Eastern La Noscea was charming, though how Little Light ambushed us here was something else. I was confused because I didn't believe they had any bound Aether Crystals here. Looking at her funny from on top of Zendaya's head, she growls at me while being to rant.
"You don't get to tell me you killed a hostage for some greater reason, then feed me random facts! You will listen to me, you monstrous asshole, you don't get to just do things like that and not mind it! Do you even care about anything or anyone?! Or do you just blow everything off, you damn insane monster dressed as a Hyur? Because I think you honestly don't, after all you dance the dance don't you?! YOU SAY YOU'LL BE GOOD, BUT YOU'RE NOT! YOU'RE JUST A BAD GUY PLAYING THE PART, YOU'RE BETTER OFF DEAD, YOU FUCKING BASTARD!"
Looking at her, I just signed, and her next response made Zendaya punt the Little Light.
"Of course you acknowledge it…. Just let your companions live a life without you, and we'll be just fine. You taught me some good things Xander, you'll be a big help with things to come, but you don't really deserve this group if you will not feel anything for them. So ditch them for their own sake, I'll even look after them if it'd help you, just let them leave."
Zendaya's mane bristles then swinging one of her meaty front legs, she punted the Warrior of Light violently, sending her flying. Then with a snarl, the young Behemoth took our little group somewhere else, claws gouging out the soil before the tracks hid themselves. As if Eorzea itself were helping us hide from her primary WoL. Just during our little running away we came across three of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn the ones being Thancred, Y'shtola, and Minifilia the three rather most important members.
They are an interesting bunch who actually were pretty chill in just calming down my big child. Val and her chicks, Shun, and Chirpy were neutral with the Scions. As they mostly crowded, Zendaya who sat like a bear while holding me in her lap. Treating me like I'm going to run away at any second. Which I may not be that expressive and can come off as fake, but these dorks, although not really knowing me, like me regardless. The Scions are smiling at the sight of our little group. Which is fair, my beast companions are cute, no denying that. If they're smiling at me, I just stare intensely at them.
Minifilia looked especially giddy, seeing us together, as the young leader looked at us. Thancred smiled rather warmly, although he's the spy master and infiltrator, so no clue what the man is thinking really. Y'shtola looked at us with a look as if remembering the past, a small but affectionate smile on her lips. Chuckling quietly, I had my mask down and my goggles for once raised. My hazel and the artificial amethyst colored eye which replaced the old one after a Rager ripped it out. They were for once on display as I looked at the trio, who showed me no excessive pity for my throat or tongue.
'So what are you three doing out here? You're not magically tracking me to help the Au Ra are you?'
The Scions stayed quiet until Thancred looked at Zendaya and spoke rather carefully. The Behemoth lightly glared at the man but didn't move to maul him. The other's didn't really seem surprised, as Shun had been chattering yips at them. Guess summons can be rather unserective when unsummoned if I'm guessing what was likely said right.
"We did meet her earlier today, yes, as the Warrior of Light tracked you down. We were heading this way, so we let her tag along after talking a bit, and she joined our group, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. We let her go to find you while we did some surveying of unnatural occurrences in the region. Likewise, we didn't expect you to accidentally meet us."
Y'shtola chimed in next, keeping her words rather precise and objective. Her eyes looked at my group as her smile grew just a little.
"She was rather pious in that you are nothing but a monster playing good. I will not deny or agree with her statements about you, Xander. For if you were that, you'd not have an air of regret yet firm resolve, nor would those children look so ready to protect you. You may indeed be ruthless in matters of war. With your emotions, a fading crackle in smoldering ashes, but the rare subtle blazing ember affects all around you."
Hearing Y'shtola's words, my beasties perked up and seemed to give her agreeing sounds. Chirpy, who watched me murder his friends even agreed, still don't understand why he tagged along. As, yeah, I murdered his friends in front of him. Minifilia clapped her hands excitedly as she spoke, her tone going depressed in sections, though.
"I agree with Y'shtola on how you seem to be so far! You may not be the most truly expressive person due to many reasons…. But you seem like a reliable and loyal person to those you show those rare moments to. While the other Warrior of Light may not fully agree with your methods, Hydalen shared the glimpse of you apologizing before opening fire with me.
I may not like it, but I saw the faintest of regret and tiredness from you, yet the strength to do something we all may not have done in such a situation. Which would endanger many lives due to it, it reminds me of Thancred in a way. He is our most trusted and cherished spy master, without him and some actions I know he has hidden from us, we'd be in shambles."
