Chapter Text
"THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!" Saint roared as he was going on a rampage to protect Zavala, who was injured "NO SHIT SHERLOCK! THIS IS A LOT!" The Drifter is running out of ammo...It's not looking too good "Shit! out of ammo!" he called out "WE NEED TO FALL BACK!" the commander shouted "after everything we went through to get us here? we have made it this far! we can't fall back now!" The Drifter got a sword to slash through...he is right...there is no turning back now...this will be the only chance to take and use...if they did, it will be more difficult to pass through. On the other hand, Saladin tries to block the entrance to avoid the Taken to enter in while Sloane figures out the system as some controls are not working which frustrates her but it won't stop her. "We need to call back up!" Zavala commanded firmly "Can't! the communication is down!" The Drifter stabs though and the Taken makes a ear-wrenching scream. "ARRRGH! I WILL TEAR ALL OF YOU WITH MY BEAR HANDS!" Saint summons his sentinel shield and throws at the large number and slices them in half and Zavala uses thunderclash to kill large numbers around the area. Drifter uses stasis to freeze the upcoming hoard...however, it is not enough "There is no end to them!" Saladin shouted through the coms..they all thought they are done for...until a light shine through upstairs.
Saint, Zavala and The Drifter looked up at the edge, soon, it came at high speed, surrounding in solar fire. It was Manny and he used blade barrage to set a huge hoard on fire and he landed, he had his hood on but his helmet wasn't. "Manny! you arrived on time!" The Drifter felt relieved but Zavala shook his head "I told you to stay at the H.E.L.M!" he warned "I can't just let you all be in danger can I? I knew you needed help...that's why I'm here.." he tilted his head and see more incoming "Look out!" Manny uses his gun, Thorn and shoots at the head, and the bullets inject it with toxin. The soul devour is active.
The others joined Manny to fight back and keep it away from the weapon. It was getting easier and some of them starts to back off "Ha! Take that!" Saint-14's voice has a lot of strain due to roaring and shouting. What they don't know is that there is a primeval behind him "Saint! Behind you!" The Drifter warned and the exo looked behind, followed a primeval's roaring and knocked Saint on one side "Saint!" Zavala charges at the primeval, shooting at it in the process but it ultimately fails and grabs Zavala. Manny summons his Taken katana, Thin Precipice, and uses slice barrage to damage the limbs. It roared in pain and agony "you made it mad!" The Drifter helped out Manny.
It launch an attack that burns The Drifter and Manny. Luckily for Manny, he doesn't feel pain and slice the arm that it use to grab Zavala. The commander landed with a loud thud and his side was in pain. Saint got back on his feet and summons his sentinel shield again and dashes at the primeval with a blunt attack to prevent the primeval for hurting the commander. Sloane looks at the window, seeing Manny is there, she wasn't sure she should active but the weapon is ready to activate but as she turns around, a Taken came and launch at her, Saladin couldn't hold them of as it was too much.
The Taken shoots her and with haste she dodge but realised that the bullet would hit the panel and it did and activate the weapon. Meanwhile, Manny successfully chopped the primeval's head and it collapses. "You did it! You killed the primeval!" The Drifter was panting but was happy that he did it "Big blu? You alright?" Drifter went to help the commander along with Saint.
But then....*roooooooooooom* the weapon suddenly came on, gears turning and arranging and the light is gathering. They looked at it with amazement but then they realised that Manny should run and get away and The Drifter was first to warn him "Cal! Get away from here! It's active! Run away!" He ordered but Manny looked at the behind and rushes towards them "you idiot! Your Running the wrong way!" The Drifter goes towards Manny and stops him "Stop! What are you doing?!" He said. Then, the hunter pointed at the direction "look! It's still alive!!!" Manny warned and the trio looked behind....he was right...its still moving.
"It's still alive!?" Saint is frustrated at this point. The primeval didn't regenerate but was chasing after Zavala and Saint "oh blyat!" Saint started shooting and back away with Zavala, who is limping. The Drifter goes towards the primeval, same goes with Manny and attempts to attack.
The weapon release the ring of light and it burst through out the building. The rest didn't get affected except...Manny. *fwoooosh* *crrrrrk* Manny for the longest time in his life, he felt pain...he forgot how it feels...it burns...Manny screams in agony and his body feels like it's burning and breaking him, his left side of his face got burn and smoke coming out from the cracks. The Drifter turned around and sees his friend in a lot of pain, crying and screaming as he is getting burned by the light and cover his face with his burned arms. The Drifter's eyes widen with fear and rush towards him "CAL!" He hold on to him tight as Manny's horrid screams pierce though his ears "DUCK DOWN MANNY!" He warned "DUCK DOWN!"
