Reaper POV
"Cayde is requesting you Reaper." Xaxa tell me as I inspected the armor, I had received for winning the iron banner tournament.
"What does he want with me that he can't ask my fire team leader" I growl as I place the armor off to the side glancing at the kitchen looking for the person in question. Not see them I slowly get up and begin moving to the door.
"Just wait I bet She comes flying out of the kitchen soon to ask where you are trying to sneak off to." Xaxa laughs as he disappears into thin air. "Don't worry Reaper I already have the ship on the way." This make me laugh a little as I grab the door handle and quietly open the door to try and make my escape. I hear my ship as I close the door behind me and wait for Xaxa to transmit me onboard. I stand there waiting for a few second as the ship finally reaches me. Xaxa gets ready to transmat me onboard just as the door opens.
"Reaper where do you think" thankfully Nico's voice gets cut off before I hear the rest of the sentence.
"Xaxa try and throw her and Sam off us until we can finish up with Cayde." I tell my ghost as I settle into my seat for the short trip up to the tower.
"Is there a reason why you want to throw them off" my ghost asks me.
"I just have a feeling that whatever Cayde needs is not something she should hear." I mention ask the tower comes into view. "Hey Xaxa, is it possible to have Cayde meet us in the hanger just to be safe.
"No need to worry about that Reaper" Xaxa cuts me off. "Cayde is currently getting in his ship and has sent me the location that we will be going to.
"Oh" I ask as I stand up from my chair.
"Yes, we are heading to the Prison in the Reef. Petra has requested our help with a problem that she is having." Xaxa tells me as he re appears next to me. "This will be a bit of a flight so if I was you Reaper, I would get some sleep because it seems you right. Also, Nico and Sam have been trying to flag us over comms, but I have disabled the comms for the time being.
"Good thinking" I tell the ghost as I head to the rear to get some sleep. 'Boy oh boy is Nico going to be pissed when I finally see her'.
Nico POV
"Reaper where do you think you're going" I try and ask but it was too late Reaper was already gone. "Sam, can you reach out to Xaxa and see where they are going. Also, can you try and find out what is going on.
"I can try Nico, but this is Reaper we are talking about here. You know as well as I do that if he wants to disappear, he will, he is not one who likes being in one spot for too long. I'm surprised he managed to hang out here for as long as he did." Sam tells me, I know she is right as I sigh.
"I know Sam. I just wish that he would at least tell me when the Vanguard reach out to him for something. I mean I'm his team leader" I mutter as I watch Reaper ship fly away. I turn to walk back into house I stay in with Reaper. As I walk to the couch so I can seat down and think about what just happened, but before I get to far into my thoughts Sam begins to talk.
"Nico it seems that the comms unit is down on reapers ship again, and so it the tracking beacon that you had Holiday install." Sam tells me as she floats around the living room.
"But we just got those installed on his ship the other day. I know the comms unit can't be bad because we used it yesterday and the tracking beacon was his idea." I cut Sam off before she can get to far ahead. "Plus, you know as well as I do the holiday will not install anything bad on any of the ships she works on. Then again her and Reaper have a weird friendship/ relationship that I just figured out." I stop talk as I think back on the memory of finding the two of them having a drink in the hanger's bar. My face turns bright red as I remember that they were drinking to a long-lost friend when I snapped at Reaper for no reason.
"Nico" Sam says bring me out of the train of thought. "I believe that we should head up to the Vanguard and talk with them about reaper. We both know he would only leave without telling us if Cayde needed him for something special. So maybe Cayde will be willing to tell us.
"Agreed Sam" I says as I stand up from my chair. Please "bring the ship down so we can head up there and get some answers." I stay quiet as the ship arrives and stay deep in thought the whole flight thinking about how I'm going to talk to the Vanguard about taking my fireteam member away from me without saying anything to me.
"Nico we are about to land at the tower" Sam tells me as I finish up my thoughts. But we might have a small problem that we will have to wait and see how small it is when we get to the vanguard." A small feeling of worry crosses over my face as I take in what Sam told me, but I try and keep it off my face as I walk from the hanger to the Vanguards meeting room.
"Nico" I hear as I cross the courtyard. I turn to see Xavier jogging towards me, so I stop to wait for him.
"Hi Xavier, how are you doing" I ask as he gets closer to me.
"I'm good Nico. How are this with you and Reaper going. I know that you two are a fireteam now and have gone on a couple dates." He asks me as he comes to a stop next to me. "I have to go to the vanguard also so I will join you." I nod my head as we turn to walk to the vanguard.
I begin to blush as I think about the dates, I have been on with Reaper as I answer his questions. "We are doing good. Yes, we have been going on dates, but as for being on the same fireteam. That one is hard to answer because every so often as certain Vanguard seems to request his help with something but does not tell me anything about it until after he is already gone. That would be the reason I'm here today, Reaper got requested off to somewhere and has seem to have forgotten to tell his team leader where he is going.
"Ouch" Xavier laughs. "I'm glad I'm not Reaper right now and have you pissed with me.
I laugh also as I round the corner to the Vanguard only to see what to small problem is that Sam is talking about.
For next to me I hear an "OH Shit". As the Vanguard turn to face us.
"Well come Nico and Xavier" Ikora says as she bows slightly. "And Nico before you start, we are trying to track down Cayde now, and I'm going to guess that Reaper has gone missing to.
"Great now both of our best hunters are MIA" Zavala sighs as he glances at us. "I swear to Traveler that these two are the biggest pains.
I feel my face grow hot with anger as the next words out of my mouth leave. "WHERE THE FUCK DID THESE TWO GO THIS TIME".
Reaper POV
"As you can see, we are having a small problem with the prisoner" Petra tells me and Cayde. "And with the Queen gone it has fallen on me to handle the problems. So, I have asked you to for help.
"No Problem at all P" Cayde answers and he grabs his hand cannon. "All right Reaper this is a Cayde by 6 missions, Try and keep up. Now let's go to Prison" he laughs as he jumps over the side.
I just shake my head as I follow Petra into the Prison the start the recapturing of the prisoner or at least retake the prison.
"I see that he has not changed" Petra laughs as we head inside. "Just in case you needed to know" she pauses as she shoots a prisoner "its shoot to kill". I nod my head as I quickly fire off 2 shots from my hand cannon taking out two more.
"I figured that out" I tell her as I listen for any more prisoners. "But it's still good to know because I have a bone to pick with one of them." An evil grin crosses my lips that thankfully see can't see because of my helmet
"Oh Yeah I forgot about the Kell that you brought in" Petra laughs. "Don't worry I'm sure he will be just as happy to see you as you are to see him". She then nods to me and heads to the left as I turn to the right and see a few Fallen prisoners attacking the door.
"Well, Xaxa lets go to prison. "I smirk as I pick off the Fallen.
'Great just what I need you and Cayde going crazy in a prison riot' Xaxa sighs in my head. 'don't worry about me I will just stay hidden.'
I laugh out loud as I run down the hallway picking off prisoners as I go. From ahead of me I hear "I got you and you and let's not forget about you." Cayde is having a grand old time.
'I better hurry this up or he is going to kill everyone including' I feel the anger as a scar on my face begins to hurt. "Rarkis I'm coming for you." I quicken my pace as I see more prisoner ahead of me fight one another.
