#the next person who says Cayde would like the statue

[orbdotexe]

I am like. writhing in my own skin rn

[xentari94]

Don’t get people who say their Cayde fans...and don’t want him back. Don’t you guys want your favorite to get more stories told about them. I know I’m harping on but...In the 4 years Cayde was in Destiny, what did he get, in game wise (not counting weblore.)? He got Taken King and Forsaken. That’s it. That’s nothing compared to say, what Zavala and Ikora got lately. Wouldn’t it have been interesting to see his insecurities and deflecting mechanisms explored in game? Wouldn’t it still be interesting? Frankly, I keep saying Bungie bring him back because the alternative is that he’s forgotten. They’ve already erased him from the Arms Dealer, and I’m sure the nessus strike is next. Sure they might have given us a statue, a piece of weblore, or the occsional mention. But these are just bread crumbs.  One day, unless he’s brough back, there will be no one playing Destiny to care about him. And that’s what motivates me to keep saying this. I won’t let that happen if I can try and stop it.

Bring Cayde back. Bring Red War or Forsaken back. Reboot Destiny. I don't care. If it brings Cayde back, I don't care.

Some people do get over stuff. They’re sad for a bit but then they move on… And Cayde is a video game character so some fans just view him through different lenses. They don’t get overly attached like others have so it’s easier for them to let go and move on. They really believe it’s best for Cayde to stay gone even though they enjoyed having him in the game.

That’s the part I personally will never understand since I am the opposite. I get so overly attached to a game character because real physical attachments are difficult for me to make and keep. I played Destiny as an escape, somewhere I could feel more confident because in reality I’m anything but that. Cayde reminds me of myself in more ways than one so of course he would become an instant comfort character. And I keep my comfort characters closer than these players understand. It’s down to an emotional and painful level. It’s also hard for me to let go. That’s where they don’t get it because they don’t feel the same way and that’s fine, whatever floats their boat. They don’t have to want him back. It’s their opinion, their choice.

I will forever hope to see Cayde again, because it makes me feel happier to hope. To remain optimistic. At least until the game truly does end. I would love to see more content of him. Because to be completely honest, the way the game is going and what the writers are giving us, is not really grabbing my attention anymore. The story is just not there for me. Where it used to be and I really enjoyed it. It would absolutely crush me for Cayde to be forgotten. And that fact just keeps him as a comfort character close because I don’t want that to happen even if he’s not physically real. He might as well be, I mean yeah sure games are pixels but the characters are given voices, stories, backgrounds… pixels are the only thing separating them from the real world.

So yes I do wish Bungie would bring him back so we could see more of him and his story because I REFUSE to believe it would have ended with Forsaken. Had Nathan Fillion been able to stay I fully and wholeheartedly believe Cayde would have too. Forsaken was just a cheap way to end a problem that Bungie didn’t feel like dealing with. A cheap death. Cayde would have given so much to the story had he been given a fucking chance. And had the game had better writers. Sorry not sorry.

If he gets removed from the Nessus strike… god I don’t even wanna think about it.

I’m sure I’ll have a few remaining nay sayers that didn’t block me back in June come crawling out a hole frothing at the mouth over this. If so I’m just blocking. I’m not going through that again. Don’t have the time, energy nor want to deal with y’all people.

[theforsakenprince]

Salvation

@badthingshappenbingo​

Prompt: Demonic/Ghostly possession

Fandom: Destiny

Words: 1,707

Warnings: guns, knives, death mention (let me know if I need to tag anything!)

“Are we going inside, or are you going to stand out here all day?” Virgil, her irritable ghost, said impatiently.

“I’m going, I’m going,” Artemis muttered, though she made no move to enter the tunnels that would take her to the Pyramid ship.

The Scarlet Keep had always freaked her out (though she would never admit it), but now that she knew the Darkness lay beneath her feet, it took all her power not to turn away and tell Eris to find someone else to investigate the Pyramid. 

She clenched her fists as she stared down the tunnel. No, she would not give up. She’d come too far. Eris was counting on her.

“You’re not moving.” Virgil sounded annoyed, but she thought she detected a bit of worry in his voice. 

