We've reached the final act. As of the time of upload, the servers are officially down in anticipation of The Final Shape. I decided to go ahead and post this a day ahead of schedule; I'm not interested in trying to compete with Final Shape for your attention.
If you enjoy it, feel free to leave a review saying what you liked. If you hate it, feel free to leave a review that will dice my Ghost into a dozen pieces.
Chapter 18: Of Wit and Grit
"I do not care for your politics. Give me a gun, something to shoot at, and a nice stack of loot once all the dust settles." - Unknown Hunter
The day had finally arrived. President Lydia and the Vanguard had settled on a meeting time and location. After much deliberation, they agreed that it would be held in the Demon Realm. No doubt, Lydia was trying to have the home-field advantage, whatever that meant. The representatives had gathered and were just waiting to begin.
Royal sighed as he leaned back in his chair at the end of the table, restlessly tapping his fingers on his armrest. He looked across the room, where Paladin was conversing with some Witch in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture. The two seemed to be getting on well. Royal glanced behind himself, where the Vanguard was similarly engrossed in their own conversation. Master Rahool, on behalf of the Cryptarchy, was busy gathering as much information from the Isles representatives as possible. Mithrax was receiving a first-hand demonstration of some Illusion magic, much to the amazement of himself and his honor guard. He and Royal had been tense but polite, seemingly agreeing to stay out of each other's way.
Royal continued to trace the small crowd of officials and representatives, noting the faces he recognized and those he didn't. A few news crews were setting up their broadcast equipment. He had received rundowns from both Ikora and Paladin on who was who and what they all wanted to get from this. It had all been dreadfully boring.
A trio of figures in a secluded corner caught his eye as he watched the crowd. His fingers immediately clenched into fists as he saw the delegate sent by Empress Capital of the Cabal loyalists. A member of the ever-enigmatic Psion species stood off to the side, content to simply watch while being flanked by two Legionnaires.
Royal's breath came wild and fast as all manner of violent sensations filled his mind, each as crystal clear as the day he first experienced them. The roar of Cabal ships in the sky, the crashing of their drop pods as they slammed into the city, the thundering boom of their rifles, and the screams of the civilians their volleys cut down. A maelstrom of tactile feelings ripped through him; a gun bucking in his grasp, fear mixed with a tinge of righteous hatred, and worst of all, an inexplicable coldness gripping his entire body as his Light ebbed away. He saw Lancer's dormant shell lying in his hands, all the Light seemingly drained from his only friend.
"Hey, you still alive in there?" A comfortably familiar voice asked. Royal shook himself from his flashbacks and looked up. Venator was leaning against his backrest, looking down with her typical grin. Royal glanced at the Psion, noting how it stared at him. Something brushed his mind—no doubt the Psion feeling the nasty bundle of emotions surging through him. Royal pointedly looked away and forced his body to relax. He looked back up at Venator and somehow managed a small smile.
"Still alive," he said. "For what it's worth." He felt the Psions influence leave as he shifted his attention. "Just bored out of my skull. And it's only gonna get worse. I don't even have a purpose here beyond the press release. Is this what fame is like for you?"
"Yeah, pretty much," Venator said. "Charity event this, school presentation that. Maybe a birthday party here and there. It's a busy life."
Royal shook his head, "I hate it."
"Better you than me," Venator said. "Perks of being a free agent, I don't have to deal with this shit."
"You're not sticking around?" Royal asked. "Not even for me?"
"Hell no," his sister replied. "Gonna be hitting up the Last City, seeing what's what."
"You're abandoning me?" Royal asked with mock hurt, placing a hand on his chest to better sell the ruse. "Truly, I cannot count on anyone."
"Trust no one, especially yourself," Venator said with a wink.
"You have no idea how often she says that," King said, pulling over an oversized chair and slotting himself into it right across from Royal. Royal greeted him with a wave while Venator dismissed his words with a scoff.
"That's because it's genius," she said.
"Definitely not the word I would use," Royal said before turning to King. "They rope you into this as well?" The Titan sighed and nodded his head.
"Apparently, my presence adds 'legitimacy'," he said, making air quotes with his claws. "At least, that's what Paladin says."
"Looks like you're about to begin," Venator said as Lydia entered the room. "I'll leave you boys to it. Try not to have too much fun without me." Royal waved her off as she sauntered away. The other officials began to take their seats, Witches and Demons sitting across from the Guardians and their allies. There was a brief period where everyone introduced themselves. Eventually, it reached the Psion. He—or so Royal assumed, he couldn't tell—rose from his chair.
"I am Yzmet, chosen emissary of Empress Caital of the Cabal." The words were not spoken, but everyone heard them all the same. King noticeably winced, unprepared to feel the Psions touch on his mind. Royal felt something flow through his brain, flooding it with feelings of war, glory, and bloody triumph. "I am here to ensure Her Excellency is informed of the outcome of this meeting."
With that, the Psion sat back down. A few of the delegates from the Isles muttered amongst themselves in hushed whispers, unsure of how to take the Psion's power. Paladin met his brother's gaze and gave a small but pointed shake of his head. Royal glanced down at himself and noticed that his body had tensed up. Small, barely detectable flames had burst to life on his body. With a deep breath, he willed them to die down.
"Royal, everything alright?" Lancer asked over their private line.
"Of course," Royal forced out. "Why wouldn't it be?"
"It's the Cabal." It wasn't a question. Royal gave a subtle nod, shooting the Psion a discrete glance. Lancer gave a reassuring beep. "Remember the exercises."
Royal closed his optics and began cycling through the elements. Beneath the table, spheres of Void energy appeared in his hands, only to shrink and be replaced by bolts of lightning flying between the tips of his fingers. The lightning faded, and flames rose up in their place. He repeated this cycle a few times, breathing in and out as he did. The meeting faded into the background, and the back-and-forth became nothing more than a dull blur.
For a while, Royal was at peace. It was an unfamiliar sensation; his entire life had been spent going from one catastrophe to the next. First, it was the Red War. Then, it was the Vex Domain and his folly on the Isles. After that, the Endless Night. The Universe kept throwing haymakers at him while giving him little time to rest and recover. Eventually, Royal's mind was put at ease, and he ended his exercises and tuned back into the conversation.
"That brings us to the matter of the Collector," Ikora said, pressing her fingertips together. "I'm sure you can understand why such an entity would interest the Vanguard."
Royal furrowed his brow and leaned closer to King. "How long was I in my head?" King jumped a little at his sudden words before glancing at the clock.
"A few hours," he said. "I was gonna say something, but you seemed to be enjoying yourself in your own little world. You haven't missed much. Mostly just trade and pointless babble." Royal nodded and turned back as Lydia spoke up.
"I understand exactly why, but our answer remains unchanged," she said plainly. "The location of the Collector shall remain known only to myself and our valiant Commander." She put a strange emphasis on Paladin's title, prompting the Striker to shift uncomfortably. Royal could have sworn he saw Lydia smirk. "However, you are more than welcome to confer with our researchers on their findings on the Collector and the ruins of his pyramid."
