Chapter 17

Once the dust settled, I had Elgan scan Zillah and Scott-20 for any signs of SIVA contamination. Zillah had had the stuff wrapped around her ankle and Scott had been laying on the floor with a hole in his head. Thankfully, every scan he ran came back clean. Celeste had Whisper double check, just to be certain. No sign on either of them.

I glanced back to the cave entrance. There was still an obvious archway where it had stood, but less than a meter in you could see that it was closed off by rock. The SIVA threads that had been leading in lay severed. As I watched, they began extending thin tendrils, reaching out to each other and then connecting, becoming a complete a chain.

"What happened to Jaeger?" Zillah asked.

"He's dead," I replied. "He was carrying on about destiny again and starting his legend, then he exposed himself directly to SIVA coming from an open node. I had to shoot him to get him off of it, and couldn't get to him because of the cloud of nanites. His Ghost never emerged."

"Told you Hunters were crazy," the Awoken Warlock remarked. I couldn't see the look Celeste shot her due to her helmet, but I guessed it wasn't friendly.

"And after I saved your life," she grumbled. "Next time, the creepy tech gets to eat you."

"What could have driven him to do such a thing?" Scott pondered aloud.

"No idea," I shrugged.

"We should probably get back to the Tower, update the Vanguard," Celeste stated.

"Indeed," Scott responded, "they will need to know about the scanner modifications we made. Fireteams need to get to the other replication chambers as well."

Scott stood first, the Exo seemingly having shaken off any lingering affects of being mostly dead. Celeste bounced up with an enthusiasm I suspected to be an attempt to make a point. Zillah and I were the last to get off the ground. I rose and offered a hand to the Warlock, who took it after a slight hesitation. I helped her to her feet then glanced around. No sign of any other Fallen in the area, for which I was grateful. I wasn't in the mood for another shootout just yet.

"Yes, all that and tell them about a dead Guardian," I muttered, looking again at the collapsed tunnel. That was not a conversation I was looking forward to having.

Celeste stepped closer and placed a hand on my arm. I glanced at it, then at her. I reached up and patted her hand with mind, giving it a little squeeze. The support was appreciated. It also reminded me of another difficult conversation I was going to have to have as well.

"Let's go," I said finally. "Elgan, take me to the ship."

My Ghost let out an acknowledging chirp, then the transmat took me.

The ride to the Tower was a short one. It did not offer a lot of time to replay the events in my head. I tried to imagine a different outcome to the encounter with Jaeger-10, but couldn't see any way I could have reached him without dangerous levels of SIVA exposure. Under different circumstances, maybe I would have been willing to put myself at risk. The Exo had willingly exposed himself, however. Did that justify not taking action? Did I let my own personal dislike of the Guardian influence my actions? It would be up for the Vanguard to decide.

We arrived at the Tower and walked into the Hall of Guardians as a team. It had been so long since I'd been part of an actual fireteam, it felt a little strange. It was a good strange. The others looked to me to make the initial report. I described the events that had transpired since we set foot in the Plaguelands. Scott's Ghost gave them the details on the sensor modifications. Each member of the team shared a few details that they had seen from their perspective that I had not. Of greatest interest to me was Scott's report about what happened after we left him behind. He'd never even suspected anyone was near before being shot.

Finally, the Vanguard dismissed the other three, but asked me to remain behind. Scott-20 turned and walked out. Celeste stepped forward to protest, but I waved her off. I had expected this was coming and there was no way around it. I patted her shoulder and gave her a small smile. She paused, then turned and stormed out of the room. Zillah lingered briefly, amber yellow eyes inscrutable, before turning away as well. Behind them, a door I had never seen closed shut, sealing the room. I stood at attention, waiting to see what would happen next.

"You killed one of my Hunters?" Cayde barked out as soon as it closed.

"Cayde," Ikora warned.

The Exo turned his optics to her and then scoffed. "If it was one of your Warlocks, you'd have turned him into a toad already, Ikora."

"Describe for us again the final moments of the encounter," Zavala chimed in before I could respond, his voice steady and measured, silencing the others for the time being.

I relayed everything that happened after finding Scott on the ground. The shot that came after I had erected my Ward of Dawn, as if trying to get my attention. The brief conversation before the node opened. Firing on him to drive him away from it. Leaving him behind.

"And do you think you could have acted in any other way, given the circumstances?" Ikora questioned.

"I honestly don't know," I admitted. "I was wondering the same thing myself. I couldn't come up with an answer."

"You will have to leave your Ghost with us," Zavala intoned. "We will view his recording of the events and see if there are any discrepancies. We will then decide if there needs to be a formal inquisition. Until then, you are relieved of Guardian duties and confined to the Tower."

I opened my mouth to protest, then stopped. It would do no good for now. I held out my hand and Elgan materialized. He gave me a sorrowful look, then drifted slowly to Commander Zavala. He turned back toward me, then lowered himself down to the table. Cayde-6 crossed his arms over his chest and glared at me.

