The Queen of Hearts

Chapter 3: The Sixth Man

The winter winds of the Alps felt even colder than usual to Daydra. He pulled the hood of his cloak lower over his head and tightened the scarf around his neck. Crouching low on a high ridge, he peered through the fearsome eyes of his Celestial Nighthawk into a pair of binoculars pointed at the base of the opposite mountain. There was a bunker there, nearly invisible in the heavy snowfall, but he could just make out the vague shape of heavy blast doors.

Suddenly, there was a loud rumble in the sky. Daydra lowered the binoculars and looked up to see a Fallen dropship materialize above the mountain, likely deployed from a Ketch in orbit. He smirked as the ship descended towards the bunker. "So, they turned up after all."

Behind him, a ghost with pointed maroon faceplates bobbed up from the snow. She spoke with a wizened tone, like the elder of a tribal village. "Response times have become poor. Either they are catching on to our ploys, or they are struggling worse than we thought after Six Fronts."

"Let's hope it's the latter, Suraya. How's our strike window?"

"Optimal. We still have some time before the snowstorm reaches us."

Daydra glanced north through a mountain pass where a torrential wall of white was slowly inching closer on the horizon. "Just in the nick of time then. The Fallen probably want to loot the place before conditions worsen, which is good news for us. They won't be so cautious."

"Ready to execute the operation when you are."

"Let's wait just a little longer. They need to get nice and close."

"Understood."

Daydra raised the binoculars again and watched the dropship lower just above the bunker doors. Its bottom opened up and an entire Fallen crew began to crawl out, dropping into the thick snow. There were at least thirty of them, followed by a large Captain who began barking orders. A vandal cautiously approached the door terminal half buried in the snow.

"Damn… they sent one ahead to perform the hack. Smart bastards. If they would just get a little closer…"

"So this is where you've been."

Daydra jumped at the new voice, drawing a handcannon with lightning fast speed as he tumbled in the snow. He scrambled up to strike, but paused when he saw who spoke. "Talia? What the hell are you doing here?"

The void Hunter was perched on a nearby snowbank, laughing at his reaction. She wore her ornamented helm with gold pins on the edges of her hood like a dark, regal predator. "I was looking for you, obviously. You weren't easy to find, but I know you too well to give up after a few red herrings."

Daydra sighed and shook his head. "You're still the only person that has managed to sneak up on me. I'm feeling less and less like a mentor these days. You have to show me how you do that sometime."

She shrugged. "Maybe someday, but for now I enjoy scaring you too much."

He rolled his eyes under his helmet, then gave in to the slightest smile. "It is good to see you again, Kestrel."

"You too, Redtail."

"They've cracked the terminal," Suraya cut in. "Our window is closing fast."

Daydra whirled around and surveyed the bunker again. The Vandal was indeed successful and the blast doors were opening. The Fallen crew began to circle in.

His ghost twirled with anticipation. "Most of them are now in range. Ready on your command."

Daydra watched through the binoculars just a moment longer, then grinned. "Suraya, blow them sky high."

She blinked with excitement and sent a signal to the bunker.

There was an earth shattering boom as the mountainside exploded with fire and snow. The blast engulfed the bunker and obliterated the Fallen. Talia stumbled as the shockwave reached them just a second later.

"By the Traveler!" she exclaimed. "Rigged the place, huh? You certainly haven't lost your touch for theatrics."

"I like to watch my enemies fly," he said with a little too much satisfaction. "Ah, looks like we have some stragglers."

Talia stared hard into the ash and snow where a charred Captain was stumbling to its feet, followed by about ten of the raiding party who managed to get away with some burns and concussions. "Their ship is trying to pick them up," she observed.

Daydra squinted at the dropship, which had survived the onslaught of debris. It circled around and descended again towards the Captain. "Well, we can't have that, can we?" He walked up to the very edge of the opposing mountainside, gripping his hand cannon. Then he thrust it up into the air. His body ignited with a torrent of solar energy, and the eyes of his Celestial Nighthawk burned bright. He lowered his Golden Gun towards the dropship, and took a deep, steady breath. Then he unleashed a single, powerful beam of fire with an ear-bursting crack. The projectile arced across the pass and slammed into the ship. It exploded in a magnificent flash, and flaming debris rained down around the surviving Fallen. The Captain managed to roll out of the way of some crashing metal and turned to glare up at the origin of the shot. Daydra returned its gaze. The Captain roared, rallying the remaining Fallen to him.

