[i]For those just tuning in the link to part one is above. Shoutout to AltroGamingBros and Venom Sniper for working with me to create a combined series. Also, Oddish will play a tiny part in this one so shoutout to him too. Disclaimer I don't own any Bungie stuff. Or any John Wayne stuff. You'll see. Now let's begin![/i] Malex and Elite-5 always go to the Gunsmoke Saloon to hang out. The place is for hunters but Malex brought along a very special quest. A titan by the name of... Oddish: This place is a dump Malex: True, but it's our dump Elite-5: I'll drink to that Malex: (lights a cigar) Hey Oddish you want one? Oddish: No thank you. Paula would kill me Elite-5: Speaking of Paula, heard you two went on a date the other night. Oddish: How did you? It wasn't a date, just a crimson day match followed up by a burger and a few beers Malex & Elite-5: Yep. Date Oddish: Oh shut up. So Malex, Elite-5 told me about the transmission you got from Ronin. What was your reply? Malex: I told him to go to he## [i] The next morning, Tower Stable[/i] Malex was saddling up his horse. He needed a ride to clear his head. Rika walked into the stable and watched him. Rika: Going somewhere? Malex: Just out for a ride (mounts up) This whole thing with Ronin has got me stressed. Rika: Well you aren't going alone. Last time you went out alone you rescues an entire kinderguardian class from a fallen ketch and almost got killed. I'm coming too. Malex: No, you're not Rika stood in the stable door with her arms crossed. [i] Five Minutes Later[/i] Malex rode through the EDZ. Rika was riding right behind him. Rika: See? This isn't so bad Malex: Yeah yeah yeah. Just hold on tight okay? Rika: I always do The two rode together for about a half an hour. Malex brought Dusty to a stop by a lake so they all could rest. The two hunters got off of the horse and Malex led Dusty to the lake, where the horse happily drank. Rika wandered off to go find some firewood and Malex sat down under a tree. Malex: Sedina, for a nightstalker you suck at stealth The female awoken hunter appeared before him. Sedina: I was invisible! How did you see me? Malex: You still cast a shadow stupid Sedina: (facepalm) Right. Listen, Ronin wants to talk to you. He feels terrible about what happened on the dreadnought. And, so do I. We want to say sorry. Malex: In the words of the great John Wayne [i]"Never apologize mister it's a sign of weakness."[/i] Sedina: Does that mean you won't talk to us? Malex: You're smarter than you look. To bad you can't fight for sh#t. Sedina: What did you just say!? (lunges at him) Malex: (shoots her) Lady, I can draw my gun much faster than you can move. Don't push your luck. Sedina sat up and held her shoulder. Her Ghost appeared and began to heal her. Rika returned and Malex explained what happened. The two mounted up and rode off. A bolt of lightning zipped past Sedina and down the road. It zoomed up beside Dusty, it was Ronin cruising at super speed. Ronin: Malex here me out. Malex spurred Dusty to go faster, Ronin easily kept pace. Ronin: Malex I can outrun a sparrow, your horse can't get away from me. Malex: Fine (Pulls reigns and dismounts) What do you want? Ronin came to a stop, arc energy crackled over his body. He was much faster than Malex had previously been lead to belive. Ronin: I just want to explain why we didn't go back for you. Malex, I'm your friend. Malex: With friends like you who needs enemies? Ronin: Okay, that hurt. You don't understand what I've been through! I fought through those thrall for eleven days! Malex: Good for you. That doesn't explain why you and Sedina didn't come back to find me when you were done! It took me another week to find Oryx and five days to kill him! I was still in that ship after you left! Ronin: I know we should've gone back for you but there was no way you could've survived! When I heard Oryx had been killed I knew it was you who killed him. I just felt so terrible for... Malex: Oh man the -blam!