Ulrek was glad she had accepted. He hated the Vex more so than any of the other forces that fought against humanity. Even the Hive with their Wyrm gods was something he could understand, power wrought by killing in order, simple. The Fallen were little more than rats, and the Cabal were possibly the most human of all the alien forces. But the Vex? What methodology would understand a timeless race of cybernetic organisms, each interconnected to the next by a vast and powerful array all working towards an end goal of becoming one with the universe itself? None. It defined understanding and turned the race into monsters of unimaginable power, Ulrek loathed to face them alone.
In orbit about the tower, Ulrek’s Timeless Terchkova careened into a clean curve, it neared Empire’s own ship; making sure she caught sight of it before it rocketed skyward. The ship was recolored to fit Ulrek, where the base model would be a lighter shade of blue, Ulrek’s was midnight. Amanda had overseen the repaint, with Ulrek hovering over her shoulder the whole time. It was a barely distinguishable feature, but one he took more pride in than he should have, but wasn’t that the Titan way?
His Ghost relied the green light from the tower, and suddenly he was beyond the atmosphere. The stars began to shift as his ship reached near-light speed first to blue then violet before vanishing completely. Ulrek enjoyed watching the stars fade out as he traveled, it gave him a sense of timelessness. The black of space began to offer a hazy blue glow as the microwave background radiation came into view due to the speed he was achieving and, shortly after that, the stars snapped back into place. There was Saturn, it’s ruined disk, and an enormous moon, Io. The titan sighed as he stood out of the cockpit and readied himself. “Ghost, let’s go.”
His world turned white, like a comforting embrace, Ulrek was lowered to the surface of the planet and gently placed hovering slightly above the rocky surface of the moon. Empire would be there soon, he lifted his gun and, though he would wait at the landing zone, he began to pace in large circles around the parameter of the rough circle. On the horizon, beyond vegetation that none would ever see rise on Earth or Venus, sat Echo Mesa and roughly two klicks from the base of the mountain he could see the hard angels of a Vex structure.
When Empire did arrive, Ulrek only motioned to the two nav points and began a slow march towards the mountain before pulling up his Ghost and sighing loudly. “No Sparrows here. We’re gonna have to hoof it.”
The Wanderer gave a gentle nod. “No need to thank me, Titans are defenders of humanity and the Traveler. It’s my duty.” And duty was paramount. Duty would drive him to take care of the pup until they returned to the City, and duty would drive him to take whatever information he could to the FWC should any information be deemed as important by him. Duty to the Traveler, though, was the fuel on which his Light burned.
“My faction,” the Wanderer confirmed as he summoned the exotic Mark of the Circle into his hand and held it up, “The Future War Cult,” the Mark vanished, “I have pledged my loyalty to them shortly after twilight Gap.” Ulrek held his arms out as his Ghost began to apply a quick-fix to his armor, using spare relic iron, superheating it and welding it in place. “I’m sure you’ve head of them, of us I suppose. ‘War is inevitable and we must win’ or some such,” The Wanderer vaguely mocked and surmised his faction’s stance, meanwhile checking the Ghosts work before nodding and tapping the top of his Ghost as one would a pet. The Light-construct didn’t seem to mind, it only moved to hover nearer his shoulder. “Don’t tell me you’re aligned with those cowards at Dead Orbit,” He almost growled, though the bark of a laugh let the world know he could care less for faction alignment.
“But,” he raised a finger, “The Future War Cult is interested in Golden-Age information and, to that end, I will aid you in procuring such information with some portion of that information being recompense.” Ulrek felt it was more than fair. During the Dark-Age he’d made a killing escorting civilians to and from settlements and he’d been much weaker than and infinitely less experienced. Yet here he was, offering that same service for but tidbits of information with which to satiate his faction. Should he find anything pertaining to the Vex, the Inner Circle would no doubt sing his praises for months.
Ulrek half turned to look beyond the mouth of the ally they had ducked into, all seemed quiet. Only as his attention left the younger Guardian did Ulrek wonder about the information he garnered form the courthouse. He furrowed his brow then shrugged internally, he would let this one go. His gaze returned to the younger Guardian. “What do you say, pup? You get to continue your hobby and I get to release steam,” he smiled, “And you might get stronger, if we continue that little test. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Ulrek gave the Exo a nod, his lips taken by another smile. His excitement could, no doubt, be felt in the ebb of his Light like ripples through an ocean. His Ghost giggled at the other as it picked up pace, it turned back and nodded “We will return. 89% probability.” With that, the Light-construct dematerialized in a flash of light and, seconds later, rematerialized just above and slightly in front of Ulrek’s right shoulder. Quietly, it whispered, “Lakshmi requests a quick meeting in the hanger.”
