A.N. Just so you know the Canadian part of my username is more than a name, it's where I'm from.
Earth, The City.
Within a bar surprisingly still somewhat intact after the City was invaded stood a vast number of individuals. Each of them wearing armour or robes weathered from the previous battles, wielding weapons of different varieties. Either secured on their backs, clipped to their waists, or leaning against the table as the room was filled with the cheers of victory and the clinking of mugs filled with beer.
As stern blue eyes observed the bar they noticed many of the different activities being conducted within the area. From men and women wearing cloaks throwing knives at a dart board, to people clad in long coats competitively drinking against others encased in heavy armour as their friends or other patrons cheered them on.
All the while in one of the corners of the bar a couple people were singing karaoke... or atleast trying to. Each of them with smiles on their faces as they staggered and swayed, the words of the song slurred considering the amount of alcohol they've all drank.
The owner of the blue eyes grew a smile on his equally blue face revealing this individual as commander Zavala of the Vanguard. Beside the old Titan stood the very Hunter that annoyed him constantly but respected just as much. Cayde-6, The Hunter roped into the Vanguard because of his gambling nature. The Exo growing a grin of his own seeing the ever stoic Titan with a rare smile plastered on his face.
"Careful, you may strain your face by smiling so much." Jokingly stated the Hunter as his cyan eyes gleamed with excitement from the occasion, which only earned a monotonous glare from the blue man group dropout.
"We just won a war Cayde, Let the man smile without being messed with." An acoustic voice interrupted the commander before he can interject, as the two turned to the side gazing at who issued the statement.
Standing to the side of the two guardians was one of the many Hunter scouts The Vanguard has, Shiro-4. A cocky smile planted on his bronze faceplate while his electronic azure eyes shined under his stark yellow cloak made from the torn banners of the Fallen house of Kings.
"Shiro finally taking a break from the wilds." Cayde stated as he approached his old friend and pupil.
"No, just taking a break from hanging around Felwinter's peak." Came his reply as he approached the cyan faced hunter. Extending his hand which was quickly grabbed by his old teacher.
"Anything new to report Shiro?" Questioned the commander as he held his hands behind his back breaking the two hunters from their moment.
"Nothing Zavala. Just the fact all the Fallen have united into one house... but I'm sure you've already heard about that." He answered.
"Yes, I have." Stated the Titan as he starred out into the crowd of guardians celebrating for the first time after the City was rebuilt. "It's only been a month since we've taken this city back from the Red Legion. And our problems just seem to keep piling up." Zavala tiredly spoke as he felt Cayde put a hand on his shoulder.
"You're only saying that because Osiris is back. Besides when the next problem comes up... we'll be ready for it." The wildcard reassured as the Titan felt a pang of anger at the mention of Osiris, though calmed down considering the occasion.
"You know I have more reasons to worry than just Osiris." The commander shot back at his Exo comrade, glaring at him before looking out to the crowd seeing each of the patrons becoming even more drunk as the night went by.
"We lost our city, our light, we almost lost our own sun." He explained as he returned his gaze to the Hunter.
"And we got it all back, thanks to Fireteam Warg we managed to disable the Almighty, stop Gary, and get our light back." Cayde replied confusing Shiro as he scanned the bar looking for the mentioned team.
"Speaking of those guys... where are they?" Shiro questioned causing the two Vanguards to look into the crowd confused just like Shiro looking for the group of six guardians. When they couldn't find the object of their conversation the two guardians looked back at each other shrugging their shoulders soon after.
"Well, they're either off doing something crazy, or saving the world from something we don't know about." Cayde reasoned as one of the Titans in the bar was trying to chug down an entire keg, gaining the three guardians attention, "and I thought my hunters were crazy."
"Hundred glimmer says he can't drink half of that." Shiro bet as Cayde grew a cocky grin.
"You're on." The Hunter replied.
"Hunters." The commander sighed out.
-X-
Earth, EDZ, Trostland.
Trostland, an old town within the EDZ. One of the places the Fallen house of Dusk laid claim to... Or at least tried to considering whenever any of the purple bannered bastards made a bold move they've been pushed back.
Sadly the town's been a crumbling ruin since the collapse, especially after the Traveler left its shard after that very shard became corrupted. Even corrupting the area surrounding where it laid, thus dubbing this place the European Dead Zone.
Though luckily Trostland received the least of the corruption.
That's what was seen through the eyes of a dreg as it walked across a pile of bricks from a long destroyed building. The dreg's feet shuffled over the broken bricks, it's shock pistol aiming at any little sound it heard from its surrounding just as its glowing cyan eyes gazed towards its comrades as they conversed amongst themselves near the rusted husk of a truck.
Upon hearing the commands of a larger Fallen the others quickly grew silent, each of them looking to their captain as it shuffled its arms under its thick cloak. The captain's subordinates glaring at it intensely as they saw strange mist leaking from its mask, some of them leaving as their captain issued threats to the vandals.
"We gotta couple vandals leaving the group." A voice spoke from within the church tower. "The group may cause some trouble if they come in the church."
"No need for concern Hook." An accented voice responded walking up to the individual, the man carrying a mug in his right hand as he held the barrel of his rifle in his left.
As the lone figure on the windowsill turned his head towards the voice he was pleased with the sight of an aged man. Donned in an old camo zip-up hoodie underneath a light ammo vest with the Trostland crest on the left side of it. His grey bearded face showing a neutral expression as he approuched the Exo.
Resting his mug on to the windowsill of the church tower, the old man looked out into the town as he peeked his head around the side of the window. "Their ain't much out there Devrim." Hook stated as he pushed down the hood of his grey cloak revealing his metellic steel face as it reflected the light from the moon.