Ikora and Zavala shared a silent conversation before Ikora acquiesced to her terms, for now at least. Royal gave it about three days before Ikora's Hidden had located the Collector. They moved on to another topic, and Royal felt his ability to focus wane.
"I bet Luz is doing something way more interesting," he muttered.
Luz ducked behind cover as a shower of stone fragments rained down on her from above. They bounced off her armor as she cycled a new cylinder into her hand cannon. An Acolyte tried charging Solar energy in his hand and prepared to lob it at her. Before he got the chance, a bullet tore through his head. The Acolyte dropped to the ground, its blood violently combusting as it met the atmosphere.
Luz finished reloading and offered the other Guardian a small, two-fingered salute. He offered a nod before shifting his aim to find another target. Luz rolled out of cover, firing bullets from one hand and lightning bolts from the other. The Hive lines buckled beneath the Guardian's assault.
On the other side of the Blind Well, a massive Knight swiped its sword at Malek. He slid under the strike before summoning a shield and hurling it at the Knight. A disc of Void energy cut through his neck, easily severing it. The Knights head fell to the ground at Malek's feet as its body collapsed with a thunderous slam. Malek set his foot atop the Knights head, grinning like a madman.
"Still not the biggest Hive I've killed," he said, pushing the head to roll away from him. "How's the cleanup going?"
Amity hefted a rocket launcher on her shoulder and fired, decimating the remaining Hive forces. She looked back at Malek with a smile and a thumbs up. He nodded and activated his radio while the other two random Guardians in their fireteam fist-bumped.
"Queen Mara, the Blind Well remains secure," he said. "Xivu Arath's forces have been repelled once again."
"The Reef thanks you for your assistance," Mara replied over the comm line. "My Corsairs shall be along shortly to shore up the defenses. Guardian Noceda, Crow wishes to see you in the H.E.L.M. at your earliest convenience."
"Understood, Your Majesty," Luz said as Amity picked her way over. "I'll be there as soon as I can." She switched off her radio as Amity arrived beside her.
"All these Hive, sent to their deaths," Amity said. "What's Xivu's end goal? Her attacks are growing fiercer. Is she trying to rescue her sister?"
"I can't imagine Xivu Arath being interested in a rescue," Luz said. "If, and this is a big if, what Savathûn has told us is true, Xivu Arath acts on behalf of a greater power."
"Granted, it is wise to take whatever Savathûn says with several pounds of salt," Malek said. "But should she speak the truth, it begs the question: Who commands war herself?" Luz and Amity shared a glance, uncomfortable with the weight of that implication. They carried the thought to orbit as the Corsair reinforcements arrived.
By the time they arrived at their destination, Amity was busy gushing to Malek about how it felt to wield Arc Light. Void was the element of power, but what use is power when it is inert? For her part, Luz kept quiet but had a proud grin on her face. Mara awaited them in the side chamber allocated to the Awoken's command center. Crow was there as well, conferring with the Queen. It was clear that Luz had arrived in the middle of their conversation.
"I met an Awoken once who called me Reefborn," Crow said. "Said it was because of how I spoke and moved. I didn't really know what that meant until I met you?"
"I am not Reefborn," Mara said, her words pointed but not unkind. Crow seemed a little let down by that.
"Oh, I just assumed… I'm sorry." He turned away from Mara, looking dejected. His expression lifted slightly as he noticed Luz before falling again as Amity passed into view. Luz gave an awkward smile and a wave as Amity pointedly ignored him.
"Guardians, approach," Mara said. The Guardians complied, gathering around the Queen. "I know that you have reservations about my deal with Savathûn. I feel it in your heart."
"Considering everything, are you really all that surprised?" Amity asked. Luz couldn't help but voice her agreement.
"Savathûn has been manipulating the city for years," she said. "Twisting things to suit her own ends. Who knows what else she has planned."
"Be wary not to overestimate our mutual ally of circumstance," Mara said. "For all her clever machinations, the Witch Queen did not anticipate your success in stopping Quria or the Endless Night. Instead, she sought to cull potential threats."
"She's afraid of us?" Amity asked. "Don't get me wrong, that's flattering and all, but why us specifically instead of someone like Iris?"
"Were I to wager a guess, it is because you are an unknown quantity," Mara said. "Your return and the introduction of your people to Sol were unexpected disruptions to her carefully laid plans. She now finds herself here. Her schemes unravel, and now she needs my protection from Xivu Arath. From the Worm Gods."
"I've been monitoring the Taken as they move through the Ascendant Plane," Crow said. "They've regained their coordination."
"They've found themselves a new master?" Amity asked. Luz set a hand on her chin as she shook her head.
"Or their old master is reasserting themselves," she said. Crow shot her a grin.
"Right you are. Be careful, or you'll put me out of a job." He turned away from Luz as Amity fixed him with a glare. Luz noticed and rolled her eyes as Crow continued. "If Savathûn's words are true, it's not her brother, Oryx. No, this is something far older. It's commanding Xivu Arath to conquer the Dreaming City, using the Taken as its invading army."
"Savathûn would have us believe that, without them, she cannot break her curse on the Dreaming City," Mara said. "She thinks that she can entice me with these half-truths and secret temptations." Mara cast her gaze around the assembled Guardians. Luz met the Queen's stare, unprepared for the burning intensity that now lie within. It didn't match the deliberate, soft-spoken monarch she had interacted with.
"Unfortunately for Savathûn, she underestimates the lengths to which I will go to correct the mistakes of the past." Mara's words were fierce and pointed, striking like a swarm of arrows. The message was clear: Mara had no intention of letting the Witch Queen slip away once the deal was done.
"Which brings us to the task at hand," Crow said, awkwardly interjecting himself back into the conversation. "I've located the next Techeun. Unfortunately, the Scorn are closing in on her as well. We'll need to move fast. I'll remain out here to guide you through."
"So you get to sit on your ass while we fight our way through hordes of Scorn," Amity scoffed. "That doesn't sound fair if you ask me."
Crow frowned, meeting Amity's accusatory glare with one of his own. "If you want to go in there blind, be my guest. Just don't expect me to come digging you out."
"Guys, cool it," Luz said, forcing herself between them. "We're all on the same side here." They both grumbled and broke away as Malek nodded.
"Save it for the battlefield, Bubblegum," he said. "Sounds like you'll have plenty of Scorn to take it out on." Mara quickly beckoned them away, leading them to a strange portal contraption deeper within the H.E.L.M.
Petra was already there, conferring with another Techeun. Unlike the door leading to the Isles or the one leading to Savathûn, this one was clearly a ramshackle amalgamation of wires and tubing. Crow approached a side terminal and flipped a few switches. He glanced back at Mara, who gave a nod. He pressed a button on the terminal, and the portal frame sparked to life. Energy instantly began to swirl as the portal sparked to life.
"Energy readings are good," Crow said, pulling up a map on his display. "Everything looks normal. Set your radios to our frequency, and you'll be good to go." There was a scratch of static as their Ghosts synced their radios up.
