"It doesn't matter who you were, only what you will become." —The Exo Stranger
Skolas was on Venus. Cayde's situation report confirmed that much. The self-proclaimed Kell of Kells was off meddling with the Vex. Meren didn't fully understand the implications of that, but it seemed like it could end poorly for everyone involved.
The Exo had been naive to give the information to her. Meren's contract with the Vanguard allowed her access to some restricted information, but this was different. It was highly classified far beyond her level of clearance.
Back at the bar, the news had barely left Cayde's mouth before Meren knew exactly who would want to see the Vanguard's report - someone who truly hated Skolas. She had heard that the Wolf Kell was responsible for whatever happened to Variks' arms. If that was true, his contempt seemed more than justified.
In the end, Meren hadn't lied to Cayde. She really was on his side. There was no grand scheme to weaponize the information on her part. She held no fondness for the brutal Wolf Kell. The trail of destruction he had left in his wake had only served to make more enemies - ones far worse than Variks - for the House of Wolves. The entire system would be better off once Skolas was dead.
Meren's mind was made up as she stuffed a few things into her satchel. She had finished reading the report hours ago. Brooding alone in her quarters wasn't going to do any good.
She steeled herself silently at the door. Velia, or maybe Yasmin, would be waiting for her. Worst case, it would be Petra. But it didn't really matter. Any one of them would ferry her dutifully back to the Prison. No matter how bizarre Meren's errands seemed, they were under the Queen's orders to comply. She stepped outside.
"Where are you off to?" It was Velia today.
Meren shouldered her bag. "I need to see Variks."
Velia's body language betrayed the faintest hint of disdain at the mention of the Warden's name, but she didn't argue.
"Are you going to join me, or do I have your blessing to head to the Prison?" Meren asked.
Velia had offered her some extent of freedom in the past. But this request seemed too much for the Corsair to overlook. She let out an almost imperceptible sigh and held out her hand for Meren to take the lead.
The Corsair trailed behind the entire way - a silent shadow. They made it out to the Prison's transport hub before Velia spoke.
"This fixation with the Fallen is unhealthy," the Corsair surprised Meren with her comment.
"I prefer to call it 'academic interest'," Meren clarified.
Velia walked beside Meren and shook her head before speaking again. "The Eliksni have killed too many of my people. Yours too. Maybe you should shift your interest elsewhere."
Meren blinked back in silence. It was the most the Awoken woman had ever said to her. "Not all Eliksni are to blame."
"Most are, it would seem." the Corsair replied coldly.
"What about Variks? He hasn't-"
"Variks may be loyal to the Queen, but he is not to be trusted," Velia snapped, "It would be wise for you to remember that."
Meren nodded once, slowly. Velia had made her feelings on the matter abundantly clear. If they continued to argue, Meren would likely find herself escorted straight back to her room. She kept her mouth shut.
They passed a throng of Guardians at the Prison's entrance and continued inside. Meren knew the way by now, but Velia insisted on taking the lead here.
When they didn't find Variks in the main control room, Velia led Meren deeper. Down some stairs and through a corridor, a lift stood waiting. They had never been this far into the Prison and Meren wondered where the Corsair was taking her.
Velia seemed to anticipate Meren's question, "We're going to the maxsec wing. The Warden likes to lurk in the lower levels sometimes."
"What's down there?"
"I suppose you're about to find out." There was no humor in Velia's voice as she pressed a hand against the lift controls.
The lift ground to life before beginning its descent. Meren hadn't seen much more than the Prison's arena and the low security wings. She suddenly realized that she had woefully underestimated the size of this place. If rumors were to be believed, the lower levels housed only the Awoken's most dangerous prisoners.
Their descent ended and the lift came to a sudden stop. Meren nearly lost her footing at the sudden jolt.
"Easy," Velia cautioned as she reached for the access pad.
The Corsair's fingers danced over the panel before the door to the lower security hub slid open.
The room was bathed in the artificial light of a dozen monitors and screens. Readouts detailing ambient conditions and prisoner vitals scrolled silently across the displays. Feeds from every corner of the Prison were playing out in real time around the room. In the middle of it all stood Variks. He had been waiting for them.
It came as no surprise to Meren that Variks seemed to have anticipated their visit. Eliksni had a keen sense of hearing, and the lift hadn't exactly been quiet. The long descent had given the Warden ample time to prepare.
"Baack again?" He grated.
"Yes, again," Velia interjected, "She's your problem now."
Velia seemed happy to be rid of Meren, and the Corsair turned to leave without another word. Meren didn't speak as the lift behind her ground back to life. Variks waited in silence until Velia was long gone before he spoke again.
"I thought I was rid of you."
"Not yet..."
"You have your encryption key," he snapped, "Or was extracting it too com-pli-cated for you?"