"Theirs always something out there, you just have to look." The man now known as Devrim responded as he rested his rifle against the wall, the man casting side glances to the Hunter as he leaned against the wall next to the window his arms crossed. A sword baring a resemblance to a katana attached to his back. 'What was that sword called again?... oh yes, Quickfang.' He thought to himself as he sipped from the mug humming to himself as he drank the tea within the old mug.
"Something on your mind?" The Exo asked as his electronic crimson eyes gazed into Devrim's experienced brown ones. "When you wanna ask someone something it's easier to just ask them."
"What's it like being a guardian?" The elder sniper asked.
The Hunter turned his gaze away from the scout trying to think of an answer, "that depends on how you look at it. For some, it's what give them purpose." He began before his gaze hardened, "though when you live for as long as I have, you realize you've lost so much. Your memories, friends, maybe even your reason to live. Except what I've found within my time as a guardian... is something that's taken me centuries to find." He said as he returned his gaze to Devrim. "Family. You just gotta keep them alive, or remember them."
"I take that your team is that family?" Devrim questioned.
"Yeah." Hook confirmed as he leaned Copperhead against the wall next to himself, taking a single throwing knife from his belt tossing it in the air and catching it casually. "I guess you could say Bite's my best friend, considering we've worked together ever since the Titans decided to build a wall around the city." He stated as he focused his gaze on the teapot on the other side of the room. "We were the guys who guarded the territory outside the perimeter to make sure the Fallen didn't take the builders by surprise."
"Were you and Bite on the moon when the Hive first came to the system?" He asked as he gained Hook's gaze once more.
"Yes," He simply stated, "Bite and I lost so many friends to Crota's blade." He growled still hanging on to the anger and hatred to the Hive's 'god', unable to let go. "That why when Eris came back we answered her call to hunt down hi- it's generals... and destroy that demented soul." He concluded as the two heard footsteps coming from the bottom of the church.
Both of them grabbing weapons, with Hook unholstering a handcannon from his hip, and Devrim his rifle.
As soon as the two leveled their respective weapons towards the hatch leading to the room they heard someone or something climbing the ladder to the churches tower. The two individuals ready to fire rounds into anything that came up that hatch, Hook pulling the hammer of his handcannon back just as Devrim switched off the safety of his rifle.
Upon hearing whatever was on the ladder reach the top the room was enveloped with silence, the tension thickening to a point one could cut it with a knife. Though barely a second after the beings ascended the ladder a knock was heard from the hatch.
"Hey Hook, you there?" A familiar voice called from under the hatch setting the two experienced individuals at ease. "Hook!" The voice called out again.
"Yeah, keep your voice down." Hook responded as he holstered his revolver, walking over to the hatch of the tower and unlocking it before opening it.
Two figures rose from the ladder into the room of the church tower. One of them a man clad in light armour over top of a jumpsuit painted black though weathered through all the time it's been worn. The helmet of this individual bared a strange resemblance to a hawk, though the helmet was obscured by the hood of onyx cloak. His rifle just as black as the rest of him was holstered to his back as the strap went over the ammo pouches attached to the torso of his armour.
After the black clad figure was off the ladder and in the room he turned his back to the other two inhabitants of the tower, giving them a better look at what covered the newcomers back. The cloak was adorned with the very tree seen among the Iron Banner's banner painted white contrasting with the ever present black, along side a wolves pelt around the neck.
Holding out his hand through the opening the hatch made, it was soon grabbed by a monochromatic arm covered by the spine of some small creature. As the person, er, woman who grabbed the black clad Hunter's hand stepped foot on the rotten wooden floor, the light reflecting off her monochrome helmets black visor, as she stood to her full height a few inches shorter than her onyx comrade.
"Decker, Spiri." Devrim greeted with a nod as the monochrome Huntress next to the onyx Hunter now revealed to be Decker shifted her stark white cloak to behind her back unveiling her equally light armour.
"Devrim, how's it hanging?" Decker asked as the huntress also revealed to be Spiri approached an old chair the scout brought up from the ground floor of the church, sitting down after taking the scout rifle from her back and resting it against the chair.
The Huntresses smiling as she finally got a chance to sit down considering the amount of running they've done within the last hour, her azure eyes looking at Devrim. She's grown a lot in the last three years.
"Hmm fine. The Fallen seem to be a little more on edge..." He answered before his eyes narrowed suspiciously though playfully considering he already knew the answer, "something of your doing?" He asked as the two Hunters only shrugged their shoulders.
"Should we worry about them?" Hook questioned as he returned to leaning against the wall beside the window.
"Only if they go after Jaune, Bite, and Alaster." Spiri responded as she put down her hood and removed her helmet which she found within the Dead Zone about a month ago., letting the platinum locks fall from it.
"Bite's not gonna like the added resistance." Hook stated as he returned to playing around with his throwing knife again. "Although he can handle it."
"You know it's that attitude that influenced our desision to take you instead of Bite when Spiri and I went to hunt down Skolas and the House of Wolves." Decker revealed.
"True," The Exo agreed but turned his gaze to the young Hunter, "but we should have kept the rest of the team in the loop." He countered. "We're immortal, not invincible. You both know what it cost to learn that." He Sagely told the two causing them to look to each other before growing silent.
"The fires The Lords of Iron lit will always burn a path through the future. We promised Lord Saladin to carry on the torch, and we'll hold true." The old Hunter stated as the other Hunter's nodded in response.
