A/N: We're growing closer to the end, whether or not The Taken King will happen is a mystery so I'll do my best to give this a good ending. Review time!

To Starpottergeek: I do what I can to bring entertainment, hope you enjoy!

To DarkNights: Your reviews are always a pleasure to read, I can't say what is to come only that things between Horizon and Skolas aren't over yet, hehehe.

Enjoy!

-ll-

Chapter 14 - Beyond Judgement

Act VII - House of Wolves

[The Reef | Asteroid Belt | Vestian Outpost]

Jubilation ran wild across the Outpost when we returned, the bounties were crossed out with a number of Fireteams rejoicing, the Queen's Guard looked especially relieved now that Skolas and his Wolves were locked away, those that remained scattered to the darker corners of our system. By the briefing monitors, Petra welcomed us with a bright smile, giving a small clap herself.

Zane was bashfully rubbed the back of his nape, as for Morbin... well he was where are ships were, he didn't say much but told us to collect the reward and nothing else. With a glow and skip in my step, I stood before Petra.

"A glorious hunt... almost a shame to see it end," She shook her head, then a Guard held out a small case for her, revealing a shiny pistol the same make as her own. "As a thank you, Guardian, same model as my own," I put my hand out to refuse but Zane nudged my back, giving a nod and smile. Dammit, he's too sweet!

"T-thank you, Petra," I procured the pistol, and true to her word it was light but balanced. However, a somewhat bitter note played in my head. "I hope we can work together again, Variks too."

She took that with casual kindness, a sense of respect in her eyes. "Hopefully I'll be allowed to work on the field - Not that I would go against my Queen's word," She chuckled. "Well, the Kell is in chains, and I can't wait for our next job in the field, and speaking of Variks he wanted to speak with you."

"Thanks, Petra," With a short wave to our new-found friend, we made our way to Variks' hut, himself eyeing a datapad with intrigued curiosity. "You sure you're okay?" I stopped us a few feet from him, gazing at Zane and how casual he had been since Venus, after all, he said Revenant used... ice, I've never heard of any enemy with that kind of power. "Is your Light okay, and Rika's? W-what about-"

A hand brushed over my lips, keeping me still as a statue. He just... winked at me, the same he's always been. "I'm fine, Dimi is too," Now his arms were crossed with a rather confident smile. "I mean, come on, Titan Lady, it's us, duh."

Not this again, "Zane, don't..." I let my sigh out, my eyes glossing over the crowds like a mirror of my attitude, their laughter, boisterous manners, I fell into that without realizing it. How many times will I be offered that level of brash confidence before it bites me? "I've messed up far too many times chasing Skolas, I... nearly died for good this time," Closing my eyes softly to level myself, I peered back into his neutral orbs. "Please, tell me you're okay?"

Gently, I felt his hand rub against my right bicep, and be it sorrow, joy, or genuine consideration of the situation, Zane smiled all the same, I don't think there's a soul in the system that could deteriorate his endearing expression, especially one that turned my thoughts to mush. "I'm fine, Ceres, we all are." Then he chuffed. "Speaking of, I saw that trick, you used the Void, didn't you? Lucky..."

I broke into a small giggle, "Like you're one to talk, Bladedancer and Golden Gun." Emphasis on the 'Gun'. Sharing a small, blissful moment after the chaos of Revenant and the Kell of Kells, this was a great reminder of why I'm still here, why... he's... "I-I did say I would once Skolas was..."

How long were we looking into each others' eyes? I couldn't quite remember but... I didn't want to-

A low growl and clank of a staff startled us both away from one another, my face slowly rising in temperature as Variks eyed us both curiously, and I did my best to drone out Ghost's chuckling. "Did I... interrupt something?"

"No!" Was Zane's far too immediate reply, clearing his throat while spun round to face us, his face completely normal while I remained somewhat flustered, thankful for the Reef's dusky atmosphere. "S-so my Eliksni friend what beckons you here?" Okay, no, Zane was still off his game, he was speaking with a strange accent

Variks blinked slowly, then replied while his metal arm procured a mineral unlike any I had ever laid eyes on, both I and Zane leaning closer to observe the sparkling crystal deposit in his claws, pink with a tinge of white and purple. "A gift from Queen's vault, yes. We have passed Judgement on 'Kell of Kells', this is how it should be..." He replied, handing Zane the gemstone. "Priceless gem, so shiny..." It was kinda adorable how he said that, but I dare not antagonize the alien with the pointy stick

"Thanks Variks!" Zane patted the gem, even as Rika tried to scan it. "Mine, I will use it in ways no mortal could comprehend."