'You do know that Nico is going to be pissed right' I hear my ghost tell me as I reloaded my hand cannon. 'But I know you don't care right now.' There is a small pause before he talks again. 'I believe that the Vanguard know where we are' I just grunt as I throw a knife at the hive thrall running at me. 'Which means that Nico knows where we are and is most likely coming this way to yell at you'. I pause a breath as the words I just hear final register in my head.
"Fuck" I let out as I reach for my throwing knife. With a small flick of my wrist, I send the knife sailing into the stomach of the Vex goblin in front of me. "What do you think the chances are that Nico knows where we are right now?
My ghost is quite for a couple of minutes before he finally answers. "The chances are very high. I just sent a message to Sam telling Nico not to worry about you or Cayde." I quickly fire off four rounds at the Cabal Gladiators rushing at me.
"okay" I question as I glance around looking for anything else to kill.
"I got a message back from Nico" Xaxa starts. "Do you want me to play it for you
I step into a cell that is empty before I answer the question. "Sure, just give me a second to set up a couple traps first." I throw a trip mine on the side of the door and glance around again before i tell Xaxa to go ahead. "Go ahead, let's hear what she has to say
Xaxa appears and begin to play the message. "REAPER I SWEAR TO GOD YOU BETTER RESPOND TO THIS MESSAGE OR APPEAR IN THE FUCKING TOWER OR IM GOING TO COME AND DRAG YOUR ASS BACK HERE.
"Xaxa go ahead and stop playing the message." I laugh as I think for a second. "Xaxa Record what I'm about to say and send it to her. Hi Nico, please try and calm down and I will explain what is going on.
NICO POV
I feel my face grow hot with anger as the next words out of my mouth leave. "WHERE DID THESE TWO GO THIS TIME. HOW CAN CAYDE GET REAPER TO LEAVE AT THE DROP OF A HAT BUT WHEN I WANT TO GO ON A MISSION, I HAVE TO ORDER HIM TO GO.
"Nico you need to calm down please" Ikora starts. "We a currently trying to track down Cayde's ship as we speak. We will add Reapers on to that list, with tracking both of them we are bound to find them before they cause to much of a problem for anyone." Her voice fades off as she realizes who we are talking about.
"Xavier, do you mind helping us with this small problem" Zavala asks the titan standing next to me. I guess that he nodded his answer due to the next words out of his mouth. "Thank you, Xavier can you please gather your fireteam members and have them meet us here. I know Ikora but I would feel better if we have them on standby. It is Cayde and Reaper so there should be no need for them, but I feel like we might need them.
"Nico, I have a message from Xaxa. It's saying please don't worry about me or Cayde we are fine. We are just helping with a small problem in the reef." I hear a gun shot in the background before the voice goes on. But before the message goes on, I hear a couple footsteps approaching. So, I turn to see who it is only to recognize Xavier's fireteam file into the room and stand next to him. "Cayde asked for my help with a mission so please don't worry about me. That is the end of the message Nico" Sam finishes as I turn to her.
"Thank you, Sam" I tell my ghost. "Who would call for Cayde's help on the Reef?
A frown crosses Ikora's face as she answers my question. "Petra Venj is the only one I can think of that would call Cayde.
"Why would the Queen wraith call for a guardian to help" Xavier asks the room.
"BECAUSE THE QUEEN IS TRYING TO GET REAPER TO THE REEF WITH OUT TELLING ANYONE" I growl. "Sam, I want you to record this and send it directly to Reaper. REAPER I SWEAR TO GOD YOU BETTER RESPOND TO THIS MESSAGE OR APPEAR IN THE GOD DAMN TOWER OR IM GOING TO COME AND DRAG YOUR ASS BACK HERE. YOU KNOW DAMN WELL THAT YOU ARE ON MY FIRETEAM AND THAT ANY MISSION THAT YOU GET WE HAVE TO DO AS A FIRETEAM. IF I HAVE TO COME GET YOU, I WILL MAKE IT SO YOU CAN NEVER GO ON ANOTHER MISSION.
"Nico you need to calm down" Ikora cuts in before I get to far on a roll. "Reaper and Cayde are the two of the best hunters we have. We have to trust that they know what they are doing.
I take a deep breath before I go on. "Reaper please let me know where you are so we can send back up to help. Miss you deeply Nico. That is Sam hopefully he will listen to the whole thing.
"Hopefully" Xavier asks, "what do you mean by the Nico.
"What I mean by that is Reaper has a habit of not listening to the whole message and will not hear the last part of that." I explain to the group as I face the Vanguard. "Do you have any idea where they might have gone?" Zavala shakes his head no as I glance around the room.
"They might be at the prison playing around in the area knowing them. Especially if the Kell that Reaper managed to catch will be in the area. Plus knowing Cayde, he will want to join Reaper maybe even try and get Reaper to take the Vanguard Dare." Ikora says after seeing me glance around.
"Ikora are you sure the Cayde will try and make Reaper take that dare." Zavala asks Ikora with a question in his eye.
"What is the Vanguard Dare" I demand.
Ikora pauses a second before telling me. "The Vanguard dare is not really a bet but a sort of promise between one of the Vanguards like Andal Brask who was the Hunter Vanguard before Cayde and another Guardian that if the Vanguard ever loses his light and dies forever the Guardian has to take his position as the Vanguard. Since Andal Brask died and Cayde took the Vanguard Dare he had to take over the Position of the Hunter Vanguard to Cayde-6's immense regret he lost that bet and was alive while his close friend lost his light." Ikora looks at me before going on. "Cayde has been trying to figure out a way to have Reaper replace him for a while now, but Reaper keeps turning it down.
"Wait Cayde wants to have" I start but stop as I watch Ikora nod her head yes. "But Reaper will never let that happen he trusts Cayde too much to let the happen. Reaper will even die for Cayde before".
"Nico, we know that" Ikora snaps lightly. "But that is the only reason I can think of for both Cayde and Reaper being gone.
"Nico, we have a message from Reaper" Sam cuts in.
Reaper POV
"Nico we are okay. Yes, we are at the Reef right now, but the only reason why is that Petra called for help dealing with a prison riot. We will not need any back up or any saving as far as I know." I pause as I fell a pressure wave hit me. "Nico just know that I miss you and will make it up to you.
"I don't think that will help Reaper" Xaxa tells me as he sends the message.
"What was that pressure wave" I cut him off as I comm Petra and Cayde.
"Cayde what are you doing" I hear Petra ask.
"I'm heading to the bottom of the prison to help prevent more people for escaping" Cayde answers.
"Cayde" I hear Petra yell into the comms, but I hear an explosion causing me to run to the railing to look over the side of the walkway. As I reach the railing, I glance up to see Cayde riding the prisons control room as it falls down the center of the prison.
"What the fuck" I mutter as Cayde waves at me as he passes by me heading down. I turn and begin running down the walkway to try and find the stairs leading down. "I better head down to the bottom floor to make sure he does not do anything reckless." I shake my head as I run, I jump over a fallen Dreg that jumps in my way. "Plus, I can't let Cayde get to Rarkis before I get my chance at him again.
"Don't worry about him Reaper" I hear over the comms. "I placed him in a special location so you can have a chance at him when you come run the Prison of Elders." I laugh as I realized I left the comms open, and Petra can hear me.
"Thank you, Petra" I reply with a laugh.
