It was about midday when he decided to scope out the supposed location of Ouroboros, bringing the kid along as he felt it prudent for her to continue learning from his example. So, there they say, looking down from a tall ridge at a massive cave mouth, anything it held being completely obscured by the dark shadows that shrouded everything within. He supposed that when the time came to pick a fight, they'd have to provoke it to bring it out of its cave.
It was a textbook suicide mission, but they were Mandalorians. These were the exact missions they were made for, the battles in which where all else would fall, they would stand triumphant. He hoped that felling such a beast would would be worthy of his ancient ancestors', the Neo Crusaders', praise, but it would have to prove itself a truly fearsome foe indeed for that...
"Um... Mister Midnight?" Ruby squeaked, drawing his attention away from the cave mouth. She was currently piggybacking on him in place of his backpack which he'd set in the MRAP, her tiny arms wrapped over his shoulders and around the collar of his breastplate.
"Something wrong, kid?" He asked in turn, before watching her lift her left arm and point at something in said direction. Turning his head and dropping his rangefinder down so he could clearly make out whatever had caught her attention. The location was a hill with thick foliage, and anything under or within said flora was obscured beyond any clear recognition...
Nevertheless, he did notice some odd movement within the shadows, movement that didn't belong to plants. Likewise, it wasn't quite as awkward as larger Grimm, nor as fluid as medium or smaller Grimm, or of general wildlife. Four of five possibilities out, that left only one left. People. Either they were here at the same time by coincidence, or they were stalking him. However, as if they realized he was watching, the dancing shadows halted, as if to try to deceive his eyes.
Deciding to play it off for a moment, he shrugged, before turning back to look at the cave mouth while pulling out a small mirror. He angled it just right so that he could observe the location while looking like his attention was on the cave. Sure enough, those shadows began to move again, confirming his suspicions about being stalked. Now he just needed to decide how to handle this situation...
"Hmm... they may not be after me, but the child. If they're attempting a more covert approach, dealing with them may become a little more difficult in different ways... but something tells me these stalkers might be different..." he couldn't quite say what he thought made them different from those that came before them, but it was just a gut feeling he couldn't ignore. These ones had to be taken seriously, or things would get ugly, and fast.
"Um... maybe contact mister Black? He seems to know a lot about what's going on all the time..." Ruby offered, getting a nod of agreement out of her guardian. Without needing another word, he tapped his right gauntlet's communication unit, hailing his top lieutenant on their secure frequency...
"Mand'alor, how can I help you?" Marcus's voice came through, somewhat staticky, but still clear nonetheless.
"I need additional Intel on the area... specifically, groups of notable status or threat."
"Groups? Well, let's see..." he started, before the sound of uncrumpling paper took over the channel for a few seconds until finally he returned. "Had to pull out my old notes on the area. There's several groups that might pose a threat if we came to blows, but almost all of them are hunter fireteams... almost."
"Hunter fireteams don't concern me, tell me about these... other groups."
"There's the Followers of Vandea, who deify an ancient tyrant from a few millennia ago. They're only dangerous if you got a political opinion though. Fascists of a sort... Black Crusaders, sorts of religious zealots, but their focus is on hunting devils or... something like that. I don't know about that stuff, but they shouldn't bother us... but there's another group that I'm not too sure on. Information is scarce, but I believe they're some sort of cult."
"Ignore the Followers, I don't think they're of any notable worry... but I want you to dig up as much information as possible about this cult. I got a hunch they'll make themselves a problem very soon." He ordered, immediately Marcus acknowledged, and closed the line. He sighed as it seemed that trouble would always follow him, and rolled his head in mild annoyance.
No matter, after all, he had what he came for, and these weirdos stalking him he'd know well soon enough. So, after packing up all of his equipment once again, he loaded up the kid onto the MRAP, and set off towards town...
