Chapter 1: A, remnant if you will.
the light lives in places, in all thing. you can block it, even... try to trap it but the light will find it's way.
Zarus and the rest of fireteam infinity were sitting by the fire at a campsite they found in the EDZ a year ago, just relaxing by the warm flames after a long night of patrol missions and one adventure. They decided to set up camp and go over what they did today. Levin was concerned at first of them resting out in the open, but due to the low activity from the house of dusk, and the leaderless and scattered red legion, Griff was able to convince him to sit down.
The three guardians have been through so much during their second life. They went from being lost souls brought back to this world with no memory of anything. To becoming all inspiring warriors who fought and defeated gods and forged their own path, and became legends. Even though they were teens.
There is Levin the stalwart titan of infinity, defending the wall of his home, and being the shield of his team. using solar light to pass flaming judgment on who would ever dare hurt his city or his fireteam. He had smooth bronze colour hair that was slightly longer on the right side. With having yellow eyes and fair skin but with a slight tan.
Griff, a hunter, quick on his feet and quicker on the draw. Awaiting to strike his foes from the shadows with precision and style, along with his swirling power of void to silence anyone who would take another friend from him. He had short golden smooth hair, with green eyes and fair skin.
And finally Zarus, the leader of the fireteam, a warlock with true will and determination to shield humanity, and wielded the storm blue light of arc to do so. Which earned him his nickname, the tempest of the traveller. He had onyx black hair with blue highlights and his hair was a mix between spiky and smooth. {if I have to simplify it, just picture ruby's hair from V6 but boyish, and a little longer}. He had slightly pale skin. And his eyes were a silver colour with a low blue hue.
Together they are fireteam infinity, they have fought through hell and back, save the people of the city on multiple occasions. And have become legend.
"Well, today was a long day," Griff said.
"You can say that again, with that supplies the city and the vanguard can expand the war effort against driving the red legion off earth. As well as making titan a staging ground against the outer planets and moons," Levin said.
Of course." Zarus started. "the city, the rest of the guardians, and us, we've all come a long way. We went from being a struggling bastion, counting every day it still stands, To becoming a strong army, fighting to take back our world, and guiding us to the golden age once again." Zarus replied.
Griff pause before talking. "Ha, you get pretty deep went you talk."
Zarus made an annoyed sight at this.
"But your right Zarus. We've come a long way, and grown so much." Griff said that made a smile replaced the irritated look on the warlock's face.
A small silence fell around the fire. Until it was broken by Quaren, "so, what do you have planned for tomorrow." he said to both of them, but mainly Zarus.
"Well I was thinking we could look around the city, and after that, I would like to head to io. If that's ok with all of you." Zarus said.
Suddenly, a small construct of light materialized into a physical form next to Zarus. Its body was a sphere with a blue glowing eye at the front and had 8 triangular points attach to its sphere body with two metal covers on the side of his front points.
"I guess that's nice Zarus." a young voice with a slight accent that originated from the once-thriving monarchy of Great Britain, that inline with the name the warlock gave him, 'Edward'.
"I think it will be great looking around the city, as well as io, I would love to learn more about that moon," Levin said.
"I'm down for that." the hunter Responded
Then another construct materialized out to the 4. But this one was different, it had the same shape as Zarus's with the 8 triangular points attached to a spherical core/eye. But this one's colour was purple and grey and had u shaped covers on the top and bottom front points.
"So long as we're doing something cool, I'll do it." said a voice with an accent that sounded like a mixture between Irish and french. Whom the hunter named 'vesper'
"Is there any time where you idiots are not blabbering your egos!" another ghost said into reality, this one was colour red and white and had fins in-between the 4 front points. And unlikely the two before, she was a she, name 'Mara'.
"Hey shut up!" griff and his ghost said at the same time.
"all of you stop." Zarus said. "we've had a wonderful day, don't make it dark at the end. But sometimes, you do get overconfident griff."
"Hay!"
"But, you also need to learn not to get so mad over the simplest of things," Zarus said directing to Quaren's ghost.
"What, you-(sigh)." Mara stopped, knowing she would prove his point.
"Hey, Levin?" Griff asked.
"Yes." the titan replied.
"What time is it. we've been out here for a while now? "The hunter said.
"Hold up." the titan said while transmating something into his hand. It resembles a smartphone, but what differentiates it from the communication devices from before the golden age was that most of the middle was made from glass, more sleeker. And far far ahead in technological advancement.
Levin tapt a part of the glass screen. When he did, a hologram of a digital clock was projected above his device that showed the time. 11:36.
"Oh shoot! we've been out for a while. We should get back to the city." griff said surprised.
"Agreed." both Levin and Zarus said at the same time.
Zarus then grasp a container of water and was about to send the liquid on the fire, until. "I'm afraid I'll have to cut your rest short guardians." said a voice coming from the titan's device.
Levin then prests on the screen of his device again, and a hologram of a man appeared on top of it. He cared armour on his chest, legs, and shoulders, with there being another plate on his left.
"Commander Zavala? What is it, sir?" Levin said surprised and confused at his superior's call.
"Well, I need to start from the beginning to explain this." the awoken commander replied.
" can it be quick, I just want to rest," Griff said unenthusiastically but was ignored.
"Good to see you again Zavala. What has made you call us on this night." the warlock asked sincerely.
The commander cleared his throat before muttering any frays. "2 days ago on Nessus, there were reports of suspicious vex activity. After multiple reports of this, we sent one of Ikora's hidden to the centaur. When she arrived, she saw thousands of vex converging to a single area. She attempted to make her way inside, but by the time she reached the chamber the house of dusk were engaging the stronghold. But as quickly as they came, they were retreating. The agent managed to make her way out of that nightmare thankfully."
"That's unusual. It's not like fallen, let along the house of dusk to abandon a siege in a battle." Zarus said.
"Zarus is right, we know how desperate the house of dusk have been these past months. They would only take a battle if they could win it." Levin asked.
