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Destiny: Gospel of a New Genesis [Evangelion/Destiny]

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78.7, in which the Cabal face a tag-team of Zeruel and Unit-01.
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    • Dominus Ghaul scowled, rubbing his jaw because of the residual pain. "Ah...the weapon known as Unit-01." The Speaker had spoken cryptically of this weapon, of the Evangelions. Brief thoughts of the Consul's suspicions as to their origin flickered, only to be ruthlessly suppressed by the rushing blood of furious battle. "I will crush you as well!"

    Unit-01 howled, unleashing a stream of ravenous Void from its mouth. Ghaul grunted, blocking the annihilating energy with his Anima Murum. With a blink of Light, the violet Giant was now beside him, lashing out with another fist; the Exalted's shoulder barely parried the blow, and Ghaul countered with a ruthless uppercut that actually cracked Unit-01's armor-

    SMASH!

    The Dominus grunted as the Evangelion's head whipped down, smashing its forehead into that of the Exalted. His red eyes narrowed, and his spirit pushed harshly against that of the other Giant. With the ease of practice, he willed the solar wind to swirl around the Exalted, using the Light to form a burning sword of blazing Solar energy. Howling, he rushed forward, swinging down at Unit-01.

    CRASH!

    Twin blades of Arc energy met his flaming sword, sending sparks and bursts of fire swirling. Wordlessly, he slashed over and over, moving with a speed that belied the Exalted's size. Interestingly, his violet counterpart was managing to keep up. The Light is strong within you, thought Ghaul with satisfaction. I will extinguish it, until the only Light that shines in the Traveler's gaze is ours!

    BOOM!

    His Solar blade curved around, slipping through the lightning swords and exploding on Unit-01's face. The brief burst of pain gave enough leverage for the Exalted to deliver a punishing kick to the Evangelion's sternum. "Now-"

    CHYOOOM!!!

    There was a bright flash from behind; Ghaul turned, noticing a Juggernaut get vaporized by a concentrated energy cross. The source, however, was nowhere to be seen. Where did that massive creature go?

    He didn't have to look long; he saw a Juggernaut striking furiously at something dark and fluid. With sudden violence, a large tendril speared the mecha's torso, and hundreds of black spikes burst from the inner hull of the Juggernaut, dripping with the blood of each and every Psion within. Over the limp Juggernaut's shoulder, the deathly mask of Zeruel glared at him. He shrunk?

    A sudden blast of force! Ghaul grunted as Unit-01's Anima Murum slammed into the Exalted from behind, pushing him forward at high speed.

    With merciless precision, Zeruel used the limp Juggernaut as a boxing glove, smashing it into the Exalted's face.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • 78.8, in which the Ghaul/Zeruel/Unit-01 face-off continues.
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    • The Juggernaut shattered from the collision, sending shards of broken gunships and hardy tanks spiraling through the void. Ghaul took note of the dull ache in his jaw - briefly applauding the Progenitor for such a harsh blow, in his mind - before reaching up with his hands. Arc energy erupted as a perpetual lightning storm, in a maneuver that he had used to great effect against the Arkborn, so long ago.

    Zeruel snarled, his Anima Murum flashing wildly as the Arc streams crackled and danced around his body.

    ++STRENGTH IS ALL YOU ADMIRE++

    --IT SHALL BE YOUR UNDOING--​

    "Such confidence, for one who has only known me for mere minutes!" challenged the Dominus, moving forward with electrified fists. Now that Zeruel was equal in size to the Exalted, their fight was a more even match, paradoxical as some Cabal would find it. Fists parried multiple tentacles, lashing out with spiritually-enhanced blows that made the creature's soul bend from the force. "I have seen your behavior through the eyes of my soldiers; you call yourself the Angel of Might, do you not?"

    Zeruel's eyes flashed dangerously as more tendrils snapped out in random directions, wrapping quickly around the Exalted's limbs.

    ++I AM MIGHT INCARNATE++

    --AND YET I AM AN ELIKSNI ABOVE THAT--

    ++AND WE ARE MORE THAN MERE MIGHT++​

    CHYOOOM!!!