"Always and forever." Spiri confirmed as Decker unlatched the strap of his helmet letting his mop of black hair drop, his silver eyes filled with determination as he turned to Hook with a confident smirk.
"Don't worry Obi won, we won't get too cocky." He stated bringing a smile to everyone in the room, except Hook as he just closed his eyes and shook his head while breathing out a sigh.
"You watch way too many movies." Hook revealed as the onyx Hunter just shrugged his shoulders.
"There's never too much when it comes to movies." He countered.
After Decker made that statement the room was enveloped in a solemn silence. Not from what Decker spoke, but from Hook.
"So Hook," Devrim began while also breaking the silence, "from what I've heard Exo's usually have memory problems when they reboot their cores so much. How is it that you have such fine memory?" The old scout asked curious of the Exo's pristine memory.
"I've actually been wondering the same thing." Spiri revealed intrigued about the new conversation, just as Decker began to listen.
"I just use the same system Cayde uses, the guys the one who showed it to me." Hook said as he caught his knife in his hand.
"How does it work?" Decker asked.
"I just use a deck of cards to categorize certain stuff."
"Wow, super creative." Decker stated with totally heartfelt intrigue, or in other words... sarcasm. "It's totally like the audience will find that cool."
"Decker be nice. Would you rather Hook remember everything or just be some amnesiac?" Spiri tried to reason as Decker stared at her.
"You mean like the rest of us?" He stated his eyes showing anger causing the blonde to look down to her hands saddened. As soon as he said that he realized his mistake, "I'm sorry." He apologized.
"It's fine." Spiri stated as she got up from her seat her eyes filled with understanding as she approached Decker. "Decker the thing you have to realize when it comes to our memories, is that they're not coming back." The huntress said as she reached her hand for Decker's taking hold of it for a minute, azure eyes locking with silver. "But when you can't remember your old memories, you just gotta make new ones... with the people you care about."
As the two were warmly smiling at each other Devrim and Hook gazed at each other exchanging knowing smiles. The two young guardians moving their faces closer to each other closing their eyes as well.
"Decker! I'm gettin' an emergency transmission from Jaune!" Shamrock interrupted stopping the Hunters from locking lips. As Decker turned his attention to his ghost his face was now showing one of concern... with a little bit of a blush.
"Go ahead." He quickly stated.
"Decker! We need a little backup out at Firebase Hades!" Jaune's voice shouted through the transmission Shamrock received.
"Holy shit we actually did piss off the Fallen!" Decker shouted his face showing concern as he slid his helmet back on his head, the 'beak' reflecting the panic in Spiri's eyes along with a blush.
"No! We're caught in the middle of a skirmish with the Cab- Wait what do you mean by pissing off the Fallen?!" The Arc questioned as a shuffling noise was heard on the other side of the transmission.
"DECKER! SPIRI! GET YOUR ASSES TO FIREBASE HADES! NOW!" Bite's acoustic voice barked from his side of the comm.
"Hey Bite, I didn't know you were on the comms." Decker stated as Hook and Spiri were already down the hatch. Devrim at the window with his rifle facing north by northwest towards the sludge.
"He's not. That was him shouting in my ear!" Jaune responded as an explosion was heard from the transmission. "Alaster! On your left!" The Arc barked before ending the transmission, rifle fire being heard as the comm went dark.
"And I thought I started more shit." Decker stated to Shamrock as the construct only did whatever the ghost equivalent to a shrug was before dematerializing.
-X-
EDZ, Firebase Hades.
'How the hell did we get in this mess?' Jaune question himself as loaded another magizine into his rifle.
'Well Jaune, we did receive an emergency transmission from a team of guardians.' Ghost answered from within Jaune's head causing the man to roll his eyes. As the Arc gazed to his right he was met with the sight of his leader sending a rocket into a crowd of Legionaries. Almost all of them issuing cries of pain as they fell. The only one of them not effected by the rocket was the Centurion, as it was protected by a barrier of metal, flesh, and energy.
Hearing the roar of anger from seeing its brethren be slaughtered the Exo only turned to look past Jaune to Alaster. As she was keeping a pair of Cabal Psions suppressed behind a damaged intercepter. The Psions blindly firing their slug rifles towards the groups direction, only hitting the ground or nearby walls.
"Alaster, just blow up the hunk of metal." Bite said from beside his Titan comrade, receiving a nod from the Warlock as she placed her pulse rifle onto her back.
"Coming right up!" She responded as she left the crate the three guardians were behind, flanking the Psions as she leapt into the air gaining extra height due to the levitation used by every Warlock out there. As she approached the interceptor she pulled back her arm. Keeping her hand open as it began to glow a deep purple, causing her to feel as though her hand was being punctured by multiple tiny needles.
As the energy within her hand completely manifested itself creating a ball she released it casting it towards the Psions. "Void light. You gotta love it." Bite said from beside the Arc Titan as he loaded another rocket into his rocket launcher. Taking a slightly smaller weapon from his back and setting it against the crate, placing the rocket launcher onto his back and picking up the weapon, or well machine gun in this case considering that it was a Gatling gun that turned its victims into Swiss cheese.
"Since when do you don't?" Jaune asked as he turned his gaze to the Titan after taking down a legionnaire.
"Not often, but when I do I'm just taking care of sweet business." The Exo responded, cocking the weapon as the barrel began to spin.
"Take this!" The Titan shouted as he opened fire on the Centurion before it could fire on his Warlock teammate, chipping away at its shield causing the barrier of solar energy to diminish. Just as the Centurion's shield failed the Cabal soldier was assaulted by the hail of bullets, breaching its armour and puncturing its flesh forcing it behind cover.
