Hello everybody, I've finally managed to break free from the titanium grip Bladurs Gate 3 has on my soul to upload this chapter. Now, onto the chapter.
If you enjoy it, feel free to leave a review saying what you liked. If you hated it, feel free to leave a review cursing my family lineage.
Chapter 6: The Beckoning Dark
"I believe where our paths cross, ground could break." - The Exo Stranger
Luz hadn't been alive for very long, maybe a week at most, but she had lived long enough to have made a few mistakes. One she had learned quickly was not to accept directions from Lancer, which she suspected her younger self had also learned the hard way. Another she had recently learned was not to enter the Crucible. Once had been more than enough. But if one were to ask, her current biggest mistake was flying out to Europa.
She reached into the wreckage of her ship, fishing around for any useful tools that may have survived the crash. Aurora was her current lookout, her lone optic panning through the sheet of blinding white as the storm raged around them. It seemed like Luz's shitty luck was holding firm as a blizzard had seemingly set in the second they entered the moon's atmosphere. Frigid winds had frosted her engines and limited her visibility. Then, the Vex found her.
Neither of them had seen the Void blast coming until it was too late. A Cyclops had knocked out her engine, sending her ship spiraling to the ground. She managed to eject before it slammed into the metallic floor. The trek to the wreckage of her ship had been tense and quiet, with both Luz and Aurora keeping a watch for any Vex that might have been sent after them.
Luz's hand finally found purchase on a small box of supplies that had survived the crash. She fished it out, shivering as the cold bit into her. Aurora tuned her armor temperature regulation systems as Luz prodded through the supplies she had grabbed.
"Couple of maps, compass, survival kit, a heat lamp, a few bundles of ration bars," she listed. Her fingers curled around the last item in the box, and she held it up triumphantly. "Emergency flare gun!" She looked over her shoulder to her Ghost. "Anything on the radio?"
Aurora let out a defeated sigh, "Not yet. That crash completely knocked out our long-range communication, and we're not tapped into the Europa network."
"Can't you just connect to the Vanguard channels?"
"Well, since the Vanguard doesn't officially acknowledge that Guardians operate on Europa, their policy is that those lines don't exist," Aurora said bitterly. "Which means I don't have clearance to connect to them. We'd need permission from a local operative."
"That's just perfect," Luz said. "First time striking out on my own, I manage to get us stranded in the Europan wilds while no one knows where we are." The loud mechanical screech cut through the blizzard, silencing them as they peered into the snowstorm. The blinding white obscured their vision, preventing them from seeing their mechanical pursuers. Luz glanced at the heap of smoking metal that was once her ship.
"This thing is gonna be drawing Vex to it like Titans to their secret special rations," she said, giving it a kick for good measure. "We should get out of here, maybe try and find some place to hole up in. We can wait the storm out and return when we have better visibility."
"Now that is a plan I can get behind," Aurora said. "Let's move before the Vex find us." Gathering their supplies, the two set off into the storm. The wind blew fresh snow over their tracks, hopefully concealing them from the Vex's eye.
As Luz fled the wreckage, six blazing scarlet optical lenses appeared in the frigid air. A Wyvern marched through the blizzard, its colossal feet disturbing the snow beneath it. The scout unit drew close to Luz's downed ship and began to scan it. Once it had extracted all of the valuable information it could, it lifted one of its digitigrade legs and perched on it. The Wyvern's side plates slid over each other as it flexed its energy tendrils. A call was sent out to all local Vex units. There was a target in the area. It was time to hunt.
Luz rushed through the blizzard, moving without direction or a plan. As she treaded through the blizzard, snow was kicked up in her wake, exposing the Vex metal underneath. The wind whipped at her armor, howling loud enough to drown out her thoughts. A few warning symbols flashed on her heads-up display, signifying that her temperature regulation systems were failing. Frost was beginning to form on her armor. Luz cursed and pushed further into the blinding white, desperately seeking shelter from the storm.
Her boot fell upon the ground and hit something decidedly not metal. Freezing in place, she chanced a glance downward. Her foot was now perched atop a field of ice. She drew a sharp breath as a web of cracks emerged underneath her foot. She tried to shift her weight and was met by the booming sound of rolling thunder. The ice beneath her shattered under her weight, giving way and falling into an unseen abyss. Luz scrambled backward as the ground fell away, crashing into the chasm with an ear-splitting boom.
"If the Vex didn't know where we were before, they definitely do now," Aurora said. "I've been checking the maps, and I think there's a good cave system nearby we can hide in." Luz nodded as she collected herself. Aurora set a waypoint a few hundred meters out, and Luz began to move toward it, watching where she stepped.
True to Aurora's words, there was a cave spacious enough to house them. Luz settled in as the winds howled outside. Shivering, she reached into transmat and pulled out a small heat lamp. The dials clicked as she turned it on, bathing everything in a small radius with heat. Luz sighed in relief as she carried her lamp to the far side of the cave.
"Now we just wait out the storm, I guess," Aurora chirped. Luz didn't respond, instead reaching into transmat. She pulled out the parcel Royal had given her and held it uncertainly. After a moment of hesitation, she swapped it out for her journal. She busied herself with reading her memoirs while Aurora continued trying to connect to the communication line. Luz turned over the page, noting certain sections of the pages had succumbed to the ravages of time.
The Traveler has arrived. None of us really believed it at first, but the news confirmed scientists found it over Mars. The United States, China, and Russia are pooling their resources to send a team to make contact. Usually, I'd be amazed by this display of international cooperation. But I know what's coming next. Paladin says I need to let things play out as they should. Apparently, nothing I can do will prevent the Collapse. Something about the Universe correcting itself. It's raising some really uncomfortable questions about free will, but I'm trying not to think about those. Amity has been searching for ways to preserve our memories, just in case. Here's to the Golden Age, I guess.
