Redacted

Trailing After

It's a Saturday so I say I uploaded on time...even though laziness prevented me from updating on Friday *coughs*. Anyways, thanks to Great Wolf 117 for the review!

Edit: 2/11/2018

I totally forgot about Knight/Nine! God damn it! This is what happens when you're in a rush and don't have drafts anywhere on you except in your own itty bitty head! You get forgetful!

Edit: 07/16/2023

Originally 'Welcome', title changed to 'Trailing After'.

"We are heading into Vex infested territory, we cannot bring Eidr with us." Akiva can easily sense the scowl behind Isamu's borrowed helmet. He stood his ground, "When we find a functioning Vex Gate, I doubt you want to bring him with us into danger."

"But we can't leave him out here either." Angel pointed out, "If you tend to recall, Venus is crawling with Fallen just as much as the Vex."

Akiva couldn't help but frown, locking his golden eyes onto the egg in Isamu's arms. From where he stood, he could see the infant within asleep. He can only wonder what this child had gone through to sleep past all the gunfire and light as they made their way through the graveyard of Vex Gates.

"Then the only other choice we have is for one of us to stay behind and keep Eidr company." Akiva said. He spotted the way Isamu's shoulders tense, hands clenched tightly around the egg, "Since he's your son, maybe Angel, Knight, and I should-"

"And expect you all to successfully rescue Jora?" Isamu interrupted, snarling, "I think not."

Akiva sighed, "Then would you rather trust one of us to watch your child then?"

Isamu sputtered, "Of course not!"

"Oh come on!" It was Crystalline who jumped in, giving Isamu a narrowed look, "Even after years of being stuck as a Vex prisoner, you're still stubborn as ever!" Her shell bristled, "Isamu, if you want to save Jora, then you have to compromise. Either you stay and Akiva, Knight, and Angel head in to save her, or one of them stays and you head in with whoever is left."

There is obvious disapproval from Isamu but, Akiva was just glad Crystalline is here to put some sense into the Revenant. He can only imagine what it would be like if she wasn't here.

Nonetheless, when he watched Isamu look down at Eidr in his arms, obviously hesitant, Akiva let out another sigh before rubbing the back of his neck and looked over at Crystalline.

"Is it too late to request aid from the other Revenants?" He asked.

Crystalline gave him a look, "Not happening. If you think Tower Guardians are intolerant towards the Revenants, you should see us when it comes to you guys."

"For good reason." Isamu snapped, "Exiled from our home, hunted down like rogues, and when we reached out for help, they turned our backs to us." He scoffed as he looked back down to his son, rocking him gently in his arms, "Better to push them away than letting them get close and then stab your back when it is turned."

"Okay, before I get confused even further, I have to ask." It was Angel, obviously, who spoke, "How long have the Revenants been around?"

That is when Knight and Angel turned to look at him and Akiva raised his hands in surrender.

"I may have been around moments after the Great Disaster but, I never heard of the Revenants until recently." He then shrugged, "Not even a damn clue that they existed."

"Moments after?" Akiva turned his attention back to Isamu, "Then you should have heard of us.'

"What do you mean?" Angel asked, "Aren't the Revenants comparably new to the other factions?"

Isamu gave Angel a scowl, "Now where did you learn that?"

Akiva didn't have to look over at the Hunter to sense the smile behind his helmet, "There's advantages when you have free access to the Tower's database."

Right. Akiva had forgotten that Angel always finds ways to get into Tower files, even the classified ones. He wouldn't be surprised if the young Hunter reads them when off-duty.

That is when there is a cough and Akiva found himself looking back at Knight. The instant his eyes locked onto the young Exo's optics, he looked away. Even though his face is hidden, the guilty look upon his face is obvious. Akiva took note that perhaps Angel isn't the only one who has access to the Tower's database.

That is when a heavy sigh from Isamu prompted Akiva to look back at him.

"The Revenants were formed not long after the Great Disaster." Isamu explained. His eyes then settled over Akiva, "Thus, I am surprised that you have not heard of us."

"Maybe it's because it was well hidden? Confrontations kept quiet?" Angel guessed.

Akiva turned and gave him a blank look.

Angel just shrugged, "Just because I have access to the Tower's database doesn't mean I can read everything."

Good point. Considering how large the database is, Akiva wouldn't be surprised if it will take Angel another decade or two to go through everything. And that is if nothing new was added.

And they were getting off topic.

"Then how about this for an impromptu solution?" Akiva decided to shift topics once more, "We find an intact Vex Gate first and when we get it powered on, we will then focus on Eidr?"

