, already preparing to fire upon them.
"I love when your little insect feet try to run!"
It didn't get the chance as Venator dashed across the Typhon's body, stabbing her knives into the metal to use them as leverage. Sarkarae howled as it tried to grab her. Amity, Camilla, Willow, and Luz offered what support they could while Hunter, Vee, and Gus helped the remaining students evacuate.
Growing tired of the Hunter's presence, Sarkarae drew another spell circle and unleashed its own storm of vines. The plants swarmed Venator, forcing her away from the Typhon. Seeing its opening, Sarkarae lunged out and snatched her out of the air. Venator pulled out her hand cannon and began firing away. The tainted slugs exploded, dissolving part of its face.
"You want a piece of me!" She shouted. Sarkarae growled, unhinging its jaw unnaturally wide as its face reformed.
"How about two?"
It bit down on the Hunter, severing her midsection with its metallic jaw. With a flick of its head, it tore her in half. It dropped her legs to the ground, exposed wires still sparking, and spat out her torso. The Sub-Mind stepped over the corpse and refocused itself on Luz. With the distraction now dealt with, it once again unfurled its weapon and prepared to fire on her.
The beam tore through the air as Amity quickly raised a protective wall of Abomination goo. The barrier exploded, flinging them away from the Sub-Mind. Luz tore through the air and hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop. Her mother landed beside her, groaning slightly in pain. Sarkarae prepared to stomp toward them, only for another of Amity's Abominations to attack it.
"Leave my girlfriend alone!" She screamed. Willow stood beside her, her eyes glowing green as she summoned a horde of vines. Sarkarae unsheathed its blades as it turned to face the two.
"As you wish."
Belos stalked the halls of the Collector's pyramid. Raine's body obeyed his wishes, moving in rigid patterns. All around the Witch Hunter were strange monuments and icons. Most of them coursed with vile power that made him recoil. He ignored most of it, wandering aimlessly through the halls. He was seeking the Collector, though he didn't even know where to begin. Logic told him that there was only so much space within the pyramid in the first place.
He paused for a moment, focusing inward as he felt the Bard buck against his control. Their will was strong, but Belos had set himself to his grim task for centuries. He could overpower some upstart Witch.
Quiet down now, he thought, You're just wasting your energy.
He turned another corner, entering the upper stands of a large arena. Raising an eyebrow, he stepped further in. There was a large pit in the middle, no doubt where the combatants would duel to curry favor with the audience. But why would the Collector have such a thing?
At the back of the arena, near where the combatants would enter the ring, a colossal statue dominated the scene. It depicted a long-limbed creature with six eyes, wielding a massive blade with elegance and grace. If Belos didn't know any better, he would've sworn it was almost alive. Narrowing his eyes, he turned and left the arena. He had no time for distractions like this.
Sarkarae was toying with them. There was no doubt about it. Amity and Willow were strong, perhaps among the strongest of their generation. But there was no chance that the Sub-Mind considered them a true threat. Perhaps it was simply enjoying finally encountering some resistance after being cooped up for so long.
Sarkarae blasted another Abomination apart. It was only a matter of time before one of them gave in. Willow faltered first, losing control of her magic. The vines that had been hounding Sarkarae began to spasm wildly as doubt crept into her mind. If this thing had been able to dispatch Venator so easily, what hope did a couple of Lightless children have? Sarkarae turned and sliced through a large tangle of vines. Its movements were fluid, precise, and lethal. This was a machine designed to kill and it was fulfilling its purpose.
While Willow tried to regain control of her magic, Sarkarae finished tearing through Amity's last Abomination. The purple-haired Witch collapsed with exhaustion, allowing Sarkarae to pull back its fist, aiming to crush Willow flat.
Time seemed to slow down as Amity reached out for her friend. She wasn't strong enough to summon anything else forth. All Willow could do was stare up at the descending claws as vines curled angrily around her feet. She heard someone running toward her, a familiar voice calling her name.
Seconds before the appendage turned her into something vaguely resembling a corpse, Hunter tackled Willow from the side. The two vanished in a flash of yellow light reappearing a short distance away. Sarkarae's fist slammed into the dirt, kicking up a cloud of dust. It snarled as it realized that its prey had slipped away. As it pulled its fist free, a trip mine sailed through the air. The grenade attached to its face and, after a second to prime, detonated. The explosion caused the Typhon to stagger. A freshly revived Venator moved in quickly, using her linear fusion rifle to blast away large chunks of the Sub-Minds joints.
"Willow, are you ok?" Hunter asked, holding the Witch as though she were the most delicate thing in the world. She hesitantly nodded, the reality of her brush with death still weighing on her.
"How did you do that?" She asked weakly. Hunters' brow furrowed; he clearly wasn't aware of what exactly had happened.
"Dude, you have magic!" Gus shouted, drawing Sarkarae's fire away with an Illusion.
"The magic of friendship?"
"No, the magic of Flapjack!" Willow realized, placing a hand on Hunter's chest. The boy looked down, his eyes glistening with both magic and tears.
"Then let's put it to good use."
Luz woke with a groan, rubbing her head as her vision returned. The sounds of battle pricked at her ears, and she knew her friends needed her. She tried to rise, only for a spear of pain to lance through her sore body as it screamed in protest. Camilla rose unsteadily, not looking much better than Luz felt.
"Mija." She rushed to Luz's side as quickly as she could. She coaxed her daughter into a more relaxed position, trying to keep her mind off the pain.
"I failed them," she managed to croak out, "I let them all down again! My plan fell apart!"
"Just focus on breathing," Camilla instructed, "We'll find a way out of this."
"It doesn't matter."
"No, Mija, it does matter," Camilla asserted. She helped her daughter up and moved her to a fallen tree. Luz sat down, resting her back against the log.
"You don't want to leave the Demon Realm, do you?"
