"It's alright, Guardian, we'll get him next time," came Petra's voice over the speaker. Her optimism, though, did little to quench the cold rage Kira felt inside. When the smoke residue from her grenade launcher rolled away, Skolas was indeed gone. She drew her lips into a tight scowl, and her brows narrowed. That bastard!
As if Petra could sense her agitation through the com speakers, she said, "There's still more Wolves in the area to deal with. Take 'em out, Gaurdian!"
Kira brought out Red Death. "With pleasure."
An hour later and bodies of former Wolves simmering at her feet did nothing to sate Kira's growing anger. Variks had tried to warn her that Skolas was as crafty as he was strong, but her arrogance refused to believe that the Kell was no different than any other she'd fought. She frowned at her own blunder. They'd lost three Guardians on this mission, but the Wolves had taken the hardest blow today. Petra called this a victory. Why then did it taste like ash in her mouth?
"Variks, good job," said Petra over the speakers, "Gaurdian…even better. Come on back, Guardian, when you're finished. We're not through with the Wolves yet."
As soon as Kira pillaged what she could from the enemy, mainly ammo and bits of odds and ends, she headed back to her shuttle and set the coordinates for the Reef. Ghost shimmered into existence next to her as they levitated off the ground.
"You seem…"
Either Ghost didn't know the right word or opted for caution; either way, Kira cut him off.
"I think the word you're looking for is pissed."
"I was going to say stressed, but that works," said Ghost. "It's not your fault those other Guardians died—"
"But it is, Ghost!" Kira nearly shouted, her anger reaching its peak. "I told them to flank Skolas; but I underestimated him. It should have been me, not them. And they paid for my mistake."
"No. Don't say that," Ghost said, his small robotic form shaking as a person would when disagreeing. "You couldn't have known. But Petra's right. We'll get him, sooner or later."
But Kira wouldn't hear any of his sympathies today. "You don't understand, Ghost. You can't."
And that was the truth. Ghost was just a machine. Emotions had not been programmed into his wiry brain. The concept was unknown to him. Ghost was only meant to protect and guide her; nothing else. Or so she resigned telling herself.
The entire ride there was spent in tense silence. After she'd snapped at him, Ghost said nothing more and with a flash of light, vanished out of sight. It was only halfway there Kira suddenly regretted being short with him. Just as she decided to swallow her anger and apologize, the portal opened and the sight of the Reef welcomed them on the other side. Kira didn't plan on seeing Petra just yet, though. She needed some currency, and Variks might be interested in some of the Fallen gadgets she'd plundered. Apologizing to Ghost would have to wait.
Variks saw her coming before she did, and he looked half-heartedly at the bag she threw at his feet with a loud clank.
"What'll you give me for that?" she asked, crossing her arms. Anger had worn her patience thin as well.
Varik's four eyes swiveled from the lump at his feet and fell upon her tense form standing in front him. Whatever the Vandal was thinking, she thought, he kept it cleverly hidden, even behind a mask. She thought she heard him sniff, but that would be strange, even for him. Did she stink?
"Skolas' escape has you tense, yes?" he inquired.
Even the name rankled her, but she tried to play it cool. "If you don't want that I'll just take it to someone who does."
Kira stooped to snatch up the bag, but Varik's staff struck the floor an inch from her outstretched hand. She looked up at him and didn't even try to hide her irritation.
Picking up the bag, he said, "Follow me, Guardian."
At first, Kira was reluctant to follow after the Fallen Vandal, thinking he might stab her in the back. The first time she'd met him, he'd greeted her with an arm on the hilt of his pistol he always carried. She'd only known him a few months, but their association was strictly between acquaintance and business. Nothing more.
She didn't want to follow him, but she didn't want to leave her things with him without getting paid for it either. So she had no choice. At least, she though, she had her weapons on her this time. If he tried anything, Kira wouldn't hesitate to shove her grenade launcher up his ass and send him to the moon.
"In here, Guardian," his voice called from the darkness. Kira couldn't see anything but a wall of blackness, so thick she couldn't even tell if her eyes were open or closed. Then an orange light flickered, and she could see.
They were in some kind of storeroom, overloaded with all the things Guardians had brought to trade with Variks. Most of it looked useless in Kira's eyes, but Fallen were notorious for taking anything not in use anyways. This must be where he sleeps and does what all else down here.
The first thing that caught her interest was a dead Ghost. She picked the remains up and examined it, wondering what it was doing here.
"Why do you have this?" she asked, and Variks, out of nowhere, snatched it out of her hand and hid it from her sight.
"Nothing, nothing," he said hastily. When she exuded suspicion, he said, "Curious about Ghosts, that is all."
"Uh huh," she said, not believing a word. One thing she did know about Variks was that you couldn't trust him. Not implicitly, and definitely not with your life. Petra might have told her a thing or two about him trying to get her killed a few times on a mission. So Kira knew to be wary around him, even though Variks once told her not to believe in the stories about him. After all, he did betray the Kell of Kells. What's to say he won't do it again? And what's to say he won't use these Ghosts against them somehow?
Curious my ass.
Growing fast impatient with him, she said, "So, you gonna pay me or what?"
"Yes, yes," he said, returning, without the Ghost. "But there is a reason I brought you here, Guardian. Variks has council for you."
"I get enough council from my Ghost," Kira responded. "What could you possible have to say to me that it hasn't?"
"Ghosts cannot feel, Gaurdian, only guide; listen," Variks said, speaking in his normal riddles again. Kira didn't have time for this.
"Speak plainly, Variks, I'm in no mood for your allegories today," she snapped.
"You wish to capture Skolas, yes?" he asked. "So does Variks. I told you before, you help me, I'll help you."
"Is this about the mission, Variks?" Kira narrowed her eyes at him.
"I sense you are…deeply troubled; angry." He said it as if it was so obvious. "Variks can help."
"You want to help, give me the damn upgrade I've been wanting so I can send Skolas and all House of Wolves to hell!"
She stood face to face with him, breathing heavily through flared nostrils.
Variks remained unmoved by her anger toward him. That frustrated her even more, not knowing what he was thinking. She was so angry, she didn't see the hand that moved and fell on her hip.
Kira blinked at the contact and looked down at his hand on her waist. She suddenly forgot her anger, the sudden movement catching her unawares. His other lower hand reached out and joined it.
"W-what are you doing?" she asked. Kira tried to exude anger, but she was too struck with what was happening and so her voice fell flat.
"I can relieve the tension pent up inside you; I can smell it," he said, drawing her body against his. Kira felt her body flush, understanding. How did he…he couldn't mean…but he did…
She swallowed hard, unsure of what to do, but then, driven by impulse, she untangled herself from his prehensile arms. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Variks. I'll just…be going now…"
She didn't even bother taking the loot bag with her, leaving it and Variks far behind. She was sprinting now and didn't stop until she'd reached her shuttle. When they were out of the Reef, only then did Kira release the breath she'd been holding.
What the hell…just happened?
As if Ghost could read her thoughts, he said loudly into the speakers, "I…think that Fallen just made a pass at you."
"Shut up, Ghost!"