I do not own RWBY, which is the property of Viz Media, or Destiny 2, which is owned by Bungie. All characters, locations, and lore from these franchises belong to their respective creators. This fanfiction is purely for entertainment purposes and not for profit.

Chapter 3: Fractured Light

Nix's shell pulsed faintly, his eye flickering as he hovered near the entrance to the jumpship's hangar. The Arcadia-class vessel loomed above Weiss, its battered hull glistening with a thin layer of frost. The echoes of battle faded momentarily, leaving behind an eerie stillness that seemed out of place.

"We're almost ready," Weiss said, steadying her breath and adjusting her grip on the rifle. "Let's get the final scan done so we can leave."

Nix's eye dimmed slightly as he focused, his data feed running through the ship's diagnostics. "Engines are cold but functional. Navigation systems are barely holding, but we can make it to the Last City."

Weiss allowed herself a brief moment of relief. "Finally, a bit of good news."

Suddenly, Nix's eye flared wide with alarm. "Wait—multiple signals incoming! Fallen patrols are converging. Too many to fight!"

A low, menacing growl vibrated through the ruins. The distant hiss of Ether vents and the heavy thuds of boots on metal grating filled the air. Shapes appeared through the fog, blue-white glows reflecting off rusted steel. Dozens of Fallen Dregs, Vandals, and a hulking Captain were closing in.

Weiss clenched her jaw. "We don't have time to fight them off. Can we get the ship airborne?"

"Only if we move now!" Nix urged.

Without hesitation, Weiss sprinted up the loading ramp, the clang of her boots swallowed by the rising chorus of snarls. Nix zipped inside and activated the jump-ship's systems. The engines roared to life, their deep hum shaking the air as thrusters sputtered and ignited.

A bolt of Arc energy struck the hull, sending sparks flying. The Captain bellowed an order, and a salvo of energy rounds hammered into the ship's armor. Weiss staggered but reached the cockpit, hands flying over controls.

"Get us out of here, Nix!" she shouted.

"On it!" Nix's voice crackled with determination.

The Arcadia-class jumpship shuddered, lifting off the ground just as a wave of Fallen stormed the hangar. Explosions rocked the deck beneath them, but the ship surged skyward, engines blazing with Light-infused fire.

Weiss's fingers trembled slightly as she gripped the flight stick. The hangar and the swarming Fallen grew smaller in the viewscreen until they were nothing but pinpricks of chaos.

"We made it," she whispered, exhaling a shaky breath.

Nix's light pulsed gently. "For now. But there's still a long road ahead."

Weiss nodded, her gaze fixed on the horizon where the Last City awaited. A flicker of hope warmed the cold edges of her heart.

The jumpship's engines hummed steadily as they climbed higher, the atmosphere growing thinner, stars beginning to prick through the darkening sky. Weiss's grip on the controls loosened slightly, the tension in her shoulders starting to ebb.

Then, without warning, the ship jolted violently. The steady hum of the engines sputtered, replaced by a series of sharp, metallic clunks.

"What was that?" Weiss shouted, fingers tightening around the flight stick.

Nix's light flickered in panic. "Engines are losing power! There's a malfunction in the propulsion system!"

The ship bucked again, the nose dipping slightly as the sky in the viewscreen began to spin. Warning lights flared across the console, red symbols blinking in rapid succession.

"We're stalling out!" Nix cried. "We're not going to make orbit!"

Weiss gritted her teeth, fighting to steady the ship. "Give me options!"

"Rerouting power to secondary thrusters," Nix replied, his voice strained. "It might give us just enough boost to stabilize."

Weiss glanced at the altimeter. They were perilously close to the edge of the atmosphere. If they fell back now, they'd plummet straight into the hands of the Fallen.

"Do it!"

Nix's eye glowed fiercely as he worked. The ship groaned in protest, the thrusters sputtering to life with a burst of energy. For a brief, heart-stopping moment, the ship's descent slowed.

But the damage was too severe. The thrusters sputtered again, and the nose of the ship began to drop.

"Weiss, brace for—"

The warning was cut off by a deafening explosion as the left engine blew out. The ship lurched wildly, Weiss's vision blurring as she struggled to keep control.

"We're going down!" Nix shouted.

Weiss's eyes narrowed with determination. "Not yet!"

She pulled back on the flight stick with all her strength, fighting to level the ship even as it shuddered around her. The horizon spun crazily, but she refused to let go.