"Claney Beamard, you will be escorted back to your quarters, where you will be relieved of your armor and weapons for the time being," Ikora informed me, the lack of the word Guardian in the address noticeable. "You will also be locked out of being able to access your weapon and armor stores. All will be returned to you, should we deem you did not act inappropriately."

"You are dismissed," Zavala stated.

The door behind me opened with a hiss. Two other Titans waited outside in black armor, helmets on, no insignia to give away their identities. With a last look at my Ghost, I turned and strode from the room and the two of them fell in alongside.

The other three were waiting for me in the plaza. A look of concern crossed Celeste's face and I shook my head. One of my escorts gripped my arm and forcibly turned me away from them. I glared at him and pulled my arm free, which caused the other Titan to reach for her weapon. I rolled my eyes and let out an irritated huff, holding up my hands. They each grabbed an arm and kept hold of me the rest of the way to my room. Once inside, they forcibly stripped off my armor, leaving only the underlay.

After they were gone, I peeled that off as well. The protective suit was almost like a second skin now, I spent so much time in it. If I wasn't going to be leaving the Tower, however, it would feel oddly conspicuous to walk around in. I put on some casual clothes, feeling vulnerable and exposed. I had barely finished dressing when a knock sounded at the door. Honestly, that took a minute longer than I would have expected.

I opened the door to see Celeste waiting, which I had expected. Less predictable was Zillah and Scott standing behind her.

"I'd invite you in, but I doubt there's room for four," I said.

"That's fine," Celeste countered, "we wouldn't want to watch you sit around and mope in there anyway. Come on."

She turned and strode toward the elevator. The two Warlocks seemed slightly surprised at the turn of events. I just gave a dry laugh and stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind me. I followed Celeste and the Warlocks followed me. We rode back up to the courtyard in silence, the others seemingly waiting for me to start the conversation.

I waited until we had reached the open air. After we made it topside, I walked slowly to the railing, taking in the view of the Last City spread out beneath the Traveler. I placed my hands on the rail and leaned heavily on it. Celeste took up a spot on my right, Zillah on my left, with Scott standing on the far side of her.

"I'm confined to the Tower," I announced eventually. "They've locked me out from being able to access any of my weapons and armor, and I am forbidden from engaging in any Guardian activities. They also kept Elgan with them to review his records of the events."

"Complete and total Thrall spit," Celeste muttered.

"No, I understand why they did it," I sighed. "I killed a Guardian. Never mind that he attacked me first. Twice. Never mind that he had shot a member of my team."

"You didn't have any other choice," she countered.

"Maybe. Maybe not," I shrugged. "I just have to hope the Vanguard see things my way."

We stood in silence for a while then, watching ships come and go, seeing other Guardians transmatting in and out of the Tower. I felt a little pang of jealousy, watching them go about their business. At least I wasn't a Hunter and feeling the call of the wilderness. As a Titan, the Tower was a comforting prison.

"Regardless of how it turns out," I commented, breaking the silence, "we did good today. We made a good team and put a big dent in the Devil Splicer's plans."

"Are you seriously about to launch into a corny, 'Rah, rah, go team,' speech?" Celeste asked. "That's just embarrassing."

Zillah laughed at that. I hoped the look I gave her revealed the depth of her betrayal. I couldn't keep the expression long though, and had to let out a laugh myself. It did a good deal to release some of the tension.

"What about the War Cult?" Zillah questioned. "This sounds like it was something personal for this Hunter rather than something they ordered, but they still won't take kindly to one of theirs being killed."

"I hadn't even had time to consider it," I admitted.

"Well, you should consider it," she warned, "and watch your back. Or, better yet, have someone watch it for you."

"Too bad there isn't anyone around who would do that," I responded in mock despair. "A disgraced Titan all alone. Not a friend in the world except those gathered here, and you three are probably ready to either get back to your books or go play in the woods, I'm sure."

"That does sound pretty good," Celeste smirked.

"Well, in that case, I do need to talk to you for a minute before you run off," I told her. To the Warlocks, "You mind giving us just a minute?"

"Not at all," Zillah replied, leading Scott just out of earshot.

I turned to look back over the City. Celeste did the same. Once I was sure we weren't going to be overheard, I began.

"I owe you another apology."

"For which thing? There are so many I can think of," she quipped.

"About what you said in the tunnels..."

"No, look, I...," Celeste tried to interrupt, but I cut her off.

"No. You were right, kiddo. I wanted to leave you behind because I didn't want to see anything else happen to you, but that's not okay. I wouldn't have done that with any other Guardian. It's part of the reason we haven't worked together more over the last few years. I still think of you too often as the girl you were instead of the woman you are now, and it isn't fair to you.

"You are a fantastic Guardian," I continued, "and more than capable of holding your own out there. I honestly can't think of any other Hunter I'd rather have with me. I promise from now on I will make an effort to show you that respect."

"Thanks, old man," she replied with a smile.

"As for the sidekick thing, I didn't think that would bother you that much. I was just a little stumped on the introduction at that point. We're not a fireteam. Not partners. You're a Hunter, so it's not even a mentor and mentee relationship. Sidekick was just the first thing that came to mind at the moment."

