A few days have passed since Diamondback arrived at Tafam, and, given most of them were non-Sangheili, they were getting along well with Ruso's family. Rarity was with the female Sangheili who weaved the clothing, Twilight with the younglings helping them find texts of the clan's history while the human members were working with the more open members of the keep on how to operate human weapons, mainly because of their keep having an overabundance of human vehicles. Pawas was doing maintenance on one of Ghosts, and Sawn and Hades were out hunting with two Sangheili.
Nightmare- using the transformation spell to be in her human form- and Ruso were currently in the training yard practicing their dueling skills. "So, do you think we'll meet Phillips again before we leave?" Nightmare asked.
"Perhaps," Ruso replied as the two crossed their blades, the air sizzling where the blades met. "Personally, I hope not. He may be a scholar, but I can tell he's here for more than just ONI research."
"Yes, well, he is ONI," Nightmare said. "Even if he thinks we don't know, it's just common sense to assume that he's up to something we don't know."
"There is that potential civil war," Ruso said. "My brother is involved with the group plotting against The Arbiter. An old group known as The Servants of Abiding Truth. ONI may have it's hand in it."
"Definitely wouldn't surpri-" Nightmare replied before they heard Josh shout from the garage.
"HOW IN THE FUCK DID YOU GET THAT!?"
"And suddenly I want to see what got him to that volume," the current pony turned human said before she and Ruso stepped apart and deactivated their blades, then made their way to the garage, where they, surprisingly, saw Pawas holding Josh back from something in the garage.
"Stop! Me arms getting tired!" Pawas shouted as Josh fell to his stomach, but kept crawling.
"Get off, me, Pawas!" Josh shouted back. "I want that thing!"
"But it damaged!"
"Seriously, what's going on here?" Nightmare asked one of the Sangheili guards as she and Ruso approached.
After eyeing her with confusion, the guard replied, "Your compatriot saw one of the weapons Ruso had captured years ago, and began to, as you would say, freak out. The Unggoy was somehow able to stop him, or at least slow him."
"What is it?" Ruso asked.
"That suit you found, Ruso," the guard replied.
"Ah," Ruso said. "Weapons disabled?"
"Have been since it arrived years ago."
"Pawas, let him at it! The weapons aren't functional!"
"You sure?!"
"Yes!" Ruso said, causing Pawas to let go of Josh's legs, allowing him to get up, and run into the garage. A few minutes later, a series of thuds were heard before someone-Josh- came out wearing a black and yellow armor that was taller than a Spartan in Mjolnir armor. The right arm was a mini-gun, it had a cannon over the left shoulder, and three missile pods over the right, the caps off showing the missiles had been removed.
"So, got any ammo for this thing?" Josh asked using the suit speakers.
"Josh, ONI will probably ask for that thing back," Nightmare pointed out, making Josh laugh like a maniac.
"They can try," he said in sing song. "They do, bitches gonna die." Before any others could speak, he held up a finger, and turned off the radio, though Ruso was going to have to tune him out, as the radio in his helmet came to life.
"Ruso, this is Skana. The Arbiter himself just contacted us saying he wants you and your compatriots in Vadam. Following Jiralhanae uprising, the Servants attacked. Arbiter wishes you to search for their leader, and eliminate him. Afterwards, he wishes you to search for his guest. He has recieved word from Lord Hood, who received word from their Intelligence group, that Phillis has gone missing."
"Understood," Ruso said. "Josh, I assume you've been told that the Arbiter request at at Vadam?
"Seriously, you have ammo for this?" Josh asked the guard.
"Follow me," he replied, and Johs followed him off, foot prints visible wherever he stepped.
"And I'm terrified for the Servants," Nightmare said as she shifted back to pony form.
"Come on, let's head to where the dropships are, I'm sure the others will gather there," Ruso said, and the two made their way there.