"Wait," Aurora said, her shell contracting as her optic darted to the entrance. "Did you hear that?" Luz closed her journal and slipped it into transmat, drawing her hand cannon as she did. The two were silent as they waited. After a few painful seconds of silence, the two heard a mechanical chirp. A Harpy.
"The heat lamp," Aurora whispered. "It's giving us away." Luz's eyes darted to the device, and she quickly turned it off. As she twisted the dial, it let out another loud click. Luz cursed under her breath as another chirp could be heard, this time far more hostile. The Harpy floated into the entry of the cave. It took half a second to locate Luz before screeching and unfurling its plates. Her hand cannons snapped up and fired. A bullet tore through the center optical lens of the Harpy. She kept her weapon trained on it as the shattered fragments of the Harpy collapsed to the ground.
"How likely is it that they had time to send a message?" Luz asked. Aurora's shell rattled uncertainly.
"I give us a few minutes before the Vex come knocking."
Luz winced. "Great. Just great." She set her back against the cave wall and slid down until her knees were leveled with her face. Tucking her forehead into her legs, she curled into a ball. "Now we're lost in the middle of nowhere on a stupid snowball with hordes of murderous robots coming to kill us. Some Guardian I turned out to be."
"Hey, none of that," Aurora said, lightly nudging her Guardian. "I wouldn't have followed you out here if I didn't have faith in you. You're not the first Guardian to be stuck in a pinch, and you definitely won't be the last. So pull yourself together! I didn't resurrect a quitter." The Ghost nudged Luz's arm, trying to push it up. Luz offered a half-hearted smile and gave Aurora's shell a thankful stroke. Despite that, she didn't feel better about herself or their situation.
"Alright, if the Vex know where we are, then there's no point in trying to hide," Luz said, pulling out the flare gun. She popped it open and slipped a flare inside. After a quick check to ensure they were clear, Luz aimed her flare gun toward the sky and pulled the trigger. There was a loud bang followed by a distinct whistle as it soared into the sky, releasing a burning red trail behind it. The flare washed the storm in rose-tinted light, desperately fighting to be seen in the blizzard. Luz was about to turn around and return to the cave when the faint sound of metal hitting metal reached her ear. Reloading the flare gun and drawing her hand cannon, she raised both as she peered into the wall of white before her. Acting on a hunch, she fired the flare directly ahead of her. The burning light flew away, illuminating the shadowy silhouettes of dozens of Vex.
The Goblins instantly opened fire. Fortunately, Luz was able to quickly dodge out of the way. A few shots scored glancing hits on her armor. Luz's revolver spat out a few shots in retaliation. She heard the telltale sound of a Goblin collapsing as she dashed back into the cave. She ducked through the opening and slammed her back against the cave wall. A few bolts flew past her. Luz hastily cycled her weapons, swapping her revolver for her shotgun.
The first Goblin pushed into the cave and was instantly torn in half by a blast from Luz's boomstick. She pumped it and racked another shell as the Vex continued to pour in. Luz kept firing away, and the Vex kept coming. Eventually, she was forced to swap to her auto rifle as the horde of Vex became too thick. Shots bounced off her armor, dropping her shield lower and lower with each impact. A Minotaur pushed through the crowd of Goblins, centering the woman with its torch hammer. Luz dodged the first shot, only for the second to catch her square in the center of her chest. She was pushed across the cave, spitting blood on the inside of her helmet as she felt one of her organs rupture.
The Minotaur grabbed her by the helmet and lifted her as her hands scrambled to find purchase. It slammed her into the floor, cracking the stone beneath her. Luz's body felt like it was on fire, and she was almost positive that her spine was one hit away from giving out. Her fingers finally managed to get a grip on the Minotaur's arms. She felt the spark of static energy within her and channeled a veritable hurricane through herself. Her body became wreathed in lightning. Her Light was so potent that it curled around her body and lashed out at the Vex around her. Lightning chained across the entire horde, atomizing most of them.
Luz floated a few inches off the ground as electricity coursed through her body. The few remaining Vex trained their weapons on her, only for the woman to hold out her hands and unleash a torrent of electricity upon them. The Vex fell as sparks continued to roll across her. Her Light faded, and she dropped back to the ground. Her pain was still there, a dull throbbing ache. She pushed her Light outward. A pool of healing Light appeared at her feet, and she basked in its soothing essence. Flexing as her broken body snapped back into place, she drew her auto rifle and stepped back up to the cave entrance.
Her heart fell as she heard what sounded like a small army marching across the snow-swept fields. More Vex closed in, with a colossal, bipedal construct at the head. Its six eyes focused on her. The construct's energy tendrils coiled and snapped, filling the air with energy. Luz flexed her fingers, summoning her Arc Light as she stared into the creature's optics.
"Bring it!"
The Wyvern opened fire, sending waves of Void blasts toward her. The rest of the Vex unloaded their weapons. Pushing herself into motion, she summoned her machine gun and began cutting down swathes of Vex. The air was filled with destructive bolts and explosions. Luz frantically wove around the shots, firing at anything and everything. She struck the Vex with hands of lightning whenever they got close. Arc grenades were lobbed into particularly dense clusters of machine spawn. The Wyvern circled her as its lessers were thinned. Eventually, Luz was forced to bash the Vex to death with the stock of her weapon.
She brought the machine gun down on a Hobgoblin, cracking its core and destroying it. The Wyvern slammed into the ground beside her as she stood up. Luz was sent flying back, skidding across the ice with a full scraping sound. She slammed into a thick ice sheet and let out a meek 'ow.' The Wyvern stomped over as she tried to get back up, its feet thundering on the ice. It raised a single foot and slammed it down on her leg, mangling the limb beyond recognition and pinning her down. Luz let out a bloodcurdling scream as the Wyvern began to charge its guns. Gritting her teeth, she tried to drown out the pain. One of her hands found purchase on the Wyvern's leg. She flooded the limb with Arc Light, causing the Wyvern to spasm wildly. The plates on its center shifted, revealing its glowing white center. Luz shot a bolt of lightning into the core. Radiolaria spilled from the wound as the Wyvern staggered back. It shuddered, plates falling off it, before finally collapsing dead.