"Don't worry about it Reaper" Petra laughs before her voice become serious. "The Queen had a soft spot for you and always told me to make sure you were treated well. I consider something that she would have wanted to gift you.
I laugh again as I turn a corner. "Thank you again Petra. I'm sorry to hear that she is gone." Before I go on much further, I feel a blast of Light pulse.
"REAPER WE NEED TO MOVE THAT WAS CAYDES GHOST" Xaxa yells. "CAYCE WILL NOT LAST WITH OUT HER." Without saying a word, I begin to move faster and faster trying to reach Cayde. As I run a flash back hit me to when me and Cayde were flying in.
Flashback
"Reaper have you thought about what I have asked you" Cayde asks.
"Cayde, I understand what you want me to do but I will not take the dare" I laugh. "I don't plan on taken the job as the new Vanguard hunter anytime soon. Plus, you will probably out live me because I'm pretty sure the Nico is going to kill me after she finds out that I'm heading to the Reef without her and no you will not be able to save me.
"How about this Reaper" Cayde responds. "If I manage to kill Rarkis before you, you have to take the position but if you kill him before I do, I will leave it alone and take whatever punishment Nico throws at you.
This causes me to pause for a second before answering him. "What the catch Cayde? Is this your Vanguard Dare to me?
"No Reaper it's a promise between friends" Cayde answer back.
"Can I think about this before I give an answer" I ask knowing that Cayde has backed me into a corner with this one.
"Sure thing" Cayde replies. I can almost see the shit eating grin on his face. "But I will need an answer soon because we are about to land.
Flashback end
"Reaper" I hear over the comms. "Be warned that the lower part of the prison is being over ran.
"Okay" I question as I kill a few more Vex goblins.
"That is the special location that I moved Rarkis to." Petra answers me causing me to sweat.
"Shit okay" I snap as I try and move faster to help my friend but also to kill Rarkis.
Nico's POV
"Nico, we have a message from Reaper. Do you want me to play it?" Sam tells me before anyone can talk more about the plan to save the two missing hunters. I nod my head yes for her to continue. "Nico we are okay. Yes, we are at the Reef right now, but the only reason why is that Petra called for help dealing with a prison riot. We will not need any back up or any saving as far as I know." Reaper pause before going on. "Nico just know that I miss you and will make it up to you.
"Is that it Sam" I ask before anyone can cut me off.
"Yes Nico" Sam answer. "I guess Reaper did not listen to the whole message
"Thank you, Sam," I answer annoyed before turning to the group. "So now we know where they are and what is going on.
"This is true Nico" Ikora replies. "Now we can get a team together to go get them even if they don't".
"NICO, WE HAVE A PROBLEM" Sam cuts in. "XAXA HAS JUST SENT A SMALL MESSAGE SAYING SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH CAYDE.
Before anyone can ask what happened I turn and run towards the hanger. I hear Xavier snaps at his team and the sound of footsteps following me as I leave the Vanguards meeting room.
"Sam prep the ship for take-off we need to get to the reef ASAP." I tell my ghost as I cross the courtyard.
"Nico hold on we are coming with you" Xavier yells as him and his fireteam run to catch up. I pause to let them catch up to me. "Look I Know your mad and that you want to rush to help him, but we need a plan before we get to far ahead.
"FINE" I snap before I take a deep breath to calm down. "Fine Xavier but we need to hurry. If something has happened to Cayde, then that means something might have happened to Reaper. That cannot happen I made a promise to someone that I will watch over him.
"I understand that Nico but still we need a plan before we go rushing into this." Xavier starts but I cut him off.
"Xavier, I don't want to fight you on this" I start. "Look how about this I will tell you more when we get on the ship. Sam is Prepping my ship and we can all fit in it and go." Just as I finish talking to Xavier and turn to head to hanger Sam appears.
"Nico the ship is ready and waiting" Sam tells the me.
"Thank you, Sam," I tell my ghost. "Can you warp me on board with Xavier and his fireteam please. Also start heading to the Reef prison so we can get there right away." I feel the warp begin to take hold as the tower fades around me. I feel my feet hit the floor of the ship I head up to the cockpit and sit in the pilots sit. "Xavier have your team get settled and then head up here you will be my copilot. Sam lets go as soon as your able to put the drive to max and hit the hyper drive so we can get going." Just as I finish talking Xavier comes into the cockpit.
"They are settled in the back" he tells me. "Let's go save Reaper and Cayde, fireteam leader Nico."
"Yes, let go save the two dipshits" I laugh before I turn to him. "No getting in fights with Reaper, Xavier.
"Are you crazy Nico" he mutters but raises his voice as I glare at him. "I have only done that one maybe two times. I will never do that again I much rather be on his good side." I nod my head and focus back to handling the ship.
'Nico, please try a relax a little bit I'm sure they are fine." My ghost tells me privately I let out a sigh know that I can't do anything right now.
'I know Sam but still I can help but feel that something bad has happened' I answer as the stars become lines in the view screen.
Reaper POV
"PETRA, I NEED YOU TO OPEN THE DOOR NOW" I yell into the comms as I hit the door trying to force it open. I hear a gun shot from the other side over the door. "GOD DAMN IT PETRA OPEN THE DOOR".
"The door should be opening now Reaper" I hear Petra tell me.
I try and push the door open faster but fail. As I wait for the door to open far enough for me to fit through, I check my weapons to make sure they are loaded and ready to go. Just ask the door open far enough for me to fit I rush thought only for my heart to pause.
"CAYDE" I yell as I see my friend laying on the ground. I rush over to him and lift his head up off the ground.
"Hey Reaper" Cayde coughs. "How's my hair?" I let out a small laugh as I feel my eye begin to water.
"Reaper I can't help him" Xaxa tell me quietly. I just nod my head as I turn to see Petra running towards me. But a hissing noise draws my attention before I can say anything. I turn my head to fast the noise only to see seven Fallen who are bigger than the normal captain or Kell leader. I Try to quickly pull my hand cannon out of its holster to take aim at the middle figure who is holding Cayde's hand cannon the Ace of spades. The man who shot my best friend, the man who I should have killed when I first meet him in the reef.
"Uldren Sov" I spit with venom as the door shuts as he waves at us. I look back down at Cayde hoping that there is a way to help him.
"Looks like I was not able to make you do the promise." He coughs as the light in his eye grows dimer.
"I was going to make that promise with you Cayde" I mutter not paying attention to Xaxa.
"Good then I win, you are now the new Vanguard hunter" Cayde laughs lightly as he takes on final breath. "The Vanguard Dare was the best bet I ever lost".
"Cayde, Cayde please" I cry as the dam that was hold back my tears breaks. As I look down, I see that he has dropped something on the ground. What I see help lighten the mood lightly. He manage to be me to Rarkis as I see the marking of the Kell on the ground. "Damn you, Cayde. How the hell" but I stop as I think about what he said. "Fine Cayde I will do as I promised you and become the new Vanguard hunter." I mutter as I close his eye with my hand and stand up to face Petra.
"Reaper" I hear as I face her. "I will begin tracking them and let you know as soon as I get something.
"Thank you, Petra," I nod before I begin talking to my ghost. "Xaxa bring the ship down here". My ghost disappears as I kneel to pick up my friend. Once I stand up fully with my now dead friend in my arms and head towards the closest air lock to bring my friend home.
