Enjoy (part 2 in the comments) Rain fell over the Cosmodrome. Icy, and as each droplet hit Ophelia’s armor an almost inaudible tink echoed. A crack of lightning lit up the sky and the roar of thunder followed suit. The wet mud sunk in slightly as four guardians stood still and silent. Smoldering remains of a Fallen war machine creaked under its own weight, the bed of the lake slowly nibbling away at the metal monster. Ophelia dragged Alexander out of the mouth to the Splicer Den with all her remaining strength. She collapsed under her own shaking weight. The rain seeped through the crack across her visor and she could feel her under armor soaking in the water where the metal pieces were torn. She ripped off her helmet and threw it over the side of the small cliff they were on. Alexander’s armor was infected with SIVA, the Nano-technology once devouring the metal now inactive, without purpose. He looked up, vision going in and out of focus. He felt the rain drops his part of his face, the visor once protecting his face eviscerated. Every shallow breath he took was a chore fighting through the collapsed lung and broken ribs. Blood dripped from his mouth and he could not feel the left side of his body. He looked at the grey sky, feeling every drop that hit his face. Something was familiar about it. The cold rain, the smell of lilies, and a sense of weightlessness. Ophelia leaned over Alexander and gently removed his helmet. Casting it aside as well, she paused, her heart dropping to her stomach. There was so much blood. Deep crimson laying the gash over the left eye, dried charcoal black along his ear and down the side of his mouth. A small pool formed under his head. Johnathan stepped forward but was stopped. Raven simply held her hand out and shook her head. Holly and Nathanial stood back clenching their teeth. Another bolt of lightning arched across the sky followed by the roar of thunder. Alexander smiled as he looked into Ophelia’s hazel eyes. His labored breathing slowed and he closed his eyes the image permanently etched into his mind. “No!” Ophelia shouted as she shook him by the shoulders. “Don’t you die on me!” She shook him again to no avail. “NO!” tears pooled in her eyes and rolled down her cheek. Desperation over took her as she attempted CPR. The taste of iron filled her mouth but she did not care, compressing futilely through the diminished armor. Three minutes went by as Ophelia’s mind finally drew a blank. She stopped and clenched her fist. Anger burned her chest, desolation at away her thoughts, chills shook her body, and depression brought her fist to the ground. She slumped back and glared at her palms, the iron taste moving down her throat. They quivered and she could barely move her fingers. Ophelia felt a hand on her shoulder. She jolted around her heart pounding. Raven held out her hand. Ophelia could only shake her head. She turned back and bit her bottom lip in attempt to hold back even more tears. Raven knelt down and embraced Ophelia. The wall of emotion broke away and Raven tightened her grip around Ophelia. Three Weeks Prior “We need to talk,” Raven grabbed Alexander by his arm and pulled him into her room. She sat on her bed and glared at him. Picking up a hand-sewn sock doll and thumbed it over her finger, twiddling with the zipper along its back. “Okay…” Alexander questioned staying near the door, still sore from Ophelia’s onslaught. “I…” Her voice trailed. Come on, she thought to herself. Be selfish. Taking a deep breath, he continued. “I think you’re pretty good as a guardian.” “Uh –” “Shut up and listen.” Raven turned a bright red. “You have skills, not like Ophelia of course, but skills. You caught on quick to the sparrow. And… and well I respect and trust you. Against my better judgement. I like you. I don’t expect you to like me back, given how beautiful Ophelia is. But I want… I need you to be blunt.” She squeezed her doll. “Do you like her the same way I like you?” “Yes.” Alexander shifted his weight uncomfortably to one side. “Good.” Raven let out a sigh of relief and smiled. There was an awkward pause as Alexander slowly processed what Raven said. “I’m sorry what?” he raised an eyebrow. “I said good.” “I got that part…” “It wouldn’t be much of a challenge if you didn’t. I am going to win you over, just watch.” “Uh –” “You can show yourself out. I need to get ready.” Raven fell back on her bed smiling from ear to ear. She held up her doll still twiddling with the zipper on its back. Ophelia had better watch out, she thought as she heard her door open then click shut. Alexander played that scenario over and over in his head as he walked down toward his room. He was on the tenth rerun when he opened his door. “Did you bang?” Super Good Advice spoke up. “Excuse me?” “You didn’t then. Bummer dude. That hunter –” “Raven.” “Raven… Is super-hot.” “I will leave you behind.” “Please, you lose your pathetic shotgun on a constant