Note from Jay: Go back and read part one of this series.
Summary: A three-Guardian fireteam goes into the ruins of Calcutta, following an energy signal.
They all stared up at the name on the wall. "Clovis Bray," Bolvan mused aloud. He grunted as he extricated himself from the wreckage of the Walker. "I didn't think they had any facilities left on Earth that hadn't already been plundered."
"The only one that hasn't been looted," Wahei was already examining the rest of the cavernous room they'd found themselves in, "is in the Mez." She didn't need to go on. Not even the most desperate Fallen went into the Manhattan Exclusion Zone. "And at least now we know what's creating that signal we were tracking. Probably some forgotten Clovis Bray experiment."
Bolvan's fingers fidgeted on the grip of his auto-rifle. "Because the last Clovis Bray experiment that got unearthed went so well for everyone." He had hated even patrolling the Plaguelands, but thankfully the New Iron Lords were happy to take on that burden.
Wahei shrugged. "The Devil Splicers weren't too torn up about it. Their only problem was they immediately tried to attack the City, and brought the full attention of the Tower down on them. If they'd left us well enough alone, then--"
"--then we'd have had a fully SIVA-enhanced army of Splicers on our doorstep, and they'd have rolled over all of us," he interrupted.
"I'm just saying," the Warlock continued, "the Eliksni are just desperate scavengers looking for hope, and the Queen gave them a place to call home--"
"Wahei, I don't want to hear about your philosophy on Terran-Fallen interspecies harmony." Bolvan's tone was mild, but it was enough to stop her going on. He glanced at their third member, who hadn't spoken, or even moved, since spotting the giant Clovis Bray sign on the wall. "Everything all right there, Rega?"
The Exo did not look away from the sign. "Yeah," she said, distractedly. "Fine." She finally shook herself and looked around. "We should see what else is in here." The abruptness of her saying so caught both Warlock and Titan by surprise.
"You sure you're okay, Rega?" Wahei asked her. "You said you took some voltage out of the air after Bolvan's orbital strike--"
"I'm fine," she snapped. "I just want to figure out if there's anything here worth extracting. The sooner we find that out, the better. The Fallen will be back, soon as their ears stop ringing."
There was a pause and Wahei tilted her head to one side. "I'm not sure Eliksni auditory organs can be properly called 'ears,' and I'm unclear on whether they can suffer tinnitus like--"
"Not the time, Wahei." Rega-7 glanced up the crater they'd come through. "That's the House of Gears up there, and they've been scooping up the remnants of Skolas' Wolves and the Devils who didn't fall into SIVA worship. They're looking to make a play to become the new ruling house on Earth, and the last thing we need is for them to loot a Clovis Bray facility and find some fancy new weapon for themselves."
Bolvan rumbled a bit. "We should at least send word back to the Vanguard on what we found. Zavala might send backup to secure our position." His Ghost materialized beside him and bobbed in the air. "I'll transmat up to my ship and do that." He pointed at them. "Don't touch anything."
Rega made a rude gesture. "Who do you think you're talking to? I'm the most sensible of the three of us!"
"Oh, no one," she could hear the wry grin through his helmet, "just our resident magpie of a Warlock," he finished as he disappeared in a flicker of light.
Rega whirled around to see Wahei running her fingers along a bank of computers, her own Ghost scanning each in turn. "What in the name of every fresh hell are you doing?" the Hunter demanded.
"Having Vizier start a preliminary search," Wahei said, very reasonably. "We might be able to pull out some data on what they were doing down here."
"Not much," her Ghost cut in. "A lot of the files have been corrupted, and those that aren't are heavily encrypted. It'll take me a while to try to break their code." The little bauble shifted configuration a few times before settling. "But I did find something about a project they called Diaspora Fardis."
Rega paused a bit. "I think I've heard Arach Jalaal talk about that, a diaspora. Him and rest of the Dead Orbit folk want to abandon Earth."
Wahei frowned. "Not abandon," she corrected her. "It's more a matter of 'not having all one's eggs in one basket.' They believe spreading out among the stars will make it harder for the armies of The Darkness to snuff us out." She tapped her finger against the jawline of her helmet. "I wonder what Clovis Bray were working on, with a project name like that."
