Before Everything

It was the year XXXX. 6 Exo units were assigned, along with a few other Human soldiers, to assist on an excavation in Mercury.

Given that they were machines with less risk of endangerment, the Exo units were assigned for vanguard duty, cleaning up the Vex littering the site where the excavation will commence.

It was...business, as usual. The Exo units were doing pretty well on their own, as expected.

It probably helped that the Payne-13 unit was kept in check by the team leader, Harword-8. The Payne-13 unit, after all, had a history of insubordination and had difficulties coordinating with others if he didn't agree with their ways. It was one of the many reasons why they had to reboot him so many times. But his stubborn personality seems to never go away.

His performance is quite satisfactory― even more so― when he is under the guidance of the Harword-8 unit, however. Which is why he was permanently assigned to be under his wing.

And for this mission, he was commanded to hide away from a distance as a sniper.

Payne-13 had been explicitly against this, but Harword-8's sense of authority is nothing compared to his immaturity. He had no choice but to listen. He always listens to the Harword-8 unit. It was quite a fascinating observation, to be honest. It was as if their bond before their Exo life had transcended with their souls to their new bodies.

Aim. Click. Shoot.

The Exo unit, perched alone from the top of a cliff, watches his comrades from the ground take on the Vex. It was boring. But they seem to be doing good and everyone is confident they'll clean up the excavation site in no time―

―A crackling noise in the air. Light forming in thin air. An explosion.

Payne-13's antennae fall back in alarm as he sits up. He can see the dust cloud from his position. He looks through his sniper to check on his team.

Three Exo units come out from the cloud, one of them seem heavily damaged. They continue to fire into the cloud. Blindly. Panicking. What was that? Where did it come from?

The other two....

The dust settles, revealing a gigantic Vex. Most of their bullets are deflected by its shield. More Goblins start to appear to fire back. And in the ground are shattered remains of his two comrades.

Carmine-5 and Rozza-3.

They were too close to the explosion. They didn't make it.

One of the remaining Exo units on the ground― Farro-9― can no longer fight back. His vitals are getting weak.

This had always been their weakness. Spacing. Not that he is holding Harword-8 responsible for this mistake. He's very good at strategies. But in the heat of a battle, sometimes his teammates get a bit too.... close. He shakes his head to snap him out of his musing. Payne-13 continues to shoot down enemies. He can't just stay still―

He hears static breaking through his comms.

【Ｔｈｉｓ　ｉｓ　Ｃｏｍｍａｎｄｉｎｇ　Ｏｆｆｉｃｅｒ　Ｈａｒｗｏｒｄ－８　ｏｆ　Ｔｅａｍ　Ａｌｐｈａ　ｒｅｑｕｅｓｔｉｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　ｂａｃｋｕｐ―】

He hears another explosion. A grunt.

Payne-13 looks out into the battlefield again. Farro-9 is down.

Liquids splatter onto the dirt, mixed in with disgusting Vex fluid. Glowing. Covering the fallen Exo unit who was somehow cut up in three sections. A Fanatic must've latched onto him.

The grip on his gun tightens. It's just two of them on the ground now...

【Ｉ　ｒｅｐｅａｔ，　ｔｈｉｓ　ｉｓ　Ｃｏｍｍａｎｄｉｎｇ　Ｏｆｆｉｃｅｒ　Ｈａｒｗｏｒｄ―】

A grunt cuts through the comms and Payne-13 almost leaves his perch.

〔HARWORD!〕

He finally speaks.

【Ｐａｙｎｅ―　Ｇｏｏｄ，　ｙｏｕ’ｒｅ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｏｋａｙ―】

He hears him struggle.

〔No shit― I'm coming down. You guys need help―〕

A thunderous "ＮＯ" resounds from the other line. Payne-13 flinches.

【Ｙｏｕ　ａｒｅ　ｔｏ　ｓｔａｙ　ｔｈｅｒｅ．　Ｙｏｕ　ｈｅａｒ　ｍｅ？　ＤＯＮ’Ｔ　ＣＯＭＥ　ＨＥＲＥ．】

〔This is no time to be babysitting me, Harword― You two need reinforcements. I can't just keep on shooting here―〕

【ＳＴＡＹ　ＴＨＥＲＥ．　Ｗａｉｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｂａｃｋｕｐ．】

〔I'm not gonna stay here!!〕

【Ｗｉｌｌ　ｙｏｕ　ｌｉｓｔｅｎ　ｆｏｒ　ｏｎｃｅ　ｉｎ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｌｉｆｅ？！】

Payne-13 falls silent. He shoots at a handful of Vexes. His shots now seems to be more spiteful.

【Ｌｏｏｋ．．．Ｐａｙｎｅ．　Ｉ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｙｏｕ　ｍｅａｎ　ｗｅｌｌ．　Ｗｅ’ｒｅ　ｎｏｔ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｓｕｒｖｉｖｅ．　Ｂｕｔ　ｙｏｕ　ｃａｎ．　Ｆａｌｌ　ｂａｃｋ．　Ｗａｉｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｂａｃｋｕｐ．】

No...

Another vital signal shuts off.

Kubo-8 is down.

He moves on his own. Leaves his position despite his superior's orders. Harword must've noticed him leave, because he can hear him screaming at him to fall back.

He doesn't listen and continues to charge at the enemies. He's killed a lot more Vex now than he was able to from his position then. He grabs his scope and forcefully rips it off of his rifle and throws it at a nearby Fanatic, making it explode and killing off the nearby Vex. It was just in the way.

He feels much more alive.

But the high doesn't last for long.

The Hydra at the center shoots in his direction. He has no time to evade―

He feels an excessive force move him onto the side. It was like being hit by a bus. He feels so sore... Heavy...

Payne-13 stops.

He looks up.

Sparks.

Involuntary twitches of his limbs.

The light in his eyes fade into nothing.

Harword-8 is down.

『NO!!!!!!』

He screams, his voice distorting at the volume. A defeaning sound indeed.

The remaining Exo unit pushes at the heavier one helplessly.

『Harword!!! Wake up!! Wake up, goddammit!!』

His voice breaks. It sounds quite pathetic.

The body does not budge.

If Exo units could cry.....

Payne-13 doesn't have time to weep. He wills himself to escape his deceased comrade's protective hold, and grabs his gun―

It's broken.

He curses. Throws one of his knives directly to the core of an incoming Vex. He needs to act fast.

The Exo flinches as his sight lands on his friend.

Harword...

He sees his gun.

He quickly picks it up. Holds it as if it was the most important thing in the world.

And he starts shooting again.

He shoots.

And shoots.

And ｓｈｏｏｔｓ.

Until his limbs are sore. Until his systems are screaming for him to retreat. That every part of his body is overheating. Melting.

Payne-13 throws a grenade at the Hydra, supposedly for his last hit.

It didn't kill it.

The Hydra suddenly teleports away and disappears. And the grenade detonates on the dirt, creating a mini crater.

He falls on his knees, clutching the now useless rifle in his arms. The Vex are gone. Just like that.

And they took away his friends with them.

He's tired.

He takes one last look at his surroundings. At Carmine-5's and Rozza-3's scraps. At Farro-9's tattered body. At Kubo-8's lifeless shell.

He stares at Harword-8's body. Frozen in time. There's an ache in his chest― Is his core finally giving up?

The Exo unit slumps over, and embraces his rifle. He's tired.

Slowly, his body shuts down.

He'll meet his friends soon.