Redacted
Let Us Hurry
I apologize for the lack of an update last week guys, but time really has been short with me. It's to the point where I tried to get a double update to make it up for you guys but I can't even do that.
Anyways, thanks to Diamond002, TidalKiller, Guest, The Great Wolf 117, and TheTurtleMan for the reviews!
Guest - Don't worry, the Revenants and the Hive are upcoming (sooner than you think C:), it's just taking a while because I didn't expect it to take this many words to describe the chapters lol. Anyways, I have thought about a rest period between this arc and next, but considering Ianos' current situation, I felt like the rest of Fireteam Redacted wouldn't be the types to sit around and do nothing. And Thank you! ^_^
TheTurtleMan - Yeah, it has been a while. Was kind of wondering where you went lol. I always had the idea of Guardians out there that utilize the Darkness or tried to anyway since each individual holds different ideals from one another. And after meeting Asher Mir in Destiny 2, this lead to the idea of a Dark Guardian corrupted by the Vex, and also the idealism that the Darkness isn't the only thing that can contaminate Guardians. Oh, the Mantra sounds very similar lol. I honestly didn't, just made it up to help give the Revenants a more enigmatic vibe. But maybe I unconsciously went for it, as I had watched the movies years back lol. And this book is almost done I believe, it was two more arcs before its conclusion :D. Then we'll move onto Book 3, The Revenants C: (I planned this story for a long time and I am determined to finish it.) And thank you! ^_^. Also, I stopped accepting characters a while back since I had such a long ass list but since I finally have one character left (I have a special idea for him, especially since the Author used two of my characters in a major plot of his), you may submit a character :D.
Edited: 08/13/2023
CW: Suicide Mention, Suicide, Character Death
Knight had been knocked unconscious by the blast although Nine is none too surprised. Darkness that condensed would have knocked out ordinary Guardians, proven when he glanced over at Angel and Akiva only to see that they were still, wisps of darkness permeating around them. Fortunately, Nine is no ordinary Guardian.
""̄We͉̓ ͇̚h̲̃a̢͞v̻̚ě͚ e̥̾nco̹̽u̼̓nte̫̚r̤̚e͙͝d ̞͝m͇̾an̨͛y̪̓ ̑͟ch̫̋o͉̕s͇͊ẽ̖n̑͜ ̛͎b̪̍y̦̾ ̨̃t̻̿he͜͞ ̢̄Ṱ̆ř̲ä̠́v̩͛êͅl͎̈e̱̽r̩̀." Nine opted to remain silent as he turned his optics to the Vexified Chosen before him, "Ỹ̨o̒͢u ̱̍a͎̅r̨͐ë̯́ ̞̀the̛̘ f̢̑irst̰̿ ͇̓t̼̕o͖͡ ͈͂ph̯̐y̨͑si̜͝c͑͟ǎ̪l̊͢l̅͟y͙̓ ̤̋e͓͋m̯͋b̢̃ȍ̳d͖̓y̳̓ ̲̒ị͡t."
"You think that I am the Traveler." Nine realized, watching as Vex-Jora tilted their head, staring him down with her broken optic flickering, "I am afraid you are incorrect in your assessment."
That is when Vex-Jora's head straightened out, jagged, mechanical, and Nine couldn't help but be uncomfortable under its stare. This is what humanity had seen him and the other Phoenixes as.
"You͚̎ s̢̉h̡̅ä͖́l̗̓l͓̿ ̖̎b̜̃e ͙̓tḁ́ken̳̂ ǐ͈n for̒͢ ͍͡study̙͗." Nine narrowed his optics at Vex-Jora, "W͈̊ë̗ ̫̌shà̖l̬̿l̡̉ ͉̒le̛͎arn ̡̑t̨͌h͖͊e ̺̚t̨͞ru͢͠t̜̔ḩ͑.͙͊"
A sensation settled into Nine's chest, one that burned and writhed inside. He doesn't recognize it, but he found his light burning within his hands.
"Then I shall have to apologize beforehand if you are going to take me." Nine said as he reached out to Day, holding out his hand just as an auto-rifle compiled into his grip, "My brother does not appreciate it when his family comes to harm." Then, he aimed his weapon, "And I am the same."