"Reaper, the ship is at the air lock." Xaxa tells me as he reappears next to me. "I also picked up an inbound ship, it's Nico's." I don't answer him as I walk closer to the air lock.
"Reaper" I hear as the door hisses open. "Please wait for me to contact you before you go out.
"Take care Petra" I say as I pause at the ramp to my ship. I turn to face her with a small smile. "Can you please tell Nico that I'm heading back to the tower" I see a small nod from her, so I turn back to the ramp and head up into the belly of the ship.
"Reaper" Xaxa starts as I place Cayde's body on the bed.
"Xaxa" I cut him off. "Let's head back to the tower. I will deal with whatever happens once I get Cayde home. Until then I don't want to talk to anyone or deal with anyone." I hear my ghost sigh as I take one last look at Cayde's body before I head up to the cockpit. "You know what Xaxa, I will fly back you take a break.
"Okay Reaper" I hear him say as he disappears.
I turn back to the display in front of me and begin the per flight checks. I let out a sigh as I hear the engines start warming up. I clear my thoughts as I focus on taking off to start the long trip back to the tower.
"Reaper, this is Nico" I hear before I lean over and turn the comms unit off.
"I don't want to deal with anyone right now" I mutter. I turn the ship to face open space. I pause a second as I see a ship approach before, I throw the throttle forward to take off into the unknown. Once the ship course is set in the computer, I close my eyes trying to think about what I'm going to say to Ikora and Zavala. I feel the dams break again as I place my head in my hands and begin to cry.
Nico POV
"Reaper, this is Nico. I have a fireteam with me" I begin but stop as I notice reaper ship takes off. "Sam, try and reach Xaxa.
"Okay Nico, but please note the Petra Venj is waiting for us on near the air lock." Sam tells me before she tries to reach out to Xaxa.
After a couple of minutes, I bring the ship down to the landing area. I jump out of my sit with Xavier right behind me as I rush to the ramp hoping to get some answers. The ramp feels like it's taking forever to lower as the seconds pass by. When it final touches down I can feel Xavier and his fireteam behind me as I head to the airlock to meet Petra. I pause as she comes into view with a grim look on her face. Once I reach her, I can see that she has been crying. This causes me to turn to face Xavier and his team.
"Xavier have your team secure the area please. Once you finish that I need you to stay with me." I tell the titan whose fireteam heard what I had said as they begin to fan out around us. As I turn back to Petra, I feel Xavier's hand on my shoulder before I saw anything she starts.
"Reaper is safe Nico" Petra tells me causing me to let out a sigh in relief then she continues. "I can tell you that he is heading back to the tower, but I will not be able to help much from there." A confused look crosses my face which makes her go on. "I'm going to guess that you were unable to reach him over them comms. So here is what happened, I called for help with a prison riot so both him and Cayde came to help. We began taking the prison back but were having problems with the lower levels so Cayde rush down to begin." It's at this point I begin to feel my stomach drop. "Cayde beat both me and reaper down here but that when something went wrong. The next thing I know is I have Reaper yelling over the comms to get a door open." She pauses a second to gain control of her breathing. "When final made it down here, I saw Cayde" Petra stops talking as emotion takes over her voice.
My eyes open wide as I realize what happened, Cayde has lost his light and is not coming back. My knee buckle as I fall to the ground with my hands covering my face as tears begin to pour out. Now I understand why Reaper did not answer me when I called out. He is battling himself right now and knowing him blaming himself also.
"Sam" I sob out. "Did you get a hold of Xaxa".
"Yes, Nico I did" Sam pauses before going on. "But Xaxa only told me that Reaper is going to the tower and wants to be left alone.
I nod understanding that he wants to be alone, I must fight the feeling to rush off to help him as I try and find my voice. "Petra do you still need help with the Prison. I brought a Fireteam with me." I point to the 3 Titans that walked in with me. I glance up at her to see a small smile cross her lips.
"Thank you, Nico, but I think I can handle what is left." Petra starts before Xavier cuts her off.
"Nico head back to the tower and help Reaper." Xavier tells me causing me to look at him. "I will stay here with my fireteam and help Petra." I try and cut him off but the look in his eyes stop me. "You are one of the few people I know that can help Reaper and I don't need you here as you worry about him. So please go ahead and head back to the tower before he does something stupid. Plus, we both know he is going to go hunting for whoever did this to Cayde. It will be better if you head back now and try and cut him off."
I nod my head knowing that he is right, and that Reaper will track down the people who did this. I slowly stand and nod to the both of them before I head back to my ship. I let my feet guide me as I think how I'm going to beat Reaper back to the tower. Nothing comes to mind as I feel myself slowly begin to walk up a ramp. I glance up and see that I had somehow made it back to my ship. I hear a gun shot from behind me causing me to come back reality and focus on the task at hand.
"Sam, I want you to push the engines as hard as you can" I tell my ghost as the ramp closes behind me. "I want to try and beat reaper to the tower. I don't care if we have to replace the engines after this, but I have to catch him at the tower." I sit down in the pilots sit as Sam rushes around the cockpit. "Reaper Please wait for me" I mutter as the ship takes off at max speed. Know that Reaper will not wait for any help or back up before he takes off again.
Time feels like it has slowed to a crawl as I watch the display on the ship. I try not to fidget in my sit as I wait for the ship to finally reach the tower. I know that nothing I do will make it go any faster. Sam has already yelled at me for trying to make the ship go faster once already that caused us to lose one engine. I watch the stars turn into dots in the sky instead of lines as we get closer to earth. I stop myself from reaching out to grab the comms unit to try and reach Reaper. I focus on relaxing my shoulders as we enter the atmosphere. I know Sam has already contacted the tower letting them know I'm inbound. I also know the Holiday is going to be pissed because of the blown engine but I figure a few beers and food will help with that. Plus, I know here, and Reaper were both really close to Cayde so if I have to, I will buy out a whole bar for the two of them if I need to.
"Nico" Sam calls causing me to jump. "Nico, I have some news for you. Reaper is still in the tower according to flight control. So, I reach out to Holiday to see if his ship is in the hanger. Thankfully she says it is and she is willing to put a new tracker on it for free for you just in case. She also said you will owe her a few beers after she replaces the engine, I tried to reach the Vanguard, but they are in a meeting with Reaper about something. I also received a message from Xaxa asking you to hurry to the meeting room next to the Vanguard area."
I nod my head as the ship comes to a stop. The ship barely parked as I jump up out of the sit and rush towards the ramp which thankfully is already lowered. I run towards the meeting room that Sam told me about hoping to catch reaper before he leave. I bump a few passersby as I jump the stairs towards the room. I barely slow as I hit the door with my body throwing it open. Then I hear a voice talking quietly but I realize its reaper.
"I honestly don't give a fuck what you tell me Zavala. I'm going after him with or without your permission. He was a brother to me almost a father and you want me to do nothing." I hear Reaper spit as I grow closer.
"I agree with him Zavala" Ikora jumps in. "Doing nothing is...
"Say it" Zavala growls as I turn the corner facing them.
"Cowardly" Ikora spits.
"Yes, it is but we can no risk more lives going to war with the Reef" Zavala snaps.
