A/N: Ok, so first thing I'm going to mention is that 'Become Legend' will probably not follow the lore 100%, given how vague the Bungie have kept it. I have my own timeline of how things go, with the 'City Age' lasting only about 100 years or so for the sake of convenience.
DISCLAIMER: The following is a non-profit fanfiction. Destiny is owned by Bungie, Activision and High Moon Studios. I own Kayla and other OCs. Please support the official release.
Saga 01: Guardian Rising
Arc 01: Devils and Kings
Chapter 002: Welcome to the Tower
Kayla watched the sun start to disappear over the horizon as her jumpship flew silently over the ruined cities of planet Earth. The past few hours were spent getting from the old Russian Cosmodrome and the reborn Warlock was glad that Ghost was the one piloting the ship as it gave her more time to comprehend what had happened. So far she was still hoping that this was all a dream and that she had fallen asleep in her parents' car, but the more she looked over the mangled overgrown landscape the more it seemed to sink in. By the time they had cleared the most of Old Russia Kayla had reluctantly accepted her fate. With nothing better to do Kayla sighed and watched the world go by through the ship's windows.
Ghost watched the evening sun turn the sky into a splattered canvas of pinks and purples. He glanced over at Kayla, debating on what to talk about.
"Soo..." he said trying to strike up a conversation. "What was life like?"
"Mmm?" Kayla asked, looking at the small robot.
"What was life like...before the Collapse?"
"I don't know," Kayla said tiredly. "It's all...well, sort of like a blur really..."
"Ah, I see..."
"I can remember bits and pieces. We lived in England where my mother was a teacher. My dad was a set designer, so he was up and down the country a lot. My little brother had just started primary school. Um..." Kayla bit her lip, thinking hard. "I suppose it was a nice lifestyle. We weren't rich, but we weren't poor either. We got by."
"And what about you?"
"I was training to be a doctor," Kayla replied with a faint smile. "I wanted to help people. Since I was a kid I always wanted to help people." Then smile fell slightly. "Now I have to..."
Realizing what she was thinking Ghost floated to her. "You're still going to help people, that's certain," he said reassuringly.
Kayla looked at him. "Yeah...I guess..."
"Things will work out, I promise."
The Warlock looked at Ghost. If he could smile she knew he would. "Thanks," she said. "I...I'm not really sure what I'm going to do now..."
Ghost looked out of the window, seeing the massive spherical shape of the Traveller come up on the horizon. "We'll be at the City soon. We can take it from there."
Passing through the clouds the pair of them made it to the City; a sprawling metropolis of white towers and compact block buildings that stretched out for miles. Throughout the City rivers snaked their way around the buildings while tramlines and monorails ran through the maze of streets. The City wasn't without nature though as there were many trees and parks scattered around the City, splattering the place with the colours of Spring. Surrounding the City was a giant wall that was rusted in places and, hanging above it all, was the giant spherical body of the Traveller. Kayla was in awe as her jumpship flew over the streets.
"Welcome to the last safe city on Earth," Ghost said. "So big it doesn't need a name; just a great big 'the'."
"It's...beautiful," Kayla gasped in awe. "And...everyone lives here?"
"Mhmm. Not by choice, mind you."
"I gathered," Kayla chuckled. "I'd rather be in a shiny metropolis than out there with the Fallen."
The jumpship flew over several miles worth of districts before making it to the other side of the Wall. There a giant tower awaited them. The tower stretched high into the sky, watching over the City like a silent guardian.
"And this is the Tower," Ghost said as the ship pulled up to a hangar. "It's where the Guardians live. And it's your home now."
"Home..." Kayla said quietly, doing her hardest to hold back the tidal wave of emotion inside her.
The ship docked, watched over by a blonde woman. She stood up from her post, looking over the ship.
"Geez..." she said. "Who's wreck is this? Looks like it hasn't been used in...hundreds of years." She looked at her workers, a group of men in grey, oil-splattered jumpsuits. "Well don't just sit there lazing about, go see who it is!"
"Yes, Miss Holliday!" the cried, running to the ship and helping Kayla out.
"God, bunch lazy idiots the lot of them," the woman sighed, walking up to the ship. "So, let me guess...you're either a new Guardian that salvaged an ancient ship or...you wrecked your own in some awesome combat sequence and were forced to flee before your ship blew up?"