Bullets sprayed towards Vex-Jora and as Nine expected, she shifted, and the familiar wisps of darkness permeated around her form. Just like he had witnessed with Isamu, the wisps devoured the bullets, leaving nothing behind but small wisps lingering in the air. Thus, Nine holstered his weapon before focusing his light around his body. Then, he rushed her.
He saw Vex-Jora's form stiffen, reeling, before quickly, she raised her hands and Nine saw darkness gather around her fingertips. And then clamp into a fist.
Feeling the floor beneath him tremble, Nine took it as a sign to leap to the side. That is when he heard the familiar sound of concrete crumbling and metal scream just as a spout of darkness burst forth from where he just stood. He then saw the floor before him bulge and he kept moving.
Nine leaped every time a spout of darkness burst before him, gathering more of his light around his person as he felt the chill, the malevolence clinging to his armor.
That is when a spout burst in front of him.
Taking in a deep breath, Nine gathered as much light as he could around himself, feeling his optics burn before he rushed in. And his vision clouded with darkness.
It was strange.
He had thought that this sensation building within his chest would dissipate after his rampage. But it didn't. Instead, his thoughts wandered over to a frightened child in their mother's arms, seeing the look of terror in their eyes. It was enough to snap him out of his rage, only to be replaced with another: guilt.
Staring down at his hands, he found himself flexing his fingers before he glanced back, his optics dimming as he spotted the familiar shape of earth; he doesn't recall taking a ship to the moon but after his grief-filled rampage, everything had gone blank. All he knows now is that he had failed, failed his given opportunity by Hwan-Lee, and failed the promise he had made to Ben.
Letting his hands fall to his side, he then jumped when his fingertips brushed over a grip, the shape all too familiar. When did he grab a pistol?
Turning his optics towards his waist, he stared at it, contemplating before he removed it from his hip. It matters not now when or where he obtained it, not when he now has a use for it.
After all, there is no doubt that thanks to the blood on his hands, the law will come and arrest him. Then, he will be decommissioned. Nothing matters now.
Settling himself onto the dusty hearth of the moon, he pondered silently as he pressed the barrel of the pistol under his jaw, making sure to dig in between his plating to ensure the shot.
What would Hwan-Lee and Ben say if they saw him now?
With this lingering in his thoughts, he pulled the trigger.
"Nine! Get a hold of yourself!"
Snapping out of his reverie, Nine then felt the familiar tug of Day pulling at his mind.
"Snap out of it!" His Ghost shouted at him, "The Darkness has almost eaten away through your defenses! Wake up!"
Forcing the daze to the side, Nine then focused his light back around his form, feeling it grow in strength before he dug his feet into the floor and leaped. That is when the darkness broke free and the wide space of the Vex came into view, prompting him to land on his feet, skidding across the smooth floor. Then, he turned his attention onto Vex-Jora. Only to lean back as he barely dodged a swing of a punch.
Stumbling back, Nine ducked when another punch came his way and this time, he retaliated with one of his own. He swung his into Vex-Jora's side, powered with light, and he heard it let out a shout, prompting him to take his other hand and swing up.
Thanks to Vex-Jora's towering form, it was easy to hit her jaw. What he wasn't expecting was to hear a crack, the sound of glass falling, and he looked up to see the last remnants of Vex-Jora's optic break completely, leaving nothing but a hole behind as it stumbled backwards.
It slumped forward but remained standing, before slowly it lifted itself. Nine could hear its joints creak and crack as it rose.
"W̬̾e̱͘ ͖̈h͎̆avé͕ ̤͠unde͎͋r̢̃es̓͜t͙̑i̞̒m̯̉aṯ̊ë̩́d ̥̓yọ͛ǔ͢,́͜ em͜͝bod̦͂i̬̐m͇̋è͓n͟͡t ọ̆f̟͊ ̛̣t̖̐h̻͘e ̜̂T̹̕r̅͜aṿ́e̗͂ler̡͆.͎͑." Despite himself, Nine flinched at the name, "O̫̅u̪̔r͉͝ o͖͊r̺̂ī̪g͈̏ì̫na̫̚l obṩe̩̋r̾͟v̮̅a̞̒t͓̑ï̩ons͈̕ ̲̂ȟ͢a̘̎d̗̈ ͇̑dete̻̓ř̮mȉ͙ned̤̉ ̤̚ṱ͐h̤̆at͖̐ ͈̅t̺̚h̳͞e ̝́Ḏ̇ar̪̐knẹ̿ṣ͑s ̣́ẘ̞a̰̓s͍̐ ͔̂ọ̋f̘̾ ̱͡g̯͡r̝̕ea̢̕t̡̉e̻͊r̥̚ a̢͠ ̫̒thr̛̫ea͙̅t̞̂.̦̈́ Yõ̼ů̘ ͎̽hȁ͉ve p̢͡rov̝̉e̯͑n͚̄ ͇͐th̠͊eŕ̩e ̭́i̻͋s̩͛ ̇͜m͛͢ỏ͢r͙̃e̩̎ t̠̿ô̹ st̺͌u͎͐dy.͈̈"
Nine once again couldn't help the displeasure set in.
