Act V - The Dark Below
Chapter 17 - Malfeasance
Another day at the Tower, one where I lost my glorious win streak thanks to Cayde calling my Fireteam of all teams to handle a Strike! Honestly, between that and Iron Banner I don't know what's got me more stressed lately, not that you can tell since my hair is snow-white, and Guardians can go white from stress, what freakin' joy...
I did dawn myself a newly fashioned Swordplay armor. The black and white remained, and red of the armor replaced with amethyst, of course, the bladed bracers reflected the moonlight a bit as I sat by the steps facing the Traveller, checking through my dual sidearms, simple Hakke make, nothing special beyond that, while No Turning Back sat on the steps next to me, alongside my Fighting Lion, also colored a shiny purple.
"I'm not the only one who got themselves an upgrade it seems?" My attention immediately flipped to the familiar, warm voice of Taka, seeing her smile down at me with a Jovian Guard helmet cradled between her right arm, the colors were royal blue for the visor and armor plates, with the sides and matterweave a smooth white, any symbols were decorated as other shades of blue too. It... really suited her.
I blinked, wiping the stupid look off my face as I tapped a hand to my two pistols. "Y-You look good, better even!" Argh, what am I saying!?
Taka, thankfully, didn't notice, and just kept her grin. "Same to you, although, you do look... irritated, did something happen?" Always caring, just like another Titan we know, right Ray?
"Ceres is really nice," True, though a bit of a clutz. "You're no better."
I winced at the hurtful words. Clearing my throat I threw Ray out with a hand, seeing him spin through the air. "Sorry, Ray being hurtful as usual. To answer, yes, I lost my win streak for this."
Her brow raised. "And?"
I blinked, scratching my head. "Uh, you do realize that I have to win five consecutive matches to obtain one, Shaxx is being a stickler since Iron Banner came back and matches have gotten... sweatier, so imagine my luck when idiots I'm paired with can't pull their own weight!"
"I see... and this Strike interfered with that?" 'Obviously' was written all over my face. "A Strike, with a Fireteam, that you're supposed to be leading?"
"I never asked for one! It was Cayde's idea!" I bellowed but sighed, seeing Taka's... somewhat hurt face, and I turned red, waving my hands shamefully. "Look, I didn't - I'm used to working solo or being a temporary on a team, I don't lead, I never have led a Fireteam in my life... being called out of the blue like this just caught me by surprise."
Taka sat down beside me, looking off toward the City while adjusting a strand of her hair. "I understand, I'm not much of a leader, I can get... intense, as CT would say," Her gaze shifted to me as I tried to focus on my bow, adjusting the tension in the string. "If Cayde chose you to lead our Fireteam it was for a good reason, so don't put yourself down about it."
I nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah, I get it..." I did and I didn't. Being a leader and being called a leader are entirely different things, one of which I was uncertain of. Especially at the final member's approach. I jabbed a finger behind her, having a mirthless smile on my face. "Anywho, once you see who I got to help us you'll understand my reluctance."
"Oi, are you ready yet!?" Ahh, Reiner, never change. The explosive temper with the shiny, gold and silver Raku Fulcrum armor was quite the contrast to his personality. He had no other Fireteam to join at the time so I offered him a place in ours, plus, I want a Sunbreaker on our team, I want to see a Vex get slammed into the ground again. "Invited me into this team of yours and you're not even ready!"
"It was an optional invitation, Dumb-Dumb, not my fault you've never seen how terrible of a leader I am," I smugly replied, seeing Taka strain to keep a poker face. I nudged her, grinning devilishly. "Still think I'm a good leader?"
Now it was her turn to look flustered. "I... umm... well he's not... a bad Guardian... though he certainly is... different." Good thing he already took off toward the Hanger, I don't want to pay for the damages caused by these two
"I think what Taka is trying to say is, are you crazy bringing that brute along?" CT berated me, but I shrugged and grabbed my bow, slinging it over my back
"He's a hothead, sure, but his skill is what we need, much as I hate to say this, I can't clear several armies of Vex with a couple of tethers every minute or so," I answered her, turning away to put my helmet on, shoving my hair into the back of my chestplate. "Besides, Don't underestimate the Vex, ever."
"I understand," Taka replied and I clapped my hands, fist rose high
"Then let's go and screw them over, hahaha!" Ceres' team and several others had an important mission of their own, I can't have them worrying about us and the Black Garden too. But taking Taka back to a place deep in Vex territory made me worry a bit
Ray, the moment Taka freezes up tell CT to take her back to their Jumpship. "Oh, okay... are you sure, Dimi?" I won't let her face the Vex if she's not ready, after what that Gorgon did to her I don't want to see her cry ever again. Ray hummed happily at that. "I can do that, no problem!" Heh, what's with the jolly tune? Think I'm going soft? "N-n-no, just-"
"Hehehe... just playing with you," I whispered as we strolled into the Hanger
[Mars, Black Garden]
In a flash of blue light, I felt my feet stumble onto the stone of an unknown place. I will never get used to Vex teleporters. Blinking a few times I took in the massive, ancient basin surrounded by walls of white stone, decorated on top with red flowers. The sky was coated by an Arora and nothing more, stars all but faint flickers among the hazy turquoise and blue. Zane was right, this place isn't natural in the slightest, I was even getting chills through my armor.
I turned to face Reiner and Taka, both of them viewing the world for themselves, although the location had my heart tick faster. We were standing below an old, metal frame, like a cradle for something long gone. Even without a sound, this place gave off a strange, silent presence.
~I'll like this place better when it stays dead...~ Ray whispered into our coms
"This is where the Heart was..." I murmured, the two of them looking to the frame, then Reiner tisked and took the lead. My brow raised. "Really want to go into this place alone? You might not come back~"
He visibly shot back at me, probably glaring too. "I know that! Quit wasting time gawking..." He turned away, grumbling a bit. "This place isn't natural, anyone stupid enough to stay here longer than they should probably never came back."