Vizier, her Ghost, bobbed a bit, warbling for a moment. "I'm getting some more strange energy readings from inside the facility."
Rega glanced over. "Define 'strange.'" In her experience with Wahei, she and her Ghost were more apt to use the word 'interesting' rather than 'strange.'
Vizier wobbled from side to side, its equivalent of a shrug. "A lot of EM activity and some informational static."
Wahei brightened up. "Informational static? That means there might be a server farm down there!"
Rega nodded. "Then the Cryptarchs and Ikora should definitely be told." She pointed. "Go over there for a clear signal and get Bolvan on the comms so he can pass the word."
"Why me?"
"Because if I stop supervising you, you'll push a button that unleashes doom," the Hunter replied. "Go."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The Visible Hand hung in geosynchronous orbit above Calcutta, and Bolvan materialized in its small cargo hold. "Sovest, see if you can raise the Tower for me. I'm gonna suck down some coffee and grab a quick bite." His Ghost materialized, bobbed once in acknowledgment, then zipped up into the cockpit. The Titan removed his helmet and set it aside as he stretched out his back. Revivification restored a Guardian from death and healed injuries in the process, but it was still an unpleasant experience and it could leave joints a bit stiff. Falling from orbit and being point-blank at the site of a huge explosion had hurt like the blazes.
His jumpship's cargo hold had just enough room for his two-meter tall frame to lie flat, and apart from his glimmer supply, it had survival gear strapped on the walls. A bed roll, boxes containing food kits, and other things. He grabbed the bullet-shaped coffee maker, pouring a measure of water into it and then slotting the coffee packet in the cap. Slapping the button on the bottom of the maker, and shaking it, started the brewing process, the interior heating the water appropriately and filtering it into the packet. After a few seconds of this, he squirted the resultant mixture into a ceramic cup. It wasn't proper coffee-- not like the stuff you got in the roast-houses back in the City-- but it was enough to wake you up and keep you going.
He tore open a food kit and grabbed the protein bar inside, scarfing it down as he slurped his coffee. He looked up into the cockpit. "How's it going, Sovest?"
The Ghost was quiet for a moment before its bewildered voice came back down. "I can't seem to raise them. There's some kind of interference."
Bolvan sighed, draining the cup and pouring another measure from the maker in before climbing up. "What is it? We should have good line-of-sight on the City from here."
Sovest wobbled from side to side. "I can't tell. Could be scrambling from the Fallen down in Calcutta."
He frowned. "Not this high up, surely."
"The House of Gears is notorious for their craftiness when it comes to machinery," it reminded him. "We can't rule it out. Also, don't call me Shirley."
Bolvan scratched his jaw, taking another sip of his coffee. "Hm. I don't want to try moving to get a clear signal, that'd mean leaving the others down there." He shrugged and set his cup down as he adjusted his controls. "Let's get them on comms."
The Ghost blinked and looked at him. "I can't raise them either."
He paused, then took the Visible Hand back down toward the planet. "That's not a good sign at all. I'm going back down."
"I'm getting a whole lot of strange energy readings now," Sovest continued. "Not just the signal that brought us here in the first place, either. I'm detecting gravitational fluctuations and some massive electromagnetic spikes."
"Well, that could explain why the comms aren't working," Bolvan mused. "All the more reason to get down there and make sure the others get out--"
"Wait!" Sovest warbled alarmingly, then shouted, "Incoming Fallen ketch!"
Bolvan pulled his ship out of its descent as he saw the kilometer-long ship erupt from jumpspace. He only had to look at the silver livery adorning the exterior of the ketch to know who it was. "Well, speak of the devil. It's the Kell of Gears his very self."
"Multiple skiffs deploying," his Ghost notified him. "Looks like reinforcements arrived sooner than expected."
"I did kind of set off a huge explosion in their territory," Bolvan admitted. He paused as the comm light lit up. "Did the others finally get through?"
"No. Comm signal from... from the ketch?" Sovest was as surprised as the Titan. He nodded to the Ghost, and a flat holo-image appeared. Three Fallen faced him, one female wearing the raiment of and clutching the halberd of an Archon, one male in the armor of a Baron holding a modified shock rifle, and one sat on a command chair, wearing the silver armor and adornments of a Kell.