"U-Um..." Kayla said slowly.
"Don't worry, I won't bite," the woman smiled. "Name's Amanda Holliday. And I'm guessing that it's the former?"
Kayla nodded, unsure of what to say. The woman, Amanda, seemed nice enough. Her eyes were a piercing but friendly green and her hair was a mess of dirty blonde. Her outfit consisted of a black and grey zip up top, red neckerchief and goggles. Her pants were thick and jet black, though half of her right leg was torn exposing a mechanical leg.
"Hello?" Amanda chuckled, waving her hand in Kayla's face.
"W-What?"
"I said what's your name?"
"Oh...Kayla."
Amanda smiled. "Nice to meet ya, Kayla. Don't worry about your ship, we'll handle it here." She turned her to her workers, shouting. "Won't we boys?"
"YES, BOSS!" they yelled back.
Kayla looked at them awkwardly. "So, er..."
"Huh? Oh, you want to know where to go, right, right." Amanda guided her to the hangars exit. "Just follow this corridor to the central tower, you'll come out to a plaza. At the back of the plaza are some stairs going down into the Hall of Guardians. That's where the Vanguard are, you'll need to see them."
"T-Thanks," Kayla said quietly.
"Don't mention it," Amanda grinned before pulling Kayla into a headlock and rubbing her fist on her head. "And stop being so nervous, none of us will bite. Well...Shaxx might, but he's a puppy really."
Then she let go leaving Kayla to stumble forward. She rubbed her head as she walked down the corridor. "Ow..."
"Something wrong?" Ghost asked, appearing beside her.
"Is she always so...forceful?"
"Amanda's just energetic," Ghost replied. "Plus she's usually the first face new Guardians see, so she tends to be as friendly as possible."
"Overly friendly," Kayla grumbled. Ghost stared at her. She sighed. "Sorry, just...long day."
"I understand."
Kayla soon found herself on the plaza, marvelling in awe at the sight of it. The giant pure white tower stood tall over a sprawling metropolis. Around her were dozens of Guardians, some were human but others were...different. Among the humans she could say men and women with blue-purple skin and other places were occupied be human-shaped robots.
"Ghost...?" she asked quietly.
"You don't need to be scared," Ghost reassured. "They're fighting the Darkness, same as you. The blue-skinned people are called the Awoken. No one knows where they came from, but some say they were tainted by and survived the Darkness out in the Reef. The robots are called the Exo. They're sentient and can channel the Traveller's Light. No one knows who built them, they just that, one day, they appeared coming out of the ruins like lost children."
Cautiously walking between the Guardians chatting around the plaza Kayla made herself to the balcony.
"It's even more beautiful up close," Kayla gasped.
"You like it?" Ghost asked.
"It's not what I expected for the last of humanity," Kayla said quietly. "Maybe there is something worth saving after all..."
"Everything is worth saving," came a voice from behind. "If given the chance."
Kayla instinctively jumped and drew her rifle, making everyone around her back off. The person, a woman, put her hands up defensively. "Easy, I'm not going to hurt you."
Kayla paused and lowered her gun. The woman was dark-skinned with a shaven head and pale blue eyes. She was wearing a high collared purple robe, not too dissimilar to the grey ones Kayla was wearing herself. On her left shoulder was a steel shoulder pauldron.
"My name is Ikora Rey," the woman said gently. "I'm assuming you're the Guardian whose ship just came in from the Cosmodrome?" Kayla quietly nodded. Ikora smiled. "Come on then, I'm sure you've got much to discuss with the Vanguard."
Ikora turned and walked to the back of the Tower. Kayla looked at Ghost and shrugged before following her.
"Don't make her angry," Ghost whispered. "I hear she can turn people into frogs."
Ikora down a large flight of stairs into a brightly lit corridor. The corridor branched off into three separate corridors, one marked 'Barracks', one marked 'Vendors' and the one in the centre marked 'Vanguard', which is where Ikora guiding Kayla.
"I understand you'll have a few questions," Ikora said.
"More than a few," Kayla muttered to herself.
