- Part Eleven <RAPTURE> // Κ/Қ (Kappa~Ka) - "Your move, vagrant." The words rang in his head along with the soft hiss of his very own capacitors' uncompromising charge and discharge. Hesitantly, he led his hand to the grip, and unsheathed the sword. A shiver went down his plasteel spine as he saw his reflection on the blade. He looked at the stranger as he rose. The Blighted seemed to expect an answer. "Aye," said Bardo-105 after a while, "my mind is yours." "Splendid..." said the stranger, "yes, keep the sword - an apology for destroying your Dark-Drinker. You will find this one much more suitable to your style, in time." "What now?" Bardo-105 was admiring the craftsmanship on his new sword, and pacing around the room, taking the occasional swing. "We need to see a common acquaintance. We essentially need to bail." "Bail?" asked the Hunter, "like, bail from this Universe?" "More or less," replied the stranger, "Sadeski is dead in this Universe too, and pretty much all the Svanurs here are done for. In a matter of days, they will all splice into Darkness." "I'm not sure I understand..." "You don't have to, really," said Ghost, deciding to intervene, "All the creeps we saw were... "projections", if you will, of this Universe's Svanur. Svanur apparently has the ability to split himself... much like Taken Psions." "I see," said the Hunter, "but those don't seem to go away..." "Indeed. But Svanur was not Taken - merely infected. When you remove the original, all projections eventually splice into nothingness. That corpse from before..." "The one with my gun?" "I would assume yes," said the stranger, "but there's an additional problem: everything Svanur has touched during his time on his universe will eventually also splice into Darkness... that includes your gun... and you... and me." "I knew there was more to him than you were telling me... So I'm basically just going to be your backup brain until I eventually die as well?" Bardo-105 seemed to be losing his patience. "Not at all! There is a way... and that's why we have to bail. We have to meet someone that can help us. Do you have a ship?" "Yeah, a Kestrel. We can give you a ride." "Cool," said the stranger, putting his hand on Bardo-105's shoulder, "set course for the Tower." "Are you sure? Are you really going to show up at the Tower with someone looking exactly like you?" "Nah," assured the Blighted, "we'll get some shrouds." "Hmm... not sure I like this, but fine." After the stranger showed them the exit, the group quickly found the way to a transmat-able zone. Both Exos were now enveloped in a brownish, ragged canvas that completely covered their bodies. It also featured a hood that hid their face. The flight to the Tower was a smooth one. When they got there, they disembarked at the Tower Hangar. They swiftly made their way across the catwalk, and then up a flight of stairs. The room was a small and fragrant one. Soft couches were placed in a hemicircle facing a large window, and in front of them some incense was burning on a small coffee table. When they arrived, Lakshmi-2 turned around, and squinted at the sight. "Not here for war stories, are you?" said the Future War Cult leader, almost amused. The stranger removed his hood first. Bardo-105 followed soon after. "Oh," began the mistress, "have we met before?" "Not on this timeline," said the stranger. "Alright," Lakshmi-2 was adopting a more defensive position, "which one of you belongs to the Circle?" "Does it matter?" said Bardo-105. He was quick to grasp the stranger's intentions. "Fine," said the woman, "you've piqued my interest, boys. I am at your disposal." "We need a Proxy," said the stranger. "Surely you are not serious, are you even-" "Husk-class," interrupted Bardo-105, "yes, we are." "No one's been to Lhasa in decades... What could you possibly need a Proxy for?" Lakshmi-2 sounded preoccupied. "We accidentally triggered a Fork gambit," explained the stranger, "we could splice in a matter of days." "And the only way to avoid being spliced is..." She wanted to hear it herself. "To simply not be." said Bardo-105. "But still, you cannot deny the totality of your identity," argued Lakshmi-2, "can you even conceive that?" "Whatever is left of it, I will take with me [i]somewhere[/i] else." assured the stranger. At this point Mag and Ghost popped up. Lakshmi-2's Ghost appeared as well. After it nodded back to its master, the Exo leader spoke. "Very well. Bardo-105, is it? So, have you decided?" "Yes. Warlock." "As you wish," said Lakshmi-2 as she turned around to face the window, "Your new Husk will be ready at first light tomorrow." As the shrouded Exos were about to leave, the FWC leader spoke one last time. "Oh, and remember: this is our little secret." *** [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/188427677]Alternative timeline[/url] [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/180879277/0/0]Table of Contents[/url]