Chapter nine.
The Taken.
"What do you mean 'gone'?" Vlad hissed as Arielle comforted Rose. The news the Queen was missing had hit both of them hard and neither could keep from tears, though Arielle was keeping the tears at bay with her anger. "The Queen does not just vanish!"
"We know. But according to my contacts and every patrol Petra has sent out to search for the Queen, there is no sign of her or the Prince." Ikora said, "There are signs that the Prince is still alive, his ship was tracked to Mars before it dropped from the radar, but beyond that."
"Beyond that you didn't find anything? Bullshit! You have contacts everywhere!" Arielle snarled from her place with Rose. "You have eyes and ears on every planet from here to Pluto! Someone has to have seen something! Either make 'em talk or I'll go get the information from them myself!"
"We are still getting reports from them." Ikora stated evenly knowing that Arielle was worried for her Queen, as were most Awoken Guardians and shouting back would not help.
The Awoken Guardians did not serve the Queen as Reef born Awoken did, but they respect her and would have answered if she had called, no matter the time or need. The Queen knew this, though Ikora had no idea why she wouldn't call them.
"What do we know about this Dreadnaught?" Orion asked, hoping to give Rose and Arielle more time to regain their composure. "How did it take out so much damage and why it took us five hours to get any news of this?"
"My contacts near Saturn say the weapon fired only once." Ikora explained and the Vanguard fell into their own conversation.
Rose didn't hear any of it, her mind reaching and searching for anything that could be the Queen, she had lost her Queen and people once, seen the terrible state the Wolves had left the Reef in and now she feared she would witness it all again.
The room suddenly turned green and Rose looked up sharply as the room went silent and Eris came from her shadow.
"They are Taken." Eris stated as her orb hovered over Cayde's map of the Dreadnought. "The crystal hasn't spoken since Crota's death. But now it speaks again."
"Why?" Vlad asked.
"Oryx has arrived, come to for fill the final covenant of his son." Eris said. "What you saw on Phobos was Oryx taking the Cabal, controlling their will."
"So we focus on this Taken Army, wipe them out until only Oryx is left." Zavala said.
"It won't work." Rose said, "We saw it on Phobos, whatever we killed, more just kept coming, that orb just sucked Centurions up like they were lightweights."
"Everything we kill, Oryx will replace." Eris nodded.
"The Dreadnought then." Ikora said. "How do we get past that weapon?"
Silence.
Then Cayde reached out and carefully lifted the orb off the map of the Dreadnaught, and placed it at the side of it. "This Oryx… He's Hive like Crota, right?"
"Yes." Eris said.
"Then he'll know Hive scent from Guardian," he said then looked to Vlad and Orion, "You two head for the Cosmodrome, top of the Colony ship in the Devil's Lair near the Blast, I stashed a Stealth drive up there before I was pulled into the Vanguard. Go get it and bring it back here."
"Got it." Orion said as the two took off.
"Rose, you and me are gonna go see Amanda, Eris, bring your ship in."
"What's your plan Cayde?" Ikora asked as Vlad and Orion hurried off and Arielle helped Rose back to her feet.
"Stealth drive on Eris's Hive smelling ship and a shit load of hope and prayers should get us past that weapon and give whomever we send the chance to disable the weapon and get us a trans-mat zone on the Dreadnaught. After that we can send in the cavalry." Cayde said.
"Arielle!" Ikora yelled as Arielle took off in a run. "Arielle?!"
She likely scared the Light out of the Guardians she passed, lightning dancing around her arms and her chest as she rushed for her ship, Vakarian trans-matting her into the pilot seat of her ship without a word as the engines roared to life.
She ignored the fact that ships were coming in at high speed as she raced out of the docks, blowing frames and Guardians over as she charged out into the air and then took off as fast as she could into the Atmosphere of earth and beyond.
She didn't care if she caused damage. She had to get to the Reef. She wanted answers and she was going to get them, somehow or another she was going to wring the answers out of those who had been left on the Reef even if she had to kill someone to do it.
"Where is she going?!" Zavala demanded when Arielle continued to ignore his comm calls.
"The Reef." Ikora said.
"You want someone else to fly my ship?" Eris asked as Cayde explained his plan to her in full as Rose helped Amanda prepare the needed tools and equipment for Eris's ship.
"You are the best chance we have of knowing what Oryx is plotting and what his move will be and you know more about the Hive then anyone." Cayde said, "We need someone else, someone who isn't scared to go alone and get us away past that Weapon."
"We shall need more than that." Eris said, "Oryx can move between realms, he can walk in this world and the Ascendant Realm, where eh Hive Gods rule from their thrones." Killing him in this realm will not kill him…"
"Then how do we do it?" Cayde asked. "How do we go about killing this guy and making sure he stays dead?"
"By becoming Ascendant." Eris said.
"And how do we do that?" Cayde asked and Eris shook her head. "Eris?"
"I have to meditate on this." She said, clutching her orb, "I must… I have to listen to what the shadows tell me and understand what Oryx will do now."
"Alright Eris." Cayde said, "If you need me, call."
"I will." She assured before slowly settling on the floor and close her eyes.
The Reef was a mess, Guardians who had been there for the Prison were scattered around, trying to help with the injured Awoken who had returned while the remaining chain of command struggled to keep control over everything.
That is to say, Petra and Variks were neck deep in the thick of the trouble and were moments from losing control as the Advisors to the Queen, soldiers, Guardians and every Awoken citizen demanded answers without pause or chance for either of them to answer.
"SILENCE!"
All eyes turned to the entrance of the chamber and Petra almost collapsed with relief.
"The Queen is NOT dead. And none of you have the skill, rights or authority to demand anything of anyone, now, get your asses back to your posts and help the injured or so help me I'll turn all of you into HIVE BAIT!" Arielle screamed as lightning danced over her body and the floor around her, forcing many to back up. "Move!"
The room soon emptied as people climbed over each other to escae the wrath of the angered Sword until only a few Tech Witches, Variks and Petra remain. Slowly Arielle recalled her storm, forcing herself to calm despite the inner turmoil and let out a long sigh.
"Illyn." She began, looking at the Techeuns Coven Mother. "Tell me. Everything."
The elder Witch nodded and stepped forwards. "The Queen had planned to move against this beast, this thing that claims to be King. She sought to slow it. Revel it to the Guardians and all in the system." She stated. "The plan was simple and while it seemed so easy the Queen planned for the worse outcome."
"Why?" Arielle demanded. "Why did she not call on me? On all the Awoken of the Tower. We would have helped."
