Ten Thousand Arms Pt4

Part Four As the light filtering in through the tunnel's opening came into view, a fresh group of Vandals and Dreg ran by. They cheered as they saw the body I carried and rushed onwards with a surge of confidence and lust for glory. My welcome upon leaving the Hive caves was much less warm. A Captain stood before the entrance, and a Force of Dreg and Vandals all stood with their weapons trained on me. If I had been Hive, I would've been blown away before I even realized there were enemies outside. "[i]Looks like someone just earned their...[/i]" the Captain began as he saw me come out with the body, but trailed off as he noticed that I already had prosthetics. His four cold eyes narrowed and a hand wandered down to one of the Shock Blade handles around his waist. "[i]Who are you?[/i]" "[i]I am Vasik,[/i]" I clicked simply, acting like I didn't realize he wanted to know what Captain I served under. "[i]Why are you leaving with that body and those arms?[/i]" the Captain growled, unfooled by my feign ignorance. "I can't stall anymore," I warned the Ghost in my pouch in its language. My speech surprised the Captain and he began reaching to grab me so I couldn't try running, but at that moment the roar of engines filled the air around us. Everyone looked to the skies in surprise as a human jump ship came into view from over the trees and came to a stop several meters above our heads. I felt a tingling sensation and for a moment my vision was engulfed with white light. Once my vision cleared, I looked around in shock to find myself standing inside the cockpit of the ship that had been above only moments ago. The Ghost flew out of my pouch and to the controls, then began shining a blue light from its eye to manipulate the systems of the spacecraft. I set down the Guardian's body in the pilot's chair and looked at the controls, observing that there were screen displays of the area around the ship, including the Fallen below shooting up at us. Nearly falling down as the ship began moving, I watched the screens as we flew away from the hillside and gained altitude. After a few moments the Ghost floated away from the controls, probably letting the ship continue on with some pre-set course, and looked at me and it's Guardian. "You may want to stand behind the chair," it warned. I stood behind the pilot's seat and watched intently as the Ghost floated above the body and expanded its shell to revolve in several spinning pieces around it, a blue sphere of light shining from its core. Next, the Ghost slammed the pieces of its shell back into place and the blue light flashed brightly around it. The Guardian sat straight up in his chair, ready to act, then slowly sat back as he realized he was in his ship. "That took you awhile, Ghost," he sighed, "But how the heck did you get me here? I died in the caves." "Well someone helped us out since I couldn't revive you down there," the Ghost explained. "Who?" The Guardian questioned. "Okay, when you meet him, you have to promise not to draw your weapon or attack him," the Ghost commanded. "Why?" the Guardian asked, confused. "Just...promise," the Ghost insisted. "I promise," the Guardian sighed. "Okay, now keep calm and look behind you," the Ghost told him cautiously. Turning around in his seat slowly, the Guardian's eyes fell upon me and his body tensed visibly, but no move was made for his gun. He just sat there, waiting to see if I'd make a move on him. His helmet covered his eyes, but I felt their piercing stare nonetheless. "Hello...Guardian," I eventually greeted carefully. "Why on Earth - on FALLEN CONTROLLED EARTH - would you let it onto my ship?" the Guardian addressed the Ghost. "It's only one, and he's the only reason either of us are alive right now," the Ghost defended me, "He nearly got killed carrying you out of there. Give him a chance Blake." Blake. That was the Guardian's name. "Fine..." Blake eventually grumbled, then turned his attention back to me, "What's your name and why did you help us?" "Thank you Ghost," I said graciously before answering, "I am called Vasik. I fight for Great Machine, not those ruled by hate." "Great Machine? Is that a Servitor?" Blake inquired, "And who's ruled by hate?" "The Great Machine is above your Last City. I believe you call it Traveler," I answered, walking around his seat so he wouldn't have to turn around to see me, "Many Fallen consumed by hatred of you, yes? They betray the Great Machine by fighting to get it back." "I can't believe I'm talking to a Dreg," Blake sighed, shaking his head, "How do you even know our language?" "Vasik found language in human device," I explained, pulling out the data pad from my bag to show them. Blake looked it over for a second before speaking again, "I'm just going to ignore the fact that you got that from a destroyed human building. We still have pads like that, but newer models." "If you imply that I have killed humans, you are wrong," I growled, narrowing my eyes. Blake snorted in disbelief and looked to his Ghost again, "Where are we headed?" "I set the coordinates to take us just outside the City Walls," the Ghost answered. "We are NOT taking IT to the City," Blake snapped. "I am not a vile, unknown creature to be called IT, and would prefer if you called Vasik by name," I snarled. "NOT vile?! I can call you what I want, thank you," Blake spat, "Why would I call something so insignificant and murderous as a Dreg by name?" "Would I have saved you if I was such a creature?" I challenged. The Guardian stood and faced me, his helmet disappearing from his head for the first time so I could see the anger in his eyes as he glared at me. His eyes of the color green and hair of yellow, the eyes standing out against his light skin. "Hey! So where did those arms come from? Dreg aren't supposed to have four arms," the Ghost cut in, trying to change the subject and ease the tension. "Built them," I answered curtly, not breaking eye contact with Blake, "Then attached after I left Devils." "Don't think you saving me makes up for all the killing your kind has done," Blake muttered, then sat back down in his chair, "Now why did you leave the Devils?" "Same thing I told you before, yes? Vasik will not be ruled by hate," I replied. "And what's your plan now? Get in the City and sabotage our defenses?" Blake asked accusingly. I let the jab slip and answered calmly, "I would wish to see the Great Machine, and live in its Light once again. But if that will not work, I will go elsewhere and fight the Dark." The Ghost floated in front of Blake's face and gave him a stern look. "Oh no, NO. I am not going to be the one to take the enemy inside the walls," Blake told his Ghost with finality. "Blake, we need to talk about this," the Ghost urged. "Fine," Blake agreed after a moment, "But we're talking in private." "Good luck trying," I chuckled, knowing I would hear the whole conversation. But Blake smirked and then his helmet appeared back on his head. "Come on Ghost, get in here and mute me," Blake commanded, pointing at his helmet. The Ghost disappeared and did not reappear anywhere else in the ship. Blake's head started moving slightly as if he was talking, and I heard the muffled sound of Blake's voice coming from under his helmet, but it was too unclear to hear. The Ghost must somehow be speaking to him inside the helmet. Radio maybe? After awhile, the muted talking stopped and Blake's helmet disappeared once more, the Ghost appearing over his shoulder. "We'll fly past the City and you can see the Traveler, and then I'll take you wherever you want," Blake grunted unhappily, then went to the controls of his ship to make sure the systems were in order. The Ghost glanced over at me and I waved it over, moving towards the back end of the cockpit. "You know he can probably hear us anyway?" the Ghost whispered. "I know, yes," I nodded, "But what did you tell him?" "When I was in your bag I saw the data pad and looked through the files," the Ghost told me shamefully. "All is fine Machine child," I assured it, "Continue." "Well, I found your entries and read them all. I only understood a bit of the Eliksni language, but I saw how determined you were to learn our language and everything you said about the Fallen," the Ghost explained, "I told Blake about all that and got him to give in a bit." "Thank you, Ghost," I said gratefully. _________________________________ Link to part 3: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/220869771/0/0 Link to part 5: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/220869974/0/0 Link to Archive: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/217384398/0/0