"And I'm sure the Vanguard can answer them as best they can. I know it's quite jarring being returned from the dead and seeing how far the Fallen have come in three hundred years but we're pushing against them every day." Kayla followed behind quietly, unsure of what to say. "So what's the last thing you remember?"
"Being in the car..." Kayla replied, her voice timid. "Heading for the Cosmodrome to go to Venus..."
Ikora blinked, confused. "You're saying that like you were alive before the Collapse."
"I-I was..."
Ikora gasped, eyes widening slightly. "We need to get you to the Vanguard."
She grabbed Kayla's hand, pulling her quickly to the Hall of Guardians. The Hall was more of a room with a large table in the centre. Stood around it were and large muscular Awoken man in big, thick armour, almost like a knight and an Exo in thin, leather armour with a hood covering his blue horned head.
"...And that's how you make a perfect risotto," the Exo chuckled.
"Right..." the Awoken said. "I'll bear that in mind for the next celebration." He turned when he heard Ikora enter. "Ah, Ikora! Wonderful to see you, is this our newest recruit?"
"Oh, sure, just ignore my brilliant advice dinner parties..." the Exo grumbled.
"Cayde, shush," Ikora snapped.
"Yes, ma'am," Cayde said quickly.
Ikora huffed then turned to the Awoken. "Yes, Zavala, this is the newest Guardian...uh, I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name?"
"It's Kayla. I was found at the Cosmodrome."
"Nice to meet you Kayla. I'm Commander Zavala, this is Cayde-6, and you've met Ikora Rey already. I'm very happy to have you here with us, Guardian. Each new member we get brings us one step closer to saving the Traveller. What do you remember of your life before this?"
"If you're asking what I know of the Traveller, nothing," Kayla said tiredly. "I died during the Collapse, this is all new to me."
Zavala paused. "I see..." he said softly. "Then, you have my condolences for those you have lost. Do you need anything from us?"
"If it's all the same to you three I just want to go to bed..."
The three looked at each other. Zavala nodded and had Ikora escort to the barracks. The barracks were spread across several floors and, as Ikora let Kayla know, were home to over five thousand Guardians, though the City actually had barracks all over it which totalled around 16 million. Ikora led Kayla to a medium sized room. It contained a single bed, with a vest top and some shorts folded neatly on the blue covers, an empty bookshelf, a TV and radio as well as an en suite bathroom.
"I'll leave you to your thoughts," Ikora said. "I'll come get you in the morning and we can take things from there."
Kayla let Ikora close the door. Silently she put her guns to one side and began to take off her robes and armour, dumping them on the hard floor.
"So, what do you think?" Ghost asked excitedly, suddenly appearing in front of Kayla.
Kayla screamed a little and turned away from him. "Don't do that!" she snapped.
"Oh...sorry, I forgot humans are funny about that stuff..." he said sheepishly, turning around. "Aren't you excited for this? A brand new Guardian to fight against the Darkness...Isn't that fantastic?"
"Not really," Kayla said quietly, putting on the black vest top.
"Oh, I'm so happy I found you!" Ghost continued. "Seeing all the others get there Guardians...and I kept on searching...but there you were! After all this time! I..." he turned to her, stopping suddenly. Kayla's head was down, her fist clenched tightly on her knees and her body shaking. "Kayla?"
"I...I can't believe it..." she whispered, voice breaking. "I've got nothing left..."
The emotion Kayla had kept pent up all day broke out of her like a flood. She slumped on her bed, gripping the covers tightly and cried like she'd never cried before. Ghost immediately flew to her, worried and panicking.
"Oh, no..." he said to himself. "W-What do I do?" He floated down to Kayla face, speaking quietly. "Kayla...it's gonna be ok, I promise."
"How can you promise that?" Kayla snapped, tears streaming down her face. "It's all gone! My family, all my friends...they died three hundred years ago. You get that?! They're not coming back any time soon!"
"I know, I know," Ghost said softly. "I should have had you taken here right away, I'm sorry..."
Kayla heaved a sigh and rolled onto her back, her arm covering her eyes. "No...it's not your fault, you didn't cause this."
Ghost fidgeted awkwardly. "Is there anything I can do? I can go get..."
"No!" Kayla whimpered. "Ghost, don't...don't leave...please..."
Ghost stared at her and nodded, floating down onto the bed and nestling himself beside her head. "Alright. I'm not going anywhere."