"Fuck the army only one more person need to die" Reaper snaps with venom. "I will track him down and do it myself. Uldren Sov will pay for what he did and if the Queen wants his killer, then turn me in, I don't give a damn." Before I can reach him, he turn and disappears into a mist.
"Reaper" I barely get out as disappears. This causes Ikora and Zavala to turn and face me.
"Nico" Ikora lets out as she reaches me with her arms out. I hug her back as I stare the cloth cover body lying on the table. Once she has finished hugging me, I step around her to look at the body.
"Cayde" I whisper as I reached out to place my hand on him. "Where did Reaper go? I need to hurry if I'm going to catch him." I glance up at the leading Vanguard hoping they have an answer, but the look on their face tells me that they don't. "I see then I will go and try and track him down. I think he will start in the reef so that's where I will start." I turn to leave but stop as Sam talks.
"Ikora, Zavala and Nico I just got a message from Xaxa that you need to hear." Sam pause for a second and looks around to see us all nod. "Please understand that this is a conversation between Reaper and Cayde. I will begin the message now.
"Reaper have you thought about what I have asked you" Cayde asks.
"Cayde, I understand what you want me to do but I will not take the dare" Reaper laugh. "I don't plan on taken the job as the new Vanguard hunter anytime soon. Plus, you will probably out live me because I'm pretty sure the Nico is going to kill me after she finds out that I'm heading to the Reef without her and no you will not be able to save me." This causes me to laugh a little before I continue to listen to the message.
"How about this Reaper" Cayde responds. "If I manage to kill Rarkis before you, you have to take the position but if you kill him before I do, I will leave it alone and take whatever punishment Nico throws at you.
Reaper seems to pause for a second before answering him. "What the catch Cayde? Is this your Vanguard Dare to me?
"No Reaper it's a promise between friends" Cayde answer back. As if he is trying to back Reaper into a corner. It feels as if Cayde is trying to force Reaper into the promise.
"Can I think about this before I give an answer" Reaper answers back hesitantly.
"It's seeming that Reaper figure out what Cayde trying to do." Ikora smirks with a small laugh.
"Sure thing" Cayde replies. "But I will need an answer soon because we are about to land.
"So, Cayde was trying to get Reaper to take the promise then" Zavala tell Ikora with a sad smile. "It's too bad that Cayde had to die before Reaper agree to it.
"ZAVALA" Ikora yells with power in her eyes.
"Ikora please calm down" Zavala tells her. "You know I did not mean it like that. I meant it in the way that now there is no way to get Reaper to agree to take the position." Ikora nods her head in understanding and opens her mouth to say something, but Sam cut her off.
"Actually, there is another part to the message that I have yet to play." Sam tells everyone who looks at my ghost in shock "Do you want me
"YES" we all yell at her.
"Okay here it is" Sam tells us as she begin the message.
"Looks like I was not able to make you do the promise." Cayde coughs making us realize that this is the last words he will speak.
'I'm glad that reaper was at his side in the end' I think as I listen to the Vanguard hunter die.
"I was going to make that promise with you Cayde" Reaper mutters.
"Good then I win, you are now the new Vanguard hunter" Cayde laughs lightly as we hear him fight for his last breath. "The Vanguard Dare was the best bet I ever lost.
"Cayde, Cayde please" Reaper cry. I can feel his heart ripping as his friend die then you hear a short intake of breath almost like Reaper is surprised by something. "Damn you, Cayde. How the hell" we hear as reaper mood seems to change to a lighter one. "Fine Cayde I will do as I promised you and become the new Vanguard hunter.
"That is the end of the message from Xaxa" Sam begins. "It seems as though Reaper is the new Vanguard hunter.
"I can't believe that happened" Ikora states in shock. "He was truly my greatest friend I ever had. I will miss him greatly; I will even miss his poorly timed jokes. He always found a way to make me smile no matter what was happening." She stops talking a little bit as if thinking about the times she spent with Cayde. All the laughs and the debates that they had over the many different things that they have worked on together. The love hate that him and Eris Morn had with one another. "He always was trying to find a wat to get rid of his position. Cayde always hated being stuck in the Tower with nothing to do. He always found a way to get Reaper to follow along with his plans. Always hoping to get Reaper to take the Dare no matter what. It was the funniest thing watch him and Reaper bicker over it. No matter how much the bicker they always seem to stay on great terms. You could always see how much Reaper cared for Cayde. So much so that it looked like they were bothers always getting into trouble and causing problems.
"Agreed, Cayde was always finding ways to cause Reaper headaches." I chuckle as I think about all the times, I yelled at Reaper thinking it was him who was causing the issues, only to find out that Cayde was behind it. Finding this out I would always try and track the hunter down to give him a piece of my mind but failed every time seeing the smile on Reaper's face as I find them in a bar sharing a drink. They always seemed to be in a good mood no matter what, their latest one being the two of them sneaking off the catch a Kell leader who somehow managed to get under the skin of Reaper. When I final got Reaper to tell me why I had to laugh at the reason why, I could not believe that Reaper was be so petty over something. I have believed that very few things would make this happen but not this. Reaper was being petty over the fact that the Kell managed to de-arm Reaper during their fight. Cayde continued to pick on Reaper about this for many days and nights after it happened.
"Now we have a problem" Zavala tells us bring us back to earth "Our new Vanguard hunter is now missing to go hunt down Uldren Sov. So now have no idea where he is going or what he is going to do.
"Holiday said she was installing a new tracker on Reaper's ship." I cut him off before he goes on. "If she managed to get it on to the ship before Reaper left then we will be able to track him. Which know how good of friends they're she checked Reapers ship when he landed and got it installed. Sam, can you reach out to Holiday and see
"She got the new track installed" Sam cuts in. "She has sent the new tracking information to me already. I'm get a strong signal from it so we will be able to track him this time.
"Good then with the Vanguards permission I will take my leave and start working on getting the New Vanguard hunter back to the tower where he belongs." I tell the two remaining Vanguard leaders. "Even if I have to drag him back here by his ears."
"Thank you, Nico," Ikora starts. "But you will not be going alone to get our hunter back. Once Xavier gets back from the Reef you will take him and his fireteam with you to track Reaper down. I know that you want to go now so you can catch him before he gets too far but we cannot have you running around looking for him with no help. Because knowing him, he will be in trouble once you find him and be in need of the help.
"Ikora" Zavala cuts in. "We can't send risk sending more.
"Yes, we can, and we will" Ikora snaps. "I will not let her go to the reef alone. At least this way she will have back up instead of rushing in there with no help. Plus knowing how much our warlock cares for Reaper she will go even if we tell her not to." I blush hearing this know that she is right. I was planning on leaving without help knowing Reaper will be causing problems for whoever is on the other side.
"Nico has to wait anyways due to one of her engines blowing out on the way back" Sam tells everyone before I can stop her.
"SAM" I hiss trying to stop her.
"Well, that's good news then" Ikora laughs. "This means she can't pull a Reaper and disappear on us without back up then."
Reaper POV
"Reaper, the Tangled Shore is a lawless frontier of outlaws, scavenger, and pirates. Murders like Uldren and his Fallen will fit right in." Xaxa tells me as I look around the area for any signs of life. "But no matter where he hides, he will not be able to hide from us.
