The Shores of Time
Sun beating down, wind whipping red sand, Morik approached his target. As he crested the dune, he saw it for at least the hundredth time on his journey of ups and downs. Freehold City, in its ruined glory.
"I hope you're right about this…" came his Ghost's voice.
Ten bullets to spare in the clip and the last Goblin in the buried room fell. Morik manifested his Ghost, sending it to the conflux.
"Direct the gate to The Sea of Time," commanded Morik.
"The… What?"
"The conflux will respond. Do it."
His Ghost spun to face the glowing filaments, accessing the Vex network and requesting passage to Morik's destination.
"Are you sure about this? Why won't you explain anything to me?"
"You are a fragment, yes? You cannot know until my task is complete."
"Of the Traveler? I am, that's true, but you make it sound like the Traveler would disapprove."
"Disapprove it might, of my methods at least, but there are questions planted in me I must find the answers to, and friends I cannot abandon at any cost. We will complete both objectives in one move, by returning to where they were lost and where these seeds took root."
Though the Ghost said nothing, it could tell Morik was in distress. Pained. He had changed, or was changing, and his Ghost couldn't tell if it was for the better or worse. Perhaps even Morik didn't know, it wondered. The Vex portal glowed with life as it directed, and it returned to Morik.
"I don't know where this leads, but it's opened to The Sea of Time as you asked."
"Then it doesn't matter where it leads. We must go."
Morik faced the portal, his auto-rifle limp at his side. The portal's glow cast his shadow long over the room. His Ghost alone knew his hesitation. Morik stepped forward, into the portal, into the glow, and far, far away.
Waves on a beach were the first sounds Morik heard. He emerged from the portal on the surface of a moon, the host planet clearly visible above the rust red sky and brown clouds. The ground was Vex metal, colored the tan of their bodies. It was either just after sunrise or just before sunset, with the local star low on the horizon. Before Morik, off a sheer edge, was an ocean of small blocks of what appeared to be water. Each block could fit easily in his palm, and they flowed in waves like real water, but the water was black with white foam where the surf broke. The edge of the ground only allowed the surf to break without splashing over, and the waves were gentle. Morik could have stood waist high in the water, for when the waves pulled back to ebb and flow, he could see the gently sloping metal floor beneath the water.
"It goes without saying," his Ghost began, "that this is unlike anything I've ever seen or heard of."
"They are out there," said Morik, facing The Sea, his weapon still down.
"How can you be sure?"
"It is where I lost them. We must find passage."
"I assume you have as bad a feeling about going for a dip as I do?"
Morik didn't answer, only stowed his auto-rifle and started following The Shore.
"Begin long range mapping. General landmarks are what I need, not detail. Clean it enough for rough distance and size, but speed and scope is your focus."
His Ghost went to work right away.
Morik continued purposefully along The Shore, The Sea to his left, gently curving further left, the local star to his right. A sea breeze caused his Mark to flutter from time to time, which Morik took to mean it was around sunset. In silence, he faded into the distance, the gate through which he had come vanishing from sight below the horizon…
"These stars don't add up right. Just how far did we go…?"
"You miss the scene for its meaning. Our situation is dire, surely…"
Morik looked up slightly, seeing the planet and stars in the sky.
"... But there is beauty to be found, even here."
"I didn't think you cared."
"I was simply never in a position to mention I did."
A pause.
"I've tried fixing your armor, and I was able to handle everything but that cut on your hand. My systems pass right over it, like it's supposed to be there. You're not losing ether, either. In fact, I've noticed a subroutine of mine passively creating ether from the air, something I didn't know was possible until I found myself doing it. Further, your Light is far stronger than it should be, something I noticed right away. I know you're worried about telling me everything, but can you at least tell me how we got to this point?"
Morik recounted as best he could his interaction with Osiris and his followers, Viksis' death, his and Ramiks' escape from Mercury, their warp to unknown space, meeting Saint-14, and up to his plunge into The Sea of Time.