"Well, we believe that claiming territory, was not the house's goal during this skirmish"
The minds of the guardian lit up with intrigue and suspicion.
"What do you mean?" Levin asked.
"After the agent escaped the stronghold, she found were the fallen fled to. She manages to scan one of the skiffs before it took off, and found vex tech aboard it. This can only mean one thing."
"They were stealing vex technology." Zarus realized.
"That's what's been presumed," said Zavala.
"Ok, but what could make the house of dusk sacrifice hundreds of their forces for a couple pieces of vex tech. Shur, the fallen are amazing with machines, but with vex technology they really don't understand them, the only one who did was skolas, but he's gone now."Levin said confused.
"If I would half to guess, probably to sell them to whoever would reward them the most. Most elixney mite have become pirates but they have not forgotten business. It's likely that someone bribed, or gave them a bounty to take whatever those vex minds have created underneath those converted rocks." Zarus said.
"That's a likely assumption," Zavala said.
"Ok, but still what do we have to do with this?" Griff said confused.
"I'm getting to that," Zavala said annoyed. Exactly one hour ago, the same signal scans that were picked up on Nessus were found to be on earth outside the EDZ to the south-west. Your fireteam is currently the only one in the vicinity, and are close enough to be there in time before they leave the area. I understand you wish to rest guardians, but this is an opportunity that we can't lose."
"Very well then, me and my fireteam will attempt to make our way to the signal. If we're in time, were retrieve what vex technology was stolen and returned to the city." Zarus said.
"Good luck guardians." is all the commander said before ending the hollow chat with the fireteam.
Zarus then put the fire to rest. "...alright come on, let's get to them before they have a chance to flee," Zarus said while walking toward a cliff.
Griff and Quaren followed suit, and step to the warlock.
"Let's just make this quick." griff said.
"We will," Zarus assured.
The guardians stepped closer to the edge. Silence engulfed the woodland forest that they stood apart from. Then, the hunter stepped forward to the open air, and aloud gravity to do the rest.
Next, Levin leapt from the cliff he perched himself upon and descended down vertically.
And now with Zarus, He jumped high into the air. He took one last look at the navy sky before following his team into the olive forest below.
to the normal people before the golden age, would believe that these 3 have just killed themselves. Well, that's what they would think from the perspective from looking out to the long stretch of forest. For from the bottom, something was arising to the starry sky.
A large ship rose to the navy filled night, a ship designed to fly to the stars from the grassy terra it was forged upon, designated 'stained shrapnel'. On top of its hull stored an armoured figure clad in bronze and red.
From the bottom of the forest dimly lit by the moon, arose a gift, 'queen of hearts', given by a friend. And a young hunter drape with steel and purple planted his boots on it.
And with those two arose another wonder reaching feet of humanity, engrave 'starling bolt'. Standing upon its hull was a warrior graced with honour and coloured with bright silver and sharpened blue, with hope reflecting from both.
The starships rose from the grass that their landing gear were planted upon, to the dark blue sky dimly lit by the moon and the blazing stars
the three transmated themselves to their respective pilot seats. their engines ignited with a flaming burst, and with it came a shattering of wind, those craft of the city flew off to the land of a once-great age. And maybe, it would be again.
-000-
The three guardians were flying to their destination for what seemed like hours through the starry sky.
"Ug, this is taking forever, we've been flying for hours," Griff said over the radio to the others.
"Griff weave only been in the air for 35 minutes. You need patience." Levin responded.
Griff just made a sigh at this. Not a sigh of annoyance, but a sigh of worry. This made Zarus speak. " it's alright Griff, I'm sure Ellen will be fine. If we are gone longer than expected Ikora will make sure she's ok."
"That is not the only reason why I'm worried. I'm worried about what shell do to us!" Griff said scared.
This then caused Zarus to think when he, Quaren and Griff had to stay on Titan for five days for reasons that involve the hive. And when they returned home, ellen was beyond angry and proceeded to hit them with a frying pan repeatedly.
{you well learn about Ellen later}
"I'm sure we'll be fine. Ellen might have some lost control when it comes to anger, but she's not that ruthless. Probably." Zarus said.
This didn't help griff with his problem.
After a while longer of flying, fireteam infinity arrived at their destination. They flew through the cloud to a ruined city, with destroyed stone and moss-lined throughout the roads and buildings.
The three flying above looked upon the ruins with grief. The century-old buildings now shattered across roads, Accompanying the skeletons of the souls long lost, along with the rusted metal of vehicles both military and civilian spread throughout a husk of a once beautiful age. The tanks now paralyzed in their final act of bravery, defending the fleeing souls who now lay dead. The barrels of their cannons aimed at directions that made one ponder in fear at what possible threat they attempted to fight.
"You know, it's probably a good thing that we can only look around certain areas of earth," Griff said with utter grief in his voice, as he gazed upon the horror crimes and sins brought forth in all their fury, at the people of the golden age.
"I know what you mean," Zarus said in equal grief. "But we'll make them pay, they'll all pay for what they have done."
Griff just turn to look at… something once truly beautiful. It was a massive tower in similar shape to a chest piece, standing in the center on a large plaza. But now, it seemed to take up the role as the gravestone for the entire city. The metal of its frame now turned rough brown from wind and rain mangling its very being. Then the top itself had long broken and fallen on the homes and buildings broken so very long ago.
The hunter took a deep breath. "I hope we do," he said with a small smile to be edge.
"Look!" Zarus said.
Flying past a building the guardian saw something, a great but crude feet of eliksni engineering. A massive starship built from scorch metal held together by bolts, and poorly welding. Fallen ran in and out like flowing water. This fallen ship was known as a ketch
The guardian's quickly looked for sizeable land for their ships to rest upon. Thankfully an area in the middle of the city was able to suffice. They assumed it was once a park, based on the area of the city it was placed in and the vegetation growing in and around it. The landing gear of the ships extended out and gently crushed the grass that had grown high from more than a century of not being trimmed, While the flames of their engine cooled. And with it, the ship fell silent awaiting to fly again.