Kayla nodded and turned to face the wall, slowly crying herself to sleep.
The next morning...
Kayla was rudely awakened by the alarm. Apparently all the clocks in the barracks were set to the same time, half past five in the morning. Kayla jolted awake, quickly sorting out her hair. Stumbling around the room half asleep she made it to the sink and gave her teeth a quick brush then fumbled for her doctor's uniform.
She blinked. "Oh, yeah..." she said quietly when she noticed her Guardian robes instead. Sighing, Kayla focused herself and got dressed in her Warlock attire. "Ghost?"
Kayla looked over at him. His eye was dim and he seemed to have rolled himself up in the covers, snoring. Kayla chuckled and walked up to him. "Ghoooost? Time to get up."
She rocked Ghost gently. He stirred and floated upwards, eye beginning to glow. "H-huh, what?" Ghost blinked. "Oh, good morning Kayla."
Kayla smiled warmly. "Morning, sleepy head. Sleep well?"
"I had this weird dream...that teddy bears were smearing me in jam..." Ghost said, frowning. He shook himself. " What about you? How are you feeling?"
Kayla made a face. "Eh...so-so. No use crying about it now, I suppose," she shrugged. "Didn't Ikora say she was going to see us today?"
Right on cue there was a knock on the door. Kayla picked up her two guns then slid the door open. Outside was Ikora looking stern and professional. "Good morning, Kayla. Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, I guess. Could've been worse."
Ikora smiled. "Good. Now, I don't suppose we can continue where we left off?"
Kayla nodded and Ikora led her and Ghost to the Hall of Guardians. There Kayla discussed with them what little she could remember of her previous life and how she woke in the Cosmodrome and fought her way through the House of Devils.
"I see..." Zavala said. "Well, it seems you've had quite a journey here. Not many new Guardians who find themselves in a situation like that can say they've walked away victorious."
"I don't suppose you know any Golden Age secrets?" Cayde asked slyly.
Kayla give him an apologetic look. "Sorry. I can only remember my family and bits and pieces. The rest is a blur."
"Ah, no worries," Cayde smiled. "Just thought I'd ask, any knowledge of the Golden Age is worth inquiring about."
"Guardian, may I see your weapons?" Zavala asked.
Kayla stared at him. "Um, sure!"
With Ghost help she digistructed her weapons, the Khvostov and the Scattercast. Zavala looked over them while Cayde picked up the Khvostov.
"Wow...!" he gasped, marvelling at the gun. "And this thing still works?"
"Yeah," Kayla replied. "I didn't have many problems with it."
Cayde handed the rifle to Zavala. "Hmm..." Zavala said. "The Scattercast is fine, but you'll need a new rifle." He walked up to Kayla, handing a small card. "Take this to Banshee in the vendors hall, you can get a cheap gun for free with it."
"You'll need Glimmer to get the good stuff," Cayde smirked.
"Behave!" Ikora yelled, slapping Cayde.
Kayla watched the three, slightly amused, before leaving.
"Oh! One more thing Guardian," Zavala said. "Amanda Holliday wanted to see you about your ship?"
Kayla nodded before heading out, rounding the corridor to the vendors hall. The vendors hall was like a huge market with robots and people selling a variety of goods ranging from food, to media, to weapons and armour.
"Do you know anything about Banshee?" Kayla asked as she snaked her way through the crowd.
"Only so much," Ghost replied. "He's an Exo with a spiky head, he's the Tower's main gunsmith. Oh, and he fought in the Battle of Twilight Gap."
"Right..."
Kayla looked around, keeping to the vendors in the walls, figuring that being the most popular gunsmith meant he had a large stock and needed a big enough space for it all. She eventually found a blue Exo with a spiked head quietly shuffling his way carrying two boxes of guns.
"All this Guardians, and yet no one helps an old man carry some boxes..." he grumbled.
She watched the Exo as he dropped a box, immediately rushing to help. "I got this," she said kindly, picking up the box.
The Exo sighed. "Thanks," he said. "Most people don't seem to bother. Sure, they need me for a gun, but moving boxes it too much like hard work. I'm Banshee." He paused for moment. "At least I'm pretty sure its Banshee."