Artemis sighed and stepped forward, holding up her hand cannon. “We’re on our way to the Pyramid, Eris,” she said into the comms.

“Good,” Eris replied. “Getting inside is paramount. We must find something- anything- to help prepare us for their violent return. Remember to keep your wits about you. We do not know what tricks they may play within.”

“Don’t worry, Eris,” Virgil said, letting Artemis focus on defeating the hive she encountered deep in the Enduring Abyss. “We’ll be in and out.”

Eventually, the tunnels ended and she stepped out into the cool lunar air. Sheer cliffs rose up around her, dotted with phantoms. The distant shape of Earth could be seen in the sky, and she stopped and stared at it for a moment before continuing on.

The ghostly phantoms were everywhere. They seemed to watch her as she passed, though they disappeared as she got close. Sometimes, they would whisper things to her; desperate cries for help, pleas for mercy, final words that longed to be heard. Echoes of a great disaster.

Artemis shuddered and ran faster.

As she neared the Pyramid, her fear grew. She lifted a hand to her ear. “Eris?” All she received was static.

“The Pyramid must be messing with communications,” she muttered. “Virgil?”

“It’s-it’s happening again,” Virgil said unexpectedly, his voice strained. “Like it’s reaching inside me.”

Artemis froze. “Do you want to go back? I can get Eris to-”

“No, you must go on,” Virgil replied, voice weak. “This is too important.”

Artemis sighed and silently admitted the ghost was right. She readjusted her grip on her gun and reluctantly continued. 

Eventually, the walls fell away and she stepped out onto an open cliff. Beyond the edge of the cliff stood the Pyramid.

“The Pyramid is waiting,” Virgil said. His voice no longer sounded weak, just… lifeless. “It… beckons us to come closer.”

And so she did. She moved closer, gaining speed with each step, until she stood at the edge. She was just wondering how she would reach the Pyramid when a tiny panel on its side opened and she was lifted off her feet and slowly pulled toward the ship.

“Wha- Virgil, what’s happening?” she exclaimed. 

Instead of answering, Virgil said, “Violence. Beauty. Truth. These things await inside. There’s no turning back now.”

She gasped at the monotony of his tone. “What did you do?” she shouted at the Pyramid. “What did you do to my ghost?”

She received no response as she entered the Pyramid. Whatever force that pulled her into the ship set her gently on the floor.

The room she was currently standing in was huge, with stairs on either side of her that led to giant doorways. A chasm sat in front of her, and when she looked, she couldn’t see the bottom. She shuddered and backed away.

She lifted a hand to her ear and tried to contact Eris again. Nothing.

She bit back a sigh and debated which doorway to go through. It didn’t help that they both looked exactly the same. 

“Decisions, decisions,” Artemis muttered as she went through the right doorway. 

She was greeted by a narrow hallway that was just big enough for her to walk through. Large circles were etched into the floor, and whenever she stepped over them, a red glow would emit from them.

“You’re so close now,” Virgil said. “Just a little further.”

Artemis rounded a corner and stumbled when she saw what waited for her.

Ghaul.

“These damn Nightmares,” she muttered, unhooking her hand cannon from her belt. “Alright, let’s get this over with.” she fired a shot at the Nightmare of Ghaul.

Suddenly, she wasn’t in the Pyramid anymore.

Artemis stumbled as a sudden harsh wind threatened to knock her over. The ship she was standing on was eerily familiar, and with a jolt she realized she was back on Ghaul’s ship, the Immortal.

The sight of it brought back bad memories, like watching the city go up in flames, losing her Light, and worst of all, getting knocked off a ship not unlike this one.

She hadn’t been a fan of heights since.

Artemis ran toward Ghaul, and just like the first time, fought him with her light.

The only difference was this time, Ghaul didn’t say a single word. No taunting, no insults, just the ring of her hand cannon and the clashing of blades.

When Ghaul was defeated, she was transported back inside the Pyramid.

“The Red War saw so many lives lost,” Virgil said, making her jump. “saw the Light taken away so easily. In Light, there is only weakness.”

Artemis took a deep breath and continued down a hallway not identical to the last one. She turned a corner and then-

“No,” she hissed as her eyes landed on the Nightmare of the Fanatic. “No way.”