"The Queen does not beg." Illyn reminded, "The Queen will bow to no one, The Queen will not give her enemies their desires and Mara Sov, Queen of all you behold and see now, as you did then, will never allow others to fight for what she calls her own. As her Sword, you know that better than anyone." She added before waving her Coven away. "We shall search her out in our chamber, if you need of us, come to us."
Arielle waited for her to leave before turning to Variks.
"Queen and Kell ordered that no one be told of her plans. Variks tied to seek understanding but Queen and Kell would not explain more." He admitted, bowing his head and shaking it somewhat. "Variks has not heard anything of Queen and Kell or Prince from Crows. Yet." He added.
"You control the Crows now?" Arielle asked.
"Queen and Kell commanded such if Master of Crows were to become, incapable." He said carefully thinking of his words.
"Then go, monitor them and tell me the second something is found."
"Yes, Variks will do this." He said and made his way out of the chamber as quickly as his old body would carry him.
"She told me to stay. After so long planning this she asked me to stay here." Petra said tossing her knife up and down. "I wanted to be there Arielle, I should have been there, but she ordered me to stay behind. To wait here she wouldn't tell me why." She stated, balancing her knife on its tip with her finger.
"The Prince?" Arielle asked.
Petra shook her head. "He knew the plan but he has not come back since we lost contact with him, somewhere on Mars."
"And you are sure he is alive?" Arielle asked.
"He's too stubborn to die." Petra said, "Like you and the Queen, it will take more than a crash to kill him."
"Then find him." Arielle said turning to leave.
"What of you?" She asked.
"I need to know what she was thinking. If you need me, come find me." Arielle said leaving the chambers and headed to the one place she could really get into the Queen's head.
The throne room.
"Taken on Earth?!" Zavala demanded. "Where?!"
~ "Everywhere in the Cosmodrome, every one we killed another ten just popped in from thin air." ~ Orion panted. ~ "We need better gear if we are gonna fight these things and come out on top sir, our current gear isn't holding up like it should!" ~
"Stay alive Guardians and bring is that stealth drive." Zavala said, "You're our best hope." He added before shutting the comm-link off. "We already have the best our venders can make. What more can we do?"
"We're running salvage missions and working as fast as we can Zavala but even we can't make armour that fast." Lord Shaxx said, "And Lord Saladin is still out in the wilds gathering the rare materials."
"So we wait?" Ikora asked.
"We have no other choice right now." Zavala said.
"Damn he's pissed!" Orion hissed ducking for cover from the shadow form of Oryx and his Taken as he and Vlad searched for the Stealth drive Cayde had been talking about.
"Well, we did kill his son!" Vlad yelled over while tossing a grenade. "That drive had better still be here!"
~ "It's there trust me." ~ Cayde said, ~ "Eris says aim for the eyes and head, that thing is an Echo, not the real Oryx." ~ He added.
"Finally helpful news!" Orion yelled and unloaded his rocket launcher into the Echo's face. "Fucker!"
Vlad had time enough to peek out of the cover he was in to see the Echo be sucked into itself and vanished. "Cayde, where is this damn drive?" he asked wanting to get out of there and back to the Tower before more Taken showed up.
~ "Enter Frequency 5982. Then get your asses back here." ~ Cayde said.
"Amen to that." Vlad said as they uncovered the stealth drives.
Arielle stared at Mara's throne. It was odd seeing it empty, knowing that Mara might not wouldn't sit in it again. For the first time in ages, the Reef no longer had a Queen.
Tears burned Arielle's eyes and she clenched her fists in anger and lightening travelled up and down her arms, but never left her. She approached the throne and glowered at it; why hadn't Mara told her? Why hadn't Uldren? She was the Queen's Sword! She should've had some word!
"Arielle."
The Warlock turned around to face Petra, she didn't bother hiding the anguish she felt; she trusted Petra with her life. The other woman paused at the sight of Arielle's unshed tears, and she nodded in understanding. They all needed to mourn. "I know that you need time, Ari, but Her Grace left this for you." Petra offered a letter.
Arielle laughed bitterly. "Of course she left me a letter." She said and took the letter, as Vakarian left her armour and hovered by his Guardian.
Arielle studied the seal, the same shade of purple that Mara loved with her mark imprinted upon it, before she opened the letter. Mara usually didn't write letters, she had others write them for her but Arielle supposed, this was important.
Arielle,
I decided it would be best that you not know what I was planning. I ordered Uldren, Petra, and Variks to secrecy, so do not punish them. It is in the best interest of the Reef that I leave you in the dark, and you should know that I am sorry for doing this to you. While we have only recently repaired our friendship, and you have returned to my side, I have done what you once made me promise I would never do.
Should anything happen to me in the battle against the Taken King, I appoint Arielle, the Queen's Sword, to rule in my stead as Queen Regent. None shall be above her; not even Uldren.
This may damage our friendship, and I will admit only to you that the thought causes me pain, but I must do what is best for the survival of our people, and the Reef. Someone must always be there to stand between the Reef and the Darkness, Arielle, but you already know this. They will look to you in my stead, keep the Awoken alive, there is no one I trust to do this more than you.
You will make a powerful and respected Queen, Ari. Do not allow your anger at me to keep you from protecting the Reef. They will look to you now; the Awoken will survive the Darkness.
Mara Sov.
Arielle's hands shook in anger as the tears that burned her eyes finally travelled down her cheeks. Mara never listened. She never fucking listened!
"Why couldn't you ever listen?!" Arielle screamed at the empty throne. "Why did you have to go behind my back?! Why weren't you ever honest with me!?"
Petra remained, standing in silence as she listened to her old friend scream at the empty throne. Arielle's rage was understandable, as was her pain. She listened to the footsteps Arielle took and finally looked up, thinking Arielle would finally sit on the throne. Instead, the Warlock simply stared at it, unmoving.
"I never wanted to sit here, Petra, you know that, don't you?" Arielle questioned, and Petra frowned in concern; Arielle's voice sounded so small.
"The entire Reef knows, Ari, they know how much you loved the Queen." Petra finally replied.
The Warlock nodded, "I can never sit here. This is hers, not mine, not even if she gifted it to me."
"The Awoken would look to you regardless, you are the Queen's Sword."
Arielle nodded, "Yes. I am the Queen's weapon, for her to use me as she wishes, to wield me in defense of our people and to order me to slaughter her enemies. I am whatever she needs me to be and right now, she needs me to be Queen."
The Stormcaller hesitated, clearly uncertain if she even wanted to sit on Mara's throne. Finally, she forced herself to sit down and she immediately burst into laughter. "That woman! That idiot woman! How could she sit on this stupid throne with all these damn pillows?"
Petra stared at Arielle in shock before her lips quirked into a smile, "She was particular, Ari."
