Disclaimer, I own nothing
Halo is owned by 343 Studios and Microsoft
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is owned by Nintendo and Monolift software.
() Author side note
"Cortana talking"
'Cortana thinking'
'Someone Thinking'
any smaLl 70nt, UnderlInes, or rnD0m k3yS pressed together will be how i show signs of Cortana's rampancy.
Chapter 5: A Countdown with a Wildcard.
"Just down that elevator shaft behind you," She said while pointing toward the other side of the bridge where the elevator is.
"And why should I care?" The silver-haired woman said snidely, bewildering Cortana and making the magenta-eyed woman blink in confusion, causing both to turn their attention to their purple-armored companion.
"You should care because he is our Driver," the pastel blue-haired woman deadpans, "Who is on the verge of death."
"Which is exactly my point, why should we, more importantly, myself, bother with a meat bag Driver who can't even awaken us blades without nearly killing themselves, clearly he's not worthy of my time," She continued indifferently while inspecting her nails.
This caused Cortana's anger to flare at her newly met companion, "Ok, well first, of all, he's in this state because of you two," She said while gesturing at them both. "He was doing just fine until he grabbed those crystals you two were in not three minutes ago."
Cortana's explanation caused the pastel blue-haired woman to frown, "Then I do apologize, It was not my intention-,"
"-Well I, am sure as hell not gonna apologize," The purple-eyed woman interrupted as she lifted her gaze to them with disgust, "He thought he could handle the power awakening a blade's power, could handle awakening my power," she continued while smirking and going back to focus on her nails, "And now, he's paying the price for his insolence."
Cortana's eyes narrowed as her frustration boiled over. "What insolence?!" she snapped, her voice edged with desperation. "He's lying there because we thought you were in danger."
"Danger?" she repeated, her voice dripping with condescension. "I wasn't in any to begin with, And if I was, I sure as hell don't need anyone rushing in to save me. Least of all some... frail, dying human who thought he could handle the power of a Blade of my caliber. His mistake, his problem."
She paused, locking eyes with Cortana, her smirk widening. "If he dies, that just proves he was never strong enough to begin with. And if that bothers you, maybe you should've picked a better partner."
The magenta-eyed woman interjected, her voice robotic yet firm. "You should know that we are dependent on our Driver to retain our forms. Should he perish, we will revert to our Core Crystals and lose all memories. It is in our best interest to ensure his survival."
The violet-armored woman's expression remained cold and unmoved as she looked at the magenta-eyed woman. "If he dies... then that will be it," she said in finality, her voice dripping with disdain.
"In less than two hours I'll be rid of the tin meat bag and whatever that annoying small blue thing is," she said while gesturing in the vague direction of Cortana. While the Smart AI inwardly bristled at the insult, she remained silent.
"I'll go back into my core crystal, And maybe someone who is worthy of my time will awaken me instead." She turned on her heel, walking toward the elevator shaft with a dismissive wave. "Consider it a blessing. If he can't handle the power, he doesn't deserve to live."
Cortana watched in disbelief and growing desperation as the violet-armored woman walked away, her mind racing for a solution. "You can't just leave him to die!" she shouted after her, but the silver-haired woman didn't even glance back.
Out of options, Cortana came to a decision, and yelled out, "He's a super
soldier!"
She paused in her stride.
Noticing her pause, Cortana seized the moment. "The Master Chief is not just any super soldier. He's a Spartan, a super soldier who has single-handedly changed the course of battles involving millions. He's fought in a war that went on for nearly thirty years, and he was pivotal in countless victories, saving millions of lives."
The violet-eyed woman looked back, with a raised eyebrow and a slightly amused smirk as she pointed a finger at John's unconscious form.
"Here, If you are willing to take a moment I can show you recorded footage of our more recent encounters," Cortana said as her form changed and expanded, showing footage of the Master Chief in action back on the Dawn.