She stared at the Nightmare for a moment, as if looking at it would make it go away. After a few minutes she sighed and stepped forward.

She was transported to the Watchtower, where she had originally killed the Fanatic. He stood right outside the entrance, blocking it. He brandished his staff, which sizzled with arc energy.

Artemis held up her hand cannon as it was engulfed in flames. She finished the Fanatic off with three shots of her Golden Gun. 

She was panting hard as she was transported back into the Pyramid, though she hadn’t exerted much energy. She gritted her teeth as the Darkness’s voice filled her ears once more. 

“The Light abandoned Cayde,” Virgil said. “Left him for dead. And kept you from saving him.” 

Artemis wanted to scream, but her voice didn’t seem to work. Her feet moved toward the next corridor as if on their own accord. She dreaded the Nightmare she would have to face next.

She ran down yet another corridor and jumped down a flight of stairs. The narrow corridor opened up into a slightly less narrow hallway. Phantoms hovered along the walls, though this time they were silent.

Artemis froze as she saw the Nightmare she would have to face next.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” she muttered as she stared at the Nightmare of Crota.

She stepped up to the Nightmare and just like before, she was transported out of the Pyramid.

Crota’s throne world was just as she remembered. A circular pit took up most of the room and Artemis could hear the shrieks of thralls coming from it. Acolytes stood at the rim of the pit, weapons pointed at her. Crota stood at the opposite side of the Pit, right in front of his throne.

Right in front of her stood a swordbearer. She dodged to the side as it brought its sword down. She stabbed it with her knife and grabbed the sword as it stumbled.

Artemis ran as fast as she could with the heavy sword in her hands. Occasionally, she would slash at a knight or thrall, but she had her eyes on Crota.

Crota swung his blade at her as she got close. She ducked and stabbed him with her sword. He backed away, growling.

Though the last time Artemis had fought Crota was years ago, it felt like she had been here just yesterday, defeating a hive god with his own twisted logic.

She stood over Crota’s body as she killed the Nightmare, panting hard. She was transported back into the Pyramid, sword dissolving into the air. The phantoms along the wall were gone, which struck her as strange. 

“One by one, Crota slaughtered many Guardians,” Virgil said. “The Light stood by and did nothing, and a great disaster ensued. In Light, there is only death.

Artemis swallowed hard and began to head further into the Pyramid. “Don’t worry Virgil,” she said, not sure whether or not he could hear her. “I’ll get us both out of here.”

She turned another corner and found herself at the bottom of several flights of stairs.

“Come to us. Do not be afraid,” Virgil said as she started to climb the stairs. “Respite lies ahead.”

At the top of the stairs stood a statue of a veiled person. As she watched, an orb shaped artifact slowly descended in front of the statue.

She stared at it for a moment, then looked up at the statue. Its face was obscured by a veil, so she couldn’t see its expression. She looked back down.

Artemis reached out and touched the artifact.

She retracted her hand and suddenly wasn’t in the Pyramid anymore.

She was standing in a grassy field dotted with red and white flowers. Several Pyramid ships hung in the green sky ominously.

She narrowed her eyes as she saw another figure walk toward her. As the figure came closer, she realized it was… her.

“You made it,” said the figure. “We have heard your cries for help, and soon we will answer.”

Artemis gripped the handle of her knife as she studied the stranger. They looked exactly like her, down to the shade of her armor. 

“Who are you?” she asked as the figure stepped closer. “What did you do to my Ghost?”

“Don’t you recognize us?” the figure gestured toward themself. “We are not your friend. We are not your enemy.”

Artemis backed away until she hit the edge of the cliff. The figure did not notice.

They raised their hands and arranged their fingers into a triangle shape.

“We are your… Salvation.”