The Warlock grinned, "Yes, very much so. I won't change her stupid chair, I don't want to deal with the complaints when she returns." Arielle sighed, "I suppose I'll have to acknowledge my new position."
"That would be best, the Reef will want to hear from you." Petra stated.
Arielle nodded, "Get Variks, I need him to send something over the channels."
Petra nodded and went to collect Variks. Though she was still mourning, Petra found herself smiling, Arielle would do as the Queen asked because she was the Queen's Sword. Arielle truly was the best person to replace Mara Sov.
Vakarian floated beside Arielle, "So, if you are Queen now. Am I a lord?" he asked.
"Don't even joke." The Warlock said. "And delete that picture."
"Never." Vakarian chuckled. "That's for my personal collection."
Ikora paused when she heard Arielle's voice come over the channel. She silenced everyone else in the room and raised the volume.
~ "To all that can hear this, the Awoken Queen, Mara Sov, has fallen in a battle against the Darkness. She took the best warriors the Reef had and she stood up to the Darkness herself, to defend the Reef and others across this galaxy. The Awoken will not falter and though we mourn, we are strong. The Wolves did not stand against us, they fell not once, but twice. Skolas is dead by my hand, twice. The Awoken are not weak, they will not go quietly into the night, not when Mara Sov wanted nothing more than the survival of her people. The Awoken and the Reef remain." ~ Arielle sighed before continuing, ~ "The Awoken now turn their vengeance to the Taken; we will avenge our fallen and Mara Sov. This I swear, for I am Arielle, Queen of the Reef." ~
"She's the Queen now?" Cayde asked.
"The Awoken will follow her." Ikora said, "She is no stranger to their ways and she stood at eth Queen's side for years before she came back to us. If anyone can keep the Reef from falling, it's Arielle."
"What do we do now?" Rose asked.
"We wait for Amanda to work her magic on Eris's ship and then we just have to find someone who is crazy enough to go to the Dreadnaught and take out that damn weapon." Zavala stated.
"Someone say crazy?" Vlad asked as he and Orion arrived. "We heard the message from Arielle, so we know the Reef is safe for now, but if we want that weapon down, we're gonna go do it."
"Vlad you have never been on a ship like this before, Fallen Ketches and Skiffs aren't like Hive ships." Ikora said.
"Then we'll wing it." Vlad said, "These Taken are showing up all over the Solar System, Venus, Mars, even Earth, there is no way you're telling me this will stop just so we can make a big plan. Let us go."
"Who?" Zavala asked, "No one person is going to make that kind of trip."
"Me, Orion and Rose." Vlad stated.
"Will you all fit in Eris's ship?" Zavala asked.
"No, but only one of us needs to get on Dreadnaught. The other two will stay at a distance and look for other ways onto the ship until the Trans-mat Zone is up and ready." Orion said. "Just give us the word and we'll be ready."
"Are you sure?" Ikora asked.
"Yes." Was the chorused answer.
"Arielle. Orion is calling." Vakarian stated quietly as Arielle quickly signed and checked off a dozen more weapons for use in the upcoming fight, every Awoken Guardian who came through the Reef was given orders to 'stow the anger and wait for the weapon to go down before we charge in' and those who needed something to do were on the Reef edge keeping the Ravens and Taken away.
"What does he want?" Arielle asked still signing papers and reading reports.
"They have a plan to bring the weapon down." Vakarian said and Arielle nodded.
"Privet line." The Warlock stated and Vakarian nodded opening the channel. "Talk fast I have papers everywhere and comm calls coming in every minute."
~ "Vlad, Rose and I are tossing coins to see who gets to go onto the Dreadnaught, but the plan is one of us gets on and takes it out, then when we get the trans-mat zone down, you will be the first person I call." ~ Orion said. ~ "How are things there?" ~
"If not for the fact everyone is wanting to fight this war now and avenge the Queen, I'd say this was boring." Arielle said. "Who's winning the coin toss?"
~ "So far Vlad and I are tied. Eris is in her room meditating on something, the Vanguard are trying to fight the Taken everywhere else… I'm starting to think we've lost our edge." ~ He admitted. ~ "Wrex says he sees greys in my hair." ~
"Premature greys, your still under the five hundred years mark." Arielle reminded with a smile.
~ "Only by a few months." ~ Orion chuckled. ~ "You sure you're alright?" ~
Arielle sighed. "I'm coping. I don't like it but this is her will and until she's found or Uldren comes out of radio silence so we can find him, I have to do this."
~ "Tell you what, we'll get this weapon down and as soon as we have wind of where she might be we'll go looking for her, heck you can drag Petra along and we'll turn that damn Hive ship inside out until we find the Queen." ~ Orion said. ~ "How's that?" ~
"I have to find Uldren before I can leave this over cushioned throne." Arielle said and moved positions again in the throne. "How did she sit in this damn thing so long?"
~ "Practice?" ~ Orion chuckled and there was a pause. ~ "I'll help look for him when we get that weapon down Arielle, I promise. Much as he's not my favourite person in the world, he's still the Prince." ~
"Take Vlad with you, just so someone with a level head can stop you punching each other." Arielle stated.
~ "Sure, as long as you let Rose come help you while I go looking." ~ Orion said, ~ "She just lost the coin toss." ~
"Deal." Arielle smiled then sighed as the doors opened ahead of her. "And here comes more paper work."
~ "Talk soon then?" ~ Orion asked and she made a sound of affirmation. ~ "I love you." ~
"I love you too."
"You leaving Orion for me?" Petra asked as she came over, carrying another dozen or so data reports.
"That was him on the comm, they're planning who goes on to the Dreadnaught to take down the weapon." Arielle explained, "Once that's done, we get a trans-mat on the Dreadnaught and every Guardian we have goes there and kicks Taken ass."
"Sounds like a plan." Petra nodded with a smile.
"So Vlad's flying Eris's ship and we get to play duck and dodge in the wreckage." Orion said as Rose helped pack the back of his cargo hold with extra ammo for when they did get down on the Dreadnaught.
"Basically, but if he gets killed he says I can make Bing revive him so he can take me on the date he owes me." Rose nodded.
"He owes you a date?" Orion asked.
"When we went to Phobos he said if we faced something we knew I had to buy drinks, but if it was something knew, he'd cook me a meal." Rose explained.
"Sounds like he meant it." Orion chuckled, "he hasn't cook a meal for a girl in a long time."
"How come?"
"It's not my place to say." Orion said, "But if you ever hear him say 'Heartless backstabber' or cursing up a storm for no apparent reason, best leave him alone for a few minutes. He'll tell you his reasons in his own time."
