Blank Slate Ch.22: The Mountains

Table of Contents https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/225386550/0/0 "Ah, you must be Keis-51," the Hunter guessed, looking me up and down, "Zavala made me check your files. I hear you've got some experience. Not as much as me, of course. Under this young and handsome face, I'm even older than you." He tilted his chin up and spread his arms, showing off his brown robes and blue Exo face. "Cayde," Zavala said. "You've probably heard of me," the Hunter continued, "The legendary Cayde-6, champion of the Light, slayer of Darkness, hero to all, annoyer of Shaxx. I know you're desperate for an autograph from your new Hunter Vanguard." "Cayde!" Zavala began to get annoyed. "I've never heard of you," I said. "What?!" Cayde-6 dropped his arms, then turned to Zavala and pointed a thumb at me over his shoulder, "He's never heard of me! And he didn't even notice my jokes! He's stiffer than a wall. I can at least get reactions out of you, Zavala." "CAYDE!" Zavala bellowed. "Yeah, like that," Cayde-6 approved. "What happened to Andal Brask?" I asked. Zavala and Cayde-6 turned to me, becoming somber. "A Fallen named Taniks killed him," Cayde-6 muttered, "He was a good guy." "And an excellent Guardian," Zavala added, rebuilding his composure, "We'll miss him. But there is work to be done. You have an assignment, Keis-51, and Cayde will be briefing you." "Right," Cayde-6 agreed, returning to his chipper mood, "There's a pesky little- what are they called? Packs? Tribes? Gaggles? Whatever- There's a group of Fallen trying to scratch a living near the Cosmodrome. We're worried they could end up settling in and making an outpost, and that's where you come in." He pointed a finger at me, "You're gonna go on a relaxing little trip, take a stroll through the mountains, enjoy the fresh air, and shoot some Fallen. While you're at it, you could probably build a snowman or two." Zavala sighed, "Do you understand your mission, Keis?" "Yes," I answered, "Go to the Cosmodrome and kill a gaggle of Fallen." Cayde-6 doubled over, unable to control his laughter. • • • My boots crunched through the snow as I hiked along the base of a mountain. "Cayde seemed like a nice guy," Blanc said, mostly talking to herself, "Not very serious, but he must be a good Guardian if they chose him for the Vanguard." A series of walls and caves came into view as I trudged over a rocky ridge. "They're supposed to be around here," Blanc informed, "Be careful." The Devil You Know materialized in my hand. I tried not to think too much about who had given it to me as I crouched and crept through the snow-covered trees and bushes. After a few minutes, a red light flashed on my radar. I froze and looked around slowly. A huff of breath broke the silence and I looked up. A Vandal stood on a rock outcropping above me, watching the horizon. It's red cloak, emblazoned with the mark of the Devils, stirred in the breeze. "There's another one ten meters ahead," Blanc whispered. I scanned the rocks until my gaze fell on another Vandal. "When you shoot," Blanc warned, "You'll probably alert the whole encampment." "Good," I muttered, "They'll come to me. We won't have to worry about searching." Without hesitation, I raised my gun and shot the Vandal above me. As its head exploded, I shot the second Vandal twice in the chest. It fell on its side just as the first Vandal's body landed next to me with a heavy thud. The gunshots rang out across the area. I stood and moved towards the caves as Fallen cries began to sound. A group of Dregs were the first to come into sight, spilling out from a crevice and searching for the source of the commotion. Only a few of them saw me before I dispatched the group. I flicked out the cylinder of my firearm, letting the shells clatter onto the rocky ground, then reloaded as more Fallen swarmed into view. I shot a few more times before an Arc bolt clipped my shoulder. I carefully aimed at the sniper and fired, then returned my attention to the others. They were taking cover behind rocks, occasionally peeking out to spray bolts at me. A Captain and two Vandals leaped out from the nearest rock and ran towards me. I quickly shot one Vandal, and it crumpled to the ground. They were close now, and the remaining Vandal bounded ahead of the Captain, eagerly preparing to lunge at me. I shot its gut and it tumbled over. The Captain leapt over the Vandal, landing in front of me as it swung its large shock blades. I ducked and fired blindly, hitting one of its lower arms. It roared, slashing at me again. I rolled to the side as my hand cannon disappeared and was replaced with my shotgun. I pulled the trigger, and the powerful round hit the side of the Captain's chest. A shock blade clattered to the rocks. The Captain growled and swung the other blade at me, cutting a line through my chest plate. The blow knocked me down onto my back, unharmed, just as a bold Dreg came at me with a dagger. I quickly pumped it full of lead, then rolled to the side as the Captain brought its sword down. Hopping to my feet, I caught the Captain's wrist as it lunged again. I grappled with it for a few seconds, then spun myself behind it, holding its hand and sword over its chest. I kicked the back of its knee, making it fall to its knee, then slowly twisted its wrist until the blade was pointed at its face. The Captain struggled and pushed back, trying to force the blade away. A Vandal rushed in from the side, slashing at me. I dropped to my knees. With the sudden shift in pressure, I forced up the Captain's sword, stabbing it through the head. I stood, pulling the Captain's sword out of its corpse, then twirled and sliced through the Vandal's armor. The blade caught in the metal and shattered under the force of my swing. The Vandal collapsed and I dropped what was left of the shock blade. Arc bolts whizzed by my head and I resumed the slow process of picking off the Fallen.