"Alright, you two," Malek said, stepping forward. "Stay close and maintain formation. We're dropping right into the heart of the enemy." With that, he began to charge forward. The Titan was a hulking pillar of steel and muscle as he crashed through the portal. Amity wasn't far behind him, magical goop already coalescing around her hands. Luz took a nervous breath before drawing her hand cannon and following them in.
Passing through the portal, she felt a sensation of weightlessness as she crossed between realities. Her perception began to distort as the two planes bled together. Then, in an instant, she breached the veil. She arrived in a room of distinctly Awoken design, where Malek and Amity were already waiting for her. The Ascendant Plane raged around her, mashing the world into a harsh monochrome. It felt oddly similar to the Vex Domain, only less orderly and somehow more hostile.
"This is trippy," Luz said, waving her hand through the air and watching the Ascendant Plane bend around her. Amity smiled at her amazement as the group pushed forward.
"Don't you remember the last time we were in here?" She asked. Luz shrugged and shook her head.
"You forget, she was a bit out of it," Aurora said.
Amity laughed, "Oh yeah, I forgot about that." She turned to Luz and gave her shoulder a teasing poke. "You decided to use the back of my chest piece as a drum set while I carried you out. Gotta say, kinda hard to sneak when you've got a bubbly Warlock slung over your shoulder."
"Didn't you call her antics cute?" Aurora asked innocently. Luz had to bite back a laugh as Amity nodded.
"Yes, I did," Amity boldly said. "Because they were."
"Sweet, but let's focus on the mission," Luz said. They reached the end of the hall and emerged into a vast sea of floating islands in the endless void. Large rocks drifted through the bleak horizon, occasionally smashing into each other and shattering into disparate chunks that rained down upon the main islands. A few Eliksni buildings were dotted across the landscape, each a hollowed-out husk of what once could have been a thriving community. Above them was a colossal sphere of Taken essence, hanging in the sky like a shadowy reflection of the Traveler.
"The beacon is lit," Malek said, pointing to a thin trail of light that stretched into eternity. It originated from one such Eliksni building, a small hovel squatting at the archipelago's edge. Malek gestured to advance. The group moved slowly, carefully navigating the obscured, free-floating chunks of land that barely connected their entry point to the mainland.
As they approached, Malek held up a hand. Luz and Amity crouched beside him as he drew a scout rifle and peered through the scope. Lowering the rifle, he gestured to the ridge before them. Luz narrowed her eyes as she saw the Scorn clustered on the perch. Most of them were clustered in a loose half-circle positioned against the edge of the island. A few of their ranks brawled within the half-circle, tearing meaty chunks out of their supposed comrades. The other Scorn cheered and howled, filling the air with a sharp rasp.
Luz forced down a wave of revulsion as she pulled back the hammer on her hand cannon. The thought of these things disgusted her. They felt oddly familiar as if she had faced similar creatures of rotten, decaying flesh before. The thought that Crow could ever have been involved with creating these things—she just couldn't believe it.
"Are they… fighting each other?" Malek asked, tilting his head as he watched the Scorn.
"It is possible that the Scorn could be forming their own culture," Mara said. "Whatever the case may be, your mission remains unchanged. Proceed to the beacon. Light it, and bring my Techeun home."
"Understood," Malek said. He centered a Stalker in his crosshairs and pulled the trigger. The shot echoed throughout the empty realm as the bullet punched through the Stalker's helmet, tearing their skull to shreds. Those nearest to his victim were coated in small chunks of grey matter and wisps of dark ether. The Scorn were instantly in a frenzy, smelling blood in the water.
The Scorn charged at the Guardians, practically crawling over each other to get at them first. Amity planted a shield in the ground in preparation, raising a waist-high barricade that granted them a protective shell of Void Light. As she did, Luz jumped forward, aiding her flight with a quick burst of Light. She landed before the encroaching Scorn swarm. Her free hand slammed into the ground, releasing a few seeking trails of Stasis energy. They met the first waves of Scorn and instantly froze them solid. Luz's hand cannon snapped up and fired.
Her bullet carved a hole dead in the center of the nearest Scorns face. Its icy cocoon burst in a shower of Dark power. The other frozen Scorn shattered from the shockwave, unleashing a chain reaction of Stasis explosions that decimated the Scorn ranks. The survivors continued, crushing the corpses of their fallen kin underfoot without so much as a second glance. Luz dodged a Ravager's flail and summoned a staff of pure Stasis crystals. She parried more strikes from the Scorn mob, retaliating with a few jabs and hits of her own. Each swing of her staff unleashed a freezing wave that entrapped multiple Scorn warriors. A few mace swings hit her, only to harmlessly bounce off her overshields.
As Luz wove through the Scorn lines, freezing their ranks with each swing of her staff, she was vaguely aware of Malek and Amity diving into the horde's flanks. She couldn't pay them much mind as a Wraith attempted to crush her head between its blazing torches. She evaded the flaming weapons and waited for an opening, just as Royal had taught her. It didn't take long for her to find it, as the Wraith's decrepit body was clumsy and ill-suited for the intricate motions of combat. Luz charged forward, impaling the Wraith on her staff. She raised it into the air before driving her weapon into the ground with the Wraith still skewered on it.
Her staff emitted a shockwave of pure force as it made contact with the ground. Every Scorn she had frozen instantly shattered, their bodies crumbling into nothing. The remaining stragglers were swiftly dispatched by the Titans. Malek split a Stalker into two perfect halves with a vertical cut from his shield. At the same time, Amity delivered an Arc-infused uppercut to a Raider that hit so hard that it caused an audible thunderclap as the Raider's body disintegrated.
"I can see why Royal has so much faith in her abilities," Malek said, dusting off his hands as he tilted his head toward Luz. "She's got some serious power in there."
Amity grinned as her former wife let her staff fade away. "Yeah, she's amazing." Malek raised an amused eyebrow before pointing to the building housing the beacon.
"We're close to the beacon, and the Scorn defenses are thin," he said. "Whaddya say we set the Ascendant skies ablaze?" Amity smiled and drew her rocket launcher. Once Luz rejoined them, they set off toward the beacon. The path consisted of little more than disparate chunks of land that barely clung together. The Scorn's presence gradually faded, becoming less prevalent as they advanced.
They reached the island with their target and entered a small cave near the base. The walls of the cavern were lined with moisture that gleamed in the light of their Ghosts. Amity's lip curled, and she shivered in disgust as they walked through the cave, prompting a giggle from Luz.
"So magical slime is fine with you, but this is too gross," she teased.
"Don't compare this to my magic," Amity scoffed, pretending to sound offended. "I use only the highest quality ingredients for my Abomination mixture. This could be built up Scorn spit for all I know."
"Whatever it is, you won't have to deal with it much longer," Malek said. He gestured further down the tunnel, where a hole in the roof led inside the building. It was too high up for them to easily climb out. Fortunately, Amity was on it. With a flick of her wrists, her Abomination sludge sculpted itself into a set of stairs that led out of the tunnel. She made a show of gesturing to the staircase and bowing.
