The canyon trembled with the roar of Dominion engines as the scout vehicles closed in. Their lights swept across the walls, illuminating the narrow space where Elaine and her team had taken cover.
"Two vehicles, at least eight soldiers," Rivan said quietly, their eyes tracking the advancing patrol. "They're equipped with Nexus rifles."
Lira's voice trembled as she clutched the bundle of shards. "What do we do? We can't let them take these."
"We don't," Elaine said firmly. She stepped forward, the shard in her hand glowing faintly. Its whispers were louder now, overlapping into an urgent hum.
"Their power seeks to consume, Custodian. Will you resist, or will you act?"
"Elaine," Ardyn said sharply, her blade glinting in the light. "What's the plan?"
Elaine took a deep breath. "We hold them off long enough to disable the vehicles. Without transport, they'll have to retreat."
"Sounds simple enough," Ardyn said with a smirk, already moving toward the shadows near the canyon's edge. "Let's see how they like close quarters."
An Explosive Start
The first vehicle stopped just short of the group's position, its side hatch sliding open. Four soldiers disembarked, their rifles glowing with Nexus energy.
Rivan loosed an arrow, striking the lead soldier's weapon and sending it sparking to the ground. Before the others could react, Ardyn was upon them, her blade a blur as she cut through their ranks.
"Take the driver!" Rivan shouted, firing another arrow toward the vehicle's cockpit.
Elaine raised her shard, its light spiraling outward in a wave of force. The remaining soldiers stumbled, their weapons momentarily disabled by the burst of energy.
"Now!" she shouted.
Lira darted forward, her hands moving quickly over the field generator strapped to her back. "Give me cover! I'll disable their engine!"
A second vehicle roared into view, its turret swiveling toward the group. A beam of crackling energy shot out, striking the canyon wall and sending chunks of rock raining down.
The Shard's Power Unleashed
Elaine's shard flared brightly, its energy reacting to the escalating chaos. The air grew heavy, and the fractures in the canyon walls pulsed faintly, their light syncing with the shard.
"You're using it again," Ardyn shouted over the noise, her blade striking against a Dominion soldier's armor. "Careful, or it'll use you."
Elaine ignored her, focusing the shard's energy into another wave. The second vehicle's turret sparked violently as the pulse struck it, rendering it inoperable.
The soldiers from the second vehicle disembarked, advancing on the group with renewed aggression. Rivan and Ardyn held the line, their movements precise and relentless.
"We can't hold this forever!" Lira shouted, ducking behind the first vehicle as she worked.
Elaine stepped forward, raising the shard. Its light spiraled upward, forming a faint barrier of energy that slowed the soldiers' advance. The strain was immediate, her breathing labored as the shard's whispers filled her mind.
"The fractures grow restless, Custodian. Will you wield their power, or be consumed by it?"
A Desperate Gamble
Lira let out a triumphant shout as the first vehicle's engine sputtered and died. "One down!"
The second vehicle roared closer, its engine deafening. A soldier on its roof leveled a Nexus rifle at Elaine, its barrel glowing with charged energy.
"Elaine!" Rivan shouted, firing an arrow that narrowly missed the soldier.
Elaine raised the shard, channeling its energy into a focused beam. The light struck the rifle just as it fired, causing the weapon to explode in the soldier's hands. The force sent them tumbling from the vehicle, which veered sharply before coming to a halt.
The remaining soldiers hesitated, their movements faltering as the shards' energy pulsed through the canyon. The fractures glowed brighter, casting jagged shadows on the walls.
"They're pulling back!" Rivan called, their voice edged with relief.
Elaine staggered, her grip on the shard faltering. Its light dimmed, and the fractures' glow subsided.
Aftermath
The Dominion forces retreated, their vehicles sputtering as they vanished into the distance. The canyon fell silent, save for the faint hum of the shards.
Elaine dropped to one knee, her breathing ragged. Lira rushed to her side, her face pale with worry.
"Are you okay?" Lira asked, placing a hand on Elaine's shoulder.
Elaine nodded weakly, her voice strained. "I'm fine. The shards… they're just overwhelming sometimes."
Ardyn approached, her blade still in hand. "You need to stop pushing yourself like that. If you burn out, we're finished."
Elaine looked up, meeting Ardyn's gaze. "I'll stop when the fractures are healed."
Rivan surveyed the group, their tone calm but firm. "We need to move. That patrol wasn't random. They know we're here, and they'll be back with reinforcements."
Elaine pushed herself to her feet, her grip on the shard tightening. "Then we find somewhere safe. And we figure out what these shards are trying to tell us—before it's too late."
A Cryptic Warning
As the group prepared to leave, the shards pulsed faintly in unison. Elaine paused, their light drawing her focus. The whispers returned, clear and insistent.
"The fractures cannot wait, Custodian. The shards demand resolution. Seek the unity that was lost, or the world will crumble."
Elaine's chest tightened as the shards dimmed once more. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—their mission was far from over.