Chapter 21: A Rose By Any Other Name Part 1
Marcus' ship along with the rest of his Fireteam slowly descended over the battlefield known as "Exodus Blue" an area in the Cosmodrome that was affectionately—albeit grimly—known as the "graveyard" due to it being a site known for the last ditch efforts of colony ships attempting to escape during the Collapse.
"Bravo Team!" Marcus heard Saladin chime in his helmet as Rubix materialized him onto the starting area. Standing by his sides were Otto, Phoenix and Midori, with Zyler holding firm the team's flag. One other Guardian, a blue Titan materialized alongside the team and looked over to the group they were with.
"Nice, we got Scorch on our side." He said, rather enthusiastic. "For a second I really thought that…" he glanced over and recognized Marcus. "Aw crud."
"Nice to meet you too." Marcus scoffed.
"No disrespect, but do you really think someone like you should be here of all place?" He asked.
"Don't worry about him." Phoenix defended. "He'll pull his weight."
"Phoenix-0 too? Oh man, I feel better already."
"No disrespect, but you should really focus rather than being a fanboy, don't you think so?" Marcus retaliated.
"Oh, don't worry about me scrub." The Titan cracked his knuckles and whipped out a brownish-orange Shotgun. "You just pull your weight and don't give them easy kills."
Only knew the guy for a minute and already Marcus didn't like him.
"Remember the plan guys?" Zyler turned to his fireteam.
"Hold two zones and get as many kills as possible?" Marcus asked.
"Just goes to show how well you were paying attention." Midori noted. "Otto and I will go after A, Phoenix and…"
"Steel." The Titan said his name.
"Steel will provide back up." Midori said. "You and Zyler will go after B since that tends to be where most of the action takes place. Once we secure two points, we try to keep them as close to their spawn as possible. Understood?"
"Roger that boss-lady." Zyler saluted.
The rest of the team agreed as well.
"This fight will test all that you are." Saladin said.
"Alright team." Zyler twirled the hand cannon in his hand. "Showtime."
Bravo team then dispersed and headed to their designated points.
"Thank you, and have a good day." The clerk at the register handed Nysa her change and the two cups of coffee.
"Thanks, you as well." Nysa smiled taking her belongings and heading back to where she left Dawn. The girl was spaced out and didn't notice Nysa right away.
"Are you having fun?" Nysa asked, noticing her expression.
"Huh, yeah, why do you ask?"
"Because you've been having that same depressed look on your face since we left this morning."
"Oh yeah, I'm sorry, it's just I've been thinking about Jasmine."
Nysa rolled her eyes. "I told you she's just fine, there's no need to worry about her."
"How can I not?" Dawn turned to her surprised that she said that. "She's sick and after yesterday it's obvious that whatever she has is getting worse."
"Dawn, Ikora and the others are doing everything in their power to help her. Believe me when I say there's nothing to worry about."
Dawn grew quiet and took a sip of her coffee. "You're jealous, aren't you?"
"Excuse me?"
"Of Marcus and Jasmine." Dawn clarified.
"I'm not jealous of them! What reason would I have to be?!"
"Because I used to have an older sister and I can tell that the two of them bother you in some way. You like him, at the very least I can confirm that much."
Nysa sighed and took her coffee. "Well, you're not wrong on that part." She sipped. "Marcus is one of the few humans who actually wants to be a friend with someone like me. You can't help but admire that."
"Well what about me? I don't see anything wrong with being friends with you?"
"That's because had it not have been for him, I would still be the prideful, arrogant brat I used to be. After meeting him, I learned that I don't have to be powerful to be accepted. I can just be myself."
"If that's the case, how do you really feel about Jasmine? Are you envious of her history with him, or…?"
Before Nysa could answer the people in the café started cheering. The pair looked up and noticed the TV monitors above.
"They're showing the Iron Banner Tournament in here?" Dawn asked Nysa.