The solar Hunter turned to Talia. "Hey Kestrel. Since you're here, why don't you help me take out the rabble? Just like old times."

She leapt down from the snowbank to stand beside him, brandishing her trusty bow and knocking three arrows. "That sounds like a wonderful idea."

"On my mark then. Suraya, to me."

The ghost flew to him and disappeared into his armor matrix. Arc rifle shots began to blast the ledge around them as Vandals started their attack from afar.

Daydra checked the chamber of his handcannon, then flipped the cylinder back into place. "Alright. Ready, and… Go!"

The two Hunters catapulted off the ledge and plummeted down the slanted mountainside. When their feet hit the snow, they remained upright and dug their heels in, sliding down as if surfing a white wave. As they descended, a hail of arc bolts flashed towards them. They bobbed and weaved in the snow, narrowly avoiding some bolts. Then as they neared the Fallen, they launched themselves into the air.

Daydra raised his gun and hip-fired eight shots, every two landing a body shot followed by a headshot with absolute precision. Then he rolled and jumped again, reloading.

At the same time, Talia drew back the string on her bow and carefully lined up her shot before loosing all three arrows. Each found its way into the skull of a Dreg and they fell with an explosion of ether from their necks. She landed back in the snow with a deft roll and kicked up a cloud of white to throw off the Vandal snipers.

Daydra just managed to finish reloading before juking to the left, narrowly avoiding a crackling arc blade. The Fallen Captain roared, swinging two blades in a flurry of deadly strikes. Daydra dodged, lept and dove around each swipe until he was forced to slide to a stop down on one knee. The Captain went in for a killing blow with a direct jab at his chest, but the Hunter was ready. In a flash, he whipped out his knife with its hooked edge and swung it upward, catching the Captain's sword in its groove. There was a horrific grinding noise and a grunt of surprise from the Fallen.

Daydra whistled.

Talia loosed two more arrows, putting down the last of the Vandals. They could not hope to outperform her precision. Then she returned the call with a whistle of her own, knocking one last arrow and drawing her bow, eyes locked on the Captain. She let the arrow fly and it burrowed deep into the back of its neck, causing terrible damage and severing its ether supply.

The incredible pain stunned the quad-armed warrior, and Daydra used that chance to pry the blades from its hands, then kick out the legs from under it. The creature fell to its hands and knees, where the Hunter took hold of the arrow in its neck and flipped it onto its back. He twirled the knife in his hand with a flare of solar energy and plunged it into the Captain's head, ending its suffering.

Breathing hard, the two gathered over the Fallen leader's body amid the snow and debris, a thick, black plume of smoke rising behind them.

A clapping sound pulled them from their solemn moment. Talia looked to the top of a nearby snowdrift to see Cayde-6 with his mouth hanging open in awe, slow clapping at the spectacle. "Now that… is exactly what we need!" he exclaimed.

Daydra squinted at the exo and grunted. He reached up to his Celestial Nighthawk and pulled it off his head. There was a hiss of decompressing air as he shook his head free of his hood. He was a handsome man in a roguelike sort of way. He had tough, chiseled features with scruffy stubble on his chin. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail, under which it was dyed a vibrant red. In a way he matched his armor; rough around the edges with standout red streaks.

Cayde clambered awkwardly down through the snow, then brushed himself off. Talia stifled a laugh. Daydra just continued to stare disapprovingly.

"It is a true honor to meet the legendary Daydra Nighthawk," said Cayde. "Your accomplishments during the battle of Six Fronts are still talked about to this day! It is a privilege to work with you." He held out a hand to shake.

Daydra raised an eyebrow, then turned to Talia. "Who's this clown?"

She laughed as Cayde visibly sank in disbelief. "You haven't heard of me? I'm Cayde-6! Legendary Hunter? Heist enthusiast? Loot connoisseur?"

Daydra sheathed his knife and crossed his arms. "Oh yeah, I think I remember now."

Cayde beamed. "That's right, I'm-"

"You're the guy that got beat up by a bunch of City kids in dodgeball."

Talia gasped, her eyes going wide.

Despite him being made of metal, the color seemed to drain from Cayde's face. "Shaxx wasn't supposed to tell anyone about that."