In the video, he quickly disabled a charging Brute with precise shots, took out multiple Skirmishers while dodging plasma fire, and eliminated a Jackal sniper with a single headshot. As waves of enemies poured in, he expertly used his jetpack to outmaneuver a Brute Captain and plant a plasma grenade, obliterating the foe. When a Hunter appeared, he evaded its attacks and plunged his energy sword into its exposed back, killing it swiftly.
The silver-haired woman watched the footage with a raised eyebrow, her smirk fading into a look of disinterest as the scenes of carnage unfolded. She crossed her arms, leaning forward slightly as the Master Chief eliminated one enemy after another with lethal efficiency. When the Hunter was felled by a strike to its exposed back, she let out a low, contemplative hum, though her eyes remained sharp and cold.
'She's not showing any real interest!' Cortana thought, a sense of unease building. 'What would even interest her at this point?' She tracked the violet-armored woman's reactions—or lack thereof—anxiously, trying to catch any sign of intrigue or appreciation. The only hints were faint, almost imperceptible: a slight raise of an eyebrow, a marginal lean forward.
'Maybe… I could show his fight against two Scara—' She stopped herself, circuits firing rapidly. 'No, I'm already showing her too much. I can't afford to risk more.'
"Impressive," the violet-armored woman drawled suddenly, her voice dripping with mockery. "So, he's good at killing a bunch of grotesque monsters. Big deal. What's so special about him, little phantom?"
Cortana let out a small sigh of frustration before continuing, "Look, I know he doesn't seem like it given his current state, but if you give him a chance, he'll more than meet your expectations," she said with total confidence.
"If what you say of his feats and what you've shown us are true, then Master should have no trouble convincing her," the pastel blue-haired woman added.
The violet-armored woman glared at the magenta-eyed woman before shifting her gaze to Cortana, a challenging smirk forming on her lips. "Alright then, talking blue helmet ghost, you've convinced me. I'll allow this 'super soldier' to prove his worth."
Cortana bristled at the nickname, "My name is Cort-."
"I don't give a shit what your name is talking helmet ghost!" She interrupted as she turned around to walk away once more.
"H-hey, where are you going?" Cortana stuttered.
"You said he's capable of turning the tide in battles involving millions. Plus, from what you've shown me, he seems quite capable of handling himself. So he shouldn't need any help from me," she said smugly, her gaze darting back to the magenta-eyed woman, sneering. "Or her."
"But don't worry your non-existent little head, little blue helmet ghost. I'll be back," she continued, transforming her sneer into a condescending smile as she approached the elevator door. "I'll at least clear the way. So until then, you'd better find a way for him to prove his worth," she said, pressing the elevator button.
But nothing happened.
Keeping the evil smirk, she pressed it again.
And nothing happened again.
The silver-haired woman's smirk dropped lightly as she pressed it twice.
Still, nothing happened.
Smirk gone, she turned her gaze toward the terminal. Confused, she started to jab her finger into the button several more times.
Yet the gate remained shut.
"Talking blue helmet ghost! Why won't this door open?!" she shouted, her voice sharp with irritation.
"That's because I locked it earlier," Cortana replied coolly.
The silver-haired woman's eyes narrowed into slits, her gaze flickering with barely contained fury. "Then unlock it. Now." To emphasize her threat, she summoned her scythe and allowed some of its energy to crackle.
Cortana's figure crossed her arms. "No. Not until you agree to help Chief."
The violet-armored woman took a step forward, her expression turning deadly. "You seriously think you can make demands of me?!" She scoffed, fury simmering in her voice. She then harshly swung her scythe onto the metal floor, creating a loud clang and a hole. "I could crush that little helmet you call home into dust, little ghost."
"Fellow Blade," the magenta-eyed woman interjected, stepping between them, her tone measured and unruffled. "I urge you to reconsider. Our survival is contingent on working together. Threatening—"
"My name is T-elos," she snapped, her energy scythe quickly dissolving into a bright blue light as she banished it, before rematerializing as a gleaming, violet revolver. She leveled it directly at her counterpart, eyes blazing. "And you would be wise to remember that."
The other woman didn't flinch, but her stance shifted subtly, her right arm straightening slightly as if readying for action. Cortana noticed the adjustment but couldn't discern its meaning.