    Over and over again, Zeruel blasted the Exalted with those infernal energy crosses; the sheer barrage prevented him from escaping the creature's grip, so all he could do was endure. He briefly glanced at the looming forms of the other Juggernauts, scowling as he realized they were preoccupied with the violet Giant.

    CHYOOOM!!!

    No matter. This was yet another test. One that he would triumph in, as he had with all others. The Light within the Exalted, in the face of this horrific assault, seemed to move...in a reciprocal fashion. Ah...so that is how Zeruel does it. Ghaul focused, willing the Light to move as he demanded.

    In the midst of the onslaught, the Exalted's eyes gleamed.

    CHYOOOM!!!

    Zeruel grunted as an energy cross blasted him in the face. His grip loosened just enough for Ghaul to raise his right arm. CRASH, went the Exalted's right straight into Zeruel's face, bolstered by an orange octagon the size of two Thresher gunships. He went to pursue the reeling Progenitor-

    TINK.

    A Goliath tank collided with the Exalted's head, eliciting a bewildered grunt from Ghaul. "What-?"

    TINK TINK.

    Another tank, along with a Harvester airship, collided with his weapon's torso. Ghaul's eyes narrowed, finding the culprit; Evangelion Unit-01 floated near a disassembled Juggernaut, its hands gripping the vehicles that had been used to assemble the once-mighty mecha. "Irritating pest."

    Unit-01 promptly threw over five dozen vehicles in the span of three seconds.

    The Exalted crossed its arms, willing forth an Anima Murum that blocked the burning hunks of metal-

    SMASH!

    Ghaul grunted from the sudden kick that broken through the spiritual shield, courtesy of Unit-01's heel. That weapon is capable of near-instantaneous movement, quietly thought Ghaul as the Exalted flew for many miles, crashing ten seconds later into the hull of a Hive warship. As the Exalted calmly got up, the Dominus contented himself with a quiet smile. Good....very good. He craned his head upward, watching as Zeruel and Unit-01 descended towards his position. It has been so long since I've had to struggle so! That would only make victory all the sweeter! "Come, mighty warriors of the Light! I will endure all that you can muster!"

    And that's when the hull behind him exploded, from which emerged a living pyre.

    "SURPRISE, ASSHOLE!" The Exalted turned, facing a burning Evangelion that was caked in the gore of countless Hive. "YA SHOULD'VE MADE SURE I WAS DEAD!" roared Asuka-3.

    And then Ghaul found himself dealing with six Hammers of Sol at the same time.
     
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    • 78.9, in which Variks also helps out, yes?
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    • The Dominus roared as the six-armed Giant fought with a sort of berserker's frenzy, fitting more for a War Beast than an actual soldier. His spiritual shield quivered with each blow from the burning hammers; he willed the trace flickers of fire to combine and smash back into the crimson Evangelion, which were either ignored or batted away by the creature's great wings. The Exalted raised its arms, blocking a simultaneous strike from all six arms; with a lightning-fast kick, his weapon's foot smashed into Unit-02's chin, sending it flying. Even so, the Evangelion defiantly threw its hammers, creating immense bursts of fire and steadfast pyres that blazed in the void of space.

    Before Ghaul could move, Unit-01 burst through the pyres-

    SMASH!

    -punching the Exalted in the face. Ghaul grunted as he struggled to regain his footing - no, not his footing, the Exalted's footing - coming to a halt right as Zeruel attacked from above.

    CHYOOOM!!!

    The Dominus scowled as the hull around him was pierced by an energy cross; with a frustrated growl, the Exalted roared, eyes blazing with equal power.

    CHYOOOM!!!

    Zeruel's Anima Murum held against his own energy cross, tinged a bloodier shade of red than that of the Progenitor's. Another one bloomed, blasting Unit-02 away. Unit-01 barely dodged another, Blinking forward rapidly-

    "No."

    The Exalted's palm reached out, deftly gripping Unit-01's throat. With a defiant roar, Ghaul smashed - the Exalted smashed - the violet Giant's head into the hull of the Hive warship. Growling, he raised his foot-

    CRASH!

