Chapter 7: The Devil's Lair: Lifetime Bonds


[Several months earlier…]


"Okay that goes there… I tighten this bolt… And connect this…there." Jasmine sat Indian style on the floor in the hanger, hair tied back, face smudged with what looked like oil and a screw driver clenched between her teeth.

"Not to sound doubtful, but are you sure this is going to work?" The blonde-haired woman looked over her shoulder as Jasmine dug into the robot's back with various tools scattered about.

"It better work." Jasmine told the shipwright. "I read up all I could about Exos and how they operate. Transferring a conscience between one machine to another could work."

"But Ghost aren't really machines, they're machine-like."

"A machine is a machine. Besides, if his conscience could be transferred into an empty shell from an original Exo body, then I don't see why it can't be reversed." Jasmine let out a forceful cough. "I'm not giving up on him."

"But you're in no condition to be here. You should be resting. I can't be held responsible if you collapse breathing in all these fumes and chemicals."

"Then don't worry about me then. I'll be fine. If I managed to survive the Darkness then that just proves that it's going to take a lot for me to just go and die."

Holliday just sighed to herself. "Fine then. Just let me know if you need to borrow anything else."

With that she walked away and as she did so the Hunter Vanguard, Cayde-6 approached her.

"What's happening Mandy?" Cayde asked, noticing her expression.

"That Warlock over there; I think she's gone mental."

"Oh Leary? Yeah, she's pretty screwed up in the head." Cayde agreed. "Thinks that she can revive her Ghost through an Exo body she put together out of scrap parts."

"That's not entirely impossible is it?" Holliday crossed her arms.

"It's doable, but it's nothing short of a miracle. Warlocks tend to throw ideas into the air and they work on it until I get payed. Currently I made a bet with Ikora that she can't pull it off and wake the thing up."

"That's pretty dark isn't it?"

"All is fair in love and betting." Cayde shrugged. "Besides, that particular Exo she's trying to revive, he was an old student of Saladin himself, died in the Twilight Gap invasion."

"And you managed to preserve his CMU all this time?"

"More like Shaxx did. Couldn't let it go, that sentimental brute. He gave it to her after the Fireteam we sent recovered her from that mission where they discovered Rasputin. The Fallen did a number on her and the Ghost."

"I've been meaning to ask about that. What exactly is wrong with her to have her Ghost practically mutilated the way it was?"

"Lux Depravator Syndrome. The kid's a time bomb waiting to go off."

"Are you serious?"

"Entirely. The girl had a rough life growing up apparently. That despair had the Darkness running faster than an army of Thrall after they catch the smell of fresh Light."

"So how much time does she have until…"

"Not certain. I'm more worried about her turning into another psychotic Warlock rather than her Light completely extinguishing. Although, Ikora thinks she's a bright girl. Definitely has spunk."

"IT WORKS!" Jasmine suddenly screamed, having the heads within the hanger turn towards her. She covered her mouth, acknowledging the stares she was receiving. "I…he's awake…"

"No way… Ahh now I owe Ikora and Zavala 3k a piece."

"You got Zavala into your stupid bet too?" Holliday said surprised that someone as proper as Commander Zavala would give into a petty temptation.

"That's not the point!"

The Exo blinked and slowly turned to Jasmine, who sat teary-eyed.

"Cadet… Leary?"

She nodded and hugged the robot.

"I…am confused. What…" The Exo moved his arms and was shocked at the limbs. "Arms… I have arms!"

"You idiot, you have a whole body now." She didn't let go. "I thought I lost you for good back there."

"How… did you do this for me?" The Exo asked her.

"We're partners right? Jasmine looked at him. "No matter what we'll always have each other's back."

"Yes… yes of course, always. But how were you able to do this?"

"I know how to read instructions." She smiled.


[Present Time]


The Giant Spider Tank, known as the Devil Walker lined its red laser with the trio in sight.

"Run for it!" Otto exclaimed. The Three didn't hesitate and they ran to nearby cover. The rocket the tank fired exploded behind them and they blast threw them into the nearby bunker where they crashed.

"I heard about Fallen Walkers, but this is definitely the first I've seen one." Otto said looking through the window.

"Okay, so I can safely assume that isn't Sepiks Prime."

"You'll know who it is when you see him. More importantly, We still need to find Nysa and Phoenix." Jasmine said.

