Guardians of the Ark (Destiny x Goddess of Victory: NIKKE)

[Ebanu8]

A/N: Here is the first chapter of a commissioned 5-part NIKKE/Destiny crossover.

Displacement
(Destiny X Goddess of Victory: NIKKE)​

4th November, 2187 AD
Outskirts

A great blast of electricity shocked a portion in a ball of fire, and out stumbled three groggy males clad in power armour. Short in height, slim of body, their heads concealed beneath green helmets with gold-tinted facial glass, their androgynous bodies made it difficult to discern their true gender.

"Ow… fuck," Said Guy 1, "What the fuck just happened?"

"I don't know, my head's pounding like someone took a fucking crowbar to my skull," Guy 2 groaned, struggling to get up.

"At least it's nothing like getting high on PCP or other drugs," Guy 3 remarked sarcastically, dusting off his legs, "Actually, you guys know where we are?"

They took a good look around the alleyway, and then they noticed the devastated landscape, the land completely devoid of life. The soil was a patchy brown colour, sickly and tainted, and no grass or other forms of plans or wildlife was in sight. The sky was a pasty blue, filled with clouds the colour of vomit water, the sun shining dimly in high noon.

"Uh… Guys?" Said Guy 1, "I don't think we're on Earth anymore."

"You sure? I know only Earth smells like this," Guy 2 shrugged, "But you're right, we're not in the Fallen facility on Mars, and we're far from civilisation."

"At least we're away from being surrounded by enemies," Guy 3 noted, "Better that than potentially dying."

"Still means we're not near civilisation, and we need shelter soon," Said Guy 1.

"No need to be so worried, Chief," Said Guy 2, "At least we can try to look around. Speaking of which…"

"Rookie…"

Then their three ghosts materialised, the little AI companions swirling around them like little pets happy to return to their owners.

"Guardians, it's good to see that you're all well," Said Chief's Ghost Cortana, "We feared the worst when that explosion took out the entire Fallen facility."

"Good to see you too, Cortana," Chief smiled slightly, "Do you know where we are?"

"No, Chief, I… I can't access the Last City's database," Cortana muttered in confusion, her voice audibly worried, "I don't think we're anywhere familiar."

"What I said," Rookie piqued.

"Right, let's not forget our dear parrot," Rookie's Ghost Jango drawled, "Who just so loves to be a chatterbox at his best, and an annoying parrot at worst."

"Oh, fuck you too, Jango," Hunter rolled his eyes.

"Let's be serious here for a little," Six's Ghost Fred replied, "We're not in the Last City, and we're definitely not anywhere familiar, not to mention we can't contact any known associates much less headquarters. We're cut off from support and on our own."

"Ah, fuck me," Hunter cursed, "Looks like we're just gonna have to ask for directions then."

All three felt a rumbling in their stomachs, and Guy 3 said, "I'm hungry. Let's go for pizza."

"You do realise we're stranded and far from any city?" Chief pointed out matter-of-factly.

"I know, and I don't care, I want my pizza," Guy 3 insisted.

Chief rolled his eyes, and Hunter said, "Fine, have it your way. But one moment while we triangulate our positions."

After a few pensive seconds, Jango materialised in front of them, whirling with beeps of disappointment.

"We have good news and bad news," Said Jango, "Which do you want first?"

"Bad news then," Chief said.

"Alright, bad news is that we really are stuck in the middle of nowhere, and we have no access to any of the old infrastructure or communication contacts where we came from. That means no Guardian support, and so on. We're stuck."

"Fuck," Rookie cursed.

"Does that mean no pizza?" Six asked pensively.

"Thankfully, that's where the good news comes in," Fred piqued, "There is one city, and we can reach there in about three hours on hoverbike. Although, it is located underground."

"Underground? Even the Last City wasn't built underground," Six pointed out.

"Yes, well, this city is underground, and it's the only beacon of civilisation for several square miles," Cortana answered, "Unless there's another city around somewhere…"

"Then we know our next destination," Chief concluded, "Spartans, let's-"

They heard the telltale staccato of gunfire not far from their position, and their guns were at the ready.

"Chief?" Hunter questioned.

"Spartans, move out!" Chief ordered.

