//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 Shadows Casted Out By Light // Story: Warframe: Relic Hunters // by UnknownEntity743 //------------------------------// Warframe: Relic Hunters Chapter 12 Shadows Casted Out By Light *Location, Earth, +4 months since crash* Another day had begun as the surprisingly peaceful day began, after the arrival of the Tenno or Relic Hunters that was all anyone talked about. But for today it was normal. Skyler and Excalibur were making their way to school as they talked like normal without a care in the world until Skyler noticed Excalibur's eyes narrowing. "Excalibur? what's wrong?" She asked as he pointed to the alley ahead as She grasped a hidden knife behind her back until he came into view He was at least a year younger than them, his hair was white and spiked upwards, matching his eyes. He wore a white jacket with black decal to add flare, the same went for his jeans and shoes. His face however was of sadness and panic as his eyes fell on Skyler and Excalibur, mostly Skyler. "Please help me," He croaked out as he fell to his knees as Excalibur rushed over and held him up "He exhausted," Excalibur told Skyler as she kneeled down in front of him "Hey, came you tell me your name or why you're almost at the point of collapse?" Skyler asked calmly as he looked up with a frown "My name... is Lumos and my sister, she-she's in trouble, 'He' made her do things, bad things and... she helped me escape before i could do the same," He said as he began to tear up and Skyler hugged him as Excalibur looked back down the alley and saw nothing "Hey, who attacked your sister Lumos, who was it?" Excalibur asked as he looked up as his eyes dilated in pure terror "He, he was black and red and he said we needed to pay for what we did to 'Them', i didn't understand but then he attacked us before attaching something to us," He explained as he stopped for a moment as Excalibur's hands shook slightly "My sister said i needed to keep going and to get help from the others here," "Others?" Skyler asked as her brow rose "Who did your sister refer to?" "The other Tenno, like us," He said calmly as Skyler and Excalibur's eyes went wide in shock at how simply he put it "You, you're a Tenno?!" Skyler asked in surprise as he nodded, looking down "I know that we were sworn not to tell anyone but i didn't care, my sister needed help and i didn't care if i was harmed, i just want to see her again," Lumos replied as he teared up again "I'm tired of all this secrecy, the lies and betrail, i'm sick of it!!!" Excalibur and Skyler just looked at each other as Excalibur sighed and brought out his phone, Lumos was right enough was enough. "Calibur, what is problem?" Chroma asked from the other side of the phone as Excalibur sighed before speaking "Get a team together, we have a Tenno problem on our hands," Excalibur said as Skyler just looked at him in confusion as he continued to lay down orders "Why is getting the others to help? why? why is he doing all this for a... Tenno?" She asked herself as Excalibur snapped her out of her trance "Hey Skyler i need your help getting Lumos here to Sugarcube Corner, its better than laying out here," Excalibur asked as she nodded "Hey Lumos, we're going to take you somewhere safe, come on," Skyler said calmly as he slowly got to his feet "You-you're not going to turn me in? why?" He asked as Skyler gave him a smile "Because my company may chew me out for not arresting you, but your sister is in danger and i personally side with the Tenno," She said with a wink as he smiled slightly "Ok then, lets go," Lumos said with more confidence as the 3 of them made their way to Sugarcube Corner "How, how can he be alive!? i saw him fall TWICE, how!!?" Excalibur mentally asked as questions just kept flowing in until Skyler's poking got his attention "What's up Skyler?" "Why are you going out of your way to help him? Not that i'm complaining it's just that ive never seen you act like this before," Skyler asked with a hint of worry as Excalibur carefully chose his next words carefully and he actually reddened slightly "Well you see, you know how i was going to ask you something earlier?" Excalibur reminded as she nodded "Well this sort of ties in, see i was wondering, Once this was over if you would... like to hang out afterwards..?" Now it was Skyler's turn to blush as Lumos just watched in confusion. "Well su-sure i can hang out later, but how does 'that' tie into this?" She asked as Excalibur just smiled "You'll just have to wait and see~" He sung as Skyler pouted "Not cool..." *Location, Sugarcube Corner* Excalibur, Skyler and Lumos soon