"We got a Colossus coming in, I don't think it's happy!" Alaster shouted through the comms as true to her word a massive Cabal came out of a doorway leading into the base, followed by a pack of War Beasts. Yay.
"You gotta be kidding me!" Bite yelled as he began to set up a transmission to the remaining team members as he started unloading rounds into the pack of canon fodder. "Decker! Where are you?!" The Exo barked into the comm.
"'Bout a minute out boss. Why, you guys looking to share some of the fun with us?" The Hunter responded as the sounds of energy discharge was heard from his side of the transmission, "we might be bringing some extra guests to the party."
"Define guests." The veteran ordered, knowing he won't like whatever the answer will be.
"A squad of pikes." He said which only received a growl from the Titan.
"In his defence, the Fallen started it!" Spiri shouted into Decker's helmet considering she didn't open a comm link into her helmet. "Ow!" She yelped as the sound of an explosion flooded the comm.
"Just get here soon." He commanded as he received a shout of confirmation as a reply before ending the transmission, turning his gaze to Jaune the Titan placed a gloved hand on his shoulder gaining his attention. "Arc, Decker and Spiri are coming in, with some added guests." The Titan stated pointing to the direction of the winding cove.
"What about the Colossus?" Jaune questioned oblivious to the pack of war beasts heading towards them. Until a ball of void energy cut off their approach curtesy of the two Titan's Warlock comrade.
"I'll take care of it." The Exo stated as the massive space turtle began firing its version of a Gatling gun at Alaster. "I've got some steam to blow off."
Not wanting to argue with his friend the Arc began moving towards the path to the winding cove. Readying his rifle towards the path as he waited for his comrade.
As the Colossus was distracted trying to hit Alaster, as she was behind cover. Bite began to manifest sol energy within his hand, feeling the warmth of the light as it began to manifest into a handle. Concentrating the fire into a hammer engulfed in flame, swinging it lightly as he readjusted to the weight of it.
Bite doing the only thing possible to get the Cacal's attention, by throwing a highly volatile hammer at the oh so big gun it was so proud of. The fire from the hammer melting the chamber of its Gatling gun, while almost setting off the ammo stored in the side of the weapon,
As the colossus looked to its gun seeing that it was unusable, its quickly cast it aside angered by the loss of equipment before turning its rage filled glare to Bite. "What's the matter, Can't fight without your fancy Gatling gun? Well size doesn't matter, just how you use it!" The Exo shouted as he charged towards the massive Cabal. "Bring it on!"
Over with Jaune. The Titan was currently waiting behind another crate, hearing the distant humm from a sparrow soon after arriving behind the cover.
"So how are we gonna take down a group of pikes? Bite's got the rocket launcher." Jaune questioned as ghost materialized beside his head.
"There's always the fist of havoc?" The construct offered as its guardian shook his head.
"There's a chance I won't get them all." He reasoned as his ghost shrugged... or whatever they do.
"Eh, we'll wing it." It stated before dematerializing into the guardians head.
"I guess we will." He mumble to himself as the first sparrow came into view, though the Arc became confused as a second sparrow was seen as well. "Hook?" He said out loud, 'I thought we was scouting around Trostland.'
Refocusing his attention when he saw the group of pikes he began to sprint towards the newcomers, clenching his fist as he felt the jolt of Arc energy being summoned into his balled up hand.
As he passed the two sparrows carrying his Hunter comrades he was pleased to see that the pikes remained on course, one of the dregs laughing thinking it will have an easy kill.
Approaching the dregs the Titan leapt into the air holding his fist back beside his head while bending his elbow. As he landed onto the ground he planted his fist into the ground creating a shock wave of electricity, destroying two of the three pikes.
As the third pike skidded to a stop, starring at the Titan in disbelief. The dreg quickly got over its dilemma as it remembered its comrades were just killed by the Titan before it. Aiming the pikes turrets at the Arc Titan while glaring at him with hatred the dreg charging the turrets readying them to fire.
Before the dreg could fire the turret Spiri leapt off Decker's sparrow sprinting towards the pike, leaping into the air to deliver a kick to the dregs head effectively knocking it off its ride. As the dreg shakily rose to its feet it brought its shock pistol to level with the Huntress, though before it could fire it received a throwing knife in the side of its skull curtesy of Hook.
Walking to the dregs corpse and retrieving the knife from the skull as wisps of either leaked from it, the Exo turned its crimson gaze towards his Titan comrade, "So, the party still going on?" He questioned as he slid the knife into a sheath on his belt.
The question was answered with the sound of an anvil being struck. As the Hunters looked towards the sound they were met with Bite still in combat with the colossus.
Evading a downward punch from the Cabal letting it plant its fist into the ground beside himself, the Titan grabbing onto its gauntlet and using the lower parts of it as a stepping pad and began to climb the alien. Using his left hand to launch himself the Titan landed on the colossus's shoulder, striking the Cabal's head with the hammer letting it explode with the hit.
As the now dead Cabal collapsed onto its knees the veteran Titan leapt down from the colossus's shoulder landing in a crouch position, the flaming hammer of sol extinguished and gone... for now.
As the Titan approached the group of guardians with Alaster in tow his gaze landed on Decker as he transmated his sparrow back to his ship.
"Your late." Bite stated as he turned to Hook, "and weren't you scouting around Trostland?"
"I was talking with Decker and Spiri when they got your transmission. I just tagged along." The Hunter replied as he walked up to Bite to give him a handshake.
"Ah well I'd thank you for the support but I guess we didn't need it." Bite revealed as Spiri took off her helmet, the Exo getting a glare as soon as her blonde locks fell.
