Chapter 10

Pre-gaming

The vacuum sealed package sailed through the air into Castide's chest as he walked into the barn, thumping heavily into his chest, his right arm snapping up to keep it in place.

"That's for her." Lord Shaxx voiced, standing between two crates. "This…" he handed Castide a long canister "And this…" his massive boot tapping one crate. "Are yours. Things I've been working on since I heard you might show your face a week ago."

"A week ago?" Brexley asked, breaking the seal on the package causing it to double in size with a hiss. "We only received word from the vanguard this morning, A week ago Cas was Rip Van Winkle. How did you know we'd show up?"

"Ikora." Shaxx answered, mirrored simultaneously by Castide's muttering.

Castide pulled a medium length blade from the canister. Full tang with a utilitarian grip, the blade seemed like two pieces fused together. The black spine ran straight until it curved up dramatically into a particularly wicked point while the blade edge, polished and gleaming, was lined with grip-facing grooves creating a vicious serrated effect. He rapped his knuckles against the spine of the blade and it almost seemed to sing as it vibrated.

"From one of the foundries. They call it quickfang." Shaxx said bending down unlatch the bindings on the crate. "Armors in here some vanguard issue, some crucible. Modified to what preferences of yours I recall." He said, shoving the crate towards Castide with his boot. "How are things on your end Miss Shaan? We didn't get to take much in our escape…" He turned to look at her in time for her remove her old cloak and armor, down to the form-fitting shell all guardians wore beneath their armor.

"…So, I hope it fits." He said turning towards Castide. "No bullshit, that one. Meet me in the basement when you finished. One last gift." Shaxx then called back to Brexley "Holliday just landed a short while ago, she should be able to outfit you with a ship for the coming engagement." He then turned walked out of the barn.

Brexley pulled the cloak over the armored vest and cinched tight the harness, leaving the front of the cloak open for easy access to her gear. She picked up the boots and gaiters and walked over to Castide sitting down on the adjacent crate, sliding on the gaiters then each boot, clasping the latches closed.

"Well at least somebody liked the show." Brexley said leaning back against a support beam.

"What show?" Castide asked, himself busy with fitting and adjusting his new armor. He didn't wear the under-suit most guardians had, the perks of being an exo, just his panel-less skin with its barely perceptible seams accenting the synthetic muscle fibers that mimicked human muscle tissue albeit a little too toned.

Brexley shook her attention away from him and stood. "Kinda like the show I'm getting." She said with little bit of frustration. "I'm going to find Amanda." She picked up her old helmet and tucked it under her arm and strode out of the barn towards the fields.

"Daft." Agama said materializing next to Castide.

"Huh?" Castide asked still fiddling with his new helmet.

"Oblivious." Agama replied

"Is this a bit?" Castide stopped to stare at her.

"I should ask you that" Agama's tendrils snatched the helmet out of his hands and began augmenting it. "Get dressed and go see what goodies Shaxx has for you." She sighed.

Castide shrugged and went about putting on his armor. The chest piece was lighter than it looked but the plating was obviously a higher quality, it would send hive knights swords glancing off and take more than a few slugs before denting. "Spend a few decades away from the city…" He muttered. The arm guards while sleek, where thicker than his normal gauntlets. He rolled up the sleeves of his jacket until they were rolled bands around his biceps, then reattached the elbow brackets that held those vicious blades that made him grin crookedly when he first saw them.

Satisfied that he felt no seizing after throwing a few punches into the air, he pulled on his old cloak completing his kit. He sheathed the Quickfang and was pleasantly surprised when it just snapped to his back, no straps or cinching, it just held there and didn't budge. He quickly loaded up his weapons into their usual places on his harness and started towards the barn's basement.

"Hold up I finished." Agama stopped him, gliding around to him holding the new helmet. Full-faced with visor thinner than his old one, matte black with crimson accents along the streamlined filters and rebreathers, and the single horn on the right side to accommodate the shrapnel he never extracted. He took it and turned it over and gave Agama a contented grin. "You're the best there ever was Aggy." He said, clipping the helmet to his belt

"I don't need you to remind me, but thanks all the same" She replied as they made their way to the barn's basement

Brexley made her way across the field towards a tent surrounded by jump-ships of different makes and in varying degrees of disrepair. She leaned against the gate for a moment glanced back over her shoulder. Krethlynn was playing soccer with some children, badly, while the kryptarch lady cheered them on. She recognized Tyra now, despite her joyful outbursts towards the children and Kreth she looked fatigued. "Not all guardians are kryptarchs, but all kryptarchs are guardians." A saying she overheard warlocks utter when they made a discovery they hadn't, that titans used whenever the kryptarchy validated their usefulness, and Hunters used to calm themselves when the rucksack of engrams turned out to be crap. Her thoughts lingered on if the disconnect from the light was the cause of Tyra's drained countenance, when something caught her eye. An absolute mountain of a man that stopped and watched Castide walk to the other side of the barn. "Meh." She thought to herself. She pushed off the gate and head down to the tent and headed down to where Amanda Holliday set up shop. As she approached she finally saw hey and was about to call out to her when she saw what she was tinkering with.

