When Nimbus finally stood in front of Arizona, she found herself shaking, even taking off her helmet was a challenge. They didn't run over to her with a smile like they normally did. The frown didn't make their face look older either. She took slow, shaking steps toward them, and with both of her hands she held out Rohan's core.

Nimbus took it gingerly. Before she could turn around they grabbed one of her hands in their free one. "Thanks for the…drive."

Arizona looked at their feet. "I'm sorry. I really tried to save him, Nimbus."

"I know." They ran their thumb across her knuckles. "When we take on this job, get the augs and everything, the clock starts ticking. Ten years may not seem like a lot, especially to you and your friends, but it's well spent. It's worth it." Arizona finally looked up, though slowly. Their stormy grey eyes were fixated on their hands. Finally, she flexed her fingers, squeezing their hand as tightly as she could. "I can't think of a single Strider that went before their expiration date." They sighed, "We've got way bigger problems right now. I should help your friends out getting the…um…" They waved their hands around, as if it could somehow bring back the words.

Arizona nodded. "Yeah I understand. They mentioned it before, well…anyways, I have some reporting to do with Osiris. Something that can't wait." She hesitated to let them go. One of the corners of their mouth came up, but there was little joy in the smile. They knelt to be with her eye level. She brought her free hand up to their cheek, and they leaned into it. She kissed their forehead lightly. "Okay, now I really have to go." Her hand slowly slipped out of theirs and she walked inside, to the Pouka pond that Osiris almost never left.

"What exactly happened out there?"

"It's hard to explain…mostly because I have no explanation for it yet. I thought it was just an anomaly." Arizona sat by the pond. "Ikora doesn't know, neither does Zavala, they tried to keep me away from Darkness. Zavala thought we could fight the Witness without it and I disagreed. So, I went to Europa." Osiris folded his arms and paced around the pond. "And on Europa when I communed with one of the Pyramids there I had a vision of the Witness. It felt like I had been…transported to The Witness. I was there, and I wasn't there. I didn't tell anyone because I didn't think it meant anything."

"So all this time the Witness could've been spying on us and you didn't tell anyone?" Osiris shouted.

Arizona stood. "I don't think it works like that. I think it works like a two way mirror."

Osiris stopped. "Explain."

"A two way mirror, you know, one person on one side of the mirror can see the other side, like a window, but the person on the other side only sees a reflection like a mirror. I don't think the Witness knows about this link yet."

"Yet." He repeated and started pacing. "And it isn't something you can control?"

"Unfortunately, no. I don't know why it happens either and I can't predict when."

Osiris nodded. "And in this most recent vision?"

Arizona rubbed her hands together, "The Witness wasn't happy with Calus…but the Veil isn't in the clear yet. The Witness said they will make the link, but I don't know how. They didn't mention destroying it, though, so I…" She sighed, "I have a feeling it's a trap, but I don't know how it could be one."

"It doesn't matter how. We have to make sure Calus doesn't get to it first." He walked outside. "Come, we must meet with Caiatl."

Caiatl met Osiris and Arizona in the middle of the city, at the very top of the Watchtower. It wasn't long before Argonaut and Fae joined them, and Nimbus was the last to arrive, and made quite the showy entrance.

"Systems are lit with 80% of defenses now operational." Nimbus proudly declared. If Ghost hadn't been there himself, nobody would've ever guessed that they just lost someone important to them. "I'm full of fury," they pointed to Caiatl, "she's got an army," they pointed to Arizona and fluttered their fingers, "and you got magic green strings. Let's crush this Calus guy!"

Osiris lifted his hand as if to stop them, "We aren't ready for Calus. We don't even understand this erratic power at a foundational level."

"It's past time you two figured that out," Fae said.

Arizona nodded, "Agreed. You two wanna partake in the…" she mockingly fluttered her fingers, "magic green strings training?"

Argonaut shook his head, "I'm pretty much good with Stasis."

"I don't use Darkness much either…you're the most drawn to it and if I had to guess, you're the one that will be using it the most."

"Yeah. Okay then," she looked at Caiatl, "We're going to need your troops, Empress." She looked at Nimbus, "Nimbus, charge up as many remaining turrets as you can. Fae and Argonaut can help you out." She looked at Osiris, "And we're going to untangle Strand."