"After you, madam," she said coyly. Luz set a hand on her chest and began to ascend.
"Oh, you shouldn't have." Luz bounced up the makeshift flight of stairs.
"You know we could've just boosted up there," Malek deadpanned. Amity shushed him.
"Let me have this." She followed up the stairs behind Luz, where her path was barred by a door that had been fused shut. Luz felt around the grooves, looking for an opening, while Amity and Malek approached from behind her.
"Allow me," Amity said. She cracked her knuckles and prepared to pry the door open. Luz stepped back with a half smile as Amity tried to force them to yield to her. Her muscles strained, and her Light flared, but whatever the Scorn had done to lock it down was able to resist her might. Amity flooded some of her magical sludge into the gap, only for that to fail, too.
"Malek, a little help here," she muttered, slightly embarrassed. The elder Titan shrugged and prepared to step over, only for Luz to set a hand across his chest.
"That won't be necessary," she said. "Step aside, dearest Bubblegum." Amity whined at the use of her newest nickname but complied. Luz pressed one of her palms against the door and pushed her power outward. Stasis crystals crept over the door, utterly encasing it. Luz reached back, balled her hand into a fist, and struck the door. It shattered into a rain of crystal fragments that showered over the ground before her.
"Doors open," she said before stepping into the room. Amity gave a chunk of crystal an annoyed kick as she entered.
"I gotta learn how to do that," she muttered. The inside of the building was barren, save for a single beacon resting in the center. A few more doors were positioned around the room, leading to their own entrances. A beam of pure white light erupted from its zenith, shooting into the heavens. Amity pulled out her Compass and began to weave its magic together with that of the beacon. The beacon clicked loudly and began to activate. The sound bounced off the walls, echoing through the Ascendant Plane.
Luz drew her rifle warily. "You think they heard that?" She received her answer as the pained sound of hundreds of Scorn screaming tore through the halls. Malek loaded in a fresh magazine while Amity summoned her gauntlets and banged them together. The three instantly fell into a protective ring around the beacon.
"You've got lots of Scorn inbound," Crow said over the radio. "Hold them off, and don't let them disrupt the beacon, or the Ley Lines will be destabilized beyond use."
"You don't have to tell us twice," Amity said, gritting her teeth. The sound of Scorn scurrying through the halls was all around them now. Their feet thumped on the ceiling panels above them. Their weapons scraped against the floor beneath them. They were closing in on all sides.
"They've got us surrounded," Luz said. She cast a few Stasis constructs that molded into Bleakwatcher turrets, each watching a different entrance. Malek gave a maniacal cackle as a frenzied look entered his eyes.
"Good! Now we can fire any which way we like." He slammed his fist against his chest, letting the sound of metal on metal boom throughout the building. It was met by dozens of mauls and blades scratching against the doors leading into the chamber. "Come on, you two! No Guardian lives forever!"
The first door broke down, and Scorn tumbled through in a tide of corroded metal and putrid flesh. They tore toward the Guardians, each battling to be the first into the fray. Luz and Malek opened fire, cutting through swathes of Scorn with their bullets. Those that made it through were pulverized by Amity's fists. Her armor quickly became soaked in their blood as the spikes on her gauntlets tore them apart. A Wraith tried to bring its torches down on her, only for Amity to catch its wrists in her hands. She pulled the monstrosity into a headbutt, slamming their helmets together. The Scorns rusted metal fractured, driving the splinters into its face. The Wraith staggered but remained alive. It snarled at her as she delivered two more jabs to its chest, shattering the Scorn's ribcage. It buckled, exposing its chin. A swift uppercut sent the Wraith's head into the air with a trail of blood following it, leaving the rest of its body to fall to the ground.
A second door burst off its hinges, yielding to the combined weight of countless more Scorn. Malek shifted his aim to the new threat, slinging grenades and jovial threats between dumping his magazine. For every one Scorn he cut down, it seemed like three more replaced them. Luz's turrets were firing as fast as they could, slowing and freezing the horde. It wasn't enough to stop them all.
A few trails of dark blue vapor slipped into the room, eventually forming into Raiders that crawled up the walls. The marksmen took aim at the Guardians with their crossbows and opened fire. Luz staggered as a Void bolt slammed into her helmet. Her shields shattered, and she immediately ducked behind the beacon for cover. She whipped back around and sent a blast of flame at the Raiders that immolated them. The stench of charred flesh assailed her nostrils as they fell from their perch. She had no time to pay attention to it as another door was torn apart.
Amity was truly in the thick of it now, her fists little more than a blur of motion. She raised her shield to absorb a blow before backhanding the offending Scorn. As she dealt with the threat before her, a half-dozen blades bit into her armor from behind. She felt one knife score a deep gouge in the back of her knee and let out a gasp of pain. Her leg lashed out, caving in the skull of the offending Scorn. More piled onto her, gradually landing more hits.
A maul crashed down on her shoulder, crushing the bones in her joint. A knife bit into her exposed gut, skewering one of her intestines. She pushed through it, counting on her Light and her skill to see her through. She was about to throw her shield when a Lurker leaped onto her back and dug its fangs into the side of her neck. Amity clawed at the Scorn as it pulled back, tearing out a huge chunk of bloody flesh. She seized it by its neck and slammed it into the ground, reducing the Lurker to a pile of meaty chunks. Despite it all, Scorn continued to pile on her, slowly dragging the Witch down.
A few more shots bounced off Luz's armor as she unleashed jets of flame and bursts of ice. Dozens of Scorn were either frozen and shattered or incinerated. It didn't stop more from pouring in. They continued gaining ground, burying Luz in the tide of teeth and blades. In the distance, she saw Malek barely holding off the tide, swinging a hammer wreathed in star-fire in a wide arc that only barely kept the Scorn at bay. She also saw Amity vanish underneath the crashing tidal wave of gnashing fangs and jagged blades.
A surge of fury erupted within Luz as the Scorn slammed against her. The smell of ozone filled the air as sparks snapped across her body. Luz flung the Scorn off her, unleashing an Arc burst that atomized the nearest Scorn. The horde quickly encircled her and began closing in. Luz glanced to one side, then the other, before plunging her fist into the metal floor. In an instant, lightning flooded into the ground. The Scorn's ramshackle armor of metal scraps served as the perfect conduit. At once, a thousand wretched throats were screaming in agony as Luz fried every Scorn within the building. The lightning passed harmlessly over Amity and Malek, giving the two a much-needed reprieve. As the Scorn ranks evaporated, the beacon finished its calibration with one last metallic click.
Malek fell to one knee, letting his chest rise and fall as his breathing calmed. Luz ignored him as she rushed to Amity's side. The Witch was already sitting back up, clutching her neck where the Scorn had ripped a chunk out of it. Pal circled his Guardian, patching her up as she rose.
"You're a real lifesaver, you know that?" Amity hissed as her neck throbbed in pain. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it," Luz said. She gave the Witch a mischievous grin. "Do you think that if you get bitten by the Scorn, that means you'll turn into one?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Amity scoffed. "That's a bunch of nonsense." She paused before turning to Malek uncertainly. "It is nonsense, right?"