"And what are you going to do?" T-elos jeered. "Continue to stand there like an idiot?"
The white-armored Blade remained impassive.
T-elos's sneer deepened, and she tightened her grip on the trigger. "Understand this, 'fellow Blade,'" she spat the term like venom. "I am no ally of yours. I don't care about your cooperation, concerns, or your opinions. Now—unlock the door, you disembodied voice."
"And I'll say it again. Not until you help us," Cortana shot back.
A growl of frustration escaped T-elos's throat as her fingers twitched. Without another word, she summoned her scythe again, its blade crackling ominously.
Immediately, the magenta-eyed Blade's left hand twisted at the elbow, disconnecting as her right arm shifted and extended into a broad-bladed sword as she leaped in front of T-elos, aiming the blade at her. A slight frown shadowed her face.
"You may Insult me all you wish," the pastel blue-haired balde said, her voice unwavering as she pointed her sword arm at T-elos. "But I will not tolerate threats directed at our Driver or his companion."
T-elos froze, eyes narrowing in surprise. "And what is this supposed to be?" she hissed, voice dripping with contempt.
The magenta-eyed woman didn't respond. She simply held her ground, weapon aimed squarely at T-elos's chest.
For a moment, silence stretched between them, tense and charged, but the white-armored Blade remained rooted, her unblinking gaze locked onto T-elos's own.
"Fine," T-elos spat, sneering as she took a step back. "Have it your way, metalhead." Then, with a vicious grin, she swung her scythe—not at the other Blade, but at the terminal behind her. The energy blade carved deep gouges into the metal and circuitry. Sparks flew, and the door shuddered—but remained stubbornly closed.
"What the hell?" T-elos snarled, staring at the unyielding door as though it had personally insulted her. "How the hell does this damn thing work?!"
She glanced back at the pastel blue-haired Blade, who had leaped back to avoid her swing yet remained impassive but subtly poised, her stance still guarded. Further back, she spotted Cortana—tiny, translucent, and holding a fist to her face, clearly trying (and failing) to hide her amusement.
The sight only deepened T-elos's scowl. With a snarl, she swung her scythe again, harder this time, cleaving the terminal completely in half. Sparks and debris erupted as the energy blade screeched against the metal, carving through the circuitry until the control panel was utterly destroyed. Even after the metal shattered and a hole formed where the console once was, the door remained defiantly shut.
T-elos's eye twitched. "Stupid piece of—"
Her gaze darted to the door itself, and without another word, she turned her scythe on the metal barrier. This time, the blade sliced effortlessly through the steel, leaving a thin, glowing line down the center of the door. The unexpected ease made her pause for a heartbeat, blinking in brief surprise at the perfectly severed line.
"Well, would you look at that," she mused, glancing back at the duo behind her. Cortana's earlier amusement had faded, replaced by wary silence, and the sight made T-elos's lips curl into a wicked smirk.
"Guess I didn't need you to open it after all," she sneered, taking a moment to enjoy the small victory before stepping closer. Swinging her scythe again, widening the cut. Metal shrieked and groaned, and with one final, brutal slash, she tore through the last of the frame. The door crumpled inwards, leaving a jagged, gaping hole large enough for her to step through.
Chest heaving slightly, T-elos straightened, a triumphant grin stretching across her face as she admired her handiwork. "See? Nothing a little violence can't solve."
Stepping inside, she pressed the button to go down, her smug expression unwavering. As the lift began its descent, she turned to give the duo one last glance. A condescending smirk spread across her lips as she waved mockingly, her fingers fluttering in an exaggerated farewell.
"Good luck, Helmet Ghost!" she called out, the derision clear in her voice. "You'll need it!"
With that she disappeared from view, leaving Cortana and the other blade on the metal corpse-ridden bridge.
"Psychopathic prick," Cortana muttered bitterly, slumping over in resignation as the weight of her failed attempt settled in.
