[b]IX: Red, Dead, Ambushed – Part I – A D2 Short Story[/b] [i]-Earth, the Last City The Guardian Academy graduation[/i] Rys stands as straight as he can, hands clasped behind his back, feet spread a foot apart. His eyes are fixed on the man standing behind the pulpit. Lord Shaxx himself. The tank of a man is speaking in a very loud voice, complimenting the students on all their hard work throughout the years, congratulating their efforts. But Rys can’t focus on anything except the Lord himself. Shaxx was RIGHT HERE. When else would he see the legendary Titan? Almost certainly never, if he planned to enter the Vanguard Field District with Tetra. Tetra, who is in fact standing next to Rys, looks over at him and bumps him. “Wake up.” “I'm more awake than I’ve ever been.” “You don’t look like you’re focusing. Focus.” “He's just so cool…” Tetra rolls her eyes. As a Hunter, she was entitled to be nonchalant to such awesomeness as being in the presence of Lord Shaxx. So when she sees Rys drooling over him, she can’t help but be jealous. “This is a big day for us, Rys. Could you maybe pay attention to the IMPORTANT things today?” “Don’t I always? Isn’t that how I got here?” “It’s how we both got here.” Rys finally looks over and smiles at her. “And it will drive us to further heights.” “Son of a Dreg,…you have the WORST lines sometimes.” “But you love them.” “Shut up.” This only encourages the Warlock, and he begins to grin. It falls short, however, when he notices something amidst the crowd of Guardians. A Warlock clad in a red trench coat, sleeves cut off at the elbows. The familiar crimson hair, golden eyes, and narrowed brow should have been impossible to see in this place. Cornelia was here. And she looked smug. A smug assassin is a successful one. What had she succeeded in? “Tetra,” Rys whispers. “Something's wrong.” Tetra glances at him, then at the Warlock, then back at Rys. “What do you want me to do?” “Don’t do—” A shadow suddenly covers the courtyard, and Shaxx cocks his head at a massive capital ship in the sky. “That…should not be there.” “BATTLE STATIONS!” someone shouts. But it is far too late. The ship fires on the Last City. The courtyard explodes in flame. Rys uses the void to push a herd of students into cover and glides behind a stone pillar as he summons a revolver. The Warlock steps out of cover, but stops short when he sees the Traveler. The Great Machine, usually smooth and inviting, is covered with a black and orange cage. Rys exhaled shakily. A bullet then connects with his head and he falls to the ground, dead. Cornelia stands behind him, gun lowered. “As I said,” she whispers. “I hate you.” [i]The Red War has begun Ghaul has come None will defy All will bow Or suffer [/i]