Luz sighed, "Of course not. But-"
"You keep messing things up?" Camilla interrupted, "That's part of life! Part of growing up! Do you think I haven't messed up before? I scheduled to get my wisdom teeth removed one day before my wedding! And there was that time I got road rage and didn't realize I was cursing out your new principal. I sold energy drinks as a scam for three years without even realizing it! And, of course, I was convinced to move to Gravesfield to be closer to that fancy new hospital." Camilla felt her eyes water a bit. She could see the shadowy figure of her husband lurking in the tree line behind Luz, judging her.
"But my biggest mistake was not supporting you when you needed me," she concluded, "I forgot the Astral Oath."
"The astral what?"
"The Astral Oath is a promise made between Captain Avery and his family, to love and protect each other just as they are… through supernovas and solar wind."
"Mom," Luz realized, "Are you a secret nerd?"
"I always had a hard time growing up," she admitted, "I wanted to spare you from the experience. But I made the mistake of trying to turn this beautiful, good witch into something she wasn't." She pulled her daughter into a hug, tears threatening to spill from both of their eyes. Camilla locked eyes with her Nightmare. It offered her a smile and a nod before fading away. As the two embraced, a sound could be heard coming from Luz's backpack. She opened it and fished out her Palisman egg,
It had begun to hatch.
The pyramid was shifting. Belos would've put money on it. It was bending around him in impossible ways, trying to throw him of course. It was like it knew he was seeking its master. He growled a little under his breath, every second spent searching was a second he gave his enemies.
He rounded another corned, certain that the path behind him was closing off. A small amount of his cursed matter leaked out of Raine's eyes. Belos pulled it back in. He just needed to hold himself together a little bit longer.
A doorway before him opened and he froze, letting himself hang limply. Two figures stepped out. They wore horned skulls atop their heads and the taller of the two clutched a spear. The shorter one had one of his arms wrapped in bandages and was currently ranting to his companion.
"That little Titan-spawn has woven a spell around the Great Huntsman." His voice was wild and frantic like that of a raving lunatic. He rubbed the stump that was once his hand.
"I told you all, didn't I?" He continued, "Those Titans! Not to be trusted! Even the little ones!"
"Bill, wait," his partner interrupted, holding out a hand, "One of the puppets is out of place." Bill raised an eyebrow as he inspected Belos.
"One of the Coven heads," he mused, "Where is that blasted Guardian when you need him?"
"I suppose we'll just have to put him back ourselves." The larger Trapper reached out to grab him and Belos knew he had to act.
"Wait," he spoke with the Bard's voice, reaching out to stop them. The Trapper jolted slightly in surprise before holding out his spear.
"I mean you no harm," Belos said, "I merely wish to warn the Collector of an impending threat."
"What business do you have with the Grand Huntsman?" Bill questioned, "And how are you even alive? Is this more Titan trickery?" Belos cursed internally as he felt Raine struggle against their mental binds.
"The Collectors love has given me clarity," he lied through clenched teeth, "I have come to warn him of Luz the Human." He saw a flash of recognition, then hostility in their eyes. Good, he could work with that.
"What about her?" Bill prodded.
"She has returned to the Demon Realm, no doubt wishing harm upon the Great Huntsman."
"She must be in cahoots with King," Bill realized, "Tarak, you mentioned that he called her his sister, yes?" The other Trapper nodded.
"It all makes sense," Bill said, "The Child-Titans powers are still too weak to threaten the Great Huntsman, but once he reunites with that accursed Human, he will have the strength to bring our lord down!"
"Child-Titan?" Belos questioned. Bill scoffed.
"I wouldn't expect a puppet to understand," he said, "The powers of the Titans are anathema to the Great Huntsman! It's why he began the hunts in the first place. But now, the last Titan has deceived him."
"Then we must warn him at once," Belos insisted. The two Trappers agreed hastily and lead Belos further into the pyramid. He smirked as the walls unfolded before them. One step closer.
Venator dodge another swipe of Sarkarae's claws and struck the Sub-Minds frame. She flowed like water, a dancer of death with dual blades for dancing partners. Compared to her, the Typhon was sluggish. She landed a few swipes on its legs before flipping away and landing near the Witches.
"Even if everyone escapes, it's just going to follow us!" Amity said, panting heavily from exhaustion.
"And it's just gonna heal from whatever I hit it with," Venator said, holding her blades out cautiously. Sarkarae took a moment to revel in the ecstasy of the battle.
"Only now, at the end, do you realize!" It roared. "That you were never anything more than errors to be corrected!" It prepared to charge in once again, only for a large beam of purple magic to crash into its form. The Ravager of Legions staggered, caught off guard by the unexpected attack. A new combatant joined the fight, soaring past the Sub-Mind and sending a flurry of glyphs its way. Mounter on her staff and with glyphs in hand, Luz flew circles around the Sub-Mind's attempts to catch her.
"Luz has a staff," Gus commented as Camilla rejoined them.
"Why does that make me nervous?" Willow asked.
Growing tired of this distraction, Sarkarae lashed out at where it predicted Luz would be. Pulling her staff up, she avoided its blow just in time. Unfortunately, she lost control of her flight, falling to the ground. She caught herself just before impact and regrouped with her friends.
"Fancy moves, kid," Venator commented, "You got any ideas for how to put this beast down?" Luz furrowed her brow as everyone looked at her. Sarkarae growled and began to charge. Luz's eyes widened as she came to a realization.
"The Vex can use magic," she quickly said before everyone dove out of Sarkarae's way. Luz, Gus, Amity, and Willow used their staves to fly out while Hunter carried Vee out of the way with another close-range teleportation. Venator scooped Camilla up bridal style and jumped through the air, carrying the woman to safety.
"What does that mean?" Amity asked. "It has more things to throw at us?"
"It means Vee can drain it!" Luz said. The Basilisk did a double take, pointing to herself in surprise.
"It's worth a shot," Hunter said as Sarkarae came back around, unfurling its cannons.
"I'll try," Vee said nervously, "But I need you guys to pin it down."
"Don't worry about that," Venator said, summoning a bow made of Void Light. "I have a supernatural ability to sweep people off their feet."
