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Post by Soline on Sept 22, 2014 1:34:53 GMT -5
The smoke should have been the first sign. The Ghost hovered in the cracked shell of an abandoned building. One of many. It had sat there for some time, waiting for the noise to die down as the Fallen moved past. The ruins had once been known as London. Before the Collapse. Before the Devils.
Many had perished in these ruins since then, and it was this fact that had driven the Ghost to come here. Where there were the dead, there could be a new Guardian. Unfortunately it was not the dead the Ghost found. The Fallen had seen it first, and had the Vandal shot true the Ghost would not be here anymore. It was unlikely that it would get out of the city alone, and so it had settled firmly on finding a Guardian to aid it in its escape.
Deeming the area to be sufficiently quiet at this point, the Ghost slowly left its alcove, spinning a few times before choosing a building to search. It was hard to tell what the original purpose of most buildings were anymore, the fires had done their job well. The best the Ghost could surmise was that it had been some form of public gathering hall, and even that was based mostly on the space between walls.
It flew low, moving from row to row, scanning intermittently among the dead as it sought for any that may have that special spark. In the end it was not among the bones of the deceased that the ghost paused, but at the slumped and powered down shell of an Exo. There was a gun next to it, perhaps they had been a guard during the burning?
The Ghost opened itself to the scan, studying this Exo. "Well. You'll have to do. I just hope you can get us out of here." A flash of light accompanied its words.
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Post by Bastion-22 on Sept 22, 2014 7:53:11 GMT -5
Energy. It all came down to energy. Whether it was the methodical pumping of oxygenated blood cells through a biological nervous system, or the intake and conversion of solar energy via photosynthesis, or (as was the case now) the spark of electrical impulses in long dormant synapses, the metallic whine of servo's grinding through decades of rust and grime, the rising hiss of pneaumatic pressure building; all of it was powered by precious energy.
Crackling flame, the flicker-hiss of arc-melted razor wire zipping past, the acrid stench of gunpowder, the screams escaping through bubbling melting flesh-
Photo-receptor's flickered to life, a pale grey that grew to a brilliant white. Audio-intake routines powered up and began to filter in the sounds around the waking corpse, the low pure of motors and delicate instruments rearranging inside of itself. True consciousness was not yet with the husk; like a newborn, it had been dragged out violently from the protective womb of death, and it struggled to grasp the vastly larger world that now surrounded it.
Through the screams, blaring klaxons and proximity alarms battle with the report of artillery duels and clashing metal. Guttural alien bellows and shrieks mingle with the angry curses of human defenders, the whine of roto-blades propelling death machines through the air in a sadistic hunt for weak flesh to perforate, to shred, to maim, to-
The white light of the eyes faded to black, then relit as a static-filled gasp escaped the hollow mouthpiece. Bronze features whirred and clicked against one another, subtly reshaping the face in a look of shock and surprise. The machine-mind began to take in and process what was around it, but unlike he predatory drones of it's dream, it's architecture (while considerably more robust and complex) slowed it's processing with feelings of panic and shock.
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Post by Soline on Sept 22, 2014 10:38:18 GMT -5
The pieces re-centered on the Ghost's core, whirring in anticipation. "You're-" It began, cutting off as the eyes flicked back to darkness. It turned, looking back to the room and wondering if the awakening had drawn the attention of any nearby Fallen. It certainly hoped not.
From behind came a gasp, drawing the Ghost's attention back to the Exo. "Guardian? Can you hear me Guardian? We need to move." It stressed the last sentence. "I wish I had time for answers but this is not the place. Fallen are everywhere around us." It flit down to the rifle by the Exo's side. "I sure hope you remember how to use this."
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Post by Bastion-22 on Sept 22, 2014 15:10:48 GMT -5
Bit by bit, the pieces fell into focus. The burnt carcass of a room gutted by a ancient fire. The slumped shapes of the dead, scattered about. And right in front of him, a... well, something was in front of him, and speaking to him.
White eyes focused on the little spinning piece of geometry before him, and his head cocked as he studied it. When it moved down to the rifle beside him, he didn't flinch, but certainly kept his eye on it. And when it spoke of using the rifle, he finally nodded.
"I do." the Exo replied, reaching down past it to lift up the rifle by the barrel. His other hand came up to take it by the grip, and he began to pat the weapon down, checking it over. It seemed to be in working order, and so he set the butt against his shoulder, sighting down it quickly before rising to his feet. "Find me a place that is safe and show me the way. I will get us there."
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Post by Soline on Sept 22, 2014 15:34:21 GMT -5
"Safe? Safety is relative. I will do what I can to guide us though." As it spoke, the Ghost vanished from sight. "Just follow my guidance and you'll be okay. Two blocks north of here is a hangar. If we're lucky we can find you a ship and get to the City. Unfortunately the area is swarming with Fallen. The way will have to be your own. I suggest heading out the door on your right. It leads to a back exit and an alleyway. Avoiding the main roads are our best bet."
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Post by Bastion-22 on Sept 22, 2014 15:49:32 GMT -5
The little construct's vanishing act caused him to bring the rifle up and sweep the room with the barrel, but when the voice came he relaxed, lowering the gun. With a grunt of acknowledgement, he moved to the indicated door and pressed up against the frame, slowly easing it open with the barrel of his weapon. If it were clear he would begin to slowly advance out, sweeping the shadows.
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Post by Soline on Sept 22, 2014 17:34:35 GMT -5
The hallway was clear, if not well-lit. In fact, what little light there was came from the holes in the ceiling. This building, like the city that would soon be seen was nothing more than a broken corpse. There was only silence to meet the pair as they made their way toward the door.