Shaking my head, I shared a look with the man, and we both looked at Minifilia before speaking.
"Aw Minifilia you'll make me blush like a maiden."
'You may be naive with things about the world as a whole, but you're just an adorable idealistic kid. It's refreshing, but if you don't learn to take things in stride with a heavy but firm heart. Upon learning about them, like what I did, or what Thancred may hide from you, then you'll never reach far. However, you don't need to compromise your morals or ideals because of people like us under you. We do what we do because we know the price isn't clean, it's always a little stained by blood. So don't encourage people like us, reprimand us openly for doing cruel things and thank us in your heart for doing our job.
Just never let yourself become like us, we tread this path laden with bodies, war, hatred, misery and secrecy with a grin on our faces even if it scares and tires us out. We thrive even if every second could be our last. We trudge on, ready for more. All so hopeful dreamers like you don't meet the real horrors and monsters lurking below.'
Thancred looked surprised as his expression became one of great shock, but then he smiled a genuine, heartfelt smile. Y'shtola looked mildly surprised, but the Miqo'te woman smiled a large smile. Eyes gleaming in approval as she clasped her hands together lightly, tail flicking happily. Minifilia though looked like I had scolded yet praised and comforted her. Which is confusing, but she looked thankful although shy about it as she muttered.
"I feel as if I were just lectured with a disappointed but loving look by my grandfather…."
Thinking a bit, I pulled my phone from a vest pouch and played a song after looking for it. Looking at three Scions, I signed something as the song "I'll Fight" by Daughtry played for them.
'I'll lend a helping hand to you three where I can. Because you'll go far in a world like this, I wouldn't like your lights to be snuffed out.'
{I wanna see you run
Anywhere you want
Never let the darkness hold you back
No fear of getting lost
I wanna see you fly
Way beyond the sun
Anything you're ever gonna dream
I pray that it will come
But if you ever fall down straight to the bottom
And you can't get back where you started
Any place any time
You gotta know for you I'll fight
(Ooh ooh, ooh ooh)
Where you wanna go
I'd love to take you there
Wish that I could make the road easy
I wish that life was fair
Don't wanna see you cry
Even when it rains
And I hope you don't forget this
You were born for better things
But if you ever fall down straight to the bottom
And you can't get back where you started
With no strength to stand
Gonna reach for your hand
When the going gets rough
Right when it's hurting I will be there
To help any burden
Any place any time
You gotta know for you I'll fight
(Ooh ooh, ooh ooh)
Any place any time you
Gotta know for you I'll fight
Anywhere you go
Your gonna find me
No matter what you need
If you ever fall down and you can't get back
If you lose your strength to stand
If you ever fall down straight to the bottom
And you can't get back where you started
With no strength to stand I'm gonna reach for your hand
When the going gets rough right when it's hurting
I will be there to help any burden
Any place any time
You gotta know for you I'll fight
(Ooh ooh, ooh ooh)
Any place any time
You gotta know for you I'll fight}
We sat in silence while the song played, the Scions closing their eyes as they listened to it. Then I remembered another song that I think they'd like as it conveys their general purpose, "The Hammer's Coming Down" by Nickelback. Honestly does fit what the Scions want to do and become. So I think lending Thancred a hand in the darker side of things will help them. So will me easing and help Bahamut and Phoenix become free from their prison.
{… Where will you be when the sky comes down?
And what would you do if the strength was found? (Was found, was found)
Stay right beside me when the ground starts shaking
The only sound you'll hear is the breath we're taking
If there is one thing I can promise you
We'll see the light again
… This is the calm before the coming storm
This is the ripped sky morning
Without warning now
This is the fight that we've been waiting for
And there's no sense in running
The hammer's coming down
Down
The hammer's coming down
Down
The hammer's coming
… Once it's started, there's no turning back
But I'll be with you when the sun turns black (turns black, turns black)
'Cause finding faith will always be the hardest
While you're standing in the heart of darkness
If there is one thing I can promise you
We'll see the light again
… This is the calm before the coming storm
This is the ripped sky morning
Without warning now
This is the fight that we've been waiting for
And there's no sense in running
The hammer's coming down
Down
The hammer's coming down
Down
The hammer's coming (down, down)
… Holding on
We'll make it 'til the dawn
It'll be here before long
Holding on
If we can find the light
We can make our way back home
… Holding on
We'll make it 'til the dawn
It'll be here before long
Holding on
If we can find the light
We'll find the light, come on
… Hold on
We'll make it 'til the dawn
It'll be here before long
Hold on
If we can find the light
We can make our way back home
… Hold on
We'll make it 'til the dawn
It'll be here before long
Holding on
If we can find the light
We'll find the light, come on
… This is the calm before the coming storm
(If we can find the light)
This is the fight that we've been waiting for
Hold on
We'll make it 'til the dawn
It'll be here before long
Holding on
If we can find the light
We'll find the light, come on}
The Scions opened their eyes and looked at me with rather calm and peaceful looks. They said nothing yet when Thancred offered his hand with a question in his eyes. I grabbed his forearm and grinned sadly yet firmly at the decision that had been made. The ladies bowed slightly and quietly spoke before looking at me with a look you'd give family.