Ulrek nodded and waved the Ghost off as he came to a stop at the stairs leading up towards the courtyard. To Empire he turned and motioned towards the hanger. “I have to talk to the FWC rep,” he offered only a shrug as an explanation, “It shouldn’t take too long, I’ll meet you on Io in any case.” He offered a slight bow of his head and then started up the stairs, two at a time. He trotted across the courtyard only slightly faster than he would normally make the trek. Into the hanger and then up into the quite that his faction had claimed since their acceptance into the Consensus. “Yes, Lakshmi?”
The Exo looked up from her datapad “Ulrek, how are you?”
“Busy, cut to the point.”
Lakshmi rolled her eyes, her pink bio-lights flared in annoyance but her voice remained calm and neutral. “The Inner Circle believes the Vanguard are sending you to Io, is there any truth in this?”
“There is,” Ulrek sat on the floor near her feet.
“We believe there is a Vex stronghold there, an old temple. We need you to explore the grounds and bring back any tech you can manage.”
Ulrek sighed but gave her a curt nod “Wilco.”
“Oh,” she turned form him for a moment and then the Mark of the Circle materialized in her hand, “You’ve earned this, Champion Ulrek.”
He took it, placed it in his inventory, and then left the Tower. “Ghost, open a link with Empire.” His Ghost clicked confirmation and then again when the link was opened. “Empire, want to explore some Vex ruins after we get the Warminds up and running?”
RPedia : get started with roleplay
Roleplay Courtesy : all imprortant guidelines right there
Fuck Yeah Roleplay Advice : anything you need to know
RPFunStuff: rp meme blog collection
Helpful Sites
clipconverter.cc - a site to download YouTube videos
Tumblr Life Hacks
keyboard shortcuts
extensions needed to roleplay
best tool to make GIFs
post sizes
formatting
fancy text
tag helper
read threads chronological: url.tumblr.com/tagged/ [tag] /chrono
view posts from a special date: url.tumblr.com/day/2014/12/25
load easy layout when the theme’s broken: url.tumblr.com/ [post] /mobile
access mega editor: tumblr.com/mega-editor
access mega-editor for side-blogs: tumblr.com/mega-editor/ [blog name]
send fanmail: www.tumblr.com/send/ [blogname] /from/ [yourblogname]/
Themes
Theme Hunters
Roleplay Themes Rec
Themes Rec
yukoki themes
olleotathemes
itsacrimetheme
For Emergencies
self care
someone to talk to
how to block blogs
how to report blogs
when your art got reposted
recover your old tumblr theme
make your blog safe
For Writer
Clever Girl Helps - all resources you need for writing
example: World Building
Character Design Inspiration - and character building!
example: Character Trait Generator
Soringhole.net - tutorials and generators!
example: cat generator
Character Generator
Scenario Generator
Random Topic Generator
OTP of the Day
OTP Prompts
Symbols
For Artists
Practice Tools
Figure Drawing
Quick Art Streaming!
QuickMake Color Palettes
Free Patterns
A brow raised, as did the corners of the Wanderer’s lips, at the mention of his legends. Though he would never say so aloud, he quite enjoyed the praise the tales of his conquests had won him, it justified his pride and gave him latitude to be not the nicest Guardian. His own azure horns flared, only about a centimeter or two, as his eyes fell on the Exo’s own mock-horns. And the war machine was tall! Ulrek found himself swooning over these trivial features, he admired her beauty.
She was also much more colorful then he. A quick glance around and Ulrek realized his color scheme was indeed the darkest in the room. Despite the two, approximately four-inch jagged pillars of bright blue-white Light and the radiating cracks that carved his face-plate, the Super Black shader he wore reduced him to little more than a shadow. Though he wasn’t complaining, nor was the Future War Cult, whose armor he worn and whose colors were reduced to the darkest black by his choice of scheme.
Ulrek’s own Ghost materialized as Ulrek grabbed the Exo’s hand and gave it a gentle shake, “It will definitely be one to brag about.” His face was hidden behind his Helm, as it usually was save the rare moments he was caught unawares or those more intimate moments he kept hidden from the eye of the public. His Ghost was plain and the exact opposite of its master, its shell remained a Generalist Shell, but it responded happily to the Exo’s Ghost. He turned to the Vanguard as he let her hand go, then saluted the two before stepping past the Warlock. “Let’s hurry to Io,” he spoke over their fireteam link, “Do you need a rundown of the mission or did your Ghost rely the basics?”
His Ghost was much more excited. It floated near Empire-6 and chirped “We’re going to awaken the Warminds!” Its upper-most and lower-most sections widened while its sides contracted, as if it wanted it explode but couldn’t. “I can only imagine how amazing they will be! What secrets they have to teach!”