"This is the same Sea? You said it was a hole in an invisible construct."
"It was. The Sea of Time is not bound in ways I understand, but I know that space itself is no object. The Vex are able to create an opening to it anywhere, small or large, but doing so is a risk to them. There is knowledge of unspeakable things within. I think it is their shared mind."
"I have grimoire records of a place called 'The Shores of Time,' from Pujari, a Warlock. It's also a place on Venus used for Crucible matches. Why would the Vex portal bring us out here, so far away, and not to the nearest Sea?"
"Because this is where they wished me to be. Read to me of Pujari."
"Pujari has many transcripts. There are fifteen in the grimoire, but I don't think it's a complete entry. There's also a separate account of Pujari's vision."
"The vision first."
The Ghost read it and Morik stopped walking. His Ghost paused, but he demanded it continue where it left off. It was an exact recount of his experience within the Sea himself. Did Pujari have a vision of him? Or did Morik see Pujari's vision? Did it happen to them both? Neither? Surely it happened to Morik, for there was the cut on his hand to prove it, just as Pujari described. And Pujari made it sound as if, just like Morik, the wound would not heal. Morik was silent and still too long and his Ghost spoke again.
"Are you ok? Did that change anything? Or remind you of something?"
"It changes nothing. I'm sorry, but I cannot say. Please read the transcripts."
"Are you sure?"
"Either that or we walk in silence to our destination. I leave it to you."
His Ghost began to read.
A/N *1 for music recommendation
In the dark of night, in the distance, Morik spied a lump on The Shore. He approached over time, his Ghost reading Pujari's Transcript #15. It paused as they drew close to the figure. It was Ramiks, barely halfway out of the water, appearing as if he'd dragged himself from the water and fallen unconscious the moment he was sure he wouldn't be washed away. Without any worry, Morik approached and checked to make sure he was alive. Sensing his light, feeling his pulse, Morik slung his Archon over his shoulder and continued ahead. His Ghost finished reading Transcript #15 and he walked in silence.
Dawn broke and still he walked, finally coming within sight of something jutting from The Shore into The Sea. It was another hour before he reached it. It was a bridge that extended straight out from the curving Shore of Time, leading out to a circular platform. It was wide enough for two Kell to pass without bumping shoulders, but just barely. Morik started out onto the bridge, his steps lighting the construct under his feet in dim pulses of red. As he walked, as the water around the bridge grew deeper further from The Shore, independant platforms rose out of The Sea, slumbering humanoid figures on each one, with just enough room to stand. Morik reached the platform at the end of the bridge. Like the moon reflecting off a lake, a white light began to glow on the water before him. The small circle grew larger until it was about the size of the platform Morik stood on, with enough room for a squad of Vex or six Guardians. Morik heard it whisper.
"Osiris knows not what he has done. He thinks himself our master, but he is our pawn. By our work, by his hand, you were delivered to us. You will face our test as those before you."
Morik looked back at the statues, suddenly vaguely Guardian-shaped in his mind.
"What is it?" asked his Ghost. "Is the light there where they'll appear?"
"No. Be quiet for a moment."
The whispers continued.
"You have seen our truths. You have violated our flesh and silenced our gods and our minds. You have lived on our soil, and your heart has been pierced by our assault. Now we test your soul. If you fail, we will receive your body."
With no gap after the end of the last word, a platform rose out of the light on the water. A humanoid figure stood on it, wearing modified versions of Morik's armor. It was clearly a Titan, clearly modeled after Morik. It raised its limp head and spoke aloud.
"Tell me," it said, "Have you ever wanted to be human? Have you ever grown tired of the doubt you receive, despite doing so much to help?"
"I'm not here for mind games," said Morik.
"No mind games. An honest question." It spoke with two voices combined the second time, one normal, one whispering.
"It has crossed my mind, what it would be like. How they live with two eyes and two arms, their courage to stand against races so much larger and powerfully built. Curiosity, of course, is known to me."
