A/N: I did make a mental to update every two weeks, but…*shrugs* real life, what can you do?


DISCLAIMER:-The following is a non-profit fanfiction. The Destiny franchise and its characters are owned by Bungie. I only own Fireteam Storm and other OCs. Please support the official release.

Saga 02: The Monster of Luna

Arc 02: The Dark Below

Chapter 07: Fireteam Noble

To my dearest Wei

Dinner was wonderful last night. I've never been so happy in my life. And the walk! The City can be so beautiful at night, I never even realised. It was perfect. Jax keeps teasing me about us, saying I'm not as cold as I was before I met you.

By the way, I heard something happened at the Burning Lake. Shaxx was involved too, apparently, he was spooked. That's not like him. Do you know anything about this?

All my love

Eriana-3


The City

Tower Library

The library was a vast room, almost taking up an entire floor of the building and filled floor to ceiling with books of all sorts. Philosophy, sciences, religion, history. Even theories on life that had existed before humanity had evolved. It was a haven for Guardians of all classes. Despite this, the room was empty, save for four Guardians sat on various tables and chairs, and one lost soul stood in a deliberately darkened section of the library, her body illuminated a sickly by the strange black rock as she vacantly stared out of the window at the rainclouds high above. While there was the Fu'an Library in the City proper, the Consensus had agreed to keep her confined to the Tower. For her safety as much as everyone else's.

Athena shifted uncomfortably, pins and needles in her leg as she raised her other to rest her head on, sighing as she did so before looking at the other Titan in the chair next to her. "How long's she been there?"

Delta shrugged. "Been there for as long as I've been here."

"Since last night," Hayley replied, bringing a few cans of pop for the group.

"Oooo, grape flavoured!" Delta chuckled, cracking open one of the cans.

Hayley continued. "She's been staring at wherever the Moon is, stroking that strange rock of hers."

"That means whatever she's staring at is the last place she saw it," Shifter grunted.

"Most likely, yes."

"I still don't get it," Athena said, having guzzled down her second can. "Why us?"

"You know how Kayla is when it comes to the Hive," Delta shrugged.

"I get that, but…."

"But what?" Eris murmured between heavy breaths. Her eyes were still fixated on clouds above. "Don't stop, I was listening."

Athena shifted awkwardly, a chill running up her spine as Eris gave a hoarse sigh. "You trust Kayla, huh?"

"Obviously. Please, don't bore me with Titan questions, get to the point."

The Sunbreaker moved to attack her but was stopped by Delta. Athena rolled her eyes and continued. "Why?"

"Why do you care? Surely punching Crota is enough for you?"

"Obviously," Athena replied through gritted teeth. "Why do you, specifically, trust her?"

Eris's head slowly turned, a rasping gasp escaping her mouth. "You are her friends, right?" The former Hunter waited as the team nodded. "Then you have heard her deeds?"

"I mean…apparently she's got her own anime," Shifter said with a faint shrug.

Delta turned, an incredulous look on his face. "You serious?"

"I'm always serious."

Eris watched the group idly as they joked and traded jabs about each other. The laughter was something she'd heard, echoing in the dark. The manifestations of her regrets. Sometimes she could have sworn Omnigul would mimic their laughter, although the old witch regularly denied it. Still, she couldn't deny the warm feeling in her chest as her eyes welled up.

No no no nonononono. Can't be happy…can't be happy can't be HAPPY or the hurt will come…

Eris coughed quickly, blinking the tears away.

"The only time I saw your leader was during her little raid on the Hellmouth," Eris explained. "She managed to break her way into the World's Grave…and steal it. Then escape." Her green eyes lit up with a hungry smile. "Such a marvel of a Warlock!"

Delta's eyes narrowed at the Hunter. "Meaning?" he asked tersely.

Eris's eyes darkened again with a slight haze, her voice more neutral. "She's has…an aura about her. A determination," she turned slightly. "An anguish…one that I share."

