Act IV - Sorrow and Acceptance
Chapter 3 - Tale of Sorrow
[Tower, Hall of Guardians, Last City]
It was dark out, yet for a strange reason, myself and Taka were asked to come to the Hall to have an important meeting, saying it was urgent. We didn't think much of it, but it did make us wonder since no one else seemed to be working at the monitors for a moment, instead, when we came into the slightly darkened room, we saw more than just the Vanguard.
Inside, Morbin stood with Ikora, his arms crossed next to a new Warlock, bearing the mark of the Hidden, wearing the same equipment as Morbin, Nemisis Plain with the trench coat being black with a white vest and a fancy, multicolored circular symbol on the chest. His helmet off to reveal another Exo, and... it was strange how similar the two were, with this Exo having a purely white paint-job with violet eyes and mouth glow.
"That's Vlad-12, he can be pretty mellow so don't be too nervous if he's staring at you or into space, he does that sometimes." Taka whispered assuringly to me. I nodded, then saw that Sparrow was also here next to Cayde with Harrow too
"Hey, nice of you to join us, ladies, welcome to the most depressing meeting tonight." Cayde sounded just as thrilled as ever about work
"Let's get serious people." Zavala disregarded Cayde, now turning his attention to all of us. "Now, this meeting is of the utmost importance, and involves all six Guardians present, excluding the Vanguard."
"Recently," Ikora brought up a hologram of... the Vault of Glass? And a video feed. "We have received troubling news that a Fireteam investigating the House of Winter's attempts to breach the Archive for any remaining data... has perished."
"What?" Sparrow unfolded his arms, looking startled by this news, while I and Taka shared a shocked expression
"It's true, much as I hate to admit it, we lost three Guardians with only a single ghost to share the story," Cayde sighed
"Where's this ghost?" Ghost asked him, with Artemis turning on the video feed
"She's recovering from the loss of her own Guardian, honestly looked like she'd seen a real phantom, even muttered about 'a being in brass', which... until she gave us this video..." The feed began to play again, but without any sound
The video was murky with all the acidic rainfall, but between fast cuts and flashes of gunfire, a strange, almost shiny form glided through some shots, one shot showing a Guardian pinned to the wall with a brass set of claws piercing his chest. The next scene was of a Warlock, probably the ghost's Guardian since he grabbed her and threw the ghost high away from where a being, far too human in appearance to be a Vex teleported before the Warlock.
Seconds later, the Warlock held up his hand with a pin, and the screen faded to static and fire. But the video rewound to the appearance of said Vex. It stood like a human, coated in brass armor with a single, glowing red eye and a strange rifle in its hands. It was like some form of Rogue Guardian.
"What the hell was that?" Morbin grumbled all our questions, with Ikora sighing
"We are unsure, it was not a Guardian as the report from the Warlock, Grain. His ghost described they shot it where a Vex would normally protect, yet it didn't falter, instead it... walked toward them," Ikora even sounded perplexed, it could have been a trick of the eye, but fear in situations like combat wouldn't really affect anyone unless it was severe
"Whatever this 'thing' is, it's signature matches with that of the Vault of Glass... while I do not wish to see Guardians risk their lives in the enemy's domain, this time, it's personal," Is Zavala serious? If what he was implying was correct, then... "Starting tomorrow evening, the six of you, chosen by the Vanguard shall proceed with a Raid on the Vault of Glass, to strike against the Vex where they are most defended."
The room was dead silent, not a single one of us could come up with any real argument or reply to that. He was truly serious, the six of us would... Raid the Vault! I... can we? Is that even possible? Is that why Zane isn't here? Did Cayde not tell him?
"¿En serio?" Sparrow asked, I think? "Why us, of all other Guardians to ask?"
"Well, there are plenty of others who would rush at the chance to be the first batch of Guardians to take down the Vault, but that's why we chose directly without anyone knowing until 'after' we send you on your way," Cayde grinned confidently. "All six of you are some of the best we've seen in a while, not bad and not so experienced you're blinded too easily by the big haul at the end, which is undoubtedly a good motivator, but this is serious, trust me, focus is what keeps people who can enter and leave, alive."
