บท 23: Order of the Sunbreakers

A/N: I was fighting my demons, sorry for the slow update. Enjoy! Let me know what you liked in the comments and leave a review!!!

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Void stumbled, scrambling to get up as his fuzzy vision began to clear.

Hearing his words, the rest of the shop immediately glanced at the huntress. The Nightstalkers previously hunched over sobered up and stood up at attention, their bodies going rigid.

"CAPTAIN", Levi and the rest shouted, saluting Sai.

Sai shrugged them off with a wave as she continued.

"At ease. I was looking for you at the base and they told me you guys were celebrating at the ramen shop. But really...to think Levi would lose to you. You're not bad." Sai smirked fist bumping Void.

"A-ah, Captain I can explain, he just got lu-" Levi fumbled his words waking up from his food coma.

Sai's face scrunched up with an annoyed frown.

"Don't spout some bullshit like luck after loosing to a newbie. You and I both know it doesn't exist out there. You were in my training camp. It's pathetic, If you're gonna stoop that low for excuses, I can make some time for you to relearn the basics and not be an embarrassment" She clicked her tongue, her words cutting through Levi's remaining pride like daggers.

The hunter's expression dropped as he sat back down and sighed.

Sai shook her head, "I will take a cola." She held up a finger and took a seat beside Tevis.

Maurice swiftly dished out the beverage and slid it in front of her.

"I don't think you came here to catch up, something urgent?" Tevis asked, sipping his drink slowly.

" I didn't come here for you. I came here for him." Sai gestured with her thumb pointing to Void.

"We managed to get a general location of the target. At most, within a day, the mission will begin. I came here to fetch our scout." She replied.

Tevis glanced back at Void, who was still standing staring at his two superiors, fidgeting nervously.

He chuckled, facing Sai as he gazed into her eyes.

"Your scout is ready...but. I will need you to guarantee his safety." He whispered.

"You already know how this goes, we follow protocol and no one gets hurt. Why are you looking too deep into this, it's just a scout-" Sai mumbled absently as she chugged her cola.

Tevis's gaze didn't waver, he waited, expecting a different response.

The huntress sighed, feeling his gaze almost boring into her skull.

"Fine, I will take care of your student so stop giving me that look." She shrugged off his gaze and smacked the counter with her glass.

"Thanks, I knew I could trust your blades." Tevis grinned with a thumbs up.

Sai scoffed, "Maurice, one spicy shrimp" She ordered, "and put it on his tab" adding the last few words much to Tevis's amusement.

"You take bribes now?" Tevis replied.

"Think of it as protection fees." She retorted.

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As Sai enjoyed her ramen, the two captains conversed on several matters. However, as for the hunters....

Well, they were kicked out of the shop because the Captains wanted some privacy.

Void, Levi, Bandit and Cory were currently hunched over outside the shop, their eyes darting between the Captains. While the rest had already dispersed, leaving with a few takeout orders back to the base.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Levi whispered.

"Considering their status, it must be about good loot." Bandit chuckled dryly, his eyes narrowed.

"Perhaps, reliving old battles. As far as I know, they weren't on the same fireteam but did work together a few times." Cory replied, interest bubbling in his eyes.

Void also scratched his head, unable to guess what it was about. However, he then started a new line of questioning.

"Say, why'd you guys call her Captain?" He inquired, utterly clueless.

The other three stared at him, dumbfounded. Levi had a deadpan look on his face, while Bandit and Cory simply looked at Void with utter confusion.

"Do you...not know who she is?" Cory

"What do you mean? Isn't she Sai Mota?" Void replied as a hand immediately clamped his mouth shut.

"Are you fucking crazy." Levi whispered, his finger over his lips, hastily shushing Void.

"You can't just call her that." Bandit replied and shuddered, recalling a haunting memory.

"Listen carefully. I don't know why you're acting so casual with her, but she's not someone you would want to piss off. That's Sai Mota, the captain of the Bladedancers. I don't think you understand, they're all relentless killing machines that can rip you apart in less than a second" Levi whispered.

"That's not all. Captain Sai is counted among the top brass. Group of guardians who've been active before the city walls were fully constructed. Our Captain isn't even considered close to her in experience. She's also the one who trained most of our squad back when we were still new. Her skill with the blade is lethal. Blink and you'll miss how she cut you apart." Cory broke out in cold sweat, his hands shivered.

Void gulped, his throat suddenly felt scratchy as a cold jitter ran down his spine. 'Captain of the Bladedancers'. For the first time, he suddenly felt that he should be more careful with his words.

Just as the panic was setting in, the shop's door swung open.

"What's with the group huddle?"