"Not just here, all over the city. Iron Banner is a major thing around here." Nysa said, drinking more coffee. "It's not just a tournament, but a test for Lord Saladin to see who's truly cut out to be a Guardian."
"And what does that mean?"
"Nothing really. I mean, it doesn't affect your status with the Vanguard or anything, but those who excel are put on Saladin's radar. Being one of the first Guardians ever, before they were called 'Guardians' at that, if you manage to impress him then you can be destined for great things."
"Well, I hope Marcus and the others will be alright then." Dawn said, focusing on the upcoming match.
The score was Alpha: 16,000 to Bravo's 13,000. Marcus' team was trying to close the gap, but the opposing team was proving more formidable than anticipated.
Steel slammed the ground and generated a bubble at A, where a pair of Guardians attempted to charge him. Armed with his shotgun, Invisible Hand M7, he dodged each swipe they made and fired back at them, enjoying their naivete.
"They call me 'Steel' because nothing can get past me!" He cocked his shotgun. "Who's next?"
Phoenix meanwhile pushed ahead, bobbing and weaving around more attackers as he made his way to Zone C. He made no intention of capturing it, but rather he allowed his Fusion Rifle, 77 Wizard, to mow down his enemies with it's Solar element. All the while his enthusiasm giving him the pleasure of doing so.
Midori stood perched on top of crates armed with her FINAL BOSS sniper, watching over Zone B's area. Another Guardian, a Warlock from the distance noticed the first bullet that grazed the side of her helmet and armed herself with her own Sniper, the Epitaph 2261. She inched slightly across the doorway just enough to lock onto her assailant so she could take the shot.
Otto knelt down and tapped her on the shoulder.
In the next moment the room exploded with Arc Energy and Otto proudly dusted his hands off, watching the red light of her Ghost hover before disappearing.
"Kill stealer." Midori said.
"Shouldn't have missed then." Otto said back, chuckling.
Marcus and Zyler meanwhile ran into the building where Zone B was, dodging the fire that the trio of Guardians hailed on them.
"Come on! You can't hide from us forever you scrub!" The Titan taunted.
Marcus ducked behind the wall of the doorway, shielding himself from incoming bullets. He looked to Zyler who's body language showed frustration. Zone B stayed locked down behind them, unfortunately, it was under Alpha's control, as indicated by the blue flag that waved.
"Everything okay?" Marcus called over the gunfire.
"You had one job!" Zyler snapped.
"How was I supposed to know they'd be waiting for us at B?"
"Oh come on, you've been practicing well enough to expect something like that!"
"Not only that but I'm barely doing anything to them! My bullets are hardly scratching their armor!"
"Newsflash, it's the Iron Banner! Light Levels are sensitive here."
"Meaning?"
"If you're weaker than them it's going to show big time!"
And on that note Marcus began to curse at himself for not realizing that detail. "So, what do we do?"
"Got your Super?"
"Yeah, why?"
Zyler grabbed his knife. "Start capturing B when I give the signal." Arc energy began to stir around him and his entire body began to glow with bright blue electricity. "Go!" Zyler dashed ahead and clashed with the two Guardians who started to push through. One of them a Titan had a similar thought to Zyler, activating his Arc-based Super. Zyler was able to get one, but alas he subcummed to the Titan's fist and disappeared in the storm.
Marcus realizing the shockwave coming his way, quickly rolled over and grabbed his throwing knife. The Titan charged ahead, but was quickly stopped by the knife piercing his helmet. The brute fell back and his Ghost joined the others who awaited respawning.
Marcus regained himself and followed Zyler's order, kneeling down at the B Flag. Despite that his heart pounded in his chest as he constantly switched back and forth between both doorways. Where was the enemy going to come from? Right, left? He remembered there was three of them. Where would the last one come from?
"Marcus on you six!" Zyler yelled suddenly.