This earned him a look from Isamu but, Akiva can sense no malice or hesitation behind it. He is considering it.

"Okay." Isamu finally agreed with a nod, "Let us continue our search then."

Xxxxx

"Did Pluto give any more information on these 'Revenants'?"

"Uh." Gemini watched as her brother tilted his chin slightly upwards, a finger tapping against it, "Besides that they are capable of using the darkness and to be wary of them?" He shook his head, "No, no he hasn't."

"Perfect." Gemini breathed out, scowling behind her helmet as she looked over the hill, her optics spotting the familiar forms of Angel, Knight, and Akiva. And one more.

"What I don't understand if these Revenants are a danger, why in the Traveler are Angel, Akiva, Knight? Nine?" Her brother paused, waving his hands vaguely in the air before he finally added, "Why are they trying to help this one?"

Gemini narrowed her optics. Good question, "Did they strike a deal or something?"

"Well." She turned to look back at her twin; per Guardian protocol, while she is scouting out, Scorpio is watching her back, "I do recall Pluto saying beforehand that Angel had found a possible cure for Ianos' condition." Her brother then shrugged, "Who knows, maybe he did strike a deal with the Revenant in return for a cure."

"But that's risky!" Gemini hissed out, "making a deal with someone who dabbles in darkness is never a good idea!"

Hearing her twin only grunt at her words, Gemini took that as a signal to slowly stand, although kept her form hunched to keep herself out of sight.

"What do you think they are doing now?" She decided to ask.

"Well, they're searching for something that's for sure." Scorpio muttered. She felt him hover behind her, "Although what, that is the mystery."

"Then we trail after them until we get an answer."

Feeling Scorpio's hand on her shoulder, she felt him give her a squeeze in agreement, prompting her to tiptoe forward, leaping down from the Hill when she saw Akiva and the others disappear around another. Not far behind her, she heard her brother follow.

From afar, Gemini caught the group looking around the Vex Gates – a graveyard of them, she realized. Many were old, crumbling, in pieces, but when the group would find one seemingly intact, Gemini would watch the unnamed fourth of the group pry open a part on the side, and shoved a hand in. It was only when she saw sparks, long strands of wires being pulled out, that she realized that they were trying to power on a Vex Gate.

But why?

"How long did Pluto say to follow them?" Scorpio whispered behind her.

Gemini frowned, "He didn't say."

"Got it." She heard her brother breathe out, "That means indefinitely then."

That is when Gemini flinched.

She and her twin may be Hunters however, Gemini would have to admit that their youth and impatience always beats them when it comes to 'stalking'. They always end up with light flaring, weapons blazing. This was more of an Io thing and Gemini couldn't help but wonder why Pluto would choose them between the Hunters.

As she pondered upon this, Gemini turned her focus back to the group, only to halt.

The unknown fourth, a Titan, had paused in his steps. And was looking directly at her and her twin.

"Scorpio." She managed to breathe out, just as she spotted wisps of Darkness leak between the seams of the Titan's armor.

Then, she blinked, and the Titan was already upon them, violet streaks of arc light crackling around his body.

Thinking fast, Gemini snapped a hand back, feeling the familiar blade of arc light form between her fingertips as she dashed forward, and swung. She felt it sink into his side, heard him hiss, and Gemini prepared to release the condensed energy around her blade. However, before she could do so, she felt a hand grab the back of her neck, her feet treading air, and she found her grip torn away from her weapon of light.

"Isamu! Wait! She's a friend!"

It was only when she felt the movement halt, feel the hand upon the back of her neck still tight but stiff, when Gemini saw that she was looking up at the sky, body dangling from his grip. Breathing out, Gemini reached back, clawing at the wrist that kept her aloft. That is when she heard the Titan below her growl.

"You sent spies to follow us?"

"What?" Gemini recognized Akiva's voice, "No! We didn't even know they were following us?" She didn't have to look down to know the Titan was doubtful, "Honest!"

"Darkness, Isamu! Put her down!" From the corner of her optics, Gemini can see familiar shifting lavender, tendrils shifting just out of sight as she heard Crystalline shout, "they're telling the truth! We have no idea why the twins were following us!"

"Twins?"

That is when Gemini decided to kick out her legs, hearing the Titan below her grunt as she felt her weight shift in his grip. She looked back, twisting her head just enough so that she could look down into the Titan's – the Revenant's visor, and she glowered. Only for her to let out a startled yelp when Scorpio's form suddenly slammed into the Titan's back, and she swung in the Titan's grip.

