Niobe Labs, European Dead Zone, years ago.

"Huh…wonder what this place is for?" Cassandra wondered, as she walked down the flight of stairs that led the pair into what looked like a server room. She hopped down the blown in wall and pressed her hand against the glass that protected the servers that were diagonal to a giant wall with an unknown upside-down U logo in the middle.

"Dunno. Hidden, full of high-tech stuff. Seems like a Golden Age cache." Russell Dulk said as he touched the wall with the emblem. The ground shook as the wall split into two, revealing a run-down and grown in part of the facility. There was no roof, the walls of another part of the building was blown out, showing the insides. There was a raised area to the back, near the left that seemed to have been destroyed at the edges.

A floating contraption stood at the center of the area, idly standing by.

"Huh, pretty cool." Russell said as he hopped down from their elevated area, dust kicking up as he landed in a spot of filled with half-destroyed concrete. "Let's go check it out."

Cassandra sighed in exasperation and put on a small smile as she followed the Hunter, always eager to dive into the unknown, was he?.

This complex was quite hard to find, it took a pretty long trek from the outskirts of the EDZ to get here, and she wasn't even sure anyone else knew that this entire area existed, let alone know how to reach it.

Russell was busy exploring the small area, going around from spot to spot as if he were a child at an amusement park.

Cassandra's smile grew as she watched her Hunter explore, so full of that child-like wonder, so innocent. However she knew, that underneath that childishness, was a hardened war veteran, one not willing to step down against the fight for good, one that would never take a break as long as the Scorn and the Taken existed, and one that had lost things dear to him.

Russell did say he was still very pissed about what happened to Cayde-6, and with all this Dreaming City stuff happening, she was worried that he wouldn't come back, or at least return the same. Hell, he's changed enough when he returned from the Prison of Elders, without his mentor.

Cassandra sighed as she continued to follow Russell.

What a wonderful, wonderful man, she thought. A sly smirk made its way to her mouth as she blinked up to a ledge, gracefully landing at the raised part of the room. Russell was busy opening various crates and pillaging the contents, talking to himself as he gushed all over the weaponry that was stored in this place.

The Warlock simply put a hand on his shoulder as he held a black with red accents Pulse rifle.

"This could be our…spot. Our secret spot." Cassandra said. "One where we can enjoy each other, one where we can…" She stopped herself as she thought of something.

"Make out, do the deed-" Russell was interrupted by a light jab at his shoulder. "Hey, come on, I know you're posh and all, but can't you just say it like it is?"

Cassandra giggled as her hands wrapped around her Hunter. Her head rested against his shoulder as they fumbled around together. Her mouth sucked on his earlobe as he let out a quiet gasp.

"So, you're completely serious?" Russell said as he dropped the rifle in his hands. "Right here, right now?"

"When am I ever not?" Cassandra replied as she pinned him down. Her eyes locked with his for a brief moment, then they went to scan his face.

"You know…everything about you is so…" She couldn't think of any words to describe. Nothing came to her mind. "So…"

Russell took the initiative and flipped her over, making him on top.

"Maybe I should start." He said. "You're the bestest best friend I ever had." There was a particularly cheesy taste in her mouth.

Cassandra smiled as her cheeks reddened. "I guess I could say the same thing for you."

Russell chuckled.

Their lips met, and love was shared.

Life was perfect for the couple. It seemed that nothing could bring them down from this emotional high.

/

Cassandra longingly sighed as she remembered the good times.

Not quite 'remember', as they technically weren't her own, as her Ghost had to replant them inside her mind, but they still struck a chord in her heart. A chord that made her heart beat harder, and her stomach grow butterflies.

She smirked as she opened a portal to the inn that short dwarf man described. It looked vintage, and very…middle age, like the architects of the building were trying to emulate an old-town look, a town nearly hundreds, if not a thousand years old. It looked comfy, attractive.

This would definitely be a good place on their list when Russell was…hers.

Yes, hers.

Cassandra looked towards her Primeval Captain, and then to the Taken Hana Song. She nodded and the two disappeared in a flash and screams erupted inside the inn.

