Queen's note: AAAHHHH things are moving to where I want them to go! hope some more things are cleared up XD

Garnets

Chapter Forty Two:

Kneeling to Giants

Today was now able to be described in a few words: It fucking sucked.

Becky Stinson scrambled at the massive hand that almost too easily clamped all the way around her neck. Leaving a blood stain on the studded gauntlet that took up most of her field of view.

The fact that it was not even five minutes from when that god damned shot her, to everyone being incapacitated. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say her fellows had been down with brutal incapacitating injuries as Stinson was lifted up off the ground with no effort on Becky's part. Just able to see around a bicep that was bigger than her thigh, what she had thought was mortal wounds might be survivable.

Maybe not the heap that was left of Bonin.

Becky had said not to come in with weapons drawn, why could that fucking idiot not listen to anyone that was not the general?!

Now she was likely going to have her neck snapped as the big hand holding her squeezed slowly. That deep bone vibrating snarling vibrating through her chest and off the hand that held her. Her armor's color ridge had already been dented and warped the metal that was the best at dispersing the demonic energy.

This creature that did and did not seem human had just hefted Becky off the ground with his right hand and the left now held her. She really had been just trying to use her own armor and bulk to shield the child. Scared of the ricocheting bullets and few energy pulses in those few minutes (moments?) of chaos.

Well.

What was normally bulk for her, nothing like this being let alone the old space marines. Stinson was not even able to feel the ground under her now.

She was being moved, as the other massive hand came up and clamped onto her helmet. Becky reflexively shot one of her hands from the gauntlet to the bigger man's wrist. Upon hearing a faint creaking and seeing her HUD flicker, her hand shot to the release trigger.

That low dangerous growl altered just slightly, giving Stinson the impression he approved of her action before her helmet was pulled off and she gasped at the… hot air?

It was always cold this close to the 'momma ghoast.'

All at once the once Navy officer, now city guard realized the heat was bleeding off the giant. Her eyes widening as she got the first really good look, or just up close look at this being.

Becky Stinson was sure this was not a human man she was looking up at. She could not see the face under the almost mirrored visor, just hints of a scowling face. But humans did not have glowing green eyes, nor could they shed off visible rusty orange tinted energy.

Even though she had not thought about it, or heard stories about it in almost a year. Stinson could not help thinking of the old stories her grandfather and uncle told about the Space Marines' god of war and death. The Doom Marine, Hell-Slayer? That's what her uncle mostly called the myth when laughing on leave, thrilling his nieces and nephews with stories.

Demand.

The not quite word shook Stinson, and then made her shiver inside her armor as she realized that it was the same as the ghostly being. Not the same voice so to say, this 'man's' voice brought to mind cracking earth and bones. The ghost almost always seemed like flowing water and arctic ice.

He was like the ghost, somehow despite not being ethereal. Some deep rooted human instinct screeched at realizing this.

Becky was tilted as her helmet was discarded. The giant's hand around her neck no longer put as much pressure, loosening just a notch if anything. Turning her so Stinson could see him pointing down then at a display screens.

A part of her mind realized in a detached way that the information she saw should not be up. Should not be able to be accessed without codes even higher then her own. Brown eyes flicked to the almost alien-like device plugged into the console on the far left.

Then she recognized the shitty half reports that were still not corrected.

That fucking wanker, Bonin was going to really get her neck snapped, and possably all of them killed.

"...not eu… not what.. it seems..!" Stinson choked out, finally kicking her legs. Trying to find anything to brace on to shift the pressure off her neck. Grabbing the arm holding her up and almost making the sharp mistake to grab the extended blade. Her left leg braced on the giant's own armored form, the upper thigh (why was there no faint give of the muscle under the strange green metal?). Not to kick but so Becky could shift her weight for a sliver of confidence to let go and scramble at her own chest plate.

Loosening it to reach in as there was a warning snarl, but Becky grasped at the seem that was always broken. Wedging her fingers inside to pull out a folded tick piece of paper. Stinson held it out for the inhuman giant too, not in his face, she did not want to put her dominant left hand in his biting range. No matter that he had his own helmet range, some instinct was screaming in the back of Becky's mind. Or that small part of everyone's mind that was scared of the unknown monsters in the dark.

