FYI, Sterben and his fireteam will be taking care of important universe plots when the main cast is elsewhere; I plan for them to mainly be involved with all the major Vex and Fallen storylines. Essentially, I have Pyhrra and Penny taking the place of the Player Guardian in all D1 to Red War Hive and Cabel storylines/Raids and Sterben's fireteam in all Fallen/Vex storylines/Raids. There will be a couple of cooldown chapters before tackling the events of War Mind; I wonder how Jaune/Oscar will react to our favorite AI ballet enjoyer.
Chapter 36: Echoes of Light
The Tower's evening calm shattered as Sterben-17's jumpship roared into the hangar, its hull still smoking from the chaotic escape from Mercury. Amanda Holliday was already moving toward the landing pad, her experienced eye cataloging the damage even before the engines cycled down.
"By the Traveler," she muttered, watching the ramp descend. "What happened out there?"
Sterben emerged first, his Exo frame showing signs of battle damage. Seron-12 and Verea followed, their armor scorched and dented. But it was the small figure floating between them that drew Amanda's immediate attention - Sagira, her unique shell pulsing with a faint, sorrowful light.
"We need to see Ikora," Sterben said quietly. "Immediately."
The walk to the Warlock Vanguard's study felt endless. Guardians and civilians alike stepped aside as they passed, sensing the weight of what had occurred. Sagira remained silent, her shell occasionally brushing against the remnants of simulation data that still clung to their armor.
They found Ikora at her usual post, ancient texts spread across her desk as she studied reports of Hive activity near Saturn. She looked up as they entered, her expression shifting instantly from scholarly focus to sharp concern.
"Report," she commanded, rising from her seat.
Sterben stepped forward. "Mercury is secure, but..." He glanced at Sagira. "The cost was high."
"Osiris is gone," Sagira said, her voice carrying echoes of her Guardian's final moments. "He sacrificed himself to destroy Penopties and sever the Infinite Forest. The Vex's primary simulation engine is offline."
Ikora's hands gripped the edge of her desk, her knuckles whitening. "Explain. Everything."
The fireteam took turns recounting the battle - the push through the Forest's defenses, the confrontation with Penopties, and Osiris's final, devastating channeling of Light. As they spoke, Sagira projected fragments of recorded data, letting Ikora see glimpses of her mentor's last stand.
"He knew," Seron-12 added softly. "He knew exactly what it would cost, and he did it anyway."
"Of course he did," Ikora replied, her voice tight with emotion she wouldn't allow herself to show. "That was always his way - seeing the necessary sacrifices before anyone else."
Verea stepped forward, her Awoken eyes glowing with conviction. "His sacrifice won't be in vain. The Vex lost their primary simulation engine. It will take them centuries to rebuild what was destroyed today."
"Centuries we desperately need," Ikora agreed. She turned to Sagira, who had drifted to hover near one of Osiris's old manuscripts. "And you? What are your intentions now?"
"My Guardian's final command was clear," Sagira replied. "I am to aid the City however I can. His Light preserved my connection to this realm - I intend to honor that gift."
Ikora nodded slowly. "Then we have work to do. The Vex will not be idle, even without the Forest. And there are... other threats gathering." She looked at each member of the fireteam in turn. "You've proven yourselves beyond any doubt. The City will need Guardians of your caliber in the days ahead."
"We'll be ready," Sterben assured her. "Whatever comes next."
"Good." Ikora's gaze returned to Sagira. "Because I suspect Osiris saw something coming - something that demanded this level of sacrifice to prepare for."
Sagira's shell expanded slightly. "He left instructions," she confirmed. "Data recovered from the Forest's collapse. But it will take time to decode."
"Then we'd better get started," Ikora said. She gestured to her desk, covered in reports of Hive activity. "Because if I know my old mentor, he wouldn't have gone to these lengths without good reason."
The fireteam exchanged glances, understanding the dismissal. As they turned to leave, Ikora called out one final time:
"Sterben." Her voice carried the weight of command. "Well done. All of you."
The Exo Hunter nodded once, then led his team out. They had earned their rest, but they all knew this was just the beginning. Something was coming - something that had driven Osiris to sacrifice everything to prepare for it.