"Have you doubted your Traveler?" Three voices now, two whispering.
"I have."
"Do you still?" Four, three whispering. Every time it spoke, another whisper joined. What was now a conversing figure was slowly turning into a droning crowd in one body.
"My doubt is reserved for moments of surprise or fatigued weakness. No, right now, I do not."
"And what of the cut on your hand?"
Morik raised his left hand, Ramiks on his left shoulder shifting. It leaked ether faintly in the early morning light.
"Proof that I have been into your Sea of Time and returned."
"And your Mark?"
"My House, founded by myself and Ramiks, to welcome Fallen who would turn to the Light."
"Turn from the Darkness?"
"Eliksni are not 'minions.'"
"So they seek only the Great Machine?"
"I am proof the Traveler can sustain Eliksni."
"Now you are, that we showed your Ghost its nature."
Morik did not respond.
"Do you wonder why I appear as human, not your mirror?"
"Yes."
"Did you see those who came before you?"
"Yes."
"You are the last. You noticed?"
"Yes."
"Will you decorate our Sea?"
"No. I will reclaim my friends and leave this place."
"And if we refuse?"
"I will dry your Sea."
The figure tilted its head at the absurdity of the statement.
"Release your Archon. You must stand alone before us."
Morik turned and placed Ramiks on the bridge behind him, just off the platform.
"Do you stand alone before us?"
"No. The Traveler is with me."
"You are correct. By your Ghost does its reach extend even here. But do you stand alone before us?"
"No. My Ghost is with me."
"You are a dead thing, made by a dead power in the shape of the dead. Do you stand alone before us?"
"Yes…"
"What is your one wish?"
"To save my friends."
"What is your one wish?"
"... To be Kell of Light."
"What is your one wish?"
"... To lead Eliksni beneath the Traveler once more. All Eliksni."
"You wish to be Kell of Kells?"
"I pay no attention to such things."
"You wish to be Kell of Kells?"
"... Yes."
"Who are you?"
"I am Morik, Kell of Light."
"Who are you?"
"I am Morik, Once-Devil. The Traitor."
"Who are you?"
"I am Morik."
"Who are you?"
"..."
"You must answer with the truth."
"I am Morik."
"Thus you choose the truth. Do you seek truth?"
"I seek simplicity. Knowledge of truths leads away from that."
"Are you simple?"
"I aim to be."
"Are you simple?"
"At heart, no."
"If you fight me, will you win?"
"Yes."
"You must answer with the truth."
Morik flexed his fingers, balling his fists. Arc Light pulsed over him.
"Thus you choose the truth."
A/N *2 for music recommendation
Morik raised his arms, Fist of Havoc his opening move. His Light washed over Ramiks and the humanoid Morik on the platform, affecting neither. His clone stepped in and kicked him in the chin, caught his head as it rose and flipped him bodily over to the other platform. It was smaller than him, but just as strong. Morik stood quickly and attacked again, swinging both his right arms in hooks. His clone jumped and punched him in the head, causing him to stumble. The clone landed and fired a kick for Morik's chest. Morik shifted to the side to avoid being kicked over the edge and into the water. He grabbed the clone's leg and yanked, punching with his other set of arms. The blows connected and he slammed the clone down on the platform, swinging it over his head like a hammer. He moved to stomp and found only metal with his boot, ether scattering around his foot from his clone blinking away. On reflex, Morik swung his left arms up, looking and deflecting another kick and throwing his clone off balance. Morik spun, Stormfist on his right arms, and punched the clone down the bridge. It tumbled, flipped, gained its feet and sprinted at Morik with all his own speed.