"She's just messing with you," he replied, wiping some of the Scorn soup off his chestpiece. "I'm fine, by the way."
Luz chuckled and activated her radio. "Crow, we've ignited the beacon."
"I noticed," he responded. "It looked like things were getting bad down there, but I knew you would handle it. Great job activating the first beacon."
"Did he just say 'the first beacon'?" Amity questioned.
"Yeah, we need two to pinpoint the Techeun and a third to call them in," Crow said. "Did… did you not know that?"
"You didn't tell us there were two!" Amity snapped, more than a little frustrated. "That would have been very helpful to know before we started the mission."
"Well, you know now," Crow said. "You should be able to pinpoint the second with minimal issues. Good luck." He killed the feed before she could respond, leaving Amity to grumble to herself.
"He is really starting to piss me off," she muttered. Luz gave her a pat on the shoulder as they began to exit the building.
"I'm sure it'll be fine," she said. "Iris managed to save a Techeun already."
"We aren't Iris," Amity hissed. "I bet Royal's having the time of his life right now, sitting on his ass in a cushy chair, brushing shoulders with all the important people. I would kill to trade places with him." Luz tried to comfort her as the three Guardians crossed their little slice of the Ascendant plane. They were unaware of a set of eyes tracking them as they did. A Scorn Chieftain sat hunched atop the building they had just left. It growled to itself in a series of guttural barks before dissolving into mist and slipping away.
Royal stared blankly into nothingness, his optics unfocused as he slouched in his chair. He had cut off almost all external stimuli and let himself sink into a state of absolute mental absence. A few words managed to slip into his stupor but were ultimately filtered out and ignored.
Aside from him, King was struggling to stay awake. The young Titan's eyes drooped, and he barely held himself up. The delegation had been at this for hours, slowly droning from one topic to the next. Royal would gouge out his own audio receptors if they didn't wrap up soon.
"And that brings us to our final matter," Paladin said, rising from his seat as the Minister of Finances sat down. He gestured across the table to the Vanguard. "I wish to have the Isles opened up to the Ghosts."
Those words managed to pierce the miasma of Royal's mind, and he perked up upon hearing them. This was not something Paladin had discussed with him. Royal leaned forward, interested in what was being said for the first time that day.
It appeared that Royal wasn't the only one caught off guard by this news as President Lydia rose from her seat indignantly. "What are you talking about, Commander?"
Zavala raised a single, cautious eyebrow. "I must agree with President Lydia. What do you mean?"
"Amity has proven that Witches can be resurrected as Guardians. Whether this is intentional on the Travelers behalf or simply because our two species are closer than we suspected is unknown and ultimately irrelevant."
"So you want to offer them up to serve as part of this revenant legion?" Lydia hissed furiously. "I will not allow our dead to be desecrated to fight someone else's war!"
Paladin held up his hands in apology. "Forgive me, madam president. But they already have." He nodded to Thatch, who projected an image of Willow's spar with Amity from the day before. Specifically the part where she had the Sentinel on her back and was steadily beating the everloving crap out of her.
"This is Willow Park, first and former Captain of the Emerald Entrails," Paladin said. "And, as of yesterday, a Sunbreaker."
"Why was I not informed of this?" Lydia hissed. Paladin gave an exaggerated shrug.
"My apologies, but I was not aware until very recently. I know how much you need your rest, ma'am, so I didn't wish to disturb you." His tone sounded sincere enough to be genuine, but Royal could just barely pick up on the underlying challenge. He didn't know if Lydia could as well, but Paladin was playing with fire.
Zavala steepled his fingers as he thought. Ikora raised an eyebrow at the proposal but said nothing else. A few of the other delegates from the Last City muttered amongst each other uncertainty.
"As I said, I wish to have the Isles properly opened up to the Ghosts," Paladin said. "In addition, I also wish to form our own branch of the Guardians located here." Lydia seemed absolutely livid now, but Zavala appeared as though he was at least willing to entertain the idea.
"For what purpose?" The Titan Vanguard asked.
"Logistics, mostly," Paladin said. "It would be quicker, easier, and allow them to hone their magic and Light. I believe it will help ease their transition." Zavala turned and shared a few hushed words with Ikora that Royal couldn't make out, even with his enhanced hearing.
"Very well," Zavala said. "In the interest of our people's shared prosperity, we shall acquiesce. Madam President, are there any other items that need to be discussed?"
"No, I do not believe so," Lydia said, forcing her anger down. She glared at Paladin, letting him know this wasn't over. Zavala nodded and rose from his chair.
"Then if that is everything, all we need to do is sign." After a final round of deliberation to ensure everyone was content with the terms, one of Lydia's assistants spun a spell circle. A long sheet of paper appeared between the two parties, containing an incredibly condensed version of the terms of the alliance. Zavala accepted a pen and signed his name at the bottom. It went around the table, stopping at each delegate for them to add their own signatures. Eventually, it reached back around to Lydia. She fiercely scribbled her name on the parchment, finishing it with a sharp flick of her wrist.
"The deal is made, our bond forged," Paladin said. "From this moment on, Witch and Human hearts beat as one!" A cheer went up from the table as the news crew rapidly snapped as many photos as possible.
Once the photos were concluded, the two camps began to mingle once again. Royal drifted to the sides as King was roped into speaking with the Vanguard. The Warlock retreated to a secluded corner, waiting for the crowd to thin. Noticing Lydia approaching him, he straightened his robes. The President stood beside him, watching the delegates through her typical narrow gaze.
"Ma'am," he greeted. "I would say that went well."
"Yes," she agreed somewhat reluctantly. "Despite your brother's efforts, things have gone smoothly."
"Forgive me for my rudeness, but do you not have more important people to speak with?" Royal asked. Lydia gave him a look he didn't quite understand.
"I was informed that Queen Mara would be present at this meeting," she said, pointedly ignoring his question. "And yet I do not see her."
"Queen Mara is currently preoccupied with matters of grave importance," Royal said. "She sent a delegate to represent herself and the Reef." He pointed to an Awoken woman wearing elaborate garb. Lydia raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.
"And what, may I ask, is so important that it takes precedence over an inter-realm meeting?" She asked. Royal tugged at his collar, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.
"I'm afraid that I am not at liberty to discuss," he said. "Rest assured, she would be here if she could."
Luz let out a tense breath as the second beacon activated, finally letting herself relax. The journey to the second beacon had been entirely free of Scorn, which only served to set the Guardians on edge. The beacon itself had been similarly deprived of defenses. Perhaps the bulk of their forces had already been felled by Luz. Somehow, she didn't think they were that lucky.
"Crow, the second beacon has been activated," she said into the radio. The fabric of the Ascendant Plane rippled before her, distorting into a portal.
"Understood," Crow replied. "Step through the portal and call the Techeun home." Amity let out a sigh as she popped a few of her joints.
"Finally, we're almost finished with this bullshit." She stepped through the portal.