The pastel blue-haired woman, now reattaching her arm with a soft click, stepped closer and knelt next to Cortana. "I apologize for her behavior, and putting Master in this position. As I have tried to say before, harming him was not my intention."
Cortana looked at her warily, her expression still guarded. "Forgive me if I'm having a hard time believing that," she said quietly, her voice edged with distrust.
The magenta-eyed Blade met her gaze steadily. "Given recent events, your skepticism is understandable. However, please understand that I am not like T-elos, and that I do genuinely wish to help."
Cortana, still unconvinced, narrowed her eyes. "While I do appreciate your assistance, I can't help but ask—why?"
"As I have stated to T-elos, we need a Driver to retain our forms. The one you refer to as the Master Chief is our Driver now. Should he perish, we would return to our core crystals and lose all our retained memories. And as a Blade, that is my purpose—to serve and protect my Driver."
Cortana's frown deepened, "So it's just self-preservation, then?"
"That is partially true," the pastel-haired woman admitted. "Self-preservation is part of it, but it's more than that. My purpose is to fight alongside my Driver, to be a partner, a protector." She glanced at the unconscious Spartan. "And though we were not bound by choice, he is still mine to safeguard."
The AI processed the explanation carefully, weighing the sincerity behind her words. "And if… he doesn't make it?"
A shadow passed through the woman's eyes. "Then I, too, will cease to exist as I am now, and must wait for another to awaken me."
Cortana took a moment, her digital eyes flickering as she studied the Blade's face, searching for any hint of deception. When she found none, she let out a small sigh and nodded to herself. "Alright, so what do I call you then? Since my options so far have been Stone Face, Metalhead, and Fellow Blade, and I'm guessing none of those are your name."
"My full designation is Kosmos Obey Strategical Multiple Operation System, but for simplicity and efficiency, you may refer to me as KOS-MOS."
Cortana blinked, processing the long title. "Right. KOS-MOS it is, then." She allowed a tiny smile to tug at her lips. "Well, KOS-MOS… welcome to the team, I guess. And since I haven't introduced myself yet, allow me to rectify that, my designation is CTN 0452-9. Or simply Cortana."
The magenta-eyed blade nodded, "So what must be done to get Master to the water source you mentioned earlier?"
"Well, can you carry a thousand pounds?" Cortana asked half-jokingly.
"Currently, I am only able to carry three hundred and twenty-six pounds. If Master were in better condition, I would be able to lift four hundred and fifty," KOS-MOS responded matter-of-factly.
This caused Cortana to raise an eyebrow, "Really?"
"Is my strength inadequate?"
"No, well—I mean, yes, it is, but that's not what I'm questioning." Cortana shook her head. "What I'm asking is how you can lift that much? That's about as heavy as an adult lion."
"I am a blade, A weaponized life form linked to a Driver who can resonate with a core crystal," KOS-MOS explained.
"Okay that answers one question, but now that just leaves with a lot more," Cortana muttered.
The blue pastel-haired blade tilted her head. "Does Master weigh that much?"
"A thousand pounds? Yes," Cortana answered, glancing at the unconscious Spartan. "You can scan him to see."
KOS-MOS looked over to Chief while her visor shifted. After a brief moment, her visor reset, and she looked back at Cortana with a small frown. "His accurate weight is 994.9 pounds, or 451.3 kilograms—not including his weapons and ammunition," she retorted.
"So even if the other Blade was less hostile and willing to assist us, I doubt the both of us at our full strength would be able to carry him," the white-armored Blade continued. Cortana grimaced at the blunt assessment.
"Is there a way for you to make him lighter?" KOS-MOS asked.
"Hold on, let me think," Cortana said as she glanced at John. In real-time, it took her only two seconds to find a solution, but in her own mind, she was rapidly cycling through countless possibilities, desperate for a better one.
"Could you drag him if I can reduce his weight to 394.6 pounds?" she asked finally.
"Is that his weight without the armor?" the white-armored woman queried.
"That's without everything except his undersuit," Cortana explained as she shifted her gaze back to her companion.