"I am not an object for study." He said, "and I am not going to partake of your experiments."
"Th͚͛a͙͂t į̾s n̺̐ot̫̂ ̈͟y̞̒ó͜u̝͡r̠̂ ͔͋c̛̦h̜͌o̙̎ić͉e̖̊.͈̌"
Nine gritted his jaw, optics flaring red, and he wanted to shout, to yell. He went to do so. But then his stomach twisted, throat going tight, and Nine found himself unable to audible form words. Not when the fear lingered to the front, flashes of his fellow Units being dragged away, never to be seen again.
He clamped his mouth shut and took a step back, forcing the echoes of the past to the side.
"Nine?" He heard Day call out softly, but he didn't respond.
Instead, he gathered his light, letting it flare around him and went to charge. Only to feel a hand grab him by the throat.
He choked, kicking as he felt his feet leave the floor and he found himself staring down the broken optic of Vex-Jora.
"Ȳ͎o̙͌ǘ͖ ḁ̓re̺͂ ͈͞d̬̕ị̍s̜̊t͉͊ra͌͜c̡̏t̹͝e̗͞d̪̍.̙̈́" It said, "Te̻̒ll͙̀ u̞͘s̼̈́, ̞̋e̝̚m̺̐bo̓͜di̖̽m̦̅en̢̉t ̩͐ȍ̤f͈̋ ̯͡th̛͉e̻̐ ͍̀Tra͔͂v̙͌e̟̋le̤͋r, ͖̎w͖̾h͉̄ả̩t ̞̒bo͕̍th͓̔é̞r͆͟ẻ͍d ͋͜you͝ͅ ͎̈s͂͜o͚͐?̼̓"
Seeing the wisps of darkness permeate from her arm, Nine took in a breath, forcing his building rage and fear down.
"Tell me, Vex." He said instead, "Have you ever made a choice of your own?"
"W̨͊e̳̓ ̧͌aŗ͗ȩ͌ of u̯̾n̳͝i̻̚s̖̔ǫ̀n̛̹.̢̈ O̩̒ů̯ṟ̇ ̥́ch̬̔ò̞ĭ̻c͘ͅe͍̍s̥͡ are ̫́of ͚̆oně̬."
Nine wasn't surprised at the answer.
"That sounds more like the Mind is speaking on your behalf," He said; he felt Vex-Jora's hand shift, heading lifting minutely, "Do you not speak for yourself?"
"Ẇ̦ė͟ ̩̀ä̙r̞̉ẻ͚ on͈̋e.͚͌" The answer sounded automated, lacking self-awareness, "Ou̥͗r ̫͞th̨͗o͇̽u͘͢g̪͝h͓͑t͞ͅs̜̚ ͔̋arȇ̩ of̢̕ ̜̈a͙̎ c̖͋o̲͛l̬͝l̜̚e͎̽ct̞͡iv͕̄e̳͊. T͈͂hē̱ ͓͐c̖̒o̮̊ll̩͝e̡͑ct͇̚ǐ̳ve ̱͌aŕ̪e̖͋ aľ͉l ͍̚of̱̋ ̺͒us."
"Again, the Mind is speaking, not yourself." Nine said and this time, Vex-Jora looked at him, despite its blindness, "I will ask again Vex. Have you ever made a choice of your own volition?"
Watching as the corrupted Revenant tilted their head, obvious in thought, Nine then felt their grip slack. This prompted him to swing his leg forward and slam his knee into Vex-Jora's abdomen, hearing it let out a strangled sound as it lost its grip from his neck completely.