    Unit-02 tackled him, and the two Giants quickly began grappling; the crimson Giant's fists flickered with lightning, which danced across his body. Right as the Dominus got some distance, Zeruel was there, lashing out with razor-sharp tendrils, each one coated in fire. Then, as if things hadn't been hectic enough, Unit-01 was there once more, glowing with a Void aura that seemed to make him more and more sluggish with each and every strike.

    Even so, Ghaul refused to relent, fighting and acting and thinking on a level that he hadn't endured in years. A small niggling in the back of his head spoke clearly: he was no longer differentiating between himself and the Exalted, thinking of the weapon's actions as his own, believing that the pain it felt was his own. Long has it been, since I have been pushed this far. Long had it been, since such a test had been provided! I will not fail. He idly noticed the remaining Juggernauts descend, ready to provide reinforcements, even as he parried multiple tendrils and calmly dodged the blows of Unit-01, acknowledging that his spiritual shield endured the blows of Unit-02. I will NEVER fail.

    xxxx

    Aboard a particular Cabal warship, Variks stood quietly upon the bridge that was now his.

    The Ramielim and Zeruelim that had accompanied him were still securing the vessel; the command staff that had not been killed were bound, courtesy of the contingent War Beasts that had fallen under his sway. Compared to the robust souls of native Cabal and the even hardier spirits of the Psions, the War Beasts...were just that. And they had been rendered easily pliant to his will.

    The Tabrix quietly petted the head of a scaly, almost reptilian quadruped; its eyes bore a golden glow, a sign of his overt influence. "Do we have a lock?" he asked.

    "We do, Tabris," remarked a Zeruelus.

    The Kell of House Tabris smiled, turning his gaze toward the Hive warship that loomed miles away from their position. "Then open fire.."

    xxxx

    Zeruel's eyes flicked upward.

    ++WITHDRAW!++​

    Unit-01 did so without hesitation, throwing a Shadowshot javelin at the feet of the Exalted. Unit-02 got in a last one-two-three-four before also retreating, eliciting a concerned grumble from the Dominus. Silently, he gazed upward - impulsively willing his spirit to push through the violet miasma that gripped his body - and realized why the trio were withdrawing.

    The incoming Juggernauts realized it as well, but too late for the most part; showering down with great precision and hellish power was a devastating salvo of missiles and rockets from a Cabal warship.

    KABOOM!!!
     
  • Threadmarks
    • 78.10, in which Ghaul pulls out his trump card.
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    • Timerider said:
    Do I spy the approach of the infamous 400% sync rate?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    You wish.

    xxxx

    Variks's smile remained constant as a large plume of fire and rubble erupted from the side of the Hive warship. The wreckage of shattered Juggernauts floated aimlessly, scattered by the explosive barrage. "A little here, and a little there...enough to make a difference, yes?"

    "You will not defeat the Emperor."

    The Tabrix turned his glowing face towards a defiant Centurion, who seemed unconcerned about the War Beast's teeth around his neck. "In all honesty, your Dominus is secondary. The opposition of the Cabal to all comers has reduced him to a mere enemy...he could be more."

    The Red Legion Valus snarled. "You have not seen the Exalted at the fullest extent of its power. Dominus Ghaul has unleashed it twice before. All who stood in his way were undone. You will be the same...and all who stand between us and the Traveler will be laid to waste."

    "You speak very confidently." Variks glanced back at the console panel; there were high-mass entities on an inbound vector. "But we shall see, yes?"

    xxxx

    Dominus Ghaul inhaled. Exhaled. Floating within the Core of the Exalted, he let his spirit intermingle with the body of the Exalted, sensing his surroundings with a level of acuity that none could match.

    CHYOOOM!!!

    Zeruel casually vaporized a thick Void cannon that emerged from the hull of the Hive warship.

    ++WE MUST NOT DALLY++

    ++THAT CREATURE WAS STRONG--
    --YET STRENGTH WAS OUTPACED BY ARROGANCE!++
    ++I FEEL HIS SOUL, BURNING STILL--
    --HE WILL RECOVER, IF WE LET HIM++

    --STRIKE HIM DOWN--​

    Inhale. Exhale.

    "Not until the smoke clears," cautioned the female Pilot. "I'm not going to chance him on being able to redirect stuff we might throw at him."

    You are not wrong. It would be difficult...but not for long. Inhale. Exhale.