And when it arrived, they would be ready.
In her study, Ikora Rey stood alone save for Sagira's gentle presence. She picked up one of Osiris's old texts, her fingers tracing the familiar handwriting.
"What did you see, old friend?" she whispered. "What was worth dying to prevent?"
Sagira's light pulsed softly in the growing darkness, but she had no answers - only the echo of her Guardian's final, determined sacrifice.
The night deepened around the Tower as Guardians continued their endless vigil. Somewhere in the depths of space, ancient powers stirred. And in a quiet study, two beings who had loved the same brilliant, impossible man began the long work of understanding why he had chosen to leave them behind.
They had centuries before the Vex could rebuild their simulation engine. They would need every moment of that time to prepare for whatever was coming.
The Light had won today, but the cost had been higher than anyone could have imagined. And somewhere in the darkness between stars, something waited - something terrible enough to drive the great Osiris to his final, devastating choice.
The Tower's refectory hummed with evening activity as Sterben-17's fireteam claimed a quiet corner table. Their recent mission to Mercury had left them drained, though not in ways visible to casual observers.
"You should eat something," Verea said quietly to Sterben, who sat staring at his untouched plate.
"I'm fine," he replied, his mechanical features arranged in what passed for a tired smile. "Just... processing."
"Hey, mind if we join you?"
They looked up to find Yang standing with her tray, Blake and Weiss close behind. The three new Guardians looked exhausted but satisfied - clearly fresh from Crucible training.
"Please," Seron-12 gestured to the empty seats. "Some friendly faces would be welcome."
As they settled in, Weiss's scholarly instincts immediately picked up on the tension. "You've just returned from Mercury, haven't you? We heard there was some sort of operation in the Infinite Forest."
"That obvious, huh?" Sterben's optics flickered briefly. "Yeah. Though it... didn't go exactly as planned."
"Did something happen?" Blake asked, her ears twitching forward with concern.
Verea and Seron-12 exchanged glances before the latter spoke. "Osiris is gone. He sacrificed himself to destroy the Vex's primary simulation engine. Penopties had achieved something unprecedented - perfect Light simulation in their combat units."
"Wait, what?" Yang set down her fork. "The Vex could simulate Light?"
"Not just simulate it," Sterben explained. "They could replicate Guardian abilities with perfect accuracy. Every movement, every technique - like fighting against mirror images of ourselves."
"That's... disturbing," Weiss said, her Warlock curiosity warring with obvious concern. "Though interestingly different from what we encountered on the Dreadnaught."
"The corrupted Knight," Blake nodded. "It wasn't simulation - it was actual Light being twisted against its nature."
"Different approaches to the same problem," Seron-12 mused. "Our enemies learning to counter our greatest advantage, each in their own way."
Yang's eyes had taken on a reddish tinge. "So Osiris stopped them? Permanently?"
"Set them back centuries," Verea confirmed. "But the cost..." She trailed off, the weight of loss evident in her voice.
"How's Ikora taking it?" Blake asked softly.
"About as well as you'd expect," Sterben replied. "Focused on the work, the implications. Sagira survived at least - Osiris made sure of that."
Weiss leaned forward, her scholarly nature fully engaged now. "We should compile our data - what you observed about their Light simulation capabilities, what we encountered with Light corruption. If our enemies are evolving their tactics..."
"Agreed," Seron-12 nodded. "But not tonight. Tonight we honor the fallen and rest."
"To Osiris then," Yang raised her glass, understanding the need for ceremony in such moments. "And to all who stand against the darkness."
They joined the toast, their Light humming in quiet harmony. Around them, the refectory continued its normal routines, unaware of the weight of what had been discovered.
"So," Sterben said after a moment, clearly wanting to change the subject. "We heard you three have been terrorizing Shaxx's Crucible arenas. Something about Yang and disappearing platforms?"
"Oh no," Yang groaned while Blake smirked. "Who told you about that?"
"Lord Shaxx may have mentioned it. Several times. Very loudly." Verea's eyes sparkled with amusement.
