Redacted
For the Clan
CW: Torture, Living Dismemberment, Cutting off arms
Updated and Edited: 3/10/2024
"Doctor Anand."
Unable to suppress the groan that built within his throat, he turned and glowered, "What it is that you need, Doctor Shim?"
He saw his fellow scientist flinch, but his expression remained passive, almost unreadable. Except for the concern in Shim's eyes.
"I just want to know how your mother is doing."
The younger scientist couldn't help but narrow his eyes, "Considering that she has been sick the past few 'months', then it is safe to say that you know how she is doing."
There is another flinch from Shim before he casted down his eyes, "I'm sorry."
The younger scientist snarled, "How many times do I have to say it? It's too late to apologize." Then he turned his back to Shim, turning and trying to shift his focus back onto the screens in front of him, "You no longer are able to make amends."
He waited, waited for another excuse, more 'reasons' as to why he had left his family behind, but when he heard nothing, he breathed out through his nose, ready to resume his work.
"Is it possible for me to see her?"
Eyes growing wide, the young scientist halted, froze, before he abruptly turned around, his chest burning.
"And what makes you think that you have the right to see the woman you abandoned 'decades' ago?" He demanded, speaking through clenched teeth.
That is when he saw Shim raise his head and again, he saw the guilt, the regret in his eyes.
"I want to give her a proper goodbye."
This made the young scientist pause, the burning rage in his chest quickly burned out, "What?"
Instead of receiving an immediate answer, he saw Shim look around, as if admiring the work. 'His' work. He can spot pride in Shim's green eyes.
"You have to understand, your mother and I did not part on the best of terms." The Older scientist's eyes settled back onto to him, "Thus, the least I can do is say farewell before it is too late."
He narrowed his eyes, "Mother is 'not' going to die just because she is sick."
"That is not what I meant."
The young scientist paused, staring, eyes scanning in a vain attempt to read the older scientist, "What do you mean?"
There is a beat, a sense of hesitation, of regret before finally, Shim answered, "My team and I, we are preparing to enter a Vex Simulation." The young scientist's eyes grew wide, "We do not know if we will return alive."
"Are you crazy!?" He shouted, blurted out the words before he could even realize as he took steps towards Shim, "You know the Vex are a volatile race!" Then he gestured towards the door, "Who knows what will happen when you walk right into their grasp!"
"That is a risk that my team and I are willing to take." His jaw dropped at Shim's answer, "In order for us to understand the Vex properly, we 'must' walk into their territory. It is just…" He heard Shim take in a deep breath and then sigh, "Let me meet her, one last time, before we all die with regrets."
Despite himself, despite the anger that still simmered within his chest, the young scientist's thoughts lingered to his mother, recalling the longing, the sadness in her hazel eyes. Then he breathed out.
"I am free tomorrow." He answered, "You may visit her then."
He noticed Shim's eyes brighten.
"No promise that she will acknowledge you." He warned, "She has been, 'detached' lately." Distant, only staring into the emptiness of a room. Almost as if she wasn't there. And if she were to acknowledge Shim, he does not want to know how she would react to his leave.
"When you enter that simulation, you better come back." He again spoke before he could realize; he decided to continue, "Mother already suffered enough. I do not know how she would act if you were to die."
There is a flash of surprise, a brief widens of the eyes before finally, Shim nodded and then turned, heading towards the exit of the room.
As the young scientist kept his eyes upon the older's back, he felt the simmering of concern, the threats of regret clinging onto his senses. His senses told him to speak out, to call out to the man whom he had called father.
He failed.
Xxxxx
Angel gasped as he felt life being forced back into his lungs, adrenaline still pumping through his body as his eyes frantically scanned his surroundings.
His heartbeat hard within his chest when he found himself in an abandoned room, a rustic section of the wall, and the members of the Blossoms surrounded him as he laid upon the floor. Vulnerable.
"How many times do I have to say it, be careful!" Lumir's voice echoed through the room, "Killing him too often increase the odds of his Ghost refusing to resurrect him."
"Relax." The female Titan from before rolled her eyes at Lumir, "You know as well as we do that us Guardians are sturdy. A beating such as this won't kill him. At least, not so easily."
As if to prove her point, Angel then felt a kick slam into his side, sending a combination of a sharp and stabbing pain through his senses. He let out a scream.
"Stop it! Stop it! He had enough!"
Hearing his Ghost's voice, Angel turned, turning his eyes to Lumir; or more specifically, to what he had in his hands as he leaned against the wall. Hope's white and red shell was hardly visible in his grasp, Angel spotted the way her shell struggled and twisted. Even from here, he can hear her curse.
"We will stop once you contact your team." He heard a voice just above him and then, felt a strong grip grab him by the hair, close to his scalp; Angel gritted his teeth as they tugged, forcing him onto his feet, "otherwise, we will continue to make your Guardian sing."
