[b]Schrödinger Crater, Outer Rim Stronghold[/b] Farvilkas stumbled through the corridor toward the Eliksni barracks. He had taken a slash to the leg from a Hive Knight and a Thrall had left a nasty bite on his lower right arm, both from the battle earlier that day. All things considering though, he was far better off than the other Eliksni that were either dead or more seriously injured and needed to have their wounds immediately treated. No medic could fix [i]him[/i] up, though. A split in the corridor gave him pause. One led to the males’ quarters, the other to the females’. It used to be that he would go straight to the males’ without a second thought. It was most natural to him. More recently, he’d had fleeting desires to bunk with the females. Maybe they’d be more accepting, though that was unlikely. His hesitation lasted for less than a second and he proceeded to enter the males’ barracks. As he suspected, several were being bandaged up or having the stumps of missing limbs capped until ether arrived. A couple of Eliksni were hooked up directly to a small Servitor while they remained reclined in their bunks, comatose. On Farvilkas’ entry, the conscious patients and their attending medics wasted no time staring at him as he stepped into the room. He knew they were grimacing with disdain under their ether masks. All because he didn’t where one. It didn’t take long for one to approach. They always did. This one was a tall Eliksni named Salk. He had exceptionally muscular arms, and his upper shoulders were adorned with what humans called “tattoos” of the traditional House of Devils insignia. A couple of bandaged cronies pushed away their healers and joined him to block Farvilkas. “It survived the battle,” Salk muttered, glaring at Farvilkas. “As did you. Well fought,” Farvilkas attempted diplomatically, but Salk was unfazed. “It always survives,” one of the other Eliksni snarled. His head was wrapped in cloth in such a way he had to keep one hand on his ether mask. “It does not suffer the pain of wounds or hunger for ether like the rest of us.” Farvilkas groaned internally. This was not going well. “My wounds hurt just as yours do.” “Really?” Salk asked in disbelief. “Show us.” Farvilkas extended his injured forearm to demonstrate. Salk didn’t so much as glance at it. “It does not bleed,” the tall Devil hissed. The statement was true; where bleeding flesh would be for any normal Eliksni, sparking wires poked out of the wound instead. But it hurt plenty to Farvilkas. “Why do you come here, [i]machine?[/i]” the other Eliksni scorned. He was missing both lower hands and his upper left was bound in a sling. “Find a mechanic. Don’t waste our medics’ time.” If Farvilkas had teeth, he would have bared them. “I did not come for healing, or banal insults from my brothers. I came to rest.” He shoved his way between two of his obstructers with ease, but Salk snatch the crook of his elbow. “We are [i]not[/i] brothers,” Salk growled. “And you do not belong here.” Farvilkas’ red eyes flashed back to Salk. He didn’t respond, simply bending his elbow on Salk’s fingers. The Eliksni howled, his back bending as he strained to yank his fingers out of the vice-like grip. The Devil with the bandaged head reached out and dug his claws into Farvilkas’ exposed wiring. It was excruciating, but he was not about to give his tormenters and satisfaction. Salk’s flattened fingers would make a good example… “Enough!” The disembodied voice belonged to a smallish Eliksni standing a short distance away. Farvilkas didn’t recognize him, and the slight distraction gave Salk enough time to jerk his hand free. The Devil bellowed in rage and grabbed Farvilkas’ neck – with the other clawed hand. “Are you deaf?” the small Eliksni barked, walking up to them. “Our enemies lie outside this compound, not within!” “[i]You don’t command me![/i]” Salk snarled. The Eliksni shrugged. “If you think you can explain to Centurion Riksis the missing soldier, then proceed. But I’d consider just [i]what[/i] you’re attempting to fight first.” Salk shot a hateful glare back at Farvilkas. His arm was bulging in an attempt to lift his opponent by the throat, a feat he’d done easily to other Eliksni of similar size. But Farvilkas was just too heavy, and his other hand was throbbing very painfully. He jerked his head at his ally, who removed his claws from Farvilkas’ wound. Salk released his grip on Farvilkas’ neck, and broke eye contact to spit at the Eliksni, “[i]Dreg.