Blank Slate Ch.11: Valiant Charge

Table of Contents https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/225386550/0/0 Another Dreg leaped up in front of me. I shot it in the chest with my hand cannon before it could land. Its lifeless body fell short, hitting the edge of the wall and slipping off. I turned my attention back to the Fallen climbing and jumping up the rest of the wall. I stood on the top of the wall with the Defender, the Striker, and a Hunter. The other eight Guardians were below, between the wall and the Last City. We were taking advantage of the crest of the barrier. There were too many Devils scrambling up to stop, but they were completely exposed as they reached the top. As long as the four of us on the wall stayed low to avoid the Fallen snipers, we could easily crush the attack. But the number of living Devils on the wall was slowly increasing. "Cover me," I ordered on the comms. "Alright, KS," Salem replied. Before he had finished his sentence, my machine gun was in my hands. I dropped to a knee, keeping out of the Fallen snipers' view, and began loading. Shots from Salem's scout rifle whizzed past my head, killing the Devils around me. "Someone's saying that Lord Shaxx is leading a counterattack through Twilight Gap," a Guardian announced, "They're trying to retake the wall, but who knows how that'll go. If we're lucky, they might give us a break." [i]Hopefully,[/i] I thought. I put the belt of bullets in the Diluvian and shut the top with a heavy click, then stood. [i]If not, we'll die hoping.[/i] I aimed along the ridge of the wall and held the trigger down. Dozens of Fallen tumbled off of the wall as a spray of bullets punctured their armor and flesh. I turned the other way, preparing to do the same, but was greeted by a Captain. It punched me in the face, making me stumble. It moved after me, but I spun and smacked it in the head with the Diluvian. I hit it back with Palm, then raised my gun to fire. The machine gun mowed down the Captain, and I pointed it along the ridge. A shock dagger bit into the armor on my shoulder, and I spun, hitting a Dreg with a Palm. Another one jumped onto my back and tried stabbing at me. I reached over my shoulder, grabbed its face, and slung it off me into another Dreg. Someone gasped on the comms, and I turned. The Striker had been shoved off of the wall, and landed with a thud on the City side. A Guardian cursed, then inquired, "Anyone have a rocket launcher?" "I have one shell left," someone answered. A Vandal slashed at me, and I stepped back. The Devil You Know materialized in my palm and I shot the Vandal's pressurized head, which popped and sprayed evaporating ether. "That'll work. I have two shells. We're losing the wall. You three still on it, when I say get off, get off fast. We'll light up the scavenging scum." "Got it," the Defender grunted. I kept my focus on shooting the Fallen. "Ready..." the Guardian murmured. I used a Palm on a Vandal. It dissipated into Void energy, and I took it all in. "NOW!" I dived off of the wall, flipping in midair to point my feet at the ground. The air was filled with the deafening BOOM BOOM BOOM of three consecutive rockets exploding. Just before hitting the ground, I used Glide to halt my descent, then let myself drop down with a solid thunk. Scorched rubble and Fallen bodies rained down around me, bouncing heavily on the ground. I ran from the wall and turned, aiming at the top. Devils were already beginning to line the ridge, shooting down at us. The other Guardians were taking cover and returning fire. "This won't end well..." someone muttered. Arc bolts sprayed around us and we ducked behind rocks and trees. "Anyone up for a valiant charge?" a Guardian asked. "Only if you're buying drinks afterwards," a second one replied bitterly. "I'd take that offer," Salem sighed. "Alcoholic beverages seem like a small prize for something as stupid and suicidal as charging the wall," I analyzed, "If I don't die in the charge, I will want something more rewarding." No one said anything for a few seconds. Arc bolts pelted the ground and someone occasionally fired back. "So are you in or not?" the first Guardian asked. "Yes," I answered, "Was I not clear?" They dismissed my question, continuing their banter as they shot at the Fallen. "I'd like my drink before we run into that mess," someone chuckled. "Same here," another agreed, "I'll take mine on the rocks." "You're already taking cover behind the rocks," the second Guardian retorted, snickering at her wordplay. "That joke sucked..." a Ghost mumbled. "You suck," she replied jokingly. "Cut the romance," someone chided, "Let's go." I braced myself against the tree I was behind. This was a horrible idea, but it was better than letting the Devils pin us down. "Okay," the first Guardian called, "We charge the wall in five...." I checked The Devil You Know to make sure it was loaded. ".... Four...." I held it ready as I peeked around the tree. ".... Thr-" There was a sudden commotion on the wall. Fallen were looking to the side and redirecting their fire. I followed their gazes. A large group of Titans was barreling along the top of the wall. They plowed through the surprised Devils, knocking them off of the wall. One in the front bounded forward, sparks of Arc energy flowing around him, and used a Fist of Havoc. "Well, crap," someone muttered, "They beat us to it." "I think that's Shaxx's counterattack," another guessed, "A bunch of Strikers." We rushed out to the wall, shooting the Fallen as the Titans continued their counterattack. Fist of Havocs occasionally sprung out, showing that they were indeed a bunch of Strikers. We began scaling the wall as the Strikers passed overhead. At the top, we looked back to the clearing we had started in. There weren't many Fallen left. Most had been packed together on the wall, and were easily slaughtered by the counterattack. The Titans pressed on, making a trip along the entire wall until they ran out of Devils to kill. We stayed where we were, warding off the last of the Fallen. They tried retaking our position, but no longer had the numbers to do so. Within minutes, they were fleeing back into the woods. We had won. "I'll take that drink, now!" someone yelled.