Manny did but it was not enough "AGGGGGRHHHHHHHH AAHHHHHHHHH!" He can't talk as the pain is too unbearable. The Drifter can't help but to feel useless as he hear his friend screaming *Fuck...look how bad this is....s-shit" he looked down at Manny, burning and his skin cracking *Manny...* He would usually be matured on handling one's death but this is the few people he trust....and he sees him as his own brother...it ached his heart, seeing him like that. Sloane saw the condition and was shocked to see the sight of him...it was her fault...furious, she punched the Taken who shot at the panel and rip it apart.
Saint was struggling to protect Zavala and The Drifter looked at them with his wide eyes then he looks at Manny. *What should I do...wait..that primeval is burning too* He looks back at the primeval but by the time it happened, both Saint and Zavala wouldn't make it, their ghosts can't revive them as the darkness consume their light. He looks up at the panel and sees Saladin and Sloane but there are fighting the Taken.
*Who am I kidding...they won't make it here...should I run with Manny in my arms? No...it won't do..* his heart was racing and thumping through his ears that it started to ring. Manny continues to scream, his hair in a mess and his eyes revealed his monster side. His screams began to sound demonic as his voice box is straining.
Drifter can't do it....he wanted to help Saint and Zavala but..he doesn't want to let go of Manny...he can't make out of his mind to save two titans or save Manny. He started to breathe uncontrollably which was out of his character but he can't breath...he is scared of losing the one who is always there for him, who helped him with Gambit, who is always telling his true feelings when no one knows.
Luckily, Saint chops the primeval's body in half and it is finally dead "AND STAY DOWN!" He shouted and then looks at Manny and Drifter, same goes to Zavala. "WE NEED TO SHUT IT DOWN!" Saint looks for exposure so that he extract the wires to stop it manually and Zavala slowly heals and helps Saint. The intensity increases and Manny's body crackles and starts to scream in agony again.
"IM HERE OK! IM HERE" The Drifter hugs him tightly. The smoke turn black and sees Manny that his left side of the face is burned and cracked. "DRIFTER WE NEED YOUR HELP!" Zavala shouted but The Drifter couldn't choose...it frustrates him even further, his body feels stuck...like trapped in a small cage. His breathing gets fast and heavy, one of his eyes are twitching and started to shout to vent out.
Manny looked up at Drifter, he never see him like this before....*he...cared about me...?* Manny thought and looks at the machine above. With his remaining strength, he removed Drifter's hands "what are you-" the hunter kicked him high and sends him fly. It took Drifter to realise that he is not hugging him anymore and is now on the air "you....help..them" Manny finally spoke after a long moment of screaming in agony "I.....Will.....be...alright" he gave a gentle smile. His left arm is gone, his left side of his face reveals his burned skeleton that soon be gone as well and his skin is no longer holding on as he is getting weaker.
The Drifter landed at the other side. He wanted to get back but Manny shook his head...it took him seconds to make up his mind and help Zavala and Saint to shut down the weapon. They reveal the wires and put out the wires but it is still working and they continue to dig until...there is a button labelled 'Emergency stop' and The Drifter press it, hoping it will stop.
And it did, the weapon is finally shut down and they sighed in relief. The Drifter dropped down on the floor "Drifter! Are you-" Zavala goes closer to him and saw him trembling "M-Manny...he.." he hide his sob but the commander sees tears and sees at the other side, Manny is laying unconscious, his left side of his body and face are gone. He had lost so many....now he lost one more guardian...it reminded him of Cayde...
Sloane and Saladin came down and sees Manny. "Manny!...no no no no no..." the deputy commander carried his body in her arms. The rest came to them and sees the horror..."b-brother..." Drifter took Manny from Sloane's arms gently "Please....wake up..." he said while tears run down from his face, the smoke subsides. The hunter's ghost, Ligero, appeared and scans at Manny's body and he began to wake up while his body is slowly healing "hhg...." he opened his right eye and Drifter sees it as well as everyone else.
"D-Drifter....you did it...all of you did it..." he spoke. "Thank the Traveler...." Sloane sighed in relief. Drifter hugs Manny tightly and looks at him, bewildered "I-I t-thought...you wouldn't make it....DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT AGAIN!" He didn't like that..not at all..."Please....don't" he still holds him tight and everyone gets to see how Drifter really felt...Manny hugged Drifter with one arm "I..won't...I promise.."
Everyone joined in and they are glad that everyone is alive. "It...Will take a..while to heal..so.." Manny said while looking at his body...Zavala nodded and all of them went back to the H.E.L.M.