"Next time hell better be breaking loose when you call." She stated her azure eyes boring into the Titan's visor.
"For the record Jaune was the one who called you." He replied earning and indignant shout from the man in question as he unclipped the strap of his helmet.
Pulling the helmet from his head letting his mop of blonde hair fall, his experienced eyes starring at the Titan as his lips were unmoving after he scoffed at the Titan, "you're the one who told me to call them." He shot at the Titan rubbing the stubble on his chin as he narrowed his hardened sapphire eyes.
"As much as I'd like to argue about interrupting Spiri and Decker doing the deed," Alaster interjected causing the two Hunters in question to stiffen in response before glaring at the Warlock, or tilting their helmet in Decker's case. "But we gotta figure out what the Cabal are doing."
"Got any leads?" Hook asked as he covered his head with his grey hood and moving his tattered cloak so he can unholster another handcannon from behind his back, which bore a strange resemblance to Red Death, the infamous rifle.
"We received an emergency transmission from around here from a group of guardians, their team designation was Brimstone." She stated as Hook's face grew concerned. "What's wrong?"
"That's impossible." Hook said as he turned to Bite, "Fireteam Brimstone should be dead. Completely dead. I was at the Tower with Cayde when he received the casualty report." He stated as the Cabal Centurion silently crept up to the group being hidden by a crate, somehow remaining silent despite its size.
"Oh yeah one more thing." Hook spoke before disappearing in a flash of light, soon after a shout of surprise in Cabal dialect was heard from behind the crate, alongside three quick shots commonly heard from a handcannon. As the group moved around the crate with their weapons drawn they were shocked to see a dead Centurion lying on the ground dead. Black oil leaking from its armour, "you missed one."
"Hold on, if fireteam Brimstone's dead, then how did we get the message?" She asked the Hunter.
If one could look into the mind of the Exo they'd hear him rapidly think of questions of what was going on. 'How could Bite, Alaster, and Jaune get the message? Who are they dealing with? Who are we dealing with? Why was that message leading them here?' The Exo questioned himself.
'How did Brimstone die again?' Rayth asked from within the Exo's mind.
"The Cabal." Hook answered out loud, "they were the ones that killed Brimstone." He stated his face becoming more angered. "Neither their bodies... or ghosts weren't found."
"Which means the Cabal almost got more victims from this little ambush." Bite concluded as Decker removed his helmet and pulled out a flask.
"So does that mean the Cabal figured out how to send dummy messages?" Decker questioned as he removed the cap and drank from the flask.
"No, the message we received was only a recording." Jaune answered gaining Hook's focus again.
"Okay everybody listen," Bite said getting everyone's attention. "We're not gonna get answers if we just stand here in a circle. So Hook, send a message to Zavala. Jaune, Alaster, take point. Spiri when Hook's done sending the message take him and Decker to another entry point and meet us inside the base." He ordered to everyone receiving nods all around. "And Decker! Put the damn flask away." He growled at the Hunter forcing him to put it away.
"Now let's move."
-X-
Remnant, The wilds, Vytal.
"Mr. Arc's family is not gonna like this." Ozpin stated through the speaker of a scroll.
"To be honest that lead I got wasn't solid." A raspy voice admitted from his side of the call. The sound of thunder ringing out from outside the destroyed house the man was sheltered in, rain water leaking in from certain spots in the roof as he poked the fire with a twig. "Just be happy I'm out here, kid shouldn't have been pretending to be something he's not." He said as he pulled a flask from his pocket, his crimson eyes boring into his tiny metal friend before unscrewing the cap.
"I could have said the same thing about you when I first saw you Qrow." The headmaster responded causing the man to stop moving the flask to his mouth. Rescrewing the cap of the flask as he wasn't in the mood anymore, the man now known as Qrow sighed feeling like a hypocrite.
"That was a long time ago." Qrow countered.
"And this is now." The headmaster stated, "do you have anything good to atleast ease their minds?" He asked with hope present in his voice.
"I haven't found a body." The old crow responded which only received a sigh of annoyance. "Hey keep in mind I'm working alone out here, hell the only reason I'm looking for the kid is because he made my niece cry. And that's something I'm going to easily forgive." He revealed as his gaze hardened as it bored into the fire.
"Well about the working alone part..." he started as Qrow cut him off before he could start.
"I swear if you're making me work with Ice Queen." He threatened not wanting to get a migraine from working with someone he considered an enemy... a hangover and a Schnee don't mix well.
"You won't be working with commander Schnee, Qrow. You'll be working with Mr. Arc's sisters." The headmaster said easing the crow's mind.
"Are they hot... and legal." He questioned.
"Qrow. Focus, they're going out there for the sole purpose of finding their brother, not be hit on by an alcoholic." Ozpin chastised as Qrow pulled out his flask... he was in the mood again. "And yes they're legal, I don't send unprepared minors into the wilds." He stated.
"Ahem."
"Unprepared, Qrow. Mr. Arc left the kingdoms, if I had my way he'd still be here at Beacon." The immortal in disguise defended as the sound of light foots step could be heard by Qrow. "Mr. Arc's sisters will be there within a day."
"So there's no chance of them being here right now?" He questioned as his hand crept to the scythe holstered under his tattered maroon cloak.
"No. They've just left my office before you called, they should be on a Bullhead by now, though they may be delayed by the storm. Why?" The headmaster responded oblivious to the fairly large revolver being held to the alcoholics head, the hammer being pulled back causing the birds eyes to narrow.
"No reason, I'll call you back." He quickly answered as he hung up the scroll, keeping it on to record the conversation unbeknownst to the stranger before putting the scroll in his pocket.