“My Ghost briefed me on the way in from the Hangar,” Empire responded, her arm maintaining composure through her handshake with Ulrek. “This will also be my first jaunt to the Jovian lunar system.”
Up close, she could behold the Wanderer’s pitch-black armor almost reverse-reflecting off of her robes. But what especially fascinated her was his Helm, and the Light that seemed to try to escape from it. Or was he already experienced enough that he needed the armor to contain the Light within? She stopped herself from continuing down this train of thought. There were other mysteries that took priority.
“Commander,” she asked Zavala, “Any dangers reported from the Scouts?”
Io was the last place the Traveller blessed prior to the Collapse. It would most certainly be crawling with whatever minions of the Darkness decided to make it their home. Not that this was unusual by any stretch, but it would help her choose a more suitable loadout if she had a general idea of what to expect.
Meanwhile, Empire-6′s ghost demonstrated why it used a Winter Sky shell. “And all the creative ways for my charge to be removed from the realm of the living,” it remarked back to Ulrek’s ghost, with the kind of borderline depressive frustration that could only have come from having done so too many times to count.
Ulrek paused at the threshold of the double-doors. He glanced down at his feet, as if debating with himself whether he should stay and listen to what possible threats were likely to be aiming for them out on those distant moons. He’d only heard rumors and captured footage from another Guardian’s helmet. The Future War Cult had offered him a seat on a voyage ship, and told him of the dangers. Light was scarce, like being in a space where oxygen is low, and enemies were plentiful, and that combination made things treacherous. So, he turned and pressed a shoulder against the doorframe, his gaze returning to the trio before him.
Ikora’s attention shifted to a datapad, no doubt speaking with her many Hidden. Ulrek had never taken the time to speak with the Warlock Vanguard, he wasn’t a Warlock and didn’t particularly enjoy puzzling over the enigmatic beginnings of his Light; a lot of conversations with a lot of Warlocks often lead to such conversations. He steeled himself for that on the surface of Io.
Commander Zavala was a sentinel. His blazing blue eyes were as intense as Ulrek could only hope to emulate. Ulrek had fought alongside Zavala once-upon-a-time, and during that time the Commander earned Ulrek’s utmost respect. Zavala was a Titan none could break, that was the leadership they would need. “All reports we have received have confirmed a Fallen and Vex presence,” his gaze fell to Ikora as if confirming something then, “Fallen currently control the area you two will be dropped into.”
“Do be careful,” Ikora spoke up now, “I don’t think I need to remind you,” her gaze on Empire-6, “of the importance Io holds.”
Ulrek pushed himself upright, he spun again, and muttered to himself “Fallen and Vex, Arc and Void,” with the words his Light seemed to split, streaks of Arc lightning sprouted from his left palm and raced part way up his forearm while a purple miasma of Void mist enshrouded his right fist, “Easy enough.”
“Are you ready? Got your bounties?” He shouted over his shoulder to his new companion, clearly itching to get on Io and discover whatever there was to discover.
The Wanderer’s Ghost lingered closer to Empire than to the waiting Ulrek. It raised its top again and the blue light that made up its eye flared in intensity slightly. “Ulrek might be a brute, and rather rude on occasion, but he generally insures a lower mortality rate for his fireteam,” it paused, as if calculating something, “Generally.”
A brow raised, as did the corners of the Wanderer’s lips, at the mention of his legends. Though he would never say so aloud, he quite enjoyed the praise the tales of his conquests had won him, it justified his pride and gave him latitude to be not the nicest Guardian. His own azure horns flared, only about a centimeter or two, as his eyes fell on the Exo’s own mock-horns. And the war machine was tall! Ulrek found himself swooning over these trivial features, he admired her beauty.
She was also much more colorful then he. A quick glance around and Ulrek realized his color scheme was indeed the darkest in the room. Despite the two, approximately four-inch jagged pillars of bright blue-white Light and the radiating cracks that carved his face-plate, the Super Black shader he wore reduced him to little more than a shadow. Though he wasn’t complaining, nor was the Future War Cult, whose armor he worn and whose colors were reduced to the darkest black by his choice of scheme.
Ulrek’s own Ghost materialized as Ulrek grabbed the Exo’s hand and gave it a gentle shake, “It will definitely be one to brag about.” His face was hidden behind his Helm, as it usually was save the rare moments he was caught unawares or those more intimate moments he kept hidden from the eye of the public. His Ghost was plain and the exact opposite of its master, its shell remained a Generalist Shell, but it responded happily to the Exo’s Ghost. He turned to the Vanguard as he let her hand go, then saluted the two before stepping past the Warlock. “Let’s hurry to Io,” he spoke over their fireteam link, “Do you need a rundown of the mission or did your Ghost rely the basics?”