Then the three transmated out of their respective vehicles, landing on sand and overgrowing grass. Then they donned their helmets, and all of their gaze turned to the fallen ship poking above the ruins.
"There it is. Let's head through the ruins to the ketch. If we tread lightly through there we can get close to it without a single eye spotting us." Zarus said.
"Sounds like a plan. Hopefully, I get to test my new sniper on the way." griff said while transmating his sniper to his hand.
"If a battle presents itself then you better watch our backs," Zarus said.
"You know I will." griff then loaded a clip of void energy into the rifle.
"Alright, let's go," Levin said calmly while walking to the ruins.
Griff and Zarus then stepped to the buildings as well, with caution. They stepped to the entrance of what seemed was once an office building. The guardians entered through the golden age structure, heading up multiple stairways to get a vantage point of the fallen ship. On the fifth floor, they found one of the walls blast open, and conveniently gave them a clear field of view at their destinations of infiltration, and outside of it were several fallen groups patrolling the area.
"Grate, now how will we get in," Levin said.
"This isn't going to be easy, we need to be careful on how we enter," Zarus said keeping his eyes on the ship
Levin just responded with a nod.
"What's that?" griff asked both his fireteam mates while pointing at something on the ship.
Zarus and Levein looked to wear the hunter was pointing and saw a fallen banner hanging from the ship. It was like the others, tattered, splashed with violet purple, and the symbol of the house of dusk crudely drawn with white. But what did set this differently from the other, was two gusts of wind drawn on the left and right side of the banner, and a fallen sword slicing down of the house of dusk sigil.
"Wait, I've seen that before. That's the symbol of-"
''Tarvis the wind slayer," Zarus said cutting off Quaren in the middle of his words.
"Whos Tarvis?" griff said confused.
"I had a run-in with him on Titan two months ago." Zarus began. "He's an archon, whos known amongst the fallen for his skill with a greatsword. I forced him off titan and I didn't see him after. But I did land my eye on his symbol." he said with him looking towards said symbol. "So, if this isn't a coincidence, we might have to do more than just retrieve vex tech in there.
"Well, wouldn't be the first time," Griff said.
"And I believe it won't be our last," Zarus responded.
"Alright, but we won't be doing anything it we can't get in that thing," Levin said gesturing to the ketch.
"Well, how do you think we should get in?" Griff said.
"I was thinking of sneaking in through the engine room. There's an access door near the thrusters that led's to it." Quaren said.
"Good idea, but we'll have to find a way to the thrusters without being seen," Zarus said.
"We can use those collapsed buildings. They can cover us halfway to Tarvis's ship." Griff explained gesturing to several structures that have been lost to the collapse or the elements.
"...that could work. Alright, we'll use the ruins to shield ourselves from their view." Zarus said.
Suddenly Zarus got a message from inside his helmet, It was from Zavala. Of course, he answered the call.
"Yes, Zavala," Zarus said politely.
"I called to check in on your progress. Have you reach the fallen?" Zavala asked.
"We have. Also, we believe that the one who stole the vex tech was… Tarvis."
"Tarvis!?" Zavala said surprised at hearing the name, but he quickly composed himself. "This is unexpected. We were still having reports of him making hit and run assaults on titan against lower defended rigs. Are you sure that ship is his." the awoken said hopeing he was right.
Zarus just sighed. "I am," he said with not a drop of fear in his tone. "But if you need proof which you can gaze upon then hear." the warlock said, then activated a hidden camera on his helmet.
He turned his head to the ketch, more specifically, the large banner hanging from it. He then heard Zavala sigh on the other end.
"fireteam infinity, I am making the elimination of Tarvis your secondary objective. We won't get another opportunity at him. You must make sure Tarvis does not leave this planet." Zavala said with steel.
Zarus turned to Griff who just gave a thumbs up. Then to Levin who gave a nod showing he was ready.
"we will see it through sir," Zarus said with confidence echoing in his voice.
Zavala just looks at the young guardian with trust. "Good luck guardians," he said before ending the transmission, leaving them ready to take action.
Zarus turned to his friends, his team. "Alright guardians, Let's go." he carried words he spoke with honour. And the three jumped into the fray, while narrowly avoiding being spotted by a vandal overlooking the area.
The guardians landed gently to the ground with each of their own means. Afterwards, they stayed close to the ruined buildings that Griff pointed out, going with the plan using them as cover to reach the ketch undetected. Finally reaching the massive ship's they then proceeded to its large thrusters that lined its rear.
They climbed up to the maintenance hatch silently, but slowly. Then the destination was reached as the guardians place their boots on the metal walkway leading to the hatch.
"Man, that took a while," Griff said with exhaustion showing, which would be obvious baste on how many times he had to double jump and had to use his knife like an icepick to help him the rest of the way.
The hunter then turned his head to the hatch. "I've got the door," he said wall transmating lockpick tools in both of his hands, then proceeded to tinker with the control panel of the hatch.
While griff was working with the hatch Zarus and Levin discuss what their actions would be once they entered the eliksni ship. "Alright, what's the plan?" Levin asked, then listened carefully to what words would be spoken next.
"Well for a start we can't run in guns blazing. Based on how far the bridge is away from the engine room, it won't take much time before the fallen get to us before we reach Tarvis if the alarm is triggered. Also, we might risk damaging whatever vex tech they had stolen if we created a firefight in there. The best course of action I think is to take a stealth approach, that way we can look for the vex technology without risking any harm to it. Then we'll engage Tarvis, and show him judgment." Zarus said explaining the plan.
Zarus turned back to his friend draped with purple and steel. Still tinkering with the hatch which refuses to release its grasp on the locking mechanism. "How is it coming along?" he asked the hunter politely.
