Ten Thousand Arms Pt2

Part Two Yaskis stood quietly for another few moments before reaching behind her and closing my door. "[i]You plan to abandon us,[/i]" she accused quietly, clearly struggling to control her voice. "[i]I do not know wha-[/i]" I began, hoping my insistence would make her believe me. "[i]I've seen how you sneak away parts of your ether ration,[/i]" she interrupted with fists clenched, "[i]At first I hoped it was a precaution for if we ran low on ether as we are now, but I won't pretend that I don't know what you're up to anymore.[/i]" "[i]What proof do yo-[/i]" I tried once more to mislead her. "[i]You are always searching. Not for material, but for exits. I've seen the weary look in your eyes; the way you sit away from the others, planning,[/i]" Yaskis stopped me mid-sentence once again. "[i]You would tell Fenkris and have me executed?[/i]" I asked, admitting defeat. "[i]No,[/i]" Yaskis shook her head, "[i]I would ask that you stay.[/i]" "[i]I cannot. I refuse to be commanded by those who are controlled by hate,[/i]" I said with a guttural growl. "[i]You cannot leave me![/i]" Yaskis yelled, no longer able to hold back and grabbing me by the arm. I could find no words, so Yaskis and I stood quietly, eyes locked. My eyes were wide with surprise and hers were pleading, probing to find some sign of weakness that meant I would stay. "[i]Leaving you is the last thing I would ever want,[/i]" I finally told her, taking her gently by the shoulders, "[i]But there is no other path for me.[/i]" "[i]Yes there is![/i]" she cried, "[i]If you can't stay then surely I can go with you![/i]" "[i]No,[/i]" I said firmly, "[i]I do not have enough ether to last for two.[/i]" "[i]But we could wait a little longer and gather more so I-[/i]" Yaskis began to insist. "[i]No![/i]" I snapped, "[i]I will not lose you to the dangers out there![/i]" And there it was. We had both admitted how we felt now. Understanding and sadness filled Yaskis' eyes. "[i]You will be safer here,[/i]" I explained, "[i]And if I could provide for and protect you on this journey I would take you in an instant.[/i]" "[i]You plan to leave soon[/i]?" Yaskis questioned me. "[i]Tomorrow,[/i]" I told her, "[i]The old human village we patrol tomorrow is one that I found an escape route on and planted supplies at in our last visit. All I had left to do was wait for our crew to patrol there once more.[/i]" "[i]You prepared and you kept an eye on our schedule...[/i]" Yaskis sighed, "[i]There truly was no way to stop you.[/i]" Yaskis moved slowly forward and embraced me. "[i]At least we have this last night together.[/i]" I returned her embrace after a moment. "[i]One night to express how we've felt about each other all these years,[/i]" I clicked sadly. That night was the most pleasurable I had ever experienced, yet it was also the most heartbreaking. I knew I would probably never see her again after tomorrow. • • • We were on our Skiff, heading out on one of our patrol routes to make sure nothing was moving through our territory. Yaskis sat beside me in the Skiff as she usually did, but this time she gripped my hand tightly in the shadowed space between us where no one could see. The Skiff stopped, and the hatches on its underbelly opened. In groups we climbed out onto the drop hooks and leapt down onto the ground below. Captain Fenkris was the first on ground and watched as the rest of us dispersed into the woods and the small abandoned human village we had stopped next to. "[i]First priority is looking for enemies![/i]" Fenkris roared for all to hear, "[i]Resource collection must be quick and come after you have checked the area![/i]" It was the usual drill, and all honestly hoped we would find no enemies and just profit from scavenging. Fighting the gruesome, vicious Hive or a lone Guardian of the human's Last City that could easily kill us all was normally not worth the small chance of earning a promotion. I wandered towards the remains of the village, walking amongst the demolished buildings with Yaskis only several paces away. Fenkris paid no mind as we disappeared from her view; I usually stuck to searching the human structures, so she probably just figured it was because it had the most loot and the most hiding places for enemies, and Yaskis was always near me anyway. I weaved through the old paths between the decaying structures, leading Yaskis to the far edge