Guardian Elders Episode One: "Time Under Duress"

Guardian Elders Episode One: Time Under Duress The sirens and crimson lights blared. No time to think, just act. Save them. One shot, one kill. No hesitation. Kill them before they reach the others. Fire, everywhere. Past the broken gate. Find the others. Flames block the way to the bulkhead. Their faces staring at me through the opening. Screams. Horror. Death. Blocked by a wall of steel… steel… “Steel? Steel? Good, you‘re awake now.” My Ghost’s voice echoed throughout my chambers. I stood up out of the chair I was resting in and grunted, my metallic voice bouncing off the metal walls of my chambers just as well as my Ghost’s. “You were thinking about the mission to Venus, weren’t you?“ My Ghost inquired. “I’d rather not talk about it…“ I stood up out of the chair I had been resting in and looked to my Ghost. “Well, we’ve received a call from Executor Hideo.” I quickly looked around my chambers, noting the dark grey walls that have been left barren. Little light shone in here, the only light being projected from a lamp that hung from the ceiling “The Executor? What does he want with us this time?” I said, my metallic voice showing little to no emotion. I quickly stood up and walked over to my armor stand. “Apparently he wants us to head out to The Skywatch to take out a Fallen camp. Said that they’re disrupting New Monarchy activities in the area.” While my Ghost spoke I quickly donned my matte black jumpsuit and locked my crimson armor into place. I stepped into my plated greaves and shook my feet, ensuring that the lock still held. I quickly slid my hands into my gauntlets and sealed them over my jumpsuit. The only thing left to equip was my helmet, which I grabbed from the armor stand and quickly admired, the silver visor reflecting my robotic features. I dropped the helmet onto my head and waved the new black cape the New Monarchy had recently gifted to me over my back. I walked over to my armory and grabbed my Fusion Rifle, the Nox Cantor III, and affixed it to my thigh while I took my auto rifle, the Cydonia AR3, and placed it on my back while I slid my knife into it‘s sheath. “Have the repairs to our ship been finished?” I asked my Ghost. “The repairs are 93.6 percent complete.” “Excellent. This won’t be a very taxing trip anyway.” I walked out of my chambers and raised my hood, the door automatically shutting behind me. I quickly made my way outside to the main plaza where I saw many Guardians, novice and veteran, running around, turning in bounties or purchasing engrams from the Crpytarch. I strode down through the plaza as quickly as I could and descended the metal staircase that connected to the hangar. I made my way to my ship, but as I approached I was met by the voices of the mechanics, who simultaneously yelled “CLEAR THE LANDING PAD!” to one another. As soon as the landing pad was clear, my Ghost teleported me into the cockpit while I was in mid stride. I rested my hands on the controls, and waited for everyone to clear the way for my ship to fly. “All clear. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Launch.” My Ghost said as our ships engines hummed and sparked to life. Next thing I knew we were out of the hangar and in the sky’s of Old Russia. The flight was smooth, despite the minor damages that still hadn’t been repaired. Out flight was interrupted by the sound of Fallen Wire Rifles and burning metal. I quickly materialized onto the ground, and assumed a defensive position behind an oversized rock. “Do we have a visual”? I asked my Ghost. “Yes, two Vandals on the top of that ridge. Kings, from the looks of them.” “Excellent,” I thought. “This is Devils territory, so I haven’t been compromised.” I quickly jut my head from behind the rock and fired at the Vandal, resulting in a quick kill. I quickly averted my aim to the left and saw that the other Vandal had disappeared. Unfortunately for him I knew exactly where he was. I looked to my far left and fired a single shot to the head of the Stealth Vandal, causing it’s soul to spiral into the sky. “So much for honor…” I remarked to myself. I quickly looked around the surrounding area. Fallen don’t exactly cover their tracks very well, so finding their location should be easy. Even if their tracks have disappeared, the local wildlife would still be disturbed. I tread through the dry earth and eventually found the tracks I had been looking for. They lead to a small cave on the other side of the Skywatch. I mounted my silver Sparrow and sped over to said cave in haste. As soon as I entered the small cave I dismounted my vehicle, pulled out my auto rifle, and looked around the pitch black cave. My Ghost materialized next to me and showed me a patch of the rocky floor that didn’t look the same as the rest of the cave. I walked over to it and kicked it as hard as I could, which caused it to give way under my feet and drop me farther down. After standing up I realized where I was. The cave emptied into a large chasm, one