"Then that is still 62.6 pounds over my current capabilities. I can drag up to 332 pounds; any heavier, and I would be unable to move him effectively, if at all" KOS-MOS responded, then bowed slightly. "I apologize for my inability to be of more assistance."
Cortana dropped her head and let out a sigh of resignation. "Worth a shot, I guess," she grumbled.
"Is there anything else you can do?"
"Yeah, I have one other option. Though I don't like it, and I'm sure he won't either," she said, thinking bitterly, 'If he wakes up.' "Put the helmet back on his head, please."
The pastel-haired woman slightly frowned in confusion but complied. Lifting the helmet, she walked over to Chief's unconscious form and carefully raised his head, guiding the helmet back onto his head.
*snap-hiss*
"What are you going to do?" the magenta-eyed woman asked.
Then, the sound of several clicks, releasing clamps, and air hissing caused her to look at the Chief. KOS-MOS noticed several screws come undone and small latches open. Armor plates came off individually, each with a huge clang to the floor, leaving him in only the back and front plate armor pieces and undersuit.
Cortana watched silently as the armor shed from John's body in a cascade of heavy, metallic thuds. Each piece fell away, revealing the undersuit beneath, which still clung tightly to his form. Her expression was strained—part regret, part determination—as she processed what she'd just done. His armor was more than protection; it was his identity, his strength, his second skin.
"Making him lighter, by forcing the armor to unlock itself," Cortana said. "But at a price. I can't reassemble it like this. We'll have to carry it separately, which means it's useless for now. "
KOS-MOS regarded her impassively. "This is acceptable if it allows us to move him to safety. However, if we are unable to restore his armor afterward, his combat efficiency will be significantly reduced."
Cortana winced, recognizing the unspoken truth. Chief wouldn't be at his full strength without his armor, even with all his physical conditioning and training. Stripped down like this, he was vulnerable in a way he hadn't been in years.
"Yeah, I know," she muttered softly. "I just need you to take the back plate off, and then I can force the undersuit to open," she continued.
The white-armored woman nodded and walked over, gripping the edges of the back plate. With a considerable amount of effort, she managed to lift it, making a dull clang as it dropped to the floor, joining the other scattered armor pieces.
"Now is the last part, And I need you to follow my instructions here very carefully," KOS-MOS nodded and Cortana continued.
"The undersuit is designed to be airtight and protective, but I can disengage it by releasing a series of microscopic seams and locking mechanisms," Cortana explained. "I'll start the sequence."
` A soft hiss escaped as the suit began to decompress, small panels retracting as illuminated lines of circuitry appeared along the surface. The seams around his neck, shoulders, and torso parted first, followed by those along his arms and legs, leaving a network of glowing lines running across the now-loosening material.
"Start by pulling the suit away from his neck and shoulders. The material will peel back easily once the seams are fully open," Cortana guided.
KOS-MOS nodded and carefully grasped the edges of the suit at John's neck, lifting it gently. The suit peeled away smoothly, almost like a second skin.
The pastel-haired woman carefully gripped the edges of the suit at John's neck and lifted it gently. The material came away smoothly, like shedding a second skin. As she worked her way down his back, she noticed intricate metal bits showing through his skin and embedded into his muscles and bones. The sight gave her pause—a faint frown creasing her brow as she interpreted the enhancements as invasive and unnatural, almost like scars left by some form of torture.
She moved slowly, her touch almost reverent as she flipped him over and continued removing the front portion. Her gaze lingered on the burns marring his chest—dark, angry patches of damaged skin. The burn on his left side was severe, indicating a deeper injury, while the one on his right hand was more recent. Her frown deepened, and a rare flicker of concern passed over her typically stoic face.
Finally, she worked her way down his legs, and the suit came off in one continuous piece. The now-removed undersuit lay on the floor like a deflated, empty shell—an eerie reminder of the armor's absence.
"There," Cortana stated, "That should make him light enough, right?"
KOS-MOS nodded silently. She knelt down, positioning herself under his arm and carefully lifting Chief's lighter frame. The motion was awkward but manageable.