[mystrangeaddiction-petra-venj]

Serenity Vidaj

(I finally competed something)

Awoken- Hunter- Nightstalker

Resurrected - Right after the Last City was founded- Exact date unknown due to ghost

Ghost - Critical Failure(just Fail or Critical is fine though)Has a split personality like Failsafe and refers to her guardian as Captain.(She acts like Failsafe because she spent a lot of time on Nessus searching for Serenity and picked up Failsafe’s personalities)

Affiliation - The Vanguard, Fireteam Eleven, FWC, Sentinels of Dying Light

Status - Active Hunter Veteran

Voiceclaim - Idina Menzel

Sexuality - Pansexual

Noteworthy Physical Traits - Has a snake tattoo running up the length of her right arm

Background - Serenity was revived by Critical on the Tangled Shore because she was a foot soldier in the Awoken military and died along with the rest of her unit. Her ghost proceeded to revive her and then right after, nearly die on her because it only had enough light in it to find and revive her. This led to Serenity being stuck on the Shore for a couple years not really knowing she was a guardian because she had practically no light. She eventually cobbled together a ship and got a far as the Cosmodrome on Earth, where her craft crashed. Serenity was amazed to find out that she was in fact, still alive. This was the moment her ghost told her she was a guardian and connected her to the light. Got through the Cosmodrome and had to drive a sparrow all the way back to the Last City.

Participated in the building of the wall, and also guided survivors to the Last City. She met the rest of Fireteam Eleven accidentally when they were protecting a group of survivors. They continued to run into each other in things and be paired together in things like strikes, crucible, and patrols, so they just decided to stay together.

Was still stuck on the Reef during the Battle of Six Fronts, but participated in the Battle at Twilight Gap. After The Guardian was risen, she and her fireteam watched over them for a time because the vanguard ordered her team to do so. She was proud of them for killing Crota, and finding the Black Garden. Serenity and team would later be called upon by Petra to help her beat the House of Wolves. Their job was mostly going after other Fallen houses, and even though she wanted to go after Skolas, Petra informed her that another guardian took him down. When Oryx came, and after the Awoken fleet was destroyed, Petra called upon Fireteam Eleven and friends to take the fight to the Taken. She was overjoyed when Oryx was killed and the Vanguard had her set up scouting stations on the Dreadnaught. She was a good friend for Petra to lean on when Petra took up the Regent mantle. Serenity and team would also go to fight Siva and after doing so, would be a part of the new wave of Iron Lords.

When Ghaul and the Red Legion came, she nearly died because she chose to stay behind in the city and rescue Mjoll who was stranded and without light saving survivors. After weeks of being unable to find Mjoll she made the hard decision and chose to leave. That decision broke her heart and sent her into a long depression. Later, she would stumble across Mjoll and her group of survivors and they would reunite with Equinox shortly after. They would make a small refugee camp in Widows Court. After The Guardian killed Ghaul and the Light returned, they led their refugees back and went on a rampage against the Cabal.

During the Pantopses crisis, she went with Seraphina to find him because she wasn’t going to let her bestie go at it alone. She was confused as to why Seraphina seemed to know Sagira and Osiris. She heard about the final battle from Seraphina after it was over.

She only heard about the events on Mars after Equinox came to her and asked for the teams help in killing Xol. She was mad for a short time at Equinox for not telling her about Rasputin and Ana, but she got over it. She, along with Mjoll, Seraphina, Lilith, Regina, Solar Flare, Aaron, Muerto, Finnegan, Roland, and Kingsman, all joined in helping Equinox kill Xol.

Serenity was never close with Cayde, despite being a hunter. She actually never particularly cared for him, but when she saw what his death did to Petra, Ikora, Zavala, Amanda, and most guardians, something inside her snapped. She, and her 11 friends, all joined in on the barons hunt. Together, they stormed the Shore and took down the Barons with some other Guardians. When it came time to fight Uldren, Petra asked her to come with her and help her through it. She agreed and, along with Petra, killed Uldren. She actively fights the curse in the Dreaming City and is excited to fight alongside her cousin, Petra. The curse doesn’t drain her as much as it seems to do others, but she does get these bouts of depression every once in a while when she realizes that they haven’t beaten it, but as long as Petra is in, she’s in.

She participated in the reforging of the Black Armory forges with her friend Mjoll because Mjoll really likes blacksmithing. However, she was mainly interested in helping Ada-1 remember herself. She’s very reluctant to do anything with Gambit or the Drifter because she’s a devoted guardian. However, if Equinox asked her to accompany her into Gambit, she would do so in a heartbeat. She hates the Menagerie and anything that has to do with Calus because she finds him to be extremely creepy. She only goes if one of her friends asks her to tag along, otherwise, you’ll find her as far away from Calus as she can get.