Once the Exo chose to depart he would be greeted by a shaded alley and a sudden roaring as a Fallen skiff flew past the alley and down the road, thankfully heading south. There were two paths within the alley, "I'm picking up Fallen activity building to the east. It'd be safer to head to our left for now." The Ghost chimed in.
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Post by Bastion-22 on Sept 22, 2014 18:54:52 GMT -5
With the hallway determined clear, the Exo advanced down it to the alleyway. The roar of the alien vessel overhead caused his aim to snap upwards, the meagre threat of his rifle focused on the ship-
-roaring overhead, the deep bass growl of a saurian predator stalking it's prey from the sky above as it's children crackled and hissed in a swarm below, looting and pillaging between butchering the defenders of the city, sparing no-
He shook his head, and both the flash and the ship were gone. He dimly acknowledged the construct's voice, and began to move down the left at a quick jog, keeping his rifle trained.
"What are you? You do not seem Terran from what I can remember, and you seem to be working against those" - marauders, no care for life, heedless of their own loss, arms baring blade and gun to eradicate- "Those things."
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Post by Soline on Sept 22, 2014 20:04:20 GMT -5
"I am a Ghost." The voice answered from within the Exo's head. "We are what is left of the Traveler." There was a pause, a feeling as if the machine was thinking. "Those things are Fallen. Marauders. Very dangerous in numbers, which they are."
The alley came to an end, opening into an open street. Rusted cars littered the streets, long abandoned. Buildings as much rubble as structure lined the street. If another skiff flew over there would be little they could do to hide from it. A fact the Ghost was quick to voice. "Move fast, we'll need to find some cover. Stick to whatever shadows you can. If we're lucky we can make it out of here safely."
Of the buildings that remained standing, several had doors that were locked, a fact that did little when the windows were shattered. After half a block, with the Exo approaching one such building a pair of voices were heard echoing from the windows. The language was strange, garbled and incomprehensible to the new listeners. "Careful..." The Ghost warned, it's voice low.
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Post by Bastion-22 on Sept 22, 2014 20:54:58 GMT -5
"The Traveler..." he echoed, half to himself as he moved. The word was familiar, the name of something intimately familiar to him but just out of reach of proper thought. He shook his head to clear it, then advanced forwards at a brisker pace, striding for the quickest routes between large pieces of cover.
When they came to the building with the voices within, he moved to the window and crouched down low, bowing his head and listening. This construct, this 'Ghost', it seemed to have a good understanding of the terrain and tactics...
"Tactical analysis?" he sub vocalised, barely alighting his audio track to convey it. It was less than a whisper, but he hoped it would be heard and understood as he checked his weapon again.
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Post by Soline on Sept 22, 2014 22:32:38 GMT -5
The Ghost appeared at the Exo's shoulder. "Two of them. Hold on." It floated off, flying low until it reached the window. It hovered there for a moment before returning. "Vandals. We could double back, try another alley? Or..." The light dimmed in it's eye briefly. "You could take them out. It shouldn't be too difficult. As long as you do it quick. They likely have comms." It paused, staring up at the Exo. "Your choice Guardian."
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Post by Bastion-22 on Sept 22, 2014 23:40:30 GMT -5
He didn't flinch as the ghost appeared, tracking it as it floated up to the window and back. The assessment didn't mean too much to him; two enemies, of a apparent rank or caste. The Ghost seemed confident in his abilities at the very least.
He tested the weight of his rifle in his hands, then slung it, tightening the strap so that it rested securely against him. He'd have to try this quiet. He extended a hand towards the Ghost, nodding at it. "Return to me." he said, and once it had he would rise up and peer over the window sill.
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Post by Soline on Sept 23, 2014 0:13:15 GMT -5
The room inside was a wreck. Debris scattered across the floor. It wasn't hard to spot the two Fallen, they stood nearly in the center. They were also of a distinctly alien appearance. Four arms hung at their sides, each holding a worn looking rifle. Certainly nothing of human make. With the other upper arm they dug through the various shelves, picking at and discarding random can in their search.
One of them grunted something at the other, clearly not yet noticing the Exo at the window. Their helmets didn't hide the eyes, two easily visible on the one side and piercing blue. They were cold eyes. The eyes of murderers. They did not speak of a being that knew compassion.
Eventually their searching would turn them back toward the front of the store and they would catch sight of the Exo waiting at the window. Unless he chose to take action first.
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Post by Bastion-22 on Sept 23, 2014 3:02:54 GMT -5
With the two in sight, and the element of surprise a rapidly dwindling resource, the Exo determined his path of assault. With a sub-vocalized whisper of "Mind the one on the left", he vaulted the window and entered.
His shoulder would meet the ground as he rolled, using the momentum of the vault to close the distance. As he got his feet beneath him, he thrust his elbow out at the back of the right Vandal's leg, putting his right shoulder between him and it. As he rose, he threw his weight forwards with the last of his momentum, trying to drive it's ugly head into the shelf it searched. Helmet or no, a good impact could at least daze a human opponent. Hopefully it would have a similar effect.
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Post by Soline on Sept 23, 2014 11:48:12 GMT -5
The Vandal had his back turned to the Exo and was not prepared at all for the charging ball of metal that slammed into it from behind. A squawk escaped it before it's face slammed into the shelf, wood smashing in from the force of impact. It was certainly dazed, a neutralized threat at least for the moment.
"On your left." The Ghost called as a series of surprised noises came from the other Vandal. It gripped it's rifle, already moving back toward a nearby shelf to use as cover. Finishing the dazed one off would allow time for the other to get cover, and possibly call for help.
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