Luz hissed as she forced herself up, Aurora working as fast as she could to stitch her destroyed leg back together. She limped toward the remaining Vex as they closed ranks. Her Light pulsed faintly; she was dangerously close to burning herself up.
"Come on," she challenged, panting heavily. Her vision was spotty, and her mind was clouded with pain. "I'll… kick all… your…" She collapsed to the ground as the last of her energy faded. The last thing she was aware of before falling unconscious was a bright flash of Solar Light from behind the Vex. Her eyes closed as the warm flames soothed her.
"Thought there would be Fallen here," a sharp mechanical voice reached her ears, though it was already fading rapidly. "Shame. Let's get you patched up."
Luz awoke slowly. All her muscles were stiff, making it difficult to move. Slowly, she managed to prop herself up and look around. She was lying in a sleeping bag in a small tent. There was a pack filled with supplies resting nearby. A small heat lamp rested beside her, along with a few discarded pieces of medical equipment. Her armor was neatly stacked in a pile, revealing that Luz was wrapped in a heavy winter coat.
"Aurora," she croaked, her throat sore and hoarse. Her Ghost appeared before her.
"Oh, thank the Traveler, you're alright!" She sobbed, nestling into Luz's neck. "When you fell and didn't get up, I was so worried!" Luz patted her friend's shell as feeling returned to her limbs.
"I'm fine," she comforted before looking around the tent. "Where are we?"
"My camp," said the same voice from before. Luz looked over to the tent entrance. A broad Titan with armor colored a vibrant ruby was stepping through the flaps, letting a little bit of snow inside behind him. The howling winds had died down, returning to their usual calm. The Titan knelt beside her and set a gauntleted hand on her stomach.
"Vitals are stable," he muttered, ignoring Luz's embarrassment. "Light is recovering. Mental state is—" He glanced her up and down. "—under question."
"I… what?" Luz mumbled. The Titan tsked and stood up.
"Meet me outside when you're good enough to stand." He left without another word, letting a brief gust of wind into the tent before vanishing.
"Sorry, I haven't been able to get much out of him," Aurora said. "He seems a little out of it." The Ghost's shell flittered slightly to accentuate her statement. Luz looked down at her body, a question already forming on her lips. Aurora cut it off before it could be asked. "No, he didn't undress you. I took care of that." Luz sighed and thanked her Ghost. She pushed herself up, shakily drawing to her feet. Aurora helped her reequip her armor, and she stepped outside.
The Titan was sitting on a box before a small fire, occasionally casting more Solar energy into the pit and prodding the kindling while muttering. Luz sat on another box beside him, waiting for the Titan to acknowledge her.
"Hello?" She asked, growing a little impatient with him. He looked up and dusted off his hands, wiping the Solar ashes off them.
"You're lucky I saw your flare," he said. "Kids these days think they can take on whole Vex strike forces by themselves."
"I didn't exactly ask to crash," Luz replied bitterly. The Titan let out a bark of laughter.
"Aye, fair enough." He held out his hand. "Names Tonbo-08, Warden of Europa and Fallen crusher extraordinaire." Luz gingerly accepted his hand and shook it.
"Shouldn't it just be Tonbo-8?" She asked. Tonbo sighed heavily.
"Tonbo-O-Eight," he said, stressing each syllable. Luz was about to inquire again before, only for Tonbo to cut her off. "Zero. Eight. Got it?"
"Got it," she squeaked. Tonbo nodded.
"Your Ghost already filled me in on who you are, why you're here, and all that boring stuff." He stood up and looked into the distance. After finding what he was looking for, he pointed to something over the horizon. "If you're looking to learn Stasis, you'll need to head south. Just keep an eye out for the giant pyramid; you literally can't miss it."
"Oh, thanks," Luz said awkwardly. "What about you?"
"Busy."
"With what?"
"Tracking House Salvation search teams," he said. "They're poking around for Golden Age tech, and the Stranger thinks they're getting close to uncovering something big. And where there's Fallen poking around, I'll be there to crush them."
"You got a grudge against the Eli- them?" Luz asked warily, trying not to reveal anything. Tonbo snorted.
"That's putting it mildly. I was raised with one of those Ether-sucking bastards trying to tear my arm off. Caved his head in with the half-attached limb. Good times." There was a strange, slightly unhinged mirth to the Titan. Perhaps it was the sign of a man who had spent too much time alone in the Europa wilds.
"Well, I should probably get going," Luz said, standing up and wobbling. "I appreciate your help, but it sounds like you have a tight schedule to keep." Tonbo checked an imaginary watch on his wrist before grunting in agreement.
"Got a backup sparrow for you," he said, gesturing to the machine. "It'll get you where you're going, just don't expect it to be a comfy ride." Luz nodded before mounting the sparrow. It rattled a little as the engine started. Tonbo slapped it.
"Be sure to avoid any large jumps, or it might explode," he said jovially. Luz's eyes widened beneath her helmet, glancing between the Titan and the sparrow. He let out a deep laugh, "I'm joking. Probably."
"Right," Luz said, slightly uneasy with her new ride, "thanks for your help. I appreciate it." Tonbo waved her off, already turning away.
"You're not the first stray I've helped out, and you won't be the last. You better get going if you want to reach the Stranger before nightfall." Luz nodded and gunned the engine. Her sparrow took off, gliding over the ice and into the distance. Tonbo glanced back over his shoulder as she faded and let out a short grunt.