Stinson realized belatedly that the black coloration on this creature's armor was demonic blood. It seemed burned?

"Not… not wat it sims... Seems. See?" Becky's words were slurring, it was starting to get dark and fuzzy on the edges of her vision.

She was dropped, hitting the deck as that flowing icy scream of the ghost was sounding. Bleeding emotion with no words as Stinson gasped for air.

Angry-defencive. Demand-fear-insult.

A large boot planted on Stinson's back, right on the connection point of her gray armor that protected her torso. Just enough of the bigger's not-human's weight shifting to keep her pinned down as Becky just gasped for air, tainted as it was without the filters in her helmet.

Demand.

That earth cracking sound came from above, this new being's 'voice' before was a painiced sound from below before the ghost went quiet for a moment. Becky realized she could see the little girl she had shoved under the computer station not a few minutes ago, almost inside a storage locker to protect her from the stray shots. Remembering how Stinson had tried to use her armor to block the opening before getting yanked up by her neck.

The girl was still huddled up, hiding, as if not able to tell it more or less had gone quiet. Enough so that Stinson could hear paper being unfolded somewhere above her.

It was not that old, even had the date in her niece's shaky handwriting. Becky knew it was not much, but maybe, just maybe it would curb the unearthly anger she could sense coming off this not quiet man.

Stinson knew exactly what was written, knew the letters on one side were larger then normal and shaky from her niece's nerve damage. The happy letter to 'aunt becky' about how the girl was having fun with the momma ghosty, the letter telling Becky how her niece learned about getting trees to grow faster and they had an almond tree now down in the bunker.

The other side of the letter, the side that was folded inside was a rough, shivery picture of something like a park of her niece, her new friends and the caretakers. With dark blues and black as the sky and around the rough almost dragon like form in gray marker. Each silly wibbly stick figure had a name, even the form of a guard outside the bunker being labeled as Becky herself standing guard.

"I don't know why that wanker keeps calling the kids offerings." Stinson said to the floor after catching her breath. Wondering if this being was like the ghost below as she stared at the hiding child, attracted to certain people and kids. Able to sense something that she and most humans could not. "My niece is down there, my only family. I wouldn't let her be in danger… I can prove it, they are not hurt. It's the only safe place out of the water."

A low growl came from behind and above at what Stinson said. The armored boot on her shifted but did not let up, she could sense movement for a moment. And then the foot finally lifted and hocked under Becky's right side, thankfully away from where that rookie's panic shot got her in the hip. Stinson grunted as she was pushed over onto her side and then back, staring up at the towering mass of armor and muscle. He was looking over both sides of her niece's letter.

Demand.

The paper was turned, and he pointed to the dragon-like image on paper.

"It's the momma ghost, or ghost." Becky said, hesitantly motioning to where the main grate was and then the cargo lift. "I don't know where it came from. Those incharge just said it came from africa, needed it somewhere safer with that continent started to be taken over completely."

Anger-demand.

The giant leaned down, the bland on his left arm coming far too close. Thankfully the big hand did not clamp on her neck this time but grasped the collar ridge before Stinson was hefted off the ground like a rag doll. She cringed at hearing and feeling the gray armor being crushed under the hand holding her.

What was this monster?

Stinson was turned around, the back of her armor grabbed now by his right hand. She was just able to catch her hands on the edge of the console so as not to be dragged over it. Staring at the entry signed by Carroll Bonin. His other pointed at the displayed report on the main screen.

Newest child offering to the entity was successful, handlers reported full integration. Entity seems to have calm down even more with this child. Recommend finding another one like him soon to keep the entity from trying to get out.

"I don't know why Bonin writes like that," Becky scrambled at her armor, finding that part that could come off that had her sir name on it. Lifting to show over her shoulder, then pointed to the list of at least a dozen names. "Look, see, same name there. That's my niece. She's my brother's daughter, I wouldn't leave her anywhere that's not safe. That ghost doesn't hurt them. Like I said, I can show you. I swear they're not hurt."

The giant growled again behind her, he pressed her into the computer station, even with cracked armor the chest and back plates held to protect Stinson. She could faintly hear voices from her helmet somewhere tossed to the right. There was a grunt and Becky was moved, pulled over to the clear access panel, shoved at it.