Morik stepped over Ramiks, onto the bridge. His clone lowered its shoulder, a crack like thunder signalling its use of Shoulder Charge. Morik crossed his arms in front of his chest and face, blocking the hit. Arc Light blew past him and he uncrossed his arms with force, blowing back his clone and kicking for its ribs. The clone fell over on purpose, going under the kick, then popping up and throwing a U punch. Left fist palm down, into Morik's collarbone, right fist palm up into Morik's stomach. Morik was blown off his feet sliding over the metal bridge almost to Ramiks. His clone was quick on the assault, but Morik blinked behind it. He came out of the ether to find his clone already swinging a backfist at him. Morik blocked and punched his clone in the ribs and the side of the head. Now it was his clone that flew, out onto the platforms again. Morik ran forward, stepping over Ramiks again. Now his clone used Fist of Havoc, so Morik jumped with all his might, flipping over his clone and landing on the platform it had appeared on.
A/N *3 for music recommendation
They faced each other, battle ready. His clone bent, without looking, seized Ramiks' arm, and threw him, past Morik, into The Sea. Morik leaned in, grabbed his clone, and dove after Ramiks without a second thought. His clone broke his grip as they broke the surface of the water. This time it was like there was no water at all. They fell together, lit as if by another ray of light, trading blows heedless of gravity. Falling head-first, Morik punched. His clone slowed, as if to duck the blow, punching him in the stomach. Morik doubled over, but grabbed its head, slamming their helmets together. The clone's helmet cracked from the impact, but it reached out and gripped Morik's throat. Morik threw his arms up, breaking his clone's grip. As his own arms passed before his eyes, his clone blinked behind him and attacked. Morik spun and held up his arms to deflect the blows as he did. He swung at his clone before a sickening switch in orientation. He and his clone flipped over suddenly, both off balance. Ramiks flew past them, and they rocketed to the surface of The Sea. As if from a cannon, the three bodies flew from the water, back onto the platforms. Morik landed heavily, bending his knees and putting his hands on the ground. His clone rolled, spun, and sprinted at him.
The clone blinked again, no need to conserve ether and Morik spun to meet its assault. Now Morik blinked as well, and suddenly their fight was one of prediction and clever positioning. The heads of the statues turned to watch, not the only witnesses. After a moment, the platform Morik's clone had appeared on shook and began to sink. Morik came out of his next blink to kick Ramiks off the platform and back to the bridge, but was then too slow to get away himself. In his last moment above the water, he saw four Guardians running down the bridge. The platform plunged into the Sea of Time with Morik and his clone on it. Morik turned to face his clone, which was now waiting for him, arms down.
"You saw your friends?"
"They were coming down the bridge. The statues were watching us as well."
"We finish this."
"I will finish this."
"You fear me?"
"I fear failure will be permanent."
It responded once more, the droning whispers gone from its voice.
"Then you fear death?"
"But do not let fear stay my hand."
Arc Light coursed over himself and his clone. They punched, Stormfist to Stormfist. Then Morik's lower arm connected with his clone's chest, cracking its armor. The clone flinched, seemingly in pain, and Morik pressed the attack. He bent, grabbing his clone by the ribs by leaning over top of it. When he lifted, his arms were positioned so his clone would be flipped upside down. Morik raised his clone high, squeezing as hard as he could to keep a grip, and slammed his clone onto the platform head-first, combined with Fist of Havoc and an earsplitting roar. In a flash, he and his clone were on the other platform, out of the water. He let go and it went limp, its head stuck in the metal, in a dent it had made.
A/N *4 for music recommendation
"Morik!" called out Soren. They were all approaching, Ramiks waking up.
Morik drew his auto-rifle and aimed past Soren. "Move!"
Soren dropped without hesitation. One of the statues of failed Guardians lept onto the bridge. The large bullets from Morik's Archon-class rifle broke it to pieces, but they were all moving.
"They never were interested in fairness…" muttered Morik to himself. He stowed his auto-rifle, drawing Siegfried Rising for the first time in a long time.
"Everyone off the bridge, behind me. We have our exit."