    "...there are more ships incoming. And more war-moons," said the male Pilot in the violet Giant.

    Ghaul opened his eyes, focusing on the holographic images projected in front of his eyes; it seemed that Xivu Arath's Hive could no longer hold back from joining this gloriously frantic combat, as over forty war-moons emerged out of nothingness, all around the general region of battle. And yet, we still have more. For his long-awaited reinforcements from the Outer Planets were arriving; most striking were the Grand Leviathans of the World Eaters, dropping one after another from warp. They will be sufficient to deal with all comers...but this test will be mine, and mine alone. Resolutely, he - the Exalted, for truly, he and the legendary weapon of Acrius were bonded, one and the same! - stepped beyond the wretched smoke, emerging to face his opponents. "Well met...well met indeed."

    And all the while, he kept calling on more and more Light.

    xxxx

    "Eyes up, guys," grumbled Asuka-3, her synthetic blue eyes narrowing on the sight of Unit-04 emerging from the impact crater formed by the friendly(?) warship's salvo. "You're tougher than a cockroach," she snarled.

    "A native creature of your world? A flattering comparison, I trust," replied Ghaul.

    Mari chortled. "Sure, let's go with that."

    ++YOU WILL NOT LAST AGAINST US++​

    Zeruel's warning did not concern Ghaul at all. Despite the beatdown they had put on him, Unit-04 was remarkably intact, bearing only a few scorch marks. "As I am...perhaps. I acknowledge your strength, gallant warriors! I understand, why you were the Traveler's Chosen."

    The Progenitor sneered.

    --YOU UNDERSTAND NOTHING--​

    "...we don't have to do this. Fighting us won't do anything for you...or the Cabal," said Shinji Ikari, trying to play up the goody-two-shoes shtick.

    'Hey, if it works, it works!'

    Watch for my total lack of surprise when it doesn't work. Ghaul's a verdammt zealot. There would be no turning him back from his current actions; she knew that down to the smallest microprocessor.

    And wouldn't you know it, the Cabal Emperor lived up to her expectations. "We Cabal have come this far; my people will not turn back. We will prove our worth to the Traveler, and inherit the Light in all its fullness!" Unit-04 gazed upward, as if delivering a command to its subordinates. Judging by how the electromagnetic frequency suddenly became agitated with signals, that wasn't far from the truth. "Attention, all Cabal! Protect the Traveler from the wretched Hive; crush the Fallen, who failed so long ago! Seize your destiny!" The white Evangelion turned its gaze back to them, eyes glowing brightly with a strange menace. "And in the meantime...I shall handle you."

    ++WE WILL ENDURE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE++​

    "Do you truly believe so? The Exalted is lauded as a legend among my people for a reason!" Unit-04 hunched down, its back and shoulders twitching rapidly. "Hear me, Exalted!"

    Mari blinked. "...that looks very familiar."

    "Unleash your bindings..."

    Zeruel's eyes flashed right as Unit-02's twin heavy fusion lasers opened fire. The energy cross and charged particle beams splashed against a dense shield of spirit, which bent but did not break.

    "...and ASCEND!"

    Green pylons - twenty in all - erupted from within Unit-04's body, along the spine and pauldrons. There was a definite shift in the air, as Unit-04's eyes began to shine even more brightly.

    "...those idiotic bakas!" hissed Asuka-3, audibly grinding her metallic teeth together. "Of course those idiots at NERV-America would install BEAST Mode into Unit-04!!"

    Her complaints were cut off by the wave of pressure emanating from Unit-04, as it transformed into a living font of Light.

    "...this might hurt a little," warned her Ghost.

    Her acerbic comment was cut off by three energy crosses smashing simultaneously into Unit-02, Unit-01, and Zeruel.

    Evangelion Unit-04 stepped forward, its jaw restraints broken to reveal razor-sharp teeth. "Now...let us put an end to this farce!"

    And so the battle began in earnest.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • 78.11, in which we have a Grimoire entry that's long overdue.
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    • Grimoire: Dominus Ghaul

    "You know, even though I've seen bigger Cabal, I'm of the firm belief that's it not the size that counts."