"Juusst, aboouuut…now!" Griff loudly said his last word with relief, finally releasing the hatch from the locks. He then closed the metal shutter that he opened to access the circuitry and piping. Then he opened the hatch.
As the hatch like door slowly opened, the one who released it turned his eyes to the warlock and titan. "Alright, let's get this smash and grab over with an-," Griff said beginning in his words, but stopped when he turned around.
A dreg stood in the doorway as still as stone. Looking just as surprised as the Guardians.
The guardians and the dreg's eyes were locked for what seemed like hours. Until shattered when the fallen slowly crack his head to something on the metal wall. a large panel lined with buttons and switches, the noticeable one being a large lever in the middle over it. It didn't take a genius to know that what would Blair the alarms in their ears as soon as that lever was pulled.
"Don't…even...think about it." the hunter said with his words applying weight to the atmosphere. While his hand levelled above a weapon holsters on his waist. A weapon, given by a friend.
The alien looked to the hunter, then back to the lever. A moment of silence grazed the platform, with each soul waiting for what fate would show them. And then!
The dreg attempted a mad dash to the panel. But before its claws could grasp the lever, his head exploded in a pop. and with it, it's lifeless body now dislodged of ether crash to the floor with a metallic thud.
What silent the dreg, was what Griff held in his hands. A white and black revolver like weapons once held by its previous owner, who welded it with pride and hope. Its sides were engraved with of the ace of spades. Smoke jetted out of the barrel and the weapons ammunition burst open the cranium of the dregs head.
Zarus and Levin turned to the hunter and dreg he slew, surprised at what just transpired and slightly relieved that he just saved them from alerting the fallen.
Levin sigh. "Thanks, griff."
"Don't mention it," is all the hunter said casually.
Zarus stepped to the doorway and turned his head to the guardian who killed the fallen. "good work my friend."
The warlock aimed his eyes to the stretch of halls leading to the depths of the ship. " all right you two. Let's go"
And the three guardians traded their way into metal halls of the ketch.
-000-
As they made their way through the maze of hallways that made up the ship while searching for the vex technology, they approach every door and turn with caution and weapons drawn. But was set in, no, what was piled up in front of them, wouldn't take a single shot or a careful eye. All it would take was one or two carefully plates transmat beacons for what was in front of them.
Massive piles of vex machinery, devices, even parts of slain goblins and minotaurs were scattered across the storage room that the fireteam lock themselves in so they wouldn't be seen, and so could do what they needed to do without worry.
"Well, uu. This is a lot of stuff." Griff said while his eyes continued to glans at the dark bronze metal.
"No kidding," Levin said with his visor glancing at the largest pile in the room. He then walked over to the pile and grabbed a random piece of vex tech from it. "I still wonder why they wanted to get all of this so badly."
"Same, Let's just take all of this back to the city, then we'll find out," Zarus said.
Levin just gave a nod while Griff said "ok". They began to search for a place to plant the transmat zone, and they needed to be through at ware they place the beacon. the number of things that they needed to teleport to the city it was like trying to pull a guardian fighter craft with a horse-drawn carriage. So they needed to be careful if they transmat too much vex tech or they could Temperley disable the transmat network.
And when lord Shaxx had to…' talk', With them about the first time that happened, Fireteam infinity DID NOT EVER MAKE THAT SAME MISTAKE AGAIN!
So they desired to transmat sections of the room's vex tech one at a time.
They quickly got started with their plan, embedding transmat beacons into the metal floor. Thankfully, the beacons were strong enough to parse the fallen made alloy at the five sections of the storage room, being the four corners of it and the central middle.
Griff went to the left and Levin went to the right to set up their respective transmat zones, while Zarus went to the middle to set up his.
Zarus grabbed his beacon out of his date storge, {that's what I'll call the inventory,} then extended the spike on the device. He readied himself to stab it through the metal plates that made up most of the floor, the walls, and the ceiling, but his target was the floor. However, as he was about to embed the beacon through the metal, he felt something. Something, familiar.
It was hard to describe, it felt like something was reaching out for him, Like an old friend or acquaintance. But what catches Zarus's curiosity, was how it was received. It was...muffled, dull, an almost a silent sound. However, this week, unsharpened sense, was strong enough to be traced. He turned to wear this feeling was the most bright, and was confused at what he gazed at.
It was in the very centre of the pile, no in the very centre of the room, like if the fallen were treating it with cair, and it was special. With his curiousness guiding him Zarus stepped slowly to it. He reaches out slowly, and his hand grasp against it.
Its surface was made of metal, which was to be expected from vex tech. It was spherical shape with 4 fin-like protrudes wrap around it horizontally. And the top half of it had 5 lines cut down through in a triangle hex. But what then shock Zarus, was that through the 5 cuts in the converted radiolarian made metal, a white light radiated out of the thin seems, as the light shined on his armour, that same feeling rekindled in him. It was stronger now, more bright. But, what cut Zarus from words, when whatever this vex device was that emanated these familiar feelings, it's top half retracted into the bottom half, and what he saw, truly, made him lost of words.
In the very center of the vex sphere, held in place by metal restraints, a large pure white crystal, shimmered and illuminated the warlock. And, with all of this, it took Zarus not another second to realize what he held in his hands. He was holding in his vary hands, a shard of the traveller. Restrained by whatever this spherical vex device was.
He un cup his hand from the metal, then slowly reach for the shard. But before it could even graze its pure surface, something called out.
"Zarus you alright?" said a voice to the warlock's left.
He turned to the sound, then saw griff standing next to a transmat beacon that was by the warlock that the hunter set up.
"Did you set up your zone yet?" the hunter asked his friend. However still remained confused, as Zarus didn't reply, his eyes looking at something in his hand that was glowing.
"...Griff, look." Zaris said slowly while showing him what he held.