"So what?" Delta asked with shrug. "Is this a hatred makes you strong type of thing?"

"Bit clichéd if it is," Shifter grunted.

"No, no, nothing so debased," Eris spat before shambling closer, her pale face slightly brightening. "Kayla Ashcroft. The Guardian who remembers he first death. At the hands…of the Hive. She has seen what they are capable of, therefore…she shares my endgame."

"The death of a god?" Delta asked.

"No," Eris replied with a dark smile. "The death of a king."

The creak of the opening library door caught the groups attention. In strolled Jaeger and a visibly tired Kayla. Delta stood quickly but was pushed aside by Eris.

"What news?" Eris asked. "What did you find?"

Kayla motioned Ghost to Eris, who transmatted Merok's horn into her hands. Eris stared it, her hands trembling slight when the Hive chitin made contact with her skin. As she lifted it up into the light, she held her breath, looking at Kayla for reassuring.

"All four of them are dead," she said.

"Hahaha…That's perfect," Eris chuckled, her grip tightening around the horn as she laughed more, only to scream as she through the horn into the floor. From under her cloaks, she pulled out a blackened, scoped hand cannon. Fireteam Storm instinctively went into battle positions as Eris opened fire on the horn. "YOU FUCKING…FUCKING FUCKING FUCKING FUCKING…!"

Storm could only stare, wary and unnerved as the clip emptied, leaving only the clicking of an empty weapon and Eris's half-hearted cursing. Kayla was the first to go to her.

"Fucking…fucking…" Eris wheezed.

"Eris?" Kayla asked.

The woman didn't hear her. Kayla slowly held Eris's free hand, Eris relaxing slightly as she let Kayla unpeel her grip from the gun. "There we go," Kayla said softly, taking the weapon from her. Delta moved behind her quickly and took the revolver. Kayla continued. "We have something else.

"Wha…what?" Eris asked, barely registering the sound of her voice.

"Sardon," Jaeger added. "Cheryl managed get his location."

"Which is?" Athena asked eagerly.

"Cosmodrome. Cheryl?"

On instruction, the pink, glittered shell of Cheryl appeared before them, projecting the image onto the table. Before Kayla was a tall, muscular Knight encased with golden chitin. Except…it wasn't chitin.

"The texture," Kayla murmured, walking up for a closer look before turning to Eris. "It's flesh."

Eris had retreated slightly into the darkened corner, illuminated by her glowing rock. "Yes, it is," she replied, turning to the ghost. "You said the Cosmodrome? Which one?"

"Old Russia," Cheryl replied, the image switching to a map of the Cosmodrome's interior. "If one of Crota's generals is there it would certainly explain the surge in Hive activity there."

"W-What?" Eris asked.

"The House of Devils," Kayla explained. "They'd locked the Hive into the Skywatch. It's why I went to the World's Grave in the first place."

"H-How many were there?" Eris panicked, powering to Kayla and grabbing her. "HOW MANY?!"

Kayla held her hand up to warn off the team, taking Eris's hands and moving them from her shoulders. "A small army that Vanguard have been keeping contained to the Skywatch." Her eyes widened in realisation, as they drifted to her team. "Which means that if Sardon is leading it, then…"

"It's a beachhead," Delta finished gravely.

Kayla nodded, turning to Jaeger. "You and Shifter take this to the Vanguard; Athena I want you to prepare for tomorrow."

"Oh, hell yeah!" Athena cheered with a manic grin.

"T-To…tomorrow?!" Eris snapped. "We can't wait until then, what if…!"

Eris felt a cold metal hand take her wrist softly. She turned, seeing the faint smile of the Sunsinger Exo in the team. Eriana…Hayley-3? No…which number?

"Wanna go into the City tomorrow?" she said perkily.

"And why would I do that?" Eris snapped, averting her gaze.

Hayley's held tilted, trying to look her in the eyes. "Take your mind off things while they're on mission?"

