AN The First:
This is a sequel to "A Not So Simple Patrol". Reading the previous story is not required, but it would be helpful.
Chapter 1
"You've got to hold those zones!" the voice of Lord Shaxx, Crucible Handler, rang through the arena, frustration evident in his tone.
Shaxx was a legendary figure, a mountain of a man who had lead famed charges into harrowing conflict, then built the Crucible as we know it to train Guardians to be ready for anything that would come their way. He was very hands on with his creation, monitoring each match that happened. He served as announcer for some matches, others he would just chime in from time to time with comments directed toward the competitors. Normally, hearing him getting so caught up in a match was nearly as entertaining as the action itself. When it was directed at your team, the entertainment value dropped substantially.
"Oh, is THAT what we're supposed to be doing," Hunter Celeste Etain muttered to the left of me. "And here I thought we were just supposed to dance around them and look at the pretty flags."
As she spoke, Celeste spun out into the open, drawing her Void bow and loosing an arrow at Zone B. The arrow pierced through one defender. Where he fell, a ball of purple Light blossomed with tendrils of energy lancing outward to snare the other two. I followed her action up by tossing grenade that attached to one and exploded. The energy of the explosion transferred through the Void tethers, killing both of them.
"Maybe that's what Baruch was doing," Titan Kana-4 chimed in over the comms, her tone teasing. "It would explain why we lost C just now."
She sprinted into view, performing a crisp slide into the circle that marked the Control point. Celeste and I quickly moved into it as well, the three of us watching for approaching enemies while waiting to be awarded the capture.
"I was not dancing," Titan Baruch Maor groused after a few seconds, his usual lack of humor evident in his tone. "They shot me out of the air before I could land my slam. I had them dead to rights."
"And that is why you don't leap high in the air before you do it," I chided. "At least until you've managed to better control you speed of descent. We've talked about that."
He did not reply to that, but I could imagine the Awoken man grumbling under his breath. Despite being newly risen, Baruch was very self-assured. That could be a good thing, but it often turned into arrogance or just thick-headed stubbornness. If I could manage to shape it properly, it could result in a stalwart Guardian that others would follow into anything. For now, however, it just made me want to beat my head against the Wall until visions of prancing Thrall filled my skull.
"Tanton. Astrid. How are you progressing?" I asked.
"Got one," was the Hunter's terse reply.
"We found her by A and took her out," Astrid's young voice replied. "About to move to capture."
"Nice work," Celeste complemented.
"Thanks," Astrid said, the mini-Titan's voice full of joy. "She never saw me coming. Dove into the back of her knees, then Tanton finished her off with his knife."
"You and knees," I muttered, not necessarily intending to be heard.
"It's fun," she said. "No one ever expects it."
Motion to my left. I turned and fired, three rounds leaping from my Parthian Shot pulse rifle. They found their mark, striking a Guardian who had tried sneaking up on us. Kana reacted and fired an inaccurate spray from her auto rifle. It was not the best bit of shooting, but enough rounds found their mark to finish off the enemy combatant.
"Heavy ammo inbound," suddenly sounded through the arena.
"We'll get the close one here," I said. "We'll do out best to wait for the rest of you to get here before opening it."
"Not me," Baruch stated. "I've still got a Fist of Havoc that I need to hit someone with. I'm going after the other drop."
The heavy ammo crate trasmatted into its designated spot. I erected a Ward of Dawn around it, giving us protection while we grabbed the ammo synths and loaded our weapons. Across the bottom of my HUD, I saw several notifications scroll by in rapid succession:
BRAVO has picked up heavy ammo.
Baruch Maor killed Baris-7, Fist of Havoc
Baruch Maor killed Lee Christoph, Fist of Havoc
Baruch Maor killed David Ryn, Fist of Havoc
ALPHA has taken the lead.
Jarus Corbin killed Baruch Maor, sniper rifle
"Four of them got the heavy ammo, but I took out three," Baruch said moments later, after being revived and transmatted back into the arena.
"Nice work," I replied. "Let's finish them off."
Having five members of our team with heavy weapons available, versus only one of theirs, gave us a strong advantage. We stuck together, working to take out approaching Guardians before they could pick us off or unleash their Light. This let us stretch out the slim lead Baruch had gotten us, and we were able to hold on for the victory. It wasn't the prettiest match I had ever been part of, but a win is a win. The team seemed to be coming together nicely. Well, the team and Astrid, the irrepressible "Wild Child".
Once the match was called, Celeste made her way to the nearest control point and was started dancing near the flag. Kana cheered her on while clapping a beat. Baruch, Tanton, and Astrid gathered nearby and were watching the two of them.
"Alright everyone, let's call it a day and get out of here," I said.
"Aww, but I'm holding the zone like Shaxx said," Celeste jokingly pouted.