"This is Titan Bolvan, Guardian of The Last City," his voice rumbled stern, his visage stony. "What do you want?"
The Kell barked at him in their tongue, one metal fist clenching menacingly while its partner pointed a digit at the screen. Finally, he fell silent, both metal hands clanging on his throne. The Baron then spoke, in rasping Common. "Titan, you speak to Morsik, Kell of Gears, and you would guard your tongue. Your ship carries no weapons. Our ketch is mighty."
"Right now," Bolvan smirked, "I appear to be speaking to you, Baron. And my ship needs no weapons, for it has me."
Morsik growled, leaning forward, but the Archon turned and raised a calming hand. She spoke next, first to the Baron, then to the screen. The Baron translated, "Morsik-Kell wants to know what you are doing in House Gears territory. Your people, not welcome here."
"To whom am I speaking?" Bolvan deliberately did not answer the question. "Who speaks to Guardians for the Kell? And who checks the Kell's wrath?" This was addressed to the Archon.
The Kell growled again, but once more the Archon placated him. She nodded to the Baron, who drew himself up. "Feniks-Baron." His near flesh hand gestured to the Archon. "Kemis-Archon. Morsik-Kell speaks your tongue, Titan. My Kell does not taint his maw with it."
The Titan nodded. "Tell your Kell that I and my team came tracking an energy signal. We do not seek a protracted battle with you or your House."
Morsik slammed his fists down and rose, roaring in the Fallen tongue. Kemis adjusted her grip on her halberd as she turned and spoke to him. Beside them both, Feniks simply stood firm, waiting out the storm of his Kell's angry outburst. At last, Morsik sat down, hissing. The Baron waited for a moment before speaking. "Morsik-Kell reminds that you felled many of our people."
"Indeed, and I regret their loss. Your people attacked ours first, and we had done nothing to them first." Bolvan's smile was wolfish. "But when attacked, Guardians will eliminate the threat. Your Walker was strong, and whoever devised the armoring it sported was ingenious." He noted the Archon preen slightly at this, giving a pleased, if raspy, purr. "And yet it still fell to my fists." All three of the Fallen on the screen looked surprised at this, and Bolvan glared at them. "House of Gears, understand that we still bear you and yours no ill will, and we will leave what you call your territory when our mission is complete."
Morsik growled, but Archon Kemis spoke first. The Kell glared at her, but sat back in his chair. Feniks translated, "Our territory is our territory. All within it belong to House Gears." The Baron brandished his weapon. "Treasures beneath city are ours. We will take them."
Bolvan considered the implications of a Fallen House getting their hands on potentially unsullied Clovis Bray technology, and inwardly shuddered at the images that came to mind of the Splicers and what unchecked use of nanotechnology had done to them. "Need I remind the Kell and his House that the builders of those treasures are the same ones who made SIVA?" This did strike a chord, and the Fallen shared glances, and Morsik drummed his fingers in agitation. "Don't throw away the lives of your House on this, Kell Morsik. Let me and my team make sure it is safe."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Aboard the Gearship Praksis-Ohm, Feniks clicked his jaws together beneath his ether-mask. The Baron had been promoted by the Kell because he was a careful thinker. His advice had helped Morsik stay alive during the upheaval of Wolf Skolas' rebellion, and as such, the House of Gears had retained the favor of the Kell of Kings. Feniks had foresight to match those of the cunningest Archon, something that Kemis sometimes saw as a threat to her position. But the Baron had no interest in communing with Praksis Prime or the lesser Servitors or other machines. He wanted his House to thrive, but above all, survive.
He glanced toward his Kell from the corner of his out-right eye. The lights off Morsik's elaborate ether-mask were dim, suggesting the eyes behind them were narrowed. The Kell drew in a rasping lungful of ether, then glanced at his two chief advisors. "Do we trust the Light-thief? He and his could take the machine-treasures from us before the House of Gears could claim them."
"I have heard of this Titan Bolvan," Feniks replied. "He and his were the Light-thieves who hunted down Wolf Skolas--"
"May the treacherous pup be cast screaming into the Whirlwind!" Morsik snarled, as he always did when the presumptive Kell of Kells was mentioned.
