Chapter 4 - A Standard Striker Day
Act VI - Wintertide
[Last City | Tower | Accommodation]
"Haa..." Taka was elated under the heat of the shower, casually prolonging her time under the water as she heard Ceres gather her things outside the bathroom. "Maybe skipping work today wouldn't be so bad."
"You know that wouldn't be very responsible," Once again, her ghost, CT raised a valid point, but again, Taka had been working, in her way, to the bone for days. Compared to the wild adventures the humble Titan hears around the Tower, of the unbeatable Dimitri, the many helping hands Zane has given, to even the infamous Fireteams and their claims of glory across the system, Taka was, and always will be, a simple Titan of the Vanguard
*Knock-Knock*
"You heading out?" Taka hummed, hearing Ceres adjust something outside the door
"Yeah, got to crack the moody case that is Morbin-7," Her sarcastic tone made the Titan giggle, but knew Ceres meant well, she had listened to her confident roommate prattle on about the issue last night, it took many cups of tea to finally calm her down and go to bed. "I'll be back later today, seeya!"
"Goodbye," Taka replied, and the world was returned to a state of tranquility. However, as she soaked in the water longer, an idea bubbled forth. "You know what, CT, let's go on Patrol today, sound like fun?"
The Ghost came into view. "I certainly wouldn't mind digging up some old relics, even a lady knows when to work up a sweat." That brought Taka back to laughing, struggling to wrap a towel around herself. "What? Was it something I said?"
"Nothing, just... remembered a joke is all," A lie, but she wouldn't be so cruel as to mock her Ghost's, a robotic floating shell without arms, interpretation of 'Working up a sweat'.
CT's shell slit, "Hmph, fine, keep your secrets."
[Old Russia | Cosmodrome | The Divide]
"On our right!" Taking CT's advice. Taka slid across the snowy ground, bringing Flood and Fury high as the grenade bounced off the ceiling while she rolled back to her feet, the impact of the grenade blowing two Dregs away. Ducking under a shot from a Vandal, Taka tackled it into a wall, drawing her static fist across its face as the Arc crackled and burnt it to ashes
A knife then dug into Taka's shoulder, turning, she found a Dreg's pistol blasting her in the chest, so Tak poised her grenade launcher, seeing it jump back with a started growl, but that was its mistake as the large bullet lodged itself between the folds in its plating, the blast tossing it back into the snow, the commotion of other Guardians outside keeping the rest of the Devils busy for Taka and CT
"Just ahead, that generator," CT appeared, floating over to the rusted contraption of an era long since past. Taka crossed her arms while she allowed a frequency into her coms, CT's scan coming through simultaneously
~Good work today, Guardian~ Zavala commented, then paused. ~Taka, your field reports have been very frequent today, and across this week?~
"Just doing my part, sir, after all, one inch for a peaceful tomorrow, right?" Taka didn't care much for the praise, but it did make her feel accomplished when it came either way
Zavala spoke up, ~Indeed, Guardians, whether their accomplishments are big or small, contribute to the City's future, to the system's future. Be safe, Guardian~ Then the channel went dark, and CT bobbed up to Taka, her arms unfolded as they stepped outside, spotting a group of Guardians dealing with a Fallen Walker that had been dropped into the area, a familiar, hot-blooded Titan leading the charge as a comet of lightning through the air, his fists crashing down on the exposed core with waves of Arc electrifying the snow
"You going to intervene, wouldn't mind tripping up his pride?" CT murmured, much to Taka's concealed smirk as she nudged her Ghost
"Na, let's enjoy the show," She stretched, popping her joints. "Besides, that makes, what, twenty patrols now?"
"Hmm, twenty-six actually, yes, I suppose we deserve a break." CT vanished back into her Guardian, herself sat atop the rusted building as they admired the battle between the Guardians and the Devils from a safe distance
[Earth | Last City | Downtown]
The bustling streets of the Last City brought Taka away from her life as a Guardian, walking among the people she was brought back to protect was comforting, it made her feel there wasn't this massive line between them. Something not alot of Guardians seem to realize was there. Many rivalries with factions and the leading power in the City would make anyone's head spin, Taka did her best to keep her head down in those times, helping around the City itself, while she was a single Guardian, it was nice to see communities get along, and the children made her laugh, calling her 'Sherif' if she visited often.