Family, Friends, (and boyfriend)- 200 years before The Guardian was revived, she met another one of her best friends, the warlock Seraphina. Serenity met Seraphina after she tried to murder her because she believed Seraphina was a Fallen due to her armor. Serenity then led Seraphina to the City and they just decided to remain friends. A little after she led Seraphina back, Serenity and team would meet fireteam If I Had To Pick A Dude and its members Solar Flare-17, Muerto Rios, and Aaron Laufy(or dumbass if you ask Serenity). Further down the years, she would meet the rest of Sraphina’s fireteam, the titan Regina and the hunter Lilith, and their male friends, Roland the titan, Finnegan the warlock, and Kingsman the hunter. When the Awoken Queen also sent out her emissary, she became fast friends with Petra Venj.

Mjoll and Equinox became her fireteam when the walls were still being built. They rescued survivors together and defended the new city together. They just decided to remain a team, and eventually, that comradery led them to forging a sisterhood with one another. They consider each other family and wouldn’t have it any other way.

When Serenity first heard Petra’s voice, a brief memory came to her, and then she swore up and down that she knew Petra. She always tried bringing up the conversation with Petra, but the emissary would quickly change the subject. Petra didn’t acknowledge Serenity as her cousin because it would be going against the Vanguard if she were to do so. Not telling Serenity hurt Petra because she practically brought Serenity up. As the Wolves came, and the outpost became open to guardians, she spent a lot more time in the Reef and with Petra. Also during this time, Serenity got more and more memories of her Petra doing family things together like walks through parks, playing games like hide and go seek together, and just general family things. She also remembers the day she graduated from the army academy and Petra beaming at her from the family section. She keeps getting these memories until towards the end of the Wolf campaign, when she gets her final memory, and that is Petra moming over her about her upcoming assignment and Serenity assuring her that she would be fine. That memory ends with them hugging and Petra saying “stay safe out there cousin” and Serenity jokingly replying “I always am”. Serenity’s death hurt Petra, and what harmed her even more was there not being a body to bury, so Serenity was another one on Petra’s list of lost family. When Serenity went back to the Reef, she approached Petra with such a serious demeanor, that Petra thought she had done something wrong. She wrapped Petra in a tight hug and began to cry saying that she remembered and that she was sorry that she left her alone for so many years. Petra realizes what’s going on and returns her hug to the shorter hunter and says that it’s okay because she’s back now. Meanwhile, the corsairs around them are like “WTF? Why is this rando guardian hugging the Queen’s Wrath and crying?” After Serenity remembered, she and Petra would constantly talk, vent, and keep each other updated about their lives. Serenity tried to support Petra during her regency, but finds it to be difficult because of the lack of time.

When Serenity first really met Aaron, he was talking to Petra and trying to get her to date him. She said no. He understood, and proceeded to walk away, but stopped when he saw Serenity. He was immediately entranced by her because he had just heard her laugh at something Petra had said. Petra took notice, but said nothing to Serenity. The next time he came around, Petra began to question him about her, and he immediately told her, that yeah, he had a significant crush on her. Petra then called and involved Mjoll, Equinox, and Seraphina. With their coaching and pushing, Aaron eventually asked her out. It was a very awkward asking if you ask anyone who saw it. It was funny to their friends to see the normally calm, collected hunter and the suave, flirty hunter both dilute into blushy, happy messed.

Personality - Her name speaks volumes as to who she is. She’s a very calm and collected person who is great at keeping the peace. She doesn’t get visibly angry, but she does this silent fury kind of thing. She’s a patient person who is more than willing to guide others. If you need someone to talk to, she’s usually available and can give some good advice. If you ask her to do something, she’ll make the time to do so, and will never put anything off. She’s also sort of like a resident therapist because she’s good at helping people asses and control their feelings. Overall, she’s a serious, but caring person who just wants to help the people.  

