Queen's note: I'm starting to realize I like to write a lot of slow burn post apocalyptic stories. It is fun though, writing the interactions between adventures. But it always turns out longer then I think because I'm writing on my phone on work break too. (Also you have no idea how hard it is to NOT do a Slayer cameo in my fallout story)
Garnets
Chapter Twenty Two:
Lost Soul
"It's an old training arena." Valen noted as he looked around the area that had been unlocked below his Atlan. He touched one of the surfaces and found a good thick layer of dust. The cleaning drones were definitely unable to get to this area. "Sentinels would keep skills sharp here, or train the apprentices in battle tactics."
"Looks like there was an active battle here," Lily noted from the entrance, not having to be told to remain there as the two bigger warriors checked out the formally locked down area. She eyed the nearest wall around the door, the blackened marks of old energy blasts.
The Slayer stooped, picking up a discarded dagger, examining the broken blade with his own mild surprise. It was a normal Argenta blade, the same stuff as the ship hulls. He gave a low chuff sound for Valen's attention, tossing what was left of the blade. Something happened?
"Possible," Valen frowned, then looked up. "Where did you find this Fortress my lord?"
M-a-r-s. John spelled out the word, paused and did it again where Lily could see.
"Mars?" The girl offered, and then got a thumbs up. "Wait, you were on Mars? Were you're stationed there?"
John considered how to answer that before settling on shrugging. Came out of hell there.
"Did you…wait. Wait." Lily paused and cut off her question about if he had seen whatever happened. What was said caught up to her. He came out of hell there, implying the invasion happening on earth likely started on Mars? "Never mind. That's a question for later."
She hoped whoever was aware or responsible for hell's invasion was hit.
"Do you smell anything Slayer?" Valen asked, even as he sniffed too. The whole reason he and John were being caucus just because the AIs had no active sensors in this area.
John snorted, scenting the air for any familiar scents, or the 'scent' of active hell or argent energy. He paused, taking a much slower, deeper breath while lifting a hand. The demigod pointed slightly to his right before signing. Old dead things. No living energy.
Valen lingered a moment, glancing in the indicated direction, then turned partly around. Motioning Lily to come over to him, just in case not wanting her left alone by the freely opening doors that she did not know how to lock yet. Valen still had an energy blade in his prosthetic just in case. Only once she had paced over did the Argenta man walk after his lord.
"Something smells off." Lily noted after they were almost to one of the back walls, scanning around.
"What do you smell?" Valen asked, looking down with some surprise. Could all humans track demon remains?
"...like dry rotted leather?" Lily frowned, it was not exactly like the things she caught whiffs of on the platform. Or that stone like scent that lingered around what her parents had become. She stopped at catching a flash of light as another set of lights turned on, while one of the others shut down.
Lily nudged Valen, pointing just away from John kneeling down to check something.
A boot.
Just part of one, but still able to see it around the corner of something.
"A blockade," Valen said, stepping closer, and then sighed as she saw the body hidden back there. He stood still as lily peered around him. Three bodies, still in armor, and how they were laid out…two bleed out and the last had tried to sit guard over their bodies and possibly his companions' souls until they passed naturally.
"Knights?" Lily asked, staying beside the older man and looking at the very knight-like armor, but also advanced like what John wore.
"Sentinels," Valen corrected lightly, moving to touch the nearest man's armor. Tapping it and finding it almost sounded like a dull, hollow rapping. "They've been here for a very long time."
Valen could not tell if they had made a last stand, or were trapped in here. Hearing a gasp from Lily, and a warning growl from John, the old Sentinel snapped his head up. Seeing the faint glow not far away.
A familiar glow.
The demigod slowed his prowl, pausing beside them before walking forward and to the ethereal mist forming into a form sitting on the stairs farther in. Armored in a suit like the dead… like the body laying near its… ghost? It looked up, as if startled, slowly standing and staring back at the Slayer King.
Lily grasped as she finally saw the ghostly form, aware of it turning its head to look at both her and Valen. Reflexively reaching to grasp her new guardian's closer hand, but only got a reassuring squeeze back. John glanced back as well, before walking closer. Just a tad shorter than the ghost, but he offered both hands palm up.
"You don't have to stand guard of them anymore." Valen spoke in a low voice, glancing at the first three bodies. "We'll make sure they're safely put to rest. And you."
Protective.
The not quite word came from John, his expression if not soft was relaxed. Holding his hands out farther.
What was left of the Night Sentinel shifted, head dipping as he stepped forward. Hands grasping those offered, head dropping to the Slayer's shoulder as he was pulled closer. It was odd as it looked like there was weight in the motion. As John wrapped his arms around the lone sentry, silvery-orange was crawling over him.
There was a faint, echoed sound as the phantom started to dissolve into his own energy. For just a moment, John stood still, holding the blue-silver liquid looking energy in his hands with sad affection before it curled around his wrists and forearms. Being absorbed into his own power as he gave a broken hum.