Now all she had to do was wait. Her two minions would bring Russell out to her, she would wipe his memory, and everything would be fine and dandy.

The Warlock waited patiently as her subordinates did the work. The sound of gunfire made its way to her ears, it was of Russell's Ace of Spades, and that other gun, the one that woman shot her with.

Cassandra grimaced as she realized her short-sightedness. Of course, they would be with him, she should've predicted that. She shook her head as she stepped towards the inn, her feet clacking against the pavement.

A burst of energy blew the doors down as she stepped into the pandemonium that her subjects started.

"He's here!" Hana Song said through their mental link as she looked upwards, seeing the Taken mech crashing through the ceiling and pinning a man down. "I have him!"

That horrible hand cannon barked again, Cassandra grit her teeth as her fist balled up. That weapon was the equivalent to a Hive Wizard screaming into her ear, she hated it. She flung a table to the side as her Breakneck materialized in her hands.

She shot a few bullets upwards, towards the sniper currently holding the Whisper of the Worm, the gun that she gave Russell.

They stole it from him.

She growled as a heavy round met her shoulder. The sniper up-top was smirking behind the scope as two more rounds staggered her twice. Cassandra put down a healing rift and returned fire. The sniper quickly changed position, grappling up to the roof of the building, through the hole that was created by Hana.

The sniper readied herself again. Cassandra was quicker though, as she shot a few rounds before they could reply. The Warlock ducked into cover and then hopped over a bar, knocking down several glasses in the way. She ducked underneath her newfound protection and then saw a woman cowering under the bar table.

"You must be Freya Lun…" Cassandra said as a wicked smile crept up her face.

"No, please, I don't have anything to do with this, please!" The woman begged as she was grabbed by the throat and then turned around, her back pressed against Cassandra. The Warlock held her tight as her auto rifle dematerialized in favor for a sidearm. She made it apparent to her enemies that she had a hostage with her.

"Bring Russell to me and she lives." Was her ultimatum. "Don't worry, it'll be a swift death." She whispered into Freya's ear.

"Let her go!" A Titan jumped down a balcony and landed with a pound, sending furniture flying all over. The man sounded enraged as his fists were brimming with Arc energy. The Titan rushed her, bursting right through the bar stand.

Cassandra recognized the voice. "Crow…as much of a brute as your mentor, I see?" She taunted as she side-stepped a shoulder-charge from the hulking Titan. She threw the woman aside as she ducked a punch from the pissed off Titan that had Fists of Havoc activated. She was ready to return with a super ability of her own as she put down another healing rift and fired a few rounds.

Arc energy flowed through her as she channeled it towards her right hand, and then pushed it out in a massive white beam that engulfed the Titan.

She felt the clang of a blade to her right as arcs of fire was thrown at her. Dawnblade, there was a fellow Warlock here too. Cassandra quickly turned direction and pointed her Chaos Reach towards the sword-bearer. There was a scream, and all was quiet for a moment as she slowly floated downwards.

That quiet did not last as bullets from that dreaded hand cannon met her body. Cassandra lobbed a ball of Arc and Taken energy towards the source of the gunfire and then flipped over a table, using it as makeshift cover.

Her Primeval Captain was nowhere to be seen, most likely dead.

The excursion was a failure, Russell was most likely being transported somewhere else.

Cassandra snarled as she opened a portal behind her, and fell inside. It would take her back to her Ascendant Realm.

Hana Song followed, she kneeled before the throne.

"I'm sorry I failed you." Her Devoted said shamefully. "There were too many of them and-"

"Silence, I have no time for excuses. Leave me for now, I will decide our next actions." Hana Song nodded and then disappeared in a flash of light.

Cassandra screamed into the void as she took out her anger on the floor.

She was going to find him, and if she had to burn down this world, so be it.

/

Cassandra stepped down into Watchpoint Gibraltar. She couldn't do this alone, at least subtly. People would catch on, and she would rather not have to deal with the organizations that would eventually come for her.