"He's right about that, we shouldn't dwell on anything for too long." Taka insisted, so I waved their concerns off and took point again
"Walk behind me!" At that, I craned my head back
"Aww, so sweet of you to worry about me, but nope." I popped the 'P' in that and continued up the flight of unstable steps, passing through a large doorway that led inside the massive maze, but my radar soon blared red toward my left. "Eyes up."
The second I said that I drew back two arrows, hearing them whistle as they struck down two mossy, rust-covered Goblins, the new explosive heads causing the two behind them to recoil from the impact. I drew closer, slicing the first across the core, followed by a Void-charged roundhouse kick to the second, its body sailing far into the ground below.
Side-stepping I avoided a Hobgoblin, drawing again and hopping up and over the stone wall, my reticle lined to the Hobgoblin, in a split second it too turned to scrap. With a flick of my hip, I dislodged a CLG, batting it down to my left into a group of Goblins, the explosion clearing the way for Taka to line her sights in the direction a Hydra loomed, while Reiner held the vanguard, slamming into a Goblin, before firing a magazine into the large group funneling from the far right, raising a shotgun in his right hand, but two explosive arrows from me already pinged them down, making him scoff loudly.
Hopping over the basin I surveyed the area, finding that the Vex had gathered nearest the exit out of this box canyon. The Hydra below burst into flames, while Reiner made a B-line for the group, drawing the Goblins from me, with a keen eye I let my breath go, my arrow sailing between two Goblins and dismantling the trace rifle in a Hob's hand, while Reiner's fist collided with its face, Taka surfacing from the stairs to cover his back, mostly in Vex Milk.
I softly landed, making a T-pose for results, Reiner shook his head, while Taka gave a small breath. "The Sol Divisive isn't putting up much in the way of resistance."
I wagged my finger. "All the more reason to stay on our toes could be waiting to box us in." My warning made them both slow in their brisk walks, now following in behind me as I went completely silent, the energy in the air was thick with uneasiness, I hated that, meant anything could spring atop us in seconds. The Black Garden was a wound created around the time the Traveller messed with Mars, and the Vex made sure to keep us away from it, but why? The Black Heart can't really be the end, right? Ugh... too much thinking, I'll leave it to someone smarter to ponder.
! "Behind-" On it. I spun back around, drawing my left sidearm while I spun Taka around into my arm, taking the head clean off the Minotaur, with Reiner throwing a slug through its stomach, tearing it apart. Behind the wreckage were the shadows and clanks of metal. I pushed Taka off my arm
"I hate the Vex."
"I can second that, thank you." I shrugged at her gratitude, drawing my second sidearm as the dark clouds and distant crackling of bolts tickled the sky. "Go, they'll pincer us otherwise, make a break for the stairs."
"About damn time...!" Reiner chuckled, running off with his rifle primed, while Taka stopped to look back at me, I couldn't make out what she was doing, but her gaze was locked on my back
"...Go already, dummy." I murmured with a soft sigh, racking both handguns slowly. Without a word between us, I heard her feet take flight, and I finally had a moment to smile. "Just you, me, and a small army of Vex."
"Like always?" Yeah, like always buddy. They came around, roughly a dozen Goblins, five Harpies, and two Hobgoblins
"Okay..." I cracked a grin under my visor. "My turn first."
The Goblins warped closer, I opted to mow down as many as I could, firing ceaselessly into the horde of rusted brass, clearing the space around me. Three fired their weapons, so I rolled back, slapping in two new clips hooked to my thighs, with a satisfying 'click' I took their heads off, fly-kicking the middle one, then with a solid roundhouse, my Void-enhanced leg caved the remaining two's chassis in.
"Your left!" I rolled back, two Hobgoblin trace rounds singeing stone. Cracking my right arm out I fired, forcing one into defense, while the other shot my stomach, followed by several bursts of plasma from the Harpies. Grunting I assaulted their firing line, bounding atop the first and then the second, spinning through the air with both handguns pressed down
*Blam-Blam*
"Wait, what are you-" Ray's inquiry wasn't worth answering as my feet slammed against the destroyed Harpy, spinning me around and down the slope as I unleashed every last bullet I had, reloading quickly I slid onto my back, striking both Hobgoblins in the back while my head pressed against the wall, rolling to my feet I kept my head low and snaked my way back toward three Harpies, the remains of the Goblins warping around me. "I... think I'm dizzy..."
Kicking up a fragment of a Hobgoblin I braced against the hail of scolding lasers, slamming against the first Harpy while gunning down the one to my left, spinning the makeshift shield around I threw it through the last Harpy, tearing through the wiring and organic mass, the brass plate ricocheted off the wall, my fingers coiling around the surface to fling it back at a Goblin, raising both arms and firing simultaneously, seeing while goo stain the ground while the top of my helmet burned cherry red for a second, the last two Goblins killing each other.
Resting against my knee I rubbed my head, panting as the gunfire continued up ahead. I hadn't the pleasure of resting yet, so I dropped the two clips and reloaded, switching back to my bow as I trudged my way up the slope again.
"Huh?" My head craned back with a frown, my eyes leering toward the remains of the Vex as I waited for something to jump out from behind the corners, all I received was that eerie fog. "... Time to move"
"Dimi?" The sound of Ray's worried voice was enough t shake my attention, but I wasn't so sure about that fog, maybe the Garden is getting to me. Shaking my head, I pressed on
"Tick, tick, boom," My starting appearance spooked both of them, seeing the last of the Vex guarding the stairway suddenly rupture into flames at a moment's notice, scrap trickling down the steps after me as I bowed, offering the way. "Ladies and Hotheads first."