Landing on his feet, Nine then pivoted, twisting his body before swinging a leg at its head. Just as he hoped, he felt his heel make contact, hearing Vex-Jora let out another strangled sound as it stumbled. This allowed Nine to focus his gathered light.
And release.
This time, there was a scream from Vex-Jora, the flash blinding to the point where Nine couldn't see, losing track of it. But not like he could when he felt his limbs go numb, his legs buckling underneath him. And then collapsed.
"Nine!"
Falling to his knees, Nine pressed a hand onto the floor to keep himself from falling. This did little to ease his lightheadedness.
Dusk had weakened significantly more than he had thought.
"You pushed yourself too far." He heard Day speak in his head, "Didn't you hear us tell the others that you were still recovering?"
Opting to say nothing, Nine instead lifted his optics where he had last seen Vex-Jora, and he couldn't help but be pleased that they too were on their knees, both hands pressed against the ground. From where he kneeled, he could see parts of armor – both Guardian and Vex – missing, smoke lingering over where the blast of light had hit them. He could even see the skin of the Revenant that the Vex had taken over.
"Traveler." He heard Day breath out, "If this keeps up, I might have to force you on bed rest. That way you won't overexert yourself."
Unable to help but be amused at his Ghost's comment, Nine then spotted a minuet shift from Vex-Jora, prompting him to straighten out, ready to leap to his feet. He watched as Vex-Jora twisted her head side-to-side – jagged, machine-like – before their broken optic fell onto him.
"We ͈̈ĥ̯aṽ̝e͙͋ undê͎r͓̀e̙͆sti̭͗ṃ͊ȁ̢ṯ̏ė̞d͉̓ ̧͘ȳ͖ȏ̪u̗͌." It said, "W̠̌ẽ̖ ̣͑s͚̎h̥͑a͙̅l̙̅l ͔̽ṇ͞o̺͒t ̠̎m̗̂a͚͋kḛ́ ͖̆t̠̍h̟͘ē̗ s͉̚a̺͋m̤͂e̮͗ ̘͊m̝͋i̎͜s̞͠t̠̏á̦k͚͑e͔̽ ̥̇agaỉ̩n.̟̍"
That is when Nine saw wisps of darkness form around her shoulders.
Pushing himself up just enough so that his feet could dig into the floor, Nine then dashed towards Vex-Jora, and swung his leg at her. Instead of contact however, he felt a grip grab him by the ankle which was quickly followed by the sensation of being swung, a moment of freefall, and then pain as he landed on his back.
Taking in a rasping breath, Nine blinked to clear the static lingering in his vision. Then felt the grip around his leg slack, prompting it to fall to the floor before he felt a hand grab him by the front of his coat. He was easily lifted into the air.
"Yo͌ͅu ̧̓a̹͌re̬̚ ̹̂oų͝ṟ̅ŝ͢.̟̂"
Nine then saw Vex-Jora raise a hand and behind it, a cloud of static formed. It didn't take long for it to clear and reveal what she had summoned: a circular Vex gate.
Reaching out and gripping Vex-Jora's arm, Nine dug his fingers in, focusing his light around his hand.
That is when he felt a shock slam into his body.
It was sudden, unexpectant, and thus Nine couldn't help a shout as pain permeated throughout his senses. He then heard another join his.
"Day?" Nine managed out and he could hear his Ghost vividly scream now, feeling them contort inside his head.
It took him a while to realize why: The Darkness. Vex-Jora was utilizing the darkness.
That is when Nine felt himself further being lifted, saw the last of the wicked lightning leaving his sight, and finally, he heard Day go silent. Their consciousness is faint now in the back of his head.
Worry took the place of the aching pains and Nine reached out to his Ghost, touching their thoughts. There is a weak tug back, but he barely felt it and fear took hold within his chest. He reached out to Knight. And he felt nothing.
His core twisted.
"C̱͝o̹̕m͉͌m̦̽é͈n͈̚c̛̰i̙͠ņ̊g̪͌ ̨̈s̼̑ṭ̍u̓ͅḍ̄y̟̐."
Vex-Jora's voice pulled Nine back to reality and it was then he took notice that the Vex had raised their other hand, static flickering around her wrists. And behind it, he could see a gate take shape. It took little thought to realize their intent.