The hunter lowered his view to what his friend held, and his eyes widened at the white light that illuminated the warlock. "Is...is that a-"
"Yes, it's a shard. I don't know how the vex got this, but we can't wait for the fallen to take action with it." Zarus said referring to the device he held.
"What are you doing?" said another voice near the two guardians. Said guardians averted their eyes from their fascination, and saw Levin stepping towards them.
"Levin we found a shard," Griff said out loud, causing Levin to be stabbed with a look of shock, and for Zarus to show him the device that chained the fragment of light.
The titan just step closer to the warlock and hunter until he was standing with them. "Is it."
Then Edward materialized to the three, then started to scan the shard, "no doubt this is a shard of the traveler. I don't know how the vex made this. But it's good it's not in their hands."
"Hu I never thought I would actually thank the house of dusk for once," Griff said with his ghost agreeing with him in his mind.
"Ok, now we really need to get back to the city," Levin said.
Zarus remained silent, still blankly staring at the radiant crystal held by this vex sphere still in his hands. The waves of Questions smashed against the shores of his mind, how did they do this, why. It's, not possible. The river of questions continued to flow over.
"Zarus?" Griff said to the warlock. This snapped him out of his trans and brought him to face his fireteam.
"Are you alright," Edward asked.
"Im...im fine Edward. I'm just uneasy about… this." he held up the sphere.
"Why?" Levin said, mind lost at what Zarus was thinking.
But then spoke. "2 years ago both me and Edward went to try and infiltrate the vex's data network on nexus. Failsafe made Edward a false id to enter the collective. We hoped to learn why the vex were on the planet and with that what they were doing. Also, I was trying to find out what happened to failsafe's crew, and… Praedyth." Zarus explained, making the hunter and titan recall their time in the vault of glass.
And the warlock, 'Praedyth' who was scattered across time through the singularity created in the stones and soil under the surface of venus.
"But that is not what I learned. A mind was sent to kill me, and I cut it down. But what it said before it died, still leaves me stunned." Zarus said with steel in his voice.
"What did it said?"
"it's afraid...afraid of our light because it's the only thing they can't simulate. "Zarus said, causing the other to be shocked.
"The vex can't simulate are light?" Griff responded as he took in what Zarus said.
"well, that explains why we didn't see any simulated guardians in the infinite forest," Levin responded at the revelation.
"Yes but that's not what I'm trying to say. If the vex couldn't simulate light, then how couldn't they create something that holds the very thing that emanates it?" Zarus said, hoping for an answer to come to light. But as the silent roled in it was clear, for now, it would stay in the dark.
Zarus just gave a sigh, "alright let's just-,"
"Wait!" Griff cut off Zarus for his words.
"yes/what is it?" Zarus and quaren ask respectively.
"Do you hear that," Griff answered looking around him.
"Hear wh-,"
"Wait," Zarus said stopping Quaren.
As many know, all guardian senses have been enhanced since their rebirth. Espeshley warlocks, who what many would consider had a 6 senses for danger linked with the mind and soul, and Zarus was making good use of it,
If his mind and soul could hear, he would be listening to a faint sound of scraping metal. He focused on this week presents. He focused on the direction, it formed. however it was tangled, bundle up like a ball of yarn. through concentration, and it slowly began to unravel. The strings of this presence then untangled, and when it did Zarus's light-infused blood ran cold and dim. When it unravelled, it stretched and stretched.
Above.
"MOVE," he yelled out for all to hear.
Griff Levin and Edward looked at the warlock confused, but remembered their training and quickly avoided what came crashing down. A giant purple bler smashed into the metal floor, creating a wave of force sends the Guardian back, along with any vex parts near their feet.
Zarus took out his sword using it to stop him by stabbing it through the floor. Sparks flew across the scar rip in the floor, the cause of metal clinging with metal. When his movement stoped, he pulls his sword out of the metal he stood on, then spun it once before finally setting him and his blade in an inside guard. He looked toward his team, each in their own battle-ready stance.
Griff was crochet down and began to stand give Zarus a clear view of what he held. In his right hand, he was holding one of his two combat knives, while in his right he welded ace.
"He would be proud," Zarus thought to himself.
Levin had both of his hands with his auto rifle, "Origin Story", the barrel aimed at the slowly fading cloud of smoke.
However, Zarus released something. How could he have both of his hands on his sword, unless he?
"Oh no," Zarus said to no one as he looked around for what he dropped. The device was nowhere to be seen. until the warlock's gaze turned to the clearing dust and smoke spread across the room by whatever came crashing down from the ceiling.
And when it faded his Question was answered.
Holding the spherical device, was one of 4 large 3 fingered claws, the claws of a fallen. an archon at that. as the dust finally dissipated the rest came in to view. The remaining three claws and the arms were witnessed, showing armour of the same design of all other eliksni, the differences being the plate were thicker, and painted grey, unlike the usual bone white. 2 banners hanging from the inside of 2 pauldrons resting on the shoulders. Other precise of armour ling the archon's body and as the dust covering his head finally faded. A large grey mask shielded the face of the eliksni. The top part had 2 hornlike protrusions that join at the end, making a half pointed oval shape. With the front having 1 fin go outward at 45degrees above. And finally, a massive greatsword was strung across his back.
And that was when the warlock known who this was, "Tarvis," Zarus said with a held back rage, his hand tightening and his guard firming.
Tarvis slowly stood up from the crotch position he was in, and laugh. "Ne must thank you for showing this," he said while shaking the vex device in his bottom left claw, make Zarus grit his teeth, but kept a level head. "originally ne was going to give this to e cabal. But it withholding a shard go e great machine, ne might have to reconsider."
Tarvis then reach for his sword hanging on his back, gripping it with his top right claw, "now," he then unshift the sword and allowed gravity to bring the blade down with a heavy thud, "DIS," the archon yelled out as he grabbed his sword with his other claw, bringing the arc blade above his shoulders. And the heavy blade slammed against the metal floor.