His Ghost was much more excited. It floated near Empire-6 and chirped “We’re going to awaken the Warminds!” Its upper-most and lower-most sections widened while its sides contracted, as if it wanted it explode but couldn’t. “I can only imagine how amazing they will be! What secrets they have to teach!”
From the diaries of Roland Charland, Hunter, the Six Coyotes.
I don’t know what I saw.
It was a storm. Lightning cast everything in dramatic light and thunderous reports hid the bark of our weapons.
Scouts returned words of an approaching enemy, the sun had set, numbers were all but estimates. Eli said she witnessed an army, Arjack said he saw only a handful. Perun ordered us into formation, she was certain the Warlord would come and when had Perun, glorious Hunter she is, ever been wrong? We prepared, Hunters guarded the streets of our meager outpost, Titans armed rocket launchers and aimed them high, Warlock’s stood back and whispered secrets to each other no doubt ready to drop a star or six on our approaching foe.
Upon the road came a single man. His helmet bore holes of radiant blue Light that sizzled as rain collided against it. In his hands, an auto-rifle. On his back, a rocket launcher. The air grew… dense.
Perun demanded the man to stop. None defied an order from a Lady of Iron. He stopped.
Perun demanded a reason as to the murder of Guardians. The figure made no attempt to justify his actions, instead he bore the barrel of his weapon.
Perun spoke again, lifting her own weapon. Thirteen of Guardians followed her, all our sights trained on a single target.
“Speak!” Perun shouted. Her voice was thunder. The lightning lulled.
The man spoke for the first time, the only time. “I issue a challenge. Do you accept?”
Perun vanished in smoke. Our cue. Rockets flared to life and shot forward, a barrage of six warheads shot forth.
The man stood.
Six rockets collided against their target and he was engulfed in a ball of flame. As the smoke cleared, we witnessed only a dome of Void Light. Now the bark of auto-rifles filled the air as the Titan’s reloaded but the man wasn’t there.
“Over –“ A scream. Three Guardians collapsed. A tyrant of lightning stood where they had. Only meters from me. The dense air was unbearable. I fell. I am ashamed. But it wasn’t possible!
Suddenly Perun was there, a shot of Sol from the darkness. The tyrant of lightning was suddenly encased in that Void dome again, the shot caused the Ward to wink back out of reality. Was I imagining things? No Guardian can switch so readily, can they?!
Perun fired again. The man was sent flying back into the woods. “Get back!” the Lady demanded. We followed. I picked up my weapon and fired into the forest, we all did. Finally, the Titan’s stood again and more rockets raced through the air. Another magnificent fireball, but we were not so naive. The report from our auto-rifles, scout rifles, and pulse rifles was incessant. We wouldn’t relent!
He moved, now. The fireball of the rockets illuminated him. The left-side of his helmet was red hot but those horns, those devil horns, blazed brilliantly as if nothing was wrong. He leapt to the roof of a building and… and… Perun got him! Another shot of Solar energy caught the air on fire as it collided right between those hellish horns.
The man fell behind the building upon which he had jumped. We cheered. We did it! Suddenly the building flashed a magnificent blue, as if a portal to hell had become it, and then it was gone and only the man stood.
The man fired. We began to fall! Our numbers, previously thirteen, fell quickly. Ten. Six. Three. Perun and me. I was crying.
“Come, Lord of Iron!” Our adversary barked loudly.
Perun turned to me, “Run,” she said. I’ll never forget it. I wanted to hold her. Kiss her. Die for her. I should have…
Instead I ran. The man fired his rifle once, caught my shoulder and I spun before hitting the ground. Perun fired into him. But the Void Light! Why did it obey a demon such as him!
She leapt from her cover, a spent magazine I think. He threw his weapon to the ground. She unsheathed her dagger and his hands balled into fists. When the two collided, a Light so brilliant it burned me even in the rain. As it faded two figures kneeled. One stood. The man rolled his shoulders as Solar Light flared off his frame.
“The Traveler blessed you with power!” He shouted. We had risen again, though we all sat were we had fallen, afraid to move. “And this is how you use them!” He kicked the downed Perun and we all grabbed for our weapons. “Pray I do not return!” He left. Like a storm. Like a hurricane.
Perun awoke hours later. “Thank the Travelers he’s on our side.”
The pain radiating from his hands was nearly unbearable and his armor, both physical and Light-conjured, did little to make Ulrek think the edge of a Shock Blade was anything but a masterful tool of death-dealing. But it was bearable, only slightly worse than that time he’d caught a Titan mid-shoulder charge in a bear hug. He silently looked over his hands, a revive would rid him of the incessant burning, instead he covered his still smoking paws in Void Light, and felt the temperature of his hands drop to almost freezing – that would be enough until he returned the pup that had wondered beyond the Wall to the City. When he looked up, the underpowered Titan made a daring escape though a building, Ulrek smiled behind his Helm of Inmost Light. He liked gutsy Guardians.
