Delta B1 Ch13: The Informant Part 5

BOOM! The explosion threw everyone off their feet as one of the makeshift homes erupted into flames. Delta landed hard on his stomach. His optics blurred, and his hearing deafened. The village was in chaos. People were screaming, fires were raging, the electric lights fell to the ground in a blaze. Delta struggled to get up, but his neurological system was taking time to reboot. He managed to rise to his hands and knees, and realized there was someone standing next to him. There was a sharp pain in Delta’s side as the stranger kicked him hard, sending him sliding onto his back. Delta gasped, still trying to regain control of his senses, but the stranger came again and kicked him harder, making him fly across the ground, landing with a painful thud. The stranger came once more, but this time grabbed Delta by the collar and lifted him to eye level. Delta’s optics finally focused completely, only to be met with a similar pair, glowing demonic red. “At last,” growled Alpha, “I can finally put you in your place!” The black exo threw Delta into a nearby table, shattering it. “Delta, the fourth born. You were always Yazan’s [i]favorite[/i].” He picked up Delta again and threw him across the square. “I always envied you. Imagine my… delight, when I heard you were a traitor.” He approached Delta once more, brandishing his sidearm, pointing it at the exo Warlock’s head. “This has been a long time coming! I will kill you, your ghost, and the old timer. Sayyed will reward me handsomely for this!” BANG! Alpha recoiled as the sidearm was shot from his hand. He whirled around to see Echo, one hand firmly holding his walking stick and the other pointing his own sidearm at Alpha. “That’s enough, brother,” said Echo. “I don’t want to do this.” Alpha grunted in frustration. “No, [i]brother[/i], you will not stop me! I have come too far, lived too long not to see this through. You will die next. Now stay out of my way and wait your turn!” Echo remained still. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Alpha groaned. “Fine, I guess you’re first.” The black exo stepped to the left, then juked to the right, tricking Echo into shooting at an empty space. The move was lightning fast and just enough time for Alpha to swipe up his sidearm. Echo raised his weapon for another shot, but Alpha was quicker and shot Echo through his good leg. He dropped to the ground, unable to keep his balance. Alpha aimed his sidearm, preparing for the killing blow, when suddenly Delta rushed in from the side and tackled Alpha. The two wrestled on the ground, trying to overpower the other. Normally, Delta had superior fighting power, but his options were thin under a heavy, angry exo. Finally, he was able to get a leg loose and used his foot to push Alpha away from him. The two brothers stood up, facing one another. “You cannot overpower me in combat,” said Delta. “I know,” Alpha admitted, whipping out another sidearm from under his cloak. “I don’t need to.” Delta braced for the impending gunshot, but it never came. Alpha suddenly screamed as he was engulfed in void energy. Delta opened his eyes to see his brother writhing as his body began to tear itself apart. In a matter of seconds, Alpha disintegrated into nothingness, his body banished to the void, revealing Keis-51 with his hand outstretched. “That was easy…” the Warlock said to himself. “I’ll go put out the fire.” With that Keis went to attend to the burning home. Delta nodded and rushed to Echo’s side. “Echo! Are you okay?” “Ah, hell,” Echo groaned. “Got me in my good leg.” “Will you be able to walk?” Echo waved his hand in assurance. “Unlike my bad leg, it’s repairable. I’ll be fine.” Delta sighed in relief. He stood up to assess the damage. Several portions of furniture had burned as well as a few strings of lights, but for the most part the fire was contained to the single house where Keis was somehow diminishing it with void energy. Delta was about to assist Echo when he caught movement in the corner of his peripherals. He looked over to see the little girl, Rosie, hiding under a table. He approached the table slowly and crouched so the girl could see him. “Hey there, little one,” he said calmly. “It’s over now. You can come out. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Delta held out his hand to her, but she recoiled, crying uncontrollably. “You’re okay,” he said, trying to coax her out. “You can trust me. Trust the robot. You’re going to be okay.” The girl gradually began to suppress her crying to a series of sniffles. Delta waited patiently, keeping his hand outstretched. Eventually she looked at the hand and took it carefully. Delta gently held her hand and guided her out from under the table. She stood up, but refused to let go of him. He decided to just let it be. Delta led the girl back to Echo, who was already tinkering with his own body. “Echo, I need to know where to find the Defense today. I need to stop things like this from happening. I can’t live with myself knowing these people will not hesitate to kill others to get to me and you.” Echo looked up at Delta, down at the girl, then back up to Delta. “You make a fair point. I’ve been out of the organization for too long, so I’m afraid I do not know the current location of the Defense’s operations. But… I might know someone who does.” In that moment, Keis returned from putting out the fire. Only some torchlight and a single working string of electric lights still illuminated the area. “The fire is out,” said the red guardian. “I’m afraid this is where I leave you.” “Where are you going?” asked Delta, surprised by the Warlock’s sudden departure. “I have just received an urgent message from Ikora. I am to return to the Tower immediately.” Delta nodded. “Alright. Thank you for all your help, Keis.” Keis made a formal bow. “It has been my pleasure. I must be on my way. Take care, Echo,” he said to the wounded exo. “I certainly will,” Echo replied. Keis turned back to Delta. “I think you can handle things from here. Best of luck in your endeavors. When you find the Defense, make them suffer.” Delta simply nodded. With that Keis initiated a transmat and beamed up to his ship. Delta turned his attention to Echo. “You said you might know someone who can help me. Where do I start?” [b]*This completes my crossover with KSeth27's Blank Slate.[/b] [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/228782835/0/0]Chapter 14[/url] [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/224417569?page=0&sort=0&showBanned=0&path=1]The Hub[/url]