[/i]” He walked back to his bunk, followed by his injured cronies. Farvilkas examined the newcomer. “I could have handled that myself.” The Eliksni nodded. “Undoubtedly. I just despise those idiots.” He gestured to Farvilkas’ wounded arm. “If you like, I can try and patch that up for you.” Farvilkas looked at him warily. “You know how to fix ones like me?” “No,” his helper admitted. “But it cannot hurt to try, yes?” Farvilkas hesitated for a second before extending his arm to the Eliksni, who drew him toward a bunk and gestured for him to sit down. Farvilkas noticed the wonder in his blue eyes at examining the inner machinery. “I have never seen an Exni this closely…” the small Eliksni muttered. During humanity’s Golden Age, the renowned scientist Clovis Bray created the Exos to store a human consciousness inside a mechanical body. In close conjunction with the aliens, he also created the Eliksni equivalent: the Exni. Eliksni applied for the process more readily than humans thanks in part to their reverence for technology. However, they also suffered the Exos’ memory-wipes, and like Exos their memories of who they were as Eliksni are heavily fragmented. The Eliksni now had a small set of tools in front of him that he poked around inside the wound. “Much of the damage seems superficial. Is there any way you can self-diagnose what's wrong?” “Though it may surprise you, I don’t think like a machine,” Farvilkas replied coldly. “Of course not. My apologies. Let me know if you experience any discomfort. What is your name?” “Farvilkas. Farvilkas-Eta,” he answered, using the Greek version history that distinguished Exni from the numerical Exos. The Eliksni nodded. “Not too many wipes, then. Good. I go by Ax.” Farvilkas looked back spitefully at Salk across the room. “What was it that he called you?” Ax smiled sadly. “Dreg. I used to work in the Geode’s plantations with my family before applying to the army. According to those like [i]Salk,[/i] that puts me in a lower social class than him, even though we both have four arms, take the same amount of ether rations, and come from the same house. I take from your eyes you are from Devils as well?” Farvilkas nodded. Typically, an Exni’s eyes reflected the color of their House before they were absorbed into a legion. Right now he used them to watch Ax’s four hands maneuver parts and tools in his arm without causing any disturbance. “I am surprised to hear you were a farmer,” he commented. “You work with machinery quite deftly.” Ax smiled widely at the compliment. “I maintained the farm vehicles. One of the reasons I became a soldier was so I could become an engineer, maybe even become an Archon. But with the way this war is going, I look to survival over my dreams.” He glanced up at Farvilkas’ face. “Do you have dreams, Farvilkas? I have heard Exni often wish to learn about their pasts.” “I did once,” Farvilkas droned, “but, like a warrior, I stopped looking at where I came from and focused on where I am and where I march to.” Ax cocked his head in curiosity. “Surely you must have some desires?” Farvilkas pondered a moment before replying, “Before these cruel months on this accursed moon, I dreamed of joining the Iron Legion.” Ax nodded in understanding. The Iron Legion was comprised exclusively of Exos, Risen Exos, and Exni. They were renowned far and wide as one of the strongest legions in the system, and maintained one of the highest victory counts. “A part of me wishes they were here now. We could use their—” He was interrupted by Riksis’ voice crackling over the loudspeakers. “Attention, my fellow Eliksni. Your bravery in battle is being honored by our commander. We are to accompany him back to Earth for a brief leave. Congratulations. You have done your legion proud.” As his voice faded, several of the Eliksni roared in triumph. Even Farvilkas couldn’t help but smile. “Finally, some respite,” he hummed quietly. Ax nodded in agreement. “We need it. And while you’re there, you can get someone qualified to attend to you. I’ve done all I can with your arm, but let me see what I can fix on your leg before we depart.” Farvilkas raised his leg, wondering if he had found a friend in this hostile environment. “Thank you, Ax.” [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Groups/Post?groupId=1371758&postId=244991280&sort=0&page=0]Table of Contents[/url]