//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 Heisting the Heister // Story: Warframe: Relic Hunters // by UnknownEntity743 //------------------------------// Warframe: Relic Hunters Chapter 7 Heisting the Heister *Location: Earth, Super-Mall, +2 months since crash* Excalibur along with Skyler were casually walking through the Mall for a unique store, apparently Skyler and Excalibur had brought up the topic of weaponry and Skyler had asked Excalibur if he would we willing to help Skyler look at some new weaponry. He asked why but she said she would tell him afterwards which still confused him why, but never the less he accepted. “So how did it go explaining this to your sister?” Skyler asked with a smirk as he sighed “Her along with Nekros wouldn’t leave me alone until I made them shut up for good,” Excalibur said with a hint of annoyance “What did you say?” Skyler asked before Excalibur whispered it in her ear and slowly her face lit up as Excalibur laughed as she punched him in the arm “You’re so cruel,” “Well it worked didn’t it? And besides I could have said that- “Excalibur then got a hand over his mouth as Skyler quickly silenced him “Please just don’t and not just more my sake,” She pleaded as he grinned before pointing towards the store called very specifically *Guns and Glory* “And I thought Volt’s puns were terrible,” Excalibur stated bluntly *Back at Relic Hunters Home Base* Volt was busy watching ‘Stuff’ on YouTube before he paused and looked around the area as he felt a disturbance in the force. As Skyler and Excalibur looked around the almost endless supply of guns a red and black crossbow caught Excalibur’s attention as he felt a bad memories resurface as he reached for it and held it upright. “I didn’t think you liked something like that?” Skyler said as she came as he inspected the weapon and then looked at its name (Modern Recurve Crossbow) “Meh I like the pull-back bows better,” Excalibur said simply as he laid it down carefully “Any who did you find anything of interest?” She nodded as Excalibur followed her to the firing range as she flipped her jack back to reveal a (Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum) as she un-holstered it. “A Smith & Wesson 500, nice,” Excalibur said with a whistle as she smirked and soon directed her aim towards the target down the firing range *Bang, Bang, Bang* As she blew the smoke away, the target came closer and show 1 hole directly in the middle of the target as Excalibur clapped as she smiled. “So… can I try?” Excalibur asked with a hint of glee as Skyler looked at his arms “Well I have the feeling you’re going to be knocked off your feet by the recoil but go ahead,” she said as she passed the gun to him as he restarted the target As soon as the target stopped Excalibur stood in a very unique stance, almost like he was holding a blade instead as Skyler’s eyebrow raised “Why is he standing like that? But he looks composed…” Skyler thought as Excalibur inhaled and slowly exhaled and then in flash *Bang, Bang, Bang* Excalibur shot the bullets at a lightning fast speed as the target moved forward and soon they both saw 1 perfect hole in the page. Excalibur was happy whist Skyler still tried to get her jaw to shut. “But how!!? He didn’t even flinch let alone miss!!” Skyler thought in bewilderment as Excalibur’s clicking finally got her attention “So you came back to the world of the living?” Excalibur asked in simply tone as he handed the weapon back “So you getting it or what?” “Well no I was considering it but the price is still above $500 for me so I’ll just have to wait,” Skyler said with a shrug as they walked back into the store before Excalibur added “I can pay for the rest,” Excalibur said casually as he put his arms behind his neck and Skyler looked at him in confusion “I may not look it but I’m loaded,” “No, I couldn’t just let you spend your own money on it let along make you work to get it back,” Skyler said in a slightly apologetic voice but Excalibur just continued “Hey I had my experience with firearms and I still do but for some reason I seem to know when someone really likes a weapon of sorts let it be old or new so why not?” “That and consider that being an act of generosity in my part,” Excalibur explained as Skyler smiled more as she nodded with sigh “Fine if you’re that sure,” She responded as they went to pay for very deadly weapon “So I just wanted to get back on that topic and ask now, why did you ask me to come along exactly?” Excalibur asked as they sat on bench as Skyler froze a bit before her smile was replaced with a frown as she sighed “Well you see… I just think you should know considering I trust you,” Skyler began but quickly added “But it’s not like I don’t trust the others is just that well the reason I’m this knowledged about guns is because…” She trailed off as she thought about her decision before adding. “You know those Special Ops that show up when the Tenno appear?” Excalibur nodded “Well I… I’m the… I’m the commander of that squad,” Excalibur just looked at her with a serious expression as she continued. “I never told anyone because they told me to keep it classified and at one point they said I was just a weapon for them to use agenst the Tenno,” She finished as she looked at her hands that shook slightly “I would have said something but they were right, I’ve just followed their orders blindly, unaware that the Tenno help, sure the ones that attack can be a danger but then soon enough they’re on the Relic Hunters’ side. . . I just don’t know why the others can’t see that?” Skyler said as she clenched her fist in anger Excalibur sat there as he thought about everything she said, all that she risked and knew he heard that ‘line’ before. He did the only thing he could do and that was grasp her hands in his as she looked at him smirking. “You know just because you’re some Special Operative doesn’t mean you’re their weapon, weapons are only extensions of ourselves, it’s the choices we make that define us form them,” Excalibur said as Skyler smiled brightly at him “Thanks… but can you keep this a secret until I can tell the rest?” Skyler asked as Excalibur nodded but soon after their attention was brought to the sound of alarms as they looked towards as jewellery store What they saw as a (Tenno) holding a (Akmagnus) in his hand as he fired into the store. Skyler then got up but was grabbed by Excalibur as he looked at he with uncertainty. “You’re right