Hayley turned Eris away from the rest of the team, gesturing for the others to leave. Kayla nodded, smiling before leaving for her quarters. The corridor was filled with the murmurs of several eavesdropping groups of Guardians, all of whom eyed Kayla when she opened the door.

"You'd think they'd be more discreet," Ghost whispered, floating idly over her shoulder.

Kayla shook her head and continued down the corridor, with Delta in tow.

"How you holding up?" he asked.

"Eh…Alright, just…" Kayla sighed a little. "My head hurts."

"You wanna talk about it?" Delta asked, put a hand on her shoulder.

Kayla looked at him and gave a faint smile, before shaking her head. "Not today…I just want some rest."


Earth

The City

Several Years Ago

"Don't you think you should get some rest?" Razor asked his Guardian.

Vell shook his head as he fixed his chest piece in place. "Nah, I'm good. Besides, you can just make me…not tired, right?"

Razor's eye narrowed. "That's not the point."

Vell gave a small shrug before grabbing his weapons: a shotgun, an auto rifle and a Vanguard grenade launcher. Razor watched intently as the Titan piled several packets of food rations on to a table and a flute that Vell played to calm himself. As Vell moved to put on the chainmail Mark, Razor scanned the rations, storing them inside his memory banks to reconstruct later.

"Right," Vell said with a grin, pocketing a small note. "Ready?"

"Do you want the honest answer or the technical answer?" Razor replied dryly.

"That's the spirit!"

Vell set out with Razor in tow, watched by a lone Warlock. With Vell gone the Warlock took her chance, heading past the door and discreetly summoning her ghost, Bahaghari, to unlock the door. One barely audible click later the door opened and Aunor slipped in.

The room was messy, unkempt, with clothes sprawled everywhere and a small pile of dirty dishes left on the side. Aunor rolled her eyes. Typical Titan. The Warlock wasted no time looking through the mess, trying to find that stupid bag of Glimmer Eriana had given him the other day. A task easier said than done, apparently, given Vell's lack of the concept of order.

Aunor strode to the Titan's bed, kneeling and sticking a hand underneath in the hopes of grabbing something.

"What are you doing?" came a new voice.

Aunor jumped, hitting her head on the side of the bed in the process. "Ow…Andal?"

Over in the corner of the room, dressed in a deceptively basic Hunter's outfit that held a single flash of red on the cloak, was the Hunter Vanguard, Andal Brask. His black hair messy and spiked, his eyes a green-grey and a moustache, goatee combo against a his slightly tanned skin, Andal was known for being a looker.

Aunor frowned before feeling around under the bed. "Why are you here?"

"Nuh-uh, you didn't answer my question," Andal chuckled. "Why are you poking around here?"

"I want to see what Eriana's planning," Aunor replied neutrally. "And if it's a danger to the City."

"And Vell is important to this because…?"

"I saw her talking with Omar the other morning and Vell the day before. We also have reports that they used the refugee entrances with a third, currently unknown person."

"And you thought you could cowboy cop it without us knowing?"

Aunor stood, barely containing her frustration. "Sir, with all due respect, I don't want another Dredgen Yor incident."

"No one does," Andal countered with a dismissive shrug. "The Vanguard doesn't need the Praxic Order interfering in its affairs, especially when we're also monitoring Eriana's actions."

Aunor looked away, resisting the urge to argue back. Andal sighed. "You know better than anyone that Eriana has not been the same since Wei died. Your friend…"

Aunor visibly winced at the word and cut Andal off. "I know she needs help. But she won't let me. How am I meant to help her if she's hiding things from me?"

Andal gave a knowing smirk and held up a small pouch. "I guess we'll need to decrypt this, right?"

Aunor paused in disbelief. "…You sly fox."

"Wouldn't be the Hunter Vanguard if I wasn't," Andal grinned, pocketing the pouch of Glimmer.