The ghost's eye just slit in a deadpan. "You're going to turn Dimitri's room pink, aren't you?" That put the breaks on mid-speech, Zane's hand outstretched with the crystal as Rika stored it, his hand opening and closing with a depressed slump. "I never said I wouldn't agree..."

Meanwhile, why these two devils worked I leaned over to Variks. "Think giving them the crystal was a bad idea?" His hand slowly rose to me

"His jokes are funny, keep me entertained when he visits," That made sense why they were so close, lore buddies and pranksters. Variks then stood tall, eyeing the Reef past the jumpships. "Machine as left, ship has just pulled out, yes?" Wait what?

Our banter was cut short as I spotted the glint of... Morbin's ship? Where is he going now? Just before either of us could question the whys and whats, my comms crackled. ~Don't bother tracing me, I won't be long, a small... errand to run~ His voice sounded strained like he was compressing his anger vocally

"Morbin, what's..." Wait, he's angry... My head slowly shook, worry stretching over my features with slight irritation at the lie he fed me hours ago. "Morbin, turn your ship around or-"

~This isn't your fight, Draksis, the Winter Splicers, Skolas - hmph, I don't care, they aren't Him, I don't see that scumbag mercenary among the pile~ Malice and bloodlust seeped into his words, a very frustration in his tone was unnerving. ~I'll be back, with his blood smeared on my ship ~WE ARE GOING THROUGH A TUNNEL BYYYYE!~~

"No, wait, Mor... dammit!" I swung my hand away, a slight pulse of Void denting the pannel under me as I breathed heavily. Ghosting my fingers through my hair I turned to my friends. "That idiot's gone after Taniks alone, even after what we said..."

"Chrome Dome doesn't do the 'friendship is magic' thing," My sharp glare at his witty remark shot the color out of his face. "L-Look, this isn't some run-of-the-mill Fallen, we're talking about the same nutcase that's come back from the dead and who's killed plenty of Guardians to boot."

Variks' staff rattled off the ground, whisking us away toward our ships, himself moving with haste, "I remember Taniks from the Reef Wars. Many Awoken dead. Clever, clever creature - Your friend may meet his match," Then he waved his staff between us, patting our chests with it. "Follow his trail, Skolas is locked away, Taniks will not fare the same way, go, friends of Judgement!" Ushering us on through the celebrations, we hadn't the luxury to rest, not while Morbin's life was at risk

"I know Morbin's been through alot, but throwing himself to the slaughter won't make things right," This level of illogical thinking was the exact thing he berates Zane for. "I understand why he feels the need to put himself through this grief, I did too... and I pushed everyone away, but," Leveling my head to my Jumpship I picked up the pace, Zane close behind me. "None of you gave up on me, it's time I returned that favor."

"We have your back." Ghost assured me with a flick of his shell to my ear

"See that? That's leadership... or brainwashing or somethin'." Rika rambled, though a pair of determined ocean-blue eyes locked to me

"Nope, that's Ceres." Circumstances aside, I did feel a bashful flush cross my cheeks and a muffled chuckle, my heart racing with dread and an urge to reach for one of my closest friends before I lost him too

[Moon | Ocean of Storms | Dusk Warren]

[No POV]

The Fallen let out a painful shriek as the roar of a dragon striped down their ranks, dissolving the lot into ashes and burnt arms. The dust under Morbin's boots created a smokescreen for him to ram a Vandal through one of the lantern spikes, kicking back to evade the Tracer Shanks that shot their own impaled ally.

With a twirl of the lever, two Shanks were reduced down to scrap before Judgement, the grav-lift into the mercenary's ship coming to life with a flurry of blue light, several reinforcements dispersing before the CLG triggered prior to their arrival, the large orb of Void pulling and condensing those too close down to nothing. The powerful force of space wasn't enough, however, a large foot easily swaying through the pool of purple.