"Mrs. Black sends her regards, Mand'alor. She made the internals for these weapons, and asked me to create the casings, barrel and blade. I finished the work only minutes ago." The Armorer greeted him with a wave over her shoulder, before turning and sliding over a tray of... interesting equipment. On the tray was a sort of frame to fit onto his boots, a rectangular object that he recognized would attach to his left gauntlet, and two... he'd be honest, he wasn't too sure what exactly they were, but one appeared to have a sort of interchangeable launcher, while the other looked to be some kind of small flamethrower. Finally, something with a port he recognized to be adaptable to his DC-17M, but it wasn't any sort of blaster or grenade launcher, and seemed to have something akin to an ascension cable under the double barrel with a claw instead of a hook at the end...
"What... are these? I don't recognize any of this equipment?" He asked, drawing a sort of bemused chuckle out of the Armorer.
"Thruster boots are more rare than a jetpack, and their usage differs also. They'll allow you a sort of powerful dash at incredible speeds and can assist you with the ability to jump midair." She explained the first pit of equipment, lifting it up to let Midnight get a good look at them. "The next is a new attachment for your gauntlet. A retractable Beskar blade. I don't believe I need to elaborate anything there. These two mechanical arms attach to the back panel of our armor with a special port that can be installed in the shoulder blade areas, the left spews incendiary dust, effectively making it a flamethrower. The right can be configured to lob thermal detonators or cryoban impact grenades. Finally, this attachment for your interchangeable blaster will make you many times deadlier in close range engagements, as well as allow you to easily close the distance with any foe."
"My armor does not have ports for such weapons." He sighed, before watching her slide over a new pair of gauntlets and a back panel for his armor...
"I assumed as much, and prepared accordingly. These should link with your new weapons seamlessly." She declared, before gesturing for him to drop his old equipment. He needed nothing more, opening up the clamps on his gauntlets after removing the disruptor, before dropping the armor to the floor after setting the weapon on the table. Then, removing his pauldrons first, he took the backpack off, propping it against the corner of the counter, and releasing the catch holding the front of his breastplate to the back. The plasteel armor hit the floor with a thud, though he tilted his body back slightly so that the front would stay in place.
The Armorer wasted no time rearming him, and within about five minutes, he stood proud in superior armor with far superior firepower to before. He gave the blade a test jab, smiling with satisfaction as it obeyed his commands with a satisfying shink! noise whenever it shot forward or retracted back in, before testing the flamethrower on a few dummies, freezing them a moment later with a cryoban grenade. He hopped around a little bit with the boots, amused by the dash as it allowed him to effectively cross several meters in any direction practically instantly, a massive augment to his evasive skills, to be sure. Finally, he attached the new weapon to his DC-17M, finding it somewhat bizarre by the brake action barrels, but he wasn't necessarily phased by it, instead just opting to take two shells from the armorer and slot them in...
"4 gauge, tungsten pellet, buckshot shotgun shells. Do not treat them lightly, for aside from their price, they are rare, and their power is tremendous, and the recoil far more powerful than that of any blaster." She explained, before sliding a box with the other 22 over to him. He had enough spare pouches for all the shells, so it worked out.
It was just as he finished slotting the last shell in its respective pouch when the comms link on his helmet pinged him, alerting him that Marcus must've made some progress. Giving the Armorer a nod of satisfaction and dismissal, he took his leave from the room, touching a finger to the link on his new gauntlet. "Marcus, have you made any progress?"
"Of a sort. The cult is effectively the enemy of those Black Crusaders. Devilworshippers. Dug up a lot of... disturbing history that I don't think is meant to be widely known... been listening in on their radio chatter after taking one out,and somehow, they know who the kid is."
"They know Ruby?" He asked in disbelief, scratching the back of his neck with a newfound caution about him.