The conversation shifted to lighter topics - training stories, Crucible mishaps, the challenges of mastering new Light abilities. But underneath ran a current of shared purpose and growing concern. Their enemies were adapting, finding new ways to counter the Light. Whether through corruption or simulation, the darkness was learning.
They would face it together, as Guardians always had. But first, they needed to understand what they were truly facing - and what Osiris had seen that made victory worth dying for.
The night deepened around the Tower as they talked, sharing what comfort they could find in fellowship and common cause. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new mysteries to unravel.
But for now, they had this moment - this quiet dinner among friends who understood the weight of what it meant to stand against the dark.
It would have to be enough.
The medical bay's soft lights cast gentle shadows across Jaune's recovery room. He sat propped up in bed, looking stronger than he had in days, though exhaustion still lined his features. Ruby and Oscar occupied chairs near his bedside while Pyrrha maintained her constant vigil.
"We need to talk about New Monarchy," Adam said from his position against the wall. "They're going to react... strongly when they learn you're back."
Jaune groaned, sinking deeper into his pillows. "Light, not this again. Are they still pushing that ridiculous idea?"
"What idea?" Pyrrha asked, looking between them.
"New Monarchy wanted two candidates for their throne," Ruby explained, a mischievous glint in her silver eyes. "Saint-14 was their first choice - the perfect warrior-king. But Jaune..." She grinned at her old friend. "They saw him as the people's champion."
"Both of you?" Oscar asked, genuine surprise in his voice. "I knew about Saint, but they approached you too?"
"They had this whole prophecy," Jaune muttered, clearly uncomfortable. "A golden-haired guardian who would unite the people, protect the weak..." He shook his head. "I was just trying to help refugees reach the City."
"Which is exactly why they wanted you," Adam pointed out. "The humble hero who put others first. You fit their image perfectly."
"Saint at least found it amusing," Ruby added. "He used to joke about starting a civil war with Jaune over who'd have to wear the crown."
"I'm not leading anything," Jaune stated firmly. "The City's done fine without a king."
"Oh, I don't know," Ruby's silver eyes sparkled with mischief. "King Jaune has a certain ring to it..."
"Ruby!"
"Your Majesty?"
"I will throw this pillow at you."
"All hail the golden-haired monarch of pillows!"
"That's it!" Jaune reached for his pillow but Pyrrha caught his hand, laughing despite herself.
Adam pushed off from the wall, his usual stern expression softened by amusement. "I'll talk to Hideo. Buy us some time before he starts planning coronation ceremonies."
"Thanks," Jaune said sincerely. Then, after a pause: "They're not still using that ridiculous throne they built, are they?"
"Oh, it gets better," Ruby grinned. "They've added more gold. And eagles. So many eagles."
"Perfect for ascending to your rightful place!" Penny chimed in cheerfully from the doorway, her wings catching the light as she entered. "Shall I calculate the most efficient processional route through the Tower?"
"Not you too, Penny," Jaune groaned as the room filled with laughter.
"We'll need to control how news of your return spreads," Oscar noted once the mirth subsided. "Executor Hideo will be up here the moment he hears."
"Let them try," Pyrrha said softly, but there was steel in her voice as her hand found Jaune's.
"The Mighty King Jaune, protected by his loyal knight," Ruby couldn't resist one more jab. "It's like something out of a fairy tale!"
"I could start composing the royal anthem!" Penny offered brightly. "My archives contain hundreds of ceremonial pieces!"
"I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?" Jaune asked the ceiling.
"Not a chance, Your Luminous Majesty," Ruby declared with an exaggerated bow.
The medical bay's evening quiet was broken as Yang, Blake and Weiss entered, their faces grave with news that couldn't wait until morning. Ruby looked up from where she sat beside Jaune's bed, immediately sensing something was wrong.
"What happened?" she asked, silver eyes sharp with concern.
"The Infinite Forest is gone," Blake said softly, her ears flat against her head. "Osiris sacrificed himself to destroy the Vex's simulation engine on Mercury."
Weiss stepped forward, her scholarly instincts helping her maintain composure as she began relaying what they'd learned from Sterben's fireteam about Penopties and the Vex's achieved ability to simulate Light.
