"I am a noble too, oh Lord of Wolves. Starlight was my mother; and father was the dark." - Tower Allies; The Queen- Grimoire Card.
"Alright Guardian, looks like you'll be fine for now. Do try to be careful." Ghost said, it's form gently floating beside its appointed Guardian.
Kassia was zipping up the collar end of her tight under armor and pulled on a pair of pants, and finally her robes, set completely with her ammunition belt that held the ensemble together named the Eclipsed Maw, minus the helmet for the time being.
She motioned for her Ghost companion to desist it's physical form as she roamed around the tower again.
After being patched up, she was eager to set out and get this favor out of the way. The Queen was a menacing figure of power being so untouched on the outer edge of the darkness, and anxiety quelled in her stomach at the thought of being under such scrutiny again.
In the presence of her royal highness, it was easy to convey confidence, but since being brought from the brink, there have been so many things Kassia has done without explanation.
The world out on the frontier was vast with so many secrets hidden deep within the abandoned facilities and so many out-worldly spires and doors that she didn't quite understand. It was unnerving and maddening not being able to make sense of the encryptions she fought to bring back to the tower. All those times, she stood at defense while her Ghost extracted data, heard the hymns of Rasputin, and made sense of all the comms of enemy forces, she had been kept in the dark.
All for Traveler's sake, she supposed.
"Before setting out, you'll have to let the Vanguards know."
Right.
All the events of days past seemed miniscule. Guardians around the tower were already setting out again; talking with merchants, hoarding the Vaults for their arsenal, and rounding up bounties and fireteam members for their missions.
Just like The Exo Traveler said, the war was not over yet.
She eased through the social with ease and made her way down the steps to the Vanguards.
Kassia was already welcomed by Ikora Rey. Her gaze was warm but her face stern, arms crossed behind her back in her neutral pose. Cayde-6 looked from his notes for a brief moment with a light wave, faceplates twitched in discomfort, no doubt wishing to be doing other things rather than reading mission reports. Commander Zavala across the table nodded in her direction and resumed conversation with a Titan. The Vanguards were always very busy.
With a polite bow, Kassia greeted her mentor. Ikora Rey gave a slight incline of her head in return, and her face was then passive, an appearance Kassia knew that the Vanguard was awaiting discussion.
"I have come to inform you that I will be leaving for the Reef again. The favor I owe the Queen is to be paid and I won't find out how until I set out again."
"It is not an alliance I forsee, Guardian Kassia." The Warlock Vanguard scowled and motioned for Commander Zavala to whisk the Titan away immediately.
Kassia's gaze avoided the questioning look from Cayde-6 and the disapproval radiating from her vanguard master. Instead, opting to look at the backdrop of Earth from the large window pane covering the back end of the Vanguard room.
The Exo Titan finished up their conversation and set out of the room with a slight job before noting Kassia at the opposing end of the table.
"Hey, aren't you the Warlock that destroyed the Vex God?"
Kassia tensed but masked her irritation with an impassive expression.
"I am."
"Thanks."
She gave a curt nod and the newly recruited Titan ran off, no doubt to finish simple patrol bounties that would keep the new recruit busy until they could discuss her upcoming leave.
Kassia never liked attention. She was just doing what they were asked to do.
Kept in the dark, but fighting the darkness. Was this the fate of all Guardians?
She shook the thought from her mind and finally paid mind to the three vanguards that were awaiting her contribution.
"So you've already paid the Reef a visit once, and now the Queen is allowing you to visit again to repay a debt." Cayde-6 rested his palms against the table, ignoring the crumple of paper under his forceful grip. "It sounds bad, really bad. I mean, the fact that they let you through the first time and threatened your life is bad enough."
Ikora and Zavala nodded, agreeing indefinitely.
"The real question, is what do they need with you that they can't recruit a rogue Guardian or mercenary from the outskirts?" Ikora Rey voiced.
Ghost materialized and set a datapad in front of the Warlock Vanguard. She looked it over before passing it to Cayde-6 who cursed and passed it to Commander Zavala, who gave a grunt of disapproval and tossed the datapad on the table. The clang being the only noise in the room for several moments.
"I can't allow this,"
"No, no way, nope,"
"This is absurd,"
Kassia furrowed her brows, her Ghost noticing the curl of her fist gripping her robe forcefully.
"You may all disapprove, but this is non-negotiable. These are the terms coming from the Queen herself," said Ghost.
"The Queen does not 'suggest' things. I have no choice" Kassia ground out of clenched teeth, "I don't know what she asks of me specifically and the only way I can know for sure is to show up alone as requested."
Ghost piqued interest, ushering the mutterings from the table with a gentle glow from it's optic.
"Guardian Kassia has shown up once unattended at the Reef. They see my Guardian as a potential ally, not from the Tower or the Traveler themselves but as an asset to the Reef. She will remain unharmed."