"Ok." Rose said as they finished loading up and locked everything in place. "Time to go."
~ "Good luck Guardians." ~ Zavala said as they trans-matted into their respective ships, following Vlad in Eris's ship out of the Docks.
They made it to the Moon and watched with some relief as the Hail Storm ships drove the Hive to retreat and took down the hovering Hive ships with some ease before they entered jump space, listening to the comm chatter from Mars about more Cabal movement to try and keep the Taken away while the Vex seemed to be missing from around the gate to the Black Garden which as showing signs off Taken blight as Eris had called it.
"You sure you can do this?" Rose asked.
~ "I can do it. It just seems impossible because the Dreadnaught is so big and I just one Guardian." ~ Vlad assured, ~ "I mean come on, we took down the Fallen and we have beaten Crota twice. This should be easy." ~
~ "He says, forgetting that before he met me in the Crucible, he was getting his ass handed to him by a group of Trial Runners and almost got his head kicked in for accusing them of cheating." ~ Orion pointed out.
~ "They were cheating, every time one of us set up to fight them, they used Heavy Sims to get rockets." ~ Vlad stated. ~ "I can do this." ~ He added.
~ "You had better." ~ Arielle stated as she joined the comm-line. ~ "I got a hundred or more Guardians here waiting to follow you." ~
~ "Tell them to hang back at the edge of the rings, Rose and Orion have the better ships to follow me in until I get that weapon down." ~ Vlad stated. ~ "Do I have to call you 'Your Grace' now?" ~
~ "You do and I'll rip your voice box out and reprogram it to sound like a little girl." ~ Arielle stated.
~ "Aye Ma'am." ~ Vlad chuckled as they passed the Reef now heavily patrolled borders. ~ "You've been busy." ~
~ "Taken everywhere from Venus to Mars, how long until they try the Reef?" ~ Arielle stated.
~ "We'll stop them Ari." ~ Orion assured. ~ "Somehow." ~
"Lots of preying, shit tones of bullets and a very angry fleet of Awoken from the Tower and Reef, plus lots of Guardians who want something to shoot at." Rose said. "It's like back home, just I'm not running around in the back of the fight taking pot shots anymore."
~ "Do you miss the running around?" ~ Arielle asked.
"Nope." Rose smiled. "I'd still be a Gunslinger if I was running at the back."
~ "That's my girl." ~ Arielle smiled. ~ "Do me a favour and save me some big kills, I'm gonna need to vent when I get out there." ~
"I'll mark them for you." Rose promised.
"We're here." Orion said as they came out of jump space and slowly he and Rose backed off, staying at a much further distance as Vlad went closer. "Good luck Vlad."
Rose watched as the ship slowly slipped into the rings of Saturn and then fuzzed out of sight, holding her breath slightly as they waited for the word Vlad was down safe.
~ "So far so good." ~ Vlad said.
~ "I'm picking up fluctuations in the power drive." ~ Sovereign stated.
~ "Likely Saturn's rings running interference." ~ Cayde stated.
Then the alarms started going off, loudly. "It's malfunctioning!" Sovereign said.
~ "Fuck. Vlad we can see you!" ~ Orion called down.
~ "The weapon's charging!" ~ Rose stated as Eris's ship suddenly jolted forwards with a burst of speed. ~ "Vlad get out of there!" ~
"Come on, come on…"
The weapon fired seconds later turning Eris's ship into space dust, and for a few seconds there was nothing, no comm chatter or sign anything had survived the blast.
~ "Vlad?" ~ Rose asked.
~ "What happened? Everything alright?" ~ Cayde asked.
"Why wouldn't it be alright? We're just stuck here with no ship and no trans-mat zone." Sovereign stated sounding annoyed as Vlad dusted himself off.
~ "You're ok?" ~ Rose asked.
"We're fine." Vlad assured. "Just a little charred from that blast is all." He added, "Stay at a safe distance and wait for my call."
~ "Alright." ~
"She's worried about you." Sovereign said.
"No shit." Vlad huffed as they headed inside. "She just watched me almost get blown up by a blast that killed everyone who came before us, why wouldn't she be worried?"
"No, I mean she's really worried, like genuinely." The Ghost stated, "You know like when Arielle first met Orion and he though she was gonna die after she stepped off that ledge when we went to stop the Restorative Mind."
"You're mistaken." Vlad said.
"Am not." His Ghost said. "She likes you."
~ "You two do know we can still hear you right?" ~ Orion asked.
"Shit." Vlad said. "We'll talk about it later and then-"
~ "Vlad?" ~ Orion asked after his friend went silent.
"That orb's back." Vlad said, levelling Thorn at the orb at the end of a long corridor as it hovered over a bridge.
~ "That thing that sucked up the Cabal?" ~ Rose asked.
"Yep." Vlad said.
~ "Then Oryx must know you're there." ~ Orion said. ~ "Hope you took some sims with you." ~
"Traveler bless Banshee-44." Vlad smirked. "Talk later." He added cutting the comm-link.
He was alive.
In pain, but alive, both arms still attached, both legs still attached everything in its right place…
Move. He had to move get out of his ship and get outside. Figure out where he was, slowly he released the catches of his harness and tried to get out of it, if he could do that he could reach his breather and at least move outside.
Pain raced up his right leg, enough to make him stop and look at his legs, seeing that his leg was trapped and he'd not be able to release himself.
"Wonderful." He hissed reaching to his comm link, only to find it filled with static and sparking. "Great." He huffed pulling the ships comm device from its place and pulled the back off, carefully twisting and tweaking the wires. "Come on, come on."
He smiled as the fiddling at last made the device start to give off a light bleeping sound. A signal that his Crows would find and follow right to him.
And hopefully send help.
"Do you believe this anomaly is a threat?"
"I do not."
"Do you think it will become a problem if left alone?"
"I do not."
"Do you believe it will remain on the Tower when this is over?"
"I do."
"Then we shall leave this anomaly be for the time being. But continue to watch it as we have the others."
"As you wish." She left her masters at that, feeling glad she had for filled her duty to them and that Rose and her friends would for now be left alone.
Right now she doubted they needed to be watched by everyone as they faced this new evil, but she knew it would only be a matter of time before another issue came up and her master asked her to look into it.
They always did.
Eris breathed slowly and deeply, her room in total darkness as she sat cross legged in the center of a glowing green mark on the floor. Her orb hovering before her as she searched the shadows. She found he smallest fragments of light, corrupted and twisted by unspeakable pains caused by the Taken King. She prayed for them as she continued her search, finding the faintest touches of dead minds that were familiar.
Kalli. Sedia. Shuro Chi. Tech Witches of the Reef, tortured until the very end… She prayed the Queen was not amongst these lost lights.
