A/N: Hey, so I'm back from that break I took and didn't tell anybody about. Then Starfield happened. Also Crota happened!

…I like mine the way it is.

Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit fanfiction. Destiny and all of its supplementary materials are owned by Bungie, including any liberties I take with the lore. I only own Fireteam Storm and other OCs. Please support the official release.

Saga 03: The Wolf Rebellion

Arc 02: Kell Rising

Chapter 13: Less Than Dreg

Asteroid Belt, Vestian Web

4 Vesta, Dreaming City

The Throne

Queen Mara lounged on her throne, as silent as the room around her. To the unfamiliar she seemed to be resting. Uldren, ever by her side, recognised it as meditation. Though the traitorous Wolves still ran rampant, progress had been made in taking down their leadership. Kayla's efficiency was impressive. It made him sick. His fist clenched as his mind drifted to the battle footage of her ravaging the Eliksni, a feat that required hours of set up if it were him. Even entering the Black Garden was easy for her.

His palms were bleeding.

"I had not thought it would be so easy, my brother," Mara chuckled, coming out of her trance. "The Silent Fang brought low."

Uldren bit back the urge to complain. "I do not see why this is funny," he replied with strained precision. "Ashcroft may have dealt with Drevis and Saviks, but Jolyon and the Crows say we still have much more to fear." He hesitated a little. "The more Wolves we let run riot, the more chances they have to harm our people. And if Saviks could manage do to what he did, then…"

"You fear for my safety?"

"Does that question even need a response?"

Mara gave a small, unnoticeable smile. "I find no humour in any of this, brother."

She stood, descending her throne with elegance as she crossed the hallway, Uldren following close behind, his footsteps nearly matching hers.

"So empty, now. No Wolves to sit at my feet, my guards…"

She paused, composing herself. As silent as the room around her.

"Mara?" Uldren offered.

"Have the Crows track any HVTs they can," she responded firmly. "Any they report to you, tell Petra to set a bounty for the Guardians. And reward them in kind."

Uldren bowed. "It will be done."

(Long Long Time- Reverend and the Makers)

He turned his heel. To the unfamiliar, he appeared to be in a hurry. Mara knew he was storming off. Uldren entered to the courtyard, finding Jolyon, Zaara, Nomma and Tiss waiting for him.

"Uldren!" Nomma cheered, dashing to him in a towering shimmer of silver hair and tackle hugging him.

"Ack! Easy, easy!"

Nomma looked at the man swinging his legs through the air before plopping him down with a sheepish apologise.

"Good afternoon, Prince," Zaara greeted with a fist bump before going back to braiding her auburn hair.

Uldren smiled and bowed, before looking at the shorter Tiss. The brunette, dressed like a woodland archer, merely waved and smiled. Uldren chuckled and waved back. She grinned.

"You had a face like thunder walking out of there," Jolyon said, pulling Uldren in a warm embrace. "Something wrong?"

Uldren gave a tired sigh. "The Queen would like us to hunt Wolf HVTs and inform Petra…so she can assign bounties for the Guardians."

The hatred in that last word made the three girls look at each other cautiously.

Zaara was the first to speak. "Uldren, with all due respect, you have to let that go."

"They have no idea what they've got, and they squander it! They make what we do look easy, and all because they can afford to lose! We can't, and-"

"And that is not our problem," Zaara said firmly. "We are good at what we do. We don't need the Light to compete with that."

Nomma gave him a sad glance. "Besides. That jealousy'll kill ya one day at this rate."

Uldren snorted. "I'm not jealous, ok? I'm just…"

"Grumpy?" Tiss offered.

"Watch it, Tink," Uldren chucked, giving Tiss a friendly nuggy.

"Uldren. Darling. You shouldn't be jealous of them anyway," Jolyon said with a wink. "Not when you have me and my toys."

Uldren blushed, ignoring the giggles of the girls. "W-What are you on about."