Taniks snarled in his kind's words, drawing his Scorch Cannon to bear down on Morbin, only for the thunderous rattle of machine-gun fire to bounce and score his armor and helmet like buzzing bees. Warping behind the Exo he drew his arm back, swatting Morbin into one of the grav-lift propulsion generators.

He barely flinched, swinging Hammerhead high on the mercenary under starlight, his twin-fed carriages running low, the explosive hail from the Scorch Cannon making it harder to aim for the Fallen's weak spots through the dust. What caught Morbin by surprise was the familiar way he pulled back on a black lever in the side of the cannon, the furnace inside the capacitor whirled and charged with a smooth hum, the orange accents dipping to the opposite side of the spectrum.

"It's augmented too!?" At Deus' fright, Morbin grunted and slid down the slope behind a few supply crates, a powerful, tracer beam of condensed Void matter weaved through the air and stained the lunar surface with amethyst fire. "Behind you."

Taniks cackled, grabbing Morbin by the helmet and shoving his helmet through the wall, tearing the metal apart while scoring the hollowed cave with the Warlock's face, tossing him high as he landed headfirst in the white sand. With a final inspection, Taniks retreated to the grav-lift, leaving Morbin to his Void-infused rampage.

"I'm going to kick his teeth in!" He punched the ground, yanking Hammerhead with him while making a headlong charge for the lift, even if it were dozens of Fallen on the other side, their weapons and traps waiting and ready, it still wouldn't be enough

[Ceres' POV]

A growl reverberated in the hull of my ship, ~Taniks has no House. He kneels before no banner, owes allegiance to no Kell. He is a murderer and very good at what he does. I have been tracking him since Wolves broke their chains, yes? Now Taniks works for remains of Wolf Pack... but not for long~

~Heyo, C, Rookie; How've my two favorite Guardians handling the big ol' Wolf uprising? Trick question, Petra told me it went smoothly and you took down that creepy, Light-sucking vampire, nice~ What was Cayde doing on this channel. Then he made an 'oh' sound. ~Heading to the Moon, hmm, scouts said Ikora's Mood, Morbin-7, was already there; He was, and I quote, 'Going balls deep no retreat', huh, gonna have to remember that one...~

We were approaching the Ocean of Storms now, the shutter of my jumpship slowing its altitude drop gradually as the large Ketch continued to loom overhead, Taniks was in there, waiting for Morbin. My fist tightened on my breastplate, time was running out and that meant outright ignoring whatever enemies cross our path.

"He's going after Taniks, alone, we need to catch up and fast," I shot out in a panic, shaking my head while squeezing the handlebars. "I won't let his vendetta kill him."

~I second that!~ Zane drawled in the background feed

Cayde sighed briefly. ~You know back when I was free to spread my wings it was just hearsay? Of a Fallen under no banner, kept a crew and was the boogieman that would slip in, kill ya and leave without a trace, not even a word~ His voice was solemn. ~That mercenary's the reason I am where I am, can't say the reasons weren't bitter~

~Have heard of your tales from Petra~ Variks murmured with a clicking sound. ~Killed Taniks, but not forever...~

~Oh! You're that Judgement guy that kept giving Artemis the creeps guess we have a full-man, slash Fallen, squad~ Cayde clapped his hands out of anticipation. ~I thought one day my Rookie would be responsible for that overzealous Fallen's death, I'll run ya through Taniks' tricks~

~I will provide the same, Guardians~ Variks was slow and methodical when he spoke, while Cayde was trying to remain upbeat as we landed before the harrowing sight of the Temple of Crota. The guards were left in the dust, remains of Shriekers dotting the doorway

While our boots kicked up dust we stormed the Temple once again, the halls laid vacant, chains rattled and groans of the citadel below bellowed painfully. Sharing a glance, his hand waved forward and I took the drop deeper into the dark chamber first.

"Zane?" His head popped around the corner of my eye. "Do you know anything about Taniks, besides what we know?"

In response was his knuckle bouncing off his helmet. "Hardly, following the recent trend of crazy Fallen, Taniks became inspired by some Baron of Shanks or something, so the whole cybernetic augmentations to weapons and himself is how he makes trades if its not the pleasant contractual obligations as a hired gun or assassin." To then elucidate his point he drew a thumb across his neck. "He also offed his own Kell, I think he may have been a part of the House of Scar way back."