The three Guardians moved towards the source of the gunfire, materialising their hoverbikes in flashes of light, and sped like demons from Hell itself. They arrived to find a single in rather skimpy, garish clothing completely unsuited for real combat, firing a submachine gun against her enemies: Countless biomechanical horrors the likes of which were found deep in the boughs of Darkness-infested strongholds.

With accurate bursts from her submachine gun, she downed several Raptures, but it became clear there were too many for her to handle.

And so, the Guardians chose to intervene.

Spoiler: Guardians Vs Raptures

Spartan Assault: 71

Rapture Assault: 4!

The three Guardians' ammo reserves were put to the test as they unleashed a barrage of fire against the biomechanical horde, but guns were not the only weapons at their disposal.

Chief, the hulking Titan, used light-infused punches to smash Raptures to pieces, crushing advanced metamaterials like paper mache. He dashed into the melee, jumping and then hammering the ground with a shockwave, arc energy damaging a dozen in his immediate vicinity.

Chief quickly withdrew, taking care to not stray too far from the downed transport.

"Rookie, to your six!" Chief warned.

Rookie was next, manifesting a bow of pure light in his hands. He shot a barrage of light arrows with impossible speed, as if firing a medieval-style machine gun, the barrage lasting a full minute.

To the Raptures, it was like suffering a rain of hailstones upon their skulls, pierced and blown to smithereens. Every arrow found their mark. One shot, one kill.

When his bow of light faded, Rookie summoned throwing knives and fired orbs of bright amber from his pistol. His movements, dexterous and agile, were like a leopard leaping through the boughs of a dense jungle, pouncing on and killing all prey in its path.

"Your turn, Six!" Said Rookie.

Finally, it was Six's turn, and the Warlock manifested a storm of lightning.

He was one with the Light, and one with the Void, both elements mutually opposed to the darkness. He was the storm incarnate. By his command, a storm descended upon the Raptures, each lightning bolt striking an enemy true, frying its internal circuits and flesh beyond repair. Thunderbolts electrified a wide area with a shockwave, reducing other Raptures to a bleeding pulp.

The woman was enraptured by this display of supernatural abilities from the three Guardians, even as they maintained fire, and soon the Raptures had had enough, withdrawing into the vast wasteland on the earth's surface. She would sigh in relief, but felt immensely suspicious of the new arrivals, especially with their esoteric abilities, though she felt a slight headache pounding her head.

'No, not now…'

Shaking her head, she heard the navigator Shifty radio her.

"Marian, are you okay? I feared the worst when that swarm of Raptures found your position," Shifty said.

"I'm fine, Shifty. Thanks for your concern," Marian assured.

"I'm also detecting three signatures on your location. I take it they're your saviours?"

"They are, and hopefully they'll help me find Anis and Rapi," Said Marian.

"Well, good luck. You'll need it," Said Shifty.

Then Marian approached the Guardians, who took a good look at the NIKKE's appearance.

The Elysion NIKKE possessed full curves the envy of many women, clothed in a sexualised parody of female clothing, a mix between a white shirt as a crop top, a blue skirt barely covering her waistline, capped sleeves and black gloves, a white coat hanging to her shoulders by pins, and black stockings and casual-looking shoes. On her mop of brown hair, a single cap with white stripes. Her eyes were a slightly dark purple, her face the picturesque kind and compassionate maiden. In her hands was a submachine gun, lovingly maintained and cared for.

Marian bled from a head injury. Minor, but bleeding enough to obstruct her vision. She aimed her rifle at the Guardians, suspicious and hesitant.

The Guardians likewise aimed their weapons at her, gauging her intent.

A tense standoff ensued for several seconds, neither making a move, until Chief decided to raise his hand in placation, slinging his rifle across his back.

Marian was surprised, but her suspicion only heightened, and she never lowered her weapon.

"Who are you people?" Marian questioned, "I've never heard of a group of Humans like you gunning down Raptures, much less an entire horde of them, or possessing the kind of abilities you do."

"Raptures? These machines?" Chief questioned.

"Yes, the very same," Marian confirmed, "Also, you haven't answered my question."

The Guardians looked at each other, confused by her suspicion bordering on hostility, fear and doubt in her eyes.

"We are Guardians, defenders of Mankind and the Last City on Earth," Chief answered, taking great care to appear non-threatening and amicable, "Can we ask who you are?"