Behind him, the Wanderer could hear Fallen Dregs recuperating, as if any amount of them would could take him out. As he neared the younger Guardian, Ulrek’s Ghost came alive as a voice in his head. “Now remember, this is technically a rescue mission.” Ulrek grumbled his response, a groan really, “I know, I know,” he Ghost whispered, “But you need to keep this one intact. The Vanguard already dislike that you come out here to slaughter Fallen like this.”
“They need to watch their Guardians better.” Ulrek growled to himself. His Ghost laughed a chime-like laugh.
Before the other Titan now, Ulrek crossed his arms over his chest. “You came out here for the archives? In a court house?” The Horned Titan tilted his head, “Why? You are aware the Fallen don’t care about our legal system, yes?” The compliment, though, gave the Titan pause. “They say Osiris appeared to be at multiple places at once during the Battle of Six Fronts, I plan to surpass him. You?” He leaned toward the Titan, the two blue horns of Light tainting the atmosphere with a sulfuric smell of burning o-zone, “You haven’t even surpassed an Iron Lord.”
“Are you okay?” His Ghost materialized and floated towards the younger Titan. Clearly, it was the ‘nice cop’, to Ulrek’s ‘bad cop’.
Ulrek’s Light flared “They’re coming again,” he sidestepped and then slide behind the younger Guardian, “If you can manage to kill one, I’ll return you to the tower.” His voice held tone that was both mocking and hopeful, his bad mood was clear, despite the surprising amount of joy he got from this odd, young Titan. What Titan goes spelunking through the archives of the Golden Age? Ulrek wanted to laugh, but the shadows of five Dreg’s convinced him not to make light of the situation. It might prove difficult for the young one.
Skyler had to force himself not to shrink back as the other Titan came to loom nearly a foot over him. The younger Guardian could even feel the crackling Light of the Wanderer’s radiant horns through his own armor.
The Titan frowned, not very appreciative of Ulrek’s condescending tone. Sure, he may have disobeyed the Vanguard and ventured into a Dead Zone that Guardians of his level had no business hanging around in; but the opportunity to uncover and research these kernels of human history had been too good to pass up.
Skyler quickly realized how feeble his reasoning sounded, even in his own mind.
The young Guardian turned to Ulrek’s Ghost, surprised but grateful for the small amount of sympathy. “I’m alright. Thank you for asking,” he replied pointedly.
Don’t push your luck, Skyler’s Ghost muttered over their private link, fidgeting nervously.
“What? Who are?” The Guardian asked, tensing at the Horned Titan’s warning. Sure enough, five Dregs emerged from the shadows, closing in on the two Guardians. Skyler wouldn’t have been too worried, if not for the fact that Ulrek had positioned himself behind the less experienced Titan.
Hearing the challenge in the Wanderer’s voice, Skyler puffed out his chest like an indignant bird, his inner Titan overshadowing his tremor. “Just one? You’ve got to be joking. I’ve fought Dregs before!”
“Yes, but not ones at this kind of power level.” Ghost cut in worriedly as he scanned their opponents. “They’ll rip you to shreds! Let’s just go!”
“Believe me, I would,” the young Titan replied in a hushed tone, stealing a glance over his shoulder. “If someone wasn’t blocking our way out. Just…be ready to bring me back, OK?”
The Ghost nodded, disappearing into its owner’s armor reluctantly.
With that, Skyler turned his attention back to the Dregs, who had spread themselves around the Titans and were creeping ever closer. The Guardian’s gaze shifted between each Fallen, tendrils of Light swirling down his arms as he searched for an opportunity to strike.
Suddenly, it appeared; an overeager Dreg at the center of the group lurched forward, Shock Knife in hand. Skyler launched himself forward with a loud cry, flying past the knife and smashing a Light-enfused fist into the Dreg’s jaw. The Fallen flew back and hit the ground, its head snapped to the side at a grotesque angle.
The rest of the Dregs shrieked in fury, turning their weapons on the young Titan with intent to kill. Skyler hastily brandished his pulse rifle, firing several sprays at the Fallen in an attempt to drive them back.
Skyler, behind you!
The Titan wheeled around, but it was too late. Knocking his rifle from his grip, the deranged Dreg seized his throat in its claws. The young Guardian was slammed into the ground without mercy, struggling to keep the Fallen’s jagged blade from piercing his armor.
“Gah…Ghost…I can’t…!” Skyler could barely get a word out due to the vise around his neck.