~Be cautious as you confront him. He will try to trick you. Fight. Win~ Variks reminded us, the memory of outrunning that firey deathtrap he ambushed us in on Venus came to mind

~He may act cocky but Taniks can back it up, wish I could be there to do the deed myself for Andal but Big Blue doesn't even know I'm on this frequency - Hey buddy, just checking in with a Strike team!~ Anyone could hear the anxiousness in his voice as he portrayed his lie, murmuring close to his comm-link with a static pop in his throat. ~Shh, watch for splinter mines~

The second he said that I yelped, seeing Zane slowed by a large, static field, forcing me to facepalm. "This may take some time..."

[No POV]

The automatic doors slipped open, the path toward the loading bay filled with armed Fallen waiting fearfully of what had slaughtered their crew in the Temple, what forced Tankis himself to wait within his Ketch. What hums and ambiance created by the Pilot Servitor above kept everyone on edge, even as the white-covered Warlock strolled in, shotgun slung over his shoulder.

With a pulse under his soles, Morbin propelled from the doorframe and toward his next victim, themselves screeching out of the confusing appearance of the Exo, only for a slug to pulverize its head. While shrapnel launchers and pistols wailed from the silence, Morbin stuck his CLG to a Vandal, hooking his arm around a Captain while a few were consumed by the blast.

He swung his heavy form around the Captain's back, dragging its gunfire into its own Dregs while pulling the lever on Judgement in his left and leveling the muzzle to its forehead, spraying ether everywhere. With a kick-off the corpse Morbin snap-kicked a Dreg, grabbing it by the ankle and tossing it through a crowd, drawing Judgement to the group, splintering armor and weapons with a stain of ether across the panels and grates.

Sliding under a hail of bullets Morbin broke the shin of a Vandal, drawing a knife through the underside of its mandible, tossing it back while firing twice into the reinforcements, the Void building in his right fists as the Dregs drew closer, consumed by a powerful strike to the chest, overclocking the Dreg, observing the body that erupted with Void Light, decimating the forces.

Some with shrapnel launchers tore into his armor, forcing Morbin to run and dive for a console wall, switching to both Hammerhead and Lord of Wolves. Ramming a Stealth Vandal to the floor the Warlock spun on a heel, drawing the weapons high to level the playing field with a wave of flaming shrapnel and hull-breaking caliber. Switching to just his slag dispensing shotgun.

Smacking the side of a Dreg's forehead he shoved the teeth against the chestplate and blew the Fallen away, bullets grazed his helmet, so he grabbed two cutlasses off the ground with a roll under the crossfire, tossing both blades across the room to lodge deep in the cranium of two snipers.

Stepping forward menacingly silent, Morbin bashed the Vandal with its own rifle, pulling it down to be struck by his knee, then was handed a grenade, panicking while Morbin strolled by, the last of the Fallen quickly laid to waste by the explosive.

While the sounds of chaos ceased, the speaker system blared for the whole Ketch to hear, several doors unlocked with a slight hiss in the pistons. Morbin stood there, now surrounded by dozens of Vandals armed to the teeth with cutlasses. He was outnumbered one to fifty, yet he made no idle comment or complaint as he usually would, Deus even remained mute while Taniks went on a tangent before cackling, a static warp alerting Morbin that the mercenary was behind him, watching humorously.

Intentionally slow, Morbin placed Lord of Wolves beside Judgment, cracking his knuckles with a slight hiss in his servos. Drawing two knives strapped to the inside of his trenchcoat he stood ready for the first Vandal to strike the floor, having missed as a knife wedged itself in its throat. Morbin kicked it high into three more Vandals, the group converging on him quickly.

Reaching for Judgement he quickly dispatched another with blind fire, flicking his second knife from his waist, the blade slitting another's throat. Spinning around he swung Judgement around, blasting another Vandal away, rolling to his left, pumping another shell into blades narrowly grazing his chest, the body flew over its ally, but it joined the Fallen after a slug embedded itself in its abdomen.

Taniks was impressed by the Warlock's effortless violent methods in clearing the room. He was well aware of the bounty placed on this one's head by most Fallen Houses, his observations on Venus proved to be invaluable, had he confronted this Warlock without forward planning may prove to be his undoing. Without a word he warped back to the engine room, leaving the would-be prophet Kell's House to act as cannon fodder.