    Fragments of intercepted radio signals over the years revealed that the local Cabal Legions referred to their Emperor with an almost worshipful tone. When Ghaul arrived in-system with the Cabal homeworld at the onset of the Second Cataclysm, Vanguard intelligence and the Cryptarchy quickly realized the weight behind those words.

    Awoken interrogations of Red Legion soldiers and our overall SIGINT profile have established that Ghaul - referred to as both Emperor and Dominus in equal measure - is a charismatic figure of great renown amongst the Cabal Empire, with a sterling combat record and an A.T. Field without compare amongst his peers. Having usurped the position of Emperor over a thousand years ago, he has led the Cabal on numerous campaigns of military conquest since then. With a concept of honor that could almost be called Darwinian, Ghaul also has an intense fixation on the Light, and the Traveler in particular.

    This fixation is likely due to the organic, Light-wielding mecha that he pilots, known as the Exalted. Although it has a mythical and deified status amongst the Cabal, visual observation and personal testimony from Dr. Akagi of Nerv indicates that this weapon is actually an Evangelion that went missing in a doomed experiment during the First Cataclysm. How it ended up in the hands of Ghaul is still a matter of speculation.

    Ghaul is considered a high-priority target, but should only be approached with a minimum of eighteen Guardians. If he utilizes the Exalted, all forces are to disengage, pending Evangelion reinforcements from Shinji Ikari and/or Asuka-3.    ​

    xxxx

    /we've got a new poll up
    //and don't worry
    ///the fights from this big finale
    ////will be covered in a separate poll
    /////so basically, everything from Eris/Chief/Fenchurch vs. Oryx on
    //////will be listed later
     
  • Threadmarks
    • 79.1, in which we make it past the first boss of the new King's Fall Raid.
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    • Grimoire: Mystery - The Taken

    "A final testament."

    I have no idea if these final thoughts of mine will be catalogued. I have tried to send word via all available channels, screaming into the proverbial void about my experiences in this strange and hellish abyss. My intellect tells me so, and yet I am beginning to succumb to the cool whispers and the numbing waters. Fitting, how that projection of Oryx referred to it as the Deep.

    It is so Dark, in this place. I can no longer see myself.

    I wonder if the countless beasts we subjected to this dimension underwent a similar sort of introspection.

    My mind - my last solace! - is slowly being worn down by tides, molded into that mythical 'Final Shape'. I want to protest that designation, as if something so simple as a shape can be truly final. And yet I cannot.

    ...be at ease, lower your wings. You have no more need for strife...

    Maybe it's right.    ​

    xxxx

    /Atrium, the Dreadnaught/

    "We've almost got it!" yelled Eris Morn, Blinking away from another barrage of missiles. The Bulwark of Oryx roared, as reinforcements of Taken Cabal moved forward yet again.

    "The timing will have to be exact," remarked Nula Sov, casually summoning more of her own Taken to contend with Mau'ual and Tlu'urn's forces.

    As shadow clashed with shadow, Chief teleported close, firing his Torch Hammer at the fused Centurion. The projection shield flickered, still holding strong, but it caught the beast's attention. Right as they turned towards the Minotaur Guardian, Fenchurch Everis slipped through the shield and held his hands out. "I hope we can still be business partners!" he yelled, almost apologetically as he unleashed a great Nova Bomb on the Taken's back.

    BOOM!

    Void energy exploded, eliciting a pained roar from the Bulwark of Oryx; the flat of Mau'ual's mauler smashed into the Warlock, sending him skipping along the ground. The beast began to glow with a Solar aura, which was the signal that Rei Ayanami was waiting for. "Here it comes."

    "Maybe this time you'll actually get close enough?" queried Toland, sidestepping a Taken Legionnaire's charge and tripping it with an outstretched leg.

    The Bulwark of Oryx howled, the Arc cannon on their back firing dozens of bolts into the air. As the explosive charges began to sail back down to the ground, the Taken swung their blazing mauler, unleashing a wave of fire that rushed in a wide line. Death from above, death from below, death all around.

    Nula seemed to simply disappear into a Blight.

    Chief grabbed Fenchurch, teleporting right as the fire approached.

    Toland did nothing, content with seemingly observing the impending attack.