Zarus blinked away from the sharpened metal. Griff jumped out of the way. Levin also jumped, and block the wind sent to him with his gauntlets.
(play "be brave" destiny 2 original soundtracks).
Zarus landed away from Tarvis, but his team as well. However, before he could take a step, an arc round whistled towards him. He sets it though as he brings his sword around him, deflecting the shot. However, another whistling bolt of arc was herd, striking his right shoulder. Thankfully, the shield created by his light and his hadium armour protected him, giving him time to see what shot him.
A vandal was on top of one of the vex piles, fireing a wire rifle at the warlock.
Zarus dodged another shot, readied his blade, and started sprinting toward the fallen. The vandal tried to shoot the warlock, but he either dodged, blinked, or deflected it with his sword. Reaching a close enough point, Zarus blinked once more, then reappeared right in front of the vandal, and slashed horizontally across the fallen's chest, sending the falling mass to the floor dead, with Zarus following above. He landed on the ground, kneeling as he did so. As he rises, 3 marauders and 4 dregs encircled Zarus. Their rage was practically leaking out of their masks as they gaze at the knight, and his sword dripping with fallen blood.
It was long and thin, double-edged, giving it the classification of a longsword. There was a cut in the centre of the blade that went up to the tip, giving it a fork point, and was also engraved with ornate markings. It had two blue crystals that curved into the guard, then back out at the start of the blade, and a small ring was in the middle of the guard. The handle was rapted in thick black cloth that was then capped with two ornate hexagon rings. and The Pommel was a crystal that was tip being cap with a blunt hexagon spike.
The warlock swung into an inside guard, a stance he used in his fighting style.
Then a dreg with a low amount of patience came wailing at Zarus. But as quick as it came, it ended with a precise storm. Zarus strike the dreg's torso against his sword, with it emanating sparking light. The dreg was sent away, the slash in his chest so deep it nearly severed him in half.
The marauders once with their dreg saw him screaming as he smashed into a wall. Though they payed attention to their enemy, as Zarus sprinted to them, arc light being left behind in his footprints. The arc blade of one of the vandals was swung in the direction of the warlock. However futile, as this tempest was too quick to be struck.
Zarus with his blade it both of his hands brought it close to the neck of the eliksni. And the head was severed from the torso. The marauders next to the guardian went into a rage, attempting to slash the warlock. Zarus denied this as he let go of his right grasp on his weapon then parried the strike stunning the marauder. He then broth his sword around, and swinged vertically up creating an arc wave that obliterated the fallen. After this, Zarus quickly deflected an arc bolt fired in his direction. When he turned, the other half of the fallen that encircled him came running toward their prey, with the dregs of the group open fire at the guardian. though useless, as he deflected the arc energy with easy and then blinked to his foes. As he reappears he slashed the leg of the dreg, severing it with the eliksni hitting the floor as it wailed in pain. He faces the marauder, slashing it with two diagonal strikes, then went back in two-handed combat and finishing off the fallen with a final slash. He spun around and kicked another dreg into a marauder, then released his non-dominant hand from his weapon, with lightning flying out of it vaporizing the last dreg. Zarus then focus his light into his sword, arc energy dancing across the blade as a result. He swung his blade in the direction of 3 fallen heading towards him, sending a wave of storming light to them killing the eliksni. he then focus his light from its form of arc, to a form of grace and lift. He glided up words while using his arc light to create 3 swords made of the same power. With a swipe from his hand the arc swords launch with the speed of an arrow, they crashed into the floor exploding in a flash of arc and obliterating the fallen beneath the warlock in a photonic storm.
The dreg that's leg was by the guardian that severed attempted to crawl away, with fear and pain haunting his body and mind. But it's suffering would soon end, as the eliksni felt a sharp pain break his spine, and burst out through his chest. This was Zarus's sword, {his metal one} piercing the alien's flesh as he throws it.
He then landed on the pamul of the sword, the blade know ripping through the floor slightly. He then transmat out his pulse rifle, 'chattering bone' a weapon given as a gift by one of his friends "Petra Venj" after he, the rest of 'fireteam infinity' and "Fireteam Halo" kill the ahamkara "Riven". He also gave the rifle some modifications, which he uses with precision, as the shots of the rifle jetted out of the barrel with every fallen caught in their flight to feel the wind escape their souls and fall as a result. Zarus grabbed his sword from under his feet, then released the stabbed blade from the floor and dead dreg, and landing softly. However, once he raised and turned, his eyes went wide.
He saw Levin and Tarvis locked in a duel. Levin continued to fire at the fallen, most of the shots pinging off of the eliksni armour, with only a few rounds ripping through the cloth that made up the gaps in the armour. But the fallen didn't show pain, as he continues to fire and slash at the titan.
(music end)
-000-
Levin jumps to avoid a strike from the wind slayer's greatsword, while his soler light was jetting out offhand. The flames waved themselves into a spiral travelling up his pam, forming a blazing Handel, and finally the head of a flaming hammer, snapping into place with the handle, with the Minnie firestorm dissipated, leaving the hammer of sol. Said hammer was thrown right at the fallen's mask, flames splashing across its surface. Tarvis roared as he gript the mask, attempting to put out the fire. though he stunned Tarvis but went the fallen raised, with a massive scorch mark spread across it and with rage flaring in his 4 eyes, the titan felt his fires go dim. sTarvis shot at the titan repeatedly and though he dodged several of the arc bolts the archon fired from the 2 heavy pistols he held in his lower arm, 4 of the shots hit the guardian directly, shattering his shields and making the titan crash on his back, the fallen raised his sword above his head. But before the blade could strike, Tarvis felt a sharp pain at his side. And before he could turn, he screamed as a diagonal slash across his back, stretching from his shoulder to his hip. Levin looked at the massive fallen, confused at what happened. But when he saw what landed, his Question was broth to light.
