Certain positions- often labeled heretical- imply that the Traveler itself triggered the Collapse, or that it knew the Darkness was coming for it and hoped to use the Solar System as a sacrifice or a proxy army. The Trinary Star cult is one notable example.
These beliefs are unfounded, as are most claims we make of the Traveler- whether beneficial or detrimental in regards to our survival. However, the Trinary Star treats their beliefs as an absolute truth rather than a theoretical premise. Those who don't share their radical viewpoints are branded as slaves to their fascination with the Light. Guardians are outright demonized, and many members of the cult refuse to acknowledge their authority in city matters.
Nothing notable has happened yet, but I'm lead to wonder just how far they would take their faith if given the opportunity. An old saying instructs one to never attribute to malice what can be explained with ignorance- but is this ignorance, or simply a dangerous delusion that they seem intent on feeding to themselves an others?
And how large of a threat could that same delusion be when combined with the cleverness they've so clearly demonstrated in the past?
- Ancient texts from an unknown Warlock's studies of the Darkness
The Stag entered the circular chamber, light flickering from the few candles that lit the room.
Their shadows looming across the wall behind them, five hooded individuals awaited the cessation of his movement. He continued to walk until he joined the burning wicks in the center of the room, then stopped and waited silently for what came next.
"You were careless."
He said nothing in defense of himself- either feeling deserving of the scorn, or so indifferent to their opinion that her words did not matter. She pressed on, determined to make him see reason.
"You are our leader for a reason, Stag. None have exemplified our ideals and demonstrated more loyalty to our beliefs than you have. But your fixation with this Hunter-"
"I was bold," the Stag stated quietly, his voice barely reaching a whisper. It commanded silence from those who surrounded him just as easily as it did fear. "Not careless. If you see fixation, then you are blind to how great a threat he is."
"And just how great do you propose we see him to be?" a deep voice rebuked. "Your words suggest that we should revere him-"
"Not revere … but respect."
Again, the others fell silent.
"You cannot truly understand your enemy until you learn to respect him as you do yourself. Before you acknowledge them as an equal, pride will blind you," he continued. "For all my hatred, I do respect him- and it is because of that that I know so long as even one Guardian remains alive, our entire way of life is at stake."
There was a pause before a third member spoke in reply, "Be that as it may, your performance in regards to the situation was … questionable. Our influence over the city rests on a delicate web of trust and veiled truths. Each string is held up by the others, relying on them for support. And as of the Hunter's reveal and your treatment of it … your thread is straining to hold up all the rest."
The hidden intent behind those words was not lost on the Stag. Slowly, he bowed his head in acceptance, the skull of his helmet glowing ominously as its empty sockets were illuminated by the dying candles.
"I understand."
"We trust that a summons such as this will not be required again. Is our faith well placed?"
"It is."
"Then go forth, Stag. May shadow fall in your every tread."
—X—
Woods had promptly denied any questions she asked him, or simply remained silent, after that point. It seemed that, despite alleviating some of the weight he carried, he wasn't ready to talk about everything yet. She now knew the truth that he'd carried with him so long- that Guardians were real, and they'd been killed by the Trinary Star.
As to how that had happened, he simply refused to speak of it. And so it came to be that the two of them were now sitting in his ship as it flew to parts unknown. She'd watched as they left the atmosphere- and she'd understandably been more than a bit anxious to see that, having no memory of ever doing this- but she'd put her trust in the Hunter thus far, and it had not been in vain.
She looked over at him from the co-pilot's chair, quiet and feeling rather awkward. She hadn't meant to upset him- but obviously something had done so, or he wouldn't have ushered her onto the ship in such a hurry. She cleared her throat, something she just realized was a dead giveaway for being fake as she didn't actually possess muscles or an esophagus.
He sighed at the sound, and she knew he'd picked up on that. However- nothing ventured, nothing gained. "So … you still haven't told me where we're going."
"Somewhere you'll be taken care of," he muttered, continuing to stare straight ahead. "You don't need to know anything more than that until we get there- it's safer that way."
She had a feeling he wasn't going to budge on the issue, but at least he was talking to her again. Clara decided to press on, sensing an opportunity.
"What happened to your eye?"
His helmet sat near his feet, so she had a good view of his scarred eye, dull and milky compared to the other one. At the mention of it, he emitted another sigh. "It happened during my last run-in with the Stag."
"You've fought the Stag before?"
"A few times- tends to happen when you've got nothing to do for centuries other than survive. He and his men cornered me in the EDZ- the European Dead-Zone. It was a close call- I got away, but he managed to give me this," he growled, pointing at his eye, "as a parting gift."