"You said the water source is down the elevator shaft ahead, correct?" she asked, her gaze turning to the path before them.
"Yep," Cortana replied, popping the p, "The problem is that Psycho Prick, or blade I should say, destroyed our only way down," She continued.
KOS-MOS frowned again as she followed Cortana's direction and glanced at the wrecked terminal lying next to the shattered remains of the door. Her frown then shifted to a slightly more determined expression as she awkwardly shuffled toward it, still supporting Chief's weight.
"Is there another way down?" she asked, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"Unless you can magically make the lift come back up?" Cortana responded with a biting edge of sarcasm. "No. You'd have to jump."
"Then that is what I'll do,"
"Wait—are you serious?" Cortana's digital form flickered in shock.
KOS-MOS nodded without hesitation. "As a Blade, it is our duty to ensure our Driver's survival, no matter the cost."
"Yeah, yeah, I got that, but it's, like, a seven-story drop from here!" Cortana shot back incredulously. "Won't you get hurt from a fall that high?"
"That scenario is unlikely," the white-armored blade replied, her voice cool and robotic. "Blades are capable of withstanding far more damage than a non-driver. Even if injuries are sustained, we are able to recover quickly."
With that, she set Chief and Cortana down carefully and walked to the edge of the elevator shaft, peering into its dark depths. The AI felt an odd pang of worry as she watched the KOS-MOS take two small steps back, then leap into the void without a moment's hesitation.
"Hey, wait, maybe we could—aaand she's gone," Cortana muttered, cringing as the sound of metal hitting metal reverberated up the shaft, followed by a heavy clang. She held her breath for a tense moment, only releasing it when she heard the hum of the elevator coming back up.
Seconds later, the lift hummed softly and rose back up to their level. Sitting awkwardly in the middle of it, legs splayed out in front of her, KOS-MOS wore a small, pained expression. "It appears I may have... miscalculated," she admitted stiffly.
"You don't say?" Cortana shot back dryly, suppressing the urge to facepalm. "For a second, I thought you were gonna say it was a perfect landing."
Telos stood silently within the descending elevator. Her reflection in the glass showed her predatory smirk fade into a neutral expression, barely visible against the dark silver metal backdrop of the strange place she found herself in.
This setting piqued her interest, but only mildly. She wasn't too concerned about understanding this place—what was the point when she only had a limited time before she returned to her eternal rest, forgetting all of this anyway?
She thought back to her first moments after awakening, feeling a mix of confusion and disdain. Opening her eyes, she was greeted with chaos. She appeared to have awoken on a metal bridge of some sort with a glass floor in the middle. The ground was littered with dead machines, their forms riddled with burns and leaking bright blue liquid.
The air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke, and amidst this, a larger metal construct lay in front of her, still active but barely holding on. It was missing an arm and a leg, smoke pouring from its broken body as it pathetically tried to crawl toward her.
Dealing with that sad sight had been easy. Telos turned around to face a new scene: a man, most likely her Driver, clad in a suit of dark greenish-grey armor that suggested he was some kind of soldier- not that she cared. His face was bleeding everywhere and was completely unconscious.
Behind him looked to be a tower with the same dark metal color and a door at the bottom, to a lift maybe. To her left was another bridge that led toward another metal building,-where it went didn't really matter to her.
Next to him stood a woman who, upon closer observation, was another Blade like herself. She had an unfamiliar shade of blue hair and dark pink eyes that made the silver-haired woman narrow her own. From appearance alone, she looked like a doll in a skinsuit. Whether it was a threatening one or not was up for debate.
Telos was just about to demand who the hell this new Blade was when a sudden shriek interrupted her. The noise startled her more than she'd care to admit, making her turn back around in surprise. She noticed the pastel blue-haired Blade staring at a helmet.
Inside the helmet was a tiny blue transparent thing, which Telos decided to dub "Talking helmet ghost." the little blue ghost had her arms crossed, trying to look tough—an amusing sight. Then, for some reason, the little shit started ordering her and the other blade around, as if they were already willing to help her and the armored man, whom she was fast losing interest in.