Feeling the grip on his hair go taut, Angel reached out, grasping the wrist of whomever kept him standing – the female Titan – digging his fingers leather of her gauntlets. Then, he started gathering his light.
An impact from behind broke his focus.
He took in a stuttering gasp, barely comprehending what had happened before another hit him just below the shoulder. It stung and burned, even through the leather of his armor, and Angel recognized the hum of light, the buzz of Arclight through the air. Another hit came, cracking against his lower back. This was soon followed by a shock.
Angel tried to bite his tongue, to avoid giving the Blossoms a response.
Another hit
The shock that came after was enough to make him let out a wail.
"There we go." Toshak's voice came from behind, his voice sounding satisfied, "wasn't enough light in those first few hits for the shocks do anything."
Another hit, more pain permeating through is senses, Angel screamed now, frantically clawing at the hand keeping him aloft. Sensing another strike, Angel then hooked his arms around the Titan's arm and pulled, lifting his feet into the air.
And kicked.
It was satisfying to watch as his foot collided into the Titan's face, feeling her head jerk back against the force and finally, he felt her hand leave his hair.
"Magara!"
Hearing one the Blossom's cry out, Angel focused on landing on his side, letting his shoulder take the brunt of the landing before rolling onto his chest and pushed himself to his feet. However, before he could take another step, he felt a hit against his ankles, and the next thing he knew, his feet flew out from under him. Feeling the air leave his lungs as he landed, Angel pressed his hands against the cement floor, only to cry out as an impact slammed against his chest, just below his neck.
"Stay down." He heard Toshak snarl. It was then quickly followed by, "Magara, you alright?"
"Yes." The female Titan's voice sounded muffled, "He just got a good kick in, that's all."
Taking in a deep breath, Angel again tried to push himself up.
Only to hear a rush of steps and then a force slammed into the side of his face. It was strong enough to snap his head to the side and tasted familiar copper within his mouth. Angel sputtered, spitting out blood.
"How dare you!" It was the Warlock, Angel barely taking in the twisted expression upon his face before he received another kick, "How dare you hurt Magara!"
Groaning, Angel tried to raise his arms, covering his head just as another kick slammed against them. It didn't stop his head from bouncing off concrete.
"Rawls!" Lumir's voice resounded from the other side of the room, "What did I just say? Be careful!"
The blows came to a stop and Angel heard the Warlock let out a huff.
Taking in rapid breaths, Angel cautiously lowered his arms, only to feel a hand grab him by the wrist, stretching it out his arm.
"You made this yourself?" Rawls asked as his eyes scanned Angel's prothesis, "this design isn't familiar to me."
Biting down on his tongue, Angel opted to remain silent, crushing the words that his arm was of Eliksni design. He then let out a shout when the Arc staff against his chest was lifted and slammed back down. Then he felt Toshak press his weight against it.
"Your death will be quick after you contact your team." Angel lifted his head, his eyes flicking back to Lumir; the Titan was smiling, "or at least, give us their frequency. Then, your suffering will end."
Again, opting to say nothing, Angel looked at Rawls, eyeing the way the Warlock was looking at his arm, then to Lumir, spotting the confidence in the head Blossom's eyes, and then finally, his attention settled upon Hope, his Ghost staring back while in the Titan's hand. He took note of the wide look in her optic.
Thus, after licking his lips, tasting the copper in his mouth, Angel responded, "Fuck off."
It was satisfying, the way the smile vanished off Lumir's face and immediately replaced with a frown. This was quickly replaced with dread as the Titan nodded his head; a sign for his tormentors to continue.
Feeling the arc staff leave his chest, Angel went to move, tugging at his arm to get it out of Rawl's grip. A foot slammed against his chest, causing him to let out a stuttering breath.
"I have him, Toshak," Magara spoke, Angel blinking past tears as he saw her looming over him, head tilted subtly to his left, "You're good to go."
That is when he felt a hand grab him by his left wrist, stretching out his arm, followed by a knee pressing against the elbow, keeping it locked. Then, a hand pushed against his shoulder, keeping the arm taut.
Angel then flicked his eyes to his left in time to see the glint of a knife.
A scream escaped his throat as he felt it sink into his shoulder, feeling the handle against his skin. Then, just as quickly as it went it, it was tugged free, allowing Angel time to take in a deep. And then screamed again as the blade went back in.
When he felt the blade strike him shoulder for the third time, Angle started to kick, to writhe, tugging and straining against the hands keeping him down.
"Stop!" He cried out, blinking past tears, "Please!"
"Rawls! Here!" Angel saw another blade being tossed over him; his heart sank, "Work on the other one!"
Feeling the Warlock place a knee upon his arm, a hand against his shoulder, Angel tried to sit up, jerking his body upright. Magara's foot kept him down.