"That won't be necessary." A voice chirped into their radios.

"Whose voice was that?" Marcus looked at his companions.

"Who do you think? You guys get three guesses." A second voice added further.

"Is that…" Jasmine began to realize.

"Well well, didn't think you'd be out here Leary. Would've thought you'd hide behind a book as per usual."

Jasmine sighed. "It is you Nysa. You guys didn't need help at all did you?"

"What made you guys think we needed help out here?" Phoenix-0 scoffed.

"The Vanguards had an image of you two held captive by Naksis and the other Fallen." Otto answered. "We came to get you guys and take out Sepiks Prime."

"Oh I guess they didn't tell you." Nysa realized.

"Tell us what?" Jasmine asked.

"The Vanguards pulled a fast one on you guys. You guys were supposed to take the mission to clear out the Hive, not us. But they decided to have us do it and allow ourselves to be captured. That way they could take us straight to the Devil's lair and you guys could follow through with the map we sent back to them. Cayde would've let us do the strike, but Ikora and Zavala want to see you rookies prove yourselves for a change."

"We could never really be captured, of course. Our mission records are flawless." Nysa said proud. "Before we go, we'll give you a hint to take out the Walker. Now, watch closely…"

The three curiously looked at the tank and from the right, they saw several streams of gun smoke zoom in a quick strike at the leg of the tank. The shots all making their mark, made the tank flinch.

"Saw that? That armor's hard, but a few good shots in its legs will drop the stupid bug." Phoenix explained. "Also if you have a Deacon RS/2, and I know one of you has to have it, shoot it's core when its exposed. The tank will be down in no time."

"How do you know all of that?" Marcus asked.

"Look kid, we've been all around the solar system and back. This isn't our first time going up against a Fallen Walker."

"I do hope we get to meet you though; that is if you manage to survive." Nysa giggled. "Ta ta for now, Gunslinger."

The mics cut off, leaving the three Guardians up against a tank and a group of Fallen supporting it.

"Well that was weird." Marcus said. "And kind of a low blow on the Vanguards part for baiting us like that."

"Well not entirely. You and Otto are getting along now, aren't you?"

Marcus and Otto looked at one another and back at her. "We'll see how the rest of the mission plays out before we decide that, agreed?" Marcus suggested, earning a nod from Otto.

"In the meantime…" Otto held his hand out and the very Rocket Launcher materialized in his arms. "Let's take out the tank."

"Okay then. Marcus and I will aim for the legs, once the core is exposed, blow it sky high, got it?"

"Why stop there, blast the thing so hard you bust a hole in the sky." Marcus encouraged.

"I'm sure it's impossible to break the sky Marcus." Jasmine turned to him.

Marcus laughed. "Well in that case, let's make the impossible possible." He reloaded is Auto Rifle and he and Jasmine left the building to engage with the Fallen in the area.


[Oneweek earlier…]


Jasmine stared at the tiny cup with the clear red liquid with a disgusted glance. She would've imagined that centuries in the future they'd find a way to not make medicine take horrible, but that seems to be impossible. She even remembered how deceptive red medicine was as a kid, as everything from red candy to juice was a delicacy. She didn't want to take it, but she had to. She picked it up, her hand shaking hesitantly. She looked around to make sure no one was behind her and she snuck to the nearby sink.

"Don't even think about it."

Jasmine jumped like a cat, spilling the medicine all over the counter. "Otto! I thought I taught you how to knock!"

"Take your medicine." He told her.

"Why should I? It tastes like crap and it's not doing anything for me."

"Because you told me to make sure you take your medicine no matter how hard you resisted."

Jasmine snickered. "I need to stop telling you things."

"If you did that you wouldn't be able to do things that you need to do. I find it odd that you claim that you want to cure yourself but you resist every attempt to do so."

"I'm human; we tend to not make a lot of sense." Jasmine told him. "Anyway, why are you here? I thought you were prepping for a Crucible Match."

"Changed my mind; something's been bugging me."

"What is it?" She asked washing her hands.

"When we saved that Hunter back in the Cosmodrome, you seemed a bit aggressive than I've seen you."

"Aggressive? What's that mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like;" Otto crossed his arms. "I know of your condition, but I'm wondering if there's something else going on."

"I…don't know what you could mean by that honestly."