Kayla's eyes widened as she smiled. "I'm Kayla! Nice to meet you."
Banshee nodded and continued on through the crowd to his stall. "Something tells me you're new to this."
"What gives you that idea?"
"You're too nice. Most Guardians aren't as friendly as you. Too professional, well, they'd to be, the kind of job they do. So, you're either new or just very optimistic."
Banshee's stall was in a small corner of the large hall. When they got there Kayla set the box down on the counter. When Banshee was in he put both of them in the back room then came back for Kayla. "I'm guessing you need a weapon? That's usually why people are here. No one ever comes here to chat."
Kayla nodded and pulled out the card Zavala gave her. "Commander Zavala said I get free gun if I gave you this?"
Banshee took the card and inspected it. "I was right, you are new," he said after a moment. "So what do you want?"
"Well...I found an assault rifle in the Cosmodrome. So...something like that. Just...more precise?"
"You're not very good at this, are you?" he chuckled, tapping the counter and turning. "You'll want a pulse rifle." He quickly grabbed a small, brown, submachine gun-like weapon from rack on the back wall. "This Pulsar should be enough. I used that gun in Twilight Gap."
"Wow, really?" Kayla gasped as he handed it over, feeling the weight of it in her hands.
"Mhmm. Didn't help mind you. But that's not the gun's fault."
"Oh..." Kayla said, frowning at the gun.
"Oh, well," Banshee shrugged. "Now get going, I have stuff to do."
Kayla nodded. "Thanks for the gun." Disappearing into the crowd she looked over the rifle. "So this is...semi automatic?"
"Yes," Ghost replied. "Most pulse rifles fire three rounds at once."
"Huh..." Kayla said. "Well, I guess we have to Amanda next."
Kayla arrived at the hangar to see Amanda waiting at her desk. She smiled when she saw Kayla. "Ah, Greenhorn! You came back!"
"Greenhorn?" Kayla asked, confused.
"Don't worry, I give everyone nicknames," Amanda laughed.
Kayla shook her head, a faint smile on her face. "How's my ship?"
Amanda chuckled and jumped up from her seat like a coiled spring. "Oh, it was a doozy! But it's the same ship you came in on. Just had to change the fuel tank, the windows, the body, the coolant, the paintwork, the brake, the thrusters, the accelerator, whole engine really. Look forward."
"What? Why?" Kayla said, looking ahead and suddenly feeling a sharp prick on the back of her neck. "Ow!" She scowled at Amanda, who was innocently holding a large nail gun shaped device. "What was that for?"
I chipped you with a device that will allow people to know how to fly," Amanda explained. "Most newbies don't, and we don't have the time to train them. Soo we chip them."
"Could've warned me..." Kayla grumbled.
"Would have let me?" Amanda asked back. Kayla shook her head. "Didn't think so. Anyways, the good news is, we've fixed your ship like it was built yesterday. The bad news is, it doesn't have a warp drive, so you're stuck on Earth until we can get you another one fitted."
"How long would that take?"
Amanda shrugged. "Dunno. The City makes its own but we only get new ones every couple of months, all which are pre-booked. So, unless you've got another way I can't help you."
Kayla nodded. "Thank you anyway."
"No problem."
Kayla left the hangar wondering what to do next. Ghost appeared beside her. "Just typical. We find a ship and it doesn't even have a warp drive," he sighed.
"Hey, don't be so down hearted," Kayla said reassuringly.
"Says you!"
"Look. We found a ship out there, I'm sure we can think of something. Maybe we could scavenge one out in the Cosmodrome."
Ghost thought, nodding. "If we found a working ship, it's plausible that we can find a warp drive. Zavala will know what to do."
The pair swiftly returned to the Vanguard, asking Zavala for any leads.
"Well..." the bald man said, thinking. "We got word of a ship that crashed a few days ago. The pilot's fine, but the ship is a wreck. However, the warp drive could still be functional."
Kayla nodded and ran off to the hangar, ready to put her new flying skills to the test.
Earth, Old Russia, Cosmodrome
The ship flew silently over the snowy hills of the Cosmodrome. As it happened, the chip in the back of Kayla's neck worked perfectly. On the journey Ghost explained that chips like this one downloaded information directly into Kayla's brain and stimulated the right muscles and nerves for the job. The difference from the day before, Kayla found, was staggering.