that held the Fallen encampment I was sent to make… disappear. I hid behind some cargo crates and looked around using my helmet’s magnification function. Inactive Shanks rested over in a dark corner, Vandals patrolled the perimeter while Dregs skittered about the area. A single Captain was issuing orders atop a balcony while a downed Devil Walker sat in the middle of it all. Crates dotted the entire base, which would make moving from the shadows an appetizing option, one which I opted for. I, ironically, used the light gifted to me from The Traveler to “blink” from crate to crate until I was deep behind enemy lines, directly behind a Fallen Vandal. He had finished speaking to some Dregs and was walking towards the crate I was hiding behind. Now was the time to strike. I leapt from my cover and dug my knife behind his armor and into his neck. His soul seeped through his wound how water runs through a punctured bottle, but the scream he released in his dying breath alerted the surrounding enemies. They knew I was here, and it was time to unleash the wrath of the Traveler. I sheathed my knife and un-strapped my Cydonia and fired at the oncoming Dregs and Shanks. One by one they fell, their shock daggers going silent and still. But they were just canon fodder. The Vandals leapt from their perches as the Dregs continued their assault, but I slid behind cover and fired once more at the Dregs. But these Vandals were fearless. They pressed their charge, their resolve causing me to lose ground and move farther back. I had to holster my rifle and reach for my Fusion Rifle in order to keep myself from being swarmed. My weapon charged, the orange light emanating from the barrel illuminating the surrounding area. In a flash the weapon loosed it’s energy, and I swept it over the Vandals that foolishly continued their pursuit. Their bodies disintegrated, the ashes falling to the ground and their weapons ceased to function. I walked out from my cover and looked around the area. “Come out now and I might make your death quick and easy.” I declared. I knew there was one more enemy lurking in the shadows. I could not only feel it, but my radar glowed a faint red. Out of the shadows a Fallen Captain tackled and pinned me to the ground. “AGH!” I exclaimed. The Captain and I looked each other in the eyes. I heard under it’s tainted breath the word “Guardian”, a word it spoke with untold amounts of malice. I kicked the scum off my body and onto the ground next to me. We both stood up, unsheathed swords and knives coated in electricity or fire and engaged in close quarters combat. Metal struck against metal, flame and electricity arced from our blades and illuminated the darkness of the cave. Nothing else mattered but the kill. Punches and kicks were thrown, blows exchanged but neither of us seemed to push the other back down. Our blades locked and so did our eyes once more, but he was winning this exchange of strength. But a contest such as this was interrupted by a bullet flying through the Captain’s shielded head. His head seemed to explode from the force of the round, his body falling flat against the ground as his soul leapt from his neck. I looked around only to see someone walk from the shadows. It was a male Hunter, tall and lean. His armor was colored black with bits and pieces of numerous weapons decorating his belt while the spine of a young Ahamkara rested on his left arm. His armor was worn and his cape in tatters. Believing him to be a threat, I pulled out my Fusion Rifle and aimed it at the hooded figure. “What is your name and status?” I demanded. “Peace, Steel. I’m a friend.” His voice was that of an Exo, cold and unfeeling. This stranger knew my name and was able to find my location. He saved my life, but why? “Answer my question.” I demanded once again. “My name is Predakae, and you have nothing to fear from me. Now lower your weapon. We have much to discuss.” That’s a name I never thought I’d hear. Predakae’s known as a deadly marksman who’s name has only been uttered in myth and legend. I slowly lowered my weapon, but my hand still rested around the grip. “How do you know my name?” “My benefactors and I know much about you. We’ve been following your progress for quite some time, watching you carry out missions for the New Monarchy with stunning efficiency.” He walked closer to me, hoisting his sniper rifle to his back. “I was ordered to find you and bring you back to my superiors.” “Why do you think I‘ll come with you?” “Because you know who I am.” “Hmm.” “I don’t want to have to hurt you.” “You won’t have to.” “Then you’ll come with me?” “I don’t really have a choice, do I?” “There’s always a choice Steel.” “We‘ll see.” And with that I holstered my Fusion Rifle and we left that dark cave. We called in our jumpships and flew back to the Tower under the cover of night. I had so many questions, but the one thing I knew for sure was that I was being taken to meet Predakae’s superiors, whoever they were. That night, my destiny changed forever.