"Together, there is no doubt in our minds that the six of you can do what so many have fallen short to do, together, the six of you can bring closure to those who have fallen or been forgotten by time and memory." Zavala assured us without a shred of doubt or reason to be concerned with our flaws
"The Vault of Glass is a wound in time, a landmark to the Guardians. Only those we've seen prove more than just mere legend and pride can possibly succeed in dealing a detrimental blow to the Vex Collective, that is why we have no worries other than for your safety within the world of these machines."
"Of course, there are only two things left to agree to," Cayde raised a finger, pointing it to all of us. "Who will lead you? And who will leave?"
"If one of you wishes to be replaced, we will not hold it against you for being unsure, but if you do, we will lose out on one of our best." Zavala agreed, sounding impassive about whoever may leave, I guess that's understandable, you can't show your disappointment in their absence, but you can't just force them into such a high-priority mission either
"Well, if I can speak freely on my part," Morbin? Of all people I didn't expect him to- "I will be apart of this Raid, but only if our leader is Ceres-" W-What!? Why me? "-Call me bias, but I won't have it any other way, no 'ifs' or 'buts'."
"Wha-" I was now looking between them all, seeing Taka grin, nudging my shoulder
"I have to agree, can't think of anyone else here who can think as you can." Taka too? But why, why were they...
"You may be newer than most of us here, but, confío en ti." Sparrow had a hand to his chest, nodding once. "For you, I will give my life in battle."
"Rather chivalrous of you," Harrow motioned with a plane smile. "You shouldn't doubt your capabilities, Ceres, your way of planning even in the toughest of situations has done alot for the City and other Guardians too, hardly something to consider a flaw on your part."
"I know little of you, but Morbin has spoken highly of your abilities, and while I don't fully understand your... connection with 'that' Hunter, if the others have seen potential in you, I shall agree with their vote." Even an Exo I've only just met was in agreement? And 'that' Hunter, he meant Zane, didn't he?
"So, what is your say, Guardian?" I turned my head to Zavala, himself looking deep into my very soul for an answer.
"This was the greatest trial yet for all of us." I turned my head to Harrow and Sparrow
"I would be the one entrusted with their lives, against time itself." I then turned it to Taka, Vlad, and Morbin
"They put their faith in me, a Guardian who was still new to the world, despite what I've learned and seen." Bringing my gaze back to Zavala, I raised an unwavering expression, my eyes ablaze with a reinforced vow to see this done, no matter if my life is to be taken, I wouldn't fail them
"I'll lead them into the Vault, we'll smash our way through their defenses and crush the heart of the Vault, no one else will have to die down there," Without hesitation or time to think things through, I took up my oath to be their guiding light through this Raid, until the very end of it all. "That is... if you will have me as your leader?"
"We just took a vote, duh." Morbin sounded unimpressed with that response but shrugged
"Like I once told Dimi, you lead we'll shoot." Taka winked playfully
"Isn't this great, love it when a plan comes together." Cayde sounded chipper about it too
"Then it's settled, starting tomorrow, the six of you will depart for the Vault of Glass, destroy the Mind that controls their Underworld and deal a major blow to the Vex Collective." Ikora enforced the mission's objective
"Take the time to prepare, Guardians, and bring all the strength of your Light with you." Zavala encouraged us all. It wouldn't be easy, if anything, it was to be far worse than the Black Garden could ever be, but we'll find a way through
[Tower, Last City, Earth]
"Well, that was certainly surprising." You can say that again Ghost. I mean... The. Vault of Glass, and I'm the one they wanted to lead them! "You shouldn't be so surprised, despite you lack of experience you happen to be very smart."
"You always this good at compliments?" I giggled, jogging back up the stairs into the plaza
"For my Guardian, of course." Heh, good answer Little Light. "Please, don't do that."