of the village. My bag bounced against my side a little as I walked, and I made sure not to jostle it's contents too much; if one of the ether tanks busted or started leaking, I would be in trouble. Besides the ether tanks, I carried a Shock Pistol, a few Arc batteries, a couple of Shock Daggers, my Wolf banner, and my data pad inside my bag. My usual Shock Pistol and Shock Dagger hung in their holsters on my hip. Reaching the forest at the village's edge, I stopped Yaskis amongst some bushes that hid us from view. These were the bushes I had hidden my supplies in, and as I stooped over to pick up a bag from under the foliage I spoke to Yaskis. "[i]This is as far as you go,[/i]" I told her. "[i]Is there really no way for me to come with you?[/i]" Yaskis made one last plea. "[i]No,[/i]" I shook my head, "[i]This is where we part ways. Remember that when you are asked where I went, you must tell them that we split up and I never met back up with you. When they tell you I'm gone, act distraught as you would if I were a friend; do not act like you do not care and do not let them know how you truly feel about me, for they may suspect if they know that you care so deeply.[/i]" "[i]Yes, yes, it will be done,[/i]" Yaskis insisted, "[i]I would never let them catch you.[/i]" From the supply bag I pulled out a pair of prosthetic arms, in good condition even though they were built from old scraps. Yaskis' eyes widened in surprise as she gazed at the metal limbs. "[i]I thought that you didn't want your arms back,[/i]" she said as I began fastening one on. "[i]I refused to be gifted my arms back by those who only care that they are used to kill,[/i]" I explained, hissing in pain as the nerve endings of my docked arm connected to the prosthetic limb's system, "[i]These arms are made and given by me, and I will use them to gain until I have ten thousand arms.[/i]" "[i]You made these?[/i]" Yaskis questioned, "[i]How?[/i]" "[i]I was one of the makers of new limbs in House Wolves,[/i]" I told her, positioning the other prosthetic, "[i]I did not tell anyone to make sure that no one would suspect I would make my own. Even you.[/i]" "[i]Anything else I don't know about you?[/i]" Yaskis asked with a humored tone. "[i]I speak two languages,[/i]" I said in the human language used in the Last City. "[i]You speak human tongue?![/i]" Yaskis exclaimed in surprise. I chuckled at that but was cut short with another hiss as I connected the other prosthetic arm. Moving my arms around to get comfortable with the prosthetics and make sure they were working properly, I felt satisfied having the proper amount of limbs. "[i]This is goodbye,[/i]" I said sadly. We embraced one last time before I turned and pushed my way through the underbrush. Yaskis was soon out of sight, and I was on my own. Alone against the cruel forces of the universe. But I felt free; at ease aside from the constant pull at my heart to return to Yaskis. I trekked on through the forest, using my prosthetic limbs to push through the foliage often so I could readjust to having four arms. My path went towards the only human settlement anyone knew of; the Last City. Every other path went deeper into Fallen and Hive territory, and those would lead only to death at this point. At least with the City, death was not certain; although I was far more likely to be killed than to be accepted or even just ignored. For a few days I continued on, usually moving at a quick walk or even a jog if I felt that I was near others. I would occasionally stop and put the tube of an ether tank to my mouth, taking a few quick breaths of it before sealing it and putting it away. It was a meager ration, but it was enough to continue moving. When I found a location to sleep for the night I would light no fire for fear of being seen, and I would stow away in the darkest nook I could find with my Wolf Banner wrapped around me for warmth. In this manner I went unseen for a few days, not encountering any life aside from the small and harmless creatures that roamed the surface of Earth. That is, until I came upon Hive territory late one afternoon. _________________________________ Link to part 1: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/220869273/0/0 Link to part 3: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/220869771/0/0 Link to Archive: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/217384398/0/0