But before she could finish, Oscar's hand suddenly tightened on his cane, his face going pale. "Saint," he whispered, the terrible realization hitting him first. "Saint was in the Forest searching for Osiris. If the Forest is destroyed..."
The words hung in the air as the others processed what Oscar had just pieced together. Ruby's silver eyes widened with horror while Adam straightened from his position against the wall, his usual stoic expression cracking.
"Both of them," Jaune said from his bed, his voice hollow. "We've lost both of them."
"They fell together," Ruby managed, her voice thick with emotion. "Saint went into that Forest to find Osiris, to bring him home. And now..."
"Felwinter's finest students," Oscar continued, grief etching deeper lines in his face. "He always said they were opposites that made each other whole - Saint's unwavering faith balancing Osiris's endless questioning. Even when they disagreed, their bond never broke."
Yang stepped closer to Oscar, recognizing the deep personal loss in his voice. "You knew them both well?"
"We studied together under Felwinter, back when the Iron Lords were still finding their way." Oscar's eyes grew distant with memory. "Saint was already a legend even then - the greatest Titan who ever lived. And Osiris... his mind worked in ways that left even Felwinter in awe."
"What could have been in that Forest?" Blake asked gently. "What would make Osiris choose to destroy it, knowing Saint was inside?"
"Something worse than we can imagine," Oscar replied grimly. "Osiris wouldn't have made that choice lightly. He spent centuries trying to find Saint, to bring him home. For him to destroy the Forest knowing Saint was there..." He shook his head, unable to complete the thought.
"The Vex's Light simulation must have achieved something truly horrific," Weiss theorized. "Something that had to be stopped at any cost."
"Only Sagira survived," Yang added quietly. "Osiris made sure of that, at least."
The room fell silent as they absorbed the magnitude of the loss - two pillars of the Tower, two legends whose absence would echo through centuries to come. Finally, Oscar spoke again, his voice finding strength despite his grief.
"We honor their sacrifice," he said. "We prepare for whatever Osiris saw coming that made this price worth paying. And we remember what they taught us - that sometimes love means being willing to let go, even of those we'd give anything to save."
"To Osiris and Saint," Ruby raised an imaginary glass, tears in her silver eyes. "Together in Light, together in Dark. May we prove worthy of the future they died to protect."
The others echoed the toast, their Light humming in quiet harmony. Outside, the Last City's lights twinkled beneath the Traveler's watchful presence, its citizens unaware they'd lost two of their greatest protectors in a single moment of necessary sacrifice.
The Tower's central plaza fell silent as Guardians gathered for the memorial service. The usual bustle of commerce and activity had ceased, replaced by a solemn quiet that seemed to press down like a physical weight. Even the Traveler's light felt dimmer, as if the massive sphere understood the gravity of what had been lost.
Ikora Rey stood at the front, her usual scholarly composure masking deeper emotions as she prepared to honor her mentor. Her Ghost hovered close, its shell rotating slowly in shared grief. Commander Zavala's massive frame was similarly still, his Light dimmed in respect. For once, even Cayde-6 maintained a respectful silence, his hood pulled low over his mechanical features.
The gathered crowd represented every facet of Guardian society. Titans stood in formal ranks, their armor polished to a mirror shine. Hunters perched on various vantage points, their cloaks rippling in the evening breeze. Warlocks floated at the edges, their robes rustling with contained power. Among them were faces both new and ancient - some who had known the fallen legends personally, others who had only heard their stories.
Ruby's team stood together near the front, their newly-forged Light humming in quiet harmony with the older Guardians around them. Even Adam had emerged from his usual solitude to pay his respects, though he remained slightly apart from the main gathering.
When Oscar was called to speak, his cane tapped softly against the stones as he made his way to the front. The tome at his belt seemed to pulse with shared grief as he looked out over the assembled Guardians. His voice, when it came, carried the weight of centuries.
"I knew them both when they were young," he began softly, yet his words reached every corner of the plaza. "Before the legends, before the titles. Before Saint-14 became the greatest Titan who ever lived, before Osiris's brilliance changed how we understood the Light itself. I knew them as students, as friends, as brothers in arms."