He was just as hostile as when last she'd seen him. Meren took the insult in stride. "I got it. And it didn't take any time at all."
Variks blinked twice, betraying his surprise.
"I suppose I should thank you for giving me access, after all. Or am I supposed to believe that was an accident?"
Variks avoided the question entirely. "If you are finished, give it back."
Meren reached into her satchel as Variks glared at her. She dug around until her hand brushed against something cold. What she pulled from the bag wasn't an Eliksni datapad at all. She gave him a chance to register what she was holding before she tossed the canister of Ether to him. Variks caught it with his lower hands and peered at it curiously.
"Why are you giving this to me?" he sounded slightly less annoyed.
Meren shrugged in reply. "I think we got started off on the wrong foot."
"On the...wrong foot?" Variks repeated slowly.
Of course he wouldn't understand. His English was excellent, but grasping human idioms was something else entirely.
"It's a saying," Meren explained, "it means starting a relationship badly."
Variks gestured with the canister of Ether, "This is how we start on the right foot?"
Meren raised her eyebrows. He was so quick to pick up on the nuance of the phrase. It was either that, or he was playing dumb. Again.
"Perhaps we-"
He cut her off with a growl. "This changes nothing."
"No?" Meren said wryly, "You look like you could use it."
The Eliksni looked away. Meren knew this wouldn't make up for her past indiscretions. But it was a start. Maybe he would at least be willing to talk to her, now. As he cradled the Ether she heard Variks sigh.
"Just going to stand there?" He finally replied, "Come in or leave. Your choice."
Meren realized then just how ridiculous she must look standing there in the doorway. She took a cautious step forward and the doors slid shut behind her.
"You're inviting me in?"
"You are persistent," Variks regarded her coolly as he set Meren's canister on one of the room's many consoles.
"I have to be," Meren began, "the Reef is proving to be a waste of my time."
"Not a waste. You met Eliksni," Variks offered, "You met the Spider."
"That was the biggest waste of time, by far. No thanks to you."
Variks chuckled at that. At least someone finds humor in all of this, Meren thought.
She continued, "Maybe if you weren't so difficult…"
"If I came to your Earth City to pester you with one thousand questions, you would be difficult too," Variks retorted.
Meren took offense at that. "I haven't started asking questions-"
"You want to." Variks' eyes glittered.
Meren sighed. He wasn't wrong. She truly had a thousand questions about the Whirlwind, the prophecies of House Rain, the Eliksni homeworld of Riis. She wanted to ask Variks everything. Instead, she kept her mouth shut for a moment and tried to consider his feelings on the matter. But curiosity got the better of her. She just couldn't help herself.
"I...I do have one question." Meren admitted sheepishly.
Variks closed his eyes and turned away as if to say I told you so.
"Just one," she pressed, "I promise."
"Ask it," he grumbled.
"Where….are we?"
Variks peered curiously over his shoulder at her. It wasn't a question he'd expected.
"Maximum security cell block. Prisoners stored in cryo-sleep."
"But what-"
Variks held up a claw to cut her off. He had agreed to a single inquiry. Meren gave him a begrudging look. She had to be careful with how she phrased her next words.
"Show me." It came off not as a question, but a simple request.
Variks hesitated. "You will not like what you see."
"What's down here, Variks?" It was another question, but she didn't care.
He fidgeted with his lower hands and shook his head slowly. His hesitance told Meren everything she needed to know.
"You keep Eliksni locked up down here. Is that it?" She crossed her arms and shot him a disgusted look. "You besmirch the honor of your own people-"
Variks stopped his fidgeting and froze. "Honor?"
Meren realized she was out of line and immediately regretted the words. She should have known better after her repeated bouts with the Spider.
"What do you know of honor?" he snarled.
Meren reflexively took a step back, but Variks remained motionless.
"Do you know where it has gotten the Fallen?" His glowing eyes bored into hers.
Her answer was a whisper. "...No."
Variks growled and stalked past her. Meren flinched as he hit the access panel with his fist. The doors snapped open.
"Let me show you," he hissed.
Variks was already out the door and into the lift before Meren turned to follow. Neither of them spoke as he pawed the keypad and the lift descended. She could hear Variks' mandibles clicking in irritation.
She kept her eyes fixed forward. Meren hadn't thought the Prison could go any deeper. But she had obviously been wrong.
The lift stalled and the doors opened when they reached the lowest level. An illuminated catwalk stretched out before them. To either side of the platform dozens of cryo-cells lined the cellblock. Somewhere overhead a cooling system hissed as it cycled to life.
It was only a single block of the maximum security wing. How many more - just like this one - did the Prison hold. Meren stood numb at the sight. Only then did she begin to fathom just how many prisoners were being held in this place.