Sure, her army could most likely take them on, but it would only compound on her already large enough problems, that being the wicked gang that kidnapped Russell.

Especially that wretch that wore the Ancient Apocalypse gear. She could burn in the deepest pits of Hell, oh what things Cassandra would do to her.

Be patient, Cassandra. Her time will come. A smile crept up on her face at the thought. She must be patient, though, that woman will fall one day.

A request for a video feed appeared on the top right corner of her HUD, coming from Winston. She accepted the request. The gorilla's face appeared in the corner, followed by soundwaves that indicated voice activity.

"Have you managed to locate Russell yet?" Winston asked.

Cassandra sighed in frustration. "Technically, yes. The lead that dwarf gave me was useful, but he got away."

"My name is Torbjörn!" The angry dwarf said from afar.

"Come meet me at my laboratory. An agent volunteered to help you in your search." Cassandra's eyebrow raised at the statement.

Now who could that be?

The Warlock made her way to Winston's laboratory, smiling at the camera in front of the slide-up door whilst waving. She kept a soft smile on her face as she cooled herself down, taking deep breaths as her mind relaxed a bit.

Cassandra stepped inside the laboratory, and the acrid smell of tobacco made its way into her nose. She lightly coughed as she inhaled the scent. It was a particularly bitter smell, one that differed from regular cigarettes and even cigars.

She only knew one person who smoked such cigars.

"McCree." Cassandra said, earning a tip of the hat from the cowboy. "Good to see you."

"Good to see you too, darlin'." McCree took the cigar out of his mouth, keeping it in between his index and middle finger. "You're lookin' great as ever."

"Thank you." Cassandra awkwardly smiled as her eyes tracked the tobacco stick. "What brings you here?" She managed to say, coughing a bit afterwards as the smell really did not mesh well with her.

"Normally I'd be out, fightin' Talon and those whatcha call it…you know, the ones that teleport in and…" McCree paused as he thought of the word to call the Taken.

"The Taken?" Cassandra suggested.

"Yeah! That." McCree paused. "I don't belong here, unfortunately." Winston grimaced at the statement. "Now, when I caught wind that your guy got kidnapped…that got my attention."

"How do you know that?" Cassandra asked. "It's only been a day."

"Winston's a bit of a blabber mouth. Mentioned it offhand and well, now I'm here." McCree grinned towards Winston, who rolled his eyes. "Would you believe it though, Russell Dulk, kidnapped?"

"Normally, I wouldn't but the group that took him are…good, and that is an understatement." Cassandra paused. "One of them has an even quicker draw than him."

The cowboy looked surprise. "No kidding?"

"Yep, and another one can cast electricity from his hands, and another can do fire magic." The Warlock chuckled at the last one. "I can do magic, too, just not the type he does."

"Huh," McCree shrugged his shoulders. "World's gettin' weirder by the minute."

Cassandra sighed. "I'm going to rest, I will be heading out tomorrow, if you want to come along."

/

Lore entry unlocked: Cassandra Messer, Taken Guardian

Entry 2: Relationship

Breathe, Cass, breathe. Cassandra says to herself as she nervously walks up to the Cayde-6, who was petting his pet chicken, the Colonel. Look confident, don't be a loser…

You need anything, Cassandra? Cayde-6's question catches her by surprise. You lookin' for advice on how to date Russell? I did hear that you two have a date coming, gossip's all over the Tower.

Wha-How do you know that? Cassandra asked, as she looks towards the Hunter Vanguard who just put down his chicken, whispering something to it before sending it off.

Well, gossip's not all over the Tower, but I'm gonna let you in on a secret. Cayde-6 beckons the Warlock to come closer. Now don't tell anyone this but he came to me, that's right, me, for advice on how to ask you out on a date.

Now, I consider myself pretty good with women, just ask Ikora.

A boisterous laugh comes from Amanda Holliday, her workstation nearby. Come on, Ikora hates your guts! The mechanic says.

That's not true! Not true at all! Cayde-6 retorts, pointing his index towards the Sparrow mechanic. Anyways, back on topic. You have an idea on where you two are gonna go out?