As he prepared himself to retaliate, Nine suddenly felt himself being swung and in turn, he tightened his grip around Vex-Jora's wrist, and braced himself as he felt her hand release the front of his coat. And he felt himself go flying.
However, before Nine could prepare himself, to see the flash of entering a Vex Gate, instead he felt an impact slam into his side, momentarily feeling malevolence and grief as he felt his body jerk and land. Then he was sliding, skidding across the smooth surface of the floor before he finally reached out and dug a hand in, feeling the plating between his fingers shift and break. Nonetheless, he was able to slow and then stop himself.
Pressing a hand to the floor, Nine couldn't help but be confused, bewildered as he lifted his optics.
"Isamu?" He realized.
The Titan in question was near Vex-Jora – the latter pushing themselves up from the floor too – and he was on his hands and knees, only momentarily looking Nine's way before he jerked and trembled as the last of the violet arc light flickered away.
Quickly standing to his feet, Nine then saw Vex-Jora do the same. Their head turn rigidly.
"Yo̫͛ṵ̊ ͍͋a̰͋re ṇ͋ot ͓̈́f̱͌u̦̽lly̧̕ ̠͞ǎ̜ss̺̊i͓͌mi̛̤l̳͒atę̓d̹̀." She sounded almost disappointed. In turn, Nine saw Isamu flinch, "B̪̿ụ̊t̽͟ ̄͜ý͜et,̦̍ y̳͌o͎͡u͓͊ can͔͂ ͉̓h̦̃eá̰r ̯͋oū̫r̘̃ ͖̑t̛̰ḥ͑o̦̕u͖͋g̫̓ht̯͞s̙̓,̩̀ o̻͑û̖r͖̽ ̆͜mi̤͒nd͍͗.̝̈ ͈͠Y͇̆ou͇͞ ̝̎a͕̎r͖͡e ǘ̜ś̥. ̠̕W̃͢e͚͂ ̽ͅa̞͒rê̱ ̢̉yo̡͡ȕ͕.̗́"
That is when Vex-Jora reached out a hand.
Ignoring the protests from his body, Nine charged forward. Only to hear a shotgun ring through the air, followed by the Vex's scream.
Coming to a halt, Nine turned, only to see Akiva – the front of his armor cracked and scorched – standing near Vex-Jora, a shotgun in his hand. He pumped the weapon and then aimed it at the Vex.
"You leave that father be." He snarled before he fired again.
Again, Vex-Jora let out another scream, fumbling back from the blow.
If Akiva showed any sign of empathy, any sign of remorse, he showed nothing as he continued to fire, taking steady steps forward as Vex-Jora stumbled back from each shot. Taking the chance, Nine gathered all the light he could into his hands, feeling it burn and waited until Akiva's clip clicked empty.
Then, Nine tossed his solar grenade onto Vex-Jora, watching it swerve in the air and latch onto its chest. He then saw Akiva leap back. And the high-pitched sound that had followed the grenades suddenly ceased.
The explosion followed after was blinding, loud, that Nine even held up a hand and took steps back, squinting. It didn't take long for Vex-Jora's wails to echo through the air. Followed by her flaming form stepping out from the smoke.
Her screams were distorted, a mixture of machine and humanity, and it flailed, as if to try and put itself out. Unfortunately for it, Nine's solar light isn't so easy to be rid of.
As he watched Vex-Jora stumble out, Nine then saw it suddenly fumble to a slow stop before it turned its head to Isamu. Then, it reached out a hand.
"Isamu!"
The voice that rang out was absent of the Vex and sounded entirely normal, human, and Nine couldn't help but look on with wide optics. Then, he turned his attention to Isamu.
The latter had lifted his head again, a hand upon the floor to keep himself steady and slowly raised the other.
"Jora?"
His call was soft, hopeful, relieved, and Nine couldn't help but feel pity, empathy towards the Revenant.
It didn't help that in turn, the Vex – Jora? – suddenly turned, clenching their head as it let out one last wail before finally, it collapsed, falling to its knees first before falling forward.
That is when they all waited, waited for any other sign of life. Only to be met with nothing.
Nine then heard a cry, and he turned to see Crystalline, hovering over what he recognizes as a shell of violet.