"Pfft, what does that make you?" Reiner asked as I tapped the place my nose was
"A woman of culture and badassery, what else, dumb-dumb?" I remarked slyly, seeing that our route was obscured by a wall dividing a staircase either side, it was a narrow pathway up to the top. "If that's not a trap then I'm the dumb-dumb."
Stepping back I pat both of them on the backs. "Go on an' get! Show them some sparks!"
"And you?" Taka's answer came in the form of me juggling a smoke bomb between my fingers
~You were the one snooping around our home then~ CT accused me, as I stepped back, chuckling
~It's was you!~
"I had nothing to do with... whatever you're - Look, we have a big Vex to kill so can we not discuss this?" I reminded them, though Taka did cross her arms, so I raised mine. "Everyone's out to hate me, I accidentally dropped one when I was around the other day and I had to wait until the effects wore off so I put a few harmless pranks over your house big deal!"
~Come on, guys can't we talk about this later?~ Reiner's ghost, Base, finally spoke up, and so I sighed and threw it down, seeing them walk away as I put my head up against the wall, feeling my cheeks burn brightly
"Idiot..." I slapped myself on the head, slumping a bit. "Here I thought I was sneaky."
"Dimitri?" Ray's obvious worry had me shift against the rugged wall, breathing through my nose. "I-I know you want to h-help her, I really want t-to too, b-but I-"
"Let's go." I quickly moved, seeing the dual shockwaves crackle across the walls, dust kicked up before me as I whistled. "Damn, maybe two Strikers was overkill, almost feel a little useless - Who's there!?"
I drew back my bow, aiming it toward the staircase as I kept silent, feeling my ears tune out the sound of gunfire while my nose blocked out the smells of smoke and molten stone, the sensation of quakes beneath my feet from a sudden eruption. All was silent say for the eerie sensation of the Garden, how it swayed like an ocean. I had this chilling sensation tickle my skin, bracing against my hair as I continued to delve deeper into the Garden, we were being followed.
My hardened glare once again met stone and sky, nothing was there, my radar was blank and the shadows made no sudden change in tone or shape. Slowly, I stepped into the hallway, finally taking my eyes off the stairway and pinning a shiny, Precursor Goblin against the nearby wall, with a Minotaur sailing against the wall, head flown off as it's electrified body slumped toward me. I ran to the middle wall, running up and over its fist that tore into the stone. With an arrow drawn, the head tore through the circuitry, pinging against the ground with the soft explosion tossing the parts high into the air.
~The way is cleared, everything alright on your end?~ Taka informed me, as I skipped 'round the corner, waving once with two fingers. ~I see... the Vex have vanished, ready to diverge on the Vex signal~
"Chop-Chop then!" I clapped, jumping up the steps to meet them both. They were mostly unscathed, even as Reiner took care of the last Hobgoblin, tearing it in two by the arms. Just how fast were these two? I rubbed the back of my head awkwardly. "Man, I feel a little laid-back now."
"You make the decisions, or did you forget what you told me in your message?" Reiner raised my curiosity, I actually forgot what I wrote exactly. "'I doubt you'd agree to help me, you hate me, that's kind of obvious, but Sero said you'd do anything to help someone you asked, I don't know, maybe I'm being an idiot, but I can't think clearly lately, and I need someone who would stand their ground against anything that comes in front of me and Taka, while I provide optimal cover.'"
I went silent, turning my back to them in a similar fashion I've done before. I didn't need CT's pessimistic view right now or insults, I know what I've done, right now, I want to move on just like Zane, I had to trust my Fireteam, I had to lead them right. For Harrow, I'll do what I can and improve bit-by-bit.
"Dimitri? Is everything okay?" Taka now understood why I 'hired' Reiner, with everything swimming in my head lately, and... you, Taka, I'm worried about you, dummy...
I laughed, a little too forcefully as I stamped down on a Vex chest. "Of course! Both of you are the strong front horses I need, combined that with my covering support we'll outshine even my dumbass brother's Fireteam, count on it, baby!" I held up two peace-signs where my eyes would be. This dramatic glimmer off my body had Taka laugh herself while Reiner crossed his arms, making a soft grumble
"You make it sound like this is a permanent job." Reiner loved it
Clearing my throat, I motioned ahead. "Alright, lets crack on then! Press on!"
The world opened up finally, the only clear route lay past a Vex gate, down another dark tunnel into the depths of the Garden, while a cliff overlooked the grand staircase upward, the red flowers turning to black from the distance but far across the distance was a massive black monolith coated in green grass. Turning back around to the columns of stone I felt it again, and my smile had vanished as the two of them overlooked the world as I did.
My fist balled up, so I turning my gaze to the passageway, feeling my hands lower toward my handguns. "Go, I'll handle the rest."
"What?" Reiner murmured, clearly annoyed by that but I hadn't the time to argue now
"You can handle the others, I'll join you both as soon as I can, but I need you both to work strongly together, do whatever it takes to play it safe until I get there." I couldn't hide it, my anger was starting to burn into my words, I need them to go. "Get going or we risk everything being undone."
"Is something wrong? If it is, tell us now." Now Taka was facing me directly, clearly staring me off as I remained silent, I couldn't say it otherwise they'll stay. "..."
"..." I hadn't the time for this. Want me to be a leader, fine. "The safety of every Guardian under my Fireteam falls upon me, I'm giving you a fucking order," I stepped closer, helmets near touching as I seethed from between my teeth. "Now follow it."
She didn't move, neither did I. Slowly, Taka nodded, turning around while reloading, but now, she spoke with a tone I've never heard, it wasn't angry, but somewhat affected by my words. "You got it, be safe - Let's move, Reiner."