The last Tankis registered was the out-of-place contrast of purple dimming the lights aboard his Ketch, when he arrived at his desired destination his hand instinctively grasped the pipeline, the very hull releasing a strained howl from the hull.

[Ceres' POV]

Given the fact the remaining Fallen and Hive were too busy fighting we skimmed past them and continued down the darkened halls of the chamber, eventually coming across a small room with a blue-tinted gravity lift.

~Lift field distortion! Ketch just above you~ There was indeed the form of a Wolf-painted Ketch above us, the lift having already been activated if the corpses dotting the ground weren't unsettling enough

"Ladies first," He joked, and so I did, taking the sudden jolt to my bones as I found myself back aboard a Ketch, prison capsules bathed in a hue of cryogenic mist under our feet. However, Morbin had triggered the alarm, and I once more felt white noise corrupt my comms. Zane appeared behind me too

With the static it was hard to make out Variks' unique voice through the grain, ~Taniks is j##ming ##r comms. Fight ##ll, Guardian. Fight for hon###~ His voice was soon buried under static

~Do what you do best, G##rdi##s, and, bet###en us... take c### of my mess, will ya? ##r Andal~ While much of that sentence was cut off, from how solemn Cayde was I can't imagine being unable to avenge someone would feel like. Compared to the people I know, they've lost too many themselves

"We shouldn't be too far behind Morbin," A comforting squeeze to my shoulder kicked my legs forward, both of us sprinting through the Ketch as it buckled under explosions and strain, empty halls stood between us, and the first generic chamber was a horrific sight. "I think we're on the right track, Boss."

Mangled, eviscerated, and burnt corpses piled across the floor, some dismembered, others left unrecognizable under Morbin's pursuit of Tankis. Wolves and Taniks' own crew lay motionless, and I couldn't help but feel unnerved by all the constant explosions. "You uh... don't think he might try, you know, crash the Ketch?"

*Boom...!*

One particularly large boom shook us so hard that we toppled down the stairs, my hand catching Zane quickly as we pulled ourselves against the odd-shaped wall, holding each other tightly until the shaking past. "To answer your question, yes, I think he might." Thank you, Ghost, my stress was mild before now. "Oh... sarcasm is better suited for Zane if I'm honest." Noted

~You two can stop hugging it out - Or don't, I don't mind~ Rika's mirthful inquiry pulled us apart like two positives, steadily making our way to the docking bay. ~Hmm, love the decor~

It was... interesting. What was once cramped with storage, energy and ether supplies, even a large, Wolf Walker, was now on fire, smoldering piles of dead Fallen and supplies were tossed across the once organized space, wire rifles lay isolated atop a balcony in the back, the Vandals having fallen to the floor below. And the remains of the Walker were bent forwards almost as if he smashed it face-first into the ground.

"You know," Zane started shivering as we skimmed past what remained, kicking aside the broken Walker cannon. "My OCD is kicking in full-force right now."

"That explosion was recent..." Morbin must have been fighting Tankis. A gasp and I sped off, the very reason I slimmed my armor, now I moved with the speed and grace of a Hunter while not heavily drawing back on armor - Why am I analyzing, focus, Ceres! "The engine room is ahead!"

"Incoming Chrome Dome!" From the observation glass, Morbin's feet pressed sharply to the pane, webbing the glass before bounding off the surface without noticing us, though a large payload of Void energy melted the otherwise with ease, a continuous beam of dark purple tracking Morbin while he tore apart the Fallen below, trying to evade Tankis' crazy cannon. "So that's where the Fallen got the augments!"

"Great and all but he's in trouble, move it, Hunter!" This was serious, and I wasn't looking forward to fighting the most vicious Fallen to date. Skolas was deadly but Tankis was crafty and elusive, he'll kill Morbin when he'd believe he held the upperhand

[No POV]

Taniks effortlessly dropped Morbin to the ground, stomping down on the Exo's chest, bending at the knee to strike again, the third squeezing the Exo's chassis further into the ground as he struggled to pry the Fallen off. Then, from the mercenary's blindspot, a six powerful flare shots from across the room melted through his armor, forcing Tankis off Morbin as Ceres slid before him, erecting a small, purple dome the second his concussive blasts burned against the shield, fracturing it.