"Those children would be adults now..." Her mouth murmured, eyes gazing at her palm. She hadn't aged a day, but they did
"What's that, Taka?" CT eyed her Guardian, but her blank expression bore a smile while she brushed her locks away from her eyes
"Reminiscing is all," Taka answered, then stepped inside a music shop, the chime of the bell above giving rise to the musicians in the open space near the back where one could practice or try out an instrument. "Wonder if anything new's in stock..."
"Oh! Hello, Taka, CT!" To her surprise, she spotted the white-haired Hunter with his guitar resting on his knee. Zane smiled. "What brings you to this humble space of musical creativity?"
"I could ask you the same," Taka replied, then put a hand on her hip. "Browsing after being out on Patrol all day, you?"
Zane waved a hand, strumming mindlessly beside someone else who was adjusting a few dials on a DJ table with meticulous movements. "Welp, you see, Ceres and Morbin kinda left for Venus without me, something about, 'personal adventure', I get that, me and Ceres had one too." That did explain why Zane wasn't with them right now. He waved his hand dismissively. "Meh, about time his character arc began I say."
"I see, well, who's your friend?" While Taka asked, CT and Rika greeted one another
"Sup, CT." "Hello again, Rika."
Zane zipped over to the DJ, and Taka felt she should recognize her from somewhere. Her hair was dyed electric blue, similar in style to Ceres', while her eyes remained hidden behind tinted shades. She looked up from her notes with a relaxed smile, saluting with just two fingers. "This here's Skyler, she's the main gal to go to if you want great music for festivities. I helped her out a bunch by gathering Golden Age music that remained, the Fallen can be really possessive of this stuff."
That then made Skyler click her fingers, motioning a hand to Taka as she walked the silent conversation unfold. "Really?" She nodded, then adjusted one of her keys, exciting Zane's expression. "Oooh, yeah that can work - hey, Taka?" Her eyes met his. "Mind listening to one of our recovered tracks? Got to ensure it won't shatter like... many windows like last time... sigh, so much Glimmer lost."
"You broke it." Rika murmured as a drumstick bounced off her shell. "Hey!"
"Sure, I don't mind." Taka took a seat before them, the two musicians bumping fists with toothy grins
"Alright! Let's kick it!" Zane jumped back to his stool, allowing Skyler the chance to boot up the music. Zane continued with his hands on a bass guitar, the other instruments covered by the DJ, her hands adjusting to the quality, smiling wider with each piece that filled her ears with a satisfying melody that slowly burned brightly from the time it was left behind in.
I'm drunk off your kiss
For another night in a row
This is becoming too routine for me
But I did not mean to lead you on
And it's all right to pretend
That we still talk
It's just for show, isn't it
It's my fault that it fell apart
Just maybe
You need this
And I didn't mean to
Lead you on
You were everything I wanted
But I just can't finish what I've started
There's no room left here on my back
It was damaged long ago
Though you swear that you are true
I still pick my friends over you
(My friends over you)
Please tell me everything,
That you think that I should know
About all the plans we made
When I was never to be found
And it's all right to forget
That we still talk
It's just for fun, isn't it
It's my fault that it fell apart
'cause maybe you need this
And I didn't mean to
Lead you on
You were everything I wanted
But I just can't finish what I've started
There's no room left here on my back
It was damaged long ago
Though you swear that you are true
I still pick my friends over you
(My friends over you)
Behind Taka, a few browsers were now walking too, clearly loving the song as much as she was, their Ghosts bobbing to the song, CT, much to Taka's surprise was enjoying the song just as passionately as the rest. Zane looked breathless, but his smile and the energy he put into the guitar was as powerful as his Light. Skyler radiated the same level of passion in her work, keeping in tune with Zane easily.
Just maybe you need this
You need this
And I didn't mean to
Lead you on
You were everything I wanted
But I just can't finish what I've started
There's no room left here on my back
It was damaged long ago
Though you swear that you are true
I still pick my friends over you
The song came to a close, and the crowd erupted into praise, Taka sitting back while clapping, Zane taking a bashful bow with Skyler doing the same.
[Earth | Last City | Memorial of the Lost]
Placed between the Tower and the City's outskirts across a large meadow was a quiet memorial to Guardians and citizens alike. Over the years humanity has lost so many people, but those that braved the Darkness and its forces were given a special place, they weren't above common folk, but to be passed off as ordinary in the face of death would be a mockery to their lives. Thus, the 'Memorial of the Lost' came to be.
