Chapter XIX: Peace of Mind
Absolution Arc
2130 Hours, December 20, 2714
Guardian Quarters, The Tower, Earth
It's hard to get over it, knowing that from the ashes of one's life something remained intact. Hasn't been a day knowing that fact and I'm still overwhelmed by what the Traveler has given back for my service and dedication for fighting the Darkness. Heh, it's funny: I'm technically a Guardian of Equilibrium even though I was raised as a Dark Knight. Call me childish from time to time, but I wanted to make sure that what happened yesterday wasn't a dream. That Rose wasn't an illusion. Splashing my face with the waters in Old Russia and even going as far as dunking my head in it, blinking three times, slapping myself, dammit I did everything possible to make sure I wasn't dreaming!
But it was real. Rose is alive, grown up—which somewhat scares me given our age difference—and giving me another reason to live and protect.
After we regrouped with the rest of the team, all of us decided to return to the Vanguard and report our findings. Besides, Cloud did a good job and burned all the places where the Infested growth was hiding. By the time we returned, I told everyone that I'll report alone and everyone else should get some rest. Leon and Aqua were already there, requesting Silver's help to assist in modifying the stealth drive they found so that it'll cloak all of us.
By the time Rose and I got to the Hall of Guardians, I reported to Zavala and Ikora about the Infested and how they were dealt with before it spread out of control. Of course, I didn't give Ikora a sample given what it can do but I did show the helmet feed of what happened before it was smashed to hell. For the fourth time. When they brought up the 'Stalker', I was inclined to say what I saw but I held back. It couldn't be Vesper… My mind must've been fooling with what I saw. Rose even confirmed that it wasn't her but she didn't get a glimpse of who was behind the helmet.
And again, there was some concern coming from Zavala regarding my daughter. I swear its déjà vu all over again. And like last time, I stopped him before he could kick her out. Even though I pretty much screwed up somewhere along my argument. And I mean really, really mean it.
"Spectre, this is now the second time you've taken someone under your wing. Why would I allow you to do this again if this one has no Ghost and isn't a Dark Knight?" Zavala put his hands on the table across from me, where I stood at my side of the table with Rose at my side. Trying to keep my composure in front of them regarding family wasn't easy to maintain, especially if this was personal.
"Zavala, I can assure you that this Guardian is not hostile. So why is it you would want to kick them out?" She was getting scared, I can see it in her fidgeting and shuffling. Could I blame her for her state of mind right now? No. Dammit, think!
"Spectre, what is it that you're hiding from us this time?" Ikora asked me, adding more to the weight and pressure that Zavala already placed on me.
Now I'm really under fire. This is something I have to steel myself for again. Now I remember why I hate these odds: tackling two at once in an argument isn't my strong point! Especially if they're veteran Guardians! Rez and Silver I could easily deal with since Silver's the only one with a brain to make arguments, but these two? It's like tackling on two of my strictest mentors in the Academy with both arms tied behind my back! C'mon Rose, don't panic on me right now…
Oh, how much I wish I could've told myself the same thing. Normally I'm not the type who panics but when it came to situations like this then I panic beyond hell on the inside. The ones regarding family and friends. Typically I'd have Primus run through my anti-panic exercises but he's busy relaying information right to the others.
And so I lost it.
"So you would kick out another one of my family? One who is my own daughter?!" I yelled, easily spooking Rose and the Vanguards. My blood was boiling but I had to make sure that my tendrils didn't show up and lash out at the Vanguards. That was easy enough. Hell, I was even praying that nobody else heard that this new Guardian I brought with me was actually my daughter.
When I looked up to look at the Titan and Warlock Vanguards in the eye, they were both clearly shocked and showed it in their own way. Their eyes averted to my daughter, who stared at the floor and continued to fidget with her hands.
Here comes the longest explanation I've ever done.
And so I spent at least an hour explaining how Rose is my daughter and how was it possible for me to be at least physically eight years older than her. Honestly, I don't think Vesper would appreciate it if I told Ikora about the Afterlife. She already has a lot on her plate, and the Warlocks messing around with the concept isn't going to bode well for her. I vaguely mentioned Vesper to them and I bent the truth around how Rose was still developing in her mother's womb the day I executed her. When Ikora and Zavala started asking her questions about this, she responded truthfully and as timidly as she could. After Zavala finally gave in and let Rose stay at the Tower, I was more than relieved. I still think the shock of me having a child was more than enough to rock them out of their normal demeanor. They'll probably be that way for a few hours. Maybe a day.
