"Hey uh, is this message right?" Cayde-6 asked in mild disbelief as he examined the message witht he rest of the Vanguard. Zavala and Ikora were also perplexed by this message transmitted to the City.
Cursed Ghouls of the City. Your Iron Lords may have felled our Archon Prime months ago, but we are not out yet. You seek our beloved Priestess, even if she is human we will not part with her willingly and we welcome you to try and take her from us. Our challenge is to the one called "Young Wolf" and their pack. We are ready for you. Bring it.
"They've got a score with Saladin's Young Wolf, one last attempt to beat them with the last of their reserves of SIVA." Ikora theorized as Zavala crossed his arms in thought. "This child the reports say is the Priestess...She's quite young, and I believe she is the key to some of the Fallen's advancements in technology. If we can get her to our side, our chances of survival will increase." he pondered as Cayde looked at them.
"She's been liven with the Fallen for some time, about the same three years since Lady Guardian awoke in the Cosmodrome. She might have developed some habits the Fallen have, perhaps even knowledge of their more secretive projects. Not friendly to us Guardians if she shares their beliefs." the Hunter noted as Ikora had a piqued interest at the notion. "Perhaps she could give us insight on the Fallen's history, clues to any other dangers the Fallen had encountered in space before arriving in our system." she added as the three looked at each other as they turned to see the legendary Guardian dubbed "Young Wolf" by Saladin Forge himself, the next generation of Iron Lords herself.
*House of Wolves Arc*
"Collecting Hive has been difficult as of late milady." Rahndel noted as Hinata was meditating with a crystal hovering before her. "With Crota slain by the warriors of the City, the Hive have retreated to recover from the many defeats and loss of commanders. We shall hold off the collecting till things settle down. In words of an old friend, I have a bad feeling about this." Hinata told the recently promoted Vandal.
"Bad feeling?" Ranhdel inquired as the crystal landed in the Priestess' hand. "Yes, it's too calm now. Something big is going to happen, and we're involved." Hinata explained as her eyes glowed and widened in shock. "Ranhdel, get security up to par stat now!" she commanded, startling the Vandal. "Priestess, what's going on?" he asked nervously.
"I saw a Kell...with Wolf Banner...free from prison." Hinata panted as she clutched her head in mild pain. "V-vison of future...go!" she shouted as the Vandal scurried like his life depended on it. An elite squadron of guards secured Hinata's personal chambers with extreme vigilance that even the ventalations leading to her chambers were rigged with explosives.
The minute they heard Rahndel the Vandal say their Priestess had a vison of what was most likely Skolas free from his prison, they knew they had to defend their House with a ferocity of the Whirlwind if they want the bloodthirsty Wolf Kell to back off. They even transmitted a message to Aksis and his crew on Mars of Skolas' imminent return so they can take cover till the situation was cleared.
That was when the comms picked up a transmission from Mara Sov, confirming their Priestess' vision. Skolas the Rabid is free and has taken back the House of Wolves and traveling across the solar system. "Where's Skolas now?" Ranhdel demanded as a Dreg answered for him. "He's right on top of us and Winter!"
"Guard the Priestess with your lives! Don't let the Silent Fang sink their jaws unto her!" Ranhdel snarled. None dared defy him, even as a Vandal, being the close friend of the Priestess alongside Aksis made him well-respected and feared. The fear of losing their Priestess to Skolas' wretched assassin's was more terrifying. Just when they were making progress in restoring their House after Sepiks fell, this happens.
An explosion rang out as Eliskni of both House Winter and Wolves walked in, armed as Skolas the Rabid towered over them. Sheer determination and bloodlust radiated from the Wolf Kell as he spoke to them.
"Bow before the Kell of Kells, all Houses will bow to Wolf Banner!" Skolas bellowed as the House of Devils aimed their weapons at the intruders with clear hate.
"Let him through. I wish to see what this 'Kell of Kells' is like." a voice spoke up and the Devils immediately backed up. She communicated to them telepathically, something that she rarely does and only when she's serious. The Devils learned she had abilities of her own besides creating Machine Gods, she can use her mind like the Cabal's Psions if not greater. One foolish thief from Winter learned the hard way when Hinata used her mind to choke him even if the thief was on the other side of the cavern system.
Skolas walked past them as he entered the inner sanctum and bore witness to Sirius Prime's incomplete form. He marveled at the complexity as the Prime's single eye bore its gaze upon him. It was judging, waiting for something to happen. As Skolas attempted to reach out to it, a cold feeling washed over him as a door opened to reveal a small masked figure calmly walk towards him. Skolas felt his instincts fly into overdrive and realized this feeling: fear.
This small creature drove fear in him, and only one Eliksni was capable of doing that as well...The Kell of Kings himself. "Wolf Kell Skolas," the Priestess spoke, the voice sounding unnatural, making her even more disturbing. "Priestess of House Devils." Skolas politely greeted. "You seem unsettled." she noted as Skolas resisted making a glare at her.