Fun Facts -

She’s actually blood related to Petra, they’re cousins

She has an older brother and sister that don’t know she’s alive again and she’s okay with that

Has a pet wolf that she stole from the Iron Temple

Like climbing on things, weather it be trees or tall buildings

Loves to sparrow race and was pretty good at it (usually got podium finishes)

Loves to drink black tea with zero added sweeteners

Tyra is the cryptarch that she usually goes to just because she wants to know how she’s doing

Loves to do yoga

Loves to ice skate, and she would consider that an ideal hangout or date

She’s a realist

She loves taking kinderguardians under her wing because they can do some stupid things that make her laugh

Is moderate at the crucible, but would rather fight enemies instead

Her favorite planet is either Nessus or Venus

She looked up to Tallulah Fairwind and was crushed by her death

Thinks Shiro-4 should be the next hunter vanguard

Likes to draw maps and explore new locations

Her original Awoken name was Seren and Serenity is actually her nickname

[thedistantstorm]

Phoenix Protocol 17

Zavala x Awoken Female Warlock | Mid/Post Forsaken | Slowburn | Gratuitous Descriptions of Light | Self-Confidence/Self-Worth Issues | Redemption

When the Traveler’s Light was returned to the Guardians after the defeat of the Cabal, it did not manifest itself the same in everyone. Miyu, an Awoken Warlock, finds herself struggling with her abilities, her Light feeling different and not her own. With her Vanguard preoccupied with grief and all eyes turned to the Reef, she finds herself turning to an unlikely source in an attempt to rediscover her connection to the Light and define what it means for her as a Sunsinger.

Previously

-/

He makes it a point to walk with her the next morning, from her small flat to the top of the Tower. They do not hold hands, but their Ghosts drift amiably over their shoulders and their conversation is earnest and fond. Teal optics regard Shaxx as he watches their Guardians warily. Unaware, or perhaps purposefully ignorant, the pair walks to the edge of the deck where Zavala spends most of his day dealing with the Guardian population.

Miyu makes it a point to check her service revolver before tucking it into her belt. “ You’re sure this is okay,” She confirms, fidgeting just slightly, uneasy about the fleeting looks she has managed to attract in the last forty-five minutes since they'd left her flat together. It was glaringly obvious he'd spent the night. The number glances she'd actually received was not really that many, but it certainly felt like all eyes were on them. Besides, she knew it only took one person to get every Guardian in the system talking.

“It will be fine,” He soothes. He'd sensed her trepidation, and did his best to distract her with conversation. It had worked, for the most part. “You've done nothing wrong. Don't fret.”

“I trust you,” She breathes, taking a deep breath. “Anyway,” She says, “The Crucible calls. I’ll catch up with you later.”

He braces her shoulders in a Titan-like encouragement. “Give them hell, Miyu.”

She nods, his confident gaze and steady words earning him a wry smirk that's nearly a smile. “I’ll try.”

When she takes her leave, he watches her go. Shaxx is watching him carefully in turn. Miyu addresses him a moment later, jarring the large Titan from whatever he'd been thinking. Zavala wonders if he's still Ikora's confidante. As planned, this will be a way for them to tell, for sure.

The truth is that they had both slept very little last night. Instead, they had laid awake, discussing how to proceed. Like Miyu has felt toward her Light, Zavala similarly harbours resentment toward Ikora's attitude and they way fell apart when they should have been sticking together.

He… definitely overshared, he felt. However, when her slender fingers trailed over his head, down the back his neck, along his spine, and back up, he found the words came easy. The few times he'd stopped, she'd slide those fingers under his chin and tip his face up to meet her eyes and encouraged him to continue or remind him that she's listening with a gentle squeeze to the back of his neck, an arm, whatever she could. Her gentle sincerity spoke volumes.

But more than that, so finally did she.

“We're better than this,” She'd said to him, their Ghosts resting silently between them, snatching any precious seconds of rest they were allowed. Where doe eyes would usually accompany her words, he found himself looking into a prideful warrior's gaze. “I have to be better.”

And in that moment, in the dark of one day bleeding into the light of the next, he'd found both solace and resolve. It filled his chest with warmth, both the comfort of his Light and the realization of hope.

“We have to be better,” He revised. “I need to work with Ikora better as well,” He'd told her, not long after that. “We deserve to grieve, but we must keep moving forward.”