"You know. My tinkering!" Jolyon laughed, pulling out a modified shrapnel launcher. "Variks giving Mote One Savik's rifle gave me a wonderful idea. I call it." He pumped the shotgun, then fired it at a bush and setting it ablaze in a hail of molten slag. "The Lord of Wolves."

Uldren stared at the bush. "…I do hope you can explain yourself, cause I'm not."

Jolyon gave him a peck on the cheek. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Vestian Web

Queen's Landing

"Of course I mean it!" Ghost replied. "I wouldn't have you any other way!"

Kayla curled up under the covers. "But…"

"Kayla," Ghost said firmly, floating to lay down beside her. "You have to let it go. Crota's dead!"

"But he nearly killed us!" Kayla shouted, throwing off the covers and glaring at him.

"And you survived! You're here, now!"

"Doing hit jobs for the space elves," Kayla hissed, getting up and making a cup of tea.

"That's not… This is all just a work in progress, we kill Skolas and then you go back home to the City. Job done."

"Where I will continue to kill other people until the day I die and you can't rez me anymore! I wanted to help people. Stop them being sick, not…not… Could you get the milk, please?"

"I think," Ghost said, floating over with a small carton. "You have PTSD."

Kayla looked at him. "Yes. I was a doctor, I know what PTSD looks like. The fact that I'm stuck stewing in my own head doesn't help it."

"Then do something! Do something instead of listening to sad songs all day."

"I will do what I like!" Kayla snapped, slurping her tea and stopping the stereo out of spite.

(End 'Long, Long Time')

Slowly she put her mug on the bedside table, then sat on the bed, the barrel of Her Right Hand poking out from under it. After staring at the weapon for a bit too long, she put her head in her hands and cried quietly. Ghost put the blanket over her shoulders.

"I-I'll…give you some space."

Before he could leave Ghost was yanked back, held close to Kayla's chest.

"I'm sorry for snapping… Please don't go…"

Ghost looked up at her then nestled himself in her palms. They sat there together in silence for about an hour, the slight occasional nudge made by one to reassure the other they were still there. Eventually, with a shaky breath Kayla spoke.

"Why me? Why not…"

"I don't know."

"You must know."

"I don't! The Traveller doesn't speak to us." Ghost turned and looked at her. "Sometimes I feel as lost as you do now."

"Doesn't…don't you…worry?"

"…About?"

"Making the wrong choice."

"Never."

Kayla frowned. "You've never doubted yourself?"

"Oh, I doubt myself all the time. But I've never doubted you. Or your ability to get back up again. Metaphorically, at least."

Kayla laughed. "I'd rather not test the literal part of that this soon."

"I'm actually impressed you've not thrown yourself at the enemy yet, most New Lights do that."

A knock at the door caught their attention. It was Variks. He chirruped.

"Variks is…not interrupting?"

Kayla looked at Ghost, then him. "No. I don't think so."

Variks shuffled in, gently closing the door. In his lower arms he carried a small bag. "Variks brings Earth foods, yes?"

Kayla smiled and pulled a small coffee table forward, letting Variks open the food onto it. Snacks and sandwiches, a variety of drinks, all of which Kayla walked Variks through as the Eliksni Vandal listened intently, taking all the knowledge in as voraciously as Kayla did the cake.

"You want a bit?" Kayla asked, holding some chocolate.

Variks took it in the fingers of his lower hands, inspecting it. Slotting under his rebreather, Variks swallowed then made a face.

"That is…very…rich," he said, ignoring Kayla's laughs. "Riis did not have such…luxurious confectionary."

"That is surprising," Kayla chuckled before getting more serious. "How…how's the search?"

Variks chittered a little, mandibles clicking. "Drevis death seems to have scared Skolas. His House still moves, and bounties placed on lesser targets, but Skolas commanders have not been seen since, yes? Variks believes Skolas is restrategising." His eyes narrowed. "Variks does not know why he committed such a large force to recruiting House Winter…"

The Eliksni glanced at Kayla. "What about you? Is Kayluriks happy with the search?"