- up! It's oh boo hoo I feel so terrible. Boo hoo I'm so sorry. It's pathetic. Rika: Malex! Here him out! Malex: Rika! I thought you were on my side! Rika: When Dredgen Void took me over you searched for me for a year and then freed me. You gave me a second chance. I refuse to belive that the man I love won't give his friend a second chance! Malex: Rika... Ronin: Come on man. What do you say? Malex just stood there. Sedina sparrowed in and dismounted. Sedina: My shoulder is still aching, that Last Word packs a punch. While the attention was on Sedina, a man dressed in black snuck up behind Rika. He pinned her arms and put a knife to her throat. Rika: Hey, let me go! Another man got a hold of Sedina, a knife was put to her throat too. Six more of these guys emerged from the trees. Malex went to draw. Man: Don't, you reach for that gun and she dies. (holds knife tighter on Rika's throat.) Malex: What do you want? Man: That horse of yours, could go for a nice price. Hand it over and we let go of the women. Malex: Poachers... Poacher: I guess you could call us that. What's it gonna be? Ronin looks at Malex, he wanted to see how he handled this. He wanted to see just how fast he was. Ronin: (puts hands up) I surrender! Sedina: What!? Ronin: (as he's being handcuffed) It's up to you Malex (winks) Malex hated it when Ronin did stupid stuff like that. Poacher: So what's it gonna be Gunslinger? Malex: (lights a cigar) Your lives The poachers where taken back, what did he mean? He was outnumbered and outgunned! Malex just stared them down. The Poacher holding Rika pressed the knife even closer to her throat, he drew a little blood. Malex's eyes filled with rage, but he just stood there. Suddenly, one gunshot rang out and all eight poachers fell dead. Rika and Sedina rubbed their throats as Ronin broke the cuffs. Rika ran to Malex and hugged him. Rika: Oh thank goodness! Sedina: What just happened!? Ronin: Malex killed them. Sedina: But he didn't move. Malex just chuckled as he calmly drew The Last Word. Smoke bellowed out of it's barrel. Malex ejected the reload cylinder, it's eight chambers were empty. Sedina: How is that possible? Ronin: Malex moved so quickly your eyes couldn't physically process what was happening. My speed is so fast my brain perceives things faster than an normal person. I saw Malex draw, shoot eight rounds, and holster his gun. It only sounded like one because he shot so fast. Impressive. Malex: (reloaded and holstered gun) Come on, if they were poachers then they must have animals caged up somewhere. [i]Five Minutes Later[/i] Malex set five more horses free. He walked back into the little compound they found. Rika: I think that was the last of them. Malex heard something whimpering from a far off corner. He walked over and found a cage with a German Shepard inside. He looked to be about one and a half years old. And he was in rough shape. Malex opened the cage and the dog growled. Malex noticed a thorn bullet in it's leg. Malex goes to reach for it but the dog lashes out at him. Malex looks the dog in the eye. Malex: Shh, I have you. (pulls thorn bullet out of dogs leg) There you go. Peacemaker, can we heal the thorns corruption on him? Peacemaker (Malex's ghost): No. He's going to die, I'm sorry Malex. Malex: Not on my watch (picks up the dog) I have an Idea (rushes out) Ronin: Where's he going? Rika: Malex has always had a soft spot for dogs. He's going to heal him. Malex set the dog down. He channeled solar light to his hand and placed it on the dogs wounds. The German Shepard winced but decided to trust Malex. The corruption was dispelled and a wave of solar light washed over the dog, healing it. The dog jumped up, pounced Malex, and began licking him all over his face. Malex: Okay, cut it out buddy. Come on (the dog gets off and sits by Malex's feet) Ronin: I've never seen anyone do that before? How powerful with the Solar light are you? Malex: More powerful than you know and that I care to say. You know, I think I'll keep him. I'll call you, Ajax. Ajax's ears perked up and his tail started wagging. He liked that name. Lockdown (Ronin's Ghost): Ronin, that dog is light forged now. Malex: Yeah I know. I shared a little of my light with him. Not to much but now peacemaker should be able to revive him and me. I love dogs what can I say. Ronin: Malex you sure have grown. Listen, I know I did you wrong. Can you forgive me? Malex: I'll think about it. (mounts up with Rika) Come on Ajax, let's go home. (rides off) Ronin: I guess that's all I can ask for... [i]Later in the Annex[/i] ???: So he healed the pooch. So what? Drifter: You don't get it do you? For him to share some of his light and be completely unaffected means he's more powerful than we could've ever imagined. We need to start the plan early, get Zara to Texas now. [i]To be continued[/i] Part 23: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/251679109