"Are you sure? Because you know you can tell me anything."

"Of course, we're all we got." She nodded. "I assure you I'm fine. If there's anything wrong concerning my illness, it's the bitterness of that medicine Vanguard Ikora insisted I'd take twice a day."

"Are you sure that's all?"

"Otto please go to your match." She pushed him out the door. "And stop worrying about me. You're not my Ghost anymore, you're my partner."

"Exactly; Which means I have a right to be—worried…" Otto sighed staring at the closed door. "I swear it's like taking care of a brat."

"I heard that!" She yelled from the other side.

"You were meant to!" He shot back. Otto walked down the dormitory hallway and couldn't help but crack a smile. "She may be a brat but I'm stuck with her."

Back in her room, Jasmine set the tiny cup back on the counter, shivering as the liquid went down her throat. "Gah, I'm going to find a way to make that medicine taste sweeter if it's the last thing I do as a scholar." She looked in her mirror and stared deeply into her reflection. "I won't let it take me over. I won't give into despair; as long as I have Otto that will never happen."


[Present time…]


Marcus sidestepped and hopped across the area, shooting down the group of Fallen that chased him about. He looked over, watching Jasmine race to the abandoned building where the group saw the sniper bullets come from to set herself up.

"Come on you guys, is this the best you can do?"

The Fallen howled and charged Marcus and he ran back. He grabbed a grenade from his back and spun back to throw it at them. The grenade hit one of the lead Fallen and it dispersed and attacked the group like mini drones. He slid to a stop and fired away at the remaining survivors.

The Tank looked towards Marcus and lined it's laser onto him. He didn't have to think twice to realize he had about three seconds to find cover. The rocket zoomed and he barely managed to get behind cover under the broken concrete.

"Ow… that thing packs a real punch. I would've liked it if those two stayed and helped."

"I'm glad they're gone. They're cocky and irritating." Jasmine replied.

"Got something against them?"

"Phoenix-0 is a Sunsinger Warlock who is practically indestructible because he can revive himself like a Phoenix, hence, his name. And Nysa Vega is a Bladedancer Hunter, with a very prissy attitude. She thinks she's royalty because she's an Awoken. It grinds on Jasmine's nerves so you can imagine those two clash at one point or another."

"You guys need to explain that to me later on. In the meantime, Jazz, got a clear shot?"

"Draw its fire and I'll get started."

"Got it;" Marcus nodded. He hopped over the cliff and began to shoot at its legs, with the tank taking notice almost immediately.

"Marcus, don't get too close." Jasmine warned. "It sometimes lets out an electrical wave to push back the enemy."

"Don't worry about a thing, I got this."

The Tank pushed itself up and dropped itself, sending the shock and making Marcus fly back into the pillar. The Hunter dropped and grunted with the pain. "Never mind…"

"What an idiot…" Otto ran out the room. "Jasmine, take it's legs out, I'm heading to Marcus to provide back up."

A few sniper bullets zoomed in and Otto used one of his rockets towards the leg. The leg blew up and like it was said, the tank dropped and the neck extended out, revealing the glowing orange engine.

"Marcus, Golden Gun, now!" Otto demanded.

Marcus got himself on both feet and nodded. He thrusted his hand into the air and summoned the flaming pistol.

Three shots, each making their mark into the tank, Otto shot one more Rocket into the core, which did substantial damage on top of it.

The tank responded by resetting itself, shooting the shockwave once more, blowing the Hunter and Titan away from it. With its turret gun, it began to shoot at them. Otto got up first and ran, grabbing Marcus by the hood and dragging him to cover.

"The tank is almost down. One more shot like that should do it in." Jasmine said. "Oh Crap!"

Another explosion rung in the air and Marcus and Otto spun back to see in horror the room smoking furiously.

"Jazz are you okay?!" Marcus yelled in the mic. No response.

"Guardian down!" Rubix exclaimed.

"Cover me, I'm going to get her!" Otto ordered as he ran as fast as he could across the area.

"Hold on a second!" Marcus got up and began to ran, but a group of Shanks cut him off from Otto. Not only that the tank's turret locked on Marcus so he was forced to dive for cover.

"Jazz…" Marcus looked over longingly.

