A/N: So happy my boi Variks is back in Beyond Light, sure, there's the usual good, bad, and ugly from Bungie's release but so long as you have fun who cares, right? Great campaign. And to respond to the comment about the 'Romance' tag, just gotta wait and see, I've been building toward it since Beyond Darkness, hehehe. Enjoy~!
Chapter 10 - Of Wolves and Kings
Act VII - House of Wolves
[On-Route to Cosmodrome]
The hum of thrusters and the strobe of stars passed by while myself and my team returned to Earth to once again keep Skolas further from his goal. But the last House on his list was one even I've never seen much of, the House of Kings.
"I spent a long time in the wilderness outside the walls," Ghost broke the silence between us. "I've mentioned it before. Red marked the House of Devils Fallen always tracking my movements," Then he went silent a moment. "The entire time I was out there, I think I saw one member of the House of Kings. Just sitting on a wall, scanning the horizon. Never even gave me a second glance."
"So that's what we're dealing with? I mean, yeah, we've fought them before but those were just infantry." I added, then our comms blared once we broke back into Earth's atmosphere, Petra clearing her throat
~The House of Kings is unique among the Fallen. They are secretive, dangerous. They hide in the shadow of the Cosmodrome... waiting... plotting. If Skolas can bring the House of Kings under his banner, we're all in trouble. I'm game # £*&... damn. I'm getting a lot of interference down there. Hold tight, Guardians~ That wasn't good
~I have a bad feeling I know what's going on~ Morbin murmured but said nothing more as we came down hard into the Grottos, gunfire flashing over the hills by an old Hive Seeder, oh great, the Hive again
Touching down on the shores between an old road, the static started to drill into my comms further, and Petra's voice broke apart as she came through after I smacked my helmet off the side of the cliff. Zane just threw his helmet for Rika to toss into storage, allowing his hair freedom from the visor. Morbin did the same though he just crushed his helmet casually, tossing it into the ocean below, eyes flattened with discomfort.
"Here, Ghost," I handed him my helmet while I plucked the earpiece and adjusted it manually onto my ear, there was static but now it wasn't affecting my vision. "This interference is strong, it messed with my HUD."
"Same." The boys agreed
~Guardian... *heavy static* I'm '%^£"*. Try to find the source of the inter\?&%$ and stop it~ Petra's voice was then smothered in static, and so we followed the road toward the fighting, another call entering my ear without a single ping of white noise
Variks' voice came through clear of static, ~Skolas jamming signals with High Servitors. Reef War Tactic...*snarls* advanced warfare. May fool Petra. Does not fool me. I shall be your guide~ He sounded pleased by his effort, and I was glad we had a second pair of eyes again
"Glad to have you here, Variks." Zane complimented as we hopped off our Sparrows to find the Hive, or what remained of them on Earth, engaged with the Wolves. Raising Red Death I took down a blue Shank and two Dregs, a body of a Vandal ragdolled from my right, sailing over the battlefield
"Pfft hahaha, what the Hell happened!?" Zane cackled as I smirked slightly, running around a boulder to slit a Dreg's throat, Morbin bringing Judgement down on two Acolytes as Zane continued to giggle, hold a toothy grin as he slapped the hammer back on Imago, the heads of several enemies exploding with ether or chitin
Twisting around the bend I rolled from a Knight's boomer, pushing through the snow cloud with a powerful uppercut of flames, taking its head clean off as the boomer shot again, striking another Knight in the shoulder as it stumbled into Morbin's shotgun, buckshot eviscerating its stomach.
Now the way into the caves via Hive Seeder was clear. When I scanned the entry ahead I turned back. "Alright, let's move." Waving forward we pressed back into the familiar underground
"You look real serious now without your helmet," I blinked, turning back to Zane who had his hands behind his head, watching me happily. "Not in a bad way, just that it's the first I've seen you work in the field without a helmet in a long time, it's cool."
"U-um, thanks," I turned back as I glided over the drop with a faint smile. "Stop getting flustered you've got a mission to complete, Ceres!" Stupid, dumb smile... grah stop it!