"Yeah, someone has to show Baruch how it's done," added Kana, casting a glance at the other Titan.
"Try it out next time we're in a match and see how it works for you," the other Awoken man grumbled.
"Well, if you want to stick around, that's up to you," I replied, "but Fireteam Painted Truth is officially off duty for now."
"Fireteam?" a familiar voice questioned behind me. I turned around to see Jarus Corbin approaching. He had already removed his helmet and a broad smile was creasing his dark features. "Claney Beamard in an honest-to-goodness fireteam? And here I thought I'd seen everything."
"Jarus," I nodded, extending a hand which the Hunter shook. "It's been a while."
"Yes it has," he responded, glancing past me at the other five Guardians. "I thought you'd sworn off fireteams. In fact, I remember you making a big deal about it when Iniko tried to get you to join ours a few years back."
"It's a long story," I said. "But the short version is that it was something that I'd thought about for a while and the Vanguard assigned three kinderguardians to work with me and Celeste."
"And the half-pint?" Jarus asked.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," I said quickly, holding a hand up. "Don't let her hear you say that, unless you feel like eating a Hammer. What's the phrase? '… though she be but little, she is fierce'? And to answer your question, she's not fully part of the team. Astrid is still only allowed to participate in the Crucible. Officially. Unofficially, I'd be willing to wager just about anything that she manages to slip out and get herself more field experience than anyone would guess."
A warning appeared on my HUD just then. We had remained too long and needed to clear the arena before the next match. I'd seen people ignore those warnings and had no desire to be cleared from the arena by the Redjacks.
"Let's finish this conversation back at the Tower," I said to Jarus before turning my attention to my team. "Now it's really time to go. Clear out, head back home."
…
I changed out of my armor into something more casual while on transit to the Tower. Jarus, the team, and I all transmatted into the Courtyard about the same time, and it looked like they all had the same idea. We briefly discussed heading to the Hangar bar or the City, but decided to continue the conversation at the fireteam quarters. Astrid opted to head back to the Anusky's. We reached our destination and the Hunter paused at the door where Celeste had painted the team's name in large letters.
"Painted Truth?" he asked, glancing at me.
"Celeste picked the name," I replied with a shrug.
"Don't be jealous your team didn't think of something as interesting," she smirked and passed through the doorway.
Jarus just shook his head and followed her in. I let Kana, Baruch, and Tanton enter as well before stepping in last. By the time I entered, Jarus and Celeste had each found seats in the common area. Baruch and Kana were looking for seats, and Tanton was disappearing into his bunk. I shook my head at that and then dropped heavily into an empty armchair.
"Jarus Corbin, this is Celeste Etain, Kana-4, and Baruch Maor. The one who disappeared into his room is Tanton Holter. Team, Jarus." I indicated each member of the team as I said their names, and they each nodded or waved in turn. "I've worked with Jarus a few times in the past."
"Yep. And I saved his life every single time, regardless of what he tells you," the Hunter said. "So, I take it we have time for the longer version now?" Jarus asked.
"I suppose we do," I said, then took a moment to gather my thoughts. "Well, it starts with a woman..."
"The best stories always do," Jarus commented, winking at Kana who gave an impressive roll of her optics.
"... named Zillah Arvid," I continued, ignoring both him and the sound Celeste made at the mention of Zillah's name. "An Awoken Warlock. She, Celeste, another Warlock named Scott-20, and I went on a mission that turned into something much bigger. She suggested we form a team."
"I can't help but notice there's nobody here that matches that description," he said. "Is she..."
"Dead? No. She left shortly after making the suggestion and hasn't been seen since. The other Warlock suffered some injuries during the events and decided he preferred life in his study to the field. He is our unofficial sixth member, acting as an information maven as well as facilitating communications and tinkering with gear.
"That left me and Celeste. We work together all the time, but two people do not a fireteam make. It seemed like the end of it. I've spent the better part of the last year stationed at the Tower helping to mentor and train newly revived Titans. Celeste stuck around for a time, but then ventured back into the wilds as you Hunters do. Still, I couldn't seem to shake the idea of putting a team together. Eventually I convinced Celeste to come back and brought the idea up to the Vanguard. They assigned Kana, Baruch, and Tanton to us to make the team, though there wasn't a sixth at the time."
"Dad and I..." Celeste began before Jarus interrupted again.
"Wait. Dad?"
"I was there when she was resurrected," I said quickly. "Right after helping you and Iniko, actually. Have you seen any old cartoons where the baby bird hatches and thinks that whatever the first thing it sees is its mother? Same basic concept."
"Shush," Celeste laughed, tossing a throw pillow at me. "Anyway. Yes, my dad. We agreed to the assignment and have been spending way too much time in the Crucible ever since to, as the old man put it, 'build team report.'"