"...Sure." He didn't say anything more and followed after her, leaving me to punch the wall next to me the moment they left my sight
"...You dumbass, what was that?" I berated, feeling my stomach turn to knots
"Dimi... you don't think?" Not even he could finish his sentence as I sighed, cracking my fingers as I waltz over to the archway where my team left me, staring back toward the monolith. My skin was crawling, and a mindset I never liked surfaced. I felt wrong, almost disgusted to think and feel the way I did now, how... apathetic I felt
"Hmm, that certainly did the trick, although your tact is still lacking something..." I tried not to immediately draw my guns, wanting nothing more to pump every last bullet into his chest. The dark armor fit so well against the lights in the sky, illuminating the white glow of his eyes as clear as day, while a black, twisted handcannon sat tenderly in his right hand
The Shadow of Yor held the barrel in his other hand, playing with it idly. "Dredgen Fay, out of all the Shadows... of course you'd follow me - I'm touched."
His posture morphed. "So you knew? That's why you sent them away... afraid you'll commit to the same mistakes as before?"
I felt my hands twitch. "Go to hell."
"So I'm right, figures your anger was both your strength and weakness," Fay shrugged carelessly, lowering Thorn. "You know, Vell, this mystical place has remained a mystery to the City, brought about by the Light and touched by the Darkness, given a power none could comprehend, sort of like us."
"I'm not you." I scowled, and he turned his head to me dully, backhanding a bullet that sailed into the sky. I silently cursed, lowering my left handgun. "Always a pain in my ass."
He drew Thorn straight, as I grabbed my right gun, lowering it behind me as the Void within my arm channeled into the barrel, my fingers tickling the triggers. "Not to sound too plain, Vell, but you and I aren't so different," The moon clip rotated once. "We've both killed someone, haven't we?"
My eyes burned, the trigger throwing me through the air with more force than expected. Fay didn't falter, firing a thorn that skated under my arm, I fired toward the left, my feet slamming against a column of stone, I dove with a right hook, the handgun missed as he ducked, I swiped with the left, his stomach bent back, while my right foot struck his stomach, the force threw him backward.
Fay backflipped, deflecting two shots with his arms, raising his Thorn while murmuring under his breath. His shot missed, and as I raised my sights he was gone, clearly using some form of cloak against my HUD, so I moved out into the open between some of the walls, eyes pinned to his footsteps.
"Your right!" Thanks. I fired, seeing the shadow hide, hopping up on top of the pillars, I gave pursuit, seeing Vex platforms starting to appear over the cliff, he dived onto them, turning back around to wave once. I leapt over the space, seeing something silver at the last second
*Boom!*
His solar grenade went off, sending me spiraling downward as embers danced in my eyes for a second. Shaking off the daze, I finally felt the Void consume my body, the injuries I've sustained numbing, My right arm snapped down, tossing the handgun away as Ray brought forth a powerful red and black handcannon with a glowing blue chamber, Better Devils.
Firing once, my Light forced the bullet's concussion, like before, to propel me high, landing safely on the platform I gave chase, throwing the other handgun away for another Handcannon, this one was red and black, a slightly stubbier than Better Devils, Duke Mk. 44. He was already traveling across another walkway, firing several thrones my way as I countered with Duke and Devils, our rounds either missing or bouncing off each other.
One of his finally struck, drilling into my enhanced body for an uncomfortable amount of time. We stopped, leaping over the gap between us while the pathways vanished, a new one appearing beneath us. I fired first, his body flying backward and into a wall, I landed roughly, slinging both Handcannons. Seeing him shake himself I kicked him in the stomach, pushing him against the wall, sending a right hook across his mask's canister, knocking it off.
He swung left and right, my body ducking and swerving while digging my left fist into his stomach, wrapping my right arm around his left, pinning him with the left in a stranglehold. I pulled him off his feet, lowering my right to reach for Devils as his Thorn tapped against my temple. I avoided the gunshot, drawing Duke, but he flipped over my shot, kicking the back of my head.
He ran toward the right, both my shots missing. He bound up and over a wall, firing down as the platform began to pull itself back through time, holes making it harder to move. I yelped, my fingers snug against the edge of the wall, feet dragging over the nonexistent floor below. I grumbled, swinging a little as a new set of pathways led up to the top of the wall where Fay trekked toward.
I used another smoke bomb, hiding as I flanked from the left, setting foot on the strange grass that clung to my boots for a moment as if unsatisfied with its material. Ignoring the picky grass I saw Fay overlook the platforms, clearly confused as to where I had gone, unaware I pulled the hammer back on Devils, Duke slung. Appearing from the ether the bullet lodged deep into his right shoulder, causing him to yell.
He turned angrily, the thorn leaving the barrel at an unnatural speed that costed me, as the prong dug into my foot, making me wince at the painful sensation against my body and Light, I bent down and tore it out, himself running at me, firing continuously, so I did the same, shrugging off the pain as we missed shots and saw some deflect off one another. Each sound of metal tore at the sky, the sound of his Thorn made me shiver even as my Light enveloped me in a strange warmth.
We both noticed the bullets lacking existence, so we did the next best thing and tackled each other over the edge, hands locks as we rolled through the sky, kicking and punching one another as we plummeted from the extremely high wall, each of us unable to obtain the upperhand. We gasped, colliding with the ground as I slowly rose to my feet, himself using his hands to hold himself steady.
Fay attempted to conjure his Golden Gun, so I drew from the Void, firing a single Shadowshot that plunged into the ground, pulling the Light from his fingertips, He looked surprised at the reaction time, even more so as I ran full force, Void tearing at the ground with an impactful dropkick to his chest, shattering his chestplate completely. He fell onto his back, shards crumbling as I slowly reloaded myself.
"You... never could see what we were trying to recreate, a peaceful world!" He snapped, throwing a kick into my thigh, I raised Devils but his fist connected to my jaw, making me cough. "You took our generosity, but you know you felt it, the same feelings we had when we fight."
"I am nothing like Yor, you psychopath!" I argued, firing twice into his chest, and yet he wasn't phased, grabbing my arm at my hesitation. I threw a punch but he locked my arm, now we were unable to make a move
His head slowly rose to meet my gaze under the visor, and I felt it, those crazed, heartless eyes of his staring back. "Oh? Isn't that just what Mika said?"