Hall of the Vanguard

"Ah, Andal!" Ikora said with utmost professionalism when Andal and Aunor entered. "We were wondering where you'd got to. I hope you weren't thinking of bunking off paperwork."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Ikora," Andal replied. "Just…once I've finished hounding Cayde about his mission reports…"

"Which one was he again?"

"The cocky one"

Ikora let out a faint chuckle. "Of course."

"Speaking of Cayde," calm the smooth voice of Zavala from the window that overlooked the City's perimeter. "He said something about…" he rolled his eyes, letting out frustrating sigh. "Getting the gang back together for one last run."

"Oh really?" Andal asked, sorting through the mess of papers on his side of the table. "What kind?"

"Apparently, there has been an increase of activity Devil activity in London," Zavala replied. "Raiding old cybernetics buildings."

"Sure, sure, I'll look into it."

Zavala turned. "Thank you, And-…Aunor? What do we owe the pleasure?"

"Commander Zavala, Sir," Aunor said with a salute "I…I have reason to believe Eriana-3 may be dealing in illegal activity."

"Aunor, we've been over this…" Ikora said.

"I have proof!" she countered quickly. "Well, Andal has it, but…"

"She's obtained a pouch of Glimmer that she saw Eriana hand to the Titan, Vell Tarlowe," Andal explained, holding up the pouch. "Eriana has also been seen interacting in secret with Omar Agah, and both her and Eris were spotted coming into the City through the refugee lines, causing a commotion in the process."

Twenty minutes later, Master Rahool had been dragged into to work on the Glimmer. The Vanguard watched carefully as he furiously typed on a keyboard below the largest computer monitor in the room, Aunor leaning over his shoulder. Rahool side eyed her.

"Do you mind?" he asked, trying to contain his annoyance.

"I'm just curious," she replied.

"Well, if you must know," Rahool sighed. "The coordinates here are forgeries."

"Meaning?" Ikora asked.

"I'm not finished, Ikora. There's something hidden under here, fragments of a video…If I can just…"

Rahool fiddled with the keyboard, typing in strings of coding faster than the Vanguard could process. No sooner had he finished the lights shut off. Only the computer illuminated the room. A crackle came through the speakers then loud rave music that shook the walls. On the screen was a sight that the Vanguard hadn't seen for decades. Scarred and tattooed, his skin withered with age and Traveller knew what experiments he was doing, wearing nothing but pants and his aviators while grin from ear to ear was a dancing Toland the Shattered. Behind him were the words "get a load of this" in Hive green.

"Ugh!" Ikora recoiled in disgust as Andal stifled a laugh.

"Seems like someone's wasting our time," Rahool said drily.

Aunor watched the screen, a whirl of emotions inside her. Anger? Confusion? Betrayal? Worry? She couldn't parse them apart enough to tell. The Praxic Warlock grit her teeth before composing herself before turning on her heel and storming out.

"Guardian, where are you going?" Zavala asked.

"I need to have a talk," Aunor replied neutrally.


The City

Toland's Boudoir

"How many's that?" Omar asked as Eriana counted heads.

"Five," Eris said. Eriana responded with a frustrated sigh. "You know what Sai's like, Eriana."

"She said she'd be here already!" Eriana snapped.

"And she will."

Eriana gave a frustrated tut and stormed to the next room. Toland raised an eyebrow before turning to Omar and Vell. "Who spit in her ramen?"

The pair watched Toland walk off, half-stumbling like a drunk. Omar could barely hide his disgust. "Can't believe we have to work with him…" the Hunter muttered.

"Wouldn't be the craziest thing we've done," Vell replied, counting ammo.

"What did I miss?" said a new voice, spooking Omar.

"F-FUCK!" he cried. "By the Traveller's crack, don't do that!"

Vell eyed the new arrival. A female Hunter, Native American with slight Japanese heritage. Her jet-black hair was adorned with hand carved beads and a trio of eagle feathers behind her right ear that splashed her with colour, while her pretty face shone with two piercing, almost golden eyes. She was sat lazily, carving another set of beads.