"Well, she was weird."
Luz's sparrow cut through the air as she huddled low. The air whipped at her armor as her robes trailed behind her. She gunned the engine, pushing the bike to go faster.
"Well, he was weird," she muttered. Aurora chirped in agreement. They continued in silence, riding over the icy Europa plains. Jupiter dominated the sky above, washing the horizon with subtle tans and oranges. A few spires of Vex metal broke up the frozen terrain, though the area was thankfully free of the machine spawn. The ruins of an old Golden Age city could be seen in the distance.
The sun had passed its zenith by the time the pyramid appeared. She crested the cliff and disembarked from her sparrow as she got a better look. It was an imposing monolith of pitch-black stone. Sharp orange lines cut across the structure. A small ziggurat sat a good distance away, with a bunker resting near that. The entire place exuded an aura of dread.
"Think this is the place?" Aurora asked. Luz pulled out one of her maps and double-checked it.
"Should be. The whole place feels cold. Well, colder than the rest of Europa." She rolled her map up and tucked it away. After checking the drop to ensure it was safe, she slid down the cliff. She hit the ground with a thud, kicking up a small snow cloud on impact.
Luz approached the small bunker, seeing a few unoccupied chairs surrounding a burned-out fire pit. She walked through the campsite, looking around for any sign of life. Holding out her hand, she prepared to ask Aurora for a scan.
"Another stray Lightbearer," a female voice said from behind her. Luz spun just in time to see an Exo woman wrapped in a dark blue hooded poncho. Her white metal matched the snow coating the ground, perfectly framing her light-blue optics. A rifle was held at her side, her stance loose enough to be casual but firm enough that she could bring it to bear quickly if needed. The woman appraised Luz with a carefully guarded expression. "Have you come seeking the boons of the pyramid?"
"I have," Luz said, touching her chest. "My name is Luz Noceda. Warlock of the Last City. I was told to seek someone called the Exo Stranger, and I take it you're her." The Stranger nodded and slipped her rifle onto her back. A hint of curiosity entered her gaze as Luz continued. "You're not a Guardian, are you?"
"I was not forged in Light," the Stranger confirmed, the barest strip of annoyance entering her voice as though she was tired of being asked that question. "But if you wish to look beyond the Light, I am who you want." She held out her hand and summoned a small sapphire crystal. It floated above her outstretched palm, radiating a chilling aura. Luz stared into it before the Stranger closed her fist. The crystal vanished.
"Can you teach me how to do that?" Luz asked. The Stranger looked her up and down again before raising an eyebrow.
"I can," she replied. "But first, you must decide if you want to learn."
"Of course I do," Luz said, spreading her arms. "That's the whole reason I'm here. I almost died on the way." The Stranger gestured for Luz to take a seat.
"Everyone who comes here does so for a reason," the Stranger said. "Not all of them pure. What truly brings you to the pyramid?" Luz and Aurora shared a look, debating if they should tell her. Luz didn't know why, but something deep inside her said the Stranger could be trusted. Taking a quick breath, she decided to tell her the essentials.
"I was only raised around a week ago. I'm being trained by another Warlock who knew me before my death. But recently, he…" she stopped for a second, trying to find the right words. "He keeps saying that all Eliksni as evil, even those trying to help us liberate the city from the Endless Night. We got into a fight because of that, and I needed some space. I'd encountered Stasis before and wanted to continue my training without him. That led me here."
The Stranger listened intently as Luz spoke, her unblinking optics never wavering from the woman. Once she finished, the Stranger raised an eyebrow like she didn't fully believe Luz. "And who exactly is your mentor?"
"Royal-6."
The Stranger's facade of neutrality crumbled for the first time since they had met. Her mouth tightened in surprise, and myriads of emotions flashed across her face too fast for Luz to decipher. Then, as quickly as it was there, it was gone. She looked away, her optics tracing lines in the ground, and muttering, "Dammit, Royal, you stubborn bastard."
"You know him?" Luz asked, though she already knew the answer.
"I do," the Stranger said. "Or I did."
"Do you wanna talk about it?" Luz asked, trying to weave through this minefield of a conversation lightly. The Stranger brought herself back under control and shook her head.
"That's not what you're here for," she said, her emotional shield reappearing instantly. "We still have some time before nightfall; let's see what you can learn."
"Right," Luz said, rising from her seat. "I found my tether if that helps."
"I won't pretend to fully understand what being a Lightbearer is like, but connecting to Stasis is different," the Stranger said. "The Light was given to you. The Darkness must be seized. Stasis is the element of control." She raised her hand with splayed fingers, summoning a swirling maelstrom of ice in her palm. "For those who wish order upon a lawless Universe." The chilling whirlwind receded, and the Stranger offered her other hand. Clutched in her fingers was a small obsidian prism. Darkness radiated from the splinter, causing Aurora to recoil as Luz reached out to take it. Her fingers brushed it, and a sense of familiarity flashed through her. She saw glimpses of another pyramid ship partially submerged in water, a shadowy figure bending across walls, and a child of the stars looking down on her.
As quickly as they appeared, the mental images vanished. Luz pressed her free hand against her forehead. Despite that, she forced herself to continue. She wrapped her fingers around the splinter and took it from the Stranger. The blood in her veins instantly chilled, and she could feel the splinter lash out at her.
"It seeks to resist you," the Stranger said. "You must prove your dominance over it. Bind reality and bring it to order." Luz let out a small grunt of pain as frigid crystals began to form on her hand. They slowly crept up her arm. Aurora let out a few worried beeps as it reached her elbow.
Luz closed her eyes and focused as the Dark power battled her for control. She took a deep breath, letting the storm rage within her. She drew strength from the thunder and channeled energy from the lightning. The creeping Stasis energy stopped, and the two entered a stalemate.