"So I take it you're looking for someone?" The stranger questioned with an accented voice, creeping around the crow still keeping the revolver aimed between his eyes, sitting as soon as he was opposite to the crow.
"Yeah... What's it to you?" Qrow answered heatedly glaring at the grey visor of the strangers black helmet.
"Well for starters mate," The stranger started as he held out his left hand, in a flash of light the stranger produced a sword and scabbard. A familiar sword and scabbard baring the crest of a certain family that was looking for the owner of that sword.
"Catch." He simply said before passing the objects to the drunk, catching it easily. As the Huntsman looked over the scabbard he was shocked to see it damaged possibly beyond repair. The sword wasn't much better as the blade was chipped all over. "Kid killed as much of those 'Grimm' as he could. Sure I killed a few too, but he kept them off the civilians before the ships took off." The stranger explained becoming confused as Qrow's glare only intensified. "Sadly, lad didn't get on quick enough. Shame really kid did deserve to be left behind." He solemnly stated.
"Did yo-" the bird growled though before he could continue he was interrupted.
"No. That was the Grimm." He responded to the question before it was said.
"Then what's with the gun?" He questioned pointing to the black handcannon. "Usually when someone's innocent they don't confront people with their weapons raised." Qrow stated.
"Where I'm from, this is how we say hello to strangers." He answered as he rested the handcannon on his leg. His long black coat still drying from the fire. "An... acquaintance of mine asked me to tell you of the boys demise before I... take a trip home." He stated ominously as he moved his coat away from his hip before holstering his handcannon.
"Then where's the body?" He demanded as he only shrugged as a response.
"Hell if I know. All I know is where his bodies going, not where it'll end up specifically." He replied as this only further angered the Huntsman.
"Then where will it go?" The crow growled out as he reached behind his back for his scythe, grasping the handle but not pulling it out and extending it to its full length yet.
"That's not important." He dismissed, waving his hand to the side, effectively pissing off the crow. "What is Important is when he... returns." The stranger stated which only confused the drunk.
"And what does that mean!?" He shouted to the stranger as he rose to his feet, pulling his scythe out and extending it to its sword mode. "You better start making sense right now!" He demanded.
The black clad stranger's response was only to shoot out his hand dispersing a shockwave of energy knocking the Huntsman off his feet. "Hm, a guardian could have taken that and still stayed on their feet." The stranger said after scoffing, "what did Xur see in the defenders of this world." He mumbled.
Quickly getting to his feet and pointing his scythe to the stranger, "who the hell is Xur?! And where's the kids body?!" He yelled at the stranger.
"The only thing you should know is that death isn't always the end," He stated before unholstering his handcannon and turning his back to Qrow. "Ask your friend Ozpin about that." He concluded causing the bird's eyes to widen in shock before the stranger began walking out the destroyed house.
"You know nothing of the light, boy. So stop pretending your headmaster has power." He said before disappearing in a flash of light. "The Grimm will have different things to worry about than Huntsmen... they'll have guardians too." The strangers voice echoed from the dark of the night.
Sprinting out into the night with the rain soaking his clothes again the veteran Huntsman frantically gazed around into the darkness of the night, only seeing a single pair of crimson jewels and maw of death, a Beowulf. Snapping the blade of his sword down to create a ninety degree angle the Huntsman fired a blast from the gun portion of his scythe killing the Beowulf.
Hearing the caws of a bird the crow turned his gaze to the middle branch of a close by tree, seeing a red eyed raven. The bird cawing at the drunk as if it was laughing at him. "What do you want?" He growled at the raven before returning inside the house. "'Death isn't always the end.' Oz how does he know about you? And what does he know about the light?" He mumbled to himself, as he pulled out his flask brooding about the recent turn of events.
'Is it enough to stop her?" He mentally questioned himself as unknown to him the raven flew off, likely off to search for the black stranger.
-X-
Earth, EDZ, Firsbase Hades.
What does it take to be a hero? ...Is it the armour? ...The weapon? ...The powers they hold? It's none of those things, you see what divides a true hero from some mercenary that blows shit up for cash, is their drive to save others at the risk of their own life. Many understood this philosophy; Saint-14, The Lords of Iron, The Six Coyotes, others just like them as well.
Those people were... are true heroes, heroes that ascended to legend. Now when have legends ever truly died, considering that remembering someone never lets them die.
"Where are all the Cabal?" Alaster quietly questioned as she cleared a storage room, Nothing was heard throughout the base other than the footsteps of the guardians as they've passed room after room.
"Could the Cabal have abandoned their own base?" Spiri asked, as her half of the team long reunited with the other half as they met in the base.
"No, the Cabal don't even have a word for retreat. They would never just abandoned a base, especially one so stocked with vehicles, ammo, even guarded on the outside." Bite answered as he took up the rear of the group, with Hook beside him, Jaune taking point with Alaster, Decker and Spiri in the middle.
'I'm picking up a ghost deeper into the base. A dead one.' Sierra stated into the comms.
"Then move, we gotta figure out what's going on." Bite urged the group as Jaune and Alaster moved forward.
"Could the Taken have been here?" Decker asked as he aimed his handcannon down a corridor, an empty one.
"We would've seen signs by now." Alaster answered easing the Hunter's mind. Ever since Jaune destroyed Crota's body the Taken have had a bone to pick with fireteam Warg for a long time, and killing Oryx did not ease the hate boner they've got with towards them.
'We got about seventy metres till we reach the room with the dead ghost.' Sierra said still talking into the comms from Alaster's head.