She searched deeper and stopped, finding the answers she wanted and something she had hoped never to hear again.
She left the shadows and quickly hurried to her feet and out of her room, only to find Cayde stood at her door about to knock. "Eris?"
"I know what must be done to reach Oryx." She said, though her voice as shaking.
~ "How's it coming Vlad?" ~ Orion asked as he searched for the last weapon channel.
"Almost done. Just one more weapon channel to take down." Vlad admitted shooting something as he talked. "Lots of Hive and lots of Taken here though."
~ "It's a Dreadnaught, there was bound to be Hive there- Oh shit Rose move!" ~
~ "Whoa!" ~
"What's happening?" Vlad asked seconds before the whole of the Dreadnaught began to shake and echo with a terrible thundering sound. "Guys!?"
~ "Cabal ship, Skyburners colours! It just rammed the back of the Dreadnaught." ~ Rose reported.
"The Cabal?" Vlad asked.
~ "We will deal with them later." ~ Cayde stated over the comms, ~ "Get your ass to the breach and get the Trans-mat zone up so we can send in the cavalry." ~
Sovereign fizzed into life and scanned the area before bouncing in a nod. "That way." He said showing Vlad a mark on his radar. "That's where the Breach is. Expect trouble." he added.
"What say with give them something to dance too?" Vlad smirked reloading Thorn.
Orion smiled as he heard the sound of music filtered through the comms. "He's having fun." He said as the music grew loader and they saw the way in the Cabal had made for them, catching sight of Hive and Cabal fighting while a familiar cloak raced through the fray shooting at anything that dared get in his way as he headed towards a broken edge of breach.
"Trans-mat Zone up!"
~ "Incoming!" ~ Rose called as she and Orion trans-matted in. "Hi."
"Down!" Orion yelled and Vlad pulled Rose with him as a large blast hit where they had been stood.
"Ow." Rose winced then blinked from where she'd landed under Vlad, glad her face was covered by the helmet as she sure we was blushing. "Hi again."
"Hi." Vlad smiled.
"A tank!?" Bing gasped. "They brought a Tank to a gun fight!"
"And the Hive brought Ogres." Orion said. "Wrex bring down some ammo crates from the ship, we're gonna need them."
"Sorry." Vlad said helping Rose back to her feet.
"Don't be." Bing chimed with a smile in his voice. "Rose likes you too."
"Hush you." She said and pushed Bing into her chest armour. "So, um, Cabal, Tank, Hive, and three of us…"
"Sounds like a party to me." Orion smiled. "Music requests?"
"I know one!" Bing called and Rose smiled as the upbeat music filled the air.
"What song is that?" Petra asked hearing the music flood the comms as Arielle watched the fight via telemetry.
"Sounds like a remix of 'Fly me to the Moon.'." Arielle smiled. "Good music choice." She added as Rose and her team took on the Tank and all else that came at them.
"Is she singing along?"
"Sounds like it."
Arielle smiled. "It is a catchy tone." She said as they continued to watch, seeing the Tank start to take heavy damage as more Guardians began to arrive, weapons hot and ready to fight as they dropped in.
"Is it me or is Vlad… no it's not just me, he's right behind her," Vakarian said, "I think he's in love."
"Good for him," Arielle smiled and turned to Petra, "set up a patrol and have every Awoken we can spare making their way to the Dreadnaught in search of Mara Sov. Now."
"Yes your grace." Petra said and ducked out of the room before Arielle could scald her.
"They're running away!" Bing cheered.
"For now." Orion nodded opening his com-link. "Commander Zavala, we have a secure way on to the Dreadnaught and time to spare, orders?"
~ "Queen Arielle is sending patrols from the Reef to search for the Queen and other Guardians have been tasked with searching the Dreadnaught of any other trouble we might have to deal with. I need you three to go further in and try to find where Oryx is and what we will be facing before we can shut him down for good." ~ Zavala said.
"I have an idea were that might be." Vlad said and lead them back the way he had come, towards a large forked structure that stood in the middle of an open area. "Look familiar?" he asked.
"Just like the thing at the back of Crota's throne room on the Moon." Orion said. "Zavala if this is the way to Oryx we're not getting past it without some serious help."
~ "Eris wants you three rested and prepared before she sends you in there." ~ Cayde explained.
~ "Then for now there is little more you can do for us. Get some rest and we'll contact you when we have a plan." ~ Zavala stated.
"Hey Arielle, mind if we stop by the Reef? I need to fuel up and its safer for Sovereign to bring my ship there." Vlad asked.
~ "Just don't dock in the front of the bay, I have ships coming and going ever hour and no time for dented or scratched paint work." ~ Arielle assured.
He looked up hearing the flap of huge wings and cursed his luck as a large shadow passed over head. "Oh for the love of… great. Just fucking great." He cursed.
He reached for his gun and then paused as he watched the Tai Ravens circle and then land in what he could only assume was its nest realizing he was on the very outer edge of the nesting site as he heard other Ravens screech and hiss.
If he fired now, he would only become target for them as he was trapped in his ship. And an easy meal for any young Ravens that did come to investigate his crashed ship.
"Fuck." He huffed and sank back in his seat.
"How long has it been since you rested?" Petra asked as Arielle started to sign even more papers.
"Since before I got here." Arielle said.
"So longer than twenty four hours." Petra said and Arielle paused. "It zero seven am earth time Arielle. You've been at this none stop since you arrived." She added. "Even a Queen needs to sleep."
"And who is going to clean up this mess?" Arielle asked.
"I have a pen and lots of ink and I am more than sure Variks has the same." Petra smiled. "Go and rest, I'll personally wake you the minute we have news on the Queen or the Prince."
"Thank you Petra." Arielle said and then smiled. "You know Orion is on his way here don't you?"
"Maybe." Petra said though there was that hint of a smile on her face.
"If Mara was still the one on this throne you wouldn't be so calm about this, would you?" Arielle asked.
"If she were here, Illyn would be the one telling her to go rest and I would be handed everything with the simple command of 'sign it and send it'." Petra chuckled. "But seriously, you need to rest or you will get cramped up."
"How do you know?"
"I once asked the Coven Mother, when I was much younger, why the Queen moved from place to place in her throne. She told me to try sitting in a chair for a whole day as she did but not to move once my body was in what felt like a comfortable place. I did and never want to go through that pain again."
"As bad as that?" Arielle asked.
"I had to be carried out of my office to my room and I was still in pain the following morning." Petra admitted ad the two shared a laugh. "Arielle, may I ask you something? As a friend?"
"You know you don't have to ask me if you can ask a question." Arielle said. "What's on your mind?"