"Yeah, but it's weird. They're referring to her both as 'Rose' and as 'The Lost Vessel.' Such a name would imply some significant history, but I can't find any additional information... I crossed reference with the Black Crusaders after crossing one of their patrols, and it seems that ever since wecrossed our pursuers at the gate the other day and warded off the Grimm attack, they've been keeping a lower profile than usual, they suspectthey're up to something big." Marcus explained as quickly as possible, before pausing a moment. It sounded like there was some background chatter, but he wasn't too certain. "Alright, these Crusaders have declared that they're sending a team of elite commandos and a leading member over to discuss possible options on your end."
"Do they know anything about what these Cultists could want? How they know the child?"
"Something about a secret operation nearly six years ago, but that's apparently all this group knows. Wouldn't be surprised if only their leadership and best know any more than that." He informed, drawing a contemplative nod out of Midnight. Six years, or just under, would place the kid as little more than a fetus, likely around the beginning of her mother's pregnancy, possibly before the woman even knew she was...
"Understood. Tell them I'll await them with the child at the top floor in the conference room, Midnight out. Armorer, send the alert to our best warrior, I want four up there ASAP." He ordered after affirming the meeting, closing the line as he did so. The woman brought up a data pad and began typing away at it, likely to send the message out. While they did that, he marched out of the room without a word, opting instead to just collect Ruby and await these religious zealots as promised...
Ruby wasn't wearing her helmet at the moment, which he could understand. He believed her when she said her neck hurt from wearing it, after all, while Beskar was far superior to any other metal or alloy as far as protection went, it was notably heavy, heavier than most other similar materials. Nevertheless, she had cleaned herself up and put some fresh clothes on nonetheless, being a simple black tee shirt and skirt, and a grey hoodie that remained unzipped, but she did have the hood pulled over. Besides that, he trusted her enough to keep possession of a blaster pistol that Mrs. Black made, which looked like a shrunk down version of his progenitor's Westar-34 blaster pistol.
He had to say, he was incredibly impressed by that woman's skill as a craftsman. She'd proven herself invaluable to their operation despite not being a warrior herself, or so he assumed at least. Certainly, Marcus had lucked out landing a woman that good, but that was beside the point.
Returning his thoughts to the present matter, he looked around at the four Mandalorians gathered there, one being Aaron and his wife, Rikka, Davian, and, of course, Marcus. All of them held their disruptor rifles in a resting position, barrels lowered and pointed down at the floor, all four utilizing jet packs, flame throwers and blasters as well. If those Crusaders proved to have... less than peaceful intentions with the child, then they'd cut them all down without hesitation.
"Mand'alor, the Crusaders and their representative are here." The announcement came over the intercom, drawing somewhat uneasy glances about from everyone but him.
"How many?"
"Five guards, and the rep. Shall I send them up?"
"Yes, send them up."
They did not have to wait long for the six to arrive, as they found their way to the conference room with little difficulty and let themselves in. Despite being religious zealots, they didn't much show that in their appearance. A white cross over the black of their right pauldron, but otherwise, the commandos wore all black modern tactical uniforms consisting of ballistic vests, pauldrons, an assault pack, ballistic helmets, goggles, and a balaclava. They were using relatively normal looking ballistic weapons, carbines and rifles, and each had a handgun on their thigh. The only one who stood out was the representative, who wore a black suit with silver cross pins. He was a middle-aged man, with a slight stubble, black hair that was somewhat messy, and an overall friendly expression on his face...
"So, you must be the Mand'alor I've heard so much and yet so little about. It's a pleasure." He greeted with a similarly friendly tone and extended hand. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and met the man's hands, giving a polite nod his way as well.
"That would be me. You must be the representative of the Black Crusaders." Midnight looked down to Ruby, who hid most of herself behind him, noticeably uncertain about the situation and uncomfortable with the new faces. He retracted his hand from the man's grasp and set a hand on her shoulder. "I have questions I need answers to."
"I'm sure you do, after all, these are... confusing times. But first, let me ask, the child, her mother was Summer Rose, correct?"