Through the Grottos once more, a large scale battle between the Wolves and Hive was raging on. The memory of Sardon flashed in my mind but thankfully the runes and his golden-like chitin were nowhere to be found. In the far end of the caves, guarded by Stealth Vandals was the Wolf Servitor.
~Servitor is source of interference, kill it dead~ Variks's voice at times makes him sound really angry
"My time to shine!" Zane held a smile while twirling into the air, his body wrapped in Arc with a knife in-hand. Diving forward into the fray he swung through the Hive and Fallen dead ahead, arcs of light blue electrifying all that stood in the pool of cave water
I and Morbin took the left. Catching the Hive by surprise as we brought both our shotguns down on the Knight, blowing its back away, the Acolytes turned, only for two right hooks to shatter bones, a wave of elemental force crushing the group with a flash of twilight. We loaded our guns and tapped the barrels of Verdict and Judgement off one another.
Down below a Dreg was sent flying as its body was atomized. Zane spun in a double helix, a torrent of lightning striking the gathering of Fallen below, the once vicious Silent Fang had their cloaks ripped to shreds, their blades scattered to the far reaches of the Grottos as Zane brought the knife down, a ring of Arc disrupting the shield around the High Servitor as it retreated behind the excavation machine above.
"Zane, duck!" He did as I dropped-kicked a Vandal into the wall, Red Death riddling it with holes as I pivoted to my right, dropping a Dreg that leapt from the ledge. Zane pushed against my back, Imago grazing my hair as a bullet flashed across the caves, exploding against a Vandal's mask as Morbin through one into the air for us both to kill
Last was the Servitor, now alone before all three of our guns as we tore the machine apart, scrap clattering around my ankles. "One more for the pile." Morbin chuffed darkly, kicking the remains from his feet
Variks returned momentarily. ~Signal still corrupted. Wolves must have second Servitor. Push forward... *growl* find the source~
"On it," I replied, pulling my fingers from my ear as I brushed the locks from my hair to inspect the Grottos solemnly. The Hive left an impression on me, Sardon was... a challenge, and so is Skolas, guess I just feel that similarity
"Ceres?" Zane's brow was raised, but I smiled
"Nothing, just a crazy memory, come on." I jogged forward through the circular tunnel leading to the entrance to the Devils Lair, the fight could be heard even all the way down here
~I was House Judgement scribe to House Wolves, as you know. Was brought before Skolas now Kell of Wolves, told to stand still as he cut off my arms. Even before then, I could hardly stomach his hate~ So he was docked, and by Skolas himself... that's. I kept my expression neutral, but one look in my eyes told you how much scorn was festering there
In the time I've known Variks, his views of us are understandable, had the roles been reversed I would have mild conflictions in working with Guardians. The Traveler tried to run, from them and almost from us, but talking with Variks, learning about his people has been amazing. I did wonder about his arms, I know he was docked but by Skolas himself? That felt far worse given Skolas' ferocity toward those that displeased him.
~It... is good to work with you - with Petra. All that are Fallen are not lost... yes?~ Variks asked curiously, and I felt he was talking to me specifically
"You kidding? You're awesome," Zane, ever the optimist replied, the three of us stepping out from under a train cart as Hive battled the Wolves and Kings? Huh, the enemy of my enemy I guess
"You are... different, then most ~YOU ARE VERY FUNNY~, sure, what he said." Even Morbin was warming up to Variks. My smug smile was then pressed against his hand. "Don't you start, Red."
I pried him off my face as I poked at his mechanical jaw. "Admit it, Silvis and Variks are making you second-guess your hatred of Fallen?"
He just grumbled and moved on, myself and Zane shoulder-to-shoulder with deadpan expressions. "Tsundere."
Pushing forward, the Hive were standing their ground against both Houses, while outnumbered, this turf war would only force the Devils to act also if we didn't interfere.
Instinct kicked in and with it, I threw out a CLG that landed right in the middle between three Acolytes. Burning them to ashes as Morbin flew through the flames, backhanding the Knight with Judgement while tossing his own grenade to the Fallen. I moved in with a few bursts, regaining my shield and clearing the path through the Hive for Zane and his Quckfang. There were two Vandals in the far back and a few Acolytes up front, but a horizontal slash followed closely by a powerful vertical laceration tore through the enemy.