Thus, Angel felt helpless when a blade pierces his right shoulder, letting out a strangled sob as the knife was tugged free.
"You align yourself with those scavengers, right?" Angel turned his head to Rawls, spotting the smile upon the Warlock's face, "Then how about we help you a little?" Angel screamed as his blade came down upon his shoulder, "From I recall, they dock the arms of their lowest ranks, correct?"
Eyes wide, Angel shook his head, only to let out another wail as Toshak's blade came down one final time. And then nerves from his left arm flared.
He cried, wailing, writhing as the weight suddenly was gone and Angel looked over, only to confirm his fears. Toshak was smiling at him, holding up his left arm. Then, before could Angel full take it in, he watched the Hunter drop the appendage, and place a hand upon open wound.
Flames then burst from his hand.
And Angels vision went white.
The nerves continued to burn, to flare even when he felt Toshak's hand leave the wound. Angel continued to scream.
"Rawls, you have it?"
Angel barely comprehended the Warlock letting out a grunt before felt a sharp edge of a blade slide into his shoulder, "I think this is it."
Then pain, incomprehensible pain, soon followed.
Angel wailed, sobbed, kicking out his feet in a vain attempt to run. He still felt Magara keep her weight upon him. It wasn't long until a hand pressed against the fresh wound.
He wanted to die. He hopes that this would be enough to kill him.
However, Angel found himself still breathing, hiccupping between breaths as his vision remained blurry with tears.
Then a hand grabbed him by the jaw and Angel found himself staring into Lumir's eyes. He saw him hold Hope above him, shaking her subtly.
"Are you ready to give us that frequency?" Lumir asked, "Or…?"
The implication behind the Titan's words was enough to make Angel's jaw tremble, feeling his heartbeat rapidly behind his chest.
Considering how easily they amputated his arms, this gave Angel the thought that they were capable of doing much worse. He doesn't doubt that they will break him eventually.
But even just considering giving up his team's frequency, guilt weighed upon his heart; Isamu had gone out of his way to save Ianos' life. He cannot betray the Titan so easily. However, the thought of enduring this torture and the possibility that Hope may not make it either, weighed heavily upon his as well.
"Well?" He felt Lumir shake his jaw, forcing Angel out of his thoughts, "What will it be?"
The edges of his vision blurring, heat building up in his eyes, Angel's throat went tight, and terror built within his chest.
Followed by disbelief.
"I thought Guardians were supposed to be Soldiers of the Light." Angel found himself speaking before he could realize, and he spotted the way Lumir's brows furrowed; he found himself with nothing else to lose. The Blossoms seem intent on killing him and Hope after they get what they want anyway, "I heard stories while out in the Wilds, how Guardians did good throughout the Sol System. But you…" Despite his fears, Angel gathered the last fragments of his courage, "You are nothing like the heroes I have heard."
This seemed to bother Lumir, as Angel saw his expression twist, a flash in his eyes before he felt his head being pushed away, and he heard the Titan stand.
"Cut off his legs."
His heart stopped, and Angel screamed as he heard Toshak and Rawls move, feeling hands grab his ankles. He tried to kick, flailing as he felt hands pin his legs down. He felt the edge of blades press just above his thighs.
"Enough!"
A voice boomed throughout the room and Angel turned, blinking past tears as his eyes settled upon an entryway; his eyes grew wide as they locked onto familiar brown.
"What in the Traveler are you doing, Lumir!" Liam, the first Blossom Angel had met, stepped into the room, just stopping short of the Clan Leader, "That is not what we represent!"
The fury was clear even from where Angel lay, and he watched as Lumir jerked back, blinking rapidly. Angel prayed.
"He knows where Isamu is, Liam." It didn't take long for Lumir to retort, to regain his composure, "If we can just get him to tell us – "
"By torturing him!?" Liam's words rang loud, almost cracking, "I know that we are desperate in finding Isamu but to torture a fellow Guardian, Lumir!? That is stepping over the line!"
"Anything to bring the Blossoms back!" Angel looked on as Lumir leaned in close, his face practically touching Liam's; he looked on with concern when his grip went tight around Hope's core, "We have been despot for too long! It is time we regain our former glory!"
"Oh for the love of – Were you not listening to me!?" Liam threw his hands into the air, "The time of the Blossoms are gone! We must move on! Isamu is better off with the Revenants!"
There is a stuttering breath, a gasp from Lumir, "Don't you dare say that!"
Liam's eyes narrowed but then, Angel heard him sigh, his shoulders slumped.
"We sent him many frequencies, Lumir." The Titan said, voice soft, eyes tired, "And all of them returning back with how content he was with them." Then he rubbed his eyes with the tips of his fingers, hearing him let out a breath – this one ragged, tight – before he lowered his hand and locked onto Lumir.