"Sorry, I haven't grasped Void yet!" Ceres winced, the shield broke the second they retreated to the entrance, Taniks rallying his remaining troops to circle them quickly, himself rubbing the burnt arms gently, aggravated by the sudden inclusion of two more bounties on his list

"Okay, that's a scary launcher," Zane whistled, drawing suppressing fire on the Fallen while Morbin turned to his Fireteam

"You shouldn't have come, this-" A sharp slap silenced him immediately, the registration of Ceres' hand smacking his cheek caught the Exo blindly. Unable to see her face, it didn't so much as weaken the fierce intensity beneath the visor

"Are you stupid or something!?" Ceres snapped, jabbing her finger toward the ongoing battle, the laughter of Tankis in their ears. "I trust you, how many times have you told me to act smarter? You believed in me to be a leader - Or was that all just bullshit too!?"

"It-"

"Shut up!" Her fists unleashed a small gust of hot air. "I can't understand you, maybe I never will and maybe I'm sticking my nose where it doesn't belong but if that means you expect me to sit back and watch you... die then I'd rather kill myself!" Her index finger jabbed his collarbone, voice breaking slightly. "You both mean the world to me... and seeing you go down this self-destructive path after all you've done for me, it hurts, it really fricken hurts!"

He no longer held eye contact. There was nothing he nor Deus could do to counter that. "...then help me," Their visors met once more, and his arms clutched Lord of Wolves with eagerness. "~Put Tankis in the ground~"

"Incoming!" An answer wasn't rudely cut off as Zane shoved them behind the wall, a large beam of Void rippling through the air as Taniks tried to angle himself better. Zane stood up, downing a Vandal that rounded the corner with a single, blind shot to the throat, "Awesome, the team's back together, now lets do this!"

"~KILL THEM ALL!~" Kreig snarled

"You got it!" Ceres nodded with a hidden smile. The three broke apart, Zane taking the vanguard with his Golden Gun rising high, iron sights leveled to Taniks' chest for three consecutive shots, breaking apart the rouge-like aesthetic as the scarf burnt slightly, then the mercenary warped, drawing its cannon high while tugging back the lever, turning the energy a deep blue

With the cannon high he unleashed several mortar Arc mines, the bolts connecting in an unstable cage of lightning around Zane, frying his body before he flowed with a different frequency himself, disrupting the flow and directing a backlash by tossing the Arc Blade across Taniks' face, blinding him while the Hunter vanished without a trace.

Taniks ignored the static in his muscles, converting the chamber to Solar as Morbin rounded a corner, drop-kicking a Dreg while silencing two Shanks, a blast from the cannon pushing him back, though the roaring flames rippled through Taniks' attacks, blowing the charges up mid-flight as they continued to exchange flaming payloads.

Morbin grunted, having been struck in the chest as he tackled a Dreg, reloading Lord of Wolves to fire upon a Servitor, using the body he landed on as a skateboard, unloading another volley of fire across the unsuspecting reinforcements. Taniks warped to the catwalk, eyeing the Titan while overclocking the cannon for a powerful rocket.

Another Vandal was struck with the butt of Red Death, Ceres planting her back against it to pop the head of the one behind her, spinning on her left heel to dome the one she struck, shoving the stock into the stomach of a Stealth Vandal crawling up to her left. Seeing red she did a sharp backflip, evading the massive explosive, dipping out from cover to unload the last four bursts into Taniks' face, throwing his aim toward his own Servitor, decimating it in a heartbeat.

His lower right arm snapped back, snatching Zane by the faceplate as he smacked him off the generator behind them, with a swing he did the same to his left throwing the Hunter skyward while charging the cannon with Void, the continuous beam burning through his chestplate, Zane falling out of sight past Ceres who conjured a roaring fire while her voice trembled like an ancient dragon, the hammer crashing through Taniks' armor. With the backswing, another hammer of sol was forged, and the clank of metal to flesh reverberated, forcing the mercenary to retreat to the far back of the engine room.