Sparks were flying in front of my welding helmet as I repaired Raze-Lighter from the damage it took from the fight. To think a Taken Dark Knight would break the metal with their own hands… Being in my workshop in my quarters again just felt wrong for some reason. Typically I'd let Primus handle it with the mobile foundry but this was something that mechanized arms cannot repair of this level. Part of the hilt was damaged and decontaminating it from the Taken membrane was a bitch. After I welded back the parts that were damaged, I had to make it go through a durability test. Raze-Lighter regrew the blade, slightly blazing on fire and took to a newer blade. Peak condition? Just barely by the skin of its teeth but it should get the job done. As long as I don't let it in the hands of the Stalker or someone just as strong. Thank the Traveler that my broken helmet can be recreated by my armor otherwise I'd have to go through the forging process of making a helmet. And truth be told, I suck at forging armor compared to weapons.
The welding tool stopped and I lifted my welding helmet's visor up, observing how the sword looked after the repairs and modifications I made to it. My hands held it like I was given the sword through a ceremony. A newer, serrated edge and at least twice as sharp and deadly. My lips curled into a smile. Thanks for the forging lessons, Teshin. The hand around the hilt of Raze-Lighter wrapped around it and held it in a reverse grip. Flames ignited but not as deadly as it would be deployed, rather like a lighter over an unknown surface. Just as quickly as the flames ignited it extinguished and I put it aside from my workshop table into a sheath I custom built for it.
Right before I could reinforce another of my swords, I felt fur brushing past my legs and I calmly put my tools down. "Just can't have enough attention, can you boy?" Staring up at me was my own canine pal Neo, tail wagging and panting happily.
I've known Neo for a long time. Hell, he's been with me since I was forty-two years old; physically fourteen. He might be descended from a German shepherd but I know he is both vicious and reliable in a fight. From what I heard, household pets like dogs and cats were also given an extended life expectancy to last three times as long. On the battlefield he's a vicious beast but outside it? He's just as attention-hungry as any dog would be. I could barely do any work when he wants attention! Can I blame Neo? Nah, not really.
Neo barked and I scratched him behind his ears. "I missed you too boy. I'm sorry I left you behind." There was a good reason for that. If I came to the Tower with him, then the Vanguard would already be suspicious of me. He growled contently and moved his head against my palm, enjoying the treatment I was giving him. "How did Rose tame you?" Another bark and continued wagging of his tail. Knowing how this is confusing to me, I'm going out on a limb and say Neo knows Vesper's scent anywhere even if it was on Rose.
Seriously, every time he barks to answer a question it's like someone put a microphone next to him and connected it to an amplifier. How I wish they invented some kind of collar that translates dog… Regardless it's nice to see he hasn't changed much. Neo whined hungrily and I reached for a bowl of dog food on the counter where my own food would be most of the time. "Here you go, bud; well-done chopped steak." Neo sniffed at the aroma the bowl was creating and looked up at me. Another bark and a look that I could interpret as, 'Hey, that's just how I like it!' before digging in happily. That should keep him busy for a while at the least.
Just as I was about to get back to work, the door knocked. Three knocks in succession.
"Come in." I called out. The door slid open and I saw Rose come inside, still in her Titaness-Huntress armor and hood down. "What is it, honey?" Even I'll admit I sound like an old man… Better now than never to get used to it. At the moment she looked at me, the door sealed shut and locked itself.
"Father, I was hoping you could take a look at my weapon," she had her scout rifle in hand and I took it by the barrel. "I think something's wrong with it."
As I inspected the rifle, I noticed the subtle buttons around the grip. Must be how it could transform into a scythe, I figured. Definitely Vesper's work, I know how she puts a serial code and her customization techniques.
"What's wrong with it?"
"I think it's the chamber or magazine lock. When I try loading a magazine it won't stay." As though to prove it, the magazine slid out of the chamber. Looks like trying to repair the Supra energy machine gun is gonna have to wait.
I set the scout rifle down on the table and took a closer look at the chamber with the help of a flashlight. Vesper really outdid herself, I'll say it now. This is different from the Jade Rabbit! Shouldn't be hard to find the problem…hopefully.
"What were you doing, Rose?"
"I was at the range practicing my shots and I maaay have reloaded too quickly." She sheepishly chuckled and fidgeted.
The light found something. With a pair of tweezers I wiggled it out and cautiously pulled it out. "I think I found your problem, Rose. A bullet casing was caught in the chamber's lock. No major damage." Maybe I'll give her a break. After I reloaded the magazine and engaged the safety, I gave it back to her. "Next time don't chamber the bullets too quickly or another jam will happen."