"Guardians? Last City? Never heard of them," Said Marian, "And as far as I know, the only defenders of mankind are the NIKKEs."

"Excuse me for interrupting, but I'm kinda confused here," Said Rookie, "What the heck is a NIKKE, or a rapture, for that matter?"

"You don't know?" Marian questioned, "Practically every Human on earth knows of them, and you say you don't know?"

"Yes, we don't know," Rookie insisted, rolling his eyes.

"Look, I can tell you're incredibly confused. We're also confused, but I think it's better we work together while we're in enemy territory," Chief said to Marian, "Truce?"

Marian still could not fully trust them, but she eventually relented and lowered her weapon.

"Alright," Said Marian, "My name's Marian, and you are?"

"I'm Chief, the others are Rookie and Six," Chief introduced, "What were you doing out here, by the way?"

"I'm supposed to link up with another squad of NIKKE not far from my current position on a Rapture extermination mission, but my transport was downed due to AA fire," Marian explained, "I'm still detecting signs of life, so we should hurry there as soon as possible."

"Hold on, you're bleeding from an injury," Said Chief, who then took out a bandage.

"It's fine, us NIKKEs can just self-heal with a little time. No need to waste your bandages," Marian waved off.

"I insist," Chief said.

Despite Marian's protests, she eventually relented and allowed the Chief to bandage her head, who wrapped the linen to stem the flow of blood. Once the bandage was secured, Chief patted her head with warm tenderness.

"Good as new," Chief smiled.

Marian blushed a little at the gesture.

"Thank you…" She said, before patting her face, "Right, it's time to go. No sense waiting here."

"Whoa, screw running. We got a better idea," Rookie smiled.

Then their hoverbikes materialised, and Marian's eyes widened.

"Wow, that's convenient," She remarked.

"Perks of being a Guardian," Rookie stated, "Speaking of which, I think it's time you meet our companions."

The three Ghosts materialised, introducing themselves to Marian.

"Hello Marian," Cortana greeted, "I'm Cortana, my fellow Ghosts are Jango and Fred."

"Um, hello," Marian said awkwardly, "Are they…?"

"I know that you'd like to know more, but I think we've wasted enough time, no offense," Six reminded.

"You're right, let's get going," Said Marian, who then radioed Shifty, "Shifty, Anis and Rapi?"

"Still the same location as before, Marian," Said Shifty, "You'd best get going right now."

IIOII​

Thanks to the Guardians' hoverbikes, they soon reached Anis and Rapi, who were busy fending off Raptures by themselves. The blonde-haired Anis fired accurate shots from her rocket launcher, downing two of the larger Raptures, while the light, pinkish blonde-haired Rapi used her assault rifle to shoot the smaller ones with small, accurate bursts.

The Guardians soon stepped in, firing their own Glimmer-based weapons. Each Guardian weapon fired with as much force as a NIKKE gun, imbuing each shot with enough force to shatter reinforced concrete ten times over. Such force could easily shatter the bones of unaugmented Humans.

The rest of the Raptures quickly withdrew, once they realised they could not win.

Anis and Rapi initially aimed their weapons at the Guardians, but Marian was first to intervene.

"Hold up, they're friendlies," She said, "They helped me in a tight spot and are now here to help us."

"That so? No offense, but aren't they male?" Anis questioned with narrowed eyes.

"I have to agree with Anis; only NIKKEs have the capabilities to shoot down Raptures," Rapi affirmed, maintaining a stoic facade of professionalism.

"I know it sounds weird, but I saw them gun down an entire horde of Raptures and use some special abilities, almost like magic," Marian explained, "Actually, what happened with your commander?"

"He died," Rapi answered.

"He charged at the Raptures, screaming and shooting, then got flattened," Anis shrugged, "That's what you get for sending incompetent officers with no actual experience, especially those not armed with our specially-made NIKKE guns. Only these things and not their peashooters can pierce Rapture armour."

"What!? But… you were supposed to protect him! You let him die!" Marian accused, aiming her rifle at Anis.

"Enough!"

The sheer volume in Six's voice formed a mini shockwave that caused the NIKKEs to stumble, and all of them looked at Chief with shock.