Kayla sighed. "It takes as long as it takes. I just want to keep the City safe. That's all that matters."

Variks watched her intently.

"You know, when Ghost found me and I escaped the Cosmodrome…" she started. "There was a Captain that fought me. Rahn. He was actually where I heard about your Whirlwind, you know. He…I know he tried to kill me but…I just remember his eyes, they were so…sad. Your eyes are the same."

The Scribe nodded in understanding, a gesture he'd learned from the Awoken. "The Whirlwind brings pain to many Eliksni. Even those who were born after."

"He asked me to find out why the Traveller left you."

Variks gave a bemused chuckle. "Variks is sure that if any Guardian can find out, it will be the great Kayluriks, yes?"

"Aww, you'll make me blush."

"You worry about your mistakes, yes?"

Kayla's eyes narrowed. "In what way?"

"Variks apologises, Variks…hears things from time to time. We are both outcasts here, yes? Variks wants to make sure other outcasts safe. You…You worry about whether killing Hive god was right thing to do, yes? We have phrase for this…grieving. Variks feels that way many times, feels…Less-Than-Dreg."

"Variks…I don't want to talk about it. Please…"

"You...want to keep family safe. Want to help your world," Variks shuffled, stammering with his arms slightly trying to think of the right word. "Eliksni sometimes wonder why Great Machine did not protect them. Why Eliksni are not crowned with Ghosts."

He shuffled to Kayla's bed, using his staff to balance himself as he sat. "You attack..." he began carefully. "You attack Crota because you were angry, yes? But you help Great Machine because you want to protect. You know what you want."

Kayla looked at the old Eliksni. The face behind his rebreather saddened slightly, as though he were remembering a time long lost.

Finally he spoke. Slowly, but precise. "Skolas...does not know what he wants. But Skolas knows what he hates, and Skolas does not like to think why he hates it." He looked at his mechanical arms, his tone rising with years of rage. "Skolas...hates Great Machine. Hates the Fallen. Skolas declares he is Kell of Kells, not out of concern, but self-interest. Skolas is rabid, mad. But he has ego."

Variks grabbed Kayla's hands, making sure she was looking him in the eyes. "Skolas will defend the Whirlwind if it makes him feel smarter than Eliksni, yes? Kayla wants to see humans stand united because you want to protect your race. Skolas wants to see Eliksni stand united...because he hates Great Machine. You will only kill your enemies. Kell of Kells will kill anyone. That is where you differ. That is what makes you better person, yes?"

Kayla blinked. "Thank…you. I…I think I needed that."

"Variks charges for spontaneous therapy sessions, yes?"

Mercury

Caloris Spires

(Awakening Motive- Stranger of Paradise OST)

Iris-1 sat in Vance's research lab, alone. She was busy writing out, yet again, her experiences with dimension hopping and any side effects she could feel. It felt…hopeless, like she was spiralling in the same loop over and over. As she thought about the cold blackness of space she felt something tug at her fingers, like a whisper that made the tips of her fingers run ice-cold.

She closed her eyes and massaged her temples.

Find Osiris…Prepare them…

"But prepare them for what, Commander?" Iris groaned, kicking the table. "I don't know what to do!"

Some of the papers shifted as the table banged, the Mercurian breeze shuffling them a little. Out of the corner of her eye Iris saw a scrawl of paper she didn't remember writing. It detailed another world, in her hand, but not the one that was conquered by Atheon.

Atheon… It seemed like a lifetime ago…

The notes weaved the story of a City ravaged by a Cabal star destroyer, where the survivors of humanity tussled over the Light-scarred heath of what was once their home. Only the Risen remained, stripped of the status as Guardians, now locked in an endless battle of resurrection. Far too occupied to see a black Pyramid descend over the world.