Morik walked down the bridge, shredding the statues as they tried to attack. Any that remained on their platforms simply waited for him to pass, pretending to be inactive, only for one of the other Guardians to blow them away. When they were nearly off the bridge, the ground shook once, roughly. The Sea of Time began to ebb dramatically, draining away. For a moment it seemed the Sea would vanish, and its true depths were dizzying to behold… Until all the water in the Sea began to form a wave taller than the clouds were high.
"Well… We gave it a good try," said Saint. "I daresay these final hours have been worth it. Better than rotting on that invisible construct."
"You idiot!" said Soren. "You're a Defender!"
"Kid, I haven't touched my Light in longer than I know. I couldn't use the Ward now if I tried."
"Good thing I can," said Enki. He stepped into the midst of his Fireteam, throwing his arms out. Nothing happened.
Ramiks looked at Morik, who stowed his massive gun.
"Kaara, Soren, Enki… Saint," said Morik. "My return to the Tower will reveal so many secrets. This is the first."
He repolarized crossed his arms over his body, and threw his hands out to his sides at forty-five degree angles, lower arms slightly down, upper arms slightly up. His larger Ward of Dawn snapped into place, vibrant purple.
They stood their ground in Morik's pocket dimension, watching the Sea of Time draw close and begin to break, bearing down on them with the force of a thousand thousand waterfalls. Soren closed his eyes, Saint doing the Exo equivalent by disabling visuals, his lights turning off. Enki stood to the fore, Kaara right behind him, wanting nothing to obstruct his view of his possible demise. Ramiks and Morik stood side by side, watching over the other Guardians' heads, all eight combined eyes fixed on the falling "water." The white foam of the wave washed over the Ward, obscuring it from view. With more force than Nature herself, The Sea of Time crashed down around them...
Epilogue
Morik entered the Vanguard Hall before the procession. His armor had been repaired by his Ghost, but not cleaned as per Morik's request long ago. It had scratches from fellow Eliksni and Hive, deformed spots from burns from Vex and Cabal, and a new, permanent cut on the left palm. The end of his Mark was frayed slightly, but the colors were vibrant with the symbol of his House. A black Warlock Bond hugged his upper left bicep. Ramiks, behind him to his left, was in a similar state, but with a black cape and Viksis' Bond on his left bicep. Gravian, behind Morik on his right, wore a black Warlock Bond and a less tattered Mark just like Morik's. She had relinquished the position of Kell the moment Morik returned. Behind them, flanked by Soren and three other Warlocks, to make two to each side, was a floating bearer, with Viksis lying inside. Behind the bearer were Enki and Kaara, and behind them a small crowd of Guardians with the House of Light mixed in. Dreskin and Yviks, once loyal members of Gravian's Fireteam, had been made her Archons, and they remained so, posted on either side of the arched entrance as honor guards.
"Kell of Light," said Ikora Ray, "We welcome you home, and we share in your time of mourning. Viksis was a brilliant addition to our order, and he will be remembered. His foremost transcript has been prepared for his service. We would like you to read it, then, if you are willing."
"Of course. Your rapid preparation of this ceremony does him honor."
The small crowd parted as the Vanguard Commanders rounded the procession, leading it back outside to the balcony of the Tower. Morik now walked at the rearmost, down the stairs. With everyone gathered, he was presented Viksis' transcript, an excerpt on his view of Light. Morik read over the short passage quickly before reading it, grinning to himself in his helmet.
"'... Often, Warlocks drive themselves mad over the questions of the Light and Dark. They seek knowledge, existential and complex in nature. My respect to them, but my pity as well. Good and evil are points of view for many. To the Fallen, we of House Light are traitors, and evil as can be. To Guardians, we prove ourselves anew each day, aspiring to the good they claim to embody. Just as reality is a construct of our minds, so, too, is our good and evil. There will come a day, not long from the day I write this, where these answers will present themselves to us without our needing to seek them at all. We will find, despite all efforts, that the answers were simple and unspeakable. We will find that what is good and what is evil is unrelated to the Light and the Darkness; that, truly, one cannot exist without the other, even within ourselves.'"