-000-
44-second prier
Griff finished off a vandal with a single trigger pull from ace. He then span around and kicks a dreg at its legs, tripping it, with Griff raising his knife then stabbing the dreg's neck.
'You're left! Vesper warned in the mind of his guardian, with Griff ripping his blade out of the dead mass just in time to catch a marauder under the jaw with the knife.
He then fires at a group, killing 3 and surprising the other while using the hooked fallen's corpse as a shield to block their fire. He unhooks the knife from the fallen, then runs and jumped while shooting 2 dregs in mid-air. Went he landed he holsters his gun and sheathing his knife, and unhooked "Recluse" from his waist, fireing at lines of fallen with the weapon. He then span to avoid a slash from a captain, then retaliated by swinging Recluse upward while holding the trigger, breaking the shield of the fallen. The captain went back stunned, but when he regained mental balance his eyes stood in front of the now unholster ace of spades, with his face smashed form the bullet released from the chamber with a burst. His hand grasp on to one of his smoke mines, then infused his light into the mine creating the void smoke within. Then was thrown to the Vandals hiding behind cover that he miss with ace, engulfing them in smoke with coughing ringing out, though muffled by the mist. The hunter brought out recluse again firing at the thick mist, it exploding as a result of void clashing with void.
"Man I'm good," Griff said with his confidence showing.
But when he turned, a look of concern was painted over. he saw Levin fighting against the archon they were ordered to kill. And was losing.
He was then shot 4-times directly by the wind slayer's guns that was held at his sides, makeing the titan fall to his back, his shield broken.
Griff began to run to the archon. Using his light to increase his speed while unsheathing both of his knives, both held in a reverse grip. Two wretches then came charging at the hunter, but were quickly dispatched as he leapt to avoid their arc spears, then slit their throats and the eliksni fell, {pun intended}. The hunter then saw Tarvis with his greatsword raised above his head. The hunter running quicker than ever, he looks to the ceiling, then to Tarvis, to the ceiling again and got an idea. The guardian through one of his knife towards the roof. As the long dagger left his grip he turns his light into something that his call both useful and annoying to Allies and enemy alike. the tether was attached to the knife's pommel, and the other to his arm.
"Oh-oh, I know what you're doing!" Vesper replied realizing mentally what his guardian was doing.
Griff began to swing in a wide arc. Perhaps, too wide as he swings so low he almost hit the floor, but he uses this to his advantage as he kicks a captain out of formation, which gave a certain warlock a killing blow on the captain and his forces. While the hunter continues to swing. Finally, getting close enough Griff yanked his arm forward making the tether rip out the knife from the ceiling and caught it in a reverse grip. He ready to strike against Tarvis, and saw an exposed latch that held at the left side. He adjusted his blades to the right place, and they began to sere through cloth, then armour, then skin.
The fallen grunted in pain, making him turn around, rage flaming in his 4 eyes.
Griff landed with a confidant smirk edged under his helmet. When he turns though, his face went pale. Tarvis was standing in front of him, the archon towering over the hunter with alien blue staring back at green. But the guardian gaze was turned as he hired something he knew all too well. He saw Zarus next to Levin, standing in a healing rift, with it shimmering with light. however, he wasn't the only one that hears it, as Tarvis began to raise one of his large pistols. The hunter acted quick, unholstering his hand cannon, fire and knocking the gun out of the eliksni claw.
Griff then began to run away from the fallen blind firing at him as he did so. "Overhear you Worden eternal knock off!"
This comment seemed more confused Tarvis then it did enrage him. Nevertheless, he still took hate by the word of the guardian, with him sprinting to the hunter while giving Zarus enough time to heal Levin back to the fight.
Griff continued to dodge strike after strike from the blade of the archon. But confusion touches his face, as Tarvis switch his sword to a reverse grip then stabbed the floor with his blade next to the hunter, Which blocked him. Tarvis reed back his leg, then kick the guardian with massive force into a wall. He crashes into the wall, blood spurting from his mouth when the speed of his body went from 10 to 0 in less than a second. The stinging pain across his body restricted him from standing, he had enough strength to lift his head, with his light starting to repair the severe internal damage. He saw Zarus and Levin firing at the terrifying stature of the archon that sheared his insides.
Zarus jumped over a swing from the fallen's blade while in this stalled moment, materialized his arc light to the form of his sword, similar in shape to one of his hadium, with the difference being it was longer and it coursed of arc light. With said blade striking the wind slayer, damaging his chest plate with also one of his pauldrons be severed and caste away.
This gave Levin an opening. He charges his light of solar to his leg, then leapt to the fallen striking his armour boot blazing with dragon fire. Tarvis was stunned and away, not by much but thankfully enough to give Griff the time to arrive, and the time to plan for the clash.
"You alright," Levin ask concerned at the injured hunter, still with one hand holding his chest. His light wave around it in the shape of a flower blooming.
"(cough) I'm alright. My light is healing whatever he smashed." griff said referring to when the wind slayer kicks him with the equivalent force of a car going at high speed's. "So, any ideas Zarus?"
"Focus on your light, we can break through his armour with that. Are rifle aren't make a scratch." the warlock said referring to their main range handheld weapons cradled in their paw.
Zarus tracsmated his rifle to his storage, his hand now free to grasp the handle of another weapon wielded by the warlock. Grasp a mighty weapon he did. From his back, he released his sword, the blade stops an inch away from touching the floor.
"On my signal, fan out and attack with full force," Zarus informed with a voice as hard as steel, then received a nod from the other 2 guardians.
Tarvis recovered from his daze. He slowly stood again, his rage shown when he rammed the greatsword through the floor of his ship, the force fueled by anger and the eliksni's absolute strength. When he gazed forward though, his fire grows into a storm. The 3 guardians who had killed his loyal soldiers and had seemed, to have bested him. But the mere thought of these foolish humans being the ones to silence him bright his rage to the level of a bomb mere seconds from detonating. He levelled his pistols at the light bearers that stood behind a barrier made of the vary power.