"The Darkness has no power over me," Luz whispered. "I am in command. You will answer to me." The frost receded until it had fully drawn back within her splinter. Luz still felt the chill in her veins, but now it was different, under her control. The Stranger, watching the internal struggle with a curious eye, gave an approving nod.
"You learn fast," she complimented.
Luz smiled, "Thanks, Royal thought so too." Her smile flickered before fading as she thought about her mentor. He had probably discovered her disappearance by now and was either furious or frantically searching for her. A tinge of guilt began to wash over her until she remembered why she had left. She quashed the guilt and tried not to let it show on her face. Despite that, the Stranger seemed to catch on.
"It's starting to get late," she said, rising from her seat. "Since you've already made your connection, I can help you master it tomorrow. For now, let's get settled in."
"While doing so, can you connect us to the Europa comm network?" Aurora asked. The Stranger nodded, beckoning the two to follow her inside the bunker.
"Don't you worry, Little Light."
Aurora contracted her shell. "Please don't call me that."
True to her word, the Stranger got them on the official channels. She welcomed Luz inside her bunker, which was filled with crates and other curiosities. There was a small bed tucked against the wall. A board hung over it, with a few photos that Luz couldn't make out stamped in place. The Stranger opened one of the crates, revealing a collapsable tent for Luz. After helping the Warlock get set up, the Stranger found herself preoccupied by an influx of reports that demanded her immediate attention. Word was trickling down from informants within House Salvation. They were on the verge of uncovering something big.
Luz had offered to help, only to be turned away. There were other Guardians on hand that could be called upon. She would stay here and continue to master Stasis. With the Stranger shutting her down, Luz was left with little to do but lay down in her sleeping bag. Aurora was fiddling with a small datapad behind her as she stared at the tent's ceiling. She had already sent Eido another message to confirm that she was alright. Royal had yet to send anything.
Her mind lingered on her mentor and she reached into transmat. She pulled out the parcel he had given her. She unwrapped it slowly, almost as though she was scared of what lay within. Soon, she was holding a small pastel book. There was a strange woman on the cover, wrapped in soft white robes and with mint green hair. The cover was worn but not ragged, belying the years this book had existed. Perhaps it had once belonged to the library of a Dark Age Warlord, been preserved in an airtight bunker, or even been encrypted as an engram. Only time knew for certain, and time was a silent judge. Her eyes slid up to the title: The Good Witch Azura. She pursed her lips, wondering why Royal would have given her this of all things. She pried it open, coughing as it showered her in a cloud of dust. A small note fell onto her chest, and she quickly snatched it up.
Figured you deserved something for all your hard work. Took me forever to find this. Never cared much for fantasy myself, but this one was always special to you. Hope you enjoy it as much now as you did then.
Luz raised a curious eyebrow as she turned her attention back to the book. Not having anything else to do, she flipped to the first page and began to read.
It was early in the morning when Luz awoke. Light from the rising sun shone through the entryway of her tent, causing her to squint. Her book slid off her chest as she rolled over in a daze, trying to blink the blinding light out of her eyes. She had been up for hours last night, almost immediately becoming hooked and reading by the light of her own Arc energy long into the night.
"Five more minutes, Royal," she mumbled. The Stranger smirked slightly as she held the flap open.
"Guess again," she said. "Get up and get ready. We're continuing your training." Luz sat up, yawning and trying to smooth out her bed hair. The Stranger let the flap close as she stood up and stretched.
"Why does everyone in this system hate the concept of sleep?" She mumbled. Aurora gave a soft giggle.
"I think that's just Exo's." Luz rolled her eyes as she finished armoring up. She sent her new book back to transmat and grabbed her Darkness splinter. She could feel the Darkness writhing within the shard, trying to buck from her control. She quashed the power and stepped outside, where the Stranger awaited her.
"You have proved that you can restrain the Darkness," the Stranger said. "Now, you must command it." She pulled out her splinter in one hand and raised her other. Her empty hand clenched into a fist, and a wall of crystals shot out of the ground. The Stranger set her hand a few inches away from the wall and struck it. The crystals exploded, sending razor-sharp fragments outward.
"Picture what you wish within your mind," the Stranger said. "Give it a shape to take. You must be utterly uncompromising and sure of your conviction."
"Alright," Luz said, bouncing on her feet. "I can do that. I'm chock-full of conviction." She thrust out her hands and bent the Darkness to her will. The temperature around her plummeted as a small crystalline sphere appeared before her.
The Darkness bucked against her control, trying to dominate her will. She could feel the entropic power resonating from within the sphere. It chilled her to her core. She tried to focus on her teachings and understand this power on a more fundamental level.
Stasis was the element of control. It froze atoms, locking them in place, bringing them wholly under its influence.
She spread her hands out, and the sphere stretched into a long, elegant staff. She grabbed it and gave it an experimental spin before tapping it on the ground. The staff emitted a chilling shockwave that kicked up a swirl of snow. The Stranger seemed mildly impressed, giving an approving nod.
"I told you, my conviction is overflowing," Luz replied, shooting a finger gun at the Exo. "I've got this down." The Stranger crossed her arms.
"Well, if you think you're all that, then I'm sure you wouldn't object to a little test run?" There was a hint of challenge in her voice. Luz grinned, feeling very confident for the first time in a few days.
"Whatever you got, I can match."
The Stranger pulled out a datapad and swiped through it. Luz tried to peer over her shoulder, only to find herself dwarfed by the Stranger. She pouted as the Stranger offered her the datapad, grumbling in frustration the entire time. Her eyes passed over the report, frowning slightly as she read it.
"Reports have become more and more frequent," the Stranger said. "House Salvation is on the verge of a breakthrough." She tapped a spot on the map. "They've been digging for something since they raided the Deep Stone Crypt."