The team still unnerved by the severe lack of Cabal crept to the end of the corridor, checking each hallway on their way just to be careful. As they reached the end of the corridor each of them were surprised to find the door merely slid open, not even unlocked.
"Since when do the Cabal leave their doors unlocked?" Decker questioned as each team member search a different area of the room they entered, the lights still operating alongside the terminals.
Bite, seeing the ghost they were looking for on a table in the middle of the room, he moved towards it to pick it up. "I know I've seen this ghost before." The Exo stated as Hook walked over to expect the dead construct as well.
"That's Stryder's Ghost, He called it Arwen... I've met him a few times in the wilds." The Hunter answered as his eyes narrowed at the dead ghost. "He was at the battle for the City."
"Then where's Stryder?" Spiri questioned as she held her scout rifle in one hand pointed at the floor, her thumb sliding over one of tubes of... Vex milk that ran alongside of the rifle. As she then held the rifle with both hands she nervously rubbed the bronze coloured barrel, still wondering what was going on.
"If I know Stryder, Arwen would have to be pried from his cold dead hands in order to be separated from her." The Exo stated as Alaster and Jaune moved over to one of the terminals of the room.
"Ghost, we need to find out what the Cabal are up to." Jaune said as Ghost materialized when he extended his hand towards the terminal as the construct rotated the front and back parts of its shell in opposite directions. Alaster ceased typing on the terminal in order to move aside, letting the ghost approach the terminal.
"Okay, these encryptions are suspiciously... light." Ghost stated as it beamed a cone of light into the terminal, each encryption being broken easily. "Here we go," it said as it scanned through the data stored in the terminal. "It looks like the Cabal... have... been... researching how the Taken teleport between dimensions." Ghost slowly relayed from the files shocking the group of guardians. "Their trying to figure out how to teleport."
"No. No. They ar- someone please tell me they're not doing that?!" Decker frantically asked as the group was getting over their shock. "First it was the Vex, then the Taken, Hell the Hive technically have teleportation down,"
"Technically the Hive And Taken are the same thing." Jaune pointed out as Decker paced from one end of the room to the other, though it fell on deaf ears. "Because of the same quote-unquote 'gods'."
"We gotta shut this shit down!" He said as he unholstered his handcannon, the very handcannon he got from Lord Shaxx. Better Devils.
"Decker." Bite said walking up to the Hunter.
"I mean seriously, why the hell do the Cabal have to be such God. Damn. Assholes?!" He continued to rant.
"Decker!" The Exo firmly said grasping the guy's shoulder.
"We go- we gotta stop this or its game over man!" He yelled as the Titan began shaking him. "Game over man!"
"DECKER!" The Titan shouted as he pulled the Hunter up above his head still shaking him, "we gotta focus!" He said as he lowered the Hunter back to the ground. "And do you really think it'll be the end if the Cabal manage to achieve teleportation?!"
"...Well our jobs are already hard enough without them popping up like the damn Vex." Decker mumbled as he eased his mind from his out burst from the heat of the moment.
"Ugh. Ghost, delete anything related to their research." The Exo ordered to Jaune's ghost... or just Ghost.
"Already done." Ghost replied.
"And find out where they've been doing any physical... anything. Like test subjects, who's behind this, even where Brimstone's bodies are."
"Well there's something in the next room." Ghost said as Jaune reloaded his rifle, chambering a round and moving towards the door beside Hook to said room. Alaster and Spiri doubled up on the other side of the door, their rifles already freshly reloaded. "Apparently some Cabal scientist by the name of Dun Do'ourc has been channeling literal darkness from both captured Taken and Hive into some kind of batteries. Like the energy from them."
How in hell is that possible?" Bite questioned as Ghost went back to Jaune and dematerialized into his mind.
"I know like don't Taken always teleport wherever, or just fade away?" Decker stated from beside Bite receiving a sigh from him.
"Decker, I meant how the hell did the Cabal manage extract pure darkness." He replied as he unclipped Sweet business from his back moving to the door.
"Oh... well oops." The Hunter said before the group entered the room.
As each guardian stepped foot into the room all of them were in a different state of shock at different things.
Alaster, Bite, and Hook were horrified of the capsules in the middle of the room with emanated an extremely dark energy.
Jaune and Spiri were looking at the Hive acolytes and thralls caged to the far right of the room.
And Decker? Decker was actually doing something productive and searching the terminals looking for more intel.
"The Cabal 'ave been drainin' power from the 'ive." Shamrock explained after materializing. "Just like us... but indivually, instead o' all at once."
"These Cabal are god damn worse then the Splicers." Hook stated as he unholstered Crimson from behind his waist. Whatever staining the front of the handcannon... probably blood contrasting in the light of the room... though he stopped when he noticed strange devices planted onto to batteries. "Are those explosives?" The Exo calmly asked pointing to the capsules.
"'Ey are." Shamrock confirmed as the guardians turned to the batteries.
"Then why would the Ca-" Spiri tried to ask but was interrupted when the lights of the room cut out and the exit clamping shut, the only light within the room was supplied by the emergency ones... and what was given from Shamrock. The alarm blaring into the ears of each guardian.
"Hold on! There's a message being received." Decker shouted from the front of the terminal. "Shamrock! I need you for this." He ordered as the onyx shelled construct hovered to its guardian.
"Okay. lets see, Uh... you vermin have destroyed to much of our forces. You've mistaken your place thinking you do not belong under our might, now see how your ignorance will be your undoing. Die now vermin, and your lowly civilization shall be next ha ha ha ha..." Shamrock translated as Bite was already at the door attempting to pry it open.