    Rei Ayanami leapt forward in an A.T. Field-enhanced jump, brute-forcing her way through the fire with a protective shield of spirit.

    Eris Morn Blinked past the fire, past the lightning mortars.

    Chief and Fenchurch emerged within the projection shield, opening fire. The Bulwark of Oryx growled, preparing to ascend for another dive bomb-

    Eris was there first, clutching an Arc Staff. So was Ayanami, coming from the other side, holding her burning Sword.

    SWISH.

    Electricity crackled and flames roared as Mau'ual and Tlu'urn were decapitated in one swoop. The fused Centurion slumped to their knees, fading away into trace shadows and dark matter. The sound within the Atrium began to fade, as the rush of battle finally came to an end. "Good work," complimented Ayanami.

    Eris tersely nodded, still unsure about how to feel about Rei's...presence.

    ' >:V '

    Eris actually did a brief double-take. Wait, what do you mean by 'home-wrecker'-?

    "A suitable display. Somewhat crude, but fitting for the architecture of this Throne World," said Toland, interrupting her thought. The Shattered rejoined the group, looking...rather spotless, despite his generally shabby appearance overall.

    "...how did you not get vaporized?!" demanded Fenchurch.

    "My current state is the result of events that would likely drive you insane."

    "Sanity is relative," remarked Nula Sov, stepping out of another dark aperture. "What is your threshold for making that claim, Toland?"

    "Fenchurch's own, of course," countered the master of Hive lore. "By my own particular baseline, he would be quite normal, if he did indeed choose to follow my path."

    "...I'm somewhat glad that I don't know what you're talking about," admitted the eccentric Warlock.

    Chief turned his singular eye towards Eris. "Shall we go?"

    "Yes." No time for rest, or relaxation; Oryx still awaited them. "Let's go, everyone. Be on your guard."

    And so the six descended deeper into the Throne World of the Taken King.
     
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    • 79.2, in which we make it past the first boss of the new Pyramidion Raid.
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    • /Pyramidion Entrance, Subterranean Caverns, Nessus/

    Protheon, Modular Mind, groaned irritably as SIVA tendrils kept disassembling fallen Vex to repair its hull.

    "This is so," Ana Bray dove away from an exploding bolt of crimson. "Damn," she sputtered, raising her Golden Gun. "UNFAIR!"

    BOOM!

    The Solar bullet smashed into the giant Minotaur's shoulder, eliciting a returning salvo from Protheon's Triad Torch Hammer. Arc-infused shards and Void ammunition cracked against the Modular Mind's back, prompting a ferocious stomp that created a red shockwave. The trio dove behind the bronze pillars, right amidst the confluence of Vex units. The Orion Assertive had emerged shortly after the battle had begun, and the SIVA-enhanced Vex were only making their task more difficult. "Back away!" yelled Shin Malphur, his Last Word barking rapidly into an Argonaut. The enhanced Goblin sputtered and collapsed, even as nearby Atalantas exploded into clouds of roving nanomachines. Three Cadmuses hovered above, firing their Aeon Maul cannons from behind nigh-impervious SIVA shields.

    All told, it was hectic and messy.

    Omar Agah rolled away from the pincer attack of a wildly swinging Daedalus and a chainsaw-wielding Minotaur. The two enhanced bipedal robots turned, briefly halted by the Flux Grenade he dropped. This gave him just enough time to fire a rocket launcher at their feet. "Where's our crowd control?!"

    "Kindly shut up, Omar!" roared Sai Mota, firing her shotgun at some of the SIVA swarms.

    "We can't give Protheon a chance to rally," growled Sloane, stomping her big boot on the head of a Perseus before it could fire.

    "Ana, prep your Golden Gun! Sloane, Havoc on Protheon!" yelled Eriana-3, leaping above the explosive bolts of Protheon's enhanced Torch Hammer. As her body surged with Void Light, Sloane obediently charged ahead at the Axis Mind, crackling with wild lightning. Before the Modular Mind could focus on the incoming Titan, Ana Bray and Eriana-3 took aim.

    A Nova Bomb flew, a Golden Gun barked, and a Fist of Havoc smashed into Protheon's torso.

    BOOM!