"You could try daughter," she whispered.

"Really?"

"Of course, you idiot," she answered, turning her head away. "You found me. You were responsible for me here. I can't remember anything of my life before, so you're the closest thing I have to family."

"I thought you felt that way and that was the way I felt about it as well. We just hadn't ever actually said it."

"Well now we did, okay?"

"Okay," I answered with a smile. "Daughter it is."

"Good. Now quit getting all mushy and sentimental," she sniffed. "All this touchy-feely stuff will make sure they never give you your armor back. Maybe put you in charge of a daycare down in the City instead of let you go on patrol."

I chuckled at that, then asked, "Speaking of taking care of kids, how is Astrid?"

"She's good. I need to go check in on her while we're here again," she answered. "But, you probably shouldn't let her hear you call her a 'kid'. Doesn't like it all that much."

"Got it," I nodded.

I caught Zillah glancing over toward us, and waved the Warlocks over. Zillah leaned up against the rail to my left again, but Scott took up a position facing the three of us.

"I should probably report to the Executor," the Exo stated. "New Monarchy will want to know about the War Cult's involvement in this, even if it was only through a lone agent. With your working relationship with them, they will want to be prepared if there are troubles."

"Be careful what you tell him about SIVA, Scott," Zillah cautioned. "I want to trust that he wouldn't be so foolish as to try to use it in his foundries, but it isn't a risk we should take lightly."

"I am aware, Zillah," he responded. "Everyone will know eventually, but I will not be frivolous with my data, and will provide strongly worded warnings in relation to the tech."

"I meant what I said earlier about us making a good team. I'd be happy to work with you anytime, Scott," I held out a hand and the Warlock took it in his.

"Likewise, Claney," he replied. He gave a slight bow, then turned sharply and strode in the direction of the New Monarchy gathering area near the Speaker's chamber.

"I should probably go too," Celeste pronounced. "I think I will go check on Astrid, see what trouble she has gotten into while I've been gone."

"See ya, kiddo," I told her. "If you do end up leaving the Tower, come find me first, okay?"

"You're really going to milk this 'dad' thing for all it's worth, aren't you?" she teased. She gave me a quick hug, then looked at Zillah. She opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, but hesitated. "See ya," she said eventually, then turned and left.

"You really were right about no one wanting to watch your back, weren't you?" Zillah snarked after Celeste was gone.

"Told you. Disgraced Titan, all alone." I looked over at her. "So where to for you? Back to the Reef?"

"I really don't know," she said, turning her gaze toward the Traveler as it hung silently in the sky. "I don't think so. I felt drawn there, once. I no longer feel that way."

"And your quest to find Queen Mara or Uldren?"

"Pointless. Even if I found them both alive and brought them back to the Reef along with the head of every last member of the House of Wolves, they would never accept me. I'm a Guardian. This," she gestured to her blue skin, "means nothing to them."

I watched her for several seconds, her eyes never leaving the Traveler. I turned my eyes that way as well, wondering what it was she was searching for. In the apartment at the Vestian Outpost, she had mentioned that her connection to the Light was slipping. Perhaps she was trying to find it again. Spotlights from the City below began lancing upward, lighting the surface of the slumbering behemoth, avoiding the massive damage on its underside. Above, the sky began to darken as this part of the world settled in for another night.

"I'm sure you would be welcome back here at the Tower," I suggested. "I hear there's a Titan about to get drummed out for killing another Guardian. That means two rooms should be coming open."

"If that Titan gets thrown out, I'd have no reason to be here either," she said.

I glanced over at her. "What?"

"If you're not here, I have no reason to be either," she restated, her gaze moving from the Traveler to me. "You are the only one who has made me feel like I have a place anywhere. If they run you out of town, I go too. If they execute you... well, you'll be on your own there, but I wouldn't be sticking around here. When they remove the restrictions, I'll be fighting by your side. Face it, Titan, you just started yourself a fireteam."

I was taken aback by that. First that she was saying she would stay with me regardless. Second, the fireteam line.

"Technically, Scott would be the one that started it," I commented. "He invited me to join the two of you on that first mission."

"Don't be pedantic, Claney," she snipped. "It doesn't suit you."

"Fair enough."

With that, we both fell silent, turning our gaze back to the Traveler and the sky beyond as pinpricks of light began to appear.

…

AN

Ivan and Carl/Order and Chaos/Laurel and Hardy – Glad you found it satisfactory. Yeah, this was supposed to be one of the replication chambers. Tried going off some images of the Iron Lord's tomb for part of the description, but wanted to play around with it a little bit. Frankly, I'm just glad it all made sense. I was pushing to try to get through, but nearly falling asleep at the same time. Spell check caught a lot of... interesting errors.

Jayfeattheris Awesome – Well, he certainly knows that now, doesn't he? They really should put the warning at the beginning...

Guest – Have a No-prize for "Review I Probably Shouldn't Have Laughed at but it Cracked Me Up Anyway."