""Thank you for letting us hear those songs that held plenty of unspoken words in you playing them. Welcome to the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, we truly look forward to having you with us Xander, Zendaya, Valentine, Chirpy, Shun, and little ones.""
Before we all split up, I gave them each a little thing from my old life. Which I usually carried around as spares after removing them from dead soldiers. What I had given them were essentially, as we soldier's called them, Ghost Links. Given, they linked up and allowed your squad to talk in your head like a ghost. The things were tiny and will seamlessly burrow under your skin and into a section of your skull. I explained what they did and how to use them, even showed them as mine unborrowed and then reborrowed right behind my right ear.
The Scions got the gist of it all rather quickly. I'm from a very different world, so while it was surprising to them, they didn't push anything. With them letting the otherworldly machines do their thing, I let them hear how my voice used to sound before. Admittedly, it was gruff, tired, and rude with a slightly deep tone sounding, but it was my usual voice.
(If you need me, don't ever hesitate in asking for me, although could any of you take my companions with you for a while? I'm going to be facing off against Elder Primal Bahamut after getting a few allies who can't be converted. I know where he is, and I do this because the old drake has asked me specifically to do so. So please don't do anything intrusive, I may never know if I'll walk out whole or alive, but I know what I'm good at.)
The Scions, mostly the girls, wanted to protest, but Thancred grunting loudly with a glare cowed them. The spy knowing it wouldn't really do them any good to argue, however I suspect he also knew that this was likely not a simple matter. Which he'd be right as there is another Primal I'll have to get involved with during this mission. Thankfully, Y'shtola lent a hand after thinking about things.
"I shall take them to the Waking Sands in Ul'dal then to get them used to the base. Please join us there when you're able to, Xander, it would feel… hollow… if such a rare faded but warming ember like you didn't. If you never make it back to us, it'd feel that way, with certainty….
Which is strange, as our Little Light did not invoke such a feeling. They're important to us and everything's well-being, but this feeling is different from how it is around them. A friend and great ally they could be, but a sense of familial bond is there with you already. I think it is because you do not hide behind pretenses about yourself, they don't either, but with them, it feels… unnatural. However, you do it with no emotions clouding your views. It showed when you spoke to Minifilia about what you and Thancred do for people, for us.
You have even entrusted your companions to us when we've just met… you hold no illusions on that we're fully worth trusting as a whole by your general underlying attitude. But you showed us your care for them by asking us due to the thought of them being enthralled. It… oh my I'm rambling, this is rather unbecoming of me and rather embarrassing."
Y'shtola looked pretty embarrassed, so when Minifilia added to it, the woman averted her eyes with a growing blush.
"Awwour ever stoic Y'shtola gave someone a very heartwarming welcome to the Scions! Such a joyous sight to behold given how stoic you are usually, my friend! Please do not be embarrassed. We love these rare moments of you showing so much emotion. Now I believe we best take our new friends to the Waking Sands, then prepare a welcoming ceremony for both Warriors of Light."
Thancred chuckled, very amused by the sight, before throwing his own two cents in.
"I believe we should then ask our dear Y'shtola about how she came to see our new friend as family so quickly."
The Miqo'te woman glared at them both before sighing in acceptance. My beasties, although they didn't want me to leave them so soon again, accepted that we spent at least a few days together. As they all left, I pulled my goggles back down and my mask up as I drew my M16. Checking it over carefully, I pulled my map up and with a general area of a hidden Garlean outpost highlighted, I jogged towards it. My trek didn't last longer than six hours, with the sun now fading from the sky. I watched the outpost situated in a cave that's a few miles from where Bahamut is located.