My strength faltered, my head froze immediately even as he kicked me back with surprising heat, his legs caught on fire as the right struck my side, shattering the wall behind me, but I only managed a cough. "... Mika... h-how did...?" He was there!? He saw her... w-w-what I - No... no-no-no, I...
His voice was cold, lifeless. "I guess she was wrong too." I felt my eyes tremble
"You can still run, hide away all those little secrets, but when they find out, when they realize who you are, what you've done, they'll never accept you," No... shut up. "You're a psychopath," No. "You're a Shadow," I wasn't, I... "Just. Like. Me." Each word thundered in my ears
I fell to the ground, having so many thoughts racing, riddling my concentration with doubts and fears I never wanted to hear again. It was stupid, I didn't care about anyone's opinion of me, right? That was me, the uncaring Hunter of the Crucible, the Anomaly, I wasn't... I... I...
My body was trembling, so much so that I lost the feeling of my bow between my fingers, it was heavy, my body felt heavier. My eyes were hazy, trying to face ahead but only managing to see a shroud over my body, judging me as I felt my breath quake. His foot tapped my knee, invoking little response.
"Hmm... guess I was right, don't feel too bad, if you want you can come back when I done cleaning up here, this place is so much more fun then I realize," Fay hummed in thought, clearly taking in what I felt sickened by. "Good place for a fireteam to... lose their way - I don't know, could be the best excuse I got right now."
He pulled out his ghost in a flash, while I sunk deeper into my own subconscious. Ray's voice was barely audible in my ears anymore. I thought I had moved on, taking what I wanted and left without regrets, but I wasn't any different then back then, even for the short period of time I was with the Shadows of Yor, despite what Shaxx repeated over and over on a loop, I... did kill someone...
I was nobody. Just another, stereotypical Hunter.
Cayde waved to me. "Nice work, Guardian - And hey, between you and me, Warlocks can be quite square so don't worry about it."
"What was that, Cayde? Care to elaborate?" Ikora caught wind as I slowly started to back peddle away from the fire beginning to grow on Ikora's side of the table - Nope, not getting stuck in that snake pit
"H-hey, not 'ALL' Warlocks... just a few... not naming anyone in particular," Cayde assured the Voidwalker, although now Artemis was hiding behind him, clearly not liking the atmosphere. So with a click of my tongue, I swiveled around and steadily made my way out. "Dimi, don't leave me alone right now!"
"Ain't part of the job, boss, sorry~" I waved and picked up more speed, nearly zoning out the stand of monitors overlooking a multitude of locations across the world. My recent thoughts were overshadowed by this curious discovery. I craned my body around to take a closer look. "What's this...?"
"I-It's the Crucible, l-like a sport," A sport? Peering closer, the cameras displayed Guardians of varying levels of experience duking it out with each other, fighting for several control points, some used their Light continuously in a clash of mayhem, that looked like fun, and others collected crests display the image of a Guardian ID. "T-Think of it like, umm... sort of l-like training."
"Yes, because training involves Guardians kicking each others' asses," I grinned, blowing a strand of hair from my eyes. "I like it."
"Ah, the eyes of a Guardian discovering the Crucible for the first time, like a child during the Dawning, haha!" I jumped at the booming voice next to me, seeing through my hair a large Guardian in white and orange armor, his arms on his sides while he motioned to the monitors. "Greeting, Guardian, I am Lord Shaxx, the Crucible Handler."
"Quite the entrance..." I muttered, blinking out of my stupor. "Name's Dimitri."
He seemed to recognize my name. "Ah, one of Cayde's rare Nightstalkers, a rather controversial bunch in the Crucible, but instrumental nevertheless." That I scoffed at, retaining my deadpan expression
"Well honestly, not my fault its what my Light's connected to or whatever, and yet Fireteams still have a problem with me doing my own thing," I grumbled, crossing my arms. "I get it, the whole 'working together' and crap but if the mission is complete and everyone's all sunshine and rainbows then I don't see the issue," I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Maybe sticking solo is better."
"Perhaps, or you can adjust your focus on something just as meaningful to other Guardians?" Shaxx's inquisitive response had my attention piqued, one brow raised
"Like what?" He chuckled, motioning to the old videos
"Tell me, what do you see?" What kind of question was that? I see Guardians beating the snot out of each other...
Deciding to actually pay attention I took a closer inspection of each Guardian, ignoring the objectives for a moment. Some had clearly made a claim in the Crucible, dawning the same red and white I've seen draped over the walls, others looked like me, gear and weapons clearly outdated or commonplace in the Tower.
I pointed to a Titan. "His equipment is good but he runs ahead of the team, right into a sniper around... now." His head was blown off by said sniper seconds after his team fled to the safety of flanking. Another, a Warlock ran around with his Super active but was picked off by a Hunter with a Handcannon. "He got too cocky, and couldn't reach his target with that Arc Super of his so that's on him... the Hunter too, his equipment lacks fire rate in favor of power."
The information was flooding into my head, my eyes glancing here and there to pinpoint flaws in each Guardian, they were strong and had flaws in their design, others were clearly novices but the glimmer of potential was there. Shaxx put a strong hand on my shoulder, interrupting my flow of muttering.
"Every Guardian has flaws, and every flaw has a strength behind it, no matter the background or experience of a Guardian, they are welcome to try and learn from their mistakes with others, some with teams others for self-improvement, all that matters is that we improve together."
My eyes continued to linger on the monitors, a strange... tight sensation in my chest bubbled with excitement. This 'Crucible' allowed Guardians to freely express themselves, to learn and grow stronger through their own triumphs, with or without teamwork... that made me smile a little.