Valen took a deep breath, reflexively pulling Lily against his side. Keeping her out of the way as much to be reassuring. Remembering his son's first time seeing a phantom. "Rest well brother."
"What… did you do?" Lily asked once John was moving again, stooping to pick something out of the armor on the body he was near. It looked like a wide green disk, like the soul gems Valen kept.
Helped. John signed as he came over, crouching on his knees beside them and the first three remains. He was stuck.
"We need to find them somewhere to rest their ashes." Valen said, eyeing the armor and suits that could be useful. If nothing else help repair the Fortress, but being here where it was safe he felt the need to find a spot for those that could be laid to red.
"If you can cremate them, I can make a memorial garden area." Lily offered, standing back. "There's no roses, but there's poppies."
"...poppies?" Valen echoed the human word.
John huffed, and then snorted before he smiled. Nodding firmly. Yes. Good idea. Sun-flowers too?
"I saw some of those in the seeds you got." Lily smiled, "And the gladiolus flowers."
"What are 'poppies?'" Valen asked after a moment, "It's not a word I know, I'm guessing it's a plant?"
"Oh, yes, sorry Valen," Lily looked startled, and then sheepish. She glanced around and then explained, "Poppies, pop-py are a plant with flowers. The red one has been used for representing those who fell in war. The way my dad explained it, it's both a remembrance for veterans who chose to fight, and to remember the blood spilled for those that did not make it back."
The old, scarred warrior looked down at the remains, thinking before he gave a nod. "I think I like that. Is there anything golden? That is a part of funerals on Argent D'Nur, to encourage rebirth."
"There should be some." Lily smiled, "There's some yellow and other gold like sunflowers too."
John knocked on the ground for attention before standing up. Small one, go back up elevator. Breakable.
He glanced down and motioned at the remains, pretty sure they would be mummified under the armor.
"Do you need help getting back up to the Atlan?" Valen asked, turning to glance back the way they came. There were distinct foot prints from each of them in the layer of dirt and dust on the ground.
"I'll be fine," Lily looked grateful for being sent back up first. She really did not want to have to handle anymore dead bodies for a long time. Also she could sit and listen to the massive mech again.
Aware that Valen was at least watching after her as Lily backtrack to the entrance of this big training room. Tomb? The young woman shivered once in the entry hall.
"Vega?" Lily called as she got into the lift.
"I am here, miss Lily." The AI spoke, his voice a relief to hear. For some reason that area gave Lily the sudden chills, and not just from the temperature. Like some sort of instinct that sensed something in the dim and darker corners there, that she was not safe alone.
The young woman looked back down the hall to the arena-like area and tapped the button to bring her back up to the Atlan's head… chest level. Leaning against a safe area on the back of the lift. "I…don't have to do any repairs down there do I?"
"You do not have to, if you do not want to. John and Valen will be more than capable of getting the cameras, sensors and other things up and running." Vega assured, now able to see her again. Lily seemed relieved and he tried to scan again in that deeper area but could not turn the external scanners inward. A quick check and ping to the Atlan proved he too did not have power for scanners in his frame.
The metallic titan turned his head, one horn like sensor twitching before crooning a soft note at seeing Lily again. As if glad she was back in sight. Tracking the human coming back around to his front, giving a questioning edge to its soft humming.
"I'm okay big guy," Lily dared to lean on the rails in front of the mech for a minute. "I'm just really tired. Are you okay up there?"
The Atlan's humming shifted, there was some sort of pattern the human could hear but not able to understand like Valen and John. The mech was dipping his head, horns angled back as the silver glow of his optics brightened.
"He says that he is quite happy in the new body." Vega translated as he was still watching.
"Is he okay not having limbs?" Lily worried looking down into the semi-darkness of the open area.
There was a chest vibrating chuffing from the mech.
"The Altan thinks it's cute that you are worried about that," Vega said, and then further explained, "From what I understand, the Altans withdraw power away from their limbs when in a standby state. He is also fully incorporated with the Fortress with me. I dare say a little better as he has full control of the defense systems."
"Thank you for keeping us safe." Lily said to the Atlan, getting a nice warm huff of air in return. She smiled, "Valen said you'd need a new name? Do you pick it out or does he?"
The mech flexed one horn and then the other, humming a note then a complex set at a softer tones.
"It is his choice, but the Atlan would like you to give him another option for him to pick from " Vega explained once the mech settled.
Lily considered that, having to move to sit down to rest after all that walking. It was just now getting hard to breathe again. She liked how the mech sounded, and how she could feel the sound too. Her eyes half lidded, "You sound like you're cascading your voice. Up and down, but mostly down. How about Cascade? Like a waterfall."
The Atlan mech seemed to consider that. His right horn dipped back then forward as that right whale like song came back. He seemed quite pleased with the name offering as Lily leaned on the railing.