Taka knelt down on the white-stone path, eyes resting on the surface before her, two roses in-hand delicately. "You know, I wonder if you guys saw what happened back then when Atheon finally came crashing down before our eyes when Zane finally moved through his own darkness as I have?" Taka paused, then chuffed. "Now we have a Hive Prince crossed off that list, crazy how much has changed in nearly a year." Her eyes went soft. "I... find that scary, how easily time slips by, change is... so abrupt, not many realize it happens until they take a step back, guess I've always been an observer."
CT nuzzled her Guardian's cheek, hearing her sigh shakily while placing one of the roses down before the names, the people she met and cherished. It was hard to accept, even harder to let go, but Taka knew it wasn't goodbye, not forever. Turning around, she strolled past names of many fallen heroes, some people she never met, others talked about among Guardians, recounted as legends. I mean, Saint-14 has a statue, hard to miss that. One particular headstone was labeled after a village Taka never heard of, but there was a boy sat with his hands together, head low.
Approaching the boy, Taka smiled and knelt beside him, making him jump under his rugged hood. "Here," She held out the rose that remained in her fingers. Hesitant, the boy's face was obscured, but he eventually took the flower, placing it upon the grass before the many names written on a headstone that looked a few decades old, perhaps as far as the Dark Ages. "Your home?"
"Once, I come by to honor them," He replied, cupping his hands again. "Thank you," Was his meek reply as Taka got up
"Of course, be safe," With that, she left the boy in peace, CT noticing he was staring directly at her, confliction filling his eyes before he turned back to the grave
[Last City | Tower | Accommodation]
With a heavy sigh and an exhausting stretch, Taka pushed the door open and stepped inside. Ceres hadn't returned, but that gave Taka time to rest easy before she would listen to how her and Morbin's attack on the House of Winter went. Ghosting her hair, the Titan stopped as she noticed the presence of another in her home, standing in the kitchen like a deer caught in headlights.
"Hehe, I can explain," Dimitri had broken in again, smiling warily with a pot in her hands
"Again you Roughian! Ray, you can't let her do this again!?" CT scolded the shivering ghost that hid behind Dimitri's hair, eye curved sadly
"I-I tried, b-but she wanted-" His shell was covered by a hand, Dimitri rubbing her neck
"I was getting to that!" Clearing her throat she replied, avoiding Taka's even but bemused stare. "I wanted to t-thank you - Look! I appreciated you supporting me when I went to my Crucible matches and this was all I could think of, alright!" While not at all what Taka expected, she remembered that neither she nor her brother understood boundaries at times
Dimitri frowned, "If you want me to go I will, just... let me atleast try doing something that isn't impaling a man to a wall with several arrows." Oddly specific on her part, but Taka finally moved closer, forcing the girl to root herself to the floor anxiously. "U-Um..." Both were now face-to-face, with Dimitri leaning back as Taka smirked, making the white-haired girl flustered
"Very well," She stepped back with her arms folded. "But I'm helping, something tells me you've never cooked before?"
"Have too!" Dimitri pouted, then faltered as she gazed around the kitchen. "Just... Zane normally does and last I did I... may have poisoned him?" While not visible, Taka twitched with fright at the revelation of saving herself from death
"Well then, I can teach you, both of us should be able to come up with something." Taka encouraged the Hunter, and her confidence blazed once more in her eyes, fist held high
"Yeah, we'll cook something that would put my brother's... amazing... to die for food... erm," Dimitri fire dimmed a little, wiping the drool from her mouth. "Ahem, well, we'll cook something good."
Yep, just another standard day for Taka as a Guardian.
To Be Continued...
Even Taka has adventures of her own while in the background of all the chaos that surrounds her friends. And an even better insight to the role of a Guardian and the people they protect. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate all your support, seeya in the next chapter Guardians!
Next Chapter: Winter's Fall
The House of Winter, now without a Kell, seeks to restore an Archon freed from the Prison of Elders. Fireteam Horizon is sent to keep this from happening, with Cayde all to familiar with the one capable of such a heist.
A/N: The song used is a cover of, My Friends Over You - New Found Glory (NateWantsToBattle ft. Caleb Hyles)