Tevis called out as he and Sai walked towards them. Levi quickly let go of Void's mouth as the four Nightstalker's immediately stood up, facing their captains.

*Cough* "Nothing Captain, we were just guessing how much it cost you to treat us all." Void replied, giving the most concerned look he could muster.

"Huh... Don't worry about the price. It's easy for me to pick up." Tevis shrugged and waved his hand.

"With that said, it seems like duty calls. Your mission is setup and your fireteam's here to fetch you. Doesn't make sense to keep you for long so the Nightstalker squad will be leaving now." Tevis said.

Void gave a determined nod and Tevis smiled.

"No need to tense up, you should be fine with Sai covering for you." Tevis slapped his shoulder.

Void felt a sense of camaraderie with the veteran hunter. Following their captain's lead, Levi, Bandit and Cory slapped Void's back.

"Good luck."

"Don't die out there."

"Keep your eyes on the prize."

The three hunters walked over to Tevis and began their transmat.

"One last thing, just know that the Nightstalker squad will always welcome you back as a member." Tevis waved with a smile as the transmat kicked in, warping their figures into tiny particles that faded away.

Void waved back as he saw them leave, he was thankful for those last words. His hand dropped low as the transmat ended.

"Let's go, we'll brief you there. Can't keep the squad waiting." Sai tapped his shoulder.

"Ok err... Captain." Void saluted and replied his eyes shifting away.

Sai looked back at him with slight confusion, as her brows twitched.

"Just call me Sai, you're not a hunter under me. Don't do that again either. " She replied slightly annoyed.

"Yes...Sai." Void replied putting his hand back down, he gulped not wanting to annoy her any further.

Sai shook her head and kept walking signaling Void to follow her. The two walked through the bazaar, up the stairs into the main harbor of the tower. Sai went through the crowd with swift strides, making Void almost lose sight of her.

Sai navigated to the left wing of the tower, towards the Vanguard's quarters. As the two reached the security gate, a simple swipe of Sai's hands granted them access.

"From now on, whatever you see, hear or touch is classified. If anything is leaked, the Praxic Fire will hold you responsible. Am I clear?" She declared

Void simply nodded, he knew not to cross the Praxic order.

She continued walking straight into the Vanguard's terminal and Void followed suit. However, as they reached the end of a maze of hallways. Sai held up her wrist, scanning it near the walls. On cue, a mechanism triggered.

The walls clicked open, gears turning mechanically sliding away to reveal an empty elevator.

"Get in." Sai commanded.

Void gulped, and stepped inside with the huntress. She once again walked up to the locked terminal, swiping her wrists on the screen as the access node sprang to life.

Several scanner rays screened their body and the elevator began it's descent. The tower had hundreds of floor. No one knew exactly what each floor led to, and the top thirty or so were restricted for use by the Vanguard and the guardians.

As for the rest? They weren't anything special, either residential complexes or warehouses. However, meshed between these floors was something, peculiar. A place so restricted that only a select few knew how to enter.

A floor that if revealed would be considered a massive betrayal and a stab in the back to the guardians by their own. Naturally, this was the Praxic Fire's headquarters. AN entire floor equipped with the golden ages best surveillance tech used primarily to monitor the guardians and their activities.

Everyone "knew" it existed. However, as the order was backed by the top brass. No one dared to mess with them. Of course, excluding the exceptional cases in the past where guardians had gone rogue.

One such case, was what Void was currently expected to work on.

As Void stood in the elevator, he counted what he could only describe longest descent he had gone through.

'It's been a few minutes and we're still going down. The elevator isn't going that fast, we must be around the 230th floor. The Praxic Fire is an order that doesn't distinguish from friend or foe. Their aim is to maintain order." Thoughts sprouted in his mind.

He definitely wanted to ingrain everything he saw to his memory. From what Void had heard, the Praxic order was fickle when it came to guardians. He knew it was a possibility where he too would be under surveillance in the future. It wouldn't hurt to know what he was up against.

"We're here." Sai's voice rang out.

The elevator doors shifted open, as a strong pressurized gas flooded the elevator. Void held his mouth shut as the gas dissipated.

"Follow me"

Void saw that Sai had already exited the elevator and walked straight through the empty hallways. In contrast to the usual tower, the interior of this place felt clean... Too clean.

The corridors were littered with cameras and bright lights. Not even a shadow could sneak inside. As they walked around, Void felt a lot eyes on his back. The halls were lined with many rooms that looked identical.

Sai walked to a door and it opened, revealing a team of guardians discussing fervently as a few screens lined their sight, updating information every second.