Stinson was given just a moment to willingly put in her codes and pull a glove off to press her hand on the reader. She very much was willing to do it before getting grabbed from behind again as what seemed like an AI program was starting to take over the newly accessed system before Becky could do anything to stop it. Just held at his left side again as he was kneeling.

The side arm from outside was on the thigh right beside Stinson's head. Well within reach, she could just reach out and unhook it.

Becky knew better than to even try, just hanging limp as she watched the giant chuff at the girl. His growling lightened into something neutral as he tapped the ground until the small bundle dared to peek out of her hiding spot.

Somewhere outside of the building there was sounds of more people, making Stinson cringe at the ground. Hoping against all the damnation in the world right now it was Commander Wyatt, he was a reasonable and level headed man that would have listened to her warning… not even ten minutes ago.

Becky saw how the giant extended his right hand to the girl. No older than… seven? Almost the same size as Stinson's niece.

It was so strange to realize the big hand that cracked bones not a few minutes ago was being so controlled to let small hands grasp his fingers, and then pulling the child closer to look her over for damage. While at the same time his left hand was still making Stinson's armor creak off and on.

It was definitely sign language the quiet girl was using. Looking up at the visor of the giant as the green glow faded a bit. Peeking at Becky and waved hesitantly before 'saying' thank you. The only sign Stinson knew really, and tried to smile for the girl.

She pointed at Stinson's right side, the hip that was really starting to let her become aware of the energy burn and still weeping blood. Seeming to ask a question, looking confused and not really able to see the others that had been incapacitated or knocked out fully.

Becky hoped they did not have brain damage as she was lifted and tilted. Suddenly struck that the giant did not seem to realize for the first time that Stinson was indeed bleeding.

"Hmm…" He set her down, there was a crackle of energy that Stinson could not get away from the big hand reaching down to tap the spot. She gritted her teeth and was just able to clamp down on the reaction to scream at the flair of heat and pain as the bleeding part of the wound was burned closed.

Becky had to duck her head, trying to control her reaction to the unexpected thing to happen, shaking a bit as she remembered to breathe before getting picked up by her armor again as a lift was heard coming back to the surface level.

The main doors were cautiously opened, a tool used to look in as the odd but distinct sound of a portal opening.

For a horrible, terrible moment Stinson thought hell had somehow found out about the ghost. The danger her niece would be in of the momma ghost could not protect-

The portal was blue and silver. Faint traces of purple mixed into the shades of blue and teal.

Stinson was not sure anything or anyone could be bigger than the giant holding her. She was sorely mistaken at the first white-silver armored form that came through the portal. Towering at likely over seven feet the broad shouldered forum walked into the empty space with an energy weapon in the shape of a double bladed ax. It glowed blue unlike some of the demonic weapons Stinson had seen over the last near year. Yet also had some sort of script of glyphs on the glowing blades.

It was oddly memorizing looking up at the towering silver armored form as they strided through the portal with thudding footsteps over to them as they lifted their right arm. The ax smoothly shifted in that hand as they put their arm across their chest. For the first time Becky could see the demonic blood coating their front and right side mostly.

"Lord Slayer, we heard the call from Vega and came." The voice was not extremely deep but confident, a 'deeper' female-like voice. She was speaking in global standard, just in a heavily accent Becky could not understand.

Wait… VEGA? The AI that was the pride of the UAC Mars colony?

Stinson recognized almost belatedly the glyph like sign on this new… Woman's (?) right arm and chest plate was the same as what was on the first giant's helmet shoulder. She was turning partly to swing her ax up to the right shoulder, the energy blades scraping the armor but leaving no mark. There were some sort of large claw marks on the armor of her front and legs.

The not-quite man gave a grunt, but he seemed pleased as there was a shift in his stance as he stood back up. Stinson still held by the back of her armor in his left hand.

Others were coming through the portal.