Kemis spoke next, softly, contemplatively. "He and his were the ones who slew the Son of Oryx and the Taken King. These are not Light-thieves to be underestimated, my Kell." She tapped her digits on her halberd, her head craned back in speculation, then said, "Let them into the treasure pits, my Kell."
"Why should I allow such a violation?" The Kell drew his scorch pistol and brandished it angrily. "The machine-treasures belong to us, by right."
"The Titan Bolvan makes a point, the last time the Eliksni opened a human treasure vault, it sparked a crisis of faith among our people," the Archon kept her voice level. The advent of the False Ether SIVA was a sore subject among the Archons of the other Fallen Houses. "These vaults are often controlled by the Machine-God they call 'Rass-Puu-Tin,' who guards His machine-treasures jealously."
Feniks clicked his jaws and rattled his teeth. "Yes," he bowed his head to the priestess, "well-reasoned, Archon Kemis." Turning to Morsik, he explained, "My Kell, she speaks higher reason. The treasure vault will contain traps and other dangers. Let the Light-thieves brave it first. They will disarm the traps, or at least trigger them and render them harmless."
The lights of Morsik's ether-mask glowed more brightly, and Kemis tied up the thread of logic neatly, "They will be weary and tired after opening the vault for us. Then we can sweep in behind them, strike them down, and take the treasures ourselves."
Morsik rasped out a chuckle and thrust his pistol back in the holster on his belt. He gestured as if casting fate-bearings, looking magnanimous. "Tell the Light-thief that he and his may enter before us, but they are not to dawdle. The House of Gears shall have the machine-treasures the Clo-Viss-Bray forged. So says the Kell."
They both bowed their heads to the Kell of Gears, before turning back to the comm screen, where the human Titan waited patiently. "Titan," Feniks had resumed speaking the human tongue, "Morsik-Kell has agreed. Enter treasure vault for us. Complete your mission." He clicked his jaws. "But you are not to linger. All treasures of this land belong to House Gears."
The Titan nodded once. "Understood. When my team and I depart, you can have whatever 'treasures' still survive. It has been centuries since these treasures were made, Kell Morsik. Time will not have been their friend." He clasped a fist over his chestplate. "Go in peace, Eliksni."
The Baron and Archon both returned the salute. "Go in peace, Titan," Feniks returned, before the signal was cut. Then he promptly turned to a nearby officer. "Captain, take two skiffs and deploy reinforcements to the surface. For now, stay away from the site of the explosion. When the time comes, we will sweep in and reclaim it."
"Yes, my Baron!" The Captain saluted, bowed to the Kell, and then backed down from the command platform, then barked out orders for his dregs and vandals to prepare for deployment.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bolvan and his Ghost stared at the empty space where the comm image had been. After a moment, the Titan remarked blandly, "I believe those Fallen are gonna stab us in the back."
"You have to admit, it fits Fallen tactics," the Ghost agreed.
Bolvan shrugged. "Well, now we have to go back down." He adjusted his controls. "But before I do, I'll record a message and have the Visible Hand keep trying to send it to the Tower. That way, when whatever's jamming our long-range comms clears up, the Vanguard will get the message and send backup."
The Ghost bobbed in the air. "I'll handle that. You go ahead and arm up. Grab some provisions, too. If the one down there is anything like other Clovis Bray facilities, it's going to be massive."
Bolvan put his helmet back on and climbed down to the cargo bay. "Yes, but I rather think there's going to be trouble in one way or another, waiting for us inside.
-=-=-=-To Be Continued=-=-=-
Notes from Jay:
So, obviously, I've decided to continue this. I spent the last few days making notes on the characters and their accomplishments, as well as detailing other things to address in the story, so I would have something to refer back to.
I was partially inspired by the Destiny/RWBY crossover "Remnant of Light" by bathedinblood, which sees a couple of OCs travel to the World of Remnant and set about recruiting some of the protags from "RWBY" as Guardians. I liked how, in latter chapters, bathedinblood created a couple of new Fallen Houses to be new threats, so I used that as a basis for introducing the House of Gears.
The House of Gears will factor into some of the threats that Bolvan, Wahei, and Rega-7 will encounter, but there are other, more dangerous threats awaiting them beneath Calcutta.
Expect a new installment when I can write one. Happy Dawning!
-=Jay2K=-
21 Dec 2016
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