The nights on Venus were usually the worst times for a Guardian to be out but this night was strangely peaceful, as though something was keeping the creature of the Darkness at bay while the Hunter walked along the shoreline of the Ishtar Sink's lake. With his trusty Mida Multi-Tool in his hands, he continued on. Thoughts on Amanda Holladay clouded his mind as he entered a ruined building. Then he caught a glimpse of something terrifying and immediately stepped into the shadows.
Pantera gripped the shadows tight as he watched a Dreg be disciplined. He didn't know what the small creature had done to get his or her Captain angry but it must have been bad. On either side of the Dreg were Vandals, pulling at it's lower arms. The Dreg tried to fight back but it was no use.
Horror struck Pantera as he watched the Captain slowly cut it's lower arms off. The Dreg screamed in pain as the shock blade inched inside the Dreg's arms. He had seen Dregs disciplined before but never to the point of dismemberment. His growl of hatred for the Captain Elenski seemed silent but Fallen have delicate ears and they heard it.
He cursed himself silently as he watched a Shank float towards him. The small robot was charging the weapons and Pantera knew he now had to fight. With a deep breath, he drew his Mida Multi-Tool took aim and fired at the bot. The round slammed into its armor, ripping and tearing vital wires. Causing the troublesome thing to spin wildly before exploding.
The Captain charged Pantera wildly screaming in its language something he didn't understand nor cared for. It's four arms gripping the sparking shock swords. As it approached Pantera released Mida and drew his small sidearm. Before he could level the weapon the Captain shoved him against a tree, pinning the human.
"Human vile." It snarled. Raising one arm its eyes looked deep into his, through his helmet.
Pantera snarled as he reached for his smoke pellet. His hand grasping the small device he smiled. "You think you're pretty?" He joked as he slammed the pellet onto the large Fallen's head causing the smoke to release form its containment.
Poison rushed into the Captain's mouth causing the creature to cough and sputter. Falling to its knees his eyes looked up to the human who had bested him. Pantera let loose a kick that seemed to snap the large neck of the Elenski. His dark blue eyes looked to the vandals as they ran off leaving the injured Dreg.
He walked to the injured creature who appeared to be crying deeply. It's lower arms on either side, blueish colored blood seeping from its eyes. Deep within him, Pantera wanted to kill this creature of the darkness, he knew it was best for it to die. His heart said something else entirely though.
It's small frame looked to the human and bowed its head. "End me." It spoke softly and in what would be considered a female voice, as far as Fallen were concerned. "End me human." She whispered again.
Shaking his head Pantera asked Spectre. "Can you get Variks on the coms?" His head hung low as his Ghost appeared and floated above him.
"I can try." Spectre replied. "Though I would want to know why you would want Variks. Normally he speaks in odd riddles that.." It stopped as the Hunter eyed him. "One moment Pantera."
The small creature remained still as he reached his hand towards its face. "Something about you makes me hesitate." He said. "You seem to not want to kill people."
The Elenski growled and turned its head away. "Have no honor. Captain hated. Punished because want live in peace. Now want death." It spoke softly.
Hunters had an instinct about them. Sometimes their gut feeling was spot on and in this case, Pantera's guess was dead on. He could see it within the fallen's eyes that she, he or it...Whichever. It didn't want to kill anything for no real reason. Probably out of faith or a vow it made to someone.
The small creature spoke its name in its native tongue. At least that's what the Hunter guessed it was.
"Says name is Talis the Fragile." Varkis's voice spoke into Pantera's helmet. "Desires death Guardian." He finished. "Is female too."
"And if I don't grant Talis death?" Pantera asked. That annoying growl and then chuckle Variks made when he was amused at something came through. He had asked either the wrong question or had asked the right question.
"Can not be certain. May live in debt to you. May attack." He said. "But may prove useful."
"I get the feeling you're going to want to do something to her." Spectre said with caution.