"What will you do, if we can't bring her back?" Petra asked and Arielle sighed her shoulders sagging slightly. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. You know me well enough to know I don't want this to be my life forever." Arielle said, "Honestly I don't know what I will do, the Reef has only ever bowed to a Queen so if I am to leave I must find a replacement for me, I could appoint someone else but they would have to know the laws and ways of the people or," She stopped and shook her head. "I would have to birth an heir."
"Ah. I see the issue there." Petra said.
While Orion and Arielle were lovers, any daughter they had would not be considered an heir to the throne as neither Arielle nor Orion were biologically tied to the Royal line. If Uldren were the one to father a daughter with Arielle however, that daughter would have the rights to the throne.
"So to be honest," Arielle said, "I have no idea what I will do… But I am praying that I don't have to stay here long." She added.
"How are you going to deal with any suitors that do try for you hand?" Petra asked, "I mean I know you're with Orion and so does Variks and most of the Guardians, but I bet there are a few men here who haven't got that message yet."
Arielle smiled and cracked her knuckled as lightning danced down her arms. "I have my ways." She said then chuckled as she spotted Vlad, Rose and Orion ahead of her, the Titan carrying a sleeping Vlad while Rose opened the door to the Hunters' pre-prepared room. "He over work his systems again?" she asked.
"Yep, out like a light the minute he was in the ship." Orion chuckled.
"Need me to baby sit?" Petra asked.
"No thank you. We've got this." Sovereign stated.
"We?" Petra asked.
"He means him, Bing and Rose." Orion chuckled. "They're sharing a room while I tell Cayde he has to have a very uncomfortable conversation with Eris about her ship." He added.
"It can wait." Arielle smiled. "I'm sure he's already telling her about it as we speak."
"Good point." He smiled and set Vlad on the bunk. "When he wakes up tell him to clean up, he smells like old oil."
"Says the Titan ho always smells like burnt Vex and rotten Hive." Variks stated as he passed the dorm rooms. "New reports from the Warden in Prison," he stated offering Arielle a data pad.
"Petra and you are on data report duty until I wake up or the Crows find Uldren." Arielle stated.
"Yes, yes of course." Variks said with a slight bow of his head, Arielle may not demand he bow at the waist but he held more respect for her than any normal Guardian.
"Good," Arielle said and then dragged Orion off by the shoulder armour. "Good night Rose."
"Night Arielle." Rose smiled.
Breathe in. Pain everywhere. Breathe out. Keep breathing, just keep breathing. Stay alive. Do not give them the pleasure of knowing you're are in pain. Breathe in. Breathe out.
Over and over she told herself how to breathe. Told herself she was still alive and thus could not relax and allow herself to feel at ease.
She had to hold on.
She just had to keep breathing, in and out, keep herself focused on that and not the pain. Just keep breathing until her heart stopped or a rescue came.
Whichever came first she just had to keep breathing. In and out. In and out.
"You want us to go to the Moon?" Rose asked.
~ "Yes. I can give you a shard of crystal Arielle retrieved during his defeat before your arrival here Rose but we must fill it with Crota's soul if we are to gain entry into Oryx's realm and defeat him." ~ Eris explained.
"So we're going soul stealing?" Vlad asked.
~ "Basically." ~ Cayde said. ~ "We have the cloaking tech from Rasputin thanks to Lindor's team, apparently she and Rasputin share a love of something called Power Puff Girls and he gave her the tech as a gift for letting him download the whole series on to his systems." ~
"Cute." Rose chuckled.
~ "You must hurry, the Hive are already preparing Crota's essence for the next realm." ~ Eris said.
"Vlad! Get your ass up boy!" Arielle yelled as she all but knocked the door in with her knocking. "They found Uldren! You're going with Orion to get his ass back here!"
~ "This cannot wait." ~ Eris stated.
"Then I'll go alone." Rose said.
"Are you sure?" Vlad asked.
"I ran around by myself in my world even after I met Ace and J-Cey, I can do it again here." Rose assured, "then when we beat Oryx we can have our date."
"Vlad come on!" Orion yelled.
"If you need me comm, ok." Vlad said.
"Promise." Rose said. "And don't worry, I'm a big girl now."
"Vladamir-66 do not make me break this door down!" Arielle yelled just as the door opened and Vlad marched out past her. "Hey!"
"Mood killer." He muttered.
"What?" Arielle asked, "Wait Rose where are you going?" she added as Rose headed towards the docks as well.
"Eris needs me to go to the Moon, Vlad was gonna go with me just to make sure I was ok, but I can do it alone." Rose said.
"To the moon? For what?"
"Crota's soul." Rose said, "I'll be back with it so we can go kick Oryx's ass when Uldren is back. So it all works out." She added.
"Are you sure, I can send someone with you." Arielle said.
"I'll be ok, I've got Bing and a Hive expert on Comms if I need help." Rose assured Trans-matting into her ship. ~ "Thanks for the offer though." ~
"Be careful." Arielle said.
~ "As careful as a Hunter carrying a kitten." ~ Rose assured as the ship started up.
"So where is the Prince?" Vlad asked.
~ "Signal says his in the Valley of Kings and according to the Crows, he's hurt." ~ Orion said as they travelled through jump space.
"Then let's make this a quick in and out." Vlad said, "I don't wanna be the one to tell Arielle he died from Blood loss or got eaten by Ravens."
~ "Amen to that." ~ Orion said.
They left jump space and Vlad shuddered at the sight of Mars, it looked duller now and he could see huge fires in the ruins of the Buries City and the Dust Palace. Fires that no doubt were a result of the Cabal fighting the Taken and the Tai Ravens.
"Looks bad down there." Vlad said.
~ "We've got to find him Vlad." ~ Orion said. ~ "Arielle will kill me if we don't." ~
"I hear you." Vlad said. "Set us down in Legion's Keep and we'll advance from there. Any closer and we'll risk setting the Ravens off."
"Setting down near Legion's Keep." Sovereign stated as they flew low. "Let's hope it's clear of Cabal at least."
~ "Don't jinks us." ~ Orion stated as they came down to land.
The air was heavy with smoke and hot from fire and the natural heat from Mars, the scent of burnt metal and rotten corpses even with their helmets filtering the air. The sky was dark and almost black with the smoke of the fires.
"He could have picked a better place to land." Vlad said. "Arielle are you seeing this?"
~ "Yes, and for the sake of the Reef I hope you find him alive." ~ Arielle said.
"The signal is coming from that direction, we better hurry before someone else picks up on it." Sovereign stated as Vlad summoned his Sparrow.
"Let's go."
"Eris, where are we heading?" Rose asked as she looked around the darkness. "I can't see any tomes here."