"I think he approves of the name," Vega spoke, then added as he shifted to another camera to check on the human. "Miss Lily? Would you like to go back to your room? You seem about ready to fall asleep. Though you do not move much in your sleep, being right by the edge of that platform is not wise."
The Atlan mech gave several low click-like sounds, agreeing with the other AI.
"I won't, but I do need some rest before making that walk back." Lily noted, looking up at the mech, watching the massive head tilt back and forth slowly while trying to see her back with the several sets of optic lenses. "I think I like you, big guy. Can I come visit in person again?"
There was a low, thumming as the titanic mech grumbled happily. Giving one clear nod.
"He says that would be nice, and if you have any new books to read to him, the Altan will be grateful." Vega translated, pleased that his human charge was getting along with the new addition despite the momentary fear to start with.
"Oh, I got a lot of books!" Lily laughed, "Not all are in standard, or… Argenta? I can read the French and English ones as well if you can understand."
"Riggs and I have been teaching him human languages," Vega spoke as the Altan mech gave another amused chuffing sound. "He will understand and I can translate anything."
"It's a date then big guy," Lily smiled up at the mech, taking a deep breath as she climbed back to her feet. "Vega? Is it okay for him to visit through the cameras in the garden?"
"We can try to do something," Vega reassured as he was already noting how the humans reacted to the harmonics of the mech. Not just Lily, but while John had worked on the big mech he too relaxed once the Atlan was vocal.
"I'll come back with a book when I feel better, big guy," Lily smiled up at the mech as he leaned back into his original spot, staring at the door back into the Fortress. "And try to sleep again I guess."
"You should definitely try to rest again." Vaga agreed, tacking the human while the other two were just starting back into his range. The AI sent the lift back down to them as Lily walked.
He was impressed that she got about halfway before having to slide down a wall and catch her breath. Lily though suddenly looked more than a little pale.
"Vega? How long has it been since I woke up?" Lily asked as she almost tilted.
"About three hours." Vega answered, already having pinged one of the cleaner drones to go grab Lily's medicine and mask.
"I…think… I think John does something when he's around." Lily noted, trying to make herself breath slowly. "Not bad… it's easier to breathe around him sometimes. But when it wears off…"
"You might have been exposed to traces of any one of the four types of energy the Slayer, and Valen, are saturated with." Vega spoke, but was also letting the other two know that Lily might need help with getting back to her area after all. "And maybe experiencing a type of withdrawal from it?"
"I don't know, it's just harder to breathe," Lily frowned, but focused on making herself comfortable in the hallway, debating on laying down. It was far from the first time she had been stuck somewhere without the medicine, even before coming to Fortress. So she was calm and made sure to breathe slowly.
Footsteps had her looking up and back the way she had come from. Not too surprised that Vega had called for one of the others. Lily saw the gray and blue first before focusing and waving sheepishly at Valen. "I almost made it?"
"Almost," Valen agreed once closer, he knelt down beside Lily, looking her over. He offered his hands, waiting a moment to get a nod before he picked the girl up. Young woman. "Back to the gardens?"
"Yes please." Lily nodded again, shifting to be easier in his center of gravity, even if Valen seemed as strong as John. It was strange, but Lily was getting used to being picked up again. It was starting to be nice.
"Is there a reason you stay there, instead of in the rooms?" Valen asked, as he walked down a set of stairs, seeing the way to living quarters.
Lily shrugged, watching where they were going, "No particular reason, John set up my things there. And when I was actually aware and healed enough to pay attention…. I like it."
At one point, in one of John's several day trips, she had found the old bedroom areas. She had tried to settle there, but did not feel as sacure sleeping there for some reason. Lily could not describe it yet, but just felt safer in the garden/greenhouse area.
Lily rested her head against Valen's shoulder, "I have basically everything I need down there. It feels… safer to sleep there. Maybe I'm silly but yeah. Restrooms, the baths, even the kitchen isn't that far away either. I get a good few walks a day in."
Valan glanced down, noting how his new charge was looking. That tired drain that came from an emotionally charged time. That with the bit of energy the Slayer put out could be all. Hells and false gods, she could have been affected by the new crucible on top of everything. "You look about to fall asleep, my little lady."
"I feel like I'm going to." Lily snorted softly, and then asked almost as softly, "would it be selfish to ask you to stay until I go to sleep once back?"
Valen tightened his hold just a bit, not wanting to admit how much he had wanted to do so. But his voice was controlled as he spoke gently, "No, it's not. I'll stay for a while."
Lily chuckled at a sudden thought, "Promise to keep the monsters away?"
It was Valen's turn to snort as he recognized the tease. "I promised with all my heart. If anything slips by the Slayer, I'll stop the monsters from getting you."
"You might be out of business if you say that." Lily noted, starting to dose.
"I can only hope," Valen agreed, finding that his charge was pretty much asleep as he finished talking.
Review!
XFireStoneX: I'm not sure, oddly I normally get more intreaction from readers on , but for this story its been more interactive on Ao3. maybe readers are used to transformers and fallout from me here