Variks took notice of her hesitation. "You wanted to see."
When she didn't immediately exit the lift, he pressed the edge of his staff against her back and guided her out onto the catwalk. Variks strode ahead as Meren trudged after him. Halting abruptly before the first cell, he made a sweeping gesture with two of his arms.
"Pirsis, Pallas-Bane," he announced, "One of the Eliksni's finest warriors."
A chill emanated from the pod, the icy air enveloping them. Meren felt a shiver run through her, but it wasn't from the cold. As she turned away, Variks continued to the next cell.
"Beltrik, the Veiled." He tilted his head, waiting.
When she offered nothing in response, he clenched his upper claws around her shoulder and pulled her along.
"Skriviks, the Sharp-Eyed," he purred.
"Variks-"
He ignored her and dragged her over to the next one. "Skoriks, Archon-Slayer."
She had seen enough and gently wrenched her shoulder out of his grasp. Variks let his hand fall to his side, but he wasn't finished. There were plenty more Eliksni imprisoned down here. The next cryo-cell waited.
"Eramis," his glittering eyes searched Meren for any response, "the Shipstealer."
She lingered before Eramis' cell for just a moment but dared not peer through the porthole, for she knew what she'd see. Meren looked away.
Variks was already moving further down the catwalk. He certainly seemed to be taking great pleasure in her discomfort. Meren followed. She had no choice but to humor him - she had asked to see this, after all.
Drevis.
Calzar.
Varjis.
Drekthas.
Nixis.
Variks named them all. He knew every single one.
It only ended when they had reached the end of the catwalk and the row of cells stood behind them. After the macabre display Variks certainly had to be proud of himself. But when he turned to Meren, his eyes looked tired. He gestured half-heartedly at the pods standing in their wake.
"Look," his voice was flat, "Now do you see where honor has gotten us."
The cellblock's compressor cycled off and a deafening silence fell over the chamber.
"I'm sorry, Variks," she whispered, "I didn't realize…"
His outer eyes fell closed. He hadn't asked for her sympathy.
He shook his head. "I am all that remains of House Judgement. Nothing left to hold the Eliksni together. Not anymore."
Meren's chest felt tight - her heart ached at his words. It had been horrible of her to ask him to bring her down here.
"Maybe there's something I can-"
"You cannot help us, Meren." he tried to sound stern but his voice betrayed him. "Do you... understand?"
She knew her place and nodded. "This is your fight, not mine."
He cocked his head, glowing eyes studying her.
"But I think the tide is about to turn." She reached for her bag and the last of its contents. Shifting the Eliksni datapad in her hands, she brought the display to life.
Variks' hand shot out to snatch it from her grasp. Meren anticipated the move and turned before he could grab it. He made an irritated sound and relegated himself to peering over her shoulder at the screen. She navigated the main interface as he watched.
"What are you doing?" he hissed in her ear.
"I need your hand."
Variks growled. "Why?"
"For a data transfer."
"No," he snapped.
Meren tried to sound convincing. "You're going to want to see this."
"I doubt it."
"Variks," she said sternly, "Your hand."
He begrudgingly reached around her and placed his lower hand on the datapad's display.
/Redirect: Biometric signature recognized/
The transfer took only a few seconds, and Cayde's situation report appeared on the display. Variks' eyes darted across the screen. He was so close that Meren could feel the growl rumbling in his chest.
"Where did you get this?" his voice was dark.
"I have connections." She turned and finally handed the datapad back to him.
Variks took it and chuckled to himself. "Perhaps you are useful."
Meren gave him a withering look, but he didn't see it. All of his eyes were fixed on the datapad's display.
Variks dragged a claw idly across the device as he continued to read. Cayde's Intel on Skolas scrolled slowly down the screen. Meren wondered what was going through his mind when suddenly he froze, his head abruptly turning up and to the left. Variks cocked his head as if to listen.
"Too many ears here," he warned as he killed the display.
Meren wondered what he had heard as Variks retreated back toward the lift. She turned walk herself back but found he had stopped halfway. His lower hands folded slowly together. The Eliksni was waiting for her.
Puzzled by the gesture, Meren met him in the middle of the catwalk. For a fleeting moment, she was struck by how unexpectedly noble he looked standing there. And why shouldn't he? He was the last of his great House.
Variks' hand motioned toward the lift. Meren took the lead for only a moment before he matched her stride. He was walking alongside her as they retraced their steps together. The Ether and the news of Skolas had seemed to appease him. Maybe this was the beginning of making amends.
When they reached the cellblock's exit, Variks made a suggestion. "Many things we need to discuss, yes?"
"It's about time." Meren grinned as they entered the lift side by side.
AN: Thank you to Keltoi for the edits