"You will not best me!" the eliksni roared, then released a valley of arc bolts at the guardian. They detonated upon impact with the barricade of light, shattering it and smoke formed as a result. Though a brief moment of satisfaction set in for the wind slayer, it soon turned to frustration as three figures emerged from the dust, runing in all directions
Zarus delivered two bursts from chattering bone to Tarvis's side, while narrowly avoiding a strike from his sword. He forms his arc into another sword then was launched to the wind slayer making contact with his chest plate, a serge of a tempest coursing through the fallen body. The pain would be cruel though as Griff jump above the archon and fired off ace of spades, rounds embedding into the exposed shoulder of the eliksni, result in the arm connected to drop the heavy pistol cradled in its claw. With the other have it's grip loosened on the blade it wielded.
He wasn't done yet though, as his feet landed on Zarus's rifle, and so the warlock launches the hunter to the fallen once more. He pulls out his long knife then with one slash as quick as a hawk and thin as grass, cleaved off a piece of the wind slayers mask, exposing part of his scarred face to the guardians. However, the archon wasn't given a second to realize what griff have done, as a small mass of burning metal collided with his side, reeling him into more pain than he already was.
The mass, was a fist, the metal, was the armour gauntlet in composing it, and burning flame was the light of the titan Levin. After his fist made an impact, the titan transmat out his shotgun, "Purrfect Paradox", a weapon he inherited from the resting place of lost legend of the city. "Saint-14". Weapon of said legend was then pressed against the archon's armoured leg. And the shot rang out, almost loud enough to cover the alien roar of a ripping pain. The legendary shotgun was holstered, as Quaren ready himself for what was about to come. He brought his hand behind him as if he was holding a large hammer or a battle axe. With the latter being formed by solar winds. First, the handle was bright by a blaze of light, then the axe head emerges from the fire. And finally with one swing with the speed of spreading flames and the force of a meteor, the archon was sent into a wall, the resulting force shook the already damaged roof of the storage room. Causing several beams metal plates and other objects to fall on Tarvis, hopefully being the final blow to silence the archon.
"Hu, I expected more?" Zarus said disappointed directing his words to the defeated wind slayer.
"Yeah, I thought you were a challenge, Travis," Griff said with a grin ever-present.
But as the guardians spoke their words, they each notice what was on the floor, what he dropped. The same vex device that was found to hold a shard of the traveller, and the same that the defeated archon held.
Zarus quickly went to pick up the vex sphere, with the light within he unlocked it. The 3 segments of the top once more retracted into the bottom, revealing the fragment of the traveller/great machine shard.
He then turns to the piled up rubble on Tarvis. "...I guess you couldn't live up to your name, you fool." afterwards he began to walk away.
"NE AM NO FOOL!" screamed Tarvis as he emerged from the scrap metal that held him down.
Levin and Griff open fire but were knocked back by arc from the heavy pistol Tarvis held. He then went for a strike at Zarus. Thankfully he jumps away in time, but the open sphere slips out of his grasp. He caught the bottom of it thankfully, though the vex prototype began to fall to out of the hand without anything holding it. so, Not thinking of the consequences, he reaches forward and grabbed the shard. Little did Zarus know what he had just done set the winds of him and his team journey on a new path.
The crystal of light unleashed a wave of force, sending the guardians, Tarvis, and the remaining vex piles back. With the latter being knocked over and scattered across the floor. The now active sphere glows brightly then floated about the eyes both alien and human that looked upon it speechless.
"Wh-what did you do!" Tarvis shouted at Zarus.
Zarus, however, didn't reply as he continued to look on shocked at what he had accidentally done.
Then a flash of light flared across the room blinding everything for a moment. When the lumen energy cleared, and 4 individuals look upon with thair three orbs of silver blue, green, yellow, and blue. A large triangular-shaped portal resinated in the middle of the room. through it, they saw a snow-tipped forest with mountains lining the background of the unknown lands.
"W-wh-what is this!?" Griff's words split out of his tongue with utter confusion.
The portal then glowed brighter, with the light stretching across the room making the hunter, titan, and the archon look away. But Zarus, he just looks to the light, he just looks to the blinding light and quietly said. "I don't know."
The portal flashed with a lumen fury, Covering everything in the room. When the light dissipated, Tarvis, the vex sphere, several of the vex parts, and fire team infinity, were nowhere to be found. Though, they reappear, just not in a world familiar to there epoch.
a, Remnant if you will.
End of chapter 1
Hello, for some of you this is a new story that has just bloomed into this community. And for others one that has long wilted.
What I mean is that I uploaded this story long ago, and it failed do to its atrocious grammar and me not yet understanding how the whole fanfiction thing worked at the time. So I decided to take it down, and give myself some time to go over what I did write and Wrong. Now I am back and I hoped what I've learned will guide me smoothly through this journey. For those who see the original story, I ask that you give me a chance to redeem my self.
After all, when are ghost revived us so very long ago we were given a second chance in a new world. I hope the same can apply here.
Well now that has been lifted from my shoulders I guess I should move on to the questions your asking about the story. For those who do not wish a spoiler please look away.
Q1: The storey timeline? The story for destiny will start 1 year after forsaken, shadow keep has not started. And RWBY will be during volume 6. For those who wonder why I start at volume 6 and not 1 or 2, no offence to other authors, because of two reasons. 1 I wanted to work with fresh new content. tho with volume 7 now out it kind of defeats the purpose. But still new either way. 2 to give more story material from me to work with while I write.
Q2: What is Zarus's subclass exactly? You might be wondering what is the arc sword of a storming death that happens to be Zarus's subclass is. Its something you'll learn in the next few chapters. All I'll say it is something to do with the crown of tempest and the iron lords.
Q3: will I keep the story inline will the canon? I'll keep it in line, most of the time. but no promises.
Tempest out.