Hajime. Isamu's Ghost.
Not only had they failed to bring Jora back, but his Ghost as well…
Shoving the thought to the side, Nine instead forced himself to focus back onto Isamu and he could see the Titan had fallen onto his hands, as if bracing the floor. His head is bowed but Nine can see his shoulders tremble, fingers digging into the floor.
Then, he heard the Titan let out a grief-stricken wail.
Xxxxx
Relief and grief twisted within Crystalline's core as she watched Knight – Nine, she corrects herself – help steady Isamu, the latter stumbling over his feet as they finally started tracing their steps back.
Nine had offered her a place in his head, reaching out a hand for safety but she denied it. She wanted to hear her own thoughts, trying to gather the loss that they had just suffered.
The blast of darkness. Hajime's death. Isamu's corruption. Jora's screams.
It was all too clear in her core.
Shaking herself side to side, Crystalline decided to fly past Nine and Isamu – both taking the back of the group – and instead glided close to Akiva and Angel, both having taken the front. The latter, still unconscious, is upon Akiva's back. If it wasn't for the remaining wisps of darkness and the burns across his armor, she would have thought him asleep.
This mission was a disaster.
The words entered her thoughts before she could stop herself and Crystalline couldn't help but press her shell against her core, grinding them together as she tried to shrug the thought away.
It didn't work.
Taking in a deep breath, Crystalline found herself staying back, up until she is again over Nine's and Isamu's shoulders once more and this time, she allowed herself to look at the Revenant.
The helmet obscured his face, but she wouldn't be surprised if she were to find tears, face twisted in grief. Despite this, her optic soon settled over assimilated parts of his body.
It was a mess.
Parts of his right breast is copper now and the same goes for his forearm and hand. It continued to open and close in spasms, as if unused to the body it is connected to. That might explain why Isamu is having trouble walking as she can see that his foot – from the knee down – also has been turned and it almost seemed to refuse to listen, stiff as he walked.
The human side of him is leaning against Nine, arm wrapped around the former's shoulder and in that hand, Crystalline can see the remnants of Hajime.
Despite her best efforts to put her fellow Ghost together, Crystalline can see the cracks, the damage where the grenade had latched itself onto his core and killed him.
She had only reunited with him for a short time and already, she lost him again.
And Isamu will join him soon.
Crystalline didn't want to admit it but she felt his life fading, his angry Darkness and gentle Light fading within his chest. No doubt a product of assimilation. And even then, if that doesn't kill him, the lack of his Ghost will. After all, there's a price when utilizing both the Darkness and the Light.
"I cannot help but feel the Vex are waiting for us to reach the Gate." Akiva's voice broke the silence, prompting Crystalline to turn her attention to him; the former shifted his grip, hefting Angel better onto his back, "What better way to ambush us when we believe all is safe?"
"I can promise you that they are done." Isamu's voice is strained, practically heaving, "Their main asset has been destroyed and they know that other attempts to stop us would just lead to more losses."
"Does not mean we lower our guard." Nine spoke, "For the reason that although there is no more a threat inside this reality, there is a possibility one maybe waiting outside for us on Venus."
That is when Crystalline heard a hum from Akiva.
"Wonder how the twins and Eidr are doing." He said; that is when Crystalline saw him glance over his shoulder and she could sense the nervous smile behind his helmet, "Hopefully your son didn't cause too much trouble for them."
At first, Crystalline thought Isamu would lash out, angry at a joke during a time of grief. So, she is surprised that instead Isamu let out a snort – strained and quiet, but somehow audible.
"Through my experience, I say they might have a bit of work." He said.
Listening to Akiva chuckle, Crystalline felt the air around them ease and she can physically see the tension in everyone's shoulders relax. Not enough to completely lower their guards, but enough.
Thus, pressing her shell against her core, Crystalline finally decided to ask, "Do you think the Revenants will be able to help you?"
She knows it is not a proper time. In honestly, she was going to ask when they were outside, treated their wounds, and they were all recovered. But she couldn't wait, not when she could literally see Isamu dying right in front of her.
In response to her question, Crystalline saw Isamu lift his head to look at her and she could sense his tired gaze, filled with pain.
"I'm not certain." He finally admitted, "Last I had spoken with the others, it was when the treaty between the Tower and the Revenants were first established."