reached Sugarcube Corner where Chroma, Limbo, Mag, Nyx and Ember all waited. After giving them the rundown of what Lumos explained before their plan was simple. One team would detract the Orokin Special Ops due to the fact they would be there. The other will take down Lumos's Sister Nox. The 1st team consisted of Chroma, Nyx, Mag and Limbo and the other Excalibur, Skyler, Lumos and Ember. They were all getting ready to move out but Skyler was off to the side as she spoke into a phone. "-Yea, as far as i know none of the Tenno have gone to engage the other one who is female," Skyler finished explaining as another voice came through "Good work Skyler, now what of the Relic Hunters' leader? any news on his whereabouts?" Commander Blitz asked as Skyler looked around before continuing "I don't know, after the events of what happened at the school none of my team have seen him," Skyler responded "Hmm... ok then, keep up the work Skyler, Blitz out," He finished as she put her phone away "You're commander really doesn't like the Relic Hunters' Commander does he?" Excalibur asked making Skyler jump as she turned "No, i don't know why but he's planning something and i don't even think he could handle it," Skyler said with a concerned expression "Why's that?" Excalibur asked as Skyler sat down "I don't know why, but every time the Commander has a special target he gets what he wants, no matter the cost," Skyler warned which even made Excalibur's spine crawl "But still is everyone ready? If some want to back out that's fine, i didn't ask for any of them to help," "Hey don't worry, out of all of us, you, me, Lumos and Ember have the most painful job," Excalibur joked as he saw Skyler was still unsure so he held his hand out to her "Come on Sky, we got this, don't we?" This made Skyler smile as she grabbed his hand as he pulled her up to her feet as Chroma clapped his hands together. "Right, we make hast now!" He declared as the rest agreed as they made their way out the door as Excalibur pulled Skyler along with a smile "Come on Sky let's get going!" He cheered as she soon jogged ahead "Alright then Cal, i'm with ya!" She responded as they all began to make their way to battle with smiles on their faces *Team 1: Chroma, Mag, Nyx, Limbo* After making their way to the location of Nox, they found the Orokin already patrolling the area in search of her as they busted into buildings and looked down every alley. "Ok chaps, you know the drill," Limbo called out to Nyx and Mag as they gave him and Chroma the thumbs up "Chroma you ready?" "I was always," He replied simply as Limbo gave the two girls the all clear as Nyx pretended to be injured as Mag helped her out onto the street as some of the Special Ops noticed them "Please help us! a scary Tenno thing attacked my friend and she hurt really bad!" Mag called out in alarm "Thank god we were training before," "Sure thing madam, O-13 get a medical team here now! Squad 2 and 3 follow me! lets go hunting!" The man called out a 8 other soldiers followed him down the dark alley The only one's left were 3 from a medical team as they assisted Nyx. which she needed anyway. "Are you ok miss? do you need any assistance?" One asked as she walked up to him with a saddened expression "Well there is one thing..." Mag trailed off as Nyx used a stun baton on the two beside her as the solider did a double-take before looking at Mag with a fist pulled back "Sorry about this," She said sweetly as she knocked the man out cold, just then they saw Limbo walking out as he dusted his coat off as Chroma came out with a gun bent in the shape of a man's head "I guess that takes care of them," Nyx said simply as Mag high-fived her "Well i guess now we wait to here from Excalibur, anyone up for going to Sugarcube Corner?" Mag asked as Chroma nodded Nyx cheered in glee and Limbo just gestured his hand for her to lead the way *Team 2: Excalibur, Skyler, Lumos, Ember* Just on the opposite of side of town Ember went flying through a glass window as the (Night) frame kicked her through another window as Skyler began to make her move on Nox as she held her (Dual Ether) as Skyler drew her Combat Knife as they squared off. Nox made the first move as she came spinning at Skyler as she kept on the deference and jumped back and rolled. Nox then stopped as she turned and slashed forwards as Skyler slid and brought her foot up, knocking the Ether to the ground. Skyler quickly tried to take Nox off her feet but she back flipped and dashed forward as Skyler's knife connected with the Ether as sparks flew. "Nox what are you doing? don't you see that your brother is worried about