When she expressed her disinterest in wasting time on a lost cause, the helmet ghost had the gall to demand she help the soldier, claiming, "He's like this because of you." the little phantom then launched into a spiel about honor, decency, and all sorts of nonsense that she couldn't care less about. The little parasite seemed barely able to hold herself together, which only added to her amusement.
And then there was the "super soldier" schtick. When Telos first heard those words, it took all her restraint not to laugh out loud at the ridiculous claim. Something was clearly wrong with that construct, but it wasn't her problem.
So, in order to get the annoying little construct to shut up, she claimed to be convinced and would 'clear the way' for them. Whether they made it to wherever the little blue woman said the meat bag needed to be was entirely up to them. She had no intention of playing nursemaid to a dying soldier, but she figured she might as well have some fun while she still could. After all, she only had about two hours left to live. Why not indulge in a bit of fun?
Then there was that other Blade. Even though they'd only spoken twice, she already had a strong dislike for her. Something about her immediate choice to help the armored meat bag irritated her, and when she tried to convince her to do the same, it just pissed her off even more.
So all in all, she just felt disdain and disappointment at the whole thing.
The lift slowed in its descent, and Telos summoned her scythe once more, ready to destroy the door and avoid embarrassing herself a second time. However, as the lift came to a complete stop, the doors hissed open with a quick burst of air. The violet-armored blade blinked once, then twice, scowling as she realized she'd been made a fool again. At least this time, the two puppets weren't around to witness her blunder.
"Stupid lift," Telos muttered under her breath, dismissing her weapon and striding out onto the bridge with purposeful steps. As she approached an archway, her enhanced senses picked up the chaotic sounds around her: the clattering of metal feet stomping, several things screeching loudly enough to make her want to cover her ears, and a cacophony of clangs, bangs, and other metallic noises.
Curious, Telos leaned against a wall near the archway, cautiously poking her head out to survey her surroundings. The first thing she noticed was that she was in the water room the tiny blue ghost had mentioned earlier. Her brow furrowed in irritation; if they were this close to the damn room, why did they even need her help?
As she turned her gaze to the right, her eyebrow arched in mild surprise. She spotted a group of robots—similar to the ones she had seen earlier—engaged in what appeared to be some sort of comical display. They seemed to be fighting each other, but without inflicting any real damage, almost as if they were playing a bizarre game.
Two of the robots were familiar; they were the odd, white box-like constructs with legs. But the other three were entirely new to her. Not that she had been conscious for very long—maybe about seven minutes—but these machines still caught her off guard.
They had two wheels they were rolling around on and shared the same white color as the box-like constructs. Bright pink lights glowed along their bodies and wheels, adding an almost flashy appearance to their otherwise mechanical forms. What truly captured her attention was the odd humanoid design perched on top, with thin arms ending in strange tubes for hands.
"What the hell are these things doing?" The violet-eyed Blade muttered to herself, genuinely puzzled by the scene. 'Is this some kind of... slap fight?'
The box-like machines were awkwardly trying—and failing—to kick the wheeled ones, who kept darting around them with surprising speed and agility. The sight was almost amusing, in a ridiculous sort of way.
"Well, let's see what these metal constructs are capable of," she muttered with a small predatory smirk.
Done with her observations, Telos crouched low, moving silently toward the edge of the walkway. With practiced ease, she summoned her revolver, her fingers deftly gripping the familiar handle. She took aim at one of the wheeled robots, watching their movements carefully, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
She didn't have to wait long. By sheer chance, one of the box-like robots managed to connect with a kick, striking one of the wheeled ones. This caused a chaotic domino effect, the wheeled robots colliding with each other in a mess of tangled limbs and spinning wheels.
A predatory smirk crossed her lips. "Perfect," she whispered, her finger squeezing the trigger.
Telos fired three shots in rapid succession. The first bullet pierced through the first box robot, a direct hit that shattered its body and sent it crumpling to the ground in a heap of sparks and metal. The second shot was aimed at the upper body of one of the wheeled robots, but her aim was slightly off.