"That has to be a joke, right?" Brexley exclaimed as she came up on the shipwright, levelling her gaze at the sparrow that looked like two sparrows slammed together and welded under one cowling.

"Nope." Amanda responded standing up and backing away from the machine. "Special order I kit-bashed together some odd years ago before I was called shipwright. Just doing some much-needed maintenance. Ya here for a ship Brex?" she said with grease smeared across her face grinning.

"Yup, running wing with Castide with this upcoming op." Brexley replied, inspecting the ring of ships.

"None of these are going to suit ya, still need work, I got you set up over here." Amanda Holliday waved her along to two ships side by side separated from the rest. An Arcadia class missing the conning mast from its front end, and a phaeton class that has multiple modifications like it was refurbished in the reef.

Brexley whistled at the phaeton. "How much for this one?" she indicated the ship in front of her.

"Sorry Brex, that one has been claimed for a while now, you get the pinto with yours-truly's seal of approval, only thing its missing is the NLS drive, but we can fix that later." Amanda patted the engine cowling of the arcadia. "She'll keep up with that Frankenstein Castide calls home, any day of the week. Since she's missing her mast, I figured we'd strap a big ass gun in place of it. Besides, this is Vanguard commissioned, they're footing the bill, no glimmer from your pockets." Amanda finished beaming with pride.

"What's up with this phaeton then?" Brexley asked, still perplexed about the ships origins.

"That's your wingman's ship kiddo. Castide's old compadre from back in the day scrambled his family back to earth when he saw those red bastards fly by. Didn't anyone tell you?" Amanda asked, a little sheepishly.

"Wingman?" Brexley asked? "Who would…" She started to question Amanda when the clues fell into place. Castide's stories, the large titan traipsing around the barn. "I'm going to go and get acquainted." She said trotting back towards the barn.

"I hope that wasn't supposed to be a surprise." Amanda said to herself, kicking at some grass.

"BIIIG GUN!" Brexley called back spinning to walk backwards holding up her arms wide above her head. "BIIIIG!" She emphasized before turning towards her destination.

"Biiig gun huh?" Amanda said to herself hands on hips, overlooking the sparse ammo dump. Her eyes fell upon a large sheet covered machine, its seven barrels peeking beneath the covering and the pair of boots belonging to one of her charges beneath it. "Back to work Vir!" Amanda yelled kicking at the boots. "Naptime is over, get that relic onto that other relic and quit nappin' on the job." She said, whipping off the canvassing. "We sortie in two hours and the lady wants a big gun. I'm gonna make sure she gets it."

Castide entered the basement, his vision immediately adjusting to the miniscule amount of light filtering in through the entrance. Pallowa, close on his heels had a little more trouble, stopping for a split second to allow his vision to adjust. They followed a faint glow emanating from down the hallway. They entered a small room to find Shaxx waiting patiently.

"It's not what you think it is, all those went up with the tower's vault." Shaxx said pulling a rather large container and setting it at Castide's feet.

Castide looked over the large black crate, lined with silver and accented with wolf heads at each corner and as a latch in the middle. "Still have mine, safe and sound far away from here." He leaned against the shelving as he gazed at the box. "Irrit's armor was used to make mine after all."

Shaxx mirrored Castide's stance and folded his arms. "I'm not happy about losing mementoes of those we lost at the gap, regardless of who owned them. It's a power we will never witness again, unless you pull yours out of mothballs." Shaxx pushed off the shelving causing the entire construction to creak. "But we still have the ammo." If he had a gleam in eye it was lost behind the broken horn helmet he always wore.

Castide finally stepped forward to the crate and released the wolf head latches to reveal layered belts of 30. Caliber ammunition. "Wolf-pack rounds for that maniacal machine on the nose of your ship." Shaxx said, stopping on his way out to clasp both hands on Castide's shoulders. "Remind them… Guardian." He said before leaving the room.

Castide stared down at the belts of ammunition, realizing he would at least need Shaxx's help carrying the massive crate.

"Need some help?" a low and comforting voice said behind him. Castide spun round to look up into a pair glimmering blue eyes framed by braided dirty blonde hair. "I mean, I know you can handle it, I'm just offering."

Castide looked up at his old friend, partner, fellow survivor of twilight gap. "Boros… What the traveler's crap can are you doing here?" Castide asked in wonder.

"I heard you needed help, so here I am!" Boros bellowed.

"Boros…" Castide said calmly.

"Ehh…the vanguard called on all guardians, I can't say no…" Boros replied.

"Borostin Stedson…" Castide said grimly.

Boros sighed. "I can't stand the reef. No breeze, and the sunlight is too consistent, not really the type of place I imagine raising a family."

"Family?" Castide asked flatly.

Borostin seemed to shrink. "Allyiya didn't want to have the children there after she heard my tales…"

"Children?" Castide interrupted with thinly veiled surprise.

"Ah… yeah, twins it seems." Boros shrugged and gave a lop-sided grin.