"Thank you, father," she put away the rifle and came up to me, curious about something and leaning forward in front of me. The scar, it has to be. "How did you get that scar?" Rose asked me innocently, much like the child she technically is.
I was hesitant to talk about it. After I got it, I told myself that it was a Fallen who pierced through my helmet during my earlier days as a 'Guardian.' "Can you accept this, Rose? What I'm about to tell you?"
She shook her head eagerly. "I'm ready, father."
By the Traveler, Rose is eager to learn and listen! What did Vesper do to her in the Afterlife? Hopefully she didn't dote on her and spoil her. She did say she'll probably do that if she has a daughter, after all. In any case, might as well get it over with…
I took a deep breath, "Your mother did this to me," right before Rose could say anything, I stopped her. "She wasn't angry or anything. We never fight to the point that we hurt each other. Your mother told you how she ended up in the Afterlife, right?"
"Mother told me that you executed her but because you were ordered strictly by the Cyphers," Wow, I didn't expect Vesper to be open about how she died. Maybe persistence got the best of her. "Father, I don't hate you. I just wanted to let you know."
Another smile formed on my lips. "Well, she wasn't herself when I was ordered to kill her. The Darkness corrupted her, turned her against me. I don't know why or how but I know she's not the type to turn against someone like me," Rose sat down on the stool next to me and paid attention, intrigued by this story. "I was chasing her and she took me by surprise, slashed my face with her knife."
"And that's how you got your scar." Rose concluded and I nodded. She hugged me as though she knew how much remembering the past hurt me, taking me by surprise. "Does Aunt Lightning know about me, father?"
Do you ever feel that moment when a symbolistic mirror cracks and shatters when a harsh realization hits you? Yeah, that's the best I could describe my thought process when she asked me that question. Lightning, finding out she's an aunt… Knowing her, she'd probably freak out, violently shake me and strangle me at the same time, and ask me, in her outrageously shocked voice, how the hell her niece rapidly grew up in the four years since I killed both my fiancée and daughter when Rose should be a baby at this point in time. My face paled when the thought of her doing what I imagined would actually happen.
My hand ruffled up her hair playfully. "I don't think now would be a good time. She'll freak out when she finds out she's an aunt and strangle me if I told her here and now." Rose smiled as childishly as she could.
"I didn't know Aunt Lightning would react like that! Isn't she supposed to be serious and brooding like Uncle Cloud?"
I lost it there and now when she mentioned the idea of Cloud being her uncle. Right as I was having a glass of water did she say that!
"Uncle?" I sputtered right after I nearly choked on my drink.
My daughter nodded. "I saw them hugging right after you left to report to the Vanguard."
"Did they?" Looks like I have some dirt on my beloved sister after all… That pretty much confirms me and the others' bet that Tohsaka has romantic feelings for Cloud. Leon and Aqua better cough up the Glimmer when I tell them! "Hey, if she catches you during that moment act like you saw nothing. You don't want to be on her bad side."
"Scout's honor, father!" She gave me a two finger salute.
Neo looked up from his bowl and barked with Rose, agreeing with her. He already had encountered Tohsaka when she was angry and hopefully he'll warn Rose if it happens. "I'm counting on you to warn her when Lightning's angry, Neo. Don't let me down." Once again, he got the message and barked.
-Destiny: Skyfall-
Seriously, this has to be the last time I to run through training with a bunch of newbies who didn't learn their lesson from day one they came to the Ancient Vanguard! How the hell could Rez put up with these guys when he trains them?! They're like hyperactive children that just won't listen!
The drill today is rather simple for this group of new Guardians that wanted to be the best they could be in the field. A simple Clash match in Bannerfall—overseen by me instead of Shaxx—between the rookies and newbies; no Supers, only their guns and abilities. When I mean rookies, I mean the Guardians that are still learning after being around for a few days or weeks. The newbies? Literally the ones who come here when they first arrive at the Tower.
The scores I'm seeing between these two groups is completely disheartening. The rookies were trumping over the newbies, even when I said to take it easy on them. It's enough to make me cringe. Either I hammered the essence of survival too hardly into their heads or they're just trying to show off. Really badly. I even saw one of the rookie Huntresses backstab a Warlock that just spawned. I facepalmed and groaned dejectedly when that Huntress started slaughtering everyone else that homed in on her. When I saw the score was 25100 to 920, I felt like smashing my head against the terminal. Dammit… This is enough! Even Shaxx would be disgraced from watching this match! My hand went over the switch for the intercom and flipped it.