"And you want me to take care of House Salvation?" Luz asked uncertainly, her newfound confidence wavering.
"We have other Guardians on hand taking the fight to them more directly. I just need someone to take care of a small scouting party. Cause a little panic and get them riled up. Think you're up to it?" Luz frowned a little, trepidation starting to settle in.
On the one hand, she wasn't sure she was ready for solo field deployment, especially against the Eliksni. On the other hand, she would be remiss not to help someone in need. Besides, it sounded like House Salvation was quite a threat to the city. She straightened her back and filled her gaze with the strength of iron.
"I'll do it," she said. The Stranger nodded approvingly.
"Then here's what I need you to do." Luz listened intently as the Stranger explained the situation. Variks, an Eliksni correspondent on Europa, had a few agents acting within House Salvation. They reported that the House was sending out an increasing number of agents armed with Braytech transponders. If their intel was correct, a squad was being deployed to Cadmus Ridge soon. All Luz had to do was intercept them. All things considered, it should be an easy mission.
"I'll take care of it, no problem," she said confidently. The Stranger watched slightly bemusedly as she mounted her sparrow and took off. As Luz vanished, a small mechanical creature appeared behind her. It swam through the air, its fins trailing through the air. The Pouka circled around the Stranger's leg, letting out a curious chirp.
"No, Fish, I've never met her before," the Stranger said. "She could prove to be interesting." The Stranger turned back to her bunker. She still had a busy day ahead of her.
Luz's sparrow sliced the air quickly, kicking up a cloud of white as she flew at breakneck speeds. Aurora marked their destination on her HUD, and Luz shifted. She felt the comfortable rattle of the Sparrow's engine and took a deep breath, breathing in the crisp Europan air. The thrill of being on the frontiers, sent on special missions to dispatch the enemies of the Last City, was exhilarating.
As she rode, the silhouette of a run down outpost came into view. Luz slowed to a stop, noting that another sparrow was already parked outside. The Stranger had instructed Luz to report to Variks, he would tell her what to do.
The door slid open with an audible creak as Luz approached. A wave of heat blasted her when she stepped through. Across the room was a Hunter conversing with an Eliksni wrapped in furs and a few strips of green cloth. Lus noticed that the Eliksni's upper right arm ended in a metal stump.
"I managed to get the refugees to safety," the Hunter, who Luz recognized as Iris from her first time at the Eliksni Quarter. "I trust House Light will welcome them?"
"Misraakskel has sworn he will greet them with oprn arms," the Eliksni chittered. "We thank you for your assistance, Guardian."
"Just doing my job," Iris replied. "If you need me, I'll be enjoying some victory Ramen back home." She turnedback to the entrance and offered Luz a slight nod. A little surprised, she returned the gesture as Iris departed.
"Welcome, Guardian," the Eliksni said. "The Stranger informed me you would be along. I am Variks, formerly of House Judgement."
"Never heard of House Judgement before," Luz said. "Only Light, Dusk, and Salvation." A clicking sound emerged from behind Variks's chainmail mask. He seemed pleased with the opportunity to impart some of his knowledge.
"We were once an ancient House, dedicated to preserving peace between the Eliksni houses," he said with no small amount of pride. "After the Whirlwind, we would advise Kells to ensure we did not shed the blood of our fellow Eliksni over petty greivances." He looked toward the floor, his eyes downcast. "Our numbers dwindled until Variks was all that was left. Alas, desperation and trust are seldom allies. Now, House Judgement is no more. But Variks will not allow old sins to define the path forward."
"If only everyone had that mindset," Luz said. Variks chuckled a little.
"That would be a simpler world, but it wouldn't be ours. There are many who bear their scars as a reminder of why they must hate. Variks can not blame them. But Variks prefers to use them as a reminder of why we must be better." Variks's mouth clicked a few times. "But you did not come here to listen to an old Eliksni wax philosophy. You came for the mission. Variks has friends within House Salvation that tell of scavenger parties investigating ruins from your Golden Age. You shall intercept them and discover what they seek."
"Just point me in the right direction," Luz said. Variks transferred the information to her and offered a few words of encouragement. She bid farewell and was on her way. The winds whipped at her and she already missed the artificial heat.
She arrived at Cadmus Ridge and drew to a stop. Her Sparrow rested between two short ledges that overlooked the open area before her. A few Vex were at work in the distance, monitoring or patrolling or something else Luz didn't understand. She dismounted her Sparrow and let it fade back into transmat. Drawing her auto rifle, she began moving through the icy landscape.
Her boots sank into the snow, producing a satisfying crunch with every step. She crested a small hill and tilted her head as she approached a partially-buried Golden Age facility. The walls were coated in ice, covering most of the logos or icons. The entrance looked like it had been recently torn apart, with damaged girders and steel beams crossing each other in a haphazard heap. Luz pulled up her map, cross-referencing it with Aurora's ping. This was the place. Now, there was nothing to do but wait.
She looked around for any Eliksni ships that might be drawing close, only for the skies to be clear. A sweep of the ground told a similar story. It seemed that it would be a while before the squad arrived. She sat on the edge of a small overhang and began kicking her legs.
"Shouldn't you take a vantage point or something like that?" Aurora asked. Luz shrugged as she slipped off her helmet and took a bite of a ration bar.
"Probably," she said, her voice slightly muffled as she chewed her food. Aurora nodded and floated beside her Guardian.
"Fifty glimmer says you can't hit that rock with a lightning bolt," she said, gesturing to a small ice-coated stone about thirty yards away. Luz grinned and held up a finger gun.
"You're on." She channeled Arc Light to her fingers and took a second to line up her shot. Holding her breath, she closed one eye and steadied her aim. She fired, even miming the recoil of her hand. A jagged beam of blue lightning shot forward and slammed into the snow directly beside the rock. Luz groaned, falling onto her back as Aurora cheered and spun her shell.