"I am also not asking for permission, Vanguards. I am seeking your council for forewarn you of my extended leave,"
Ikora Rey remained thin lipped, not looking at her charge; Cayde-6 was muttering under his breath, and Commander Zavala met her determined gaze from across the table.
"I expect you intend to be gone for an extended period of time," the Titan Vanguard advised, his question enforcing more of a tone of affirmation. The look he saw in the awoken warlock reminded him of a close friend who commands with an iron fist.
Kassia nodded and Zavala immediately registered the determination to set things right in her pose, eyes unwavering despite the anxiety bubbling under the surface. He nodded and remained contemplative.
"Well kid," Cayde-6 looked up again, trying to inadvertently fix the mess he made of his documents, "You've taken yourself pretty good so far despite some of your missions being too much for most other Guardians. I can't say no to determination like that, besides like you said, you're not looking for permission. Thanks for the heads up," he chuckled and shook his head.
Kassia noted the strain in his vocal patterns but his words were enough, she nodded gratefully at the two mentors and then met the golden hues of Ikora's commanding gaze.
Ikora Rey sighed and pinched her brow, before waving off the awoken, a smile barely stretching her lips.
"You are a capable Guardian, Kassia, but..." Her voice was stern and commanding, Kassia piqued her expression and looked up curiously, "We expect a word back from your Ghost immediately following your meeting with Queen of the Reef. Details in specifics, if you would. We will discuss what is to come afterward. Is this understood?"
The two Warlocks exchanged bows, and Kassia nodded her thanks to the other two males in the room. Her Ghost whirled before hiding within her, it's being feeling eager and energetic, and Kassia made quick strides out of the room, no doubt to make final rounds with any supplies before setting out.
"Good luck, kid!" Cayde-6 called out, just as she finally made the turn to the top of the Tower floor.
She collected a few ammunition boxes from Banshee-44, the Tower's Gunsmith, before heading out back to the ship bay down by the East side of the Tower.
Shipwright Amanda Holliday was greased up to the elbows but upon seeing the awoken was quick to shove a datapad and pen in her direction.
"Vanguards already notified me of the departure. You ship should be fine to travel to and from safely. Although..." She trailed off, mentioning a piece of the underbelly that may need replacing but would have to hold until Kassia's return.
Kassia nodded, although not that knowledgeable on her ship maintenance as a whole would she want to recall.
The shipwright was always friendly company though. Holliday rightfully deserved her respect on behalf of every Guardian in the Tower for her constant sparrow and ship repairs. She could also crack a good joke that even made Kassia and her oblivious-self crack a smile a time or two.
Datapad waiver signed, she quickly stored her ammunition and allowed Ghost to bring the ship high above the dock ready to leave.
Holliday waved and jogged off to a turned over Sparrow that was being worked on by one of her engineers."Godspeed, Guardian!"
Being transported by her Ghost was always an odd experience. Kassia held her breath as her surroundings were now within her ship and she was sitting in the main pilot seat. A blink or two and a deep breath later, she gained her wits and strapped the belts to secure her. Nodding to Ghost, her companion whirled and it's optics brightened for a quick moment.
"Let's get going, Guardian."
Away went the wash of the frontier's golden hues as the pair ascended into the sky. Clouds obscured the cockpit's view the higher then went until finally, they broke through the layer of atmosphere and the galaxy above was now all around them.
Kassia steered the sleek ship into a steady thrum amongst the stars, following the coordinates Ghost mapped out on her cockpit's HUD.
Soon, it was just the silence and the luminescent view giving her peace before the storm.
"So, Kassia," Kassia held out her palms cupped together, Ghost's form lightly hovering in her grasp. It's energy was warm and bright in her hands.
"I worry for what the Queen has in store for you and I know you feel anxious..." It whirled and it's optics dimmed. Kassia fought a flinch, hating it when her nonchalant appearance was torn from under her. It was no surprise, her Ghost was able to understand her better than anyone else being a part of her conscious. It drew her mad.
"I feel like this will benefit us nevertheless, but it's the Queen's ulterior motives that worry me most, aside from the brother's dislike of you."
She let her gaze turn downcast, and became contemplative.
No, she did not truly believe that the Queen's brother dislikes her personally, it was more of he was wary of her. They did not allow visitors, let alone earth-born awoken, to visit the Reef. She recalled when they spymaster was arguing with his sister, claiming his reluctance to grant her the coordinates to the Black Garden were due to protecting their people. Although, how does this information endanger their people?
We're the Guardians of earth not created and forged to fight the darkness that threatened to consume all the galaxy?
Guardians were fierce warriors forged from the light of the Traveler, being reawakened from the dead or granted the gift to feel, breathe, and live in the battle against this great evil. It never made any sense to her that her efforts in this would be detrimental to anyone, as it should be beneficial, shouldn't it?