They broke off, scattering in different directions. Venator took Sarkarae on directly to draw its attention away from the others. She fired a tether at its chest, binding its arms and preventing it from using its weapons. It roared defiantly as it tried to take a lurching step forward. However, Amity and Willow were one step ahead of it. A small bundle of vines and Abomination goo spun itself in front of the Sub-Mind, causing it to stumble slightly. Hunter held onto Willow's hand as she focused, giving her all the support she needed.
While Sarkarae was reeling, Luz and Gus capitalized. They each slapped down ice glyphs on the ground, blanketing the dirt with frozen liquid. Sarkarae stumbled onto the ice and slipped. Seeing her chance, Venator rushed forward. She jumped high into the air and delivered a drop-kick straight from the Golden Age directly into the back of Sarkarae's head. The machine finally collapsed, falling to the ground with a thunderous boom. Venator pulled back her bow again and loosed another volley at its legs, tying them together. With the machine now bound, Vee cautiously approached. Letting out a breath, she sucked in, drawing the magic out of the Vex form. It roared in something resembling pain. The Ravager strained against its binds and finally tore itself free.
Venator responded quickly, pulling out her linear fusion once more and planting a shot directly in its center optic. Sarkarae howled, clawing at the missing lens. It fixed Venator with a glare. If it possessed the ability to kill with looks, everything on the Isles would have keeled over at that moment.
"I… must… kill," it spat, "The… Paradoxical Mind… commands it." It tried to unfurl its cannon only for the limb to spark and fall apart. The damage it had sustained was no longer healing. While this development was only temporary, it still meant that Sarkarae had lost its only advantage against the Lightbearer. With one last furious snarl, it turned and teleported away. The victors stared in silence for a second, hardly able to believe their luck.
"We did it," Amity said between breaths, "We actually did it."
"I mean, you guys did have me," Venator said, "But that was still a mighty fine piece of work." She shot a glance at Luz specifically. "I can see why Scholar puts so much faith in you." The girl smiled, though it was an empty gesture.
"We should regroup with the others," Hunter said, "The Vex might send a follow-up attack and I don't think we'll get that lucky a second time."
"Good call," Venator nodded, "Follow me." She spun on her heels and marched off with the others in tow. As they walked, Luz found herself quickly crowded by her friends.
"You finally got your Palisman," Amity said eagerly, leaning in to get a better look. Luz smiled and held up the staff. The end was still covered in glowing purple magic, a swirling vortex that reminded Luz of Void Light.
"She's a Snakeshifter," Luz said as the vortex faded away. At the end of her staff was a small serpentine creature with purple scales. A small green ball at the end of her tail complimented her matching eyes. A thin tongue flicked in and out of her mouth. The Palisman changed her form a few times, transforming into different animals but retaining her color scheme. Eventually, she reverted to her dormant form atop Luz's staff.
"Her name is Stringbean and she's perfect!"
Watching from a short distance away, Camilla couldn't help but smile. Her gaze drifted ahead of the group where Venator was strolling at a leisurely pace. Camilla jogged up beside her, still awkwardly clutching the rifle.
"Thank you for all you did back there."
"Don't mention it," Venator dismissed with a wave of her hand, "Anyone else would've done the same. Besides, it would be inexcusable to let harm befall such a beautiful woman."
Camilla blushed, taken aback by the Hunter's forwardness and unsure how to respond. She held out the scout rifle, offering it back to Venator.
"Here, this is yours."
"You can keep it for now," the Hunter said with a shrug, "I've already got plenty of firepower. And as impressive as your skills with a bat are, I feel like you need it more than me. Seriously, that was badass. I say we get drinks to celebrate, once we're out of here that is."
"Of course," Camilla laughed, unsure of what to say. She was spared from having to continue the conversation when the group caught up with the Hexside refugees.
"Are you guys alright?" Viney asked, quickly rushing over to see if anyone needed medical aid.
"Where's the big, nasty Vex?" Jerbo followed up.
"It's been taken care of," Venator said, "Don't worry kids, you're under my protection now."
The Trappers led Belos through the pyramid to the Collector's personal chambers. They entered slowly, carefully watching for any signs of life. When they didn't find any, they stepped further in.
The room was dark, fitting for the theme of the pyramid. Strange statues of impossible shapes lined the walls. A few trinkets could be seen in a distant alcove, perhaps toys or trophies claimed from distant worlds. At the back of the room were two beds that both appeared to have been slept in. A stuffed bunny sat on one bed.
"Who's in there?"
The three turned around in surprise as the Collector floated in. The Trappers instantly fell to their knees. For his part, Belos tried to make himself appear as unthreatening as possible.
"Wait, what are you doing here?" The Collector asked, "How did you break the spell?" His eyes flashed dangerously as he stared at Belos.
"I didn't," he said quickly, lifting Raine's hair to show that the crescent moon sigil was still in place. The Collector lowered his stance and Belos took that as a sign to continue.
"We all need to warn you," he said, gesturing to himself and the Trappers, "You are in great danger." The Collector stared at him for a second and Belos shifted nervously, averting his gaze slightly. The eyes were the window to the soul after all. The Collector threw his head back and laughed without warning, startling his audience.
"You think I'm in danger?" He said between fits of laughter, "Me? From who?"
"Some you may not expect," Belos said, "The Human has returned to the Isles." The Collector's laughter died instantly, and his expression darkened.
"Luz," he muttered, eyeing the stuffed animal on the bed, "She's going to ruin everything."
"My lord, she seeks the Titan-spawns power to slay you," Bill said. Belos rolled his eyes at the Witches prostration.
"King? Please, we're best friends."
"He has been friends with the Human for far longer," Belos spoke up quickly, cutting off Bill before he could speak. If the Trapper went on a spiel about King putting the Collector under a spell, the Collector would annihilate them without a second thought.
"Titans are treacherous," Bill wormed in, "Not to be trusted."
"No way, me and King are like this." The Collector curled two of his fingers together, forming a chain.
"Really?" Belos questioned, "Are you certain? How do you know he hasn't been keeping secrets from you?" The Collector's grin widened.
"I can prove it." He reached up to his hood and pulled it down over his face. His eyes glowed through the fabric.