"Still can't beat can't beat a good text book," she chuckled.
"You like to read?" Ghost asked. "I'd have to take you to the Tower library sometime. Still...I hope we can find a warp drive out here. Without it we're pretty much useless to the Tower without one." He sighed, looking out at the wastes. "There's so little left out here. We were lucky to find this ship. Let's just hope our luck holds out..."
"Ghost relax," Kayla said reassuringly.
"Sorry, it's just...300 years without a Guardian. I just want to prove that we can make a good team."
"Haha, you little lightbulb."
Ghost stared at her. "Don't call me that."
"Well, I'll find something to call you," Kayla smirked back.
Kayla materialized in the foothills just under the old colony ship. Fallen were crawling around, breaking open long abandoned building in the hopes of finding loot. Keeping low in the bushes, Kayla watched them through the scope of her Pulsar.
"What are they doing?" she asked quietly.
"Searching for machinery," Ghost replied. "The Fallen are nomadic pirates that, if Rahn was right, have been chasing the Traveller for millenia. We're not too sure why but the Fallen worship machnes. The House of Devils have been tearing apart every computer, vehicle and AI they can find."
"The what of who now?" a puzzled Kayla asked, frowning.
"Fallen are separated into Houses, which you can tell by colour," Ghost explained. "Earth is occupied by the House of Devils, which wear red, and the House of Kings, which wear yellow. Nobody seems to encounter them very often. Each House worships something called a Servitor Prime, which are their machine-gods. The Devils' Prime is Sepiks Prime which we believe is somewhere in the Cosmodrome."
Kayla continued to watch the Devils, deciding to avoid a fight for now. She continued up the hills, following Ghost as he led her to the crashed ship. The ship was already a smouldering, blackened wreck with some of the embers still burning. Kayla looked over it.
"Hard to believe anyone survived this..." she murmured.
"We're lucky if the Fallen haven't already picked this clean," Ghost muttered as he flew around, scanning the ship. "Darn..."
"Nothing?"
Ghost shook side to side. "No...but the warp drive has a tracker on it. If I can get to functioning computer and put this signal into it we might have a chance at finding it."
Kayla nodded. "Where do we start?"
"There's an old outpost nearby. That should have a map."
With that Kayla turned and heading back down the hills. She eventually found a small rusted shack that was overgrown with weeds and guarded by Fallen. She turned to Ghost. "You sure that's the place?"
"Positive."
Kayla sighed and ran to the shack. Almost immediately the Dregs and Vandals opened fire. Kayla avoided them and fired the Pulsar taking out three Dregs with successive headshots. A Vandal rushed her with sword but Kayla used a Palm Strike, stunning it before finishing it off with another swift headshot. More Vandals rushed her, but Kayla clenched her fist, focusing on the orb of purple light she'd thrown when fighting Rahn. Taking a deep breath she thrust out her palm, sending out a swirling Vortex Grenade. The Fallen were trapped in the void, unable to move. Eventually they dropped dead, all life drained from them. Kayla was stunned.
"Oh! Your Voidwalker abilities are taking shape," Ghost said happily. Kayla raised an eyebrow. Ghost sighed and continued. "There are three types of Warlock. Voidwalker, Sunsinger and Stormcaller. You're a Voidwalker, you can manipulate the dead space."
"That's...helpful?" Kayla said.
"Ikora can explain it better. Let's just get this map up."
Kayla slipped into the shack before anymore Fallen arrived. In the quiet building she found stairs to a basement with a large computer. Ghost sped towards it.
"Interesting..." he mused to himself. "This is a map of the Cosmodrome and its surrounding areas. Not only that, but there's loads of data here!"
"Is that why the Fallen were lurking around?"
"Most likely," Ghost replied excitedly. "My word, the amount of stuff here is astounding. Details on human history, the City...no wonder the House of Devils were trying to hack this thing. But...something is stopping them."
Kayla thought for a moment. "Hang on, how come you can access it?"
"That's the thing, I can't. It's only letting me access what we need to. Any time I try go someplace else it screams at me in Old Russian."
"Right...well if can get this building's coordinates the Vanguard can look into it. For now let's just get what we came for."