As if sensing Kassia's distress, Ghost was quick to reply.
"The Queen has a lot at work here that perhaps we don't understand either. It's in our best interest to find out."
That much was obvious, but the smile curling at the Queen's lips during their last encounter made her unsure.
The Queen and her party at the Reef were fierce warriors, all working quietly in the darkness, no doubt lead by the Queen's brother Crow. There was so little they knew of the Queen and her legion of Awoken other than the fact that they managed to overtake the House of Wolves faction of the Fallen.
The Fallen were among the fiercest of enemies among the darkness, there presence strong on Earth and beyond. They were scavengers, pirates, and fiercely loyal and deadly confrontational enemies.
For the Queen to overtake them in a deadly battle and turn the remaining into servants and guards to her, and who knows what else, truly showcased how powerful the Queen and her legion of Awoken were.
To require her loyalty in the request of a favor to be regained did not warrant any good, but alas, Kassia would never truly know until she was met with the task of meeting the Queen face to face.
"You're right. We'll only know her true intentions once we've gotten council with the Queen."
"Guardian, you're being trailed by the Queen's guards,"
Kassia blinked out of meditation, the aura of Sunsinger energy dissipating abruptly.
"Guardian, you need to follow us or be sought with hostile force," said one of the Queen's Guards.
Kassia's rear HUD view revealed the sleek, pincer ships manned by the Queen's Guardsmen. She motioned for Ghost to take control of the ship and decelerate the ship to follow behind the entourage. The comm lines clicked off as the other Awoken ended their transmission.
Kassia's bright blue eyes peered at her Ghost that was now floating next to her with trepidation. Her stomach was curling, but soon she wore her mask of indifference knowing she had to remain vigilant and strong in the eyes of the reef-born awoken.
The party of ships slowly veered through the purple void known as the Reef, and soon to a large floating fortress the Guardian and her Ghost had visited twice before. Her ship pulled into the docking bay by a magnetic force. Meanwhile, the Queen's ships veered off back to hide amongst the rubble and debris surrounding the Reef.
Soon, Kassia was stepping off her ship onto the steel plated flooring of the Queen's vessel. Two more of the Queen's Guards met her upon arrival and as before, motioned for her to follow to the Queen's main throne room. Ghost floated beside her. Their footsteps reverberating off the interior until finally Kassia saw the long bridge leading to the Queen's throne.
The Queen of the Reef regally made her appearance from behind the throne, along with her two menacing Fallen guards that curled one of their many hands around the mantle of the Queen's throne. Then she saw the Queen's brother also appear behind the throne to stand at his place beside his sister.
She began to walk forward with the two Awoken beside her, until the Queen held up her hand.
"You two are dismissed," commanded Crow, "We only require the council of the Guardian."
The two women bowed and left. Kassia remained rooted until beckoned forward by Crow in an exasperated manner.
"Ah, so the Guardian finally arrives," Crow smiled in his usual cocksure attitude. The Queen meanwhile, sat in her throne with her leg thrown over her knee with her hands knit together over her stomach.
"Guardian, I have heard of your success in the Black Garden. It seems my opinion of you was not misplaced," Kassia and the Awoken Queen locked eyes, the Queen's gaze was deep, yet calm. It was confusing for the earth-born awoken. "It appears as though now, some of our interests lie in conjunction to one another."
"It means," Kassia's gaze flicked to the spy master's, "Your debt is to be paid."
The Queen noticed the Guardians gaze harden at her brother and his brother's haughty attitude and she merely shook her head, an action Kassia had almost missed had she not been paying close attention.
Even in the maw of one of the fieriest powers in the entire Galaxy, Kassia always remained vigilant.
She visibly relaxed as to not bring unwanted attention to herself from the Queen. Ghost's kinetic energy send a trill of warmth up her spine further encouraging her to remain in control.
"As was promised." Kassia spoke.
"We've spoken and liberated much upon your arrival Guardian, and we have some reconnaissance that that we require your aid."
"I'm listening."
Crow paced among the Queen's mantle, his attitude turned serious and brooding, his raven hair casing his face into a harsh light that emphasized the hard lines of his face making the situation even more dire.
Kassia held her breath, anticipation making her heart thrum heavily in her chest.
"Some of the Queen's factions are straying from our house of power. Our scouts and outside sources say that some of them are conspiring with some other enemies of the Darkness," Said Crow. His yellow eyes finally looked hard at Kassia and he sneered, "Vex."
Kassia turned her gaze away from Crow sharply. Her gaze focused on a piece of the floor in front of her. She clenched her fists, her anger spiking at the mere though of those evil monstrosities.