Zane deflecting bullets as he drew closer to the snipers, startling them as I popped their heads with only single bursts, reloading while Morbin cleaned out the remaining Kings, their Captain in particular by shoving Judgment up against its chin, its knife doing very little to phase the scary Exo. "I think you might be out of a job, Ghost." I giggled, patting Red Death
"Oh please, even you can't deny how boring it would be without me to talk to." Ghost held a good counter-argument. So with a sigh, I lowered the rifle
~Signal close. Can you see it?~
"Up ahead!" Heading through the Refinery, at the end of the hallway were the Wolves and their High Servitor. Pulling out Zenobia I smirked as I heard the lock-on beep. "Boop." The rocket burst from the tube, screaming past the Fallen as the Servitor was decimated in a large, electrified explosion, the cluster bombs tossing the Fallen aside for two CLG to split upon contact with the ground, the seeker mines chasing and ending the lives of the surviving Fallen
"Im'ma jinx it, but, that was painfully easy." Zane admired our work, myself blowing out the smoke leaking from the rocket launcher. And with that, the static cleared with Petra back on the line happily
~Excellent! Whatever you did your signal's coming through loud and clear now. Variks, are you with us?~
The Elder Fallen joined the same frequency. ~Yes-yes, I am here *growl*. Kings will see Wolf pack as well. They will not be pleased~ He sounded almost amused by that
"Bet they let the Wolves in just to kill them," Morbin remarked darkly, Zane holding his hand out
"I'll take that bet." They shook on it as I put a hand on my forehead, shaking it
"Hunters and their betting..."
Petra then became intrigued. ~The Wolves are approaching an old command center beyond the Rocketyard...~ She gasped. ~That must be where the Kings are hidden!~
"Wait, seriously?" I paused down the stairway, pointing to the building, then to the entry to the Devils Lair. "You mean to tell me all this time no one decided to check next door?" My eyes narrowed at Zane, himself frozen like a deer in headlights
"I-I was only out on Patrols in the Cosmodrome! I never even knew where the Devils were stationed - Please don't hurt me!" He begged with his hands together.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I just stomped up the hill, ignoring the Hive in the basin below as I contemplated the stupidity of the situation. "Right here... it was right here and no one knew? No... no that's just... how? I just," I sighed through my nose. "Variks, before I have an aneurysm, should we be worried about the Kings working with the Wolves if we arrive?"
The large, derelict command station was empty, no guards, no banners, while I can understand no one would think twice to look here for Fallen, there's been numerous patrols through the Rocketyard so outright avoiding this place is impossible.
~You are here to deny Skolas House Kings. They will not know. And they would not care. They will try to kill you. Kill them back~ Was Variks' simplistic answer, then stated matter-of-factly ~If Kings detected House Wolves before attack, Skolas may have met his match~
"How so? He took over Winter because no one was there to stop him, he failed with the Devils because we interfered, and given the time between us arriving to the Wolves they've clearly held the Rocketyard long enough to have a little chat. So, what makes you certain they haven't formed an alliance?" Morbin's cynical inquiry was troubling, we saw them working together against the Hive, how do we know that wasn't after an agreement was made?
~Do not think lightly of Kings. Name comes from old world, from before the Whirlwind. Most Houses carry their name for pride or memory. Kings carry their name because... is what they are~
[Old Russia | Cosmodrome | King's Watch]
[No POV]
As an unseen battle raged inside of the House of Kings' stronghold, the once active control station was in ruins, the large observation window broken and dirty, panels and monitors rusted and buried by earth and moss. Wires strung like webbing across the steel braces above, hoisting the golden banners of Kings, a subtle breeze keeping them aloft.
Paskin and Vekis, the House of Kings Barons stood before the central holographic display of the Great Machine, discussing the Wolves' intrusion and operations across the system, their Baron, Yavek eager to ahold the honor his Kell had blessed him with. Foolishly unaware of the Kings' true intentions.