The little AI materialized from his Guardian’s Light, helpless as it watched the scene from above. The remaining two Dregs stalked over to the wrestling pair, ready to eviscerate their victim once he’d been sufficiently weakened.
“You know, if you were planning on lending a hand, right now would be a great time!” the Ghost called to Marcillino, panic in its voice.
Ulrek watched in silence, much to the chagrin of his own Ghost. “Ulrek! They’ll kill him and the Vanguard will have your ass!”
“He got one,” Ulrek uttered, eyes widening for a wink. And then the others descended upon his younger counterpart. One Ghost nagging, Ulrek could ignore. Two? Two was one too many. His heavy boot caught the Fallen on-top of the young Titan between the legs and the force behind the kick sent the scrawny alien tumbling into the wall, the top of its skull collapsed under the pressure and the wall cracked. With a snap of his fingers a Void wall enveloped the prone Titan as the remaining two Dregs lounged forward and slashed with their plasma-sheathed Shock Daggers. Ulrek side-stepped, a Shock Dagger missed him by a mile. Ulrek grabbed the forearm that wielded the blade and closed his fist tight, tighter, until he felt the exoskeleton of the Fallen snap and heard the thing let out a savage scream.
As he pulled his arm back, allowing the Fallen to fall to the ground and writhe in pain, another lashed out. This time the Shock Dagger found its mark and tore a ugly, searing red scar down the front of his armor, it was Ulrek’s turn to feel pain, and he let out something that almost sounded like a roar as his right hand was encapsulated in a white light. Ulrek slammed the barrel of his auto-rifle, really a mini-gun was a better title for it, and as the gun began to report a massive hole appeared through the Dreg’s chest. His weapon vanished as the lowly Dreg collapsed. His horns sizzled in the Ether rich air, and they seemed to grow slightly longer as if ether aided the production of Light.
His eyes fell to the mar across his chest. The chest plate was cut at an odd angle, almost straight down with a sharp right-side turn towards the bottom. It cooled quickly, his Light transferred the heat energy into Solar and consumed it. The triangle at the top was cut in half. For a moment, the Horned Titan was angry, but that was quickly eclipsed with pride. Titans were adored for their battle scars, and what better tale to tell then the story of almost being gutted as he saved an inexperienced pup out in the Dead Zone? For a moment, his lips were taken in a grin and his mind played through fantasies for all of a second. The Wanderer almost forgot about the prone Guardian before him. “You didn’t fail,” he extended a hand has the small Ward of Dawn winked out of reality, “What’s your name, pup?”
His Ghost materialized, though it avoided looking directly at the other Guardian or his Ghost, Ulrek thought he felt a tang of guilt. “We wouldn’t have let anything happened,” the Light-machine assured as it ran a quick scan, “The Fallen have retreated.” Gazing at the younger Titan the Ghost spun its aft segments before speaking to Ulrek “We should help him.”
“I didn’t agree to that.” Ulrek rebuked over their private, almost telepathic link.
“You almost got him killed.”
“He’s a Guardian! It would have been temporary at worst.”
“Do it, Ulrek!” The Wanderer loved his Ghost, mostly for the maternal properties it sometimes exhibited, and like a child he would do whatever the Ghost said. Though the scowl would almost assuredly never leave his lips.
He spoke through the speakers on his Helm, now. “If I were to escort you about the Dead Zone, would you be inclined to share whatever you find? My faction may have want of Golden-Age information.”
Ulrek Marcillino rarely received notification from the Vanguard, even more rare was a command to return to the Tower, but perhaps the oddest aspect was the additional information that his Ghost had been able to rely. He was due to be assigned to another Guardian and, together, they would be given a mission. As his Ghost, first, dematerialized and then transported him to the Tower Hanger, Ulrek felt a knot grow in his stomach. His Ghost appeared next to him no more than a second later, its fore and aft segments spinning this way and that unsynchronized. It blue eye wavered as if processing incoming orders. Then it turned to him as they made their way towards the Vanguard.
“Ulrek, this is an odd mission. The Vanguard want you and another Guardian who has also been summoned to head out towards Saturn’s moon, Io, and explore a Golden-Age settlement made by humanity. They believe we’ll find some clue as to the origins of the Warminds and a hint at restarting all of them. They believe –“
The doors leading towards the Vanguard’s hall parted and Zavala stood like a monolith. He looked at Ulrek and the Wanderer returned the stare, until Zavala stepped aside with an approving nod, “Hello, Ulrek.” The Guardian only grunted in response. “Continue, Ghost.”
“T-they believe – You guys might have a way to take back the Warminds?!” Ulrek’s wordless excitement was exemplified in his Ghost.