"That long?" Akiva piped in and then a paused, "Wait, you were trapped in Vex time for that long?" Crystalline felt his eyes settle upon her, "You and your previous Chosen weren't able to help them during that time?"
Crystalline knows Akiva didn't ask out of malice, not out of malevolence, only out of curiosity. Nonetheless, she felt the rage bubble within her core, and she snapped.
"Do you think we haven't!?" She saw Akiva jerk back, "Blaise and I ran back to the others as fast as we could, but no one would believe us! After all, those who are captured by the Vex are wiped from existence!" Then, just as anger took over, the grief, the guilt, settled in, "No matter how much Blaise and I wanted to come here and help them, there was no possible way we could have done it alone." Her shell drooped, "There was no one who believed us enough to help."
Crystalline couldn't help but quiver at the memory.
Blaise running around the base, snatching anyone within range who would listen, pleading with them to return with him to Venus. It was the only time she had seen her Guardian beg for anything.
But all they received were confused looks, questions are on who Jora and Isamu were before being shrugged away. After that, Blaise spent majority of his time away from the others. Crystalline couldn't help but believe it is a grudge, anger that the members of the Revenants lack of belief in him. Not that she could blame him. She had felt the same.
The only reason they returned was because of the Preceptor and that was because he was the only one who had believed her and Blaise and all because he had witnessed something similar, back when he was a Guardian. He told them of a Guardian who had run back to the Tower, pleading with anyone who help find his team, only for no one to recognize a name. Praedyth, if Crystalline can recall.
Nonetheless, despite his belief in their words, the Preceptor could be of no help as well. He may be knowledgeable of the Darkness, but that was a different story for the Vex, and not to mention he cannot simply force a vast majority of the Revenants to believe them. All he could do was explain why no one remembered Jora and Isamu and possible scenarios on how to save them. In the end, all Blaise and Crystalline could do was accept that they were gone.
What could they have done alone?
"You done all you can."
Crystalline snapped out of her memory, turning her optic onto Nine.
"Despite the loss of Jora, be grateful that Isamu made it out." He said.
Crystalline stared, and then blinked, "But…"
The guilt, the grief twisted her core enough that she couldn't say anymore.
"Sometimes, the best you can do is all you can do." Crystalline remained quiet at Nine's words, "Everything may not turn out how you wanted but remembered, you tried. That is all that matters."
She knows it was an attempt by Nine to comfort her, to help assuage her guilt, her grief however, it still twisted heavily within her core, the memory of her and Blaise reaching out as they helplessly witnessed Jora and Isamu being shoved into a Vex Portal. And this is soon followed by Jora's death and Isamu's assimilation.
And the only satisfying end that she and Blaise had was killing the Guardians responsible.
"Crystalline."
Hearing Isamu's whispers, she turned and fixed her yellow optic onto the Revenant. She can feel his eyes upon her through his helmet.
He wanted to say something.
At first, Crystalline once again stared, uncertain but slowly, she glided close. As she closed in, Crystalline saw him tilt his head forward and it wasn't long until it tapped against her shell. She blinked. He didn't move.
"You and Blaise did your best."
It hit her. Hard. And Crystalline found her self-restraint break.
"I'm sorry." She apologized as she pressed herself against Isamu, squeezing her optic shut, "I'm so sorry. We're so sorry."
The apologies that she and Blaise had kept for so long, buried deep since the day they couldn't save Isamu and Jora, she let it go, repeating them over and over. It was something that the two of them believed would never happen. Although Blaise isn't here anymore, she is at least present to do so.
There is a hush from Isamu, "There is nothing to forgive, you and Blaise did nothing wrong. It wasn't your fault."
The guilt lingered but the worst of it faded away at his words.
For so long, she and Blaise had wondered if Isamu and Jora had blamed them for their misfortune. After all, despite their distrust, they had decided to let the Guardians responsible stay within their group when they had found them wandering, obviously lost. The Vault of Glass is best explored in number. For safety. They had soon been proven wrong.
Thus, to hear Isamu say this, Crystalline couldn't help but release a breath and all the years, all the years of wondering faded away. And replaced with relief.
She glided back, feeling lighter now as she opened her optic. Despite his helmet, she can feel Isamu's eyes on her, soft, melancholic.
