Fireteam Shiloh Ch11: Solar Bonds

The guardians remained motionless as they waited for the coming attack force. They could hear and see nothing, but Solomon’s ghost paid close attention to the infrared scanners. There was a definitive mass of heat headed straight for them. Solomon strafed to the left behind Lassiter, obtaining a better sightline on the doorway that separated them from the Stalkers. “That doorway is our choke point. Should they attack, we can drive them back into the hallway with suppressive fire. “Whatever you say, boss,” Lassiter responded sarcastically. “Invisibility… Why? Why does that even exist?” “Focus Lassy. I don’t want to die here.” “[i]You[/i] don’t want to die? How many times have [i]I[/i] died saving your bloody arse?! I swear Solomon, if we survive this, I’m going to rip out your tongue and stick it up your-” The Warlock was immediately cut off as a flash of void energy blinded him and a dagger found its way between his ribs. Lassiter clenched his teeth in pain and flung out his wrist in retaliation. The palm of his hand burst with solar energy and he watched as the transparent form of a Stalker was set ablaze. The humanoid form screeched in agony and fell dead to the ground, it’s black garments burning away. “By the Traveler, that was close!” Solomon looked around frantically. “Ghost! Where are they? How did they sneak up on us?” “I never stopped watching the scanners,” the Titan’s ghost answered. “Nothing has changed. It appears they are… behind you!” Solomon spun on his heels and dropped to one knee, pulling the trigger on his shotgun. The blast hit a Stalker with immense force and sent the now visible body flying backwards. Almost immediately, a void dagger sank into his knee. The Titan roared at the sudden pain and backhanded his invisible foe with skull shattering strength, sending it flying into the dark corners of the chamber. Lassiter stumbled backward as another void dagger dispersed the air directly in front of him. Before the Stalker could take another swipe at him, he tore the first dagger from his side and threw it directly in front of him. The blade buried itself in the Warlock’s assailant and exploded with void energy, killing the Stalker instantly. “Huh,” Lassiter said to himself. “That wasn’t so hard. Maybe I should have been a Hunter after all.” He did not have time to dwell on the thought, as another Stalker stabbed him directly under the shoulder blade. Lassiter dove forward, trying to get away from his new opponent. He aimed his auto rifle at the space he had just occupied, but nearly dropped his weapon as another dagger appeared in his forearm. The Warlock grunted as he once again dove away from danger. If they did not prevail soon, their injuries would prove too burdensome and they would lose this fight. Solomon feared the same as he was forcefully stabbed in the back, directly in the joint of his armor plating. The Titan lashed out in frustration, grabbing hold of some loose fabric hanging from the Stalker’s clothing. He found it a little unnerving that he could feel the material in his hands and not see it, but that did not stop him from headbutting his assailant. Lassiter cried out as he was stabbed again. He fell to his hands and knees, the pain overwhelming him. His ghost could not heal his wounds fast enough, and he could feel himself getting progressively slower. Another dagger found its mark. He winced as his arms began to shake. Something kicked him hard in the stomach and he collapsed to the ground. Lassiter’s strength had left him. He was powerless as grossly nimble hands grabbed him by the arms and began to drag him away. “No…” he whispered. Through his blurring vision he saw Solomon fighting desperately for his life, and losing. “No… Solomon…” In that moment, something snapped inside the Warlock. He suddenly became consumed by rage as he watched his lifelong friend succumb to the Stalkers. Lassiter flinched as images began to flash in his head. He was severely injured. Solomon was there… but he was wearing some kind of military uniform. There were Fallen. Too many to count. They overwhelmed him. Beat him. Left them both to die… “No…” the Warlock said again. “Never again!” There was a familiar spark in Lassiter’s soul as solar power rushed through his veins. The room was suddenly bathed in a magnificent light as fiery wings erupted from the Warlock’s back. The explosion threw back the Stalkers that held Lassiter and the rest screeched in fear. He grinned wildly as he felt his wounds begin to close. In a mad fit of rage, Lassiter unleashed hell as he lobbed one solar grenade after another, scorching the room with deadly solar energy. The Stalkers panicked for the door as they were consumed by the fire. In the chaos that followed, Lassiter made his way to Solomon’s side and helped the Titan to his feet. Solomon looked around the chamber at the now smoldering corpses as his ghost began to heal him, then turned to Lassiter in disbelief. The Warlock held up a hand, urging him to focus on healing. “Gather your strength. This isn’t over yet.” He held onto Solomon until he was able to stand on his own, then went to investigate one of the bodies of the Stalkers. It was human for sure, but seemed thin, almost malnourished. It was wrapped from head to toe in tightly wound black garments, and across its chest was a long strap on which several void daggers were attached. What was most odd about the Stalker, however, was its warped face that seemed to meld with the cloth that was wrapped around it. Lassiter had a sinking feeling that the relic they were sent down there to find did a little more than make people invisible. Having fully recovered, Solomon knelt beside a different stalker and removed a dagger from its chest. He weighed it in his hand, then approached Lassiter. “Here,” he said, offering the dagger to his friend. The Warlock stared at it, then looked back at Solomon in confusion. “I saw you nail that one earlier,” the Titan explained, pointing at the body he removed the blade from. “You’re not bad with a blade. You should keep it.” Lassiter chuckled lightly, then grabbed hold of the dagger. “Alright, but you can’t tell Ikora. She would think it’s… unorthodox.” Solomon smiled beneath his helmet. “Wouldn't be the first time, but your secret is safe with me.” He looked back at the Stalkers scattered about the room. “Thanks for the save. Those buggers nearly killed me.” Lassiter thought back to the Stalkers’ precise effort to cripple him and drag him away. “They weren't trying to kill us. They were trying to capture us.” “Why would they do that?” “I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” Solomon nodded. “We need to get a move on. Who knows what they’ve done to Dakota.” Lassiter started to follow Solomon out, but paused abruptly as an image of Solomon in a military uniform flashed again in his head. “Hey Solomon. Have you ever had to fight off a swarm of Fallen?” Solomon stopped in the doorway and thought for a moment. “No, I can’t say that I have. That would make for one hell of a story though. Why do you ask?” Lassiter frowned and shook his head. “I don’t know. Forget about it. We have a job to do.” Solomon gave his friend a light punch on the shoulder. “Aye, that we do. Come on Lassy. Let’s recklessly risk our lives once more!” [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/224417569?page=0&sort=0&showBanned=0&path=1]The Hub[/url]