Zavala and Ikora both smiled, Cayde was absent. “We do,” The Warlock Vanguard started as she brought up a holo-map of the moon, “And we want to assemble a small fireteam to scout the site and recover any relics you can find along with scans of the main serves should they remain functional.” The holo-map spun and zoomed into a small portion of the moon at the base of Echo Mesa, an enormous cave mouth.
“And what if we awaken something worse?” Ulrek spoke up with that very real possibility, he recalled only months prior the release of a highly-infectious techno-virus that had infected nearly every Guardian – Himself included. “Another SIVA, or a Warmind who doesn’t welcome the shackles we plan to encase them in?”
This gave both of the Vanguard pause, Ikora’s gaze shifted off the holo-map, Ulrek could see that this was in no way an original thought to either of them. It was Zavala who spoke up, though. “It’s a chance we need to take, Guardian.” Ulrek shifted his gaze to fall squarely on the older Awoken, one of the few he could refer to as older, “Something big is coming, the Vex are shifting, the Cabal seem to be drawing back, and the Fallen are at constant battle with everyone else. We need the Warminds online before whatever the Darkness has in mind becomes a reality and we need it soon!” His blue eyes blazed with an emotion that Ulrek could only describe as hope.
With a roll of his shoulders, Ulrek nodded and his Ghost moved closer to the holo-map. “Who is accompanying me?”
Zavala’s Ghost spoke up, “They should be here soon.”
Just then the wide double doors parted for the new arrival. Ulrek glanced up as his Ghost shifted and absorbed every piece of tactical information it could. Ulrek began walking towards the new Guardian as Ikora spoke “Ah, Guardian, this is Ulrek Marcillino, you two will become close on this mission.”
There had only been black. Infinite and absolute in authority.
Then a thin needle of light pierced the absolutely, ended the infinite.
The blue sky came like a crashing wave upon dead eyes. Rays of sun warmed flesh it had no business warming and the breeze cooled a body that should have long since been cold.
Ulrek gasped his first breath and sat up. He expected pain, some reptilian part of his brain almost demanded pain. A toll for this reclaimed freedom from that impenetrable veil. Before him sat a machine, smaller than his palm clade in armor of white. A blue insignia made its pupil and Ulrek knew the things was responsible.
“You’re awake!” [Voice claim for Ghost]
The surprise in its voice caused Ulrek to raise his brow, “You seem surprised?”
The machine spun its forward spiky protrusions and began to move, as if it were talking the idea of talking with its hands and modifying it to fit its handless form. “Not surprised, excited!” The machine replied, the way its eye-light dimmed and reignited implied honesty.
Slowly Ulrek got to his knees and, with the assistance of a waist-high island, he got to his feet. He stood within an enormous courtyard of a building that was tens of stories tall but was now reduced to no more than five, the remains of the building lay about his own burial site, for a moment he thought it a fitting monument. That thought was quickly erased and replaced by a panic. He tried to recall the purpose of the building, its relation to himself, any purpose such a building could possibly hold. No information returned the inquiry. Finally, his black orbs fell on the floating machine as a blue light flooded from its eye and fell onto him “Where am I? What are you?”
The machine scoffed “I am a Ghost, I am your Ghost, actually. As for where we are – “
“My Ghost? Am I dead?”
“You were,” it began, “But I brought you back. The Traveler requires your aid.” The Ghost spun its fore-segments again as it began constructing a suit of very basic armor. “Interesting…”
“What?” low-grade armor encases him.
His Ghost hums a tune as it lifts itself up and rotates, searching. Finally; “We have a long way to go, care to name yourself?”
“Ulrek,” he finally mutters as he takes his first steps into a collapsed world, “Ulrek Marcillino.”
The construct turned, as if to appraise the newly minted Risen, “Ulrek? Sounds… old.”
The township of Goldsmine was founded only years after the collapse. Nearly five hundred residents called Goldsmine their home, many lived in huts no larger than a few rooms. Goldsmine was bisected by a road that had, miraculously, come to be a sort of trading route between other townships. A Risen, known to the local populous as Jaden, had claimed the township as his own and, with the muscle provided by a small band of like-minded Risen, had come to rule the small township almost since its inception. He was a kind ruler, the humans who lived under him found protection and aid.
An alarm rang out over the township of Goldsmine, as the sun began to poke its head over the horizon. Jaden had, in his employ, a Risen who claimed to be capable of reading the, for lack of a better word, light of a person’s aura. Called it a sixth sense and had never been wrong. On this fateful morning that Risen burst into Jaden’s office, perspiration flooding his face and dampening the fabric about his collar. “Jaden! Some… thing approaches!” His voice is hoarse, his hands shaking as he slams them against Jaden’s desk, “It feels like… like the entire universe is moving towards us!”