"Right into our trap." Morbin chuffed, him and Zane evading the beam of Void that sterilized the air, an explosion to Taniks' back tripped him to a knee, Ceres running back while reloading Zenobia, another hail of shrapnel tore apart Taniks' armor, exposing his cybernetic joints for Zane's quick strokes of Quickfang, the green contrail amputation his lower left arm and gouging out a large chunk from his side, the Hunter dashing away from a quick backswing of the cannon, Arc mines dotting the area around Taniks while he rose.

Morbin was caught by two of the mines, forcing him behind the balcony support while up by the generator, Ceres shot another rocket, but Taniks smiled under his mask wickedly, snatching the powerful cluster shell from the sky, twisting his servo to pitch the blue rocket back at Ceres, striking her without a moment to hesitate.

Ceres crumpled to the ground before the mercenary, then he felt the tickle of lightning trickle down his back so with another conversion of the scorch cannon he drew his arm back, snatching Zane from the air as he slammed him into the recovering Titan, both now unable to steer clear of the powerful beam that tore across his own ship but scorched both Guardians to the point their bodies collided with the back wall, completely helpless and unable to lift a finger before him.

Before Taniks' surprising turn of the assault. Zane tried desperately to pull himself out from under Ceres, but she too had no strength left, both their armors charred black, exposing the matterweave and a few cuts that pass through. "We... need to move." His eyes were hazy, but he managed to coil his fingers around Imago, but the strength he had was fleeting at best. "Come on, not now!"

Ceres grit her teeth, trying to pull her arm out from between her and Zane, her other felt like it broke and she couldn't risk pulling Ghost out now. Despite the overwhelming pain crawling up her whole body, she cracked an eye open, spotting Imago trying to rise. Biting her cheek, she twisted and turned in an angle that gave Zane an opening to the deafening stomp of Tankis. "Not yet..."

His scorch cannon was charged a fierce orange again, and his steps were slow, careful to take aim at both of them, realizing Ceres and Zane held up Imago between them, face obscured behind a mask but anyone with a fondness for bloodshed could feel the tension between them, the collective of defiance building from their hands to their weapon, a truly remarkable sight of two seasoned partners willing to bet their lives on a single shot.

Taniks' head dipped to eye them with golden eyes, fingers tensed to the trigger, taunting them with the low rumble within the weapon's reactor as it spun up. He too would bet his life on a single shot, rewarding and beneficial to his contracts. Three pairs of eyes locked in a stalemate, two bloodied and broken, another still managing to stand tall.

Two triggers were set off, and a flash of light overtook the engine room.

"Voidwalkers siphon life energies for a variety of uses, a method other Guardians might not approve of. But these are dire times, and sacrifices must be made." Ikora spoke constructive, passing on a pearl of great wisdom she had come to know as simply as breathing

Before her, a newly risen Guardian sat in a secluded garden, away from the books he surrounded himself with, from the weapons he found great pleasure in dispatching his would-be attackers with. Morbin-1 was, as he knew it, perplexed and bored

"You keep saying that like it's some haiku," He closed his eyes, frowning. "You could atleast say something different to try and lighten the mood."

"Would you care for me to recite the many laws and regulations a Vanguard Leader must keep memorized at all times?" Even with her back to Morbin, she wore a confident smile as her eye peered over her shoulder. "Some of the contexts can be quite insightful."

He stared at her blankly, then went back to meditating without a peep. Now with his attention on his Light, she spoke clearly. "The Void is an element of our universe, we Warlocks have a more fundamental control than Hunters or Titans."

Her hand reached high to the falling leaves, motes of starlight twinkled in her palm, Morbin's eyes observing with fixed awe, he too could do that, but he felt something else, this primal energy underneath a vast, calm ocean that mirrored himself.

"To understand the Void is to understand the universe and its secrets, to know there is a great power with a tremendous force, waiting to be unleashed," She turned to her Warlock, hands cupped, harnessing the Void to a singularity smaller than a Nova Bomb but just as potent. "A Voidwalker for a brief moment unleashes this energy, but those that are patient, that learn of the potential underneath can unlock something beyond simplicity."

The crowd that watched was flung back from the sheer force unleashed before Taniks' attack, Zane and Ceres staring up at the epicenter of the light. The rocket was diverted, striking Taniks himself as he dusted off the ash across his arms. His eyes slanted, growling as Morbin stood between them, both eyes purple twilight under his helmet.