about one thing I can make my own choices and right now I need to make that choice!” Skyler said as she tore free from his grip as she ran off reviling her two Knives as she cornered the Tenno as he spoke “Such a gentle flower, twisted by vines of lies, blinded by the evils true meaning,” Ash spoke in an Ashy (Obviously) voice, but also in Haiku “Well this flower’s got a thorn to pick with you!” Skyler retorted as she held her two blades, ready to fight as Ash set the bag down and holstered his gun and brought out (Fangs) as he did the same stance. Skyler and Ash soon ran forward as they began to try and take the other down as Ash’s hits either missed or were blocked by Skyler’s own blades as their blades rung out in the halls or the mall. Ash then disappeared as Skyler waited for him to show but soon duck and rolled out of the way as Ash’s blades came down from above. Skyler rubbed her cheek as two small gashes dripped with blood as Ash got up and spun his blades around as they stared at each other. “You are clouded by lies that you cannot see,” Ash spoke as Skyler grit her teeth in pain as Ash pointed at the chip in his neck “He freed our true selves form their grasp and now I will free you, awaken you to the truth,” “Who’s behind those chips!? Who are the Tenno!!” Skyler yelled in frustration as Ash stopped as he looked up to the roof. “I almost said too much, time to cut your life short little flower,” Ash said as he ran forward and brought his Fangs upwards as Skyler avoided them but was unprepared for him disappearing again as she felt the two blades cut her back slightly as one of her knives skidded off to the side as she fell. Ash then leaped on top of her as Skyler fought to keep his dagger from impaling her throat but it inched closer and closer *Bang* Soon Ash stumbled back as he noticed Excalibur holding the Magnum in his hand as he set it down and grabbed the knife as he walked over and helped Skyler up as she looked pissed. “What are you doing you could get yourself killed!!” She snapped as Excalibur smiled “I can make my own choices and besides two heads are better than one, no?” Excalibur answered as Skyler rolled her eyes as they both turned to face Ash “Such a confusing life for someone so deep in the blood of his enemies,” Ash said as Excalibur tensed up “The Hero or Reaper, the savour or murderer,” “Don’t you dare bring say that shit to me!” Excalibur snapped as his voice seemed to change slightly before he felt Skyler nudge him as he saw her worried look “Sorry now then,” “Lock and Load!” Skyler said as Excalibur raised a brow but still followed suit as they charged at Ash Ash prepared for their frontal assault but was caught off guard by them sliding to his sides as they took his feet right up from under him. Ash quickly did a handstand and leaped into the air, throwing his Fangs at them as they narrowly dodged. They soon disappeared with their owner as he reappeared behind Excalibur as he quickly ducked and rolled as he turned and connected blades with Ash as he saw his other Fang coming up and swiftly blocked it with his foot and gave Ash a left hook as he stubbeled back. Ash however didn’t see Skyler drop-kicking him forward as Excalibur upper-cutted him with his knife as he barrel-rolled in the air and landed on his feet. Skyler and Excalibur then stood side-by-side and grinned as they yelled and ran forward towards Ash as he prepared to cut them down. What he didn’t see coming was Excalibur passing his knife to Skyler as she jumped over Ash’s slashes. Excalibur then ran up and grabbed the blades in his bare hands as he grunted agenst their blade’s piercing his palms as he swiftly let go and splashed the blood in Ash’s helmet as he dropped his Fangs to try and wipe it off. Skyler then took this moment to use her knives like screws and began to pry the chip free as Excalibur helped as they pulled the sparking chip out as Ash moved forward slightly before dropping to his knees and soon collapsed in defeat. As police, along with paramedics helped any injured including Skyler and Excalibur as they sat on a bench as they saw Loki and Ember show as they helped Ash to his feet. Skyler had told the officers to stand down as Ash approached them. “I- I see what clouded my mind but I could not act, without you two I may have been shrouded in shadows forever, and I wish to tell you that this isn't over, something is coming, sadly he chose a very new assassin to do the job and thank you,” Ash thanked as he bowed before following Ember and Loki back to base Excalibur shivered at the message as he knew that wouldn't get any easier, but then his train of thought was halted as he received a smack on the back of the head “Heh what was that for!?” He asked Skyler as he rubbed his head “Are you really that stupid!? You could have gotten yourself killed with that dumb plan of yours!” Skyler snapped as Excalibur looked at his hands, all bandaged up “Well It worked, didn’t it?” He retorted as Skyler resisted the urge to hit him again “Look I’m sorry, I had no other way of distracting him so it was the best I could think of,” Excalibur explained “Just… promise me you won’t do something like that again?” Skyler said more calmly as Excalibur did a pinkie promise as she smiled “Thanks,” “No problem!” She said happily before handing Skyler her knife back “Oh and I think you’ll be wanting this back,” She then took it and stared at it for a while before handing it back to him before saying. “Keep it, as an act of generosity in my part,” Skyler said with a wink as Excalibur laughed lightly “Fine then I guess we’re even,” Excalibur said as he put the knife in his back pocket before getting up “Well this was quite the Saturday, you know we should do this again sometime, I quite fun hanging out with you,” This made Skyler redden slightly as Excalibur rubbed the back of his head as he turned and waved goodbye. “Wait Excalibur,” Skyler called out as he stopped and turned As he did he was met with her hugging him as his own face lit up slightly from this. She then let go as she smiled back with a tint of red. “Thanks, for everything today,” She said happily as he smiled and waved goodbye “Seeya!” “Same here!” Excalibur called back as he walked away a lot happier than before “Maybe, just maybe..." Skyler thought as she saw him walk out of sight We are 1000-year-old space ninjas With the power of a bloody dimension flowing through us Your argument is invalid Loki and Mirage