Ghost nodded and put the tracking signal in the computer. "...Ah."
"What?"
"You remember the place we got the ship? The one with the huge scary Fallen?"
"Yes...?"
"It's there."
"Ah, crap," Kayla sighed. "Come on then." With that Kayla headed back up the stairs. "Only known you a day and I'm already running errands for you."
"That's not my fault!"
Earth, Old Russia, Cosmodrome, Dock 13
Kayla and Ghost arrived at Dock 13, hesitant and nervous. Around them were several Dregs and Vandals clicking and roaring menacingly. In the centre was a huge Fallen dressed in regal red armour and furs with his head encased in a large spiked helmet.
"Oh, no..." Ghost whispered, horrified.
"Something wrong?" Kayla asked.
"That's an Archon! This is bad!"
"What's an Archon?"
"I!" the giant Fallen roared triumphantly. "Am an Archon! You, puny Guardian! Stand before Riksis! Archon to House Devil! I am voice of machine-god, Sepiks Prime! And I! Stand in judgement of you!"
Silence filled the room. Kayla watched Riksis, bewildered. The Archon was certainly flamboyant and...loud, and Kayla figured she'd have to fight him if things took a turn for the worst.
"So...Archons are like priests?" she asked Ghost quietly.
"Pretty much. Each House is led by a triad: a Kell, an Archon and a Prime. The Kell is the political leader of a House, they keep it together. The Archon acts as the caretaker of the Prime and acts as an advisor to the Kell, relaying whatever it is the Prime wants. If, like the Devils, the Kell is dead, then the Archon will take over leadership until a new Kell can be found."
"Are you the one who Captain Rahn was chasing yesterday?" Riksis boomed.
"Uh...yes..."
"Then you must be the one who killed him, yes?"
"Yeah. You know, you and Rahn both have remarkably good English."
Riksis chuckled. "Indeed. If House Devil is to fight City for Great Machine House Devil must be able to converse. Now...you are after this?" Riksis asked, holding out a small spherical machine.
"The warp drive!" Ghost exclaimed.
The Archon laughed. "The reason that ship was there was it was deemed unfit for our purposes. Had we known it could fly it would not have been there. However...seeing you fly away knowing you needed a warp drive, well...it's the best way to trap an inexperienced Guardian, yes?"
Kayla readied herself. "So I'm assuming we fight for it?"
Riksis' laughter boomed through the room. "You're remarkably perceptive, human. We will duel in trial by combat. I, Riksis! Challenge you! To duel to the death!"
The Fallen cheered, deafening Kayla. "I accept, I guess."
Riksis smirked from behind his helmet and pulled out his shrapnel launcher.
Riksis pounded the ground, sending out a powerful shockwave which knocked Kayla to the ground. Kayla stumbled to her feet, narrowly avoiding a blast from Riksis' shrapnel launcher. Kayla ran to the edge of the ring of Fallen had made before opening fire on Riksis, the bullets bouncing off his armour. Riksis chuckled, throwing a shock grenade at her.
Kayla jumped into the air, avoiding the blast, pulling out her shotgun before charging Riksis and firing a shell at her face. Riksis roared, pounding the ground again and knocking Kayla off her feet. Riksis charged and slammed the launcher in the ground. Kayla rolled out of the way as the launcher was forced into the dirt. While Riksis pulled it out Kayla fired at him with her rifle. The Archon roared and swung the tail end of his launcher round. Kayla ducked but Riksis grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the ground. Kayla gasped in shock, coughing up blood.
"You cannot defeat me!" Riksis hissed. "I will offer your head to Sepiks Prime!"
"Yeah," Kayla grunted. "Not gonna happen!"
Kayla opened her free hand, throwing a Void Grenade at Riksis. The Archon roared in pain and let Kayla go, backing off. Kayla got up, her lower back bruised and arching. Ghost came to her aid and engulfed her back in a white light.
"I got you," he said, concentrating.
Kayla wearily fired at Riksis, angering him further. With a powerful roar Riksis fired his launcher Kayla jumped backwards, stunned that she kept going.
"Ohhhh my god!" she screamed before dropping like a rock. "...So that's a thing now."
"Back's healed, take him out!" Ghost shouted. "Now!"