"Y-yeah... that's my m-mom's name..." Ruby answered, still hiding slightly. It drew a small sigh out of the man, who held out his hand for the girl to take. Of course, she didn't take his hand in her own, understandable considering she didn't know this man.
"Why do these cultists want her, why do they refer to her as this... 'lost vessel?'" The man simply pulled out some ornate sphere of gold, silver and diamond from a box that one of the commandos held up before him, knelt down, and offered it to the child.
"Any answer I give you won't believe until you see this for yourself. Mand'alor, if you'd so kindly place your hand on the sphere? Nothing will happen, I assure you... unless you've absorbed a devil's power at some point, that is." He offered, and Midnight did just that. True to his word, nothing happened. So, with a light shrug, he gestured for Ruby to place her hand upon the sphere like he had. "I should warn you, if this truly the daughter of Summer Rose, then this will be very... painful, and you'll physically be unable to remove your hand from the sphere until the process is done."
"What exactly will happen to her? Will it... expel whatever it is the cultists want from her?"
"No no, that is quite impossible, I assure you. If she is indeed a devil's vessel, it will burn the devil's sigil somewhere upon her." The man explained, receiving a wary look from Midnight who crossed his arms with an unsatisfied shake of the head.
"And if she is, then what? You think I'm not aware that you're devil hunters?"
"Under normal circumstances, we would have to slay the possessed... but the case of Ruby Rose is far from normal. We have orders in her case to only act IF the devil's power consumes her." He replied carefully, standing upright as the child retracted her hand once more, shaking her head and burying her face in Midnight's kama.
"Before we do anything, I wanna know what's going on. You and these cultists are not the first to have interest in the child, and I hate being out of the know. Why are those freaks that control the Grimm after her? Why are these cultists after her? And what history do you and those cultists have with her or her mother?" The Mand'alor questioned with clear frustration in his voice.
"Yes... yes I do believe it prudent to shed some light on the situation. Very well, I will tell you what I know... but it is only information relevant to ours and the cultists history with her. I can only speculate what these... Grimm handlers could want with her." He began, before taking out a scroll, and turning aside to roll it out on the table. It wasn't very aged for a scroll, looking to be at most six or so years old. "Please, keep an open mind... This was the mission report for a top secret operation six years ago, team STRQ was hired to lead the operation because of their impressive track record in covert missions. There was apparently some... internal complications at the time within the team, but that's irrelevant. The Devil Worshippers were dangerously close to completing a ritual to summon a high-ranking devil into our world, but they were interrupted."
"So they're trying to take revenge for their ritual's interruption, is that it?" Marcus chimed in, his helmet tilted to the side and forward ever so slightly with a sort of vague understanding in his physical mannerisms.
"Oh, but if only it were so simple! Despite being interrupted, they carried on despite them, and they were ultimately somewhat successful in the ritual. STRQ and the commandos we sent made the tough call to kill the sacrifice before the ritual could be completed, so the Devil had no host to manifest in. The devil's dark energies were still manifest in the real world, and the arch cultist managed to pin the girl's mother down. The manifest power of the Devil sought out the weakest part within her, and at the time, it was her own unborn daughter who yet had no aura."
"So where is that power now? Without a blaster she's helpless in a fight right now." Midnight responded, hands pressed down upon the table as he tried to decipher the text on the scroll. Alas, it was written in a language he wasn't familiar with, so that was to no avail.
"We sealed both souls within the child's body. Because that seal is in place, neither her own aura, nor the devil's power, can be unlocked or manifest. It all the aura of those commando teams to hold the devil's powers down, and none survived the ordeal. If it were some random low or mid-ranking Devil, that alone would've been enough to halt the Devil for good... but this one was far too powerful. All we could do was delay it while we rushed Summer Rose over to our own high council."
"Hmm..." Midnight quietly mulled over the info bomb, before cracking his neck back and forth and trying his understanding. "So, then these cultists must seek to... what, release this Devil? Is that it?"