"Tell me." He said, "What happened to Blaise?"
Again, her core twisted, grief settling in but, he deserves to know. After all, he doesn't have much time left.
"It started when we received news of the Splicers creating a base underground…"
Xxxxx
"Traveler, we thought you died or something."
Blinking past the spots of static around her vision, Crystalline turned her attention to a nearby cliff – small but tall enough for high positioning – and she spotted one of the twins' head – Gemini or Scorpio, she can't tell – pop out from behind some rocks.
"Hey! Scorpio!" It was Gemini, the latter glancing back and waved a hand, "They're back!"
"Really!?" The head of the other twin popped out, "Finally." He stood and Crystalline can see Eidr in his arms. The latter look relatively unharmed, much to her relief, "When we saw the Vex disappear, Gemini and I thought you died or something."
"What?" Akiva's voice rang out behind Crystalline; she didn't understand why he sounded so surprised. They were on Venus after all, "The Vex attacked you?"
There is a nod from Gemini before Crystalline watched her swing her legs over the side of the rocks and leaping down. There is an audible splash as she landed in the marsh.
"Yeah, they kept aiming for the kid." She pointed back with her head to her twin – or more specifically, Eidr- the latter of which is carefully making his way down, "No idea why though but we were able to keep them at bay." That is when she put a hand to her hip and Crystalline can feel her scan them over.
"Huh, you guys are back but I don't see an extra body." Crystalline froze, "Where's this Jora person that you kept on going about?"
Unable to say anything, Crystalline glanced back at Isamu, only to see his head dip, Vex arm clutched to his chest, and Hajime's shell in the other. She wonders how Gemini didn't see any of this.
"Gemini."
Fortunately, though, it seems Scorpio is more attentive, as Crystalline heard him hiss out his twin's name and she turned to see him approach close enough to elbow Gemini in the side; the latter squawked out of surprise.
"Read the room." Scorpio hissed again and this time, when Gemini looked back and when her attention settled upon Isamu, Crystalline saw her shoulders go stiff, body turning rigid.
"…I'm sorry…" She finally said.
There is only a grunt from Isamu and Crystalline doesn't blame him for not saying anything more. He must be exhausted. Nonetheless, she can feel his eyes brush past her and settle upon Eidr, the latter of which, from this distance, she can see is now asleep. She cannot help but wonder how well he would get along with Hush and the other children once he aged.
"What now?" Scorpio's voice pulled Crystalline out of her thoughts and broke the silence, "Do you need a ride back to the Revenants or something, and then contact us when you recuperate or since Jora is…?"
Right, the deal.
The deal where they had failed to bring Jora.
Concerned now, Crystalline pressed her shell against her core as she turned to Isamu. He had subtly lifted his head, eyes focused upon Scorpio. Then, he shook his head.
"Take me straight to this friend of yours."
A beat of silence.
"Huh?" Akiva's voice broke through, "But the Vex, they corrupted you. The Revenants-"
"Will not be able to help me." Crystalline, despite herself, flinched at Isamu's words; it was true, after all, "Despite our studies into the Darkness, we hardly know anything on the Vex. The Hive is where our true attention lies." She heard him breath out, strained, "The Revenants know nothing when it comes to those time travelers." Another shuddering breath, "Just take me to the Tower and we will see if this friend of yours can be saved."
"And then afterwards, we will find a way to save you." Akiva's voice sounded hopeful. Crystalline sensed him smile when Isamu glanced up at him, "There is a cure for everything." He raised a hand and patted Isamu's shoulder, "Just hold on tight until then, alright?"
It seems Akiva has grown attached, which would make sense. There aren't many Guardian parents back at the Tower.
In turn, Crystalline heard Isamu chuckle. Tired. Resigned.
"You Tower Guardians, always so hopeful." She heard him say before he sighed, "But, I guess that is one thing I can respect you for."
It was strange to hear Isamu utter this admittance. He hated the Tower Guardians almost as much as Blaise did. At least, back then, vocally at least.
"Let us hurry, then." Nine's voice prompted her to turn to him, "I doubt Ianos and Isamu will appreciate waiting longer than necessary."
Right, both are dying from corruption – different types but corruption nonetheless. And they needed to act quickly.
Thus, there is a nod from everyone, and it was Akiva who spoke next, "We'll use my ship."