With a small laugh, I decided to make a B-line for the accommodations again, if not for the shadow leaning against the wall of the Postmaster. "Hey, Ceres."
"Ah - G-geez, Zane, thanks for the free heart attack," I exhaled heavily, seeing him look at me with a simple smile. "What are you doing here?"
"I do night ops alot, and... I wanted to talk to you if you don't mind?" He offered, his hand held out to the staircase leading to the Traveler's Walk, a nice garden that led to some more accommodations and to the upper levels of the Tower
"I have some time, why not?" In agreement, the two of us took a stroll together up the stairs, with Ghost appearing
"I'll go wait for Taka, goodnight." Ghost soon departed, leaving me and Zane alone to the empty night strip down the garden toward the railing overlooking the mountains past the wall, still an amazing view, especially at night with only the lanterns and stars to light the way
"Amazing, isn't it?" Zane breathed, feeling relaxed while he stared off toward the horizon. "I heard Chrome Dome gave you some advice on Light Augmentation?"
"Yeah, he did. Arc can boost speed, Solar for strength and Void for endurance, I didn't believe Light could do that." I beamed, finding that experience to be insightful, new possibilities and routes were completely opened to me now because of it. "The Light really is amazing!"
"I... yeah, it is," His response was soft, mellow even
Tapping the rail for a moment, I yawned a little. "Before I drift off while standing, what was it you wanted-"
"I don't want you to go down into the Vault of Glass." Well, he was obviously concerned with - W-What did he... how did he know? "I had Cayde tell me since I was the last of my fireteam, I told him and Ikora to tell me when someone would be going back down there. And so I can stop them from doing so."
The once peaceful atmosphere enveloping us dissipated, my body turned completely to the still unwavering Hunter, his body hunched over with his arms against the railing.
"Zane, you... you can't be serious, right?" I turned back to face him with an expression of disbelief, of all people to say that. He should be wanting us to do this, for all of his friends. "You of all people would object? Why? We've handled powerful Vex before."
"We barely survived against Chronos, and I'm sorry Ceres, but Atheon, the Templar and Gorgons, they are nothing if not dangerous," Zane reinforced, his voice twisted like his face, terror, and worry. "They can all do what Chronos could if you get hit with the Oracles' power you're gone! Forever, no one would remember you... I... I'd forget my best friend ever existed."
I threw my hand in defiance, my face depicting disappointment with anger laced in my words. "So you're saying you rather have the Vex continue their plans, to eventually bring their simulations into a reality!?" I shook my head, frowning back at him. "I'm sorry, but if I and my team have a chance to stop this, I'm going, with or without your approval."
"They'll kill you all!" He... yelled at me? That honest, kind person... he was gone, just this angry, unstable Guardian who has been down there and came back alive. Without warning, he had made his way over to me, grabbing me by the sides of my shoulders. "We were ready! We knew what was down there and we lost everything! I could only watch at the people who taught me, learned with me, laughed and cared with me, die!"
He suddenly shuddered away, lowering his hands as he stumbled away from my star-stricken face, my eyes didn't blink once. "I couldn't do anything but run... I... I watched as the girl who I saw like a... mother... die... right at the foot of freedom..."
His right fist was clenched so tightly I gasped seeing thick, dark drops hit the ground from between his fingers. "Summer... Marco... Shadis... Eva-2... Echo... all but me..."
"Zane." Rika appeared, and I just felt so alone, seeing as Ghost wasn't with me, I only felt helpless and without anyone to turn to in this situation, the one that always did that was... fighting with me
"...play it..." At his hollow reply, Rika blinked, before projecting a recording she had, and of a scene, no one has ever seen. "You need to know... know what that place did to us."