I take off in a slow jog to begin searching for any signs of active in the remote area. The few Fallen camps I run into are empty and show no one has been there in a long time. I have Xaxa hack a few of the computer terminals hoping that it will lead to a clue of some sort but with no luck. As I reach the last camp that I am able to see in the area I notice a strange marking on the wall of a cliff.
"Xaxa what do you make of this" I ask my ghost as he scans it. As he scans the marking, I keep an eye on the area around us to make sure no one tries anything or sneaks up on us.
"This marking has a message in the paint Reaper" Xaxa tells me. "It's saying Territory of the Spider. I don't think that this is them, so we better keep moving." I nod my head and continue moving forward into the camp." Reaper I have marked an area that has weird energy reading on it. We should check it out." I turn to head in the direction that he has marked out only to see a bunch of fallen bodies on the ground and a computer terminal. I let Xaxa hack the terminal as I look around only to hear a fading noise behind me. I turn to see that a door that was not there before appearing as the rock wall disappears. "Well then I guess this is something then.
I let out a small chuckle as I jog to the door and mark my way through the tunnel. The closer I get to the other end I begin to hear noises of something moving around the area. I draw my pistol and prepare to fire as I round the corner. Once I turn the corner, I see two corrupted fallen walking around. I take aim at one as I pull the trigger causing its head to explode. The second one turns to face me firing its gun at me causing me to dive out of the way. Once I'm behind a crate I peak around the corner to try and get a shot off only for the Fallen to disappear into a cloud of smoke. I quickly glance around trying to find it only to feel a sharp pain in my back. I wipe my hand backwards hitting the Fallen in the head causing it to stumble backwards. I quickly raise my pistol shotting it in the head.
"Xaxa" I ask as the body falls.
"Your fine Reaper. It just burned your armor." He answer my unasked question. I nod my head and move out once more. In seem that the fallen that were with Uldren are turning everything around them. "Reaper on the ridge" I turn to look up at the ridge across from me to see five figures looking down at us.
"Perhaps you will give my children a better fight than your friend Cayde" I hear from one of them. As he finishes saying that a bunch of smoke appears in front of me. I raise my gun to prepare for whatever is about to happen only to see a small group of corrupted fallen appear out of the smoke. I rush a shot off as I dive for cover behind a rock. Just as my back hits the rock one of the fallen runs around the corner on all its legs and it jumps at me. Not wanting to see what is about to happen I dodge away from it as in explode in the area I was just at. The blood getting everywhere covering the rocks in a blue paint almost. I turn to shot one of the fallen in the head before I look closer at its blood. I fire off a few more shots taken more of the fallen down. "Come! Kill us. Death is out sword" I hear as I finish the last of the fallen.
"Reaper someone is hacking our comms" Xaxa informs me as I reload my weapons.
"Your Late. Here I was thinking I'd be hunting Uldren alone" Petra voice tells me.
"I had a hard time finding the right ship to take." I laughed out as an answer.
"We need to talk face to face" She continue. "I'm on my way to see an old acquaintance. Word, is he wants Uldren and his Baron dead as much as we do. The problem is, the feeling is mutual, so my acquaintance is laying low in a hidden bunker. If we want him to open the door, we can't leave any witness-clear the area of the Scorn.
"Scorn" I ask as I aim down my sights at one. Only for a fallen with spikes on it back appears next to a grav lift finishing it before I pull the trigger.
"I will tell you more when we meet." She answers, "also I'm sending back up to help you make you way this way.
"Are the backup fallen" I ask as I watch the one that has just appeared.
"Oh, did I forget to tell you that" Petra laughs. I just shake my head and head to the grav lift.
As I feel the lift begin to move my body down the sound of gun fire reaches my ears. I take off running as my feet touch the ground, so I don't get caught flat footed. I see the more fallen with spike on them are fighting the corrupted fallen. I begin to take out the corrupted ones as fast as I'm able to.
"Not that I'm complaining, but why are Fallen fighting against other fallen" I hear Xaxa ask.
"The scorn aren't fallen. Not anymore" Petra answers. "The Barons' leader the Fanatic has the power to resurrect dead Fallen as frenzied, bloodthirsty puppets. He believes that Uldren gave him that power." More Scorn arrive just as she finishes telling me that bit of information. So, I begin to pick them off with the help of the spiked fallen trying to clear the area of any of these Scorn.
"So Uldren and the barons murder Cayde and then come here. What is so special about the Tangled Shore." I barely hear for Xaxa as I fire my pistol taking out a couple more of the Scorn.
"That's not my secret to tell Reaper." Petra snaps "It's the Reef. I will say this Uldren sent the Barons here for a reason. I just need to confirm my suspicions." I continue shotting the scorn with the help of the Fallen sent for back up. As the last one falls my ghost sends a message.
"We are clear out here Petra." My ghost tells her.
"Great. Now get over here" she answer. I turn to face the marker that has appeared on my hub. I finally see her at an open door waiting for me as. As I stop in front of her, I hear. "Shine your shoes, Reaper. You're about to meet the Spider." This makes me laugh a little as I glance down at my boots that are covered in blood and dirt. I glance up in time to see her shake her head and turn to walk into the open door. After we walked down a crate filled hallway, I begin to hear laughing coming from in front of us
"Hahaha. Well, if it isn't Petra Venj, the worst jailer in the solar system" the voice says. I begin to place my hand on the hilt of my pistol just in case. "What brings you to my home away from home away from home? On the run, are we?
"I heard you lost the shore" Petra snaps back.
"YOU lost my shore" the figure snaps.
"Thought you might want some help getting it back" Petra calmly responds.
"A guardian" the figure states. "And where oh where, pray tell, is its ghost." This causes me to begin bringing my pistol up causing the guards next to the figure to ready their rifles.
"Never mind the ghost." Petra cuts in before thing go too far. "There were two Guardians at the Prison of Elders when it fell: Cayde-6 and this one Reaper. The three of us want the same thing Spider. Uldren and his barons dead.
"What is your" The Spider start before stopping. "Oh ho, I see ha-ha. Despite our clear, mutually aligned interests. I'm sorry but I can't help but feel like it is I who will come up short." I move the pistol a bit more so it's ready to fire a shot, but the Spider continues. "It's I know where Uldren and his "Barons" scheme. You go, scratch your itch for revenge. Then we can just say you owe me. Do we have a deal?
"Deal" I answer as I step forward causing Spider to laugh. "But know this Spider if you at cross me in any way these guards you have." I point at the two fallen guards next to him. "And any other you might have will not be enough to protect you from my blade or my bullet." Spider just continues to laugh as I finish talking.
"I can see that this will be the start of a great relationship" the spider comments.
"Reaper I will stay here and feed any intel that I get to your ghost." Petra tells me as I look at her. I nod my head in response to this and turn around to head back out the door. I hear her in the background as I leave. "Spider I sure hope you know what you're doing. This one is far more dangerous than the normal ones you see. He had even managed to capture the Queens eye before she went missing." I don't hear the rest as I turn the corner, the only thing I'm focused on is deal with the killer of Cayde.
"How long do you think it will take for Nico to find us Reaper." Xaxa asks as we leave the Spiders hide out.
"Knowing her not long" I answer with a sigh. "She is going to yell at us also. How much trouble do you think we will be in?
"Well, I think that as long as she can get to us before she starts think you are in the Reef without her, we will be fine." Xaxa answers slowly as if thinking about something. "Do you think she will tell on you?