"Frigging Nightstalkers…" Omar mutted.

"Sai's here!" Eris shouted.

Eriana burst in as quick as Sai had snuck in. Sai gave an idle wave as she eyed her craftwork. The Sunsinger dragged Toland back in, much to his chargrin, and placed him in front of the group.

"Could you warn me next time?" Toland asked.

"Guardians, I'm sure you are all somewhat aware of why you're all here?" Eriana said.

"No? No? You won't? 'K then."

Eriana rolled her eyes, turning to her fellow Warlock. "Would you like to introduce yourself then?"

Toland grinned, baring his teeth. "I need no introduction," he replied condescendingly.

The Sunsinger's frown caused his grin to widen as she turned. "Right then. These are Vell Tarlowe, Omar Agah and Sai Mota. They are-"

"The help, I guessed that."

"The best Guardians I know," Eriana finished.

Toland looked at the trio, unimpressed, before he turned to Eriana. "Continue."

"…This is where you speak," Eriana said through barely gritted teeth.

Toland rolled his eyes, taking the centre. "Amateurs," he muttered. "Alright, as I'm sure you know we are on a mission to kill Crota. He is a god holds domain on a threshold between worlds, the eye of a needle deep within Luna. Step One: get to that realm."

"What's Step Two?" Omar asked.

"Dependent on Step One," Toland said dismissively, turning to Eriana. "Now that I've said something, I've no doubt explained multiple times, I am going to get my equipment."

Toland shuffled off upstairs, leaving the team dumbfounded. Eris glanced at the others. "You get used to him," she said apologetically.

"Sure," Sai replied, bored.

Omar looked round. "How…about…a team name?"

Eriana looked up wistfully. "Noble. They were a team that fought during the Collapse. Defended the last safe peninsula in North America."

Omar made a face. "That sounds made up, where'd you hear that?"

"I read it in a book once!" Eriana groaned, heading for the kitchen. "I'm going to get something to eat."

"Fireteam Noble," Vell said, nodding. "Yeah. I like that."

Upstairs, Toland was busy sorting out papers. Guren appeared in front of him, placing a journal in front of him. "All of his generals, at your disposal," he replied chipperly. "Toland, I hate to ask, but do you think that they'll survive?"

"Nnnope!" Toland said. "Now where is…"

Guren followed the Warlock as he buried himself in more papers. "Not to discern your judgement, Toland, but…why are you helping them?"

Toland looked back. "Why not? Our goals are aligned. As long as can study Ir Yut, I see know issue in helping them with their little…whatever it is."

"…Huh," Guren replied. "Oh, I thought you'd want to know, there's several Guardians convening in the courtyard."

"Ha! They must have found my little video," Toland laughed.

"Do you want me to activate the turrets?"

"No need," Toland said, pocketing his journal. "They have inquisitive intentions. If they wanted us dead, they'd have already attacked."

"They want to hear the plan from the source?" Guren asked, floating beside his master.

"Yes. And I will tell them."

"I meant Eriana."

"Even so," Toland shrugged. "I'll smile and welcome them in. Maybe got more to this little crusade of hers."

"Fair point. Just…"

"Yes?" Toland asked.

Guren frowned. "Please…don't smile."

"Why not? A smile hides the true intention of teeth."

"Yyyyyes…" Guren agreed with an uncertain nod. "But not yours."

A knock on the door alerted the rest of the team. Before there was a chance to move, Toland motioned them all to sit down. "I'll get it," he said, turning the knob as he smiled at the team. "I'm sure it will be one of those door to door salespeople! I could do with a new…"

Upon opening the door, Toland was met with several cocked guns and the furious glare of Aunor. Toland let off a sheepish chuckle. "Well hello, my dear."

