[b]Episode Five[/b] Steaming ether escaped as Fourteen’s heel crunched into the Vandal’s neck. “You’re a force to be reckoned with, Saint,” said Lakshmi-2. The pale-faced Exo walked past him and gestured for her battle frames to continue forward. She belonged to some small, secretive faction called Future War Cult, a group believing that war with the Darkness was inevitable, whether they stayed on Earth or fled, so being battle-toughened was not only necessary, but crucial for survival. It was an interesting philosophy Fourteen could get behind, he decided. Which was why Lakshmi pledged one-hundred Guardians of her own for his cause. Fourteen grunted. “I know.” “The Inner Circle is highly intrigued by you,” she said. “You share their love of war.” “Who are they?” Lakshmi laughed. “Secrets.” The Hunter rushed forward as three Vandals advanced on their position, shock blades in hand. An energy sword went for her head. Lakshmi caught the energy sword and ignored the ripples of electricity that would have paralyzed a lesser being, breaking the glowing tip off. She shoved the shard into his eye. The Exo bent backwards to dodge another swing, then launched her heavy foot with such extreme force she popped a head off a Vandal. Lakshmi finished off the last one by running a hand through his organic chest. “If you weren’t already taken, you would make an excellent Saint,” said Fourteen, nodding in an appreciative gesture. “You fight like a true warrior of heart and steel.” Lakshmi wiped the blood from her arm. “You’re too kind, but it’s time for my role to begin in this battle,” she said. “We can communicate through our Ghosts, I trust?” Fourteen tipped his head. “Very well, then.” The female Exo took off, her guardians at her back, towards the massive Ketch starship, located in a ravine one-hundred miles out from the City. Melichsis, the Devil Lord and Kell of the House of Devils, was stationed there. He was responsible for the repeated attacks against the last civilization and Fourteen would be the one to end him, for his duty demanded it. Lakshmi and her troops would flank the Fallen, but it was up to the Saints to take the lead. It was their crusade. After several months of bringing in groups of wilderness tribes safely under the protection of the Traveler, Fourteen knew that he had to rid the scum around the City walls. He took in any Guardian who volunteered to come with him and his Saints, then began his crusade. He took out pockets of Fallen camps, one after the other. Patrols and scouts. He killed whatever beast that stood in his way of the damaged starship the House of Devils called their lair. Interestingly enough, New Monarchy had given their own Guardians. Although the Vanguard condemned Fourteen’s crusade and refused to lend him any aid for his mission, the factions pledged their assistance, bar Dead Orbit. It seemed Nam Ra realized that as protectors of the City, she felt it her duty to rid the Fallen threat. However, the Guardians given to Fourteen would not partake in the real battle. They have already manned the hillside around the ravine to draw off the Ketch attention, making sure that its missiles didn’t find the Saints as they charged the center. It was a relatively safe task, but helpful, nonetheless. “My, would you look at that?” said Two, voice in awe. New Monarchy had defender Titans lining the hillside, Ward of Dawns acting as barricades. Guardians inside kept slipping in and out of the bubbles, cutting down the Fallen as they made their way out of the ravine or launching missiles from their rocket launchers at the Ketch. Lakshmi’s forces took the rear. It was carried out with impressive efficiency, Fourteen admitted. Though, their puny shields could use some work. “Well, if it isn’t Saint-14,” said Sim Pantu, New Monarchy representative. Fourteen bowed. “I apologize for the delay, but the Fallen held us back for a while.” “Never mind that,” he replied. “Just go before we leave.” The Exo took one last look at his team and grinned—well as much as a machine could grin. The Saints were resplendent in their light battles robes of gold and white, with newly forged pins adorning their shoulders. Crosses. It was fitting for a faction of their distinguished caliber. Father Ulrich would be proud. Fourteen bowed his head and closed his glowing eyes. He didn’t know if anyone was out there, but he prayed for a successful mission. He prayed that if he died, his friends would make it out. He prayed to Six, Seven, and to Father Ulrich. Fourteen opened his eyes and found the Saints with their own heads bowed, eyes closed. In turn, each one finished their prayers and turned towards the ravine and the imposing Ketch. [i]Did I just hear you praying?