Kayla nodded and ran at Riksis again, firing at him with her shotgun. Riksis roared, firing successive blasts at her. She kept going, circling around and firing at him again. When Riksis turned to slam the ground again Kayla jumped, gliding away, before throwing another Void Grenade. Riksis dropped to his knees when it exploded, firing a round from the Pulsar into his throat. Riksis slumped backwards, dead.
The House of Devils looked at each other in shock and confusion. This Guardian...she was not Saladin, Osiris, Saint-14 or the Vanguard. She had only appeared yesterday and yet she had just taken down Riksis! The Fallen were afraid. Some drew their weapons and there was chattering of Sepiks Prime being next. Unsure of what to do all eyes fell on Kayla.
Kayla looked at them, placing one foot on Riksis' lifeless body. "Do any of you want to try? Really?"
The Fallen yelped in fright and fled Dock 13. As the call went out and new spread of Riksis' death like wildfire the House of Devils all over the Cosmodrome retreated to protect Sepiks Prime. Kayla watched the last Dregs leave and waited a moment.
"I am so glad that worked," Kayla said, breathing a sigh of relief before picking the warp drive. "So this is what we were after? It's smaller than I expected..."
Meanwhile Ghost looked over Riksis' body, amazed and in deep shock. "You just killed an Archon..." he breathed, turning to his Guardian who was sat messing with the warp drive.
"Hmm?" she asked, looking up.
"Y-You just killed an Archon!" he repeated. "And not even two days in! This could cripple the House of Devils."
Kayla looked at Ghost, then Riksis. "I take it that this is unheard of?"
Ghost nodded. "You...you don't even know the scale of what you've done, do you?"
"Give me a break, I was reborn yesterday," Kayla said, childishly pouting. "What do you want from me? I don't understand any of this!"
"I know, I know...still, the Vanguard won't believe this."
Kayla thought for a moment. "C'mon, help me take his helmet off."
Earth, City, Tower
"You blue idiot!" Ikora shouted.
"Woah, that's a bit racist, Ikora," Cayde teased.
"Shut. Up." Ikora growled, turning back to Zavala. "You knew the Fallen had stripped that ship!"
"If the new Guardian can survive this then I believe she will be alright here," Zavala said calmly.
"So this was a test?! You had no right to send her scouring across the Cosmodrome! The Devils may be weak, but the Kings are out there too! And she cannot handle them!"
"The Kings have been quiet since Twilight Gap," Zavala replied calmly. "And your Hidden are keeping an eye on them. The Guardian will be alright."
"The 'Guardian' has a name, you know," Kayla said, smirking as she walked in. All heads turned to her.
"So, did you get a warp drive?" Ikora asked.
"Holliday has it," Kayla replied. "Oh, and we thought you'd want this."
Ghost appeared over the table and shined a light down. Riksis' helmet materialized and landed with a thud. The Vanguard stared at in shock.
"Is that..." Ikora gasped.
"H-Holy shit!" Cayde chuckled.
"Guardian..." Zavala said slowly. "Who had the warp drive?"
"A Devil named Riksis."
"The Archon?" Zavala asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes," Ghost replied. "There's no other way Kayla could know who he is."
"You killed an Archon..." Zavala said, a small smile forming on his face. "Heh. Guardian, I'd like to formally welcome you to the Tower. May your Light shine strong."
Kayla grinned and jumped, high fiving Ghost who tapped her palm gently. Zavala waved a hand and ordered them to go rest for the rest of the day.
"I can't believe it," Ghost said happily as they walked out onto the balcony. "Barely two days in and you've slain an Archon. I think we're going to do well here."
"Don't really have a choice," Kayla said with a faint sadness in her voice. "This is my life now."
Zavala mounted Riksis' helmet on the Vanguards trophy wall next to Solkis. the Devil Kell's, helmet. He thought it fitting smiling at the symbolism.
"Now that Solkis and Riksis are dead we should make plans to move onto Sepiks Prime," Ikora said. "The sooner that thing is down the better."
"The new Guardian really is something though," Cayde said, leaning on the wall. "What do you think, Zavala?"
Zavala sighed. "All we can do is hope. You all know the Guardians who got lucky on their first day and took it to their heads. We'll just have to wait and see."