Iris grabbed her head, yelping in pain. That same whispering, that same cold coursing through her body. A memory inside her unlocked. She was there. She remembered this. Remembered trying to get Warlord Zavala and Warlord Ikora to unify before…before…

Iris straightened herself. She refused to be kept prisoner anymore.

With a quick flourish the Exo discarded her Osirian robes and donned the cloak she came in with, the same one she wore when bringing omens of Atheon to Kayla. With her rifle holstered and a Traveller's Judgement 5 in hand, Iris marched to Sister Faora's chambers with renewed vigour. Standing on either side were Leanna, the Stormcaller, and Eremec, the Dawnblade.

"Sister Iris!" Eremec said in slight surprise. "What do we owe the pleasure?"

"I wish to speak to Sister Faora."

The two Guardians looked at each other.

"I'm afraid she's not…"

"Leanna. Please."

The pair glanced at each other once more before standing aside, following Iris in. Faora had her nose in several books, clearly in the midst of trying to find some secret only their cult's namesake probably knew. She looked up briefly, tanned face radiant in the sunlight, greeting Iris before returning to her research.

"Sister Faora," Iris said. "I wish to leave Caloris Spires."

Faora stopped, looking up with slight confusion. "You… You turned all your right over to us, remember?"

"W-What?"

"You gave Vance the right. You signed it."

Iris grit her teeth. "I did no such thing!"

"Yes you did," Faora said, calmly pulling out a document from her file. "See."

Iris took the paper, examining it. Her eyes widened at the writing, Vance having complete power over her whereabouts and, to her horror, her signature. "What…but… I-I didn't… I couldn't…"

"She did seem to be a bit of a mess when Vance had her sign it," Leanna offered.

"Sister Leanna, I understand you have your issues with Vance…"

Faora's voice drowned out, static filling Iris's ears as she stared at her own handwriting. More flashes, futures she didn't remember, ran through her mind. Her thoughts screamed. Her fingertips ran cold, turning numb.

"I…" she started, barely containing her rage. "Will not…be kept HERE!"

With an angry yell, Iris felt a burst of cold leave her body. Faora stepped back, a flurry of ice crystals rising on her desk, stopping short of her. Leanna and Eremec instinctively raised their weapons, shocked by the large icicles that separated them from Iris. The Exo looked at the ice on Faora's desk, then the ones behind her. Around her hands were flakes of faint, dark blue crystalline snow. It dissipated almost instantly, but the crystals remained.

"W-What…what was that?" Iris gasped, holding herself in shock.

Faora motioned the two Guardians to stand down before turning to Iris. "I'd very much like to know myself."

Kaliks-Syn

Beltriks sat, legs resting on the war table of the bridge. A deck of holographic playing cards shuffled and reshuffled between his fingers, shimmering in the dim light of the spaceship. The hiss of a door signalled Taniks's arrival. The mercenary removed his helmet, Beltriks having to force himself to not reflexively grimace at the sight of Taniks's mauled lower face.

"I can't stand this prick," Taniks sighed, throwing his helmet onto the table.

"He's your employer," Beltriks replied.

"And you're astooge."

Beltrik stopped midshuffle, glancing up at him.

"Oh, don't give me that look, we both know he wouldn't jump in the fire for either of us, let alone all this 'make Eliksni great again' bullshit!" He pointed a finger at Beltrik, the flesh from the newly placed cybernetics still burning. "And I do not have to like my employers."

Beltrik sat up straight. "Do you want me to make you talk to him?"

"Hey, you're the people person," Taniks sneered, pouring himself an Ether Fizz. "YOU talk to him, explain how two…three? Three of your commanders are dead already? I mean, does Peekis really count though?"

Taniks let out a hearty laugh, one that continued when Skolas's face appeared on the monitor.

"I do hope I'm not interrupting something, Taniks?" Skolas asked calmly. "I was beginning to think the pair of you were neglecting my calls."

"Neglect you, Kell Skolas?" Taniks replied professionally. "I would never dream of it, Sir."