"What would you even use glimmer for?" Luz asked, sitting back up and brushing the snow out of her hair. Aurora took a second to think before responding.
"A new shell, I guess. This one is kinda plain."
"Tell you what, next chance I get, we'll grab Eido and go browsing."
"Deal." The two shook on it and returned to their waiting. Luz fidgeted and shifted while Aurora stared up at Jupiter, mesmerized by the swirling colors of the gas giant. Luz pulled her legs back up and crossed them. She set her palms against each other and took a deep breath. Her hands separated, electricity flowing between them. Nodding, she pressed them back together and pulled them apart once more. This time, a small Stasis crystal manifested itself.
The silence was broken by the piercing sound of a dropship cutting through the sky. Luz instantly shot up and scanned the horizon, her summoned Stasis fading away. A dropship was flying closer, bearing a sigil on the side that Luz didn't recognize.
Donning her helmet, she quickly slipped behind a small pile of tarps and Golden Age wreckage, peering over it as the dropship circle for a few moments. In the distance, the Vex raised their weapons, now distracted from their business. The dropship opened fire, blasting the machine spawn to pieces with a barrage of Arc cannons. The ground shook under their artificial thunder.
Once the Vex had been cleared out, the dropship began to lower with a dull hum. Several hatches on the back opened, allowing its passengers to crawl out. A dozen Vandals hit the ground, fanning out and sweeping the area with their rifles. Luz quickly checked her rifle to ensure it hadn't been compromised by the cold. She looked back up just in time to see a colossal Fallen Captain disembark. Her feet slammed into the ice, cracking it under his weight. She towered over her subordinates. Luz looked a little more closely, seeing the telltale signs of a few Ghost shells hanging around the Captain's neck. Luz's eyes wandered down their body, only to freeze when she noticed the severed head of an Awoken male hanging from the Captain's belt. It was all Luz could do to keep herself from throwing up.
The Captain stretched and said something Luz couldn't make out. Her Vandals instantly began to move toward Luz. One of them, the one closest to the Captain, pulled out a small device and activated it. The augmentation device came to life, activating the Scanner Protocol to find what they sought. The Eliksni marched through the snow with the occasional shove or jab from their superior. Luz waited for them to pass beneath her as they approached the ruins. She narrowed her eyes on the Vandal with the augment and prepared her Light.
She flung her flashbang grenade into the center of the group. It detonated with a loud crack, blinding the Elkisni. The Captian hissed orders as she covered her eyes. Luz dropped off her perch and landed on the augmented Vandal. She rolled off them, snatching the augment as she did. Coming up from her roll, she pointed the auto rifle at them in one hand while holding the augment with the other.
"Everyone, stand down!" She shouted. "Just turn around and go home! Nobody has to get hurt." She slipped the augment onto her belt as the Captain drew to her full height, blinking the effects of the flashbang out of her four eyes. She gave a dangerous, slightly unhinged chuckle.
"Another Lightbearer wants to interrupt our treasure hunt," she taunted. "Let's see if you break as easily as this one." She gestured to the head hanging from her belt. Luz gripped her rifle a little more tightly. Something told her that peaceful deescalation wasn't going to be an option. The Captain gestured to Luz with her left arms. "Kill her."
Luz acted first, snapping her rifle to the closest Vandal and planting a round in their calf. She made sure to aim for their leg, opting for non-lethal shots. It wouldn't tickle, but it wouldn't kill either. The Vandal howled and fell to the ground, clutching their bleeding leg. Luz didn't wait to see the results, already diving out of the way of three shots from the other Vandals. The Arc rounds hit the snowbank as Luz rolled. She fired a few more shots into their legs, shattering kneecaps and femurs with each pull of the trigger. A shot slammed into her shoulder, causing her to stumble backward. Luz lashed out with her left hand, instantly frying the Vandal with electricity. Her eyes widened, and she looked at her hand in disgust. One Vandal took advantage of her momentary distraction, bashing her on the side of the head with their rifle.
Luz staggered from the blow, trying to blink the flashing lights out of her eyes. As she struggled to right herself, the Captain delivered a vicious punch directly to her faceplate. Luz went flying back. She slammed into the wall of the Golden Age facility, shattering the ice and denting the wall. She let out a weak groan as she fell facefirst into the snow.
"And that is how it is done," the Captain boasted, stomping over to Luz. She tried to reach for her rifle, only for the Captain to stomp on her hand. Luz choked back a scream as her gauntlet, along with the bones in her hand, was shattered. The Captain ground her boot into Luz's hand, trying to elicit a cry of pain from the woman. When she didn't oblige, the Captain grabbed her by the neck and lifted her off the ground. Luz's lone good hand scrabbled at the Captain's limb, prompting a laugh from the Eliksni. She pried the augment off Luz's belt and tossed it to one of her Vandals.
"Stabilize the wounded, then get back to the search," she barked, glaring at her subordinates. She turned back to Luz and clenched her hands into fists. Stasis coated the limb, the chill of entropy threatening to seep into her bones. "Typical Lightbearer arrogance. I look forward to seeing how long you last before shattering." Luz gritted her teeth and lashed out with her functioning arm. She fired a swarm of lightning bolts directly into the Eliksni's face. The alien cried out, dropping Luz as she brought her hands to her helmet. Luz landed awkwardly, sprawling across the ground as her wounds flared. She clutched her damaged arm and cast a healing rift. She could feel the bones snapping back into place as the Captain recovered from her surprise attack.
She glared at the Stormcaller and struck the ground with an icy fist. A wave of crystalline spikes erupted from the ground. Luz scrambled backward as the wave drew closer but wasn't fast enough to evade it entirely. A few spikes shot through her calves, sending a mixture of burning pain and numbing cold through her. Blood leaked from her legs as the Captain laughed. She drew closer while Luz tried to crawl away. However, the spikes kept her pinned and at the Eliksni's mercy.