"Be careful," Crow said as Malek and Luz followed. "Whatever presence the Scorn have left will no doubt want to grab the Techeun before we can extract them. You'll have to clear them out before she arrives." Luz arrived in a large circular field with a ruined metal dome resting over it. A single beacon sat in the center. The grass swayed under nonexistent wind. It was oddly serene. Needless to say, Luz didn't trust it.
"Shouldn't be too many left if they didn't bother showing last time, "Amity said, approaching the final beacon and pulling out her Compass. "Looks like there aren't any Scorn here." As she drew close, the Ascendant Plane began to swell. A massive, six-legged tank appeared above the Witch. She only barely managed to throw herself out of the way before it crashed atop her. The machine was a wretched amalgamation of sloppily welded slag and jagged weaponry. It powered on with a loud thrum, occasionally broken by painful metallic screeches. Its dozens of slap-dash weapons began to charge with energy as they prepared to fire.
"Spider tank!" Malek shouted. "Move." The spider tank brought its frontal cannons to bear on Amity as she struggled to her feet. She lifted her shield just in time to absorb the cannon's fire. Arc blasts slammed into her shield, sending the Titan flying. As she hit the ground near Luz, more Scorn began to pour into the arena from behind them.
"No Scorn, huh?" Luz asked as she helped Amity to her feet. "You just had to open your mouth."
"You can curse my ability to foreshadow after we save the Techeun," Amity replied, drawing her rocket launcher and leveling it on the tank. Luz squared up against her back, her machine gun ready. Off to the side, Malek prepared his shotgun as the Scorn closed in. Luz glanced back at Amity and gave her a grin.
"Deal."
Luz dropped to one knee and braced herself as she opened fire. Her machine gun sliced through the Scorn lines, reducing them to piles of bloody chunks. Behind her, Amity and Malek charged at the tank. It let out a deep churning sound and spat a few jets of flame. Amity rolled out of the way and fired a rocket. It slammed into the walker's leg, wreathing it in flame. The tank responded with a deep, mechanical growl as it crouched low.
The tank unleashed a swarm of rockets from its back that spiraled into the air before beginning their descent of death. Amity thrust her hands outward, propelling Void energy around her as the missiles closed in. Her Ward of Dawn closed just in time to protect her from their explosions.
Steam poured out of the walker's missile silos, filling the air with a shrill whine. Malek ignored it, slam-firing his shells into one of the walker's reinforced legs. The shoddy armor splintered under his barrage. The walker stumbled, collapsing as the protective casing covering its engine slid open. Smoke poured from the white-hot metal; the tank was dangerously close to overheating. Amity charged out of her bubble and leaped into the air with a burst of Light. Her body crackled with Arc Light as she descended, turning into an electrified meteor. She easily crashed into the spider tank's engine, tearing right through it in a shower of sparks. Amity stood up from the wreckage of the tank and dusted off her hands.
Not far from her, Luz was still firing away at the Scorn tide, prioritizing the Screebs whenever they appeared. A few well-placed lightning bolts blasted their ranks apart. A Stalker got close to her, only to be met by a flaming fist to the chest. She rounded on the next Scorn, striking them with a burst of flame. To her shock, the Scorn continued charging at her rather than disintegrating. Luz backstepped its attacks and tried again with another jet of fire, only to be met with similar results.
The Scorn snarled as it lashed at her, a thick purple shell wrapped around its body. Luz blocked the strike and pushed it back. Pain flared through her body as Void saw blades cut through her stomach. The Scorn Chieftain continued hammering her with its weapon, forcing the Warlock to retreat behind cover. The other Scorn began to pursue, only to be halted by a growl from the Chieftain. It rested a hand on a strange totem with beams of Void energy connected to the Scorn around it, shielding them from harm.
"Looks like they're trying to copy my style," Amity said. "Luz, are you alright?"
"Been better," Luz replied as Light sewed her body back together. "Been worse. That Chieftain is the only thing keeping the Scorn together. Take it down, and they'll be easier to scatter."
As she spoke, the Chieftain banged its gauntlets together and howled. A harsh, metallic clang echoed throughout the field. Then, the ground began to shake beneath the weight of something massive. A horrible screech came from the dome on the edges of the field as its metal dented and buckled. Something was tearing its way through to get them. The metal was torn apart by a hand easily as large as Luzs's entire body.
The hand clawed at the screen, ripping off huge chunks as though tearing through a sheet of paper. A twisted helmet loomed over them, peering through the newly opened hole. Slowly, the creature tore its way into the field. Its pale flesh was a horrific mess of stitches, scars, and swollen blisters of dark ether. Metal studs had been nailed into its body, clustered around the base of its neck and hands. Arc energy rippled through the beast as it stumbled forward. The creature's movements were labored, its body convulsing with agony from simply existing.
"That is one big Abomination," Malek said.
"They call that an Abomination?" Amity asked, a confident edge to her gaze. "I'll show them an Abomination." Using both hands, she spun a large spell circle. Her magic swirled into a golem of her own, though she only had enough goo on her to form one half the size of her foe. Her own Abomination lumbered forward, moaning as its hands shifted into hammers. The Scorn Abomination let out a painful shriek and began firing Arc blasts from its hands.
"Time to let 'em fly," Malek said, drawing a bulky grenade launcher with Arc energy coursing through the weapon. "Let's bring this beast down! Luz, take care of the Chieftain." With that, Malek and Amity sprinted into action, leaving Luz to deal with the Scorn horde.
"Yeah, I can take care of this alone," she muttered. "Don't worry about me, guys." She peeked out of cover to see the Chieftain watching the Abominations clash. The rest of its forces were milling about mindlessly, still shielded by the totem. Luz ducked back down and tried to think. She couldn't just charge in recklessly; the Scorn would tear her apart. If she tried to destroy the totem from afar, they would likely shield it with their bodies. She needed a way to get close without dying.
Luz charged herself with Arc Light, feeling the currents flow within her. She breathed in and out, letting the lightning surge in tandem with her heartbeat. Energy coursed through her veins as electricity snapped around her. With a spark of power in her eyes, she took a breath and charged.
The Scorn opened fire the second she was in their life of sight. Despite the chaos around her, she was calm and focused. Streaks of brilliant blue lightning trailed behind her as she wove between the shots. The Chieftain unleashed a volley of Void shots that she slid under. Her body became charged with Light, and she transformed into a living storm. A ball of pure lightning flew directly into the center of the Scorn horde. Luz returned to her usual self, blasting static power all around her. The totem was immediately vaporized, its atoms bursting under the energy she pumped into it. The Scorn only had a brief moment to scream before dissolving into smoke and whispers. The Chieftain staggered back, its Void shield collapsing. Luz floated above the ground, lightning bolts erupting from her body.
The Chieftain growled at her and raised its weapon. Luz quickly blasted it out of the monster's hands. Snarling, the Scorn swung at her head. Luz easily ducked under it and grabbed the Chieftain by the sides of its helmet. She flooded her hands with electricity and poured all of it directly into the Chieftain's head. It screamed as its brain was fried, its limbs spasming as smoke leaked from its body. Eventually, it couldn't take any more. The Chieftain's head exploded, painting the front of Luz's armor with its brains. She let out the breath she had been holding, letting the sensations of the outside world flow back into her.