The coms were silent for a moment, giving the Hunter time to think. I highly doubt Amanda would want to watch Talis. Then Cayde would want to kill it just to be safe, Zavala would throw a fit entirely and likely order me to kill the Fallen, Ikora would be both intrigued and concerned. Variks...Best bet right now. He thought to himself.
"Screw it. Variks? Can you watch her for a bit?" He asked.
"Variks can watch but not guarantee the survival of Talis."
"Fine. Just watch her. I'll see what I can do at the Tower." The Hunter responded. This caused the Dreg to look to the human in confusion. "I listen to my gut Fallen. Keep that in mind."
After a long trek back towards his ship, Pantera kept his eye on the Dreg as she knelt near a large rock. She rubbed where the lower two arms should have been but were now only jabbed stumps. It felt wrong for this to have happened to her, all she desired was to live in peace yet her Captain punished her.
The silence was deafening to them both as they occasionally traded glances only to turn their head away. Nothing needed to be said between Hunter and Fallen, he saved her life and is possibly granting her a permanent home where she would be safe. Talis only agreed to not try anything against Pantera and that was enough for him.
Spectre materialized near its Guardian and hovered around for a moment. "Not to interrupt this silence contest but, Ikora said never mind because she had sent some of her warlocks."
The Hunter sighed, "Of course she did. Swear she's out to piss me off." He growled inwardly. "Don't reply with anything but 'Understood'."
"Got it." Spectre replied. "Would you like me to contact Amanda?" It asked.
"Human have love one?" Talis asked.
"I do. Do you have a loved one?"
"Had. Is dead now. Captain kill." She responded and looked to her hand then began to speak in her native tongue.
"Sorry to hear." He replied to Talis. "Spectre, just tell Amanda that I'll be back with her parts tomorrow night." He said to his Ghost.
After a moment the three returned to silence as they awaited a Reef ship to come and take Talis to Variks. It didn't sit too well with the Hunter but there was really nothing he could do. Though it helped he was banned from the Reef after he got into a staring contest with Prince Uldren that ended with the Guardian having his arc blade against the Prince's throat and at least ten sidearms pointed to his head. The Queen was merciful in letting him live but being banned from the Reef was enough of a punishment, in her eyes.
With Talis on her way to the Reef and to Variks, thanks to an Awoken that was passing by Venus, he found himself wondering about the fate of the Dreg and if Varkis would indeed take care of her until he could think of a more permanent solution. Or until she died. Whichever came first for her.
The flight back to the Tower wasn't as fast as he would have liked but it was long enough to give Pantera time to think on the cryptic message he received from Zavala. It wasn't exactly clear as to what the titan vanguard wanted to speak to him about but knowing the experienced guardian, it wasn't exactly amazing news.
"Replay it again Spectre." Pantera said while watching the stars rush by.
"I'm keeping count you know." Spectre replied before replaying the message. "Guardian. Amanda Holladay has explained that some of your exploits are high risk... Return to the Tower once you receive this message. Consider it an order." Then the recording stopped.
Ether Eater slowed out of warp speed enough to snap him to his senses. The ship began its approach towards Earth and into its atmosphere. He had some time to think on the message and his cargo in his ghost's containment field as well as her.
"Sug?" Amanda's voice came across the comms.
"I'm here Amanda." Pantera replied.
"Well, you are the only one who flies an Ether Eater nowadays." She giggled. "You get the parts I requested?"
Spectre replied for the blushing Hunter. "We got them, Amanda. Though I'm not exactly sure why you…"
"It's a surprise Spectre. Did I make Pantera blush?" She teased.
"Yeah. You did dear." He replied as he smiled to himself. "Be at the Tower in a few moments."
"I know. When you're done talking with Zavala, I'm going to need you for something."
He knew the tone from the last time they had needed each other. "Okay." Before anything else could be said the comms went silent. "Amanda?" Pantera inquired. No response.
As the silence became deafening a bright red light began blinking and sounded an alarm. Something was locked on to the Hunter's ship. As he began to take control Pantera saw it on the radar and swore under his breath. "I really fucking hate Fallen."