Marcus felt the coldness shoot down his spine. He slowly turned back and realized the large gaping hole in the wall. Where the missing Warlock had his arm pulled back gathering the Void energy needed for his massive bomb.
"Oh no you don't!" Midori's voice echoed in his headset.
In a flash, it took Marcus a moment to realize the limp body drop to the ground and the Void energy fading back from once it came. The sound of the Sniper's bullet finally registered in his head and he was able to breathe easy.
And then the cock of the Hand Cannon against his helmet brought the fear back to him.
Marcus shifted to the Hunter who hovered over him. He quickly realized that he had little time to aim and even if he did how much damage would he able to do?
"You're almost there…" Shaxx whispered to the Hunter. The Hunter looked at the score and his team capped at 18,000 while the other team continued to close the gap. He looked back at Marcus and pulled the gun back.
"What are you doing?! Take him out!" the voice of his teammate snapped at him.
Marcus didn't know why, but he wasn't going to question it. The Golden Gun immediately took form and as fast as he could Marcus shoved it in the chest of his attacker and fired all three shots, praying one of them would take him down.
The Hunter staggered and dropped to his knees before fading away. With the moment of terror gone, Shaxx's voice echoed in his helmet.
"You captured Zone B…"
And that gave Marcus a wave of relief. He survived.
"You captured Zone C. All Zones held, you have total control, good work!"
That announcement surprised him. "We got C too?"
"These guys are real pushovers. I don't know why you're having trouble with them Marcus." Phoenix said. holding his own against the group attempting to re-capture C.
"I say we wrap this up." Steel said.
"Agreed." Midori said. "Hold tight Marcus, I'm on my way."
"Roger that." He nodded. He leaned against the wall of the room and sighed. The thought of the Hunter getting to him.
Why didn't he kill him just then? They had a chance to close the game but…
"Your victory gives the City hope Guardians!" Shaxx told Marcus and the rest of his team. Marcus perked up at the words and looked at the score on his HUD.
20,000 to 19,200. Extremely close, but they managed to pull a comeback.
Marcus plopped onto his back and took his helmet off so he could breathe. "Rubix…?"
"Yes?" The Ghost asked, materializing.
"Let's not try this again. At least not until we get stronger."
"Agreed. Trying to keep you under control is wearing on my own wellbeing."
Marcus didn't have the energy to argue, so he just laid there and grinned.
Otto walked into the room and scooped him off the ground. "You better not be dead."
"Relax Prime. I just wore myself out. Mind if I sit the rest of the matches out from here on?"
Otto got Marcus on his back and began to carry him. "Yeah yeah. You earned it. Besides if you push yourself even further we both won't hear the end of it."
Marcus laughed and relaxed his sore body. "Got that right…"
Jasmine turned a page in the book, skimmed through the tablet that sat in front of her and jotted down more notes. The things she was learning about Lysander and the Concordat… and that mysterious place in her dreams…
The Black Garden…
The words on the page in the book made her uneasy so she took a gulp of tea to suppress the feeling of nausea. She jotted down more notes before skimming some more.
That's when something caught her attention.
"Hold on… I know you." Jasmine said, clicking the link and expanding the information. "How is…how can this be?"
Ikora walked over and looked over her shoulder. "Is everything alright?"
"Look at this. I did a research paper on him a while back. The information I got indicated that he was dead but this says otherwise."
Ikora read the information and like Jasmine she became uneasy. "And where did you find this?"
Jasmine backed out and showed her the source.
Ikora grew grim. "We need to show this to Zavala and Cayde. If what this indicates is true then the Concordat is not the only thing we need to worry about…"
"I can't believe we lost to them!"
"You mean you lost to them. Had you not have gotten in my way things wouldn't have happened the way they did."
"Oh shut up! I don't remember electing you leader of my fireteam! Claiming you have some secret Exotic. If so why didn't you use it against that punk Gunslinger? Even if you didn't steal the point you could've took him down and got us the win anyway! Like I thought you're all talk."