I was thinking that restaurant in the culinary district of the- A wave from the Exo shuts her up.

Nope, wrong, completely wrong. Don't do that. It's kind of a Hunter thing to hate fancy stuff, and he's no exception. Cayde-6 said. That ramen shop around Ikora, that's more his style.

Cassandra thinks, letting out a quiet hum as decisions race through her mind.

Hey, Cayde- She is brought out of her thoughts by the one Hunter she wants to go out with. Cassandra? What are you doing here?

Cassandra looks nervously to Cayde-6, who only replies with enthusiastic thumbs up and quiet encouragement.

Uh, I just needed to…um. She pauses, then sighs. Look, do you want to go out somewhere together?

Oh! Um, yeah! Of course! Russell replies, looking quite flustered. You have any idea where to go?

Cassandra shoots a glance towards Cayde-6, who only quietly roots for her.

What about an…excursion on…Nessus? She quickly looks back to the Exo, who has his head dug into his palm. No! Uh, explore the City?

Sure, sounds good, you have a date in mind?

Three days from now?

I could do that, Cayde, you mind clearing my schedule for me? Russell looks past Cassandra and to Cayde-6.

Yeah, sure, definitely, of course, not a problem. The Hunter Vanguard sighs in exasperation as his student left.

You almost fumbled that with the suggestion for Nessus, of all places? Really? Cayde-6 says. Ah, whatever, you did fine, now go get him, tiger…no, tigress! He points two finger guns at Cassandra, accompanying it with an exaggerated expression.

She lightly chuckles. This will be a disaster. She mutters under her breath, taking steps away from the hangar.

No, it won't! Cayde-6 calls out from a sizeable distance behind. You'll be fine!

You see, just knock 'em towards each other and it goes fine! Cassandra hears the Exo say to his mechanic friend. I'm amazing, I know.

/

Cassandra wished for the innocent times back. Back when their love was young and naïve, back when they didn't have a care for anyone around them. She wanted all of it back. She could sense that Russell had changed, he was slightly more cautious around her, before he got kidnapped of course.

It felt like he didn't completely trust her, for some odd reason. Of course, she ignored that feeling every time it came up, but after that many years…it crept up on her. She was scared that he thought something was up. Hopefully that wasn't the case and that she was just being paranoid but it was an intrusive thought that occasionally growled at her.

The Warlock sat herself up, her eyes blurry from just waking. She looked under the curtain that covered the window to her left. It was still night time.

"Mint…what time is it?" She muttered, rubbing her eyes and blinking afterwards. Her vision cleared up a bit, at least enough to notice her Ghost pop into reality with a white flash.

"Just a bit past twelve." Mint replied, floating closer towards Cassandra. "Is something bothering you?"

She sighed and shook her head. "Nothing in particular, just can't sleep."

"There's always a reason a person can't sleep. Are you having nightmares?" Cassandra shook her head again. "Something caught in your mind?"

"Yeah…just memories of a past time." She replied, a tinge of sadness in her voice. "I can't shake the feeling that Russell doesn't trust me as much."

The Ghost blinked a few times before giving a response. "I'm sure he still loves you the same. There will be issues that need to be ironed out but I feel that everything should be fine!" She replied cheerfully.

"I hope you're right." Cassandra faced her palm upwards. Taken energy pulsated out of it. "That's what's bothering me."

"Oh, don't worry about it."

"You sure? It would bother him if he finds out."

"Then don't let him find out." The Ghost's voice changed. She ignored the sudden difference. "You have a deal to fulfill."

"Yeah, I guess you're right…"

"Three of the six Guardians responsible for my death are present in this universe. Get revenge for me, will you?"

"Can that wait?" Cassandra flopped back onto her bed and closed her eyes. "I'll do it in the morning…" She muttered. The Ghost disappeared soon after.

Short little chapter. Leave a review on any potential conflicts with the Destiny lore, your thoughts, and any issues you notice. I already mangled the timeline a bit already so I do want to minimize the damage.

Edit: Fixed.