[Templar's Well, Vault of Glass, Venus]
[Zane's POV]
It was cold again, just sitting there in my arms was Summer, her body was a layer of coldness that met no equal, even to that of the Cosmodrome's snow, my hands were as stained crimson as the cubic, grey stone under us. She wasn't speaking, not now, seeing as she kept her eyes glued to me, that brightness beginning to trickle as if it were her own blood, while that same smile I've known remained intact, even now as I felt my soul turn to shambles, my hands trying to stop the bleeding, while Rika did everything I begged her to, even against her truthful words, for once, I just wanted her to lie and say she could fix it, fix all that occurred in such a small window of horror.
"...z-Zane...you h-h-have to...g-go." Summer was barely able to squeeze the words out, yet I didn't want to leave, I couldn't now, I refused to follow her order this time, I...I needed to
"Keep trying, Rika, I'm not done yet!" I yelled, applying pressure on her wound, in the back of my mind I knew it was useless, she was dying and I could do nothing, yet...would anyone just give up on the person who gave them a reason to live in this world? I couldn't. "Shut up and sit still, I -We're going home, stop talking like its over!"
"...Zane..." Her soft hand was no longer warm like always, it was cold against my cheek, or was that my tears? Maybe both? But she turned my head to face her gently, even as her hand remained, shaking with each second wasting her remnant energy. "If you do...I-I will get y-you killed too...the V-Vex..."
"Please stop saying that!" I couldn't keep my tears back, I didn't want to, I didn't want her to go! "I won't lose you too! Please...please don't leave me..." My head was bowed, yet her hand moved again to pat me on the head, ruffling my hair again though probably leaving blood too
"It's okay...I'm not going far...j-just a little closer to you now..." Her hand fell, moving to rest against my chestplate, her hand shaking to hold, while a small pool of blood formed by my knees now, the circumference continuing to grow. "I'll be... r-right here, still making you... smile."
Her eyes were losing their details, her vision looking unfocused, but her smile made its way to Rika. "Take care...of...of him..."
"..." She dipped her shell, if she could cry, I doubt she'd be any better than me, even as I lost the will to stop the blood, only able to shakily wrap my arms around her, feeling hers drape over my shoulders
"I don't want to go... I want to stay... please..." I sniffled into her chest, her hand pressed to my head as she hushed me like a child, but I continued to cry into her arms
"I know, but only a little longer... okay...? I... want to... see you... but... I c-can only feel you... j-just remember, re-remember what I-i told you... Take Action, Zane," My heart sank faster into darkness, my Light all but dimmed to nothingness. "Zane? Where are you, I... can't see right."
"I'm here! I always am," My hand pressed to where her heart rested, the beating all but faded away now, and my voice caught in my throat. "I'll always be here..."
"I... I'm... glad... we met... y-you... and... I..." Her hand fell from my locks, and I felt her relax into my arms lifelessly, while mine on grew tighter, while Rika rested against my neck
"...Summer...? Come back... come back..." I gently nudged her, but nothing. ". . . . . ."
In the depths of the Vault of Glass, if you could listen closely, you'd hear the damned soul that remained of six, scream into the endless abyss in agony, the howls of their heart, shattering for miles under the crust of Venus for what would be an eternity.
[Present Day]
"On that day. The tower witnessed only a single ship returning, a single Guardian covered in blood, his armor torn to shreds, fall to his knees before dozens of others, his face stained with tears that fell from his cold, lifeless eyes. The Raid on the Vault of Glass failed, and the immortalized title of 'The Worst One' rung for months on end since that day for me, mostly among the veterans and those that knew them closely."
"Zavala threatened to banish me from the Tower, to wander aimlessly from the Last City until death or some other fate would claim me, I never spoke during it all, even as Sloane threatened to kill me over her best friend's death, I wanted her to do it, to kill me, maybe then I could hold her warm hand again, see her smile and make any situation bright, but how can I now...when she isn't here beside me? What was there left for The Worst One then death?"
"Z-Zane..." Tears fell from my eyes, even while I tried in vain to stop, yet my heart felt so... crushed, I... I was yelling with my best friend, he was trying to warn me like he probably tried to do for his friends before, and they never came back. I looked up to him and yet I was just disregarding everything that happened to his friends like everyone else, I felt sick. It took him yelling at me to realize that. "I didn't know, I... I don't..."