~ "When the death singers begin their song you will know you are close, cross the bridge in front of you and head into the light, keeping out of sight as you go, Oryx is watching this place." ~ Eris explained.
"Ok," Rose nodded, and once the bridge was formed she hurried across it and back herself against a pillar to catch her breath.
She moved swiftly from cover to cover, making sure she wasn't in the light for longer than she needed to be.
"Creepy." Bing said, "Very creepy."
"Shhh." Rose hushed softly. "We'll be out before you know it," She assured as they crossed through the light into a familiar room. "Crota's realm?"
~ "This realm is secrete to the Hive, they are crowned and prepared here before they are named Gods." ~ Eris explained.
~ "Cloak now Bing and then keep your distance, the Hive can't see you but they can still smell you." ~ Cayde stated.
Rose nodded and Bing gave a soft bleep. "I can't see you." Bing said, "Can you see me?"
"Nope." Rose smiled, "Now we just have to get to that door." She said looking out over the chasm at the large door and the large Knights and Ogres that were in their way.
~ "Move silent and unseen, like death." ~ Eris said.
"Easy enough." Rose said, before quietly moving along the wall, watching the Hive Knights move back and forth waiting to see when her best chance would be to move.
Eris watched carefully, clutching her orb close to her chest as she saw Rose take the same, careful steps she had once taken all those years ago, trying to find the safest way around those who could have killed her as the screams of her team mates echoed around her.
She prayed that this mission did not cost another life.
Vlad slowed to a steady hover as he looked around, "Lots of Raven nests, but not a lot of crash damage or signs of the Prince." He said.
~ "The signal is coming from further in. He might have managed to move." ~ Arielle said.
"He's ahead of us and somewhere on the roof according to this." Orion said dismounting his Sparrow. "Looks like we're climbing." He added.
"Fine by me." Vlad said. "Anyone got word from Rose yet?" He asked.
~ "We're watching her progress but so far, she's not in a place where she can just make a comm call." ~ Cayde said. ~ "She's alright. For now." ~
"Ok." Vlad stated as they jumped and climbed up the broken walls and windows of what might have been a sky scraper at one point.
Wrex chuckled. "Rose and Vladimir, sitting in a tree." He began to sing.
"Shut it or I'll upload the Polka song into you." Vlad hissed.
~ "That would be a laugh." ~ Arielle stated.
"Hold up." Orion stated and Vlad looked up, seeing the slight movement of large wings. "Ravens." The Titan hissed.
"Lots of them." Vlad nodded. "Better be hush-hush from now on."
"Agreed." Orion nodded as they continued to quietly move up the ruins and crawled around the nests, searching for any sign of Uldren or his ship.
Vlad spotted it first and realized Uldren couldn't see them as the cock pit was partly covered in sand and dirt. The problem was that between them and Uldren was a very large Raven, awake and watching the area with unblinking eyes.
"Shit." His cursed softly as he and Orion reached a small ledge where they could survey the area and work out a plan. "Ok, so what do we do?" he asked.
"Um… Yea working on that." The Titan said, "Can you cloak us both and get us to him?"
"It's gonna be the getting him out of there that's the trouble." Vlad said, "My cloak won't work for long and the minute we're seen we'll be Raven food."
~ "Cheerful way to look at things." ~ Arielle said.
"Honest way to look at it." Vlad stated.
~ "Cabal troop movement incoming." ~ Wrex stated. ~ "They're moving this way." ~
"It might buy us time." Vlad said watching as a Cabal ship swooped overhead and swung around, causing the Ravens to flare their wings and hiss up at the ship as Cabal dropped down and opened fire on them.
"Time to move." Orion said.
Uldren hissed as an explosion smashed into the ground next to his ship, causing the ship to rock slightly and shift his leg painfully.
"Prince Uldren?!" a muffled voice called as someone knocked on his cockpit glass. "Are you able to run?" They asked as he realized it was the Hunter from Arielle's team and the Titan.
"I'm pinned in here." he answered. "My right leg is broken."
"Put your breather on! We're getting you out of there and back to the Reef!" The Titan stated, throwing up his shield as Uldren reached back grabbing his breathing and placing it over as the Hunter and Titan heaved his cockpit open.
"This is gonna hurt." Vlad stated as grabbed the metal pinning the Prince.
"You can yell at me later." Orion said putting his arms under Uldren's and prepared to pull him out as on as Vlad lifted the plating off Uldren's legs. "Just you?" he asked.
"Do you see anyone else?" Uldren growled through his teeth, more from the pain in his leg then anger. "My sister?"
"Still searching. Arielle is Queen until further notice." Orion stated pulling Uldren from the wreckage and then lifted his arm over his shoulder. "Your sister's order." He added.
"She's pissed with me then?" Uldren asked.
"Very." Vlad nodded and summoned his Sparrow again as the shield began to crack at the edges. "When the dome drops we're heading back to Legion's Keep, it's safer there and we can at least get your leg in a spilt before we get you home."
"Fine." Uldren hissed as Orion helped him onto his Sparrow.
Crossing the bridge was easier than Rose thought it would be, but it seemed that the Gatekeeper refused to move from the top of the stairs and out of the way of the door. So Rose was hiding, trying to stay at a safe distance while trying to make a plan from getting past the Gatekeeper and getting through the doors.
}~ "Ideas?" Bing whispered.
"Hmmm…" Rose said looking around and the said. "Stone throw."
"Eh?" Bing asked.
"Just stay inside and hush." Rose smiled and picked up a lose slate from the floor. ~{
Eris smiled as the Hive Knights and Ogre charged towards a falling piece of wall that had suddenly began to fall apart, even the Gatekeeper rushed to see what was happening leaving the door unguarded as Rose slipped inside.
~ "We're in." ~ Rose said.
"Clever girl." Cayde praised. "Now let's get this wrapped up and get you home, Vlad's texting every five minutes for a progress update."
~ "Really?" ~ Rose asked. ~ "I told him I'd be ok." ~
"He worries." Cayde chuckled.
~ "I hear something." ~ Rose said.
"Deathsingers. Follow their cry," Eris said though she shuddered as Rose drew closer to eth sound making it louder.
"Eris?" Cayde asked.
"It was just as this when I walked in the dark." Eris said, "Their wretched songs in the wind as Eriana fell."
~ "Eriana? As in Eriana-3?" ~ Rose asked.
"Yes." Eris said. "I was certain that she would be the one survive the hell we faced down there… but I was wrong."
~ "Maybe not." ~ Rose said. ~ "As long as you remember her, she's still living. Even if we can't see her." ~
"Where did you hear that?" Eris asked.