Daydra smirked. "He's an old friend."

Cayde scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Yes, well, I'll have to bring that up next time I see the big guy."

It took Talia a moment to regain her composure before stepping between the two. "Alright boys. As much as I would love to hear more about that, we are in a bit of a time crunch. Daydra, Cayde here is actually a competent crew leader, most of the time, and we're one man short."

Daydra raised an eyebrow at her. "You want me to join you for one of those off-the-books Hunter jobs? And here I thought you just wanted to visit your old mentor."

"Oh don't be like that. You know I wouldn't ask for your help if it wasn't important. This job will actually do the Last City a lot of good. We're taking out a threat before it can become a catastrophe."

He huffed, but seemed to seriously think about it.

"We could really use a Hunter with your combat experience," Cayde cut in. "Besides, you know more than a thing or two about doing things off the books, don't you? To be honest, I think the Vanguard believes you to be dead."

Daydra smiled at that. "I never did like other people telling me what to do. I prefer to serve the City in my own way."

"I know, right?!" said Cayde, getting excited. "That's what I keep trying to do but it feels like the Vanguard is constantly breathing down my neck. How do you keep them out of your business?"

"Simple. I don't make mistakes."

Cayde stood there for a second in silence. "Okay, fair enough, but your help would still be invaluable here."

Daydra hesitated a moment longer, and Talia placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know he's got some screws loose-"

"Hey!"

"-but he's being genuine."

"Oh, thanks."

"It's going to be a tough job, and we expect heavy resistance. I need you on this one."

Daydra thought hard for another moment longer, then sighed. "Fine. I'll help you, but only because I trust your judgment, Kestrel."

Before he could react, she hugged him tightly. "Thanks Redtail, you won't regret this."

Daydra just grunted, clearly uncomfortable with the physical contact.

Cayde glanced awkwardly at them, suddenly feeling like a third wheel. "Those are uh… cute nicknames."

Talia rolled her eyes and let go. "Grow up, bucket-head. Where's the ship?"

Cayde looked between them again, then shrugged. "It's hovering just down the pass. I'll lead the way." He began climbing back up the snowbank.

"Yes, we should go," said Daydra, glancing behind him. "That storm will arrive soon. Besides, when the Fallen realize their raiding party didn't survive, they'll send heavy reinforcements. I'd rather not fight a spider tank any time soon."

"Ooooo," said Cayde. "About that…"

Daydra sighed and rubbed his eyes, turning to Talia. "This is going to be a really tough job, isn't it?"

"Yeah," she said, "but it's nothing you haven't handled before. By the way…" she leaned in close to speak in a lowered voice. "You were just pulling Cayde's leg by pretending not to know him, weren't you?"

Daydra grinned. "Of course I was, but I couldn't let him know that. He seemed like he needed a dash of humility."

The two laughed to each other as they trekked through the snow after Cayde. The crew was finally complete, and the real work could begin. Unfortunately, Shiro-4 met them at the ship with some bad news.

"Cayde!" he called, jogging down the ramp towards him. "I just received an encoded message. The airfield is compromised. Some Vanguard goons have locked it down. Looks like we left there just in time."

Cayde cursed. "Kauko's tracking us better than I thought. I'm running out of backups…" He turned to Talia and Daydra. "I don't suppose either of you know a good place for us to plan the job in private?"

Talia looked to Daydra. "You know…"

"Absolutely not," said the veteran.

"But it's perfect."

"It's private."

"I think that's the point."

Daydra pointed a finger at the two Hunters opposite to them. "I just met these yahoos and you want me to show them my secret?"

Talia shrugged. "Cayde is many things, but he can keep a secret. And Shiro is the epitome of trustworthy."

Shiro stepped forward. "And I can vouch for the other two members of our crew. They will not tell a soul. Sir, whatever place this is, it would be invaluable to the job. I swear I will take its location to my grave."

Daydra groaned and rubbed his eyes with his fingers in frustration. "You're asking a lot from me today, Kestrel. But… Shiro was so polite about it, I guess I must relent. Besides, Ivy has been bugging me lately about how I don't bring home any guests."

Cayde put his hands on his hips. "Alright! Not to worry Mr. Nighthawk sir, I also swear to keep this place hush-hush. Is Ivy your ghost?"

Daydra sighed. "She is my wife, and I'll never hear the end of it after this."