"That is the gist of it, yes. Our options narrow further the longer they go unchecked. The child's seal is imperfect, and intense trauma could crack the seal, so to speak. Because of the weakened seal, they could sense her presence, and so could we... we hoped to seal the Devil once more, strengthen the seal... but the wound has been left to fester and rot. We have to remove it before it decays completely, but we must take several precautions before we can do that."
"And those would be?"
"We need the devil's sigil present upon her body, that way we can imprint special seals that will only seal the dark power back. That way, we can remove the old seal and unlock her aura."
"And following that..?"
"Following that, unless she consciously releases it herself, the seals will hold indefinitely." He said it with such certainty, but Midnight knew something just wasn't right. Whenever someone had complete certainty is such... bizarre subjects, something always went wrong. With a simple shrug, he turned to let Ruby through, with clear access to the sphere. She was hesitant to touch it, looking back and forth from the ball to anywhere else... until her eyes finally locked with his visor, and he gave her the affirmation she so desperately needed with just a slight tip of the head.
Mustering all her courage, she inhaled and exhaled deeply a few times, before reaching out and setting her palm upon the sphere. All watched in awe as the reaction was so instantaneous, the sphere lighting up like a star and rapidly disintegrating as a black inferno consumed Ruby's hand in an instant. Her scream was damn near deafening, and the shock of everyone across the room was certainly disheartening for all Mandos present who were under the impression that everything was as of yet under control...
And just as suddenly as it started, it came to an abrupt end, with Ruby collapsing to her knees, grasping the back of her right hand with her left. She was bawling her eyes out, which didn't surprise any in the room, least of all Midnight who immediately leapt back to Ruby's side to try to comfort her as best he could. He gently guided her back so she could sit on her behind, before taking her hand and turning it over so he could take a look at the point of pain. There, black as the void itself, was the devil's sigil branded upon her flesh, it something like a sort of 5 pointed star, with three dots at each point of the star, two vertical lines running parallel through the star with each end ending in a circle, an upside down cross under the star, and another two lines extending out from under the middle wings that curved at the top and bottom of each end on either side. It was all encased in a double-ring, within which one simple name encircled the star that read out...
"Astaroth..." the rep gasped out with wide eyes and a panicked expression ruling his face. He shook it off quickly though, and shot up to his feet ready to make a stern declaration. "This is far worse than we could've imagined! We must bring her to the Cathedral at once!"
"Silence!" Midnight roared over Ruby's sobbing, lifting her up into his arms and cradling her as gently as he could manage. "Before we take her anywhere, I want to know WHAT the hell is going on, and WHAT you're planning on doing!"
"The seal is almost broken, that's what! Not only that, but the black flames mean that the Devil's power is already merging with her soul! It will break the seal on her aura long before she is strong enough to handle the influx of power, and the Devil will take control!" He explained frantically, just barely stopping himself short of lunging to take the child from his arms. "If her own aura is too weak, the devil's power will destroy her soul, rather than be absorbed by it, hollowing her out for the Devil instead. The child will die, time is of the essence, you must understand."
Midnight growled, before standing fully upright and jerking his head towards the door. "The child must survive. If you attempt to stab us in the back, we will destroy your entire order." He turned to Marcus, Jerking his head over to the window. "Take the Mando'ade to the streets and press an offensive on the cult. I will take Ruby to this... 'Cathedral,' and nip this problem in the bud before it spirals out of control. Move out!"
Implementing some extra world building to link this story to its sort of prologue (this is obviously an AU) that I'm working on. Wrote this all on my phone while on the move... putting all this exposition needed to drive later elements of the story is tiring, but next chapter will have a LOT of action, so that'll be a lot more fun to produce
Anyways, thank you, everyone that's supported my work so far. I hope you'll all continue to support me as I continue this story onward, and as I gradually improve as an author. As always, criticisms are welcome!