Dodging bullets and the like, Otto got over to Jasmine's lifeless body and Altair whose armor was spread open keeping Jasmine's light intact. Sparkplug was deployed and used its ability to resuscitate Jasmine, whose body flexed violently having the air forced into her.

"Thank the Traveler you're okay." Otto said relieved.

"…Marcus…" She said weakly, her head tilted to the side.

"Marcus…?" Otto asked puzzled. "But I'm not…" it clicked in his head what Jasmine was probably thinking and for a moment he wished that didn't cross his mind. He laid her body on the ground and armed himself with her sniper rifle.

"May I ask what you are doing?" Altair asked curiously, the red ghost hovering before him.

"I'm sending her home. She's in no condition to be out here." Otto stated. "Marcus and I will continue on to find Sepiks Prime."

"But that's against proto—!" Altair disappeared before she could finish her sentence. Jasmine's body phased out as well. As of now, Jasmine was being taken back to the Tower, out of harm's way. End of story. "Take care of her Phoenix, Nysa…"

"How is she? Otto, respond!" Marcus wanted to know.

"I sent her back home."

"You what? Why would you do that?!"

"Aim for the core when I give the signal."

"Otto, answer me, why would you—?"

"Now!" Otto rapidly took several shots into the leg that blew up another. The tank dropped and the core exposed itself.

Marcus looked at the window where Otto was standing at and snickered. He grabbed a grenade and tossed it on the core, using his Auto Rifle as a follow up.

"Back up now!" Otto demanded.

Marcus looked up and almost immediately jumped back, narrowly avoiding the rocket that incinerated whatever was left of the core. The core exploded and the tank tried its hardest to get back up, but alas it dropped and exploded.

Marcus took deep breaths, the feat taking a toll on his body, and that's when he saw the army of Fallen pouring out of the steel gate the tank was guarding. Before Marcus could raise his rifle, Otto came crashing down like a blue meteor, electrifying the fallen that came through. With the path clear of enemies, the two guardians looked at one another.

"You had no right to do what you did." Marcus snarled.

"You and I both know that was best for her." Otto defended himself.

"No. What would have been best for her and for the rest of us was to let her stay and have her lead the mission like she was assigned to!"

"So she could die, right? Look Marcus, you don't know her as well as you think."

"And you do, huh?" Marcus scoffed. "I think I know my best friend."

"And I think I know my partner. You know what she wants; I know what is best for her. And until you can get it through your skull, you have no right to be around her, you got me?"

"You don't have any control over me you stupid robot."

"Never said I did; however until you can back up what you told me before, can you honestly say you're fit to be around her?"

Marcus hesitated to speak, recalling the very words he spoke before.

"When she wakes up, she'll be mad. The Vanguards might not approve of my actions either. But as long as she can wake up the next morning with a smile on her face and a desire to learn more about the world we live in, then that's good enough for me."

"…You sound like you're in love with her…" Marcus said unconsciously.

Otto nodded. "Well, that's because I am…"

Marcus felt his body grow cold. He looked at Otto, but before he could force a word out, Otto continued.

"As a Ghost, I picked her out of billions, maybe trillions of fallen Humans, Awoken and Exo to be my Guardian. To this day, I don't know why I did, and I don't regret it. Ghosts and Guardians are instantly bonded once that Guardian opens their eyes for the first time. You humans have a tendency to mistake love in a romantic context, but that's not what I'm referring to."

"Then what do you mean by that then?"

"My love for Jasmine is no different than that of a familial relationship. As a Ghost, it was my duty to treat her as if she was my own kin, a daughter even. Now as an Exo, our roles have somewhat reversed. Like I gave her life, she returned life to me, in a new form. That said, we share an unbreakable bond. We are partners, no matter what happens between us; Nothing more, nothing less. And if anyone threatens to take her life away, no matter their intentions, they will answer to me."

Marcus felt a wave of emotions submerge him in those moments. Guilt, anger, embarrassment, to name a few; it made him feel sick and the thought of them made it worse.

"I'm…I'm sorry…" Marcus uttered. "I had no idea she meant that much to you."

Otto turned and retrieved an ammo pack dropped by one of the dead Dregs. He tossed it to Marcus and started making his way into the entrance.

"I could say the same to you as well, Marcus…" He replied, turning to make sure he was following behind him.

Marcus opened the pack and reloaded his Auto Rifle. He then caught up to Otto and the duo sprinted further into the building…