"Enough! I'm calling this one!" My hand hit the 'Mercy Rule' button and the match was over. This was cringeworthy that no one won. After the end match horn blared and the two teams met up at the center of the arena I transmatted down there pissed off. "You! What the hell are you trying to do, killing them just as they spawn and wiping out the rest?" The Huntress in question looked at me innocently but I knew better. "I told all of you to take it easy on them! What the hell happened to that?!"
"Sir, with all due respect, you didn't mention—"
I pointed a finger at her angrily. "Shut it, Elena-12! I'm not having any more of this behavior from you so either learn to listen to instructions or don't at all!" Breathe, Nero… Don't look like the bad guy here. Or rather, a Guardian that's starting to fall under the influence of the Taken… All it took was a few seconds to cool off. "What is the point of me allowing you to practice with fellow inexperienced Guardians if you aren't going to listen when I say 'take it easy on them'?"
The Huntress known as Elena-12 remained silent. Good enough. I need to relieve my stress over this match… The last one I oversaw was satisfactory with how I wanted it to turn out. Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose and faced the newbies. "You guys did the best you could. Come back tomorrow and I'll arrange another match with different rookies. Dismissed." The team of newbies saluted and left the arena. "As for you, back to running through the basic drills a hundred times in a row! Now! And no slacking off or I'll double it for you!"
They left my sight to resume their training drills as punishment for not listening to me and finally I was able to get a peace of mind. Great, now it's just me. I slumped against the tree near the railing and sighed heavily. Staring out into the afternoon sun was relaxing to me, my hand flipping my knife as I was mesmerized by the sun. At least its not a drill day for the Ancient Vanguard otherwise I'd have to ask one of my pals to cover for me. Elena-12 was extremely sassy but shows promise to be a great Guardian…if she ever learns honor and not picking on the weak too often! Note to self: keep Elena-12 out of the Crucible for a while and away from newbies.
"Rough day at the office, babe?" I looked up and saw Reaper sitting on a branch and looking down at me. She leapt down and sat next to me tossing me a thermos of what I'd assume to be coffee or tea.
"Tell me something I don't know, Reaper."
A finger tapped against her chin while she brought out her own thermos. "Well, while you were busy watching the rookies and newbies fight, I caught one of them doing that vulgar thing to a newbie. I think they call it 'teabagging'?"
The mere mention of that term was even worse than watching the match. Its humiliating! Worse than when things didn't go as planned or somebody stopping you right as you were about to bring destruction! Now that I mention it, this must be how villains feel when their plans have been thwarted by the hero of the story…
"Worse than what Elena did?"
Reaper hummed. "Very. It was the same newbie over and over again."
"And you did nothing about it?"
"I strung him up and slapped a Flux Grenade on him." Well, that explains the 'death by the Architects' on that Guardian.
Another sip from the thermos. "Thanks, Reaper. You're the best."
"No problem," she snuggled up to me and I threw an arm across her shoulders. "Eroxs is a part of our team?"
"Yeah. As a matter of fact, she's next on my agenda for drills today." Reaper raised an eyebrow when I revealed 'Eroxs's gender. "Don't worry, I'm not falling for her anyway. Not when I have you. I know she's skilled in her own right but it wouldn't hurt to teach her more."
Reaper hummed and rested her head against my chest, setting her thermos aside. "Don't you think her behavior around you is odd?"
To the eyes of the uninformed, then that would be reasonable. But I haven't told Reaper about 'Eroxs' being my daughter and I don't think I will anytime soon. Hell, I'm worried she'll think I'm a player and dump me! "I'm sure she has a good reason. As long as it's manageable then we'll be fine. I'm assuming she needs a mentor to teach her." She lightly punched me in the chest. "Ouch!"
"I'll be watching your practice match. Count on it."
The alert for when a match is about to start blared out in the arena. Must be my practice drill with Rose. How time flies. We looked at each other lovingly and as though this would be our last moment together. And thus we broke away from each other and I stood up, helmet constructing and hiding my face. Everything is ready. Swords? Check. Guns? Check. Reaper put on her Celestial Nighthawk and transmatted to the control tower overseeing this match. Huh, I thought she'd stick to the shadows like her namesake.
I gripped the hilt of Duskdancer tightly. She'll be here soon. Hopefully she remembered what I told her to do and say because I haven't told everyone else in the Fireteam about her. A father-daughter dance. This ought to be fun. Let's see what Rose is fully capable of.
A/N: Here's another non-violent chapter for you guys. For now I want to focus on having Spectre and his daughter bond like they should but rest assured there will be fights coming in the near future. I got in what I wanted so that's what matters to me. Plus, I wouldn't call this practice match between father and daughter a 'fight' but rather a 'test'.
Until next time, Guardians.