Within Eda's prison, a pair of glowing eyes appeared on the wall. They looked down, spying on the cell's residents. King paced before Eda and Lilith, who was still cradling Puppet-Hooty.
"According to what Royal told us from his journey to Trapper Island, the power of a Titan seems to counter that of the Collector," Lilith said.
"That's why the Collector is the last of his kind," King agreed.
"Maybe we could use this to our advantage," Eda offered, "I wish Royal was here. We could really use his kind of combat thinking to defeat the Collector."
"Perhaps we could even use it to seal him away again?" Lilith proposed.
"No, we can't do that!" King said. Above them, the eyes brightened.
"Why not?"
"Because it didn't work," King said, "We need a more long-term solution." The eyes turned downcast as they watched. They blinked and faded.
"At the end of the day, the Collector is just a kid," King continued, oblivious to the fact that they were being watched, "Powerful, yes. But also lost and confused. I can relate."
"It does seem like he's been manipulated by a bad lot," Lilith said reluctantly, "None of this really fits his style." She gestured to the pyramid around them.
"I think I can reason with him," King said, "Immortal being to semi-immortal being." Eda pulled him into a hug.
"Whatever you do, just stay safe."
The Collector ended his little spying session, a more doubtful look on his face. Belos and the Trappers watched him warily as he floated over to the bed. The air began to curl as his fingers balled into fists.
"I won't let him betray me," he said, "I won't let the Human take her from me. I won't ever be alone again! He's my best friend! You hear me, Human? He's mine!" Belos's mouth, or rather Raine's mouth, curled into a smile. This would do well.
Venator lead her small army over the Boiling Seas. Her sparrow tore across the waves, a glowing trail in her wake. Behind her was the student body of Hexside. Fortunately, most of the students have staves of their own. Those who did not had been forced to partner up. Camilla had been wary about getting back on a staff and graciously accepted Venator's offer to ride on her sparrow instead. Now, the woman was holding onto Venator for dear life. She was practically attached to the Nightstalker's back. Ordinarily, Venator would be more than happy with that. However, she was currently preoccupied with not letting the water touch her.
She hated the water.
"We should be there soon," the Hunter shouted to Luz as she double-checked Blip's coordinates, "Hopefully they'll roll out the red carpet for us."
"A proper hero's welcome," Amity said. Venator felt her expression slip a little at that.
"Yeah, heroes."
They continued to ride over the water. Venator's audio receptors twitched as her enhanced hearing picked something up. Noise could be heard coming from the island. Venator felt her nonexistent heart sink as it came into view.
"So much for a safe haven."
A few Harpy's turned to face them and Venator shouted for the students to unleash all fury upon them. They gladly complied, slinging spells with wild abandon. Behind Venator, Camilla took a few potshots with her scout rifle. One Harpy was nailed in the eye and fell into the waters.
"Nice shooting E!" Venator called. Camilla tried to ask what she meant only to cry out as the Hunter violently swerved to avoid a Hydra's assault.
"To hell with this!" Venator cursed, "Switch!"
"What do you mean- Ahh!" Venator flipped over Camilla, pushing the Latina forward into the driver's seat.
"You know how to drive one of these?"
"NO!"
"Alright, crash course! Punch to accelerate, pull to brake, twist to steer!" Venator instructed, "You seem like a very smart woman, I'm sure you'll figure it out."
"What are you doing?" Camilla asked, screaming over the gunshots. Venator smirked under her helmet, pulling out two SMGs. Her cape bounced wildly in the air behind her.
"I'm gonna go lay down some hate."
Without warning, the Hunter leaped into the air. She cleared the sparrow easily. To Camilla, she appeared to be flying. The Hunter let out a maddening cackle, firing her weapons at any Vex that had the audacity to exist in her line of sight.
"You're all gonna die!"
Pyrikaga's blade carved through the sand, leaving a trail of flame and glass behind it. Paladin swung his Burning Maul into the blade and met the Typhon's blow. The two clashed again and again, shaking the ground around them. Across the beach, the Witches and Demons held the line against the Vex. They were heavily outnumbered and outgunned, but their magic let them resist.
While it dueled the Titan, Pyrikaga was analyzing the battlefield. Consulting its options, it ordered its heavier units to focus their efforts on the walls. It needed to show the organics that there was no safe refuge from the Vex.
Torch Hammers slammed into the walls. Cracks webbed across the surface as the stone threatened to give way. Paladin let out a defiant shout as his hammer spun overhead. He brought it down on the ground. An explosion of Solar Light erupted forth, consuming himself and Pyrikaga. The Titan rose, feeling slightly exhausted from his exertion. Pyrikaga had caught the worst of it. Its frame was mangled and partially melted. The Sub-Mind staggered, clawing at its ruined face plate.
Paladin prepared to bring his hammer down again, only for Pyrikaga's cannon arm to whip out and set a jet of searing flames into the Titan. He buckled under the waves of fire as the wall behind him finally gave way. It collapsed under the Vex's assault as Paladin struggled back to his feet.
"You have fought so hard," Pyrikaga said, "For something so meaningless." It stomped down on Paladin. The Striker's artificial muscles screamed as he struggled to hold up the weight bearing down on him.
"You're all going to die on this speck of dust," Pyrikaga taunted, preparing to skewer Paladin on its sword. The blade began to descend, its tip pointed straight at the Titans chest. Milliseconds before it made an impact, a shadowy figure slammed into Pyrikaga's head. A pair of glowing Void daggers cut into the Sub-Mind, dragging it with the momentum of its assailant. The blade missed Paladin by a distance of a few fingers. He could feel the heat rolling off the blade. It wouldn't kill him yet, but prolonged exposure could still be dangerous.
The Titan felt Pyrikaga's weight shift as its new foe continued to slice away at it. Not one to question good fortune, Paladin pushed with all his might. The Torchbearer tipped, stumbling slightly. Venator flipped off the Sub-Mind and landed beside her Brother, Spectral Blades still drawn.
"Strong alone."
Paladin tightened his fists, feeling lightning surge through his entire body, "Stronger together."