"Couldn't you heal it? I thought the light-"
"He chooses not to," came a feminine voice, and Clara looked at the air in front of her as his ghost materialized. This was the first time that Seraph had spoken to her, and she noted how disapproving the AI sounded in regards to her Guardian's decision. "I've tried to tell him otherwise, but he prefers to keep the scars he's earned. So he's been half-blind for the last eighty years."
"Eighty years?" Clara yelped. "I just- I can't imagine how long you've been around if that's considered 'recent.' Why haven't you aged at all? I know you've got a few gray hairs here and there, but I'd imagine that's more due to stress than anything …"
Woods pursed his lips. "All Guardians had an extended lifespan thanks to the Traveler's light, about triple in length. But … that time came and went for me, and I was still young. As best I can figure, being put through so many cycles in the time-stream due to Reynard and Sara had an unseen side-effect; time doesn't affect me. I'm just … frozen like this."
He furrowed his brow and turned to look at her. "At least my mind keeps its edge and wit, thanks to that- would've probably gone insane otherwise, so many centuries' worth of memories and all. Still … things sometimes slip from me. Can't hold onto everything," he murmured wistfully.
"What about the Stag? How has he been around as long as you?"
Woods' face took on a disgusted expression. "His means are a bit more … insidious."
She was about to ask what he meant when a blinking light caught her attention on the console in front of her. Before she could alert the Hunter to it, Seraph expanded her body and routed the signal through the comms.
"Intruder bearing 298, you are trespassing into the realm of the Awoken."
Out of seemingly nowhere, two tri-tipped ships sidled alongside them. "Turn back, or be fired upon-"
"Oh, shut up," he muttered, keeping them on course. "Seraph, transmit the codes to them please."
There was a moment of silence on the other end as they tried to process what exactly had just happened. When they received whatever the ghost had sent them, however, they became far more accommodating. "Our apologies, sir. What is the nature of your visit?"
"I have a guest," he replied. "I can vouch for her, but it's not safe for her on Terra. I was hoping that the Queen would be gracious enough to grant me an audience?"
"Of course. Do you have any other requests?"
"Only that her personal guard is in attendance."
"We will contact the Queen immediately," their escort affirmed. "Please conform to our trajectory- we will guide you in."
The two ships sped ahead and in front of their own, curving to the left as they displayed the correct path. Clara glanced over at Woods in anxious relief.
"I take it that they know about you?"
"The Queen and I are familiar with one another," he answered shortly. "The Awoken and other inhabitants of the Reef keep to themselves, staying out of the affairs of Earth. They refuse to openly oppose the Trinary Star, but they lend me support when I ask for it."
"How often do you ask?"
"About once a decade or two. I like to keep to myself too."
Ghost suddenly appeared, his focus entirely on the Hunter and his voice sounding rather fearful. "That's nice, really- but you were saying something about 'insidious' means that the Stag uses to keep himself young? I'd like to know more about that."
Woods glared at him with distaste, but relented. "As best I can tell, he … drains others of their Light. Keepers, ghosts, whatever. Whether they're forced prisoners or willing acolytes who offer themselves up for sacrifice, he takes their life force and uses it to rejuvenate himself. Once he's done, there's nothing left of the victim but husk."
Clara felt herself shrink a bit at that lovely image. "I thought the Star hated the Light?"
"They do," he agreed, "but I think their mindset is something along the lines of fighting fire with fire. They've taken the Light, corrupted it with … something … and used it as a means to control that which they seek to destroy."
"The Darkness?" Clara suggested, breathless at the thought of the entity returning and joining with the Light to form something … new.
He shook his head. "I don't think so. Paranoid as I might be, I haven't seen so much as a Dreg in years. And the Darkness was never something that seemed fond of fighting battles on its own, it always used proxies like its armies." His hands tightened slightly on the sticks. "Still … I suppose it's a possibility that can't be completely ruled out."
The simple acknowledgement of her proposal as a possible reality sent an involuntary shudder through her body.
The rest of the flight carried out in silence, nothing but the corpses of colony ships in the purple void to accompany them.
A/N: Hiatus over.
Yes, GND is back. No, the updates will likely not be consistent. Motivation to write Destiny-related stuff is at a massive low, thanks to the shitshow that was the Destiny 2 launch and post-launch support. But I'm still gonna try to get chapters of this out when I can, so don't fret.
Ignore any discord invites you saw in the past- they're outdated and for a different server. I have a new server where both my writing and film fans are rather active, and you can join using the link below if you're so inclined. Simply remove the spaces, and you'll be set;
discord . gg / 6nwfXCj
Hopefully I'll see you there. Until the next time,
- Matteoarts