"Your scout's here." Sai voiced out, and the room grinded to a halt.

All eyes drifted towards Void, analyzing the hunter from head to toe. Void saw some familiar faces as he spotted Wei and Eriana. Though the two seemed to be in a heated argument with a third woman of titanic proportions.

They all wore the same fiery armor set, however her armor was quite jagged. It seemed, rustic. However, Void could tell that the armor was sturdy and forged through intense battles with just a look.

She turned to look at Void, eyes like fire and voice like thunder as she spoke.

" Welcome, hunter. I am Ouros, Empyreal of the Sunbreakers."

Ouros extended her gigantic hand, engulfing Void's hand in her palms.

Before he could even yelp, Ouros shook his hand, in what Void could only describe as a come to Jesus meeting. He swore he almost passed out.

"Y-yeah, I am Void. Nightstalker." Void spoke through clenched lips.

"Ouros, think clearly, who are you trying to help here?" Wei chimed in, clearly dissatisfied with their earlier discourse.

"We, the Sunbreakers help who we wish, and resent who we wish. I do not need the permission of the Vanguard to shelter one or to exile another." Ouros laughed heartily and replied.

"The Vanguard has classified this mission and issued it to the Praxic Fire. You're in no position to step in." Eriana shouted.

Ouros's eyes flashed with great energy, heat emanating from her presence. She moved towards Eriana, her face inches away from hers as her eyes glared into the warlocks.

"With all due respect, Warlock. Our order is independent of your little city. All I see, is a bunch of cowards trying to step in and stop the renegade. In my eyes, he is a more of warrior against the darkness than you." Ouros declared, her gaze unwavering.

A/N: The Sunbreakers is an order of Titans with the Sunbreaker subclass, they live outside the city and fight the darkness. Their Leader is called the Empyreal Magistrate. They have bases on Mercury and on Venus.

"Step Back, Ouros." Wei placed herself between the two, as titan faced titan. Void could simply feel the sparks in the air. An unstoppable force had met an unmovable object.

"That's enough. The Sunbreakers indeed don't owe us any explanation trying to shelter our target. However, keep in mind, that we do not owe you any regard for trying to hunt him down either. All we ask, is that you do not hinder us. Is that not the deal you made with the Vanguard when you left the city towards mercury?" Sai dissociated the problem as she calmly talked about the past.

"A deal yes. But one with Osiris. Not your current commander. However, in the spirit of light. We shall step back. I did not come here with an intention to stop you at all. I came instead, to warn you." Ouros's eyes narrowed.

The room went dead silent at her words. Void's ears perked up at Osiris's mention. The exiled Warlock commander of the vanguard. He was a controversial figure, but also a mentor to Ikorra Ray, and one of the strongest warlocks to have ever lived.

"Warn us? Has the mission been leaked?" Void asked, he recalled hearing that their target has eyes and ears inside the city.

"Leaked? No. The renegade is well informed but your order is quite the expert at keeping lips shut. I came to know through means that I cannot share. However, I must warn you, your enemy is not a simple man." Ouros frowned.

"Especially you, little hunter, considering his personality. He won't kill you. However, the chances of your survival are very slim. The man has enemies and allies in every corner of the world."

"Enough spinning it around, speak clearly." Wei demanded.

" The Dredgen are hunting him. You know why. The man with the golden gun, he is prepared for an ambush at any time. He came to us with a proposal, a way to attract the Dredgen. Hence, we supported his presence, hid him from you. However, he intends to leave. I must warn you, his power is no joke. The rumors are true after all." Ouros smirked.

"I must advise you, to exercise caution. We came back to earth to investigate the sudden Vex insurgence on Mercury."

"However." Her voice fell, a frown curled on her brows.

"He took care of it alone."

The room was dead silent, the Praxic order's eyes glistened with astonishment.

"I did not want the cities guardians to foolhardily throw themselves to him. Hence, I advise caution. If you wish to strike, then strike fast as you do not have much time and strike only once. He is not one to kill for no reason, so I have no intention of aiding your mission. However, according to Osiris's treaty, we shall not hinder you." Ouros spoke with concern.

She moved towards the door and gave Void one final tap on the shoulder.

"I must attend a meeting with the speaker. I leave you now, to do as you wish. But remember my words." Ouros bid farewell, not looking back towards the room as she moved towards the elevator.

Void felt a slight fizzle on his shoulder where she had touched him.

'Warm', he held his shoulder, feeling heat pulsating through his body.

Eriana sighed,

"Let's think the plan over." Her voice resounded in the room, followed by everyone nodding. It seemed that they had to think their plans over.

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A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Leave a review! Comment if you liked the chapter!