The two Guardians dove at the Vex and began to tear it apart. Around it, spells from the Witches reinforcements were tearing its forces to shreds. Vex units were relatively intelligent, but they were still machines. They did not react well to being ambushed, especially when their command unit was being assaulted by two Guardians. The assault collapsed as two waves of Witches and Demons crashed down upon them. The Vex were fueled by a cold, logical hatred. The denizens of the Isles were fueled by righteous fury.
-]Our window of opportunity is lost[-
Pyrikaga heard its masters' words and saw the last remnants of its forces begin to withdraw. Its grip on its sword tightened. It knew what this defeat would bring. The only way to save itself from deletion would be to somehow salvage the battle.
"No! I shall not retreat!" It began to swing its sword around it, unleashing torrents of flame from its cannon. A great pillar of fire swept up around it.
"If I'm going down, I'm taking all of you with me!"
Luz looked up from the Goblin she had just shot to pieces. Her skin reddened slightly under the heat Pyrikaga was generating.
"Vee! Now!"
The Basilisk, who had previously been disguising herself as a Hobgoblin, began to drain the magic from the Typhon. Pyrikaga staggered as it felt its flame dwindle. The fire glyphs inscribed along its blade vanished as its magic began to dry up. Pyrikaga staggered, trying to escape the Basilisk. Venator quickly rushed in, severing one of its legs at the knee. The Torchbearer toppled, its sword falling away from it. Paladin marched to the front of the construct, meeting its baleful gaze with one of his own.
"You're going to die on this speck of dust," he said, echoing the Typhon's earlier taunt, "And I can think of no better place to bury you." He raised his fists, lightning bolting across them, and brought them down on Pyrikaga's head. The metal crumpled under his strike with a painful rending sound. He raised his fists and struck once more, crushing the head into a pulp. Each strike sent booms like thunder rolling across the beach. Satisfied with his work, Paladin stepped back and let his shoulders sag with exhaustion. Venator approached from behind and the two made eye contact. He offered a hesitant nod.
"Sorry," she said, "For keeping you waiting for so long."
"Heroes arrive fashionably late," he said, rolling one of his shoulders and feeling a jolt of pain as the metal plates slid over each other. He didn't notice Venator shuffle at those words. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you came back." She looked over the beach, watching as the students of Hexside cautiously moved up the beach to meet their elders. Families cried out in joy as they were reunited for the first time in months. Warden Wrath of the Conformatorium swept up his son Braxus, a remarkably short Demon with an impressively deep voice.
"Yeah, same."
Venator lounged in a dingy makeshift bar near the outskirts of the Last City. Its owner wasn't present, busy reuniting with his family she assumed. She had let herself in and was currently downing a bottle of Apple Blood. The stuff certainly had an interesting aftertaste, but the kick left a little to be desired. She slammed down another bottle and discarded it. She heard footsteps behind her but elected to ignore them, more focused on finishing off her current bottle. As she was reaching for a refill, a hand grabbed her by the wrist. She looked up and saw Hunter staring at her, a burning curiosity in his eyes.
"Let go," she said, slurring her words slightly.
"How much have you had to drink?" Venator counted on her fingers for a second.
"Three?"
"Three bottles don't sound so bad," Hunter said, taking the stool beside her.
"Nah, three cases." Venator pointed over to the corner where a growing pile of bottles was waiting. Hunter's eyes widened slightly as Venator grabbed two more bottles from under the counter. She popped the caps off and offered one to Hunter.
"I'm not old enough," he declined. Venator scoffed, rolling her optics.
"Please, if you're old enough to fight Vex, you're old enough to get drunk."
"You're very different from Royal."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Venator said, placing the end of the bottle in her mouth and downing it in one fluid motion. Such were the benefits of not having a gag reflex. Or needing to breathe.
"It's just that he was very reserved and straightforward," Hunter said, "From what Luz told me anyway. My only interaction with him involved me getting my nose broken."
"You got in a fight with my Brother and survived?" Venator asked, tossing her empty bottle into the pile with a satisfying clink. "You must have some serious skills. Or he was having an off day."
"This isn't what I came here to talk about."
"Well," Venator said, swirling her next bottle, "You've got until I finish this and I either pass out or kick you out so I can drink in peace."
"You're an artificial person, right?" The question made Venator pause, and she placed her drink on the counter.
"I'm… not sure I really appreciate the phrasing there."
"I mean, isn't that what Exo's are?" Hunter asked, slightly embarrassed.
"Kid, Exo's are a lot of things," Venator said, "Resilient, strong, some of us are damn sexy." She chuckled, but it didn't reach her optics. "But we're all still plenty real. I wake up in the morning, just like you. I make sure my joints are properly lubricated, just like you. I kill gods for fun, just like you. Why is my experience any less valid just because I was built instead of born?" She poked Hunter in the chest.
"At the end of the day, all you are is your thoughts. Maybe mine are from some other version of me who was even better looking. I don't really care. I'm more than a collection of stolen memories. I'm Royal-Traveler-damn-6 and I'm gonna make sure everyone knows it."
"But what does any of that matter if I'm not real?" Hunter questioned, perhaps a tad louder than he intended. Venator stared at him for a second before clocking him over the head.
"Hey! What was that for?"
"What does it matter? You're not real."
"Sure felt real," he complained, rubbing the sore spot on his head.
"Exactly," Venator snapped her fingers, "I'm not gonna pretend to know your life story, but I do know this. Your friends out there love you. I can see it in their eyes. And trust me, I'm a good judge of character. Near spotless track record. People who love you unconditionally, those are rare. Especially in my line of work. Hold onto them." She looked down at the bar, tapping her fingers on her bottle.
"You never know when you might lose them."
The two sat in silence for a moment before Hunter stood up, thanked her, and left. Venator couldn't see it, but there was a smile on his face. As he left, someone else slipped in behind him. Camilla had followed Hunter here and listened in on their conversation. Now, she slowly walked up behind Venator as the Hunter drank her booze.
"Bah, what was all that crap?" She muttered to herself, "I've never been good at that touchy-feely nonsense."