He paused, gathering memories that stretched back to the earliest days of the City. "Saint was our foundation - the unmovable rock upon which so much of our civilization was built. His faith in humanity never wavered, even in our darkest moments. He saw the best in us, fought for it, died believing in it. The refugees he protected, the lives he saved... each one was precious to him."
Oscar's grip tightened slightly on his cane. "And Osiris... his mind worked in ways that left even our greatest scholars in awe. Every question drove him deeper, every discovery led to new horizons. He sought understanding not for its own sake, but because he believed knowledge was our strongest weapon against the darkness."
"They were opposites in many ways," he continued, his voice growing stronger. "Saint's unshakeable faith balanced against Osiris's endless questioning. One stood as our shield, the other as our sword. Yet they were bound by something deeper than mere duty or friendship. They challenged each other, supported each other, made each other better."
"Their final sacrifice embodies everything they stood for - Saint's unwavering devotion leading him into the Forest to find his friend, and Osiris's willingness to pay any price to protect humanity's future. They died as they lived - together, defending us all against threats most of us will never fully understand."
Oscar's eyes found Ikora in the crowd. "Osiris saw something coming - something that made the destruction of the Infinite Forest worth any cost. Even the cost of his own life, and the life of his dearest friend. We honor that sacrifice by preparing for whatever darkness he foresaw. By standing ready, as Saint and Osiris always stood ready."
"But more than that," Oscar's voice softened with emotion, "we honor them by remembering who they were beyond the legends. Saint-14, who would spend hours playing with children in the City streets, letting them climb on his massive shoulders and pretend he was a living fortress. Osiris, who never turned away a student's question, no matter how basic or complex."
"They weren't just symbols or stories. They were Guardians, like each of us. They loved, they laughed, they argued, they doubted. And in the end, they gave everything to protect what they believed in."
He straightened, his Light flaring briefly. "So remember them. Not just as legends, but as friends who walked these same paths, who faced the same doubts and fears we all face. Remember Saint's laughter echoing through these halls, and Osiris's quiet wisdom in the archives. Remember that they died believing in us - in our strength, our potential, our future."
"To Saint-14 and Osiris," Oscar raised his hand, Light gathering in his palm. "Together in Light, together in Dark. May we prove worthy of the future they died to protect."
As one, the assembled Guardians raised their hands, their combined Light rising toward the Traveler in tribute. Hundreds of Ghosts joined the display, their shells spinning as they added their own light to the growing brilliance. For a moment, the Tower blazed brighter than the sun, a beacon of hope and remembrance visible throughout the City below.
When the light faded, Ikora stepped forward to speak of Osiris's teachings, her voice steady despite the tears in her eyes. Zavala followed, honoring Saint's legendary defense of the City. Other speakers shared their own memories - Lord Shaxx recalled sparring matches with Saint that shook the Tower's foundations, while Brother Vance spoke of Osiris's guidance through the infinite paths of prophecy.
The memorial concluded as the sun set, casting long shadows across the Tower's plaza. As the gathered Guardians began to disperse, their quiet conversations carried tones of both loss and determination. They had lost two pillars of their civilization, two legends whose absence would echo through centuries to come.
But they had also gained something - a renewed sense of purpose, a reminder of what it truly meant to be a Guardian. Whatever darkness approached, whatever threat Osiris had foreseen, they would face it together. They would honor the sacrifice of their fallen heroes by standing ready, by protecting the future Saint and Osiris had died to preserve.
The Last City's lights twinkled below as night fell, its citizens largely unaware they'd lost two of their greatest protectors. But in the Tower above, those who knew - those who remembered - held their Light a little brighter, stood a little straighter, ready to defend the dream Saint-14 and Osiris had given everything to protect.
The memorial might have ended, but their legacy would live on in every Guardian who took up their example. The Light would endure. It had to.
Ruby found Oscar later, standing alone at the Tower's edge. "That was a beautiful speech," she said softly.
Oscar didn't turn, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. "They deserved better words than I could give them."
"They deserved to be remembered as they were," Ruby replied, taking his hand. "Not just as legends, but as people. You gave them that."
Together, they watched the stars emerge above the City - the same stars Saint and Osiris had watched countless times before. Somewhere out there, darkness gathered. But for now, this moment of remembrance was enough.
It had to be.
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