[i]My Kell, Recovery teams have penetrated the Vault, as per orders. We regret to inform that the Vault was empty. Someone else already has the relic. We did find a message scribbled on the wall, however. “Dikas Zer tas e na Steel na dra da.” Understandably, we are all quite concerned about this.[/i] -Venell, Baron of Steel ——————————————————— We heard four thumps hit the top of our Skiff. Skoei grabbed Shaski’s spear and I raised my gun. We moved towards the back, standing besides the doorway, waiting. The boarders climbed around the outside, coming around to climb up through the drop hatches. The drop bars creaked open, probably forced. I aimed down the sights of my gun, towards the nearest hatch. Skoei readied the spear, holding it to throw it at anyone who stepped up. I saw four shimmers in the air climb up. “They’re Cloaked!” I yelled, taking a shot at one. He ducked, moving forwards amazingly fast. Skoei threw his spear, hitting the largest shimmer in the shoulder, sending him falling back. I didn’t see the poor fool hit the ground before I myself was tackled, sent to the floor. Skoei soon followed, wrestled down by two Shimmers. They dropped their stealth fields, showing us they were Vandals, garbed in dark gray with similarly dark grey cloaks. Two had pinned Skoei, one pinned me. Skoei was grunting, trying to break out, but he was stuck. I tried to struggle, but the Vandal was strong. Stronger than any other Vandal I’d met. I couldn’t even move. The fourth figure stood up and dropped his stealth field. He was a captain, wearing gray armor even darker than the Vandals. He tore the spear out of his shoulder and strode over to Skoei [i]”Now now, I told you to come quietly little Captain! I suppose I couldn’t have expected much less from you, though. I’m Eccoi, your new captain. What’s your name?”[/i] “I will not play your games or join your crew you dirty sloat! Skoei of House Kings is not your servant!” [i]”How savage. I think we’ll like eachother.”[/i] He removed his faceplate, hundreds of needle-sharp teeth grinning at Skoei. Then he raised the spear up and stabbed it down through Skoei’s shoulder, in the same spot Skoei had pierced Eccoi. Eccoi laughed and laughed at this. Guy must be unhinged somewhere in the head. “There. Now we’ll have matching scars! See, we’re already getting along splendidly!” He tossed the spear aside and turned to the Vandals. “[i]Alright, I think this is all of them. Let’s g-“[/i] He was rudely interrupted by a flying Shaski kick to the face, sending him sprawling. Shaski dropped to the floor and grabbed the spear, spinning around to whack the Vandal holding me. He released me, dazed. I grabbed my gun and hopped up, planting a shot in the Vandal’s head, before turning to the ones on Skoei. One had released, and was engaging Shaski. I shot the one still holding Skoei, then helped him up. He was bleeding from his shoulder, wincing in pain as I say him against the wall. Shaski decapitated the last Vandal, before turning to Eccoi. He was leaning against the wall, cradling his face. [i]”Mhmm. I seem to have forgotten one of you. This is everyone, right? No more surprise people?”[/i] Shaski growled and leaped at him, going to stab him in the chest. The spear pinged off something in the air, forced aside, throwing Shaski into it as well. A shield of crackling purple light crackled into view around Eccoi. Shaski suddenly fell through the shield, to a waiting punch from Eccoi, sending her across the Skiff and into the wall. Eccoi stood up properly now, and crackled his knuckles. I fired twice at him, my shots just fizzling into his shield, doing nothing to him. He walked over to me as I tried to scramble away. He got to me first. Four arms grabbed me and hauled me into the air, eye to eye with this insane Captain. [i]”I apologize for this, little Dreg. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”[/i] With that, he slammed his head into mine, and darkness washed over me. ——————————————————— I awoke in a bed. A soft-ish blanket was on top of me, printed with that same overlapping diamond shape. I sat up slowly. My head ached. As I looked around, the sight was quite perplexing. I was in a room made of metal, curved ceiling and gentle humming telling me I was in a Ketch. I realized I wasn’t wearing my armor, it’s familiar weigh missing from my body. I realized my arm didn’t hurt anymore. And something felt off about my lower arms. But more importantly I could feel that I had no ether drip going. I started to panic, then I realized something. The air tasted like ether. I looked around and saw it, on a small table. A device shooting vaporous ether into the air. Strange. I looked about more. The room was decorated. Gray banners hung from walls and ceiling, all printed with that same design. The wall had trophies upon it. A large bone sword, a very large triangular gun, some crossed wire rifles. Shaski and Skoei were in here too, laying on Cots of their own, still asleep. We were arranged in a semicircle facing a table. Sitting at the table was Eccoi. He wasn’t wearing his armor, instead wearing only utilitarian pants, a loose shirt, and his cloak. He was quietly stirring a cup of some steaming liquid, reading from a small projection on the table. I lunged towards him, Head still throbbing. I got about half of the way there until something grabbed my leg and pulled me to halt. I hit the ground in a heap, new pains springing up. I looked back. There was a shackle and chain around my foot, attached to the floor next to my cot. Eccoi looked over at me, putting his cup down. [i]”Now why did you go and do that? You’re going to hurt yourself more than I did.”[/i] He walked over, helping me back to my feet and sitting me on the edge of my bed, before returning to his table. I was so dazed by his politeness I didn’t even fight back. [i]”I don’t think We got to introduce ourselves properly. I’m Eccoi, who’re you?” “I’m Uhh... Ezkor. Ezkor of House Devils.” He chuckled at this. [i]”You’re no Devil anymore, but that can wait. You want some tea Ezkor? I learned how to make it from some humans we inducted a while ago, and I’ve grown quite fond of it.”[/i] “W-what?” I stammered at him. Tea? The heck was Tea? “Uhh... sure?” He smiled and brought me a cup of a steaming liquid, much like his own. It was tinted greenish brown, and had a weird smell. [i]”It’s delicious. Careful though, it is hot. Don’t burn yourself.”[/i] I took a cautious sip. It was pretty good, and quite hot. I winced in pain. “Uhh... Eccoi, was it? Where are we?” Eccoi smiled as he drank his own ‘tea’ [i]”You’re in my personal quarters. I brought you all here to rest. I did hurt you all a little more than I wanted to.”[/i] “Okay... uh... why are we here?” [i]”Well I just told you that! I thought it’d only be polite to for a Captain to see that his Crew was well tended to, so I did it myself. Simple.”[/i] “Crew? And why’d you say I’m not a Devil anymore?” This Eccoi was really confusing me. [i]”Well, young Ezkor, that’s a real simple answer! You have been inducted to the House of Steel. You and your friends proved yourselves worthy on that Skiff, so you’ve been brought in.”[/i] He said, gesturing widely. [i]”And since you killed my Vanguard, you get to be their replacements.”[/i]