"They saved me though," Huh? I raised my ashamed head to him, seeing his smile pierce his shaken face, even while he trembled before me. "My little sister, Cayde, Ikora, Shaxx, even Amanda, if it weren't for them I wouldn't be here, I... would still be haunted by my mistakes, something I can easily hide."
"But you-" He raised his hand, stopping me, but it shook in the air, and without warning I clasped my hands with his, holding onto his hand tightly with all my might. "Please don't feel that it was your fault, the Vex... they did this, not you."
The Vex took so much from him, all his hope and dreams were crushed by their might, but I won't let it do the same to anyone anymore. "I'll stop them, I promise, I'll take all their memories, all your sorrow, and destroy Atheon!"
He seemed visibly star-struck by that, the one answer he didn't expect, but no amount of pity would change the fates of his friends, but I could give him the closure he needed, destroying the Vex and giving them the vengeance they deserve, for them, Zane and his Fireteam, I'll avenge them all.
"Please... I... I won't stop you," Zane whispered, his head low while I held back the urge to comfort him while tears fell from under his locks to the shadowy ground below. "I can't lose you too... you mean too much to me... so... please, come back... promise me you'll come back."
"I will, cross my heart," I held his hand in my palms for a short moment, seeing him smile with a tear-filled gaze toward me tore me from the inside, seeing the Hunter that taught me so much, who assured me when I was lost, just... broken, I had no right to be anything other than sorry for him, it couldn't have been easy at all
Slowly, my hands slipped into the cool night, my body turning quickly, I couldn't bear to see him fall to his knees, softly crying like a child after all he's done for me. I didn't see that as him being weak, not when he's been holding on for so long, just to see someone he cared for leave him again, even if it was only for the Raid, those thoughts and horrible images wouldn't go away until I was done. I needed to be strong, lest I taint the vow I made.
"Ceres!" I froze at his voice. "Take it!" I turned my head back toward him, hearing the soft scrape of metal slide toward me, tapping against my foot with a familiar aura around it. It was Hard Luck! I picked the weapon up, finally feeling the grip in my hands while I lowered it to my side, viewing the kneeling Hunter. "When you're in trouble, that gun will always give you luck in the toughest of situations."
"Thank you, Zane." I smiled thoughtfully, sliding the gun in an empty holster strapped to my thigh, turning back toward the monumental archway and passing through, wiping away my stray tears, frowning to steel my nerves for him, for Zane, not just the City, I'm doing this for him. "I'll end this, bet on it."
With that, I moved past Dimitri, her arms crossed while she leaned her head against the wall, sighing while flicking something from her cheek. She can keep him company until this is over, I don't want him to be alone right now either, but... no, shaking my head, I steadily moved for the Vault. I need to stay focused, I can do this, me, Taka, Morbin, Harrow, Vlad-12, Sparrow; We'll bring the Vault of Glass down no matter what happens.
Stopping just at the console to access my Vault, I found my hand frozen over the keypad, seeing Hard Luck within my vision for the longest time. Knitting my lips together, I replaced the sidearm I already had, deciding to keep Hard Luck, a sad smile lingering with my left hand gently brushing the side of the gun.
"Together, like always."
To Be Continued...
Man, this one hit me deeply while writing the small scene with Zane and Summer, even the drama between Zane and Ceres was something. Truly, we may be immortal, but our minds can never just heal. Anyway, first raid and I have no idea how this will pan out since I've never done VOG or written something of its caliber, but we'll see. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter Guardians!
Next Chapter: Vault of Glass - Forged In Light
The Raid on the Vault of Glass has begun, and the team led by Ceres must find their way through the doorways protecting the Vex's darkest construct. Can they manage the Guards? And what of the 'Templar' that supposedly guards the second door to the Vault itself?