"I thought you sounded very wise," Camilla said, sliding into the stool to the Hunter's left. She jumped slightly in shock, staring at the woman. Her hand shot to her knife hilt before she stopped herself.
"Sneaking up on a Hunter, especially one busy with our third favorite pastime, is very dangerous," she warned.
"Shouldn't you be with Paladin, discussing some kind of crucial Guardian business?"
"Probably," the Nightstalker shrugged, offering Camilla a bottle which she declined. "Knowing Paladin, he'll probably try to spin some story about how I was on a super-secret covert rescue mission to try and save face. Really, we both just threw temper tantrums."
"So instead, you're shirking your responsibilities to these people in favor of drowning yourself in booze?" Venator swung her arms wide, trying to make the empty bar seem more full than it was.
"Ever heard of a post-battle celebration?"
"This looks less like a victory lap and more like a walk of shame."
Venator stared at the woman for a moment and Camilla wondered if she might have overstepped. She didn't know the Guardians well, but she was fully aware of what they were capable of. Camilla met the Hunter's orange optics with steel in her gaze. After a moment, Venator laughed heartily and shook Camilla by the shoulder.
"Bold, a good shot, and very easy on the eyes? I must have done some very, very good things in a past life to deserve meeting you." Camilla blushed again, not certain how to take the Hunter's praise. She appreciated the compliments; it would be a lie to say that they didn't make her feel at least a little good. But she also got the feeling that the Hunter was deflecting.
"Earlier," she began, "On your sparrow. You called me 'E'." Venators expression immediately darkened.
"Did I?" She asked. Camilla could tell it was a rhetorical question. She could also tell that she was entering dangerous territory. But if this Guardian was her daughter's best chance at saving her friends, then she needed her to be one hundred percent focused.
"I saw how you react when other people refer to you as a hero," Camilla said as Venator tipped back her bottle. "You flinch, start looking around for an escape. Why?" Venator slammed her bottle down, cracking the bar beneath her hand. It was a testament to her control that the bottle didn't shatter.
"Because I'm not a hero."
"You just saved a school full of children at great risk to yourself," Camilla rebuffed, "You dove in front of a shot meant for me and my daughter." She took Venator's hand. "You're a hero to me."
"Heroes don't abandon their homes," Venator said, pulling her hand free. "Heroes don't get the people they love killed." Camilla took out another bottle and held it up as a peace offering.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"It's fine," Venator sighed, "You're pretty enough and I'm drunk enough that I don't mind." She paused for a second, swinging her bottle back and forth.
"Back when I was first raised," she began, "I made my way to the Last City, as you do. I was a fresh New Light. A Kinderguardian, if you will. Still wet behind the old audio receptors. Another Exo Hunter picked me up, and told me that she would show me the ropes. Most of us don't get that kind of chance, so I took it. In time, mentorship turned into a partnership. Partnership turned into friendship. Friendship turned into love." Venator leaned back as Camilla listened intently, hanging off every word.
"She had skin-steel as pale as the driven snow and eyes that shone like the stars. And her guns could sing!" Venator said wistfully. Her expression fell as she continued. "Then… everything changed. She popped the question. Asked me to marry her."
"What did you do?" Camilla asked. Venator buried her forehead in her free palm, staring at the ground.
"I got scared," she said weakly, "Scared of commitment. And then I did what I always do when I get scared. I ran. Straight to my jumpship and got the hell out of dodge. Vanished into the stars, and put as much distance between us as I could. Probably broke her heart. I wouldn't have been surprised if she hated me. Traveler knows I deserved it. Eventually, I ran out of options and threw my lot in with a less-than-reputable crowd. It was only a few years later when I learned that she met her final death, looking for me." The Hunter tapped the side of her bottle absently, leaning away from Camilla.
"Now I fly around the system, putting on the veneer of a suave rogue here to sweep you off your feet and leave you the next morning with more questions than answers. Really, I'm just running scared, longing for attachment but afraid of getting tied down and hurt again." She raised the bottle to the sky in a mock salute. "Three cheers for Royal-6! Biggest failure this side of the Jovian Moons!" She let the bottle drop without taking a sip, looking away from Camilla in shame.
"I understand if you want to ditch me for Paladin," she said, "He's always been so steadfast, so reliable, so unshakeable. Not a damn crack in that armor of his. I'll just get you-" She was cut off when Camilla wrapped her arms around the Hunter and pulled her into a hug. She stopped, choking on her words for a moment before falling silent.
"What was her name?" Camilla asked gently.
"Elisabeth," Venator answered, her voice cracking. "Her name was Elisabeth."
"To Elisabeth," Camilla said, raising a glass overhead. Venator looked at her in confusion. Camilla shook the bottle lightly and Venator complied. The two tapped their bottles together.
"To Elisabeth."
After Venator and Camilla cleaned up, the two left the bar to regroup with Paladin and decide a course of action. Of course, they only left after Camilla strong-armed Venator into leaving some money behind from all the drinks she had plowed through. She didn't know what the strange glowing cubes Venator had left behind were, but she supposed they would have to do.
Now, the two entered Paladin's command center. The rest of the Hexsquad was waiting for them, with Paladin conversing with Steve not far off. Camilla gave Venator's hand a quick squeeze and the Hunter set off to rejoin her Brother.
"How many casualties did we take?" Paladin's tone was strict and to the point. Venator fell in beside him without so much as a word.
"After the walls collapsed, the Vex were able to sweep into the city," Steve reported. "Fortunately, most of the civilians had already been evacuated. Early estimates say around two hundred died. Maybe upwards of two-fifty."
"Any amount above zero is too high," Paladin sighed. "But it could've been worse. We are fortunate Venator arrived with reinforcements when she did."
"More accurately, you're fortunate that the Vex decided to retreat when they did," Venator said. "Any idea why?"
"No theories come to mind." Before the conversation could continue any further, there was a commotion at the door as two Witches tried to push past each other.
"Out of my way you stubborn hack!"
"Watch where you're going, my daughter is in there!"