you?" Skyler grunted as Nox's strength faltered as she glanced towards Excalibur and Lumos as he frowned. "Please sis, fight this! don't let him control you! You're better than this!" Lumos shouted as Nox got one swift uppercut as she tumbled back she slowly rose to her feet as she shook her head but remained the same as she gabbed the other Ether and holstered them. She then brought out her (Ballistica) and then activated one of her abilities. Skyler slowly dropped to her knees as she dropped her knife and felt herself getting weaker. "No, what is this, i-i can't move, my body feels tired," She thought as she saw the crossbow getting narrower as she tried to move her arms *Splat* Skyler felt her body jerk to the left as she tumbled off to the side before hitting a wall. She slowly opened her eyes as she felt her body begin to work and saw the damage. Excalibur laid on top of her as his arm bled out as his breathing quickened. "Ex-Excalibur!? No-no-no-no, are you alright!?" She asked as she rested his head on her lap as he laughed "Hehehe i really need to stop jumping into the line of fire," He joked as Skyler smiled before ripping a piece of fabric off her jacket as she tightened it around his arm "Ow," "Oh don't be such a woos," she retorted as he frowned before pointing towards Nox "Looks like the most dangerous cat fight is about to go down," Excalibur pointed out as Ember stood in front of Nox as her faced just read 'Im'ma stab a bitch' "Ok you bitch, if you can't see that my friends along with your brother are trying to save your ass then there's no point holding back!" Ember snapped as she cracked her knuckles as Nox just reloaded her crossbow as Ember grinned "Bring it you bitch," Nox lined up her sights as she fired off another bolt, but even she didn't expect Ember to catch the bolt in her hand as she smiled and snapped it. Ember then ran forwards as Nox tried to reload but was tackled to the ground as she tried to defend her face from the fists being pummeled into her armour. Nox managed to kick Ember off of her as she jumped to her feet. She pinned Ember's head down as she brought out her Ether but something had grabbed her arm. She turned to see Lumos pinning her arm as Skyler rushed up and grabbed the other. Excalibur then wrapped his good arm around her neck as he began to pull at the chip as he grit his teeth in pain. After a good few seconds he flew back with the chip in hand as he cursed to the heavens. "AHH SON OF A WHORE THAT HURT!!!" He yelled as he smashed the chip in anger as the others let Nox fall into Lumos's arms as he powered her armour down, which surprised everyone how he did that her hair was longer than Lumos's and was black, her clothing was almost identical to his only the colors were completely swapped as Lumos looked up with a smile as tears came down his face. "Thank you, all of you," He said as they all smiled back in victory as Excalibur just looked at the chip in his hand "I don't know if you're watching but i'll be ready for you," Excalibur thought before Skyler waved a hand in front of him "-Hello, earth to Excalibur," She spoke in annoyance as he shook his head "Oh sorry, just caught up in my own thought," He responded before going silent for a moment "So... what are you going to do?" "Well, I've decided to bit my tongue on this one, but only this one, that and Lumos was really risking everything to get his sister back and i kind of get that," Skyler explained as Excalibur raise a brow in confusion "What do you mean?" He asked "Well if you're willing to risk your own life just for the sake of helping you friends or family, then to turn your back on them would make you even worse than the people your're agenst," Skyler responded which to Excalibur it made sense, he would do the same for Valkyr, which to be honest he did "Well then i think i could go for a looooong break, don't ya think?" Excalibur asked as Ember pulled Excalibur to his feet "Yea i mean catching that bolt hurt like hell and even trying to punch her felt like hitting concrete," Ember said as she rubbed her knuckles "Try taking one to the arm," Excalibur pointed out as the others laughed "Touche," Ember responded as she walked over to Lumos to help him out but even though things seemed to be getting better for them, one thing bothered Excalibur more than this or even the events to take place tomorrow, one thing lingered in his mind as he looked around the mid-day sky "I'll waiting for our rematch, and don't worry i saved the best arrows for my Dread just for you, Stalker..." To Be Continued.... I'm the cure To this dying world I was made for war But i became the cure Saryn