"This one does have some fire," the Captain said viciously. "Maybe you'll be more fun than I thought." The Captain reached down to grab her by the helmet. Her hand froze on Luz as a distant rumbling reached them. The two looked up as a jumpship hurtled through the atmosphere. Luz tried to blink away the pain and focus. She knew that jumpship.
The Captain threw her aside and began barking commands. As she did, the ship flew overhead, deploying a purple-clad figure wreathed in fire. Royal dove toward the ground, flames trailing behind him. He slammed into the ice, unleashing a shockwave of fire that sent the Captain back. A few Vandals raised their weapons, but Royal was faster. His fists were a blur as he threw a series of rapid punches toward the Vandals, each launching a fireball through their chests.
Once the Vandals were cleared, he turned on the Captain and thrust his palms toward her. A torrent of flame shot out of his hands, washing the Captain in a catechism of flame hot enough to burn out the sun. The Captain let out an alien howl as the fire pushed her back, and her armor melted, coating her body in molten metal. She slammed her hands on the ground, sending a wave of Stasis toward Royal. He canceled his attack and leaped over the encroaching wave. It looked like he would land on his hands, only for him to unleash more jets of flame directly into the ground that propelled him up once again. He flipped and drop-kicked the air, shooting a beam of Solar Light from his feet directly into the Captain's now-exposed face. Her screams died down as her flesh melted off her skull. The Captain fell to her knees with a thunderous crash. Royal backflipped off his kick and slowly glided down to her. He walked up to the half-alive corpse as she wavered. He set his finger tips against her chest, his hand a rigid arrow. He lit the appendage on fire and delivered a one-inch punch directly to her sternum. His fist burned a hole in her chest, and the Captain keeled over, finally dead.
Luz managed to pull herself to her knees, Aurora stapling her body back together. Royal ignored the Vandal's Luz had wounded, instead swiftly marching to his apprentice. He tore off her helmet and inspected her face. Seeing her eyes struggling to focus, he muttered a few instructions to Lancer and poured his Solar Light into her. Luz tried not to sigh as he patched her up. Once she was back in working order, he helped her back to her feet.
"Thanks," she sputtered. "I thought I was-"
"Don't." He held out a hand to cut her off. His voice was strained, and she couldn't tell if he was frantically worried, desperately relieved, or incomprehensibly angry. A small part of her mind settled on all three. He let out a long, unsteady sigh. "Know that what I say next comes from a place of love." He paused for a brief yet ever-so-painful second. "What, in the everloving fuck, were you thinking?" Luz tried to stammer out an answer, only for Royal to turn away and throw his hands up in exasperation.
"You weren't! That's the answer!" He ranted. "You never think anything through! Do you have any idea how close you were to dying back there? Actual death, the kind you don't bounce back from! If I didn't show up when I did, Aurora could've been ripped apart! And you after her! No retries! No respawns! No restarts!"
Luz looked down in shame as his words cut into her. As much as she may still be upset with him, as much as she may not want to admit it, he was right.
"And now, here we are." He prodded the Captain's corpse with his foot. "In the one place I didn't want you to be, fighting foes wielding a power you are not ready to understand." He spun to face her. "Coming here was reckless. Coming here without telling me? That was just stupid. I don't know which I find more disappointing." Having said everything he wished to say, he turned back to the ruins, inspecting the wall Luz had been thrown into. His eyes locked onto it as Luz walked up beside him.
"I know you didn't want me here," she said. "But I have to learn! And with you being so bull-headed about Eido, is it any wonder I didn't tell you?" He didn't respond, still staring at the wall. Luz watched him, waiting for an answer. Her eyes darted to his hands, where he was now tightly clutching a rifle. Furrowing her brow, she followed his gaze. There, emblazoned on the wall, was a logo preserved by the frigid conditions of the icy moon: Clovis Bray Exoscience.
Lot more solo-Luz focus this chapter. Getting to see how she operates alone. And we're finally getting to meet the Exo Stranger. Needless to say, there's a lot of baggage there. Looking forward to unpacking that. Chapter 7 is gonna be a long one and is also one of the main examples of me meddling with the Destiny timeline a bit. But that's for a later date.
Side note, man, that Crucible change rolling in is something else. I try to avoid playing Crucible as much as possible, so I don't really care. But I feel like Trace Rifles are gonna be absolute ass now, which sucks because Divinity is my favorite PvP weapon. Guess I'll be playing even less PvP than I already do.
And lastly, a shoutout to my brother for his help with bouncing ideas around when I ask. Tonbo-08 was actually his Titan, and he was a lot of fun to write.
Elthreee: Will be rather interesting to see the challenges Luz faces with studying and taking control of stabis. Also, House Salvation, yippee!
Luz actually got it pretty fast. She's already been exposed to it before, despite not remembering it, so she's already a little used to it. On top of that, I've been touching on the mindset of each element. I thought it would click nicely that since Luz has been struggling to master the Light, the Dark would be easier for her to get a hang of. She's not a master, but she's certainly capable.
davisjustus99: Royal the Vexbane... A title belonging to a spiteful man. He'll learn the truth... Eventually.
I love getting to write about Royal's more self-destructive tendencies and I'm gonna love digging into how he grows and moves past them. But it's gonna be a real process for this Exo to grow and improve.
hornig3: Oh I cant wait for Luz to meet both Variks and Elsie. Variks will probably have a good heart to heart with her about past mistakes and regret while she tells him that helping people now is enough. i can also see Elsie just bringing luz into her camp and they share some hot coco and Royal gossip.
I actually went back to add the Varik's scene in post because of this review. You got my noggin a-joggin. As for Elisabeth, no gossip just yet. Girls got some issues to work out.