"Skolas wishes for our kind's prosperity, the Great Machine was taken from us, why does humanity get to survive their own extinction while we rot and decay?" Yavek snarled, fist balled up on the desk. "Even now those 'Light-Bearers' come for us, slaughtering us like a game inside these rusted remains we call 'home'."
Paskin raised a hand to calm the Wolf. "Craask's motive remains clear, the Great Machine has not declared this to be so," He leaned in calm and sternly. "We will expend no Eliksni toward unity based on fanatical bias claims."
This angered Yavek, and Vekis knew what his fellow Baron was trying to do. With a click in his throat, he spoke up. "We will keep in mind your Kell's request, but only when the Great Machine deems him the Kell of Kells will we act," Then he put his hand forward. "But make no remark of weakness or cowardice, we are House Kings, and hollow threats are as potent as any gun."
[Ceres' POV]
"Heads up!" Zane leapt high into the air, snap-kicking Quickfang like an arrow through two Tracer Shanks that flew around the corner, the blade piercing the concrete while he landed, sprinting backward from the many barrages of gunfire
He spun out from the pillar, flicking his sword's posture to deflect bullets, leveling Imago with his eye to drop the Dregs in a heartbeat, spinning the handcannon cockily, his skill and precision executed unbelievably fast. I think it was more down to Cayde's teachings, he could anticipate the Fallen because he's learned to act as they do. He can act naive but Zane's sharp eye was undeniable.
Sliding past the wall I laid down suppressing fire, forcing the Fallen back for Morbin to stomp up the steps, cracking the skulls of two Vandals together before unloading two rounds of slugs into their Captain. Golden Shanks flew in from a decimated set of doors, firing upon the Exo while I shot them down immediately. Imago ringing next to me as Zane gunned down the reinforcements from behind us, the Wolves blades falling short of our legs by inches, their cloaks flickering.
"Only thing left is the observation room," Morbin waved, pointing down the hallway. "Seems were ~MPMFFH!~" Morbin shut his own trap, keeping the Barons oblivious to our arrival
Three Barons at once? Might be a difficult fight ahead, and sure, the Kings lesser ranks weren't too difficult, but I doubt they'd just allow anyone to become their Barons. And the Wolf Baron, if he's anything like Drevis, he's fanatical and violent.
Sitting back on the mounds of rubble I put a hand to my chin. "Okay, we've got three Barons and three of us, that's not counting reinforcements, we shouldn't have too much issue," My brow creased. "But the Kings are dangerous, and that Wolf is more than likely as crazy as the rest, hrm..."
"Hold up, Hold up, Hold up," Zane pushed us back, putting his hands on his chest. "No need to get all tactician, Titan Lady. I got this, trust me." I appreciated the confidence but...
"There are three Barons in that room," Morbin glanced back with a thumbs up. "Do it." He wasn't helping
"No, wait, what are you planning-" He put his finger to my lips, leaving me speechless at his Cayde-like confidence
"Relax, boss, I'm a Hunter, trained my Cayde, it's..." He looked back, fingers scratching at Imago in his holster. "...Like I was made for this."
"To die, yes," Morbin remarked, but Zane slowly stepped forward, and while I wanted to yell or something, it might end up drawing all guns on him the second I would. Shutting my mouth I sat back and watched the idiot wander into the command station
"Idiot..." Don't die.
[No POV]
Their discussion had reached a conclusion, and while this so-called 'Kell of Kells' was of Rain's prophecy, the Barons knew their Kell would not care unless the Great Machine spoke of it herself. The Wolves were fools to traverse into their domain, even that Vandal from the Devils wasn't so foolish as to risk communing with their House inside their own territory.
"Hey, there fellow pirates!" Zane waved to the three Barons, their weapons drawn on the Hunter the second he stepped in, but he held his hands high, eyes wide with a friendly smile. "Hey now, just passing through! Come on, Kings, I know you hate the Wolves as much as me, compromise!"
No weapon faltered, but Yavek snarled at Zane, stepping forward with a roar. Zane stopped, leaning back to avoid the awful breath coming from the Baron. He coughed, patting the Wolf's shoulder. "Yikes, breath mint buddy. Look, we hate each other, right?" A split second and Zane drew two Handcannons, Imago to his right, poised to Yavek's head, the left, stolen from his sister, Better Devils, prodding toward Paskin. "So let's cut right to the nitty-gritty, eh?"
