Light: Exploits, Book II.

Part 4. Unquestioned Pressence.

We ascended the pillars up to the catwalk.
I'm detecting that this was once an air port; ships would stop and go constantly, Ghost said.
The sun beat down, blazing the metal beneath our feet. We ignored its sting and approached the door.
Locked? I ask.
No, just old, Ghost says easily.
Is this a Cabal research station? With their being the magnet and all, Priest assumes.
Doesn't look like Cabal, Farah says looking up.
But who knows? Maybe this place was built when the planet still had water. I say.
I'm detecting faint but defined data signals. We'll find some kind of answer inside, Ghost says as the door whirred open.
It opened like jaws. Like teeth ready to eat us away.
It was unnerving. And the darkness inside was no comfort.
You first, Farah says stepping back by Priest, as he draws his hand cannon.
I stood looking in, the shadow almost thick enough to touch.
I breathed in and walked inside.
The only way I could describe it was... Old.
Like nothing was ever alive.
Just built and forgotten.
Like the dust had moved in. Settled. Rotted somehow, and done it again.
It felt old, and uneasy. But was safe from what I could tell.
What kind of research was conducted here? I ask Ghost.
No Earth records of a research station ever being here Guardians, it says. It must be something post-Collapse. It suggests.
Doesn't look it, or feel it, Farah shivers.
I nod softly, walking, or more, skulking in the shadow.
It didn't feel malevolent, but just more mailable.
Like you could touch it.
But I dared not to. My Light was too fragile. Especially with Hive beneath our feet.
So I'll be the one to address the elephant in the room, Priest says behind me. Anyone have any clue the fuck you said?
I cock my head slightly, what do you mean? I ask.
Well let's see, he prepares, in our first 15 minutes here, you died, twice, he recollected.
All the while you are saying there's something called a "Destroyer", and there's the still burning ashes of a Hive monster outside, he says.
So what's the plan? He asks.
If there's Hive, we must prepare, I say. Ghosts, prepare World's Grave navigations.
Our Ghosts float up in the middle of the room, and lined the walls in light.
Words were transcribed from the Hiven language to English for us.
Search for Destroyer. I say.
The words flurry past, images blur by and we can barely see what it could be.
The flurry halts, and appears an image of what appears to be a massive behemoth creature, clad in armor of obsidian, and with gnashing silver teeth, with Light stained on them.
It's sword, or more its axe, was curved, yet jagged, and seemed to bleed Darkness.
By the Light, Priest murmurs. That's here? He asks.
I have the energy marker, Ghost says with lament. But it appears that to halt its plans to spread the decay, it says, Ghost half quotes, there are rituals that need to take place. And arch-bishops and high priestesses to offer to death, and the pool of water will open, and shall we face our fear, it says worriedly.
So we hunt? Farah says.
It would appear so, I say with a nod.
But we must be careful. We're all alone out here. We only have each other, I say looking at Priest and Farah. And I need to know... I trail off.
Know what? Farah asks.
I roll my head. Do you two even trust me? I ask bluntly.
Priest cocks his head slightly. What would make you think we didn't?
I smirk and decided to use his words against him.
Like you said. I died twice since we've been here. Hive are here. And I know I'm not the only one who feels like we're being watched, I say hesitantly.
How could you trust me? I ask.
Priest chuckles. Remember what Lady Rei taught you, he says.
Just as he said that, I felt a warmth around my neck. I still had he with me. She'd still guide me.
C'mon, Farah says. We have the markers, and ones close. She says with a spring in her step.
We leave the facility, unable to find anything of value, but perhaps the Hive took the data themselves. We held out hope.
It was dark outside, and there was a horrible screeching wind blowing over the wastelands.
What's that horrible noise? I groan.
Those are the Ash Keepers. Powerful Wizards who protect the honored dead, Ghost says in slight disgust.
Dangerous? I ask.
Well they're Hive, so, it trails off.
Dangerous, I nod. What about Sparrows? Are there more Feeders? I ask.
It beeps and scans and we look down, the ground jagged and cracked, dry and cragged.
They can see, so their sense of feeling is far less acute, so we could go on foot, it says oddly. But the storms, Hive interference, I can't establish orbital connection until the storm is over.
I hop off the side, gliding down softly. Priest thuds densely, palming the ground and Farah elegantly lands on her tiptoes.
So we walk, I say nodding my head forward.
We walked somewhat slowly, it was dark; not so dark to not see, but dark enough to miss things that shouldn't be missed.
Storm is muffling our trackers, Farah says.
Not our senses, Priest grins.
Agreed. Light guides us, I say confidently.
After a little while longer, we approached one of the many valleys that dotted around the area. There was a thin trail down.
Ghost, what's down there? I ask, hoping it's one of our targets.
Ghost beeps and squeaks softly.
Something... It says. Yes. Definitely something.
I roll my eyes.
Specifically? I say.
Unfortunately not Guardian, it says oddly.
Now you're sounding like him? Priest says with a laugh. Peas in a pod.
I roll my eyes and start down.
Should we split up? Farah asks.
I look around. There were more trails, thin rock ways leading all up and down the valley.
Along the walls were holes of varying sizes. Some small, barely big enough for Priest to fit through.
Others were gaping and uneven, as if crashed and broken through.
Some looked like gates.
Yes. I say. Priest you take this side, I say lifting my arm to point to the other, Farah, you take that side. I say pointing.
I'll go down. I say.
Down? Priest says like I've gone mad. You're going to go down?
Well I surely can't go up now can I? I say as I begin to walk down.
Dylan! He shouts, his voice echoing in the dying wind beneath the storm.
I start to whistle softly as I keep going down.
Dylan! C'mon! He says.
You're going nowhere friend, Farah laughs as she begins on her side.
I make my way down. The valley growing ever more quiet.
It was eventually so quiet, I could hear myself breathe, and could almost hear Ghost running and buzzing along.
Ghost... I say softly.
Hmm? It asks.
Do... You hear that? I ask.
It appears before me, lighting up my helmet.
Hear what, Guardian? It asks politely, but with a defined hint of worry in its usually very nonchalant voice.
I grimace and breathe as sharp as I do soft.
Exactly... I say lowly.