"Please, Lumir." Liam begged, "We must move on. For the Clan's sake."
That is when Angel saw Lumir go quiet before the Titan down casted his eyes, jaw tight, and eyes narrowed.
Hope built up within his chest.
"No." Angel felt crushed, energy draining as Lumir lifted his eyes and glared at Liam, "Finding Isamu is too important for us to abandon." Then, he watched as the Titan turned his eyes towards him, "We will find him, even if it means killing this Guardian to do so."
Tired now, Angel laid his head back against the cement, feeling the edges of his eyes burn as his eyes flicked towards Liam; he honestly had expected the Titan to leave, to leave Angel to his fate. Instead, he saw the Titan stay, eyes closed. Then, Liam let out a slow shuddering breath.
"I was hoping this would end peacefully."
Then Liam pulled out a hand cannon, aimed it at Lumir's head. And fired.
The Clan Leader's head exploded, pieces of flesh and bone spraying behind it, following the trajectory of the shot.
Magara was the first to react.
She had let out a scream of rage and Angel felt her weight leave his chest. As he took a strenuous breath, he saw her raise her hand, and saw the particles of transmat forming in her palm.
But Liam was faster.
He turned, raised his Hand Cannon, and fired.
One shot and Angel saw her fall flat, skidding across the floor, and leaving behind a trail of red.
That is when he saw Rawls stand, a hand raised, a hand cannon in his grip.
There were two shots.
Only the Warlock fell.
That left Toshak.
However, the Hunter at this point had already drawn his weapon, and Angel can spot the minuet shift of his finger pressing against the trigger.
Liam would have no time to react.
Sucking in a breath, waiting for the inevitable, Angle then head a single shot rang out.
But it was Toshak who fell, the Hunter stumbling sideways before falling onto his chest.
Eyes wide, Angel slowly turned towards another doorway, and he saw Archer, the Exo's hands trembling as he lowered his scout rifle, shoulder leaning against the door frame as his weapon fell to the floor.
That is when Angel realized that the threats were neutralized.
And a sob of relief escaped his throat.
Laying his head back and feeling the heat of his tears against the sides of his face, Angel couldn't help the relief, the relief that he wouldn't have to endure any longer.
"Archer." Liam's voice rang out; he was breathing hard, "Could you please take him to the Tower? I will handle everything here."
There was a pause, a moment of silence before Angel heard steps approach.
His throat clenched, and fear gripped his heart.
Liam may have saved him, but Archer was the reason why he had been with the Blossoms, the reason that he endured the pain.
Thus, when he felt hands slip under his, pressing against his back and hooking underneath his legs, Angel couldn't help the panic.
He cried out, kicking as he felt himself being lifted. Angel started to flail when the Titan pulled him close, feeling his arms minimize his struggles. His breaths became rapid.
"Angel!" A familiar voice rang out, "Angel! It's alright! He's here to help us!"
Looking up, Angel came to a halt when his eyes settled upon a familiar white and red shell, feeling tears welling up once more as his Ghost glided close.
"You're safe now." He heard her whisper before she glided in, pressing herself against his forehead, "They're not goin' to hurt us."
Hearing her words, seeing her safe, Angel couldn't' t help but cry again but this time, he ceased his struggles, pressing his head against the Titan's chest. It wasn't long before he felt Archer's grip go lax, loose around his form as Angel felt him move, feeling him take slow and careful steps.
Then, he heard a sniffle, and a soft cry above him.
"I'm sorry." He heard Archer whisper, "I'm so sorry."
Hearing the Titan spew out apologies, Angel opted to say nothing, but instead kept his eyes forward, unfocused as he felt cool air press against his skin.
"Angel?"
Hope called what to him, and he found his eyes shifting, focusing onto his Ghost; she had glided back, and he could see the worry, the concern in her green optic.
"Do you want to call the others?" She asked him, "To tell them what happened?"
The others.
His friends.
His family.
His pack.
The yearning for their company, to be cared for and embrace, the temptation settled into Angel's thoughts.
But, to call them as they are now, when they are busy, when Angel is vulnerable. It is almost exactly what the Blossoms wanted. It made him feel sick.
He shook his head.
Angel saw his Ghost jerk back, optic wide, "Angel?"
Instead of answering, Angel's jaw trembled, his vision blurry again and once again, he shook his head. He felt Hope stare at him, feeling her concern through their bond, but she said nothing. Instead, he heard her glide close before feeling something cold press just underneath his jaw, right on his collar bone.
Then, he heard her hum, and he felt the warmth of her light against his skin.
Blinking past the tears, Angel buried his face into Archer's chest, ignoring the Exo's apologies as he tuned into Hope's voice, and finally, pushed past his fears, and rested.