It was odd, he had somehow gotten stronger, Taniks couldn't believe it, was the Warlock holding back this whole time? "I understand..." Morbin's words drew the mercenary's eyes, twitching with anger, tempting his fingers to pull the trigger. "...More than you'll ever know, Fallen rat!"

He craned his neck around, eyeing Ceres who was dumbfounded as Zane was. "I can handle this from here," He turned around. His whole body was a crashing tidal wave, energy flowed like unstable Light, its weft and weave was as strong as gravity, turning pure white at the tips of his fingers, in a blink he had crossed the whole room, unleashing a torrent from his body.

"I can barely keep it contained, but I can move, I can control this," He briefly shut his eyes. "This power... like me is uncontrollable, maybe that's for the best, but," He clenched both fists together at his right, gathering power between his fingers like a hurricane. "To protect them... ~TO WIN!~"

With a flash and pull, Taniks stood atop the catwalk snaked around the reactor, raising his cannon high as his remaining forces closed in on Morbin. But now that power of his was about to overflow, the dam was a fracture away. "I'm going to survive!"

His body blinked, placed between a seam in reality, then the energy rippled and overtook his existing place in that second, the blast erasing the Fallen. When he reappeared it was beside his team, drawing an infused fist across a Captain, the unstable Void blasting a large hole across the ground, tearing apart the Wolves as he flipped again, unleashing the Void from his body across the battlefield, decimating a group of Shanks and a Servitor.

His eyes' contrails dashed to Taniks, his solar blasts tearing apart the floor without care, all in vain to pinpoint Morbin as he warped across the room, his leg swiping the cannon aside for his hands to throw space across the catwalk, tossing Taniks to his back while switching augments, firing a burst of Arc mines to trip against Morbin directly. He refused to lose to some lowly Guardian!

The bolts ensnared Morbin briefly, his arms thrashing while direct impacts stripped him of his helmet further, one contained burst blew the mines apart, and he appeared above Taniks' head drawing a left hook across his face, followed by a back-kick, teleporting high to drop and ax-kick to his crossed arms, shattering one completely while the cannon slapped him into the catwalk.

His metal jaw twisted bitterly, eyes blazing with a hint of crimson under lavender. Scorch cannon fodder tore across the gap, Taniks left breathless while unloading all he could upon the approaching force of space itself. Morbin wasn't backing down, unleashing massive explosions of pure Void that bent the floor, dispersed the flames the closer he got, his boots hardly grazing the ground he traveled across.

One particularly contained orb between his fingers grew stronger, the spectrum completely diluted a pale white, a ring of pink blowing the cannon far from Taniks' hands, a fist colliding with his face while he crashed into Morbin's, his cybernetic leg twisting to try and pin the Exo in place, but all he felt was metric tons of force tear it apart at the thigh, the body of the Guardian materializing with his right arm folded back, the limb glowed like a white star for a split second.

He brought it through the mercenary's heart, a seamless hole piercing Taniks' barding and enhancements like air as the final ring of Void shattered, the Light whisked away as quickly as it first materialized. All Morbin could see was the lumbering Fallen slowly crumble to the floor in a heap, the light in his eyes snuffed out with a breath.

There was only a solemn silence, and Morbin eyed the Fallen that changed everything, who was the extent of his malice and hatred of the Eliksni, was dead, right at his feet. Satisfaction? Glory? Sorrow? Morbin didn't feel or care for the merits or morale codes broken, he did what he swore years ago, only now that didn't so much as matter to him at all.

"Deus?" One word, a question as his eyes faded to dark orange once more, spotting the recovering Fireteam, Zane being aided to his feet by Ceres' hand. Unbeknownst to the duo, their stoic Exo let through a smile unseen for years. "Lets go home."

Deus appeared, shell wide once again, a single nod to his sign. "(*^_^*)"

To Be Continued...

Tankis is dead, for now. And Morbin walks away, vengeance fulfilled and with Nova Warp on top. Not long before we reach the end of the shortest book in the series, but there's still much more to come. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support, seeya in the next chapter Guardians!

Next Chapter: Promise

As a toast to their triumphs across the system, teams, Horizon, Anthem, and Siege go out for the night.