"What's done is done," Six reprimanded, "We're here to kill Raptures, so focus. No pointless squabbling or bickering until afterwards, are we clear?"

"But-"

"Am I clear?" Six reiterated more firmly, strengthening his vocal cords.

"I… yes, Six," Marian reluctantly nodded, though she glared slightly at Anis and Rapi.

Chief placed a hand on Six's shoulder, and he relaxed slightly.

"Right, let's focus on the mission; how many more Raptures do we have to kill before the mission is complete?" Rookie smoothly interjected, redirecting the conversation with flawless ease.

Before Anis or Rapi could say anything though, their radio comms flared to life.

"Anis, Rapi, Marian, I've just detected a Tyrant-Class Rapture in the area, codenamed Blacksmith!" Shifty said on the radio, "This one's particularly dangerous because it's consumed dozens of NIKKEs, so exercise extreme caution when dealing with it."

"Then we have to abandon the mission and go back," Marian suggested, "It's too risky, and we can't take it on with the numbers we have."

"Honestly, I have to agree with Marian," Anis nodded, "That thing's gonna take either overwhelming numbers or elite squads from the Big Three to take down."

"No, we're not leaving," Rapi said, "We're going to take down the Blacksmith."

"It's too dangerous! That's a Tyrant-Class Rapture, you know what those things do to NIKKE!" Marian insisted.

Tyrant-Class Raptures were incredibly notorious for possessing the capability to assimilate NIKKEs by implanting corruption code into their brains, turning them into Irregulars - fallen NIKKE who join the Raptures - and for capturing and digesting NIKKEs to create more parts for making and repairing Raptures.

Rapi stared coldly at Marian, "We have these Guardians and their abilities. They'll even the odds."

"I agree with Rapi; we're not going back," Chief said.

"What!? But this is a tyrant-class Rapture we're talking about!" Marian protested, "That thing's consumed dozens of NIKKEs for spare parts, and they're grades above the rank-and-file Raptures we encountered!"

"Exactly why we should finish it off," Chief insisted, "I'm not letting that monster roam around forever."

"Even with your abilities, I doubt that you could…" Marian said.

Suddenly, Marian's eyes turned a baleful red, her expression losing its focus and clarity, and from her lips, a distorted voice grated on their ears.

"Over here… Over here. Over here. Over here. Over here."

And then, out of nowhere, a giant anthropod Rapture, gigantic in stature, its carapace armed with a plethora of missile launchers and guns, captured Marian and placed her inside its body, devouring her body whole. Six quickly manifested a barrier of light, blocking the Rapture's attacks as its claws and missiles pinged harmlessly against the solid wall.

"Everyone, hold positions!" Chief ordered, before charging the massive Rapture and leaping, punching it squarely in the face.

The massive Rapture roared and stumbled backwards, disoriented and angry.

"That's it! That's the Tyrant-Class Rapture 'Blacksmith'!" Shifty shouted in alarm, "Take it down now!"

"No need to tell me twice!" Anis said.

As one the NIKKEs and Guardians unleashed their full might against the Blacksmith, giving it no time to recover and retaliate. Anis and Rapi unleashed burst fire, imbuing their shots with energy from their Goddessium bodies, which inflicted twice the damage of regular shots. The Blacksmith stumbled and groaned, balancing unsteadily on its damaged legs.

Six was next, the Warlock channeling the power of the void and manifesting a lightning storm in his hands. He unleashed the full might of the storm upon the Blacksmith, shocking its body with massive amounts of electricity and pummeling it with an equally powerful shockwave.

Rookie then materialised his bow and fired a storm of arrows, the Hunter hitting every gun port and missile launcher with pinpoint accuracy, before detonating in a shower of sparks. Rookie would then create throwing knives, hitting the leg joints and immobilising it, causing it to tumble to the ground.

Finally, Chief charged forward and leapt in the air like a gorilla, roaring at the top of his voice and smashing his fists on the Blacksmith's carapace. A shockwave of light burst forth like the detonation of plastic explosives, and the Rapture's structure crumpled like paper, breaking against the merciless onslaught of the Titan.

The Blacksmith fell for the final time, twitched and spasmed, and then went still, its lights fading to nothingness. And then, disgorged from its innards was Marian.

Both the NIKKE's legs and one of her arms was damaged with internal circuitry exposed, her right eye glowing a baleful red. Her face was delirious, half-drunk and staring at nothing. She was completely immobile, on the cusp of turning.

"Shifty, we found Marian," Rapi radioed through her communicator, her voice professional and monotone.

"I read you, but I'm already detecting signs of corruption inside her brain," Shifty informed sadly, "The law is clear; any NIKKE who shows signs of corruption has to be terminated."

"I understand," Said Rapi, before approaching Chief and handing her a pistol from her holster.

"What's this?" Chief asked.

"A pistol that we NIKKEs use to self-terminate in the event we become corrupted by Raptures," Rapi explained, "Marian is already corrupted, and if we bring her back, we risk her turning into a danger for everyone in the Ark. She must be killed using this special pistol."

"You can't do it yourself?" Chief asked.

Rapi shook her head, "Our laws mandate that NIKKEs cannot ever harm each other, corrupted or otherwise, and the assigned commander of the NIKKE squad has to do it, but since our previous one died, it must be you.

"Over here…"

The group took a look at the near-comatose Marian, mumbling the same words in the same distorted voice over and over again, as if on autopilot. She was like a doll with her strings cut, waiting for her master to make her whole once again.

"Over here…" Marian muttered again.

Chief heaved a heavy sigh, then wordlessly took the pistol. He slowly walked towards Marian, pistol in hand, his footsteps far heavier than usual.

Every clack of hardened metal on pavement echoed like a thunder strike in Chief's ears, and his mind drifted towards a darker memory, when he investigated the last-known position of a missing Guardian squad on Mercury.

Memories of a squad of mangled bodies missing limbs or heads, their armour caked in blood, the stench of Darkness lingering all around. There, in the middle of a pile of alien corpses, a single woman crying out for help, her darkened form radiating black miasma.

"Please… help me…"

His footsteps grew heavier, his eyes beginning to blur and shake.

"Over here…"

"Over here…"

Chief grit his teeth, clenching his hands into tight fists. He willed his mind to banish the memory, to give him back his focus, yet Marian's words relentlessly dragged this dark taint on his record to the fore, as if daring him to forget what he had done - what he failed to do.

"Chief… help me… I don't want to be part of the Darkness…"

The stench of blood and burning electronics, the delirious face of his fallen comrade, the heavy air that lingered like smog from a coal factory, it was too much.

"Please… help me…"

"Over here…"

He remembered her the day he lost her. The day he lost his mentor and closest confidant to the Darkness. He remembered her name: Alexia.

A rising star among the Titan corps of the Guardians, Alexia was possessed of sharp wit and gentle kindness, a woman that everyone loved, devoted to the cause of protecting Humanity and the Last City. He, on the other hand, was jaded and grief-stricken, learning that the place he loved and called home was gone for good.

She took the time to educate him, train him and listen to him vent, a dedicated teacher.

Marian was like Alexia in so many regards: Kind, gentle, easy to like and get along with.

And now, fate was playing this cruel joke on him once again.

He soon reached Marian's prone form, raised the pistol and prepared to pull the trigger. Yet he hesitated, seeing Alexia's face on Marian's. His hand shook, his helmet's tinted visor concealing a face of immense recalcitrance and even fear.

His pistol was lowered.

'I can't do it.' He thought with bitter regret.

And then, a warm, gentle hand guiding his pistol hand towards the forehead. It was Marian, offering Chief a soft smile.

"Over here… Chief."

"Over here… Chief."

And then, she guided his trigger finger, pressing it deeper and deeper.

With an anguished face, Chief uttered two words.

"I'm here."

And with a pull of the trigger, Marian was killed.

Chief's pistol hand slumped to his side, and he took the bandage he gave her before tying it around Marian's old head wound, then her right eye. A final farewell. He walked away in complete silence, giving the pistol back to Rapi. Anis watched the hunched form of Chief, her eyes softening in sympathy.

"Do you have a transport inbound yet?" He asked.

"Yes, it should be arriving soon," Rapi answered.

"Then let's go," Chief beckoned, "No sense staying here."

No one argued, and so the group left, leaving Marian's corpse behind.

Anis would take one last, sorrowful look at the dead Marian, and then turned to leave.

"Damn it."