The Kings brought their weapons to bear on the Wolf and Hunter, its own Arc pistols drawn, one to a King the other to the Hunter, a Hive Servitor watching with a few noises to the Kings. The air was thickened to the point a bullet may not pass through, all fingers twitching, grazing triggers eagerly.
"Let's settle this here and now, the floating eye can count us down, sound fair?" Zane hopped across the rusted panels, stepping down beside the Servitor. "Honorable duel between scumbags and murderers, right?"
The first to nod was Paskin, who then eyed his companion, Vekis growled with anticipation, adjusting his own pistols carefully. Yavek howled, stepping forward to the disrespectful Fallen and the treacherous Hunter behind the loss of their High Servitors.
Titan and Warlock afar observed with intense focus, Ceres biting her nails anxiously before putting them down on her lap, wanting to jump him and help, but she trusted Zane with her life, he could do it.
No one dared to fire first, whoever did would ultimately decide the fate of the others. The Servitor watched, then beeped once, hollow and low. Fingers moved to triggers, hammers cocked back. Another beep, and muscles twitched and tensed, sweat on their brows as their hearts were steadied, minds blank.
There was a sharp howl through a crack in the window behind them, and a final beep from the Servitor ultimately decided the lives placed on the ends of muzzles. Fingers pulled back, and a flash from many points broke the eerie silence like a crash of thunder.
*BLAM!*
Bodies and weapons fell still, the Servitor analyzed the blood split, staining floors, and banner alike. Metal was broken and flesh was ruptured in a heartbeat. The clatter of bodies drummed in the Guardians ears afar, Ceres' heart jumped from her throat to her stomach, Morbin's own hand twitched to Judgement laid to his side.
The Servitor turned, perplexed, and unable to make any valid logic at the sight of two barrels pressed to its glowing eye. Three dead Barons and an unscathed Hunter were all it could see before a bright flash terminated its programming, with a puff from Zane's lips to blow out the traces of smoke from both handcannons.
"Hah... Maximum effort." He whispered, placing both guns back in their holsters as the duo approached him, observing the Barons, bullets placed in their necks, not a single Arc burn on their armor. They had fired, but those attacks missed by a country mile. "Told ya, trust me."
"B-But how... h-how did..." Ceres could barely form a proper sentence, unable to figure out what occurred in a literal wrinkle in time
"There's is no conceivable way you killed three Barons in a millisecond," Morbin demanded to understand, so Zane glanced at the bodies, then shrugged
"Guess I moved faster than a nanosecond then, cool right?" That alone made their jaws drop at the simplicity of his words, Rika bobbing her shell
"Don't underestimate my Hunter ever again, haha..." She looked down with a slanted shell. "I also have no idea how he did that..."
"And no one ever will! Trade secret I will take to my grave!" Zane declared, sitting atop the staircase behind him. "Petra, we're done!"
~I... well, amazing work all around. The Wolves are dead. And the Kings - well, they're still a danger to the City, but at least they don't work for Skolas~ Petra summed up neatly, smiling with relief over Zane's risky but impressive actions. ~I call that a win. Come on back Guardians~
A solid punch slammed into Zane's arm, Ceres fuming. "Next time... explain your plan," She seethed between her teeth, bringing her hand down as Zane recoiled in fright, but found the hand placed firmly on his shoulder. "That... was too close, again." Again, unpleasant memories surfaced
"Hehe... sorry, boss, I promise to explain next time." He held out a peace sign, Morbin turning away with a roll of his head
"Will those two get a room already...?" He glanced at Deus who too shook his shell
"¯\_(ツ)_/¯" Exactly what Morbin was thinking
To Be Continued...
I don't like writing rinse and repeat skirmishes, so here's a different take, a showdown between Barons and a Hunter. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next chapter Guardians!
Next Chapter: The Heart of the Matter
With tension rising as the search for Skolas continues, Ceres takes this time off to reflect on a number of thoughts that have clouded her mind. Someone else also has the same idea.