"That's impossible! Guardian Kassia's previous incursions to Venus only showed Fallen and Vex fighting at almost every corner of the planet. Our codex state they are sworn enemies and we can both attest to that." said Ghost. It's form was animated and contracting sporadically. Kassia looked sharply to her companion almost immediately.
The Queen lazily gazed at the Guardian and her Ghost, before turning to her brother. He immediately stood up straighter and matched his gaze with his sister. He seemed nonchalant, but there was a brief moment where one could notice the way his brows pinched and his lips pulled into a frown.
"Brother, you and the Guardian are to scout out and infiltrate several Fallen and Vex outposts throughout the planet Venus and put an end to those who conspire against the Reef."
Kassia looked up sharply, her eyes widened and her jaw clenching almost painfully. She didn't even want to see Crow in the peripheral of her vision who looked almost just as upset as she was.
"There are many places amongst the planet where out sources say populate many of the enemy forces. You are to bring back any information and put and end to this," The Queen rose from her throne, looking down to Kassia. "We expect full cooperation on your behalf, Guardian. I will not allow either of you to come back empty handed."
She turned away, ignoring the literal fumes of anger radiating off her brother, leaving a last retreating harsh look to Crow that screamed 'I expect nothing less'. Her lithe form retreated behind the throne. The Fallen guarding her let out a roar and slammed their weapons against the ground, further emphasizing the Queen's orders. The two of them then disappeared after their ruler.
Once the presence of the Queen was gone, there was a pregnant pause before Crow turned quickly to Kassia. He was deadly quick as he immediately closed in on the Guardian and pulled out his knife, holding it snugly against her throat.
"You do well to remember that there is no room for failure, and seeing as though you owe us I expect your full cooperation," He sneered and pressed the sharpened blade harder against the blue of her throat.
Blue eyes met yellow and Kassia willed herself into an air of calm and indifference despite her sudden urge to unleash her energy of the Void and rip the life force out of the other.
She closed her eyes and let out an exasperated breath, ignoring the alarming spark of light energy coming from her Ghost who was hyper. She stared at Crow again, willing the sparks of void energy to consumer her fist and hovered it over Crows abdomen.
"As do I expect your assistance in this favor. The sooner, the better," said Kassia.
Crow looked down expectantly at her armored fist and let out a dark chuckle and flicked his hair out of his face. His features were harsh against the light, further illuminated by their close proximity.
"Ah, for once you speak with something we both agree with."
He pulled the knife away and quickly sheathed it. Kassia then withdrew the void from her energy and allowed it to be dormant within her mind. Crow flicked his head, inclining toward the walkway from which she came.
"After you, Kassia."
His voice grated on her name horribly, she found the urge not to flinch.
She look to her Ghost. It piqued up immediately before retreating within her, knowing it's Guardians queue to 'pack up and go'.
'At once, Guardian,' spoke Ghost within her subconscious. 'Word has already been sent to the Vanguards. I'm awaiting a response for further action.'
She and Crow walked down the isle, both their strides being quick to get this over with immediately. He was ahead of her, signaling various guards and agents amongst the halls in quick orders. His posture tall and with purpose. Her steps were soft and almost glided along the floor as she followed the other Awoken.
She stole glances at the other, and soon enough she began to feel anxious and unsure. Nothing she had been sent out to do had been simple, other than the occasional beacon reconnaissance from the Tower she found scattered amongst many planets. Not knowing what she would find on the other hand, was a push to have her quash any unease she felt about the upcoming assignment.
Kassia since being reawakened thirsted for knowledge. Not being under the scrutiny of the Tower Vanguards might give her the chance to find out so much more about the world around her. She had been storing a lot of information that her Ghost gladly saved for her.
Maybe now might be a chance to set foot outside and truly traverse the lands, so long as she did what was required of her from the Queen, she will finally begin to unravel so much of the unknown. At least, that was Kassia's wish.
The cargo bay was thrumming and Kassia noticed a menacingly sleek, black jet-like ship being loaded and tended to quickly. She quickly put together that it was Crows ship and almost knowingly, the Awoken male looked to find Kassia staring and grinned.
She sneered again. Almost embarrassed that she had been caught staring. Ghost meanwhile, materialized within the embodiment of her ship, powering on the sleek aircraft and bringing it aloft before bringing her within the cockpit again.
"Guardian, are you ready?"
She looked hard at the empty space ahead of her, but nodded nonetheless.
Soon, Crow's black, almost purple ship pulled up in front and shot off into the Galaxy with her to follow.
"As ready as we can be, Ghost."
Apologize for the filler. I wanted this to be longer but I am heading out of state for vacation and I wasn't going to be writing. I wanted to publish something that would at least keep the ball rolling. Editing was also minor for this chapter so if you have suggestions or comments, please politely leave them as a review. Thank you for reading.