"Harmony within," she breathed, feeling the storm within her recede. "Hurricane without." She looked down at her armor, finally seeing the bits of flesh dripping off it. "Oh, that's disgusting."
She let out a small cry of surprise as one of Malek's arms landed beside her, the few pieces of exposed flesh charred and smoking. The Titan had taken a burst of Arc energy straight to the chest and promptly exploded, raining bits of his body around the battlefield. She looked over just in time to see the oversized Scorn Abomination fire a lance of Arc energy through the chest of Amity's Abomination. The golem staggered as it struggled to reform. Amity leaped in, flinging her shield at the monstrosities head. Her shield bounced off its armored head, and the Abomination rounded on her. She barely had time to let out a curse before its fist came crashing down on her. She blocked with her shield but was pushed onto her back. The Abomination, proving surprisingly dexterous for something so horrific, snatched her by the leg.
"Ah, crap." The Abomination whipped her overhead, slamming her into the ground hard enough to form a crater on impact. Amity groaned in pain as she raised her pulse rifle in one hand and fired a burst. Her bullets had little effect on the Abomination as it lifted her back up and flung her back into the dirt. The Abomination prepared to bring its meaty fists down on her again, only to be stopped by a concentrated burst of lightning from Luz. She sprinted around the Abomination, slinging static destruction as she did.
Malek reappeared in a flash of Light, resurrected and back in the fight. His launcher sang as it fired a half dozen Arc-infused mines. They latched onto the Abomination and the floor and instantly activated, creating an intricate network of interlocking Arc trip mines. The Abomination howled as chunks of searing flesh were burned off. Amity, no longer being slammed into the ground, rebuilt her own Abomination. Her golem lumbered forward, its hands molding into long blades. She directed her construct to skewer the Abomination in its midsection. It roared in pain as Amity's golem pulled its blades out, disembowling the creature. The Abomination dropped to its knees with a deafening slam, clawing at its intestines with its clumsy hands. Amity let her summon fall apart and return to her as the colossal Scorn finally died.
Now that's what I call an Abomination," she said, sharing a fist bump with Malek. She drew her Compass and, after a moment of work, activated the final beacon. Luz smiled and activated her radio.
"The Scorn are routed; time to call the Techeun home."
"Understood, good work, Guardians," Petra said. "And not a moment too soon. The Taken and the Scorn are steadily growing to infest every corner of the Ascendant Plane, like the tendrils of a great fungus."
There was a bright flash of energy as Awoken magic began to coalesce into a small sphere slightly above the Guardians. They watched as the sphere melted away, revealing an Awoken woman in robes. She stumbled to the ground, where Malek supported her on his shoulder.
"Techeun secure," he said. "Bring us home." The exit portal opened with a loud snap, and together, they guided the Techeun out of the Ascendant Plane. Once back in real space, Mara was quick to swoop in. The Techeun was whisked away to be tested and treated. Malek accompanied her, answering any questions she might have. Amity let out a sigh as she leaned against the wall.
"I am so glad that's over," she said. "I'm gonna go crash back at my place."
"Sounds good," Luz said, daring a quick glance at Crow as he approached Petra who was ignoring him, busy typing away on a data pad. "I'll stay here, gotta make sure everything's in order." Amity shrugged and bid farewell. As she did, Luz turned to watch Crow.
"I've been going over some of your work out in the field," Crow began, speaking to Petra carefully. "You're a pretty good shot."
"I have to be," the Queen's Wrath replied sharply, not dignifying the Hunter with eye contact. "Don't they teach you anything in the city?"
"Mostly just run, jump, and shoot," Crow said. "Maybe you and I could… hit the range sometime?" Petra finally looked up from her data slate and fixed Crow with a withering gaze.
"I can think of few things I would want to do less. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must attend to my queen." With that, she spun on her heels and briskly marched out. Crow slumped, visibly deflated. Luz winced as she walked over and gave him a pat on the back.
"Don't worry about it; you're too good for her anyway," she said. Crow halfheartedly hummed in response. "Here, tell you what. Why don't you come with me out for some ramen? I was gonna meet up with a friend there, and the more, the merrier. Just as long as you can pay for your food, I'm dangerously close to being broke."
"Alright, deal," Crow said. "So long as this friend doesn't hate me like your other one."
"Don't worry, Eido's a sweetheart," Luz said. She gestured for him to follow her, and the two set off, chatting as they went.
Venator took a good look across the landscape before her as she reached the edge of the Tower overlooking the city. The Hunter took a moment to drink in the sights and sounds. Ships flew through the air, people wandered the streets, and Guardians bustled around the Tower. It all filled her with a strange feeling, one she hadn't felt in a long time. She tried to place it, searching within herself to determine what this feeling was. Then, she realized something.
She didn't miss this.
As she looked over the city, she felt nothing. No sense of nostalgia, no swell of duty calling to her. There was nothing tying her to this place, not anymore. Ever since Elisabeth—her Elisabeth—had died, the city had been nothing but a painful reminder of the life they could have had. After that, the only person she truly felt close to in any regard, outside of her brothers and her Ghost, had been the Drifter. And even that was more respect than anything else. She had run with his crew for years, saw, fought, and occasionally did some horrible things. For a time, it had suited her. Now, she found that she much preferred being a hero. At least, she preferred the attention it brought.
Venator stepped away from the railing and began traversing the Tower. The thought of her old acquaintance had brought an idea to her mind. If the map Blip had snagged was accurate, she knew exactly where to go.
Venator ducked through a few hallways and descended a few flights of stairs. The tide of civilians and Guardians began to thin as she moved deeper. She slipped past maintenance shafts and exposed tubing as she moved down the hall. Eventually, a small doorway appeared before her, leading to a dimly lit room.
Inside said room was a large tank full of swirling Taken essence. Luminous white clashed with thick shadows as the concoction churned. A tall man stood facing the tank, his back to the doorway. He had a thick coat with heavily padded fur shoulders. A tangle of short yet somehow still messy black hair rested atop his head. A hand cannon with elaborate ivory engravings hung at his hip. He muttered something to himself as he inspected a glistening mote of energy in his hand.
Crossing her arms, Venator leaned against the doorway. "So, you finally got your Gambit project off the ground." To his credit, the Drifter didn't jump at the sudden sound. Instead, he stowed the mote and turned to face the newcomer.
"Don't you know you shouldn't sneak up on people like that," he said, dusting off his coat. He flashed his typical wry grin. "It's a good way to eat a bullet."
"Force of habit," Venator shrugged. The Drifter looked her up and down, his brow furrowing as he did so. Venator brushed her cape aside so Malfeasance could be seen holstered to her thigh.
"Haven't seen you around these parts, sister," he noted, his eyes fixed on the dark weapon. "You new here?"
"One could say that," Venator said, pushing off the doorframe and standing before the man. Then, without warning, she flicked a small, jade-colored coin at the Drifter. He easily caught it and turned it over in his hand, noting the detailed carvings and patterns.