"No, I'm just pressed for time. With the butchers the Queen set loose upon us, every second counts." Skolas explained. "My apologies Skolas, you do have an explaination of why you dare barge into my workshop?" Hinata condescending him with tranquil fury. "I need your help. Your gifts could help change the tide of war against those who seek to destroy us." Skolas began as he explained his plan.
He sought to unite all Houses together and use the Vex technology to summon every member loss to battle across time in the biggest invasion the system has ever seen. He wasn't being forceful with his demands, and was merely negotiating, something that the Devils knew meant Hinata can tame the bloodthirsty Kell by herself.
"I'm under the impression that your Splicer crew and that of Winter, whom have had hands on experience with Vex technology would be able to pull it off. Why ask for my help?" Hinata asked as Skolas took a step back. "I felt that things would be easier if I had a true master of machines, for you've already created a young but powerful Machine God here would be able to handle the tech of time-travel machines." the self-proclaimed Kell of Kells answered.
"Flattery won't get you anywhere Skolas. Although I am quite curious of these Vex and the potential involving their technology. For now, consider this a temporarily alliance; now to move to a new base..." Hinata told him while muttering of her compromized location and began walking out.
"Am I in command?" Skolas asked aloud, causing Hinata to pause midstep as the Devils flinched at that. The other Wolves looked at the Devils with confusion as they saw fear in their eyes. "With my leadershi-!" Skolas began as he suddenly paused and began grunting before falling to his knees, grasping his neck as he began breathing dangerously, almost as if choked as Hinata slowly turned, revealing herself doing a choking gesture as if she was strangling Skolas from her position. "Be careful not to choke on your aspirations...Kell!" Hinata scolded as she turned to leave, undoing her magic on him as she walked out, not noticing the angry yet terrified look Skolas had.
*The Reef*
Mara Sov looked at the report delivered to her, sent from Hinata about Skolas' plan and the idea piqued her interest when they successfully stole some technology from the Vault of Glass. Her friend was intrigued by the fact that someone single-handedly undid the doorway into the Vault without any assistance or the Vex trying to kill them. "Your Highness, do you think it is possible to allow a meeting between this Priestess and myself?" he asked.
"I will see to it, if she agrees. Why do you wish to speak with her?" the Queen asked. "I believe she can help me with a few things involving the Infinite Forest, especially with what they are planning." the man answered. "...When she is ready. The stars are whispering something ominous, and I believe whatever Skolas witnessed will be the key to understanding why. After all, time is all you have...Osiris."
The robed man with an ornate mask of a falcon nodded his head and proceeded to make preparations. For the upcoming darkness he forsaw, the Guardians must be armed for the looming threat; the threat that has many shapes and takes what is his.
*Venus-Vex Citadel*
Hinata was unimpressed with the violence against the Vex, the piles of scrap that Skolas' House left in their wake as they forcefully seized the stronghold of the Vex. Although she had to admit the Vex using laser weapons was pretty nostalgic of her life in another world and the fact they're actually some sort of cyborg with space-time manipulating tech held promise of something she was seeking. This was worth collaberating with Skolas at the moment as Rahndal dashed to her side. "We've stock as much tech we could, but the Vex are agitated and the Ghouls are on their way to apprehend Skolas." he reported.
"Let's watch from a safe distance and see if they have what it takes to take down Skolas." she suggested as their Skiff activated its stealth functions and was rendered invisible to radar. There she saw three humanoid warriors cloaked in armor of different variety jumping platform after platform before Skolas began summoning the entire House of Wolves across time.
Their powers was something that startled her, as a Cypher, she could manipulate possibilities and even fate itself if she was strong enough. But their power was something else, she could not see their inevitable defeat, no, rather their fates are all gone. She clutched her head in pain, alerting the crew as she tried to comprehend why these Gho-Guardians are immune to the Wheel of Fate when a message flowed into her mind and echoed forevermore in a whisper.
Guardians make their own fate.
These Guardians...they defied fate itself and made their own future. She can't read them at all and they've defeated Skolas in a fury of Light. Terrifying, so terrifying this Light is...what kind of power ignores all comprehension that humans can understand? "Retreat..." she growled out in pain as the Skiff broke into orbit. What was that light? How did these Guardians acquire it? How powerful is it truly? So many questions and so little time it made her frustrated now.
...Wait.
The Eliksni say this Light came from the Great Machine, and said machine came from beyond the cosmos itself. Can it be that the reason why these Guardians were able to defy even fate itself is because they are no longer bound to human concepts of fate? If so, this power is the thing she needed to save him. To help him defy his fate and reclaim his own destiny...
"Get me Aksis, we need a report of his findings fast." she ordered as a Captain began searching on the comms for the Archon.
"Hang in there Naruto-kun, if this Light is what I think it is, then maybe I can save you from what they have done to you." she thought to herself, clutching a locket underneath her armor.