~ "Ikora told me the same thing when I asked why she spoke of the dead as if they were still with us. She told me as long as we remember everyone we love and were close to, they live on with us, only when we forget them are they truly gone." ~ Rose resisted.
"Poetic." Eris smiled and just what someone like Ikora would say.
Rose smiled as she lowered herself down wither hands and then let go as she dropped into a pit where the Deathsingers' songs were louder. "Oh my..."
"I'm guessing that's Crota's tome." Bing said as they looked at a large floating box of some kind with a coffin in the room ahead of them.
~ "You must get closer to it so the crystal may drink what remains of Crota's soul before it is gone." ~ Eris said.
"Ok." Rose nodded and quietly made her way out of the room, moving at a distance to avoid the Knights around her and the Wizards that patrolled the alcoves and side wings that she might have been able to use to get closer to the tome. Eris clutched her orb close as she watched Rose at last reach the tome and gently place the Crystal against it, watching the stolen item behind to glow with the same eerie green glow of life it had once had.
~ "It's working." ~ Bing whispered. ~ "How much do we need to pass as an Ascended Hive?" ~
"Only a taste, but take whatever you can." Eris said.
Rose nodded and once she was sure the Crystal was full moved back and put the crystal into her belt pouch and made to head back the way she had come to leave when she realized her cloak was fading.
"Shit!" she hissed and quickly made her way back to the short corridor she had entered from just as her cloak faded. "Cayde something's wrong! The cloak is gone!"
~ "Lock for trans-mat and get out of there!" ~ Cayde yelled.
"I can't!" Bing panicked, "Everything is corrupted!"
~ "Stay *static*" ~ Cayde ordered brokenly as Taken began to appear around the room as Rose ducked for cover. ~ "You hear me? *static* Rose?! Bing?! *static*" ~
Rose put a hand on her chest where Bing was hiding. "Keep trying to lock for trans-mat, get out even if you have to leave me, understand?"
"I'll get us both out. I promise." Bing assured.
"Arielle is Queen Regent. Isn't she?" Uldren asked.
"Yes she is." Orion stated.
"And you know she hates it, don't you."
"The whole Reef knows it."
"Then why isn't she here?"
"Because the Queen asked her to do it. And until we get you back to the Reef she can't leave the throne and do what she wants to do." Orion said, "But you already know that."
Uldren nodded. "How did the Queen tell her of this?"
"A letter." Orion said. "Arielle was not happy about it, but she understands why the Queen would do it. And that there was no one else who could take the throne even though Arielle hates the idea that she is replacing the Queen."
"That wasn't the plan." Uldren stated.
"But it's how she feels." The Prince stopped and looked at Orion in confusion. "Before Mara Sov was named Queen of the Reef, She fought alongside her people and you as an equal and even after she earned the title of Queen, she remained a woman famed for not only her grace on the battlefield but also for her ruthlessness and her ability to lead without seemingly any effort. Every Awoken knows her story and every Awoken woman strived to prove they can be just as strong willed as her. But none of them will ever be her."
"I know that. But why does it matter to Arielle?"
"Because Arielle isn't Mara." Orion said, "She can't carry the weight of so many people's hopes on her shoulders like Mara can, nor can she call herself worthy of the name Queen. I know she's earnt it time and again but to Arielle those deeds were done because they were part of her duty not because she wanted to prove herself worthy of a title or a crown. Heck the number of times she's turned down the chance to have her name in the Warlock Scholar Halls or to have her own personal team of Warlocks at her command is countless."
"She has been asked to lead?" Uldren asked.
"Many times." Orion nodded, "But she doesn't want that kind of life, to have everyone watching her every move and taking her words as law. She's happy to follow and teach at her own pace. If you and Mara can't see that after so long with her, I'm not surprised she was so pissed when she arrived on the Tower."
Uldren winced and couldn't stop himself saying. "I suppose you were just as angry when she told you what happened."
"Actually," Orion said, "She never told me why she left the Reef. At least not in detail, she just said she'd discovered something she didn't agree with and that she didn't want to talk about it."
"You never asked for more details?" Uldren asked in shock. "I thought you two were lovers now?"
"Arielle will tell me the whole story when she is ready to tell me, until then I just go on the assumption that someone said or did something that made Arielle mad enough to leave and that's it." Orion said. "Just because I love her doesn't mean I have to know the whole story about her life before me right away. There are things about me I haven't told her yet."
"Why?"
"There are somethings I'm not ready to tell her, just like Vlad will no doubt keep some secretes from Rose."
"They are together?" Uldren asked.
"Not yet. But they are starting to warm to each other." Orion chuckled as they reached the Reef borders. "I hope you are ready to be shouted out." He added.
"I was expecting it when you found me." Uldren admitted.
~ "Oh no, I plan on tearing you a new ass hole when we are face to face, so help me I have a few choice words I want to say to you." ~ Arielle stated over the comm link.
Rose yelped clutching her shoulder from the blast that had smashed into her, unloading a round into the Taken Psion's face in return. "Fucker!"
"Rose!" Bing cried in alarm. "Rose please! Let me help you!"
"Stay inside!" she snarled firing three arrows and then unloading her rifle into the Taken Thrall that charged her. "Eris!? Cayde!? Anyone!?" She called into the comms, "Someone?!"
This was bad, the whole of Oryx's Taken army seemed to be moving down on her, flooding her little cover with their attacks and leaving her no time to attack or regain any kind of sense.
"Damn it all. I am not dying here!" Rose snarled tossing her grenade into eth Taken forces. "You hear me Oryx!? I'm not dying here!"
}"Guardian!"{ A familiar voice echoed around her.
"Eris?!"
}"Come. With. Me!"{ Eris demanded as her voice echoed around Rose, filled the air with echoing chants of an unknown language while Rose continued to shoot and fight the Taken that surrounded her.
Then suddenly she was outside the tome, stood atop the stairs where she had first activated the cloak.
"Where?" Bing asked then stopped as the comm channels cleared.
~ "It was the best I could do with so little time." ~ Eris said, sounding exhausted and weak, but relived.
"You… You pulled us out of there?" Bing asked.
~ "One of Tolland's tricks. An incantation to use the Darkness to reach and physically move someone to another place. It can be done planet to planet but with so little time I could only move you a short distance." ~ Eris explained. ~ "There is nothing I fear more than the Dark, but I will not lose another Guardian to this place." ~
"Thank you Eris." Rose smiled as Bing trans-matted them back to her ship and set course for the Reef.
~ "You have what remains of Crota's soul now and the means to find Oryx on the Dreadnaught." ~ Eris stated. ~ "When you find him, you must end this." ~