I laugh before I answer. "Even if she does it will be fine Fish will not come all the way out to the Reef. Plus, I don't think that is on the front part of her mind right now.
"Reaper do you read me" Petra cut in before I can go on.
"Yes Petra" I answer.
"Spider was hoping you would help with a problem he is having" Petra tells me.
"Hello Friend, I was hoping that you could help me with a problem I'm having with supplies" Spider cuts in. "You see some up and comers decided that they wanted to steal some supplies from me. I want it back before they try and get it to the competitors.
"Fine Spider, send me the location and I will deal with the problem." I snap at the Fallen leader not too pleased that I'm now running errands for him.
Nico Pov
"Nico you need to stop pacing" Ikora tells me as I walk in front of the stairs. "Xavier's team just landed and will be here shortly, so please try and relax. We will get you out of here as soon as possible.
"I know it's just that" I start. "It's Reaper, who we all know will cause some problems for someone if I don't get there to stop him from being stupid.
"Or the real reason is that he is in the Reef alone" Sam cuts in.
"SAM" I hiss trying to stop the ghost.
"And the Queen really likes Reaper, so Nico has been worried every time he disappears." Sam continues even after I hissed at her. "Plus, I'm pretty sure Petra was told to make sure Reaper was well taken care of if he ever comes to the Reef.
"SAM" I yell at the ghost as the heat raises in my face.
"What Nico I'm just telling them the truth" Sam laughs.
"So, you don't want Reaper in the Reef alone because of the now missing Queen likes Reaper." Ikora smirks at me as I feel my cheeks turn a little pink. "So, I take it everything is going well with Reaper then." Thankfully, the sound of steps cut her off before she goes much further. I turn quickly hoping that Xavier and his team have finally returned. I let a sigh out as I see Xavier jogging down the hallway.
"Xavier, I'm glad you made it back." Zavala tell the titan. "But we have one more mission that we need you to leave on right now. Nico will brief you on the way, she is the acting fireteam leader.
"Understood sir" Xavier snaps off. "Nico my team and I are ready to leave now." I nod my head and turn to leave quickly as he follows me out of the room. "Nico, where is the fire at.
"ITS REAPER" I snap but I take a deep breath before I start over. "It's Reaper, we are able to track him now. I want to rush away but my ship is busted, and I was not able to leave without back up. So, I was stuck waiting for you to get here, but we need to leave right now because knowing Reaper he will be in trouble when we get there.
"Understood, where are we going" Xavier asks.
"The last we tracked Reapers ship he was on the Tangled Shore. So, we should start there" Sam tells us.
"Okay, my ship is in the hanger so we can leave right away." Xavier tells me as we round the corner head towards the hanger. When his ship finally comes into view, I can see the other two members of his fireteam unloading this ship. "Stop unloading the ship guys we are leaving on another mission.
"We just got back from a mission Xavier" one of the says.
"We are leaving right away guys this is not a normal mission this could turn out to be a rescue mission." Xavier snap at them before I can get started. I see that he will get things under control, so I walk up the ramp to the cockpit of his ship and start the warmup. "Guys get on board now I will fill you in once we get air born." I guess that his fireteam just shook their heads and boarded the ship because the next thing I hear is the ramp closing. "We are good for takeoff Nico.
I immediately begin moving the ship to the exit of the hanger. Once we clear the hanger bay, I push the throttle all the way down causing the ship to jump forward. Once we make it pass the atmosphere. I try and push the engines a little harder so we can get there sooner. Unfortunately, the engines have no more to give so I let them run at the pace they are at and turn to exit the cockpit. I need to tell Xavier and his team what we are about to get into.
Reaper POV
"Now we are friends Reaper" the Spider tells me. "And I take friendship seriously, very seriously." I glare at Spider causing him to laugh. "Oh, now don't look at me like that. I would never ask you to do something that wasn't in your own interest too, remember that. So, down to business. I will supply you with the Baron's location-which I am quite familiar, as it was until recently Mine. "I nod my head and head back out of the hide out knowing that I can get the updates over the comms.
"The hide out is near here" I hear over the comms. Before he can go on one of the Barons' appear in front of a door. Causing me to level my hand cannon at them and open fire as I run towards them. I see my bullets hit but they don't seem to affect the large Scorn. The barons' turn to face me as it moves their gun to face me and fires. I watch the projectile fly in the air and hit the ground a few feet away from me in an explosion of fire. This causes me to change my idea of charging right at them to zig zagging back and forth so that the baron can get a bead on me. As I get closer to the baron I watch as the disappear in a wall of smoke.
"Mother Fucker" I growl out as I follow the open door hoping that it will lead me to the hide out. As I make my way father down the passageway, I see a caches with the spiders markings on it. "Spider I have a cache here with your markings on it.
"Oh, I had to leave stuff behind during my relocation" The Spider tells me. "If you would be so kind to send it back to me that would be appreciated.
"Reaper, this is a trap something is not right with this cache" My ghost tells me as he finishes scanning the cache.
"Can you remove the trap" I ask. But before he can answer my question, I hear an evil laugh coming from somewhere. I watch as smoke starts appearing all around me. I quickly aim my hand cannon at the closest grouping of smoke and wait for something to appear. I fire a shot at the first figure I see taking its head off before it can figure out where I am. I dive behind cover as shot start heading towards me.
"Well, this is not good" Xaxa tells me as I take out another figure. "To bad we don't have back up." I growl in response to this and focus on what needs to be done. I dodge backward as one I saw earlier rushes me. I barely get out of the way as it explodes causing a chain reaction to happen. I let out a small sigh as I watch the ones that would rush me all start exploding. This thankfully take some of the other figures making my life a little bit easier.
"Do you have my super ready?" I growl at my ghost hoping that he does. I don't get an answer back instead I feel a surge of light fill my body. A grin crossed my lips as my hand cannon starts glowing bright with flames. I step out from behind the cover and fire six quick shots. As I step back behind cover, I hear six explosions from around the corner. I throw a grenade over my shoulder clearing the cover I'm standing behind.
"I'm going to need that grenade back as soon as possible Xaxa." I mutter quietly as I listen for more movement. I step around the cover after not hearing anything. With the gun raised I slowly continue on the path I started on hoping no more traps are waiting for me.
"You think you will defeat my Scorn, my siblings and my father all at once." I hear from a voice down the passageway. "Do you think you will succeed where Cayde-6 Failed. Kill the Fallen, I claim it as Scorn. Kill a Scorn, I raise ten more!" I round a corner only to see a wall of see-through smoke with the Barons' on the other side. I try and push my way passed the smoke only to be held back by something.
"I do not need the Barons to slaughter you. My Scorn will be enough to end you." The wall holding me back finally disappears, so I charge into the room and open fire only for my shot not to do anything. "Rise, my Scorn. Give this dead thing its final death. With that smoke fill the room causing more figure to appear as the Barons' fade away.
I begin firing my gun as fast as I can pull the trigger. Praying that their number will soon go down, but nothing seems to be working. I draw my knife from my hip and use it to stab a Scorn rushing me, I quickly turn and throw it at another. Thankful for the little bit of a break I reload my hand cannon as I dodge an incoming fist from a different one. I fire a shot off in the direction of its head as I walk up a ramp. I hope this ramp helps me funnel their large numbers into easier targets.
I step around a corner placing a trip mine behind me to take out the ones following me. I gun down two more in my way as I move forward. I pull another knife out a stab it in the eye of one of them who jump in front of me. I move quickly as more and more seem to appear out of nowhere. I barely make it around the corner when I get tackled to the ground.
I cover my face with my arms and try to make my body as small as possible for them to hit. It just not feels like it's working as I feel the feet connect with my gut. I feel a claw bounce of my chest armor as I'm forced to roll on to my stomach. I feel a sudden wave of anger in my stomach as they continue to rain down blows on me. I feel the anger build as I think about how Cayde was gunned down, how Uldren manage to escape before I could get a shot off.
Without think I push the anger and heat that is building up in my body towards the ground. A burst of light leaves my body pushing my body up off the ground. I fan my hands out across my body causing blades of light to shoot out from my hands. The blades of light impaling the Scorn around me. Some of the blades pass through the bodies they entered and strike the figures behind them. As the bodies fall, they are to burn. I catch myself on my feet before I hit the ground again and take a deep breath calming back down.
"Reaper" Xaxa jumps in. "What was that. I have never seen that before.
"I don't know" I answer as I continue to calm down. "It just happened it somehow felt right.
"Do you think" Xaxa starts.
"I don't know" I cut him off. "Stop asking questions." I glance around making sure that I'm alone. I don't need any more surprises as I try and make my way to the Barons'. I hear a small noise for Xaxa letting me know that my grenade is ready to be used again. I let one of my hands drop to my side to feel if I have my knife back. A smile grin crosses my lips as I feel the hilt of a knife brush my fingers.
"Reaper" I hear over the comms unit.
"I'm here Petra" I answer.
"Good the Spider has more information about the Baron so stand by." She tells me as I duck around a corner. After a couple second of though I decide this is a good chance for me to leave the area I'm currently in. It will give me a chance to catch my breath and think about what I'm going to do. I slow make my way out of the passageway hopefully to find somewhere safe. I finally exit the passageway and turn towards the hide out location that Spider is in.I watch as the Fallen guard look me up and down as I walk by them into the hideout. I barely hear the laughter of The Spider as I enter the door. As I walk closer I hear a voice of a male that I don't recognize.
"Tell us where the hunter is, or we will kill everyone in this room." The voice threatens The Spider who just laughs again.
"Oh, and what make you think the hunter you are looking for is here" The Spider laughs.
"Because we tracked his ship here and seeing as Petra is here that means that Reaper is here." A females voice cuts in, a voice I recognize.
"Nico" I question as I walk around the last corner. Thankfully they don't hear me walk around the corner. A shocked look crosses my face as I see Nico standing in front of the Spider with a heated stance. Petra eyes glance back a forth between the two of them before she finally sees me standing in the back.
"What do you want with Reaper" Petra asks the group with a sly grin.
"We are here to take him back" One of the titans answers. Nico cuts him off with a raise of her hand.
"We are here to help him with whatever mission he is on." Nico answers as she glares back at Petra.
"Nico" the Titan next to her hisses.
"I'm the fireteam leader Xavier." Nico snaps at him, this causes me to laugh out loud causing them to turn around to face me. The looks on their faces was priceless as they look at me as if they have seen a ghost.
"Hi" I wave as I remove my helmet.
"REAPER" Nico yells as she dives into my arms, I let out a small laugh as I wrap my arms around the young warlock. "I was so worried about you when you did not answer me when I radio you. And with the way you left the tower after." She trails off at that, but I know what she is trying to say.
"I know Nico." I tell here as she starts to cry. "I'm fine really I just need to finish a couple things up before I return to the Tower." I glance at the three titans that are standing behind her unsure about what to do next. "Thank you, guys, for bringing her here but I need you to take her back.
"Sorry Reaper" Xavier tells me. "But that's not really your call." I glare at the Titan who just raises his hands before going on. "Nico is our fireteam leader per the vanguard and we are here to help you or rescue you. Yes I know that you are the more senior Guardian here but I really don't want to be on her bad side. I know that you don't like Titan and much rather work alone but that is what is going on. My team and I will be on stand by if you need us but we are not leaving you out here alone after what has happened."
"Xavier" one jumps in.
"NO" He snaps before turning back to me. "This is what I have decided to do. We will be on standby in case you need us Reaper. I still need to pay you back for saving us and this is one of the many ways I will be able to start that. We will stay here, or we will stay in my ship, so we are out of the way.
"Xavier" I sigh. "Thank you for making sure Nico got here safely. You guys don't need to stand by I will take the help." This cause the group of guardians to look at me in shock, so I go on. "I just had a run in with two maybe three of the guys we are going after. It did not go well; they manage to get the jump on me." This causes Nico to push off me and begins checking my body for any bleeding. "I'm fine Nico, I just got tackled to the ground, but I managed to fight my way back up to my feet.
I see her let out a sigh of relief but continues to look me up and down just in case. I know that she is not going to stop until she is sure I'm fine. So, I raise my hands up to my side and do a quick turn so see can see that I'm fine. Once I finish my turn, she jump back into my arms which causes everyone to laugh at what is going on. I decide that now is the time that Spider will tell me who or what the Barons are.
"Spider" I let out with venom. "I will take that info now.
"Oh, you really showed them, didn't you?" The Spider laughs but goes on before anything can be said. "Piece of advice for you. Know your enemies before you try and deal with them. Reksis Vahn – the hangman, a silent sadist used to dock the arms of the dregs with his bare hands. Kaniks-the mad bomber, emphasis on the "mad" a Demolitions expert with a irritating way about him. The Trickster- Araskes a liar and a schemer as you found out earlier. Friendly advice: Trust nothing that she touches it may be trapped in some way. Hiraks – the Mindbender, has a rep for manipulation and has a morbid obsession with the hive. Talk is that he is mated with a Hive Queen. Yaviks, aka the rider is the leader of a bombastic gang of pike-riding heathens. They sow chaos everywhere they ride. The rifleman- Pirrha, the only Fallen alive that could make the shot that moralized Cayde-6. Elykris – the Machinist, the scourge of Solis Descent. This one sit atop a trove of tech from everywhere and heavy armaments that were stolen from me! The Fanatic himself – Fikrul, the leader of the Barons and the first of the Scorn his dark magic has no place on my shore. Last and most certainly least Uldren Sov, traitor to his people and the man who pulled the trigger killing Cayde-6. He may be in the wind, but his barons are ripe for the picking. Divide, conquer and isolate Uldren and he will end up at your feet. And all you have to do."
"Is pull the trigger" I finish with venom. This causes Spider to laugh but I pay him no mind. "If you're going to help me then know this. I will be the one who end Uldren Sov do not go looking for him. If you find him let me know right away." I get nods from the three Titans as I feel Nico nod her head on my chest.
"Reaper head back to your ship and talk with your team." Petra tells me with a small smile. "I will let you know when I have found the location of one of the barons.
I nod my head I turn to leave the hide out. I drag Nico along with me knowing that she is not going to let me go. A small laugh leave my throat as I think about how many times, I have something like this to her. She has never changed in that fact of always worrying about me no matter what.
"Our ship is right here Reaper." Xavier tells me as he walks ahead of us. I just nod my head and follow him to the ship. Once we all get on board, he shut the ramp and turns to face us. "So, Reaper what is going on?