basis. Admit it you like me anyway too much to leave me.” “Riiiiiiight.” Alexander rolled his eyes as he made adjustments to his armor. “One thing though,” Super Good Advice smirked. “When you grow a pair of balls, try to get some action with Miss Pink.” “Ophelia.” “Neither of them are bad looking. I just happen to be partial to hunters with that sexy black, and short haircut and pouty lips.” “You are a machine.” “I am a smart A.I. I’ve been around for nearly four times your existence. I am just as human as you or your ball is.” “Oliver,” he said materializing. “My name is Oliver and I swear you are the most repulsive machine.” “Stop fighting.” Alexander stood, finished with his adjustments. He put on his armor, ready to go. His movements felt smoother and less restricted. Picking up Super Good Advice and Immobius, be placed each along the magnetic strip on the back of his armor. “Where are we going this time?” “A place called Felwinter Peak.” “Sounds like fun.” *** “So what is SIVA?” Ophelia asked over the coms. Ophelia’s, Alexander’s, and Raven’s ships all hovered a small distance over a snow bank. They each dropped one by one onto the small pathway. “You don’t need to worry yourself about that,” Lord Saladin replied. “Just make sure the fallen do not breach the Iron Temple.” “Wait,” Raven said. “Like Iron Lords, Iron Temple?” “Yes, now hurry.” The narrow mountain path twisted and turned over jagged rocks and sharp drop offs. As they came around the first bend, a metal structure stood before them. Thick wires dangled over the mountain and a metal car clung to it, swinging lightly in the wind. A growl carried in the snow echoed. The electric hum of arc blades buzzed to life. Ophelia took the lead. She pulled her new weapon out, clad in white and black. A metal bayonet jutted menacingly from the front of the weapon but exquisite craftsmanship and designs engraved along the weapon were aesthetically pleasing. The Fallen jumped from their perch, actively camouflaged. Small eruptions of snow spread out from underneath their weight. They charged the group. As beautiful as a hail of bullets could sound, Ophelia mowed through the group rushing forward. Clenching her fist, she pulled back and unleashed a devastating blow into the last Vandal. Engulfed in flames, a heap of ash hit the wall of the structure. “I like her!” Shouted Super Good Advice. “Take the gondola up the mountain, cut off the Fallen!” Saladin said over the coms. “Ila,” Ophelia held out her hand as her ghost materialized. “Activate the controls.” “Of course,” Ila floated to the panel and interacted with its interface. The machine screeched to life as she gave life to the ancient connections. The group entered the gondola as it started to move. It swung lightly back and forth, the howl of the wind and bite of the snow intensifying as they climbed the mountain. There was a loud snap as a Skiff broke from orbit and floated down over the gondola. Arc energy blasts torpedoed the metal casket. “Fallen all around us,” Alexander barked aiming Super Good Advice out the left side of the gondola. He fired in quick bursts, wire rifle rounds sizzling past his head from the Shanks on the rocks. Raven and Ophelia focused the other side picking off Vandals and Shanks. Another blast rocked the casket shaking the wires violently. The side of the gondola exploded open. “Jump, this thing won’t last much longer!” The trio leapt from the gondola just as it rocked off the wire and fell. They landed in another snow drift just as the Skiff disappeared further up the mountain. The gondola creaked and echoed loudly as metal scraped against rock and ice sliding down the side of the mountain. “The peak is just ahead,” Ophelia said checking her ammo reserves. Nodding to herself, she marched onward. “I really like her,” Super Good Advice said again as Alexander and Raven brushed the snow from their armor. They trudged up the mountain killing the Fallen along the way. At the peak stood a massive temple. A giant Servitor blasted away at the doors. “What is that?” Oliver asked materializing. “That Servitor emits the same… impossible.” “What’s wrong?” Saladin echoed. “That’s Sepiks! But we killed him ages ago… it’s like it’s regenerating.” “Kill it guardians! Kill it fast!” The group complied without hesitation. Bullets penetrated the armor of the machine making it turn around. A mechanical roar sounded followed by a screechy whine. Skiffs fell from orbit and Fallen reinforcements fell to the ground. “Focus on them,” Ophelia said emptying her magazine once more into Sepiks. Raven turned right while Alexander aimed left. They picked off the Vandals and Dregs as they dropped. The ship’s guns aimed at the group, but Alexander was ready. Focusing his light into void energy, he placed his arms close together then ripped them apart, summoning the Ward of Dawn. Light shields enveloped the group as they spread out from the protection of the dome.