"Boros my dear…" An Awoken woman stepped into the room dressed in the colors of the Queens guard, tailored to accommodate her extra passengers. "Do us all a favor when you're captured and kill yourself." She finalized crossing her arms over her protruding belly, glaring at Boros.

"Pleasure to meet you Castide" She said turning to him. "I've heard all the tales of the person who pulled my husbands ass out of all those fires, it's nice to finally put a face to the name." Her cordial expression a far cry from the death gaze she gave her partner. "Allyiya Stedson." She introduced herself extending a hand.

Castide took her hand. "Charmed..." He said to her. "Confused…" He said glancing at Boros cock-eyed "But none the less, happy to meet you."

Allyiya looked at Castide with an amused smile. "I'm in your wing for this upcoming endeavor, any issue with that?"

"None besides… Well…" Castide replied gesturing to her stomach.

"They were conceived in the Vestian web, they can handle a few g's if they made it this far." She said lightly patting her bump.

"Fair enough." Castide conceded "A little help?" he requested looking to Boros and patting the crate.

Boros grinned stepping up to the large crate, his massive arms easily clasped on either side, hefting it easily into the air. "Where to?" he asked.

"Just outside on the ridge. Agama is probably finished loading the tridents…" Castide turned to the basement entrance as Brexley rounded the corner. "…And the gangs all here." He said, chuckling at Brexley's look of confusion and amazement at the trio in the room.

"Brexley Shaan." She introduced herself, regaining her composure. "You must be Boros, I've heard stories."

Boros chuckled deeply, the sound resonated around the room. "I remember you Miss. Shaan. Always pouring over old books and data-scrolls with little Krethlynn in that little pub in the south quad." Smiling at her confused expression. "It's okay it you don't recognize me, Baire always said I was too big and quiet enough to be mistaken for furniture. This is my wife, Allyiya." He nodded to the awoken woman.

Brexley nodded to the woman taking in her stern countenance and her near regal posture, she was slightly taken aback at the kindness in her eyes. Her on eyes widened slightly at her stomach.

"You're from the reef?" Brexley asked.

Allyiya shrugged "Let's just say I'm looking for a place to be from." she said with a tight smile.

The four made their way outside towards where Castide's ship was berthed. Brexley and Allyiya stepped up to the rear of the ship while Boros and Castide went to the nose of the craft to load the ammunition. Brexley leaned against the hull and watched the activity around the farm grow with intensity. Munitions being carted with more urgency than when she arrived, orders being shouted louder, sparrows being loaded on to transports. Amanda Holliday waved to her as the arcadia was being taxied out to a staging area the seven barrels of the gun she requested protruded from the nose of the craft, considerably shorter than its stock comm mast. She glanced back at her new compatriots, Castide and Boros filing in the munitions and laughing at old tales.

"Are you worried about what will happen?" Brexley turned to Allyiya, her eyes narrowed. "When you and your children grow old?" Suddenly self-conscious, she looked to her feet. "I-I mean, how does he deal with the fact that he'll far outlive yours and theirs?" She stammered.

Allyiya smiled softly staring out at the scenery of the farm, the shard of the traveler in the distance, the people working together, human, exo, and awoken. "I never thought I'd ever see this." Allyiya gestured to everything in front of her. "A lot of the reef don't or won't care for this. Happy to be in service to the queen. Generations of people with no interest in what they came from, happy to float at arm's length at something so beautiful." Allyiya turned, grasping her wrist, pulling Brexley's hand to her belly. "Feel them?" She asked smiling, as Brexley's expression softened at the kicks coming from within her. "If the price I must pay to feel this joy, is to watch you and them, grow old and die, then so be it. I would pay that price a thousand times, again and again, than to never know it." Allyiya's eyes bored into Brexley's "Those were the words… His words that finally convinced me of many things I didn't want to face."

Allyiya released her grip, but Brexley's hand stayed for a moment longer. A klaxon sounded, and a distant muffled voice announced one hour till sortie. Brexley pulled her hand away.

Brexley craned her head to gaze at Castide crouched at the ammo well of his ship, A flask passing between him and Boros, laughter echoing from the two.

"It could all end by tomorrow." Allyiya sighed, her gaze fixed on the setting sun.

"It will end tomorrow." Brexley snapped her attention from the titan and hunter, back to the pregnant woman. "We will end it." Her emerald eyes cold and sparkling with resolve

Pallowa slept in the cot on the ship after losing interest in the endeavors his partner had in that dusty room. His sister laid on the other half of the bedding, grooming and washing around his ears.

"Aren't they adorable?" Agama exclaimed more than asked. "Its like they never forgot what they were to each other." She said.

"Your turn Agama…" Dex muttered. "…Before the cats die of old age."

"Who invited the sourpuss?" Val asked. The third ghost of the party who's shell glowed with and odd opalescence.

"He may be a buzzkill but he's still part of the team Val." Agama responded turning back to the board set upon a crate.

"Buzzkill? Me?" Dex retorted

"Part of the team? You?" Val responded dripping with sarcasm.

"Just roll the dice please, would you Agama?" Dex sighed with resignation.

"Don't worry Dex, I have faith in you." Agama waggled her tendrils. "Alright, Rolling the dice." She said.