Their voices crowded the hall as the two forced their way in. Darius and Alador spilled into the room, still bickering with each other. They likely would've continued for some time had Paladin not cleared his throat, a strange sound from his voice synthesizer. The two stopped, their hostility forgotten as they collected themselves.
"Dad?" Amity asked, already moving forward. Alador smiled and swept her up in a hug. Darius swept his gaze over the Hexsquad until his eyes settled on Hunter. He instantly marched over and seized the boy by the shoulders.
"Hunter! Are you alright? Are you hurt? I swear, if those damnable machines so much as scratched you, I'll-"
"I'm fine Darius," Hunter said. "It's good to see you." Darius took stock of the boys' attire and smiled.
"It's good to see you too."
"I've already seen the twins," Alador said to his daughter. "They told me how brave you've been."
"Is… Odalia here?" She asked. Alador grimaced a little as Darius scoffed. Paladin took that moment to step forward.
"She was. However, during the chaos of the attack, she vanished."
"No doubt she fled after leading the Vex straight to us," Darius accused. Alador bristled slightly, already preparing to speak up.
"Don't start," Paladin ordered, pointing at both of them. "If you two were half as good at fighting Vex as you were at fighting each other, maybe we wouldn't be counting our dead and tending to our wounded right now!" That got them both to shut up, if only out of shame.
"Now," he said, turning back to the Hexsquad, "Luz, there's someone here to see you." She raised her eyebrows and looked around. A Ghost transmatted next to Paladin, facing away from Luz.
"Paladin, I already told you I was busy researching the golems," Lancer said, annoyance dripping from his voice, "I doubt I can do much to help with reconstruction."
"Lancer?"
The Ghost froze at Luz's voice and turned around. His optic flickered, likely so he could make sure he was seeing properly. The next thing he knew, Luz had swept him up in a tight hug. The Ghost's sharp angles poked at her chest awkwardly, but she didn't care. She had her friend back.
"Luz, what happened to you?" He asked. "The last anyone saw; you were being taken to the Skull."
"We got trapped in the Human Realm," she explained quickly, "But we're back now and we're here to help! If you're here, then is Royal…" She let the question hang in the air. Lancer looked down in sorrow.
"The last time I saw him was when he charged the Collector," he said, his voice full of remorse that he couldn't help his closest friend. "No one's seen him since." Luz's expression fell and she pulled his glaive off her back. She held it out to Lancer.
"Here, he'd probably want you to have this." Lancer stared at the offering for a second before nudging Luz's hand away.
"I think he'd be happy to know that you have it." Luz smiled at that and held the weapon at her side. Stringbean took this opportunity to make herself known, circling around Lancer eagerly.
"Who the… wait, did your?"
"Lancer, meet Stringbean." The Palisman made a friendly hissing sound that Lancer couldn't understand.
"Charmed."
"Now," Luz said, taking a bold stance, "What's the plan for defeating the Collector."
"The plan?" Paladin asked before shaking his head. "The plan is to survive. We need to focus our efforts on rebuilding for the next Vex attack. We defeated Synegorus's top lieutenant. It's not going to take that lying down. The Vex will have learned from the previous battle." He placed his hands on the table, leaning against them. Suddenly, they could all see the weight of his years hanging off him. The centuries of sacrifice and loss, a life of knowing only defeat after defeat. He was determined not to lose this, no matter how small it may be.
"We have to do something," Willow spoke up. "I saw what the Collector did to my dad." Her breath hitched. The first thing she had asked Steve once they arrived was if her other father, Harvey, was with them. Steve had been unable to confirm. Willow was holding out hope that he was out there, alive. Hunter wrapped an arm around her shoulder as the Witch steeled herself.
"We can't afford to sit here and wait," Darius said. "The Vex have endless numbers. Eventually, they will break us. They almost broke us this time!"
"They won't get another chance," Paladin asserted. "I will be better next time. Stronger! More prepared! They just caught us off guard."
"Paladin, see reason," Alador spoke up. The Striker was quick to cut him off.
"Titans have been the protectors of the walls for centuries, why should this be any different!"
"Because that worked so well for you back in your time," Venator said, speaking up for the first time since she had arrived. Paladin froze and the room turned so silent that Luz swore she could hear the servos whirring in the Exo's bodies. The Titan slowly turned to face his Sister. It was only now that Luz realized the size difference between the two. They may be the same height, but Paladin was considerably broader. It was like comparing a mountain to a tree.
"Take. That. Back." Paladin's voice was low and deadly, sizzling with barely contained fury like a tempered sword being doused in water. Venator set her shoulders and met her Brothers gaze.
"Make me."
"I will give you one last chance," Paladin said slowly. "Out of respect for the bonds of battle we have shared. Take. That. Back!" The last word came out like a roar. Camilla pulled the children behind her as she eyed Venator warily. She hoped the Hunter knew what she was doing.
"You won't be able to intimidate me, Brother," Venator said. "Admit that you were wrong. Swallow your pride for once in your life!"
"Don't cross this line."
"What are you going to do," Venator rolled her eyes. "Hit me?"
Paladin hit her.
The sheer kinetic force Paladin was able to transfer from his fist into Venator's chest sent the Hunter flying into the far wall. The other occupants ducked as she kicked up a cloud of dust from her impact. Slowly, she fell out of her new alcove and collapsed to the ground.
"You broke my spine," she laughed. "Were I anyone else, you would've killed me outright. Don't tell me you've gone soft." Blip was already at work, putting her together. She stood back up and drew her knives.
"If you really want to test your fists against my blades, then bring it on!" Paladin roared as lightning began to surge through his fists. Beneath her helmet, Venator grinned.
"There's the Royal I know."
Paladin charged at her, swinging wildly, his mind clouded with anger. Venator easily ducked the blow, slashing at his exposed midsection. He didn't even seem to feel it, swinging back around with an uppercut that Venator only narrowly dodged. She continued to dance around his swings, staying light on her feet. Paladin seemed to have lost all his composure, Royal's temper flaring up within him. Venator slid between his legs as he went for a crushing bear hug. She stabbed her knife into the back of one of his knees, causing it to buckle. While he struggled to recover, Venator Roundhouse kicked him in the side of the head. He fell onto his chest and Venator quickly pounced on top of him, holding her remaining knife up to his throat.