The bullet tore through its left arm, severing it completely but leaving the rest of the machine intact. The third shot hit another wheeled robot squarely on one of its wheels, causing it to wobble but not fully disabling it.
A little irritated that only a third of her shots hit their targets, she didn't allow her smirk to waver, as she holstered her revolver, energy crackling around her hand as she summoned her scythe. The weapon materialized in a burst of blue light, its curved blade gleaming ominously.
Without hesitation, she leaped off the platform, her feet leaving the ground in a graceful arc as she descended upon the confused machines below.
The wheeled robots, still reeling from the sudden attack, tried to recover and orient themselves, but it was already too late. The silver-haired woman landed amidst them with cat-like grace, the impact of her landing creating a small shockwave that knocked the robots off balance.
With a quick, fluid motion, she swung her scythe in a wide arc. The blade sliced through the air with a menacing hum, cleaving through the first-wheeled robot with ease. The machine was bisected cleanly, its upper half sliding off and crashing to the floor in a shower of sparks.
Not pausing for even a moment, the violet-armored blade spun on her heel, using her momentum to slash through the second-wheeled robot. The scythe's blade cut through its frame like butter, severing its torso from its lower half. It collapsed in a heap, its wheels still spinning futilely.
One of the box robots tried to kick at her, its leg swinging out in a desperate attempt to hit her. She laughed at the thing's pathetic attempt at retaliation, "You look like you could use some arms there," She quipped as she dodged effortlessly, her body twisting to avoid the clumsy attack. She retaliated with a swift downward slash, her scythe cutting through the robot's leg and sending it toppling to the ground.
Before it could even hit the floor, Telos pivoted, her eyes locking onto the last remaining wheeled robot. It attempted to charge at her, its wheels spinning rapidly as it sped forward. The purple-eyed Blade jumped into the air, flipping over the machine and bringing her scythe down in a brutal overhead strike. The blade sliced through the robot's head, severing it from the rest of its body. The machine sputtered, its lights flickering briefly before going dark.
Landing lightly on her feet, she turned her attention to the final box robot. It stood motionless as if stunned by the swift destruction of its comrades. Telos tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips as she calmly approached the robot.
"You're all about as threatening as trash cans," She said with a smirk.
With one quick, precise movement, she drove the blade of her scythe through the center of the robot, impaling it completely. The machine convulsed for a moment, its limbs twitching before it fell still, its power finally fading. She withdrew her scythe, the weapon disappearing in a flash of blue light as she dismissed it.
"Oh wait, that's offensive to trashcans," she said in mock shock before pointing the finger at the wrecks in amusement, "I meant scrap metal."
Standing amidst the wreckage, the silver-haired blade admired the scattered remains of the defeated machines. A triumphant, if somewhat tired grin spread across her face as she observed the twisted metal and sparking wires, remnants of her swift and decisive victory.
But as she paused to catch her breath, she noticed something off. Her chest was rising and falling more rapidly than she expected—she was breathing harder than she should have been after such a short fight. Her brows furrowed in confusion. Was it the fight that took more out of her than usual, or was there something else at play?
She brushed off the thought with a small shake of her head. "It doesn't matter," Telos muttered to herself, determined not to let it distract her. "Not like I'll be here long enough to care."
Just then, a series of metallic clangs echoed through the chamber, followed by the unmistakable noise of more robots approaching from somewhere deeper within the facility. Making her ears perk up, her instincts immediately sharpening as she dismissed the strange feeling. A flicker of excitement danced in her violet eyes.
"Well, I guess I can boast later," she said to herself, her earlier fatigue momentarily forgotten. "There's more fun to be had."
Eager for more action, Telos turned her attention towards the source of the noise, her senses heightened and ready for whatever challenge awaited her.
Author's note: What do you think of KOS-MOS and Telos?
For those who know their personalities, have I done justice to their characters?
And chapter six is almost done. So leave a follow if you like it. A favorite if you enjoyed it. and leave a comment on what you guys think.