"We get it!" The Titan angrily shouted as his attempt to open the door failed. "Jaune!" He said as the Arc was already at the door beside Bite trying to open the door though in vain. "Ah! It must be magnetically shut!" He shouted as the Hive held within the cages began laughing at the Titans struggle. "Alaster!" The Titan simply stated pointing to the right.
The Warlock not needing anymore orders unleashed a nova bomb into the cluster of cages, hearing screams from the acolytes as they disintegrated from the void light.
(Halo 2 soundtrack, Ghosts of Reach)
"Is they're a chance to disarm the explosives?" Spiri asked which was only answered with Hook shaking his head.
"We don't have the necessary equipment to disarm them... and even if we tried to we won't have enough time." The Exo answered further draining the Huntress of hope.
"Hey Alaster, how much time does it take to get drunk on whiskey?" Decker asked pulling out his flask as Alaster walked up to him.
"Not long." She answered as her gaze turned to the Arc as he was out of breath from failing to open the door. "Jaune. Take off your helmet." The Warlock ordered as she approached the Titan.
"Why?" He questioned as Alaster stored her helmet in her ghosts inventory.
"Just do it." She stated more firmly as the Arc complied by conducting the same action as Alaster. "I've been wanting to both do and say this for a long time."
"What do yo-" he started before Alaster cut him off by grabbing him by his chestpiece, pulling him close. Locking her lips with the Arc's.
Ever since Jaune came to the Tower she's been developing feelings for him. From his drive to fight the darkness when it returnedready to come to the defense of the people, to those feelings strengthening whenever they bonded on patrol. The brown Warlock just never grew the courage to act on those feelings, most would say young Alaster only gained a simple crush on the boy turned man turned Titan. Though with what she's felt towards the Arc she knows she felt something more than a simple crush.
She felt love towards him.
That's what went through her mind before she let go off Jaune. "I love you Jaune." She admitted as her chocolate eyes locked with sapphire. "I've wanted to tell you that ever since the Taken first came to this system, how you didn't run when Oryx tried hunting you, those times we were on patrol, everything."
Taking a moment or two to get process the thoughts in his head, Their was only one thing he could do.
To embrace her while pressing his lips against hers again. "I... I love you too." The man repeated as he rested his head on her shoulder.
"You know, if the situation was different I'd tell you that you'd owe me fifty glimmer." Decker stated as he, Spiri, Hook, and Bite when he walked up to the remaining group members, watched to two with smiles. The remainder of the group already stored their helmets and weapons into their ghosts inventories.
Though when Bite turned to the explosives he knew the dark energy in the capsules would have some very strange distortions... maybe even some weird side effects. He just couldn't believe this was how it would end for him and his team... his family. To be honest he thought he'd die doing something crazy, or after beating a bear in a boxing match. Oh Bite your dream will come true soon enough.
When Hook turned his crimson gaze to those dark capsules he knew this was the end, and he felt at peace. 'At least it's with family.'
'Why did I not muscle up the courage to do the same with Decker?' Spiri thought to herself regretfully. Her hand grasping onto Decker's as he looked at her confused, though the look changed to a heartfelt gaze as silver locked with azure.
After a minute of the two guardians starring into each other's eyes, the Hunters mirroring their companions soon after. What is it with eminent death that makes people wanna kiss?
"Well now you owe me two hundred glimmer, Bite." Hook stated as the two Exo's turned their gazes from their Hunter comrades to the explosives, "you'd think we'd die doing something cooler."
"At least it's together, I guess we're finally gonna reunite with everyone. Maybe even meet the Iron Lords, The Six Coyotes, even those Warlocks that figured everything out about death when it comes to guardians." The Titan said after sighing.
"It's been one hell of a ride... old friend." Hook bid farewell as he turned to his maroon faced friend, extending his hand as the Titan took it.
As the timer on those explosives reached zero all the guardians knew that they did their part, they've saved the City. And because of that, they've earned their rest.
If only their ghosts could have disarmed the explosives, though it wouldn't have done anything as those capsules were unstable anyway.
Three. Two. One, the only thing the guardians could do was to make their peace. As the explosives went off the only thing they could see was darkness.
And so ends fireteam Warg's time on earth, their time comes to an end in this solar system.
At this time a chapter in Jaune Arc's life ends. Although with every end... is another beginning.
Though they'll be continuing their battle... in Remnant.
A/n hey scale of one to ten how pissed off would you guys be if I ended the story right here?
Don't worry the only thing ending here is a chapter, the story.
...just so you know the ships are gonna be Jaune and Alaster, with Spiri and Decker.
If you guys can come up with names for the ships in the comments I'd be happy... I'll probably make a poll for with name I'll use if I get enough names.
Little warning though... the guardians of team Warg are heading to Remnant now so yeah.
And if anyone watches Supernatural Jaune's relationship with RWBY, NPR, basically everyone involved with his torment is gonna mirror the Winchester's relationship with Crowley.
Around when you need him but filled with hate and one side trying to be besties.
Keep in mind Jaune's still going to have a sword, I've already got an idea on which one, but if you manage to guess it... well congrades.
And... there's already a small handful of people the guardians listen to, so they're not going to listen to Ozpin, the teacher, ex-friend or family, or Ironwood so easily. Fireteam Warg's a family that's been through hell... and it'll be a cold day in it before they go behind each other's back, or abandon each other.
But when the Hunters of Warg land on Remnant... well let's just say of Torchwick knew about the added trouble he may want to replan his heist at a certain dock. Just the hunters, Jaune and Alaster already have their own business by finding the town Jaune 'visited'.
I'll be seeing you next time. CG11.