Stinson had no idea a bipedal, human-like body could top out at eight feet until just then. Two of the five that came were like that, all had similar but slightly different armor. Like the differences between the space marines and the plant side ones almost, with weapons that were clearly not human made. Or made for human hands as there were more like mini-cannons that should be mounted somewhere stable. The fourth was the same height as the first giant, with a broad, blue-purple energy shield expected and held in a clear guard position to protect who came out last. The last was only slightly taller than the first inhuman man in the green, tan and black armor. That one had armor that was almost like the first being but ashen in color and more worn out. Becky could just see what looked like a metal right arm as he was holding… a sixth person.

Human.

Someone clearly human it was almost painful to see the real differences between them and these giants.

That last one very much gave the impression of a leader as he was kneeling just outside of the portal as it closed. Lowering the human to the ground and supporting the young woman who looked very motion sick. Something about the air that rolled off that man (?) and the different helmet just instinctively felt, or picked up the air of a commanding officer.

The green armored Giant grunted and then… chuffed.

Stinson watched as the new human looked over to start waving, before she seemed to really take a look at what was around them. At Becky being held, the child hiding behind her captor, or guardian's leg, the limp bodies of the guards scattered and bleeding. Some were just starting to become semi aware. The doors with others outside.

"...wut the hell?"

The being holding Stinson shrugged.

"...big guy, is that person still alive you're holding?" the human asked from where she was sitting half under the kneeling armored form.

Stinson grunted as she was lifted up as if to be showed off instead of fully staring at the ground. Reflexively she tried to reach back and grab at the bigger hand holding her, only to freeze at getting a clearer look at one of the two bigger giants that came over. "...hi."

Was that a shotgun in their hand?

The new young woman, a civilian for sure, just stared openly as she had nothing to cover her face. She looked like someone dumped ink on her, and her neck almost seemed freshly burned. "Can you put them down John?"

All at once Stinson hit the ground as they were released, groaning as the more white then silver armored giant that had come over planted a foot on her back. Not unlike a minute ago to keep her in place, but Becky could see the first being retract his blade and stoop, lifting the young girl up and walking over.

Wait.

This unearthly being was named John?

The first white armored person to come from the portal called him Lord Slayer. That seemed far more fitting of the bulk of muscle that walked over to them, setting the girl down and pointed. He then started to sign with both hands as the new human got up, but the one who came with her stayed kneeling, seeming to watch the child.

The others were moving in a clearly defensive positions around them. Around the mostly green armored one. He oddly did not seem as titanic with them around, more seemingly average if the young woman was not there to barely come up to his lower chest or middle.

"Found a new flower, wait, say that part again," The young woman was watching John (Slayer?) intently. Starting to repeat the signs she was seeing to keep up, then looked at the small breathy sound from the child. Surprised as she too signed.

Definitely sign language here.

"Hi Heather," the young woman said as she signed while talking, "My name's Lily. Giants? Huh well yeah they're big but won't hurt us."

The young woman, Lily paused and was pointedly not looking where a groaning body was trying to roll over.

"I have cats too… who's a bad monster?" Lily paused and eyed the Slayer. "What happened here? …what's that world?"

"Mancubus," A rough, deep voice spoke from the still kneeling figure. He offered a metallic hand to Heather and coaxed her over to look at the still fresh burn marks on her face and shoulders. "The acidic demons you and Vega talked about a few days ago."

He signed to the child slowly, getting her full focus for a moment.

Lily turned back the Slayer (John? Really?), motioning to first the bodies and then to Stinson where she was still pinned down. "Okay…how does mancubus lead to this chaos?"

The Slayer shifted and almost barked out a snarl and earthquake sound.

Demand-Seeking.

The ice flowing scream of the being below them all reflexively answered back.

Fear-alarm. Protective-request-fear-want-craving.

All of the pale armored bodies snapped around, the one kneeling was back on his feet, the girl Heather in his arms and taking a step without realizing it. "That's a-"

"Commander Valen, what is a Wraith doing on earth?!" the first one to come out of the portal demanded, tensing. She then swung to the open doors as she changed hands with her ax. Stalking over to the open door swiftly. She was already reaching around the door frame and hauling a startled man around the corner to growl at him. "Why is there a holy Wraith here, human?"

…holy wraith?

Stinson swallowed as something said she might not survive the day after all.


Reviews!

XFireStoneX: All good fren! and the asshole likely has most of his bones broken by accident. mwahah