"Let go of my sister!"

Scorpio shouted and Gemini couldn't see, flailing around in the Titan's grasp as she felt him stumble but somehow, kept his grip tight upon the back of her neck. Glancing back, she can see that her twin had wrapped his legs around the Revenants waist, an arm around his neck, and wielding his knife wildly in his free hand. He seems to be aiming for the Titan's jugular however, the latter seems experienced, jerking to the side just as Scorpio went to stab his knife in. She heard the others shout, watching from the corner of her optics as they tried to step in, only to reel as Scorpio's knife would miss them by inches.

"Can we all stop and listen to each other!?" Crystalline's voice finally pierced the air, "Scorpio! Get off of Isamu! Isamu! Stop trying to kill the young lights!"

"We're not 'young'!" Gemini protested as she kicked out her legs once more, flailing in the Titan's grip. Despite this, it remained tight.

"You're less than a decade old!"

Scowling at Crystalline's retort, Gemini went to argue back only to feel the grip upon the back of her neck leave her, prompting her to let out a shout as she fell to the hearth, landing straight upon her back. Wheezing as she felt air leave her artificial lungs, Gemini then took in a deep breath, ignoring the way her lungs protested, screamed at her as she forced air back in before turning to her side and leaping onto her feet.

She pulled out her knife just as she saw the Titan peel Scorpio off her back.

"Can you not!?" Gemini jumped as Crystalline suddenly appeared in front of her before the Ghost turned to the Revenant, "And gently!"

Turning her attention back to the Titan, Gemini could see his grip on the front of her brother's armor and ready to throw him – like an airplane, she realized – and it looked like he was ready to release just as Crystalline was to stop him. Although his face was hidden, Gemini can sense the narrowed look behind his visor before she watched him slowly and reluctantly settled her brother back onto his feet.

Despite this, Gemini kept her guard up, knife raised, and she heard Crystalline let out a frustrated sight.

"He has a child!"

That is when Gemini halted, turning her optics to the Ghost. She stared.

"What?" She finally said.

"Just." Crystalline sighed, "Just look."

Furrowing her brows at the Ghost, Gemini complied, turning her attention back to the Revenant. And finally took notice of him holding what seems to be an egg-shaped object in one arm. At first, she didn't notice anything special about it, except that it glowed softly, bright against the contrast of his armor. That is, until she took note of the glass, how clear it is. And the infant inside, looking back at her with curious eyes.

Gemini couldn't help but look straight into the Titan's visor. He wrapped his other arm around the egg, shrinking back as if she was going to strike.

"Isamu, please." She heard Crystalline say, "She and Scorpio are trustworthy."

Despite her words, Gemini can see the way his shoulders remained tense, eyeing her warily, and she couldn't help but breath out. And finally lowered her blade. That is when she finally saw the Revenant ease.

"Wait, you weren't lying?"

That is when Gemini noticed Scorpio leaning in, as if to get closer but also keep the distance, "There's seriously a baby in there?"

Instead of responding to her twin, Gemini instead kept her optics steady on the infant, watching as the baby looked back, suckling upon their fist.

"Convinced enough?"

Turning her optics to the Revenant, Gemini then slowly nodded, signaling to the former to clutch the egg to his chest before taking steps back.

"Just, what is going on here?" Scorpio finally asked, "We heard of this Revenant, wielders of Darkness, but why does he have a baby?"

"And why you all are looking for a functioning Vex Gate?" Gemini decided to add, turning her optics to Akiva and the others, "Care to explain?"

She tried to straighten herself out, squaring out her shoulders to intimidate them, much like Pluto would when he is upset. Although, considering that she is half a head shorter than him, Gemini is not sure how effective it was.

There is a sigh from Akiva, "Pluto sent you, didn't he?" Gemini nodded. This earned her another heavy breath.

"Well, can you blame him?" She said, "He wouldn't have sent us to work on this secret mission if you are working with this." Gemini gestured towards the Revenant, "dark Guardian wasn't so obvious."

That is when she sensed a scowl from the Revenant in question, and Gemini saw from the corner of her optics him taking a step forward. No doubt in her mind that he would have said something, a retort if Akiva hadn't raised a hand.

"Look." He started, "I know how bad this looks, but we believe he may be the solution to Ianos' condition."

Gemini, despite herself, flinched at the Warlock's name. She may not know much, but she knows enough: that he is sick and there is a possibility he won't make it much longer, even with the research that Nine is working on. And she knows how important he is to Pluto.