"Dimitri?" Ray asked, floating beside me curiously, and I tisked, waving a finger knowingly
"Yeah, sounds like a good time..." I turned around, putting a fist to my chest. "Alright Shaxx, sign me up."
"Haha! That's the spirit, Guardian! I'll forward the details of tomorrow's match to your ghost, I look forward to seeing some new blood there." Oh, he will, and I wasn't going to miss this for the world
The Crucible is where I belong, I'm not looking to be a hero or make my mark on Guardian history, I don't care if I'm portrayed as cold and heartless, this game, it clicked in my head, my thoughts and feelings were finally bare and I was okay with that because this place was where I belonged, it's the closest thing to my old life as I'll ever get.
"Every Guardian has flaws, and every flaw has a strength behind it, no matter the background or experience of a Guardian, they are welcome to try and learn from their mistakes with others, some with teams others for self-improvement, all that matters is that we improve together." The words recited in my ears, the consistent clockwork continued to repeat it loud and clear, each boom made my arms twitch, my head jerk a little to try and regain a sense of my surroundings
I had joined the Shadows of Yor to obtain power beyond what the Crucible at the time couldn't provide, a sense of the darker side of our Light, I had learned and left with that knowledge, but my actions cost someone their life, and that cannot be erased, no matter how hard I try, I know I've stained my hands... so what...?
"That was a little too close for my liking, Vell," Fay spoke up, adjusting the scope on his Thorn. "I'll be back shortly, once I'm certain your Fireteam isn't around anymore, then we'll see if you've finally reasoned with yourself, take your time of course."
It didn't make sense, but a few words came into my head, vivid and crystal clear. Zane... his voice spoke brightly and without any sense of doubt in his tone.
'To my best little sister in the whole world, live a life without regret, okay?'
I finally moved, my left hand twitching from my stupor. Fay finished adjustments and slowly took his leave toward the hallway leading deeper into the Black Garden, however, he failed to notice that his ghost hadn't moved as he did. Stopping, he turned his head left and right, clearly befuddled.
"Ghost? Where did...?"
"H-Help!" His body suddenly jerked around, handcannon frozen at the sight of my hand closed around his ghost. I felt it squirm under my fingers, trying to pry itself from my grasp as I glared through my visor, my heart didn't so much as twitch at the sight of its attempts to flee, even as I felt my hand compress the ghost tighter into my glove, piercing my skin
"What!?" Fay struggled to move a single muscle, as though I had him by the... well, I guess I do now. I closed my fist tighter, hearing something crack as I stood tall, bringing my bloodied hand closer to me
"I will sacrifice... whatever it takes... to win!" My breath was deep and ragged, while I finally clenched my fist, feeling a sudden rush of energy slam into my body, while shards of a ghost shell pierced my hand, leaving me to wince at the metal rubbing against my flesh. It hurts... but I can still fight!
"N-NO!" Fay finally moved, his sudden assault had me pulled off my feet, his hand closing around my neck in a panic. He had lost his ghost, now, he was just like everyone else. "What have you done!?"
My eyes flashed violet, my legs straddling his waist, pulling him back as I slammed him into the ground with a powerful shockwave of Void, shattering stone. He groaned as I rose above him, stomping my boot against his chest, my left hand still bleeding profusely.
"I'm am done with your shit! Want to murder me then don't waste my time monologuing!" I screamed, my chest rising heavily as I grabbed my reclusive bow and left him groveling in the dirt, the sound of heavy, metal footsteps approaching from the way we came in, they were coming for us
Stomping at the base of the steps I turned back to the Shadow, seeing him raise his gun at me, then to the approaching shadows themselves, his arms trembling as he tried to focus. "I don't care if I was a Shadow, and I don't care if I'm hated or shunned for what I've done! I'm no Guardian, I'm Human! And if that makes me an enemy of the Vanguard... then so be it! No one hurts my Fireteam, My Friends."
Without a word, I turned my back on the past, despite Fay's pleading I tuned it out and pressed on, my team needed me now, whatever was repairing the Garden wouldn't go down without a fight, and I've wasted too much time groveling in my own self-loathing. The last thing I heard were those cursed gunshots clashing with the 'ping' of plasma against stone
"Dimi..." We take this to our graves, got it? "...Take what to our graves?" I paused for a second, finally managing a small chuckle as I stepped lightly and without concern
"When did you develop my attitude, Little Light?" Shaking my head I jumped over a large ledge, finally seeing the net of Vex code dividing me and my team. Steeling my resolve I drew into nothingness, my body crawling with purple energy from the abyss; Once again, I felt I was safe. "Alright, Ray, let's do this."
[Mars, Black Garden]
[No-One's POV]
The large Vex Gateway continued to unleash bursts of arc energy into the cavern. Containing an array of walls and divides along a central pathway leading to the network. From dark clouds came forth machines of the past, their weapons gleaming in the lights that dimly illuminated the battle, all while the older Sol Divisive poured in from the gateway, warping either side of the Axis Mind.
It was coated in moss too, vines tangled within its frame while grass began to grow atop its head, it was much larger than any Hydra seen before as its cannons rocked the earth with each blast, splashing payloads of solar light. Three large, orange shields circulated the Mind, while the bright red eyes glared back on the left wall nearest the gateway into the network, its Vex slowly creating a pincer around the two Titans, both of which held their respective fronts against the hordes of machines.
"We have to push now!" Taka called over her shoulder, throwing another CLG into the crowd, sending metal and organic fluid flying as the miniature sun contained the Precursors from advancing. Behind her, Reiner finished off the last of the Hobgoblins, reloading a final time, his fists beginning to burn. Taka immediately hit his shoulder. "Not-"
"I get it! But at this rate, we'll run out of options!" The fire died, and so with a decisive nod between them, they flew up onto the wall, gliding far over the walkway while being struck by lasers and avoiding the bombardment from the Undying Mind guarding the exit out of the cavern. "Down!"
Taka followed, the two taking refuge behind a large wall of a tower, seeing the Vex slowly approach but they had time to contemplate their next move. But this situation was dire, what damage they had managed to weigh on the Mind had only managed to aggravate the machine into corraling the two Guardians into a kill box, sooner or later it would have them at a point not even the Light could pull them from.
Two pulses struck the corner of the wall, spraying Taka's helmet with rock as she recoiled. "This is bad, we can't take too much more of this!" Taka yelled over the noise, Reiner merely punched the wall, agitated by how easily a batch of machines had trapped him
"Dammit!" Reiner snapped, firing another two slugs into a rapidly approaching Minotaur
~If we don't act soon the Mind will escape, even if we survive, the moment the collective regain control of the Garden we're done for~ The robotic voice of Spot didn't help to elevate their moods, the constant bombardment of the Mind held no results of letting up, the situation as starting to turn dire
*Tink-wuuuur-Boosh*
The sudden burst of violet above the Mind wasn't apart of their plan, neither was the small rod of Void Light protruding from the soil, followed by several others blooming from the point high above the Mind itself, avoiding its cannons. Each tether point sprung to life, ensnaring to one another as the Titans were enveloped by a purple hue, seeing the gunfire cease, followed by someone landing beyond the walls, standing before the Mind.
Dimitri raised her Void bow high toward the sky, releasing the Light in a powerful crunch, the tethers ruptured, releasing a large amount of energy that caused several explosions among the large groups of Vex, tearing and pulling their bodies apart with a sharp tug of invisible strings. The Huntress panted heavily, but raised both Handcannons and unloaded into the stunned Mind, cracking the armor's weaknesses created by her Fireteam, adding more lasting damage to the Axis Mind.
Reiner snorted but remained stoic. "Took you long enough..." Taka, on the other hand, felt relieved, seeing her... with strange injuries? Whatever she had them run from it wasn't a Vex... she wished she'd be more honest but right now they did have a job to do, as CT reminded her after the small dispute
"Nailed it," Dimitri remarked, flicking to her Fighting Lion, the grenade bouncing under the shield with a 'pop', the ricochet armed the grenade, erupting into Void that disorientated the Mind, forcing it to warp away in a sudden burst of white singularity and light, her second grenade missing, so she flicked it high, slotting another into place with a 'click'
The two Titans slowly advanced down the slope to meet their leader, only for Reiner's eyes to widen, grabbing Taka tightly by the shoulder to yank her back behind cover, Dimitri blinking as her head slowly craned behind her, seeing the shadow that loomed over her, skeletal frame compressed into its head. The Mind saw the probability play out as a single pathway converged from millions, her own mind lacked those cognitive paths.
Dimitri hadn't a word to mouth as the force of its impact wave tossed her through the air, her back shattering against the far entrance with chunks of stone crumbling atop her in a heap, Dimitri could barely make out a cry as her Light struggled to sustain her life, eyes blurry and stung with tears. The world continued to rumble even as her arms struggled to lift herself off the ground.
Taka didn't move, however, unable to see where her friend had landed, or if she was still moving. A Darkness Zone had enveloped the area not long ago. Reiner didn't feel the same way, his body beginning to charge with a roar of flames. "Hey! While this thing is weak we need to take it down, now!"
She didn't want to move, her hand slowly falling to her side as her fingers curled. "...Okay..." Arc Light began to crackle, the neon blue converting to white in her hands with bolts snaking along her arms. For once, a hardened glare rose from under her helmet. She wanted to help Dimitri, everything in her head told her to go to her side, but she knew, deep down she knew Dimitri wouldn't want that. So with her resolve intact, she stood her ground with a crunch under her boots. "Take it down."
Both of them stormed the Mind, First came a volley of solar blasts, forcing the Striker and Sunbreaker to part ways. Taka ran along the large wall to the left, diving down with an aftershock of lightning to forcibly push the Mind back into a payload of hammers, each bursting into small balls of fire that tore into the ground, blinding the mind.
Reiner dove down, his hammer missing the back-peddling Mind while Taka dove over his head, fists clashing with the large barrier, forcibly cracking the impenetrable shield with a gust of wind between them, adding airtime to Reiner's glide.
"Die!" Orange met fierce gold in a clash of Solar might, the waves of fire doing little in breaking the rotating barriers that kept most of their attacks at bay, but even the fires caught the grass and moss, transforming the Mind into a living hellspawn of metal and time. The Mind released a metallic roar, firing in a surprising burst of smaller, but fasters blasts of plasma, catching the grass on fire, turning the once darkened cavern into a state of smoldering flames and metal
Taka performed a cross with her arms, slamming atop the Mind's head with a powerful surge of Light, akin to her performance against the Gorgon. Inside she was still afraid of what the Undying Mind could do, what the consequences of allowing the Vex control again, it terrified her more than anything in years, but apart of her kept pushing, telling her to face her fears. All she could imagine was the expressions on her friends, Ceres, Harrow, Zane... Dimitri, their resolve against fear, she wanted to push beyond something as meager as a limit.
The burst of lightning and impact from the Mind tossed Taka over its back, so she tensed her muscles, pulling her body down in a thunderous wave, crashing against its spine while phasing through the tangerine shield again, ducking behind a wall as her Light burned near its limitation.
"hhhhhhHHHHAAAAAAH!" A deafening warcry drowned out the cascade of fire and spits of crackling lightning as a large Shadowshot tore into the eye of the Mind, the pull of purple vines anchoring the Mind from phasing away. The surprising return of Dimitri caught the four off guard. Her armor was torn and smashed, while an eye stared out from the left side of her helmet, blood dripping down her face, held in her right arm was the silver and gold Mountain Lion
Slowly, Dimitri raised her left index finger to the sky, eye never lifting off of the Mind, which warped back toward the gateway, roaring in a metallic mesh of technology at the surprise attack that still held it down. "I... gave you my word... that we'd outshine my brother's Fireteam... I promised that..."