    The disruptive confluence of elemental energy exploded, causing Protheon to stumble, as Sloane fell to the ground from her mighty leap, she landed on a floating orange octagon that whisked her away from the massive Minotaur, courtesy of Omar Agah's A.T. Field. Even though the elemental shield of Protheon was down, the Minotaur's SIVA tendrils were quickly beginning to repair it. "Hurry, attack-!"

    "THIS IS YOUR CUE, MY NEW FRIEND!"

    "SEN-SATIONAL!"

    The first voice was the obvious, boyish chirp of Safeguard. But the voice that came afterwards was distinctly more feminine. Before the Guardians could begin their own attack, a chainsaw-wielding Minotaur teleported onto Protheon's hip joints, perched precariously on it. The Minotaur's eye glowed rather distinctively, similarly to Safeguard's-

    BZZZZZZZZZZTTTT.

    -and all of Omar's thoughts came to a halt as he watched the two plasma saws grind through Protheon's torso, bisecting the Axis Mind. Radiolaria leaked profusely, and the Axis Mind's eye went dark. The SIVA nanites, deprived of a commanding will, went limp; promptly, the remaining Vex units retreated, teleporting away.

    "...what just happened?" asked Sai.

    "A manifestation of my brilliance, naturally!" exclaimed Asher Mir, walking confidently onto the battlefield despite spending the majority of the battle hiding.

    "Beep," droned his Ghost.

    "I'm not sure you would call that a good example of friendship," grumbled Failsafe. "But it was an excellent decision nonetheless!" chirped Failsafe. "Son, introduce your new companion-slash-mindwiped automaton!"

    "OF COURSE, MOMMY!" yelled Safeguard, floating excitedly around the chainsaw-wielding Minotaur that had landed the killing blow on Protheon. "INTRODUCE YOURSELF, NEW FRIEND!"

    "GLADLY!" exclaimed the Minotaur. "SALUTATIONS, STRANGERS! MY NAME IS FOOLPROOF!" The converted Vex pumped her(?) chainsaw fists. "I AM COMBAT-READY!"

    The smugness of Asher's grin increased by thirty percent.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • 79.3, in which Foolproof and Safeguard (aka Chainsaw!Penny and Kinda?Penny) are adorable.
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    • Sai promptly knelt down, peering suspiciously at the remnants of the fallen Vex units. "Anything...anything...?" The Hunter continued prowling for loot. "Damn it, nothing?!"

    Asher sneered. "Bah, your addiction to engrams is disgusting." Every Guardian, save Shin Malphur, gave him an odd look. "I know what I said! It places a primacy on matter derived from memory and nostalgia, chaining us to our pasts! It's all derivative and uninspired, preventing your immortal minds from daring to innovate!"

    "...spoken like someone who never got anything good," murmured Omar.

    "Bet he never got anything better than a green," chuckled Ana.

    "I heard that!" groused the partially-transformed Warlock.

    "...beep."

    "That is irrelevant, Levi!"

    Sai snorted. "You've never gotten a Legendary or an Exotic? No wonder you're so bitter. Not even the grumpiest of Warlocks could resist that violet glow, or that brilliant yellow shine, better than Traveler-damned gold!"

    "...Sai isn't wrong," admitted Eriana-3, as one embarrassed.

    Sloane laughed. "For such an intrepid explorer and researcher of the Vex, you sound surprisingly tame, Asher!"

    "Less jeering, more getting onto the Sync Plates! We have a doorway to open, and a Pyramidion to plunder!"

    As Shin and Omar gazed over at the chainsaw-wielding Minotaur, which was actually bouncing back and forth on its - her? - heels. Well, I've officially seen everything. "Is Safeguard's new...'friend'...coming with us?"

    "CAN I?" asked Foolproof.

    "CAN SHE?" pleaded Safeguard.

    "Beep."

    "If she goes crazy, that's on you, boy. I will grant you provisional approval!"

    "YAY!" exclaimed the Light-infused Harpy, twisting excitedly in the air. "LET'S CELEBRATE WITH THIS UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT!" He whipped out his tendrils, which held a glowing dodecahedron.

    "...where did you get an Exotic Engram?" slowly asked Sai, her eyes drawn like a cat's to the encoded object.