"How?" She decided to say, scowling, "He is a Dark Guardian, how is he going to help Little Light's condition?"

There is a pause, a look from Akiva.

"First off." He started, "It is strange to hear you call Ianos 'Little Light' considering that only Pluto has even called him that." Gemini just scoffed, "And second, there is a possibility that he can help Ianos manipulate the Darkness inside of him."

Gemini glared, "So, you want him to go dark?"

"We want him to live." She paused at Akiva's retort. There is another release of breath from him, "I understand your concerns, Gemini, however, you weren't there when Ianos first got corrupted. He tried everything within his power to treat it, even asking other Guardians at the risk of his own safety. But in the end, all he could do was slow down the inevitable." She then saw him glance over to the Revenant, "Isamu maybe the only one who can help Ianos now."

That is when Gemini gritted her jaw, clenching her arm tight in her grip. She may not be as close to Ianos, but she still remembered clearly when she and Scorpio first made it to the Tower, how patient and gentle he was when they first met. The snacks, drinks, and the way he would ease their worries with simple games while Pluto tended to the other Galaxy Clan members. He played a role in their life and to stand by and do nothing while he is slowly withering away grinded Gemini's gears.

She turned her optics to her twin, the latter of which also had turned to look at her; Gemini wouldn't be surprised if he had the same thoughts as she did. And the same distrust to the Revenant.

"Why are you looking for Vex Gates, then?" She asked, "If he is the only one who can help Ianos now, why didn't you guys head to the Tower?"

There is a frustrated release of breath from Akiva, visibly dragging a hand down the front of his face. Gemini couldn't help but worry that she and her twin plucked at his patience a bit too much.

Fortunately, Angel stepped forward, "Because we made a deal." Gemini gave him a look, "Isamu barely escaped from the Vex but his partner wasn't very fortunate. If we help him, he will help us."

Fair. Since he would be sticking his neck out if he were to visit the Tower, where Dark Guardians are seen as a threat. Despite this, Gemini couldn't help but frown.

"And to help him you are trying to find a working Vex Gate?" This earned her a nod from Angel, "To turn it on and then what?"

There was a pause, then a sheepish smile and a shrug, "We don't have much of a plan, but it is the only one we have at the moment."

Gemini's jaw dropped. She and her brother may be reckless (according to Pluto) but she knows that they are not that reckless.

"That's crazy!" She hissed out, "Helping a Revenant so that he can possibly help Little Light, looking for a functioning Vex Gate that leads to possibly who knows where." She threw her hands up into the air, "Once the Vanguard hears about this-"

"Gemini."

"Scorpio." Gemini snapped back without hesitation and looked back at her twin. She paused at the look he gave her, "Wait, you're not actually considering…"

Her brother, in response, shrugged sheepishly, "Pluto did say we have to have an open mind." That is when Gemini sensed the smile behind his helmet, "And it's like what we always say: Something new…"

"Something fun." She sighed as she raised a hand to the side of her helmet. She drummed her fingers against the side of it. A headache was coming. Then, Gemini lowered her hands and turned to the others, "We'll help."

She can sense Angel blink at her, "What?"

Gemini ignored it, "It's only because we want to save Little Light's life." She then turned to Isamu and glowered, "We don't quite trust you yet."

In turn, she heard the Revenant scoff, "The feeling is mutual, Guardian."

Her frowned deepened; she could not help but feel like it was an insult. Nonetheless, Gemini remained quiet and watched as Isamu turned and walked away, prompting Akiva and Angel to follow after. It is only Knight who stood by, and she can feel him staring.

She looked at him and said, "What?"

At first, Gemini didn't receive an answer and thus, she couldn't help but slowly approach and then wave a hand in front of Knight's face. He hadn't moved an inch for a while. Then, she jumped when it was Nine's voice, not Knight's, answered.

"If you are concerned about the Revenant harming us, there is nothing to worry. His light is balanced with the darkness." He said.

Gemini raised a brow.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Scorpio voiced the question that she had in her head however, before she could jump in, press for an answer, their fellow Exo already turned and followed the others.

Gemini breathed out; her gut is twisting, telling her to turn back, "I have a bad feeling about this."

"I totally agree." Her brother said, "But if this does save Ianos, then it wouldn't hurt to help, especially if it helps Pluto."

Saying nothing, Gemini simply narrowed her optics as she stared at the backs of the older Guardians before she heaved out a sigh, nodded in agreement to her twin's words before following. She heard Scorpio's steps trail behind her.