"Well that just sounds super boring," Jarus remarked, smirking at me.
"Oh, it is," Kana agreed.
"Well, if you get tired of it, Team Tosia could always has room a few extra members. We'd actually let you out to shoot stuff. Just ditch the 'old man' here and come on over."
"Poaching from my team and inciting mutiny. Remind me to not invite you back," I said, shaking my head.
"What can I say? I like to stir the pot," the Hunter replied.
"I'm well aware of that. Speaking of Team Tosia, how are things?"
"Knew they had a boring name," Celeste muttered under her breath. Jarus either did not hear or just ignored it.
"Not bad, not bad. Broke in a new member not too long ago when someone left the team. We've been keeping active; taking strikes from the Vanguard, doing work for the factions, the usual. It is getting a little weird out there, though."
"How so?"
Jarus shifted as he spoke, leaning forward, "The numbers of enemy combatants we're seeing and the way they're moving. I mean, given everything that has happened over the last few years, taking the Black Garden, killing Hive Gods, stopping the Devils and SIVA, it would stand to reason that we would see changes. But... I don't know. Something feels off about the way it's going down. I can't really put my finger on it, though."
I nodded, thoughtful. Baruch and Kana seemed to listen intently with a definite hunger in their eyes. Maybe it was time to get them out in the field instead of just drilling in the Crucible.
"I will say one thing for sure," Jarus continued, "there is something going on with the Cabal on Mars. Something seems to have lit a fire under them and they are starting to push harder against us and the Vex. Mobilizing in a way I haven't seen since they were right before Oryx wrecked them on Phobos. Tosia has recommended to the Vanguard that we increase our presence there."
"You think they're planning to try to move against us?"
"Maybe. Or maybe they're a canary."
"A what?" Baruch questioned.
"A canary," Jarus repeated. "Back long before the Golden Age, when people would mine underground for minerals, they would sometimes have a canary with them in order to detect lethal gas."
"Did the birds offer some sort of warning?" Kana asked.
"No," Jarus replied, "they just died faster than people. So if the canary dropped dead, they miners would know there was a deadly substance in the air and get out."
"Oh," was the only response the Exo offered.
"And you think that the Cabal are reacting to something big coming that we haven't detected yet?" I asked.
"They were like an ant hill someone kicked over before Oryx came in, they're starting to get that way now. One doesn't necessarily mean the other, but...," the Hunter shrugged.
"You may have a point."
Just then, my Ghost Elgan materialized and floated over to me.
"Sorry to interrupt, but the Vanguard are calling for you."
"Okay."
"They want to speak to you in private," he said.
I excused myself from the conversation and crossed the room to my bunk. I closed the door and sat on the far side of the small room. Elgan flittered over to hover just in front of me, the pieces of his shell rotating in opposite directions. I looked at him, and he connected me to the Vanguard. The calm, deep voice of Commander Zavala emerged.
"Claney?"
"Yes, Commander?"
"There is an urgent matter that the Speaker wishes to discuss with you. He is requesting that you come to his study alone. He says it is something of a sensitive nature and would prefer no one else know that you are coming to speak with him."
"Any idea what so I'm not going in blind?" I asked.
"No," the Commander replied, a slight hint of annoyance creeping into his voice. He did not seem to be thrilled to have the Speaker keeping him in the dark either.
"Fair enough. I will head there right away. Claney out."
The connection severed and I sat still for a moment. For the life of me I could not figure out what the Speaker would need to speak to me about. No point in keeping him waiting, however. I emerged from the room and all eyes turned to me.
"I have to go deal with something. I'll be back in a few minutes."
Celeste gave me an inquisitive look, and I shook my head then headed out the door.
…
AN the Second:
So... it's been a while. Few months, at least. Hello again. There has been a lot going on in my personal life that has gotten in the way of things. I'll spare you the details.
As you can see, this is not Down the Dark Staircase. I kind of lost my way with that story, and it is currently on indefinite hiatus. Probably canceled. We'll see what happens. I hate to do that to the few people who were reading it, but hopefully they can forgive me. I'll do my best not to do it to you again.
Astrid is the property of Daydreamer B.A.
How about that Destiny 2 Beta, huh? I didn't get to spend nearly as much time on it as I wanted to, but got to mess around with it a bit. I loved the Homecoming mission and Sentinel class. Enjoyed Arc Strider more than I thought I would. I still think putting the snipers/shotguns/fusion rifles in the same weapon class as rocket/grenade launchers is a strange choice, but being able to easily swap between two "primary" weapons was nice. Overall, I thought the gamplay felt slow, the enemies were too bullet spongey, and the changes to Lift will take some getting used to. Also, the new sound effects for the double jumps stood out like a sore thumb.