"This is a fine piece of work," he said. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was even one of my own."
"Just a good forgery," Venator said. Drifter gave her a look that let her know he was thoroughly unconvinced before passing it back to her. She pocketed it as he leaned against the tank of Taken matter.
"So, what brings you 'round these parts?" He asked. "You looking to bang some knuckles in Gambit?"
Venator gave a short, sharp laugh. "As tempting as that offer is, I'm just here to check-in. Got places to be, things to do, damsels to woo."
"Well, if you ever swing by again, the offer stands," Drifter said. Venator grinned and nodded before turning away.
"See you around, Germaine." She faded into the shadows before Drifter could process what she had called him. He stared at the place she had been before nodding slightly and turning back to his tank.
"Forgery, my ass," he chuckled. Outside, Venator walked down the hall with her hands casually tucked behind her head while she whistled a tune. Blip floated beside her.
"You didn't tell him?" He asked. Venator shrugged.
"No point," she said. "Like with Elsie, he's not the same man I knew. I could see how he held himself—these little, imperceptible things."
"Do you ever miss home?"
"Why would I? It's right through the portal."
Blip sighed. "You know that isn't what I meant. Do you miss our old home? The missions we flew on, the people we- Killed! -met, the bonds we- Shattered and left ruined! -had?"
Venator shrugged again. "Can't say I do. There's nothing left for me back there. You're the last thing left from that part of my life."
"Well, I- Relish every drop of blood we spill together! May the wake of our carnage drown the stars! -don't intend to go anywhere. I'll be with you until the end, Royal."
Venator smiled and held out her fist, and Blip lightly bumped against it. "Wouldn't have any other partner in crime. Well, maybe Thatch." Blip gave an upset beep while Venator grinned slyly.
There isn't much else to be said. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Can't wait to sit in queue for five hours.
davisjustus99: Paladin is Sargent Dorn confirmed!? But I all seriousness, Elsie and Royal finally having a good relationship has got me singing Kumbaya and dancing a jig. Wonder when we'll see either Savathûn or Xivu decide to fuck round and find out.
You know, that wasn't the energy I was going for with Paladin, but it fits surprisingly well. And I'm honestly quite surprised that people are enjoying the Rosie ship. I didn't think I would be able to write a half-decent romance to save my life. Glad to see that it's not hated.
GuardianLightTheVanguard: You know what the deal is.
1. Friendship is... certainly a word.
2. Indeed she will.
3. Immaru is actually one of the oldest Ghosts that we know of, though he didn't go by that name until he met Savathûn. I decided to just call him by that now to avoid overcomplicating things.
4. That was another moment I very much wanted to write. It's nice to take a step back and let characters just interact sometimes.
5. They will probably at some point in the nebulous, most likely post-Witch Queen, future.
6. They likely will. Something kinda funny I realized is that if Royal and Elsie get together, that would technically make Elsie Luz's third mother figure.
7. Oh man that launch trailer was so weird and alien and esoteric in the best possible way.
8. I'll lump the last few in here and say I don't want to bring Eda back just to have her ultimately contribute nothing. I think it would ultimately be disrespectful to her character to waste her like that. I'm not saying I will never bring her back. If I come up with a good enough idea, then I will likely find a way to work her in. But it most likely won't be anytime soon. I feel that Royal paying respects at her grave was a fine enough sendoff for their friendship.
GodzillaMaster: Ah, Willow's a titan. Yeah that makes sense, ironic that she's a sunbreaker, though
Her trying to be sneaky threw me off in the last chapter, thought she was a hunter
It must be awkward for Amity to be the only one in her friend group to remember their past life
And wow, Pal's not really much of a pal
I didn't even realize that it was super ironic. But, yeah, fire burns plants. I was going for more of a sunlight angle. As for Pal, he has evolved somewhat since my initial concept of his character. He originally just going to be quiet and not really contributing so I could avoid having too many characters vying for attention. That grew into his mutual enmity with Amity. He has reasons to be kinda off-put by her. Like he said, he just wanted a normal Guardian doing normal Guardian things. Instead, she's something almost nobody has ever seen before, she has all her memories which leaves him in an awkward position, and her main focus doesn't seem to be actually protecting the system. On top of all that, she named him Pal because it was a joke to her. His name is just a source of amusement to his Guardian. He's left feeling a tad slighted by that.
hornig3: Okay you just want to melt my heart with Elsie and Royal! Seriously it's freaking adorable. Also I had a hunch about Pal and I am both glad and saddened I was correct. Wonder if the journey through the throne world will change him or if he'll be a stick in the mud like Immaru. Hopefully he and Amity can have a chat, how she used to be a big brat that wasn't friendly to most people but that started to change when she met the right person, hopefully Amity can be that person for Pal. Also speaking of the throne world I'm pretty sure Luz is going to be the only one kind to Fynch, and I mean only Luz. That talk with Aurora and Pal proves that Aurora is not OK with the ghost norms being broken. Let's see what kinda teeth this little ghost has got.
Rosie ship numero uno. As for how things play out in Witch Queen, all I will say is that I am very much looking forward to getting there. Oh, I have been cooking.
BlueRoseLevi: I liked this chapter a lot, I got a long one for you this time.
Willow having the little dog energy is hilarious
Fern being a scaredy-cat is adorable
ROSIE SHIP ROSIE SHIP love to see it
The irony of the plant witch having affinity for Solar Light love it
King keeping up with Stasis practice and having more control over it and Royal accepting it, love the character development since his reaction to King's usage of it in WnW
More screen time for Malek is always nice to see
Man I feel bad for Amity but also get why Pal is upset about having her as his Lightbearer
The on point foreshadowing as always, teasing Immaru.
King revealing that he has kept up with Stasis is definitely the third major crack at Royal's beliefs, with the first and second being Luz and Elsie of course. He's slowly being ground down, forced to question what he believes.
Amity's ship cut over the Lunar landscape, her shadow smothering out dozens of craters. Flying over a small encampment of Guardians, she disembarked. Pal steered her ship back into low orbit as she landed and stretched her muscles. A few other Guardians gave brief words of greetings as they moved past her, which she returned.
"Alright, Luz said this was a good place to pick up some bounties," she muttered. "Now, who do I talk to?" She scanned the area around her, quickly pinpointing her destination. Another Guardian was speaking to a woman covered in brown fabric. A few bone-like protrusions rested on her shoulder. Her back was turned to Amity as the Witch walked up to her. The Guardian she was currently speaking with finished and departed. The woman turned to face Amity and she instantly froze in place.
Now, Amity had faced a lot of terrifying things, both in this life and the one before. Her mother's fury, the cold cruelty of the Vex, the unnatural power of the Collector, and Luz's rapid mood swings during pregnancy, just to name a few. As such, Amity had gained a rather acute sense of when she was stepping into danger. So when she saw Eris Morn's covered face and felt the aura of shattered Hive magic radiating from the woman, she turned one hundred-and-eighty degrees and walked right in the other direction.
"Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope."