It was all so sudden, so violent, one minute Cale was simply patrolling the city and the next he was fighting off Cabal Red Legion soldiers, trying his best to protect those he could and and get those he could to evac. It was unrelenting the fight unforgiving the enemy showing no mercy. Through it all he held strong, he fought back the invaders protected those who could not defend themselves and helping those that required aid.
He did it all as if it was second nature as if it was something he had been born for, something he knew would be his calling. He never faltered never asked for a break, his enemy was unrelenting so he had to be as well. He did his duty, he did what a Titan, a Guardian was brought back to do and that was to protect the people of the last city. He didnât do it for the traveler he didnât kill for glory or reward.
He fought every foe that came into his sights killed them without a second thought. It was them or him, them or a citizen of the city, and he knew it would be them every time. It was only when he looked up to the traveler that the scope of the battle, no the war that had begun was not simply going to be one in a single night. In that instant he felt his light tore from his body as the cage engulfed the traveler, his connection cut.
It was as if his feet had been swept out from beneath him as if a part of him had been yanked out of his body. When he crumpled to the ground and noticed Dutch, his ghost, his best friend fading he knew that this war would be long. That it would take much from those who would fight it and it had truly just begun.
Somehow through luck Cale hadnât found his end in that moment when the guardians were all weakened. And even luckier for him he had found a group of guardians and civilians who were making a attempt to get out of the city. They were all scared even the guardians for the first time in many of their lives it had been few and far between where a battle had them feel as mortal as they truly were.
Take away the light and whatâs left is a human an awoken a exo who has more training than the normal soldier, more experience with the enemy then a normal soldier. And every civilian that was in their care had their eyes on them and for the first time these men and women were unsure about their fate, had real doubts and some were even afraid just as much as the people looking to them.
When the enemy finally caught up to them, when they were set upon by the Cabal war beasts when the very people the city looked towards began to fall, it was easy to lose hope in that moment, easy to give into the darkness so to speak. But despite it all, despite the losses and despite the wounded Cale the the other guardians and even some citizens of the city grabbed weapons they could find to help.
But even after their small victory, pushing back the war dogs that the Cabal had at their command. Cale and the others knew more were coming, actual troops no less, he knew, he could tell that very few of the guardians with him were looking to stay. But it didnât need to be said what would happen to the civilians that were fleeing. Theyâd be run down like vermin and killed, or worse captured.
He saw the looks the other guardians gave him, he might not of believed he was worthy of leading anyone, but they could tell what was, he wasnât just another guardian, another Titan even. He was one of the new Iron Lords, the sword and armor he wore made that clear to everyone there. He knew he didnât have long, he knew it was only a matter of time till they scattered to the wind so he spoke quickly, with a commanding yet gentle tone, the southern accent he had spotted lightly throughout it. âEveryone I know this is a bad situation, you all know what will happen if we turn and run now. I know you are all scared, hell even I am guys. But we are still the ones the people are looking to, the ones that have the skills to fight these Fuckers.â
He let his words hang for a second, he had removed his helmet those emerald green eyes scanning across the small band of guardians that were left as he continued. âI wonât force any of you to stay here, I know what I am. I am a Iron Lord and I swore to protect the people of the city no matter the cost. I will give my final death if I must and if I must hold this line by myself then I will.â He took a deep breath, he could feel his nerves acting up in his right arm, the damage from long ago giving him slight tremors in times of extreme stress and exhaustion.
His first clenched tightly as he did his best to will it to stop, his eyes closed as he gathered his thoughts before he said. âThe wounded will go with the civilians, those whoâŚ.donât want to stay may go, those who donât believe they can. May go, but I will stay and I will give them something to remember, that when people look back on this day they wonât remember the names of the monsters that attacked them or even the bastard that led them, they will remember those who fought, those who sacrificed and those who died trying to protect them. So if youâre all with me guardians let's give them all something to remember.â
In the end the fight was long, even the small force of Cabal ground troops put Cale the other guardians through their paces and then some. The fight was brutal, but none the less the line was held, the small band of guardians were thinned even more so, those that had survived did not linger for long and those that stayed were wounded and dying more than likely. The Titan had that rallied them knelt besides a young awoken Titan, young more so in the way that the man had not been a guardian for very long. Cale had stayed there with him trying to comfort him in some way before the wounds he had received proved fatal.
Even Cale hadnât made it out of the fight in one piece, the evidence being a mess of bandages and blood that was hastily wrapped around the left side of his face and neck, his sword, the young wolfâs howl broken in half was stuck into the ground besides him as he said. âRest well Titan Perhaps Iâll see you soon, perhaps I might not who knows, but you wonât be forgotten.â As he rose back up he pulled what appeared to be a tattered freeholders memory Titan mark and the broke remains of his sword and made his way towards the path that lead him out of the city.
He walked like a man half dead, a man who might not be long for this world. But he walked none the less so that even if he might die out in the wilds at the very least he made an attempt to get back to his friends, to his loved ones no matter his condition.