"Yield."
He growled, "You know that won't kill me."
"It'll hurt like hell and you know this is where a sparring bout ends," Venator said evenly. "Yield." Paladin moved his body around experimentally, trying to see if he could shift Venator's weight off him. She wouldn't budge.
"Would both of you grow up!" Lancer shouted. "Look at you, squabbling like children! Your Brother would be ashamed! None of this is going to help us save him!" Venator pried herself off Paladin and pulled her knife out of his knee.
"Thatch, give me a top-up," Paladin said, glaring at his Sister. When his Ghost didn't respond, he turned to look for her.
"Thatch!"
"I'm not fixing it," she said from her spot beside Lancer. "Not until you calm down."
"Listen to your Ghost," Venator said, only for Thatch to whirl around on her.
"And you, what were you thinking, provoking him like that?"
"Only way to beat some sense into his thick skull."
"Do you want to go a second round?" Paladin threatened. "I only need the one leg."
"That's enough." Now it was Luz who spoke up. "I am going to come up with a plan to save my friends. Your Brother! You can either help us, or we can do it alone."
"I'm with you kid," Venator said. "Impossible odds with a high probability of excruciating death? How could I refuse?"
"I am as well," Darius said. Alador raised an eyebrow.
"For once, we agree."
"You'll have the might of the City Guard and whatever is left of the Emperor's Coven," Steve said. When Paladin looked at him, the Witch just shrugged.
"You did put me in charge of them."
"It appears I have been outvoted," Paladin said in a low voice.
"Since when has this been a democracy?" Venator quipped, only for Blip to shush her so she didn't push her luck. Paladin tensed before letting his limbs fall limp, the anger fading as quickly as it had arrived.
"Alright," he said, standing up now that Thatch was putting him back together, "I admit I was wrong."
"I'll concede that I never made the best arguments," Venator said. She held out her hand. "Still siblings?"
Paladin accepted the gesture with a sigh.
"This is either going to be the best decision I've ever made or the worst," he muttered. "Either way, I doubt I'll live long enough to see the end." He turned to Luz. "Alright, you have the floor. What's your plan?"
"Well," she said, standing before the table, "Before Hexside was attacked, I planned on using some memory magic to remember a glyph combo Belos used to get to the Skull. I think it's a teleportation glyph that lets you get just about anywhere, within reason of course."
"Were you able to get the glyph?" Darius asked. Luz shook her head.
"No, but I remember a certain someone tagging along with me when I first encountered it." Lancer gained a knowing glint in his lone eye.
"I think I might know what you're talking about," he said. Luz could practically see the smirk on his nonexistent face. "I'll see what I can do for you."
There ya go, hope it was worth the wait. That bar scene was one I've been looking forward to writing for a while and I think it turned out well. Honestly, I'm really happy with how this chapter turned out. Might be one of my best, but that's not a high bar. Sturgeons law, you know? Ninety percent of everything is crap.
Also, have you guys seen that new Solstice armor? Hot damn it is beautiful. Shame the rocket launcher is kinda dogshit.
Mr. Big Iron: I'm not Sith Lord, so I'll avoid speaking in absolutes, but it is very likely. I have some ideas for other stories, both fanfics and original work. I intend to pursue them.
Parvus: Army or not, you must realize, you are doomed! (With Confederacy of Independent Systems rizz) Good thing you gave me the heads up on the name change, I was wondering who had the audacity.
GodzillaMaster: Haha pulled a sneaky on you. Kiki herself probably would've just been killed by her Abomitron getting hijacked. And as fun as a Belos-possessed Royal would have been, I have something better planned for him.
OMAC001: Very funny choice of words there.
Frank180: Thanks. I'll keep working on it, but don't be surprised if it doesn't make it.
Davisjustus99: Always liked that quote. Normalize neverending hatred towards Nazis and Tankies.
Jebest4781: Good to hear.
"So, Cammy," Lancer began.
"Camilla," the woman corrected.
"That's what I said. Anyways, you're from a pre-Golden Age civilization, correct?" Camilla looked up at the Ghost as he watched her eagerly.
"I'm from Connecticut in the United States, if that's what you're asking." The Ghost's shell shook slightly, a move that she interpreted to be a so-so gesture.
"I was wondering if you could answer a question," he said, "For academic purposes, I assure you."
"Ask away."
"Are Pineapples real?"
Camilla definitely wasn't expecting that. She blinked, caught off guard by the question. Luz had informed her that Lancer took remarkably few things seriously. Was this just another practical joke of his?
"Out of all the possible questions you could ask me, you want to know if Pineapples are real?"
"Those are the words I said, yes."
"You don't want to ask about how ancient Human religions reacted to the Traveler, or if we could stop the Collapse with the knowledge we have?"
"Traveler hasn't arrived yet, so the first one is kind of moot, and time travel doesn't work like that, so the second is pointless."
"What do you mean 'time-travel doesn't work like that'?"
"The Universe is a self-correcting machine," Lancer explained, "You can't just go popping around in the timestream changing things. Otherwise, the Vex would've wiped us out eons ago. The only reason things are happening now is because of how Lightbearers interact with the laws of cause and effect." Camilla gave him a blank stare.
"Look, it's a bunch of very complicated science that, honestly, I don't even think Osiris himself understands fully, let alone me. Let's just say that Guardians are nicknamed Fatebreakers for a reason."
"That still doesn't explain why you're curious about Pineapples specifically."
"Ah, yes. I may or may not have a bet with Royal on whether they're real. Allegedly." The Ghost at least had the dignity to look slightly ashamed.
"I can assure you they are very much real," Camilla said, chuckling a little as she considered telling the Ghost about people putting it on pizza.
"Oh…" his voice trailed off uncertainly, "I see. Unrelated note, but could you never tell Royal that?"
"How much do you owe him?"
"Fifty-thousand Glimmer," he admitted. "Allegedly."