"It's been…difficult to find a concrete way into the Hellmouth, Skolaskel," Beltrik explained, sidling up to Taniks. "The Hive have been in complete disarray since Crota was felled by those Guardians."

"One of whom that has already killed two of our Commanders, Beltrik," Skolas chastised.

"Well…yes, but…"

"May I remind you that it was your failure at the Fortuna Plummet that allowed that turncoat Variks to find refuge with the False Kell?"

Beltrik straightened but said nothing.

Taniks glanced at the shorter Baron, then Skolas. He'd been employed enough times to know when one was sneering under a rebreather, it was part of why his was stitched and see through. "Skolas," Taniks started. "You did not clarify the Bannerless would have to fight the Machinespawn."

"Oh, do forgive me, Taniks," Skolas said. "I too know what it's like to have your plans interrupted by people that have no business BEING THERE!"

Silence filled the room. Beltrik swallowed, while Taniks hid his surprise at the sudden outburst.

"YOU promised me perfection! Your record all but states you are the best of the best. Were you not the man who destroyed the House of Scar? It is the future and stability of the Eliksni as a people that is at stake here. The very fabric of our society itself, we both know the enemies at our door."

"With all due respect, that will not. Work. With me. Sir."

Skolas stared down Taniks, then switched his attention to Beltrik. "How goes the search around the Vault entrance?"

"Slow. Any attempts to get inside are met with fierce resistance. I made the decision to stop throwing our people at those plates until the Splicers can find a way to bypass the Vault's entrance."

Skolas looked at him blankly. "Did I give you permission to stop?"

"…No?"

"Then why are you wasting time?"

"Skolaskel, I don't think the Wolves will appreciate being ordered to their deaths."

"They're only Drekhs."

"But if we do not consider-"

"What is there to consider? They're Drekhs, what does it matter?

"But if we don't do what is best for them, they'll-"

"Are you questioning my orders, Beltrik? After the deaths of Drevis and Saviks, I would have thought you would have my back, do you have my back?"

"Of course, Skolaskel."

"Then stop thinking about what's best for them because. They. Don't. KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM! The masses don't know, that is why they need a Kell of Kells to lead them! To show them the path. Correct?"

"I-I…"

Taniks side-eyed the Baron.

"Yes, Skolaskel," Beltrik relented. "You are correct."

"And let's not forget that you too have sacrificed many an Eliksni to ensure our standing among them."

"That was for the greater good, Skolaskel."

"Exactly! And so is this. BUT I am not without reason. Taniks?"

"Yes, Sir?"

"Prioritise the World's Grave, see if the Hive know a way into that place."

"Already done, Sir."

"Good. And Beltrik?"

The Baron straightened again. Skolas continued. "You have been a loyal soldier for the House of Wolves since Virixaskel met his untimely demise. May the House of Silence be kind to him."

"May the House of Silence be kind to him," Beltrik repeated solemnly. Even Taniks bowed his head in respect.

"I need you to be loyal in these difficult times. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Skolaskel," Beltrik replied.

"Crystal," Taniks said, curtly.

"Good."

With that the monitor went dead. Beltrik turned to gather his equipment. "You heard what he said."

"He asked me to finish off what Drevis was doing, you know," Taniks said casually.

"…Bring House Devils on our side, yes."

Taniks laughed. "Nooo, nononono, no. Assassinate any attempts to replace Solkis and Riksis." The mercenary greedily downed the rest of his drink. "He'd have me butcher the lot if he could. A whole House just…gone. Told you. Fucking. Prick."

Taniks moved to the control deck and typed in some coordinates. Beltrik said nothing but, as he left the room, Taniks spoke again.

"Loyal soldiers don't fight for their leaders, by the way," Taniks replied. "They're told to die for them. Drekh or Commander, makes no difference to the General." Taniks grinned, the stitching around his rebreather tearing slightly. "Just some friendly advice."

Next Time: Kayla heads to the Moon to stop a Fallen platoon in Chapter 3-14: Lower Than That