[/i] said Fourteen’s Ghost. [i]No. [/i] Fourteen took the lead and began running down the hillside, unholstering his twin hand cannons. Countless Dregs standing in his path fell from his bullets, not realizing how small and insignificant they were to face him. It went on like this for some time. One and Two split the earth with their Fists of Havoc, while Three and Four cut the Fallen down in a dance of blades. A maelstrom of crackling Arc energy filled the air. When they advanced under the shade of trees, squeezed by the trench and heavy vegetation, Five and Eight released the powers of the Void unto the world. The dark energy ripped apart physical matter—swirling pools that filtered life and death into the edges of space. Even the Servitors were no match. Nine and Ten then lit up the ravine with firelight, their guns glazed gold from unimaginable heat, and bullets that turned the enemy into blazing piles of dust. Ash filled the mouths of the Fallen as they were brought to their knees. Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen, graced by wings of Light, finished the Shanks off with a hail of grenades as they floated through the trees, burning the leaves on their backs. Minutes later, they made it to the entrance of the Ketch. Up along the ramp to the starship stood Melichsis, giant and formidable in stature, standing behind a forcefield, arms folded. This Kell was not cowardly enough to hide within the confines of his lair. He roared an unintelligble command. Near-invisible forms burst from the thickets and holes in the ground around them. Now, it was Fourteen’s turn. He activated his helm and raised his arms, forming a Ward of Dawn so large it consumed the entire battlefield. The figures staggered from disorientation and de-cloaked, revealing themselves as Reaver Vandals. Blinded by his awesome power, helpless like newborn babes, they were then devoured by the Saints’ Light. In seconds they perished. It was sheer massacre. Then, the tide of battle changed. [i]Saint![/i] yelled a voice in his head. It was Lakshmi, communicating her voice through his ghost. [i]New Monarchy has fled! I tried to stop them, but they didn’t listen...It was all a trap! You have to get out of there. I cannot help, for when the defenders lowered their shields, my host of Guardians took damage. I must leave, my friend. [/i] [i]So be it,[/i] replied Fourteen.[i] But we must stay. [/i] [i]Good luck, then[/i]. Before Fourteen knew it, explosions shook his Ward of Dawn, one after the other. His body felt like he was pushing against gravity as the Ketch’s railguns continued their assault. He fell to his knees and the Saints looked around in confusion. “What’s going on?!” yelled Thirteen. The Ward of Dawn shattered. The ground broke beneath them. Fourteen lay on his side and watched the Saints rush the Ketch. A blast from a single railgun took them and their Ghosts all out. Thirteen attempted to drag him away, but dropped to the ground. Fourteen, electricity rippling across his vision, realized that a bullet took his second-in-command in the forehead. Melichsis, the Devil Lord, lumbered towards him, twirling shock blades. It would not end like this. Fourteen stood, shook off his daze, and charged the ten-foot tall Kell. The Exo parried a sword with an expert palm as the Kell roared defiance. Fourteen deflected another blade, and this time, wrenched the weapon away to seize the alien’s forearm, pulling the muscled limb out of its shoulder in a surge of blood and sinew. The other shock blade slipped into Fourteen’s chest like butter. The Exo staggered, but would not see defeat just yet. He landed his arm into the wrist that held the blade, shattering bones. Fourteen grabbed the Kell’s shoulders and lunged forward with every ounce of strength he had left, caving in the Fallen’s skull like soft clay. Both of them lurched to the ground as more enemies skittered out of the starship, casting demon light onto his body. But in the end he was brighter. [b][url=http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/93735794]EPILOGUE[/url][/b] [b][url=http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/90052905?lc=1033]EPISODE ONE[/url] [url=http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/90406891/0/0]EPISODE TWO[/url] [url=http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/90776215/0/0/1]EPISODE THREE[/url] [url=http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/91176944/0/0/1]EPISODE FOUR[/url][/b] [i][b]DISCLAIMER:MOST OF WHAT TRANSPIRES AS THIS SERIES GOES ALONG IS PURE FAN FICTION. THE EXOS HAVE BEEN RENAMED INTO "SAINTS" BUT HAVE DIFFERENT NUMBERS (AMOUNT OF TIMES THEYVE BEEN SYSTEM WIPED) CONCORDANT AND LYSANDER ARE CANON, FATHER ULRICH AND THE MACHINE SAINTS ARE NOT.[/b]. [/i] [b][url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/100362914]DESTINY FAN FICTION ARCHIVE[/url][/b] [b][url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Forum/823422]JOIN CLAN FOR FAN FICTION UPDATES[/url][/b]