The hangar erupts into chaos the moment the Fallen charge. Weiss moves on immediately, her Fusion Rifle charging with a rising whine.
FWUM!
The first bolt takes a Vandal square in the chest, sending it spiraling off a broken catwalk. A pair of Dregs leap over rusty crates, scrambling across the floor toward her.
She switches weapons mid-step, her blade humming to life. The air crackles around her as she sweeps the blade across one Dreg, the strike leaving a bright, electric trail. The second lunges—
—but Weiss pivots, driving the blade through its chest in a burst of light.
Spark circles her head like an overexcited orbiting drone. "Wonderful! Lively! And you have yet to electrocute yourself even once!"
Weiss grins softly and there's a growing excitement in her chest. However she tempers her feelings and focuses on the enemies.
Rushing forward she shoots her Auto Rifle at the Captain, steadily draining its shield before the Captain fires the weapon in its hands. Eight large Solar rounds fly through the air at Weiss.
Thinking quickly, Weiss drops into a slide to dodge the rounds but can't evade them all. Two shots hit her chest plate knocking the wind out of her lungs as she feels the heat from the rounds.
Regaining her breath and ignoring the pain she knocks the Captain's gun out of its clawed hands by using her Fusion Rifle as a melee weapon. Capitalizing on the opportunity she shoves the blade through the Fallen's neck cutting its head off.
Above them, on a high gantry overlooking the battlefield, a faint blue shimmer forms. A tall feminine figure watches impassively, sleek armor, a cloak rippling against the wind, and a faint cold glow from beneath a hood.
The Exo Stranger stands perfectly still and watches.
______________
A deafening roar shakes the chamber.
Weiss freezes. "… That's not good, is it?"
Spark's shell flicks open in alarm. "Oh, that is quite bad!"
From the shadowed back of the hangar, heavy footsteps echo. Not the quick scuttle of dregs or the clatter of Vandals—but slow, deliberate thuds that make the metal floor vibrate.
A massive Fallen Captain emerges, easily twice the size of the ones Weiss fought before. Its armor is layered in reinforced plating, glowing with dark blue energy. Its cloak flows around it, and in each hand it carries an oversized Arc cleaver.
It growls with hatred as it stares at Weiss.
Spark squeaks. "Oh dear. That is… well, if I had a ranking system, that would be a 'please run immediately' threat."
Weiss steadies her breathing. "I'm done running."
"Very heroic! Also, extremely dangerous!"
The Captain lunges without hesitation. Weiss barely avoids the first swing, the blade carves a glowing trail through the air inches from her head. She fires a charged bolt from her Fusion Rifle—FWUM!—only for the Captain's shield to absorb it like nothing.
"Oh no, no, no—! That did nothing! Spark!"
"His shield is reinforced! You will need to overload it with sustained damage! Please avoid dying until then!" Spark comments helpfully as he hides in Weiss' subspace.
"Very helpful!"
The Captain slams a foot into the ground, sending Weiss tumbling back. She rolls to her feet and swings her stolen Arc Blade, meeting the Captain's strike.
The impact sends a burst of electricity through the hangar, rattling the rafters.
Weiss's arm goes numb. "Ow—! That thing hits like a truck!"
"A truck filled with explosives, actually!"
Weiss darts sideways, using the old crates as cover. She charges her Fusion Rifle again—FWUM! The bolt cracks across the Captain's shield, causing it to flicker but it holds.
The Captain roars, hurling a shock grenade.
Weiss leaps aside and the grenade detonates, sending arcs of electricity spiderwebbing across the floor. The blast hits her leg, buckling her momentarily.
"Gah—!"
"Weiss! Your Light—your Light! Use it!"
Weiss grips her blade with shaking fingers. She tries to summon that coursing power again—but panic claws at her chest.
"You can do this!" Spark calls.
Weiss exhales sharply and breathes in deeply. Focus feel the Light flowing through you…
Arc energy travels down her empty hand forming into a blade the same shape as the one in her right hand, only made entirely out of Arc Light.
Weiss launches herself forward, moving faster than she thought she could. The Captain swings its cleaver down—
—but Weiss becomes a blue streak, sliding under the blow and slashing upward with her Light forged blade.
The Captain's shield shatters in a burst of sparks.
"There!" Spark cries. "Now finish it!"
Weiss charges again, Captain Blade and Arc Light slashing in tandem—steel and Light blending into one seamless dance. She leaps, bringing both blades down across the Captain's chest.
A blinding flash erupts and the Captain collapses to the floor, armor smoking, its roar fading into silence.
Weiss staggers back, chest heaving. "I… I did it."
"Yes! You certainly did! And with only minor self-electrocution!" Sparks exclaims as he appears next to her shoulder.
Above them, the Exo Stranger tilts her head ever so slightly.
"… She's strong," the Stranger murmurs—her voice unheard by the pair below.
"Stronger than expected." A moment later, she vanishes in a ripple of blue static.
_____________
Spark zips forward eagerly. "Come on! The ship is just ahead. Before more large, violent individuals decide to appear."
Weiss limps slightly but follows, the Light blade disappearing as her Light settles.
They reach the Arcadia-class jumpship. Its hull is battered, its engines iced over, but Spark buzzes with optimism.
"Oh, she is beautiful! Damaged, yes. Ancient, definitely. Potentially lethal, absolutely. But beautiful!"
Weiss smiles faintly. "Can she fly?"
Spark's shell rotates with something that might be pride. "By the Light… I can make anything fly."
Sparks of Light dance across his chassis as he interfaces with the ship.The panels flicker as the engines light up, glowing with heat and the cockpit lights bloom to life.
Weiss climbs inside the shops and slides into the seat, still trembling from the battle.
"Ready?" Spark asks.
She exhales. "Let's get out of here."
The engines roar loudly and snow mixed with rust blasts outward as the jumpship ascends into the gray sky—Weiss's first flight as a Guardian.
Far below, in the shadows of the hangar, a faint blue shimmer watches them go.