Morik paused, lowering the stone to signify his next words were his own.
"Viksis died far from here, in defense of what he believed in. In defense of myself and Ramiks. He was my second Archon, a valuable member of my House and my team, and as close to family as could be. Through his sacrifice, Ramiks first learned these very truths Viksis spoke of. Through his memory, they were made known to myself as well. Viksis is not the first friend I have lost since my awakening, and to my dismay he may not be the last. But I will keep his memory with me, and seek to grant this," said Morik, holding the stone over his head, "his truest wish with my every breath. May he rest within the Light and guide us all."
Morik set the stone on the end of Viksis' bearer, where it fit perfectly. He stood to one side of it, his back to the railing of the balcony. Ramiks stood on the other side and together they lowered their arms to Viksis' head, chest, waist, and knees. Arc Light flowed from Morik, Solar Light from Ramiks, and Viksis lit aflame. The ether his body was steeped with, having lived of it every moment, colored the flame a bluish-white. Morik and Ramiks stepped away and watched their friend, until he was naught but ashes. When they finally raised their eyes, some of the crowd had thinned, and Saint-14 was standing nearby.
"I couldn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes, Morik, but you really have created a respectable addition to the Tower. Just as Viksis said, something I would have once scoffed at, where once there was only Dark, now Light lives too. Your House is proof that those we now share our system with are not all lost, not all evil, and not all mindless minions. It brings gravity to our lives the like of which I hadn't considered before my long stay in the cold and dark. What's more, you and your team saved me from out there, and I've got quite a debt to pay because of that. For now, I think we should all rest… Mourn as well. But someday soon, we need to go after Osiris. This time, I want to go with you. I might have a score to settle, but after what happened to you here, and after all I've seen, I suppose you deserve a shot at him too."
"My thanks for your kind words, Saint," said Morik. "But I must make it a point to come to terms with it all and not bear a grudge. Perhaps once I would have pounded my chest and accepted your offer, but no more. If it is my help you seek, you will surely have it. But I must refuse to share in your hate."
Saint looked Morik over, considering what he'd said.
"I suppose I can respect that. Perhaps once I would have agreed with you. I don't find myself capable of that anymore, though, I'm sorry. Take care of yourself, Guardian."
Saint turned and left, passing by Enki, Kaara, and Soren.
"So, big guy," said Enki, "Now what?"
"I have much to consider, and a good friend to mourn. If you feel ready to resume your work, do not wait for me. When I feel… More composed, I will return to work with you for a time. After that, for different reasons than Saint-14, I must seek and confront Osiris and the Vex Mind. I don't believe I will ever see the end of war… Or the true victory of Light."
"Like Enki said before," said Soren, "We're immortal. We'll figure something out."
"Immortal, yes," said Ramiks, looking back to Viksis' bearer, "But not invincible. Let us go, my Kell. We should deliver Viksis to his final destination."
"Agreed."
Together they moved Viksis' ashes off the balcony, one on either side to direct it through the halls, Viksis' transcript prominently displayed to any who followed: "From The Mind Of A Titan."
終わり
A/N:
*1 Incantation by Shiro Sagisu (Extended by "LegendaryOST" on YouTube)
*2 Cometh The Hour Parte A by Shiro Sagisu
*3 Cometh The Hour Parte B by Shiro Sagisu
*4 Indomitable by Alex Roe
Final arc inspired by the album Lamento by OkameP/Il-Cremonese/Calvi Taro (Tons of stage names, pick one) and, of course, Indomitable Souls by Alex Roe. Both albums are free, the first can be found on VocaDB, the second on Bandcamp. No, I've not been asked to promote them, but they deserve the credit. Music is my muse, after all, and without those two artists this story could not have been. Thanks for sticking around. Hope things didn't get too messy for you... I tried...