"Come on, just a little further!"

A spark of Light flared from within, coiling through her veins like molten fire. The ship responded, engines flaring one last time, propelling them just enough to clear the edge of the atmosphere.

The stars stabilized in the viewscreen. They had made it—barely.

Weiss collapsed back into her seat, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Nix, status?"

Nix's light dimmed. "We're in orbit, but the engines are fried. We're drifting."

Weiss closed her eyes, exhaustion and relief washing over her. "We'll figure it out. One step at a time."

Nix's light pulsed softly. "Yeah. One step at a time."

Nix's eye brightened slightly. "Weiss, you're going to need to put on the old environmental suit and check the engines manually. We have no other choice."

Weiss's heart sank, but she nodded. "Alright. Where's the suit?"

"Storage locker to your left."

She grabbed the bulky, worn suit, pulling it on with mechanical precision. The helmet's visor clicked into place, and she took a deep breath.

"Ready," she said, her voice muffled.

"Be careful out there," Nix urged. "The vacuum of space is unforgiving."

Weiss stepped through the airlock, feeling the sudden weightlessness press against her. The vast expanse of space stretched out before her, an endless sea of stars glittering in the void. Her breath caught in her throat.

She had never seen anything like it.

The stars shimmered, cold and brilliant, wrapping around her like a cosmic tapestry. Galaxies sprawled across the darkness, nebulae casting faint hues of violet and blue, and distant suns blazed like scattered gems. The light danced in her eyes, infinite and eternal.

The sheer scale of it struck her deeply. She felt small, a speck of life adrift in a universe too vast to comprehend. Yet, there was a sense of profound peace. The chaos and violence of their escape felt impossibly distant here, replaced by the quiet majesty of the cosmos.

"It's… beautiful," she whispered.

For a long moment, she allowed herself to drift, absorbing the serenity that surrounded her. The weight of her worries lightened as if space itself was inviting her to breathe, to pause, to remember the beauty that still existed beyond the battles and struggles.

"I've always wanted to see the stars like this," she admitted softly. Her voice, though filtered through the helmet, carried a fragile awe. "Not through a window, but to actually feel like I'm a part of it."

Nix's voice crackled in her helmet, gentle and understanding. "You are, Weiss. We all are. The Light connects us to everything—even this."

Weiss took a steadying breath, her heart swelling with a mixture of wonder and determination. The awe of the universe was vast, but her purpose grounded her. She wasn't just floating aimlessly; she had a mission, a fight to win, and people to protect.

"Alright," she said, her voice stronger now. "Let's get to work."

She carefully maneuvered along the jumpship's hull, each movement slow and deliberate. The surface felt cold and unforgiving beneath her gloved hands. Small frost crystals clung to the metal, catching the starlight and sparkling like tiny diamonds.

As she approached the engines, Weiss's confidence faltered. Wires, conduits, and metal panels formed a complex maze of components. She frowned, realizing she had no idea what she was looking at.

"Nix," she said, uncertainty creeping into her voice, "I don't know what I'm supposed to be checking. This… this all just looks like a mess to me."

Nix's voice was calm but firm. "Keep moving. Maybe something will stand out."

Weiss nodded and drifted carefully along the ship's hull, eyes scanning the tangled mass of components. Her gloved hand trailed along the cold metal as she made her way to the underside of the ship.

That's when she saw it.

The hull was scorched and dented, the plating cracked and peeling back where several direct hits had torn through. Wisps of vapor leaked out, disappearing into the void.

"Nix, I found the problem," Weiss said, her voice trembling slightly. "The ship took multiple hits. The damage is… it's bad."

Nix's light flickered, processing the damage. "Judging by what you're describing, it's beyond repair out here. We can't fix this ourselves."

Weiss's stomach tightened. "So what do we do?"

"We need to send a distress call," Nix said gravely. "I'll broadcast on all Guardian frequencies and hope someone picks it up."

Weiss closed her eyes briefly, the weight of their situation pressing down on her. They were adrift, damaged, and vulnerable. But they weren't out of options yet.

"Alright, Nix. Send the call," she said, her voice steady. "Let's hope someone's listening."

"I'm on it," Nix replied, his light pulsing as he activated the broadcast. "Help is out there, Weiss. We just have to hold on."

Weiss looked out at the endless stars, their cold brilliance a reminder of both isolation and possibility. She tightened her grip on the hull.

"We'll hold on, Nix. We'll hold on."