    "I PICKED IT UP FROM THE REMAINS OF MY FORMER SUPERIOR!" exclaimed Foolproof pointing at the shattered form of Protheon. "DO YOU THINK HE MEANT IT AS A FAREWELL PRESENT?"

    "THAT SOUNDS LOGICAL!" With that said, Safeguard began jabbing it with his tendrils.

    "Hey kid, easy...!" cautioned Sai, slowly approaching the duo.

    "Sync Plates are almost done!" yelled Shin.

    Asher Mir, ignoring the silliness occurring before him, nodded gravely. "Excellent!"

    "Just hand it over to Auntie Sai, I'll take good care of it..."

    "YOU ARE OUR AUNT?" inquired Foolproof.

    Safeguard laughed. "DON'T BE SILLY. YOU HAVE NO RADIOLARIA OR VEX CHARACTERISTICS!" The Harpy then broke the Exotic Engram, showering him and Foolproof in a shower of shiny Glimmer. "YAY!"

    "SO PRETTY!"

    "YOU STUPID TIN-PLATED SONS OF-!"

    At that moment, instead of the doorway into the Pyramidion opening up...the floor beneath them vanished.

    Sai's scream of rage was cut off, as she, her fellow Guardians, and Foolproof fell into the cavernous expanse of the sprawling structure.

    Safeguard yelped. "WAIT! WAIT FOR ME!"

    Levi rolled his synthetic eye at the insanity of it all. "Beep," he grumbled, descending into the labyrinth below.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Sharding an exotic engram, right in front of a fireteam. Foolproof's nickname is now "Trollface."
     
    79.4, in which Cayde-6 continues to exude the quality that is 'Cayde-ness'.
  • Threadmarks
    • /Xivu-Arath's War-Moon, Earth/

    SHYOOM.

    "HO JEEZ-!" yelped Cayde-6, rolling into a small nook. A slim stiletto of Void crystal vibrated in the rock above, sharp enough to pierce through metal. He had intimate experience with that by now, judging by the fact his distinctive horn was missing. "Hate snipers. Hate them."

    'I've gathered that,' mentally droned Buck.

    "I also hate the decor of this place," groused the Hunter Vanguard, his blue eyes gleaming in the unnatural dark of the twisting labyrinth. Night vision's not working, neither is infrared. "I also hate Hive magic."

    'You've more than made that apparent.'

    Cayde-6 flipped over his left hand, which held tightly onto the form of his Ghost, apparently reduced to serving as a mere flashlight. "But most of all, I hate your unprofessional attitude!"

    'Whatever. I'm ready whenever you are.'

    Cayde huffed, crawling through a small tunnel in the nook, and focusing on the small stretch of open air separating him from another section of the labyrinth. Okay...three...two...one...NOW! He burst out from his cover, running swiftly-

    SHYOOM.

    The purple shard ripped the Ghost away from his hands, impaling it to the ground. The Exo's shout of panic and anxiety was cut short by another Void crystal sniping him in the head.

    xxxx

    From high above the twisting labyrinth, an old and odd-looking Acolyte lowered his heavily modified shredder; multiple green eyes stared out from his skull, as though someone had smashed the faces of a dozen Acolytes together. "Hmph," grunted Samek, the Farsight of Xivu Arath. "All too easy."

    There was a subtle flash in the peripheral of his manifold vision. Samek spun - the slave's little machine was behind him, how; it was pouring the wretched power of the Sky into the broken horn of his newest victim; the Light was blooming and growing into a humanoid shape! - and raised his weapon-

    The barrel of his rifle was caught in the left hand of his not-quite-a-victim. "Looks like even the Hive can be tricked by kid's toys," remarked the Exo, his right hand glowing with the fire of the Sun. His hawk-like helmet, lit menacingly by his Solar aura, seemed to glare. "Good to know!" Three fingers extended from his right hand, aimed directly at Samek's skull. "Bang."

    BANG!

    Samek's entire body from the waist up was vaporized.

    Thus was blinded the Farsight of Xivu Arath.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • It's kinda a shame that the idea of decoy Ghosts was never touched on in canon. It would have been is such a Cayde thing to do.
     
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