Advent of Chaos

13

Staring into a deep grey visor, Mora held her attacker down-- who was squirming vigorously, but to no avail. Years of physical and mental training honed her to a sharp blade with keen intellect. Not to mention her phenomenal reaction speed. It seemed much more enhanced now-- she felt much more aware of her surroundings.

"Speak, or suffer immensely." Mora unsheathed a dagger from her belt, pressing it down into the firm throat of her attacker to indicate that she would play no games. Immediately, they held their gloved hands up in surrender, and Mora moved the blade away.

"My name is Iris-- can I stand up?" An artificial female voice buzzed in her ears, and she cringed at the aftertaste of it on her tongue. Like a vibration in her system, much greater than that of a human's. An Exo, then.

"No, because I don't trust you." Mora --still pinning Iris down--smiled wickedly.

"Are you going to make any more pathetic attempts at robbing me?" She watched a pair of prominently glowing red eyes glance to the side through the visor before the Exo responded.

"Of course not." She said firmly.

Mora raised her eyebrows, unsheathed her Dark Drinker, and swung her sword in the direction of the bar. It slammed into a thick helmet, and another being shuddered out of the shadows. A grunt of frustration erupted from the Exo's companion as her visor was shattered, glass spraying on the floor next to Iris' face. Mora kept her foot on the chest of the Exo.

"Bastard.." The one in the shadows growled before she stumbled over. A hit as powerful as that would've knocked out any enemy in an instant-- but this one swayed for a moment before falling to the ground. Mora spat at the ground, and at this, the Exo female grabbed her leg. Instantaneously, Mora tripped over, her side slamming against the floor. She felt her entire left side sting as she forced herself up with one hand.

Iris took this opportunity to grab her arm, but Mora twisted around her, her arm locking around the synthetic throat of the Exo. Her attacker--now captured-- clawed at Mora's arm fruitlessly, and Mora yelled out to her friends in the lounge.

The first to run was Dorn, who exchanged horrified glances between the Exo, the Titan on the ground, then Mora, who's golden eyes were burning with fury.

"Mora..why are you restraining a fellow guardian?" Dorn ran his fingers through his hair, but Mora bared her teeth.

"This is NO guardian, this is a thief, a fiend, and now, a prisoner. Do you sense ANY Light on this being?" She began rambling, her arm tightening around her attacker as she squirmed more vigorously, attempting a futile escape.

Dorn tapped his feet impatiently, leaning in to scan the Exo. He placed his hands at the sides of the black helmet she was wearing, and yanked it off of a black plate that served as the Exo's skull. Glowing red orbs served as her eyes, and a brown stripe marked down from her forehead to where a human nose would rest. Dorn dropped the helmet on the floor, and a loud shatter was heard as the visor cracked upon impact.

"You're..." Dorn hesitated for a moment, biting his tongue. But he released it, exhaling.
"I know this thief, she belongs to the exiled, those who have committed great crimes against our society. The City has been out for her arrest-- and her companions-- for months."

"Wait...exiled?... I don't--" the Exo began speaking, but Mora tightened the grip. She quickly held her speech, the imitation of an irritated sigh erupting from her voice box.

Dorn began once more. "I think we should turn her in-"
"Wait!" The Exo cried out, her hands suddenly ceasing their futile struggling.

"She speaks..urg.. When she was asked to shut it.." Mora grunted, her arms tightening around the metal head of the Exo.

"Hold, let her speak." Dorn said, surprising himself at that.

Mora released the Exo, pushing her away with a single kick.

She dusted off her shoulders, and turned to Dorn, artificial red eyes meeting with the dark chocolate orbs of a Loremaster. "Please, perhaps..perhaps I can be of some assistance! My companion and I, we can help, somehow-- with whatever you are all suffering." Dorn looked from her to Mora, and Mora's eyes widened.

"Do you know how to blow us off the radars? You seem fairly adept with anonymity and invisibility in the City. Is the Speaker aware of your existence?" Mora sheathed her sword at her back. 

Dorn glanced back at Iris, smiling slightly. "I think that gleam is a yes. Tell us more."

"I-I'm good with electronics, I can repair anything if need be. You need a mechanic? I can help.. Imogen, Imogen is a brute-- she can protect and assist with anything. She isn't a guardian, though. Like I, like I-- she isn't connected to your Traveler." Iris rambled on and on until Dorn held his hand up.

"Listen, listen. We won't turn you in. But you've gotta work for us." He said.
"Work for you? Done. Great. When do I begin?" She asked anxiously.

"Just about now." Mora smiled at Dorn, who punched Iris dead in the temple. Darkness consumed her world, and silver strings of liquor pooled around her helmet as she fell to the floor.

She looked from the floor-- which beheld two limp bodies--and then to Dorn again, who was busy rubbing his knuckles.
"Metal plates. They hurt." He smiled slightly at his hands, then looked up at her again.

"I'll help you." He said, indicating the situation she put herself and her friends in-- and turning away from what had just happened.
"But will you succeed?" He asked ominously, fingers once again toying with that slick hair of his.

"Succeed in what?" Mora stepped forward-- over the Exo's limp arm-- and stared at the back of his head as he turned towards the group of guardians waiting for them. She waited for a response, but he didn't say anything, he only tapped the sole of his boot on the floor before walking away.

It left Mora with several questions she knew she would probably never get a direct answer to.

"Lotus." She said, summoning the ghost to her left hand.
"Take these rogues to the ship, and make sure they're locked up."
Lotus adjusted his shell sideways in question, but Mora gave him a stern look.

Hovering over the two bodies, he scanned them, then transported them with blue particles of light that vanished within thin air. Her eyes lingered on the fading light.