"Dimi..." Taka murmured, seeing her lower her aim to the eye of the Mind, with a 'pop' the grenade bounced and struck the Mind, followed by another grenade, one straight after the other as Dimitri slowly stepped toward the Mind, still unwavered by the gazing shots that passed her arms, singeing her pauldron and bracers
"Taka! Hit Reiner with every ounce of lighting you got!" She bellowed, sprinting for the Mind, her grenades beginning to run low with each successful impact of compressed void. Dimitri cracked a toothy grin to herself. "You're gonna do the you-know-what."
"What?" All five shared as Dimitri scoffed, firing her final grenade while standing mere feet from the Mind if this failed she may not like the end result, but the tingling in the back of her neck and the fury in her heart was pure bliss, she was riding this high to the bitter end
"Combine, and shove your Light down its throat!" Her order reverberated off the walls, roaring with the flames while to two considered the ludicrous idea, but shrugged, knowing arguing beyond this point would amount to nothing Despite hating her orders, even Reiner took point with a final hammer, gliding slowly into the air, angling his hammer with the head of the Undying Mind, who still attempted to cease their gamble, each shot missing the floating Titan
"Here it comes!" The acrid air suddenly spiked with energy, with Taka's body-slamming swiftly against Reiner's back, the force thrusting him higher with a strange, unstable surge of energy unlike his own, it felt familiar but it was as if the flow was unlike his own subtly
If Reiner were a millisecond off he'd be dead, but the energy didn't bounce, instead, he clenched his fist tightly, feeling the similar, unstable energy surge of energy electrify his arm's muscles with rekindled speed and power. While the sensation flowed across his Hammer of Sol. Without much less to worry about, his arm arched, sending the lightning crackling through the air, the fire turning blue while the hammer head became far more angular.
*Zwoosh-Paaan*
Dimitri shrugged, raising her left hand to form a finger gun, pulling the invisible trigger with a playful 'bang'. The Undying Mind had folded its body inward, with Dimitri feeling the flow of the world's unforeseen energy pull head of her, the Hammer of Arc shattered the orange panel between her and the Mind, the cascade of the connected Light elements tore through the chassis, overturning the metal while sparks caused the body to yerk and burst in weaker links. The Axis Mind hollered in a metal cry, the eyes flickering in and out before exploding, the Aeon Mauls flew off its sides, the last of the shield shattering while the body turned hot white, erupting before the Huntress as she blinked against the flash of light.
The air quietened, and her eyes blinked, seeing the smoldering pile of scrap resting by her feet with several colorful engrams, one of which bopped off her head and rolled down to Taka's feet. Said Titan didn't care much for the loot, walking up to pull Dimitri around to face her, seeing how easily her body swayed around, her eye displayed only exhaustion.
"Dimitri - I... what happened- huh?" Taka suddenly found herself clutching Dimitri's fallen body, her body through her armor had gone deathly cold but she was still breathing, but that didn't stop her from panicking, even Reiner stepped closer to inspect her, tossing aside an engram in his hands. Dimitri was sat against Taka's body, her visible eye blinking a bit as Ray appeared, using his Light to heal her
"Hah... hah... rather lightheaded, whoops..." She murmured, snuggling closer to Taka with a sigh. "So warm..."
"Y-You shouldn't have overused your L-Light, Dimi!" Ray spoke anxiously, his Light reliving some of the pain, while her hand reached out to tap against Taka's helmet, making her gasp slightly
"Hmm... sorry... for back there... couldn't let you stay, soz." Dimi joked a little, while Taka breathed shakily, tightening her hold on Dimitri
"Don't worry, just rest, okay? You can rest now." Taka's voice spoke soothingly, even Reiner tapped Ray to move him closer, making the meek ghost turn toward him
"Say something, you idiot." His husky voice spoke clearly, with the little ghost being turned by a shaky hand. His eye met with Dimitri's her eye relaxed while patting his shell
"Ray... we'll stick by one another until the end of this... right?" Her voice was still as confident as always, but a hint of worry laced her tone clearly the events today had made doubts sprout in her mind, and she needed... wanted to hear him say it himself. For once, Ray felt they were eye-to-eye, not a Ghost or Guardian, but as who he's believed they had been since the day she had woken up
"Of course! We're best friends like we've always been!" Ray spoke without a slight slur of hesitation, and now, her eyes closed with a content sigh
"Our Fireteam's the best... you're..." She fell asleep in Taka's arms, while Reiner chuckled. "zzZZZzz..."
"Faces near death and passes out at the last second, pfft." Reiner's scoff made Taka's hold tense, but he punched her shoulder lightly. "Get her home, I'll clean up the engrams."
Taka smiled, breaking into a small laugh that she had wished came sooner. "Hahaha... thanks." He nodded, picking up the engrams that were worth their time, throwing pieces of Vex unceremoniously aside. Eyeing Ray who watched his sleeping Guardian carefully, reached over to stroke the top of his shell, with CT appearing
"You needn't worry, Ray, I'm sure she'll be yelling from the Tower's rooftops by tomorrow." CT laughed, nudging his shell, while Taka took off her helmet, smiling through blue and white strands
"She can be a handful, something only you can learn to handle." Her words made him nod, floating over to nestling into her neck, tickling Taka
"T-Thank you, both of you... y-you're great friends."
To Be Continued...
What a big Strike, one I like better than... ugh, Omnigul. Lots of juicy reveals and action this time! Also, Akimbo Handcannons~! I really like writing some of Dimi's Fireteam between Ceres' story. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter Guardians!
Next Chapter: Whispers in the Abyss
Ceres and her team must venture back to the Moon to save one of Eris' Hidden who has information on the Hidden's plan to resurrect Crota, time is starting to run out.