Jaden stands, he isn’t one to take chances. “Get the other Risen ‘rounded up and situate them near the entrance – “
“No! We must run!” Jaden recognizes that its not sweat pouring down his employee’s cheeks but tears. He can feel, now, static in the air. The Warlock speaks again. “You can feel it can’t you!”
“You’re hysterical. Hide then, fool!” And he does.
The Warlock would return, long after the coming storm has passed, and he would be alone.
Jaden steps into the soft light of morning. No animal calls fill the air, only the blaring of the siren. Two of his men rush up towards him, weapons loaded but aimed harmlessly skyward. “Wait here,” Jaden’s Ghost highlights the areas, “Take a few more guys with ya’. Keep a low profile for now.”
The air feels heavy. An ocean is forcing its way upon them, the Risen can feel its pressure. Movement becomes strenuous.
“Oh, it appears a party has come to greet us.” Ghost muses as it falls back behind him. Ulrek can feel it, tiny pulses of energy. Each is a star and each pulse with fear. It’s an ugly, dark vibration that permeates the air and sickens the newly Risen. “Play nice.” His Ghost chides as it vanishes in a wink of blue light, yet remains on vigil, he can even feel it like a distant star, watching.
Jaden stands at the center of the welcoming road. A weapon slung within his hands. Does he think Ulrek is incapable of sensing the other six that hide on either side of the road? The Titan stops and tilts his head “Can I help you?”
The Exo whirs, Ulrek can only guess annoyance. “Who are you? What business have you in Goldsmine?”
“I am Ulrek. Is this Goldsmine?” He half turned and cast an eye at the shacks. The stars wobble, stumble, one drops a weapon and another whimpers. “I am only passing through. I have business beyond this town.”
“Hard luck, fella,” the machine says as it levels its rifle, “I don’t much care for you.” Jaden can feel it. A pressure. Like the ocean is weighing against him. He’s almost surprised his chassis isn’t groaning in response.
Ulrek lifts a finger to retort. Suddenly a rocket flares to life. With no more thought than one would put into leaping back, Ulrek wills a wall of purple energy to form. The wall of dense energy domes away from the Titan, the rocket explodes against the impenetrable barrier and consumes the Exo before him. More scream. Many more scream curses. Ulrek can only take a step back before weapon fire begins to collide against the purple barrier.
“Impressive,” His Ghost whispers from within his head, “There are many who need to meet you.”
“And Goldsmine?” Ulrek asked, momentarily unafraid of the guns emptying into his Ward.
“You’re not nearly as emotional as I thought you’d be.”
“I don’t scare easy, Ghost.”
It hummed “I can see that.” After a half-second, “You created that Void barrier, Ulrek, shape it.”
The Void barrier wavered as Ulrek placed a hand upon it, the weapons fire stopped. He caught sight of them beyond his barrier. Scared. Many crying. The purple wall collapsed and encased him in blue, ionic flame and, in a wink, his opposition is reduced to ash. Now the civilians cry out, begging for mercy. “I only wish to pass through.”
“They’ll awaken shortly.” Ghost whispered in his head while cataloging exactly what it had just witnessed. He repeated it. The crowed shuffled into huts.
“If you’d like,” he repeated as his Ghost talked, “I will guide you to safety. An outpost. A… A City.”
Jaden sat next to the Titan, nearly a month after they had found their way to the Traveler’s shadow. “Ulrek, I…“ Speech was difficult, Jaden often felt he would be torn asunder beneath Ulrek’s hard gaze, “I swear to follow you,” the two horns of blue Light which constantly flowed from Ulrek’s brow didn’t ease Jaden’s nerves.
Ulrek took his companion’s hand, gave it a reassuring squeeze, then stood. “I am needed elsewhere, Jaden. Aid the City, follow the Traveler.”
A salute “Yes sir!” Came his eager reply before Jaden leapt to action.
“Are you sure about this?” His Ghost questioned, as if Ulrek had ever lead them astray.
“Ghost, I died and was risen again only to fight in a war. Its clear conflict is eternal. Here,” he motioned towards the humble beginnings of the Last City, “We want to make something good and the only way to make something good is to make it unbreakable and the only way to make something unbreakable is to try and break everything.”
His Ghost considered this as they walked further from the City, “Even the Iron Lords?”
“The Warlords wanted to make something good,” Ulrek countered, “And the Iron Lords broke them. This is the nature of the universe.”
“I never thought you’d be so fatalistic.”
Ulrek smiled, his horns burned the air and his Light cast an unbelievable pressure, “It is better to know.”
OOC: I’m gonna start writing up some of Ulrek’s timeline stuff. Just to get his story out there, because character backstory is my forte! More starters will be up sometime after the first of these which, itself, should be going up in a few.