Raising my rifle using the bare bone iron sights as my attachments are in my pack. I opened fire when my goggles switched to night vision. The Garlian on overwatch had their head flinging sideways, those on the ground were systematically killed in two or one shot. Moving from my spot, I ran into the area as the alarms started to sound from the gunfire. Bullets flying and claiming lives as troops rushed me or flung magic. I did take several hits and my left side was gouged out by a rock bullet, but I kept going. Uncaring of the damage I've taken.
My wounds and uniform mending overtime for each life I reaped with no hesitation. Seeing that sight it unnerved the Garlians, but it didn't deter them. Shoving my gun barrel into a Hyur's mouth, I blow their brains out, with the bullet traveling at an angle through another's eye. Blood splashed onto my face and dripped down it. A trail of bodies behind me and around the compound. The last Garlian screamed at me while raising a gun blade and firing at me, only for a black shield to halt the bullets.
Flicking the mode of fire, I looked at them then raised my gun. Pulling the trigger, the soldier dropped dead with the alarms fading due to its systems being shot up from full auto. Flicking back to single shot mode, I slung it over my shoulder. Taking a deep breath as my body felt like shit, although it wouldn't hinder me at all. Resting a bit to let my wounds heal, though, I eventually got a move on towards their generators. Doing something stupid, I broke the main cover of one just enough as it continued to run and do its thing. Aether flooded the room rapidly, and I felt strange yet empowered by it.
Taking a very deep breath, I focused on summoning magic. The primary thing for the magic being that the summons wouldn't bend to a Primals conversion yet be just as strong as one. My silent intentions were answered as the Aether Generators were all drained of power. That the machines physically melted and turned to ash in the process as they rapidly created more Aether.
The things I ended up summoning were a Wendigo wearing exactly what I am wearing. Yet, it had a gaping hole in its chest and armor where its heart was at, revealing a shredded heart. Countless blades stuck out along its back to its upper waist, each varied in size. A Guillotine Gun impaled into its neck, which had a furred mane collar. Its eyes behind its skull mask, however, were glowing yellow and extremely aware of its surroundings.
"Wendigo Primal and Commandant Xander Lavos Lockhart of the Seventy-third Criminal Regiment of the United States Marines. What do you need oh so Human me?"
Besides the Wendigo Primal stood a dark chocolate skin toned woman, with brown hair and crystal clear emerald eyes. An old orange and gray robe and silken sash as her clothing, with bare feet smiled softly.
"Hestia the Primal of Eorzea itself. It is nice to meet you war torn soldiers of redemption from a different world."
Besides her was a white and black wolf pair, each with sky blue eyes. The wolves bowed, and spoke as one.
""Yin and Yang, Primals of the balance of all there is and will be, Soldier of Redemption. A dark path swallowing all return you walk with a dim light at the end, yet walk steadfast and you'll reach the end.""
Then there was a surprising one currently shrunken down. Multicolored heads and sister of Bahamut, Tiamat. The Dragon deity bowed her heads as she spoke.
"We still live but our faith has ascended a part of us to that of a Primal. While not whole I wish to help you release our brother from his pain and wrath. So please allow me to help both so that both of us may see him free."
Looking at the rather strange Primal line up, as one's fucking evil, ones neutral, two are chaotic good evil, and the last is a bipolar chaotic type. Shaking my head I signed towards them and the sane Primals all too easily agreed to my request. It honestly is suspicious, I'm not going to get fucked up the ass unexpectedly by possession am I?
"You're me, I would be an ass to not help you slaughter things and jailbreak people. So sign me up mutey, I'm hungry for some flesh and to watch the life drain from something's eyes."
"A mission you were given and accepted willingly to help one I see as my child. So I would love to help you and lend you the power to temporarily go Primal yourself."
""He has suffered enough. It is time for a resolution and an accord to be struck to return him to his duties.""
"Gladly little Hyur, though if you want anything for this favor, just ask. I or my living self would gladly help you with anything or give you anything."
Yeah, those lines are all fuckin triggering suspicious warnings in my brain. However, I did get some rather, potentially, extremely useful help against Bahamut and Phoenix Louisoix. So now it's just running the gauntlet and getting to the two Primals at the end. Sounds easy. Just have to avoid the dragons, death lasers, falling rocks, and other stuff! Yeah, should be pretty easy.
Just why do soul contracts itch? Like fuckin shit my soul itches, yet I CAN'T scratch the itch, it's annoying as shit!