The Hunter suddenly came up close to the Titan and the tone between the three shifted.
"Back off." The Titan shoved him off. The Hunter grabbed his arm and twisted it.
"'All talk', huh?" The Hunter laughed as he tightened his grip. The Titan began to scream from the pain as the Hunter forced him onto his knees.
"Hey hey, guys, chill out huh?" The Warlock attempted to break them apart, but after a moment, stepped back, to the surprise of his friend.
"Hey! What are you doing?! Get him off me!"
The Warlock swallowed hard, keeping his attention fixed on the Hand Cannon on the side of the Hunter. "There's no way that's…"
"Dude!" The Titan snapped at his friend. The cocking of the gun grabbed his attention and suddenly he was filled with the pure terror of the jagged weapon in possession of the Hunter.
"Am I still 'all talk'? Well?!" The Hunter pressed the gun into the Titan's helmet. It was clear the Hunter was enjoying the terror the Titan displayed.
"No… No you're not!"
The Hunter laughed harder. "Then tell me: Who am I?"
"Dre—Dredgen…"
"Yor…" The Warlock finished. "Wielder of the infamous Thorn Hand Cannon…"
The Hunter turned to him and nodded, "Correct." And mercilessly shot the Titan. The Titan's body fell back and the Ghost materialized ready to resurrect him. Yor then aimed Thorn at the defenseless ghost and shot its core, the sickly green hue slowly decaying the ghost until it became a dead, rusted hunk of metal next to the Titan's body.
"That's why you get a head start." Yor told him, resting Thorn on his shoulder.
"A…" The Warlock couldn't finish that sentence, looking at the body of his friend.
"Like I said before, I was teaching you both a lesson on not underestimating your opponent. Your friend here failed and look where that lead to." Yor said.
"But…you…how…?"
"And there you go, underestimating me…" Yor aimed his weapon at the Warlock.
"No please!" The Warlock dropped to his knees. "I—I didn't know! I—I'm sorry for doubting you! Just please!"
"You had a thirty-second head start, didn't you?"
The Warlock stood frozen, realizing the simple, albeit nearly futile truth.
"Ten seconds to go. Now run."
Without hesitating, the Warlock scrambled to his feet and threw a Fusion Grenade at Dredgen Yor before racing off for dear life. The flames, were then absorbed into the weapon, revealing Yor unscathed with his vision set on the Warlock up ahead of him.
"Guess I'm 'it'." Yor laughed as he slowly made his way in the direction of the Warlock.
"That was a pretty good match, don't you think?" Dawn asked.
"Well now, you're in a good mood now. I admit it was. I feel as though Phoenix was a bit too overconfident in that match. knowing his strength he should've ended things much quicker."
"Well you said it yourself that the Iron Banner participants are not nearly as easy to take down."
"Nonetheless, it's not the first Iron Banner tournament Phoenix has been in." Nysa noted. "More importantly, we should all go out to dinner to celebrate."
"You just want to so something for Marcus for doing a good job, that right?"
"There's no shame in it!" Nysa said.
"You say that as your face turns purple from the blushing." Dawn giggled.
The sound of trash cans startle them making them jump back from the alley they began to walk past. They saw the body hit the ground.
"A Guardian…?" Nysa said.
"Wait hold on… wasn't he one of the participants in Marcus' match? What's he doing here?" Dawn recognized.
The warlock weakly looked up and noticed the two girls. He tried to reach them but his hand dropped and his body faded, his Ghost hovering in place. Before Dawn and Nysa could retrieve it, a green bullet shot through the air and shattered the Ghost.
"What the…?" Nysa said, shocked. Footsteps attracted their attention forcing them to look down the dark path.
The illuminating green Hand Cannon shown in the darkness as the Hunter came towards them. he laughed, enjoying the terror in their faces.
"Good afternoon ladies. Would you be so kind as to tell me… How much of that did you see…?"