Before Aunor good open her mouth the door slammed shut. Toland turned to face the team. "New plan! Barricade the…"

A hail of bullets interrupted the man as they ricocheted through the door and tore through Toland's chest. "Oh, for god's sake!" Toland shouted in annoyance as his body convulsed. "I just had this robe washed!"

"What the hell is going on?!" Eriana demanded, storming in while the rest of Noble took cover from the gunfire. "Who's shooting at us?!"

"A few Praxic fellows that have a grudge against little old me," Toland said dismissively while Vell pulled a bulky chest of drawers as a barricade.

Eriana watched while Omar and Eris helped secure the barricade, exasperated. "Why?!"

Toland shrugged. "Why not?"

The gunfire stopped as quickly as it started. Then a woman's voice spoke.

"Toland the Shattered!"

"A-Aunor…?" Eriana gasped.

"You are under arrest for multiple charges, including but not limited to bribery, manipulation, theft, heresy, racketeering, multiple overdue books from the Fu'an Library, and experimentation with the Darkness! Your sentence is immolation by Praxic Fire!"

Fireteam Noble turned to Toland, who shrugged. "It's a fair cop."

"Aunor, stop firing, right now!" Eriana shouted.

There was a pause then. "…Eriana? What on earth are you doing?"

"Aunor, stand down. Please, we can talk this out."

With Aunor distracted Eris ran to Toland. The old Warlock was in the middle of upturning the table. He pointed to the rug beneath it before motioning at Omar and Vell to sweep any supplies they needed.

Eris dragged the rug away, revealing an old, rusted manhole cover. "What…why is this here?"

"The City was built over where the Traveller made its final stand, correct? It's not too much of a stretch to think that there was some sort of civilisation here prior to that event." He stood, scanning the room. "Right, where's the other one?"

Eriana on the other hand had begun to rapidly dismantle the barricade, frantically trying to calm Aunor down.

"You had every chance to talk to me and you didn't!" Aunor screamed. "And now you're siding with TOLAND?!"

"You're only scared of him because you don't understand what he knows!" Eriana shouted back. "He can help us beat Crota! We can fix this! I can fix this!"

"Fix what?! What is there to fix?"

Silence.

Eriana swallowed, feeling the beat of her artificial pulse in her head. "Aunor," she said solemnly. "I'm going to unlock the door."

The Exo slowly unlatched the chain and opened the door and was immediately met with a blisteringly hot solar grenade. Eriana jumped back, holding her injured arm as she unholstered the Fighting Lion. Aunor moved in, a revolver in her hand and flanked by a fireteam of six.

"The five of you will be spared if you comply," Aunor said, eying Toland with cautious. "That is your one warning."

"A-Aunor…please," Eriana said quietly. "We can talk this out."

"My friends call me Aunor," she said grimly, taking aim. "To you, its Officer Mahal."

Eriana took aim as well. Before either could make a move, an ethereal swoosh followed by the hiss of a smoke bomb could be heard. The bomb exploded, stunning the Warlocks, while the faint outline of a Nightstalker moved between them, disarming and detaining them in the process until Aunor was the only one left standing.

The Praxic Warlock screamed, turning to the sound of footsteps and firing. The Hunter dodged, her cloaking breaking to reveal Sai. The Nightstalker threw down a Voidwall grenade before she grabbed Eriana's wrist and pulling her to the rest of the team as they headed down the manhole.

"Thank you, Other One," Toland said condescendingly "It least someone knows the official procedure."

Sai rolled her eyes and nodded for Eriana to go down before jumping down herself. Toland followed, only to be shoved aside by a furious Eriana.

"Oh, don't tell me you're wanting to pick a fight with her, Ethel!" he groaned.

Eriana shot him a glare and angrily welded the manhole cover shut with her Light, leaving an uneasy Noble below her.


NEXT TIME: Kayla and Athena go to ground to do battle with Sardon while Crota thinks back to his youth in Chapter 2-8:- Burdened