-/

She feels good, today. Maybe it's from the rest, from her days hiding away. Maybe it's from unburdening herself of some of the nasty, ugly feelings of futility and worthlessness that have been weighing her down.

Either way, her blade is strong, firm in her hand, and her steps are light and uninhibited. She feels more comfortable in her own skin than she has in ages.

It shows in her results. She even manages a weak two-throw Dawnblade that hurts like hell, but not quite so unbearably that she cannot continue. It feels like progress, even despite the smell of burnt flesh, the smoldering leather. She knows the sword feels heavy and wrong though, her Light urging her in a different direction.

Halfway considering an experiment in which she plunges her sword into the ground and acts on instinct - she can almost see it, grasps at the half-formed picture of her Light's evolution like a fever dream at the edges of her mind - Shaxx calls the match. He bellows for them to clear out of Midtown. Miyu looks around. The rest of her matchmade-team looks similarly confused. The other team as well. Someone consults their Ghost. Something is wrong.

Their teams are tied.

Shaxx hates a tie.

-/

Lord Shaxx is steely and silent. He paces violently in the Commander's office, helm still on despite the closed door and lack of an audience. Zavala watches him.

“Are you going to tell me what is troubling you, old friend, or should I allow you to continue all afternoon?”

“I implicitly told you what you were doing, what it looked like.” Shaxx stops to face the Commander, sitting behind his desk. “And yet, you've persisted. Tell me: is it worth the amount of strife it will bring?”

“Did you notify Ikora immediately this morning?” Zavala inquires, almost airily. Like a clucking hen, Shaxx is. “I figured you would.”

The Crucible Handler growls but does not give an answer. “You understand,” he says, “That Ikora gave her a point-blank directive.”

“I have made plans to speak with Ikora about that, later this evening. I will not rehash my decisions with everyone who walks the Tower.”

“But you've allowed the entire Tower to see the two of you together, blatantly so. They question everything these days. They will think you're involved!” Shaxx slaps his palms down on the edge of the desk and it rattles. “That's almost worse than them thinking you're turning her against Ikora!”

Zavala is cool and unyielding, unbothered by the persistent baiting. “Sit down,” He beckons.

“Si - sit down?” He roars. “Are you to placate me like you've been trying to do to the sole surviving member of your Fireteam?”

“That,” The other Titan intones, though he seems a touch repentant, or perhaps Shaxx has hit a nerve, “Is a matter between myself and Ikora. I will address it with her.”

“Oh, finally willing to shoulder some of the blame-”

“Enough.” Shaxx's momentum hits a wall. “Ikora and I will discuss matters that pertain to us. I will not hear any more of your pot-stirring, whether it is Ikora’s directive, or otherwise.” Zavala's voice lowers an octave, business-like and smooth. “Stay out of it.”

Shaxx drops into the chair previously offered. “Fine. I still wish to know what you stand to gain by your actions with Miyu. She is,” Shaxx breaks off, shaking his head in silence. He undoes the clasps to his helm, sets it on the desk in front of him and regards Zavala carefully. “She may read into things, and the rumors that shall begin circulating about the two of you-”

Zavala does not flinch. “Rumors,” He says, carefully. “That we walked from her flat, to the Tower this morning?”

“Yes, Zavala. She's fragile right now. Certainly you know how others treat her.”

“Fragile enough to step foot in your Crucible.”

“It's not her skills that make her a liability, and you know that. Her little project, the one you're working on,” He gestures with a wave of his hand. “You spend time with her. She might get attached.”

“But what if,” Zavala says, as nonchalantly as he can muster, “I were to become attached as well?”

“No.” Shaxx brings a gauntleted fist to cover his mouth. “You didn't. Tell me you did not.”

The Commander gives him nothing. “I am merely speaking in hypotheticals.”

Shaxx levels him with a still-surprised glare. “No, you are not. I know you, and I know her. If you - and she - then...” He trails off, sighs. Crosses one leg over the other and mulls it over. “It would make sense, I suppose, but I wonder how forthcoming she is about things with you considering her present status.”

“She is… open about things, I would say.”

“She is, is she now? What she is now, it's - she is a good person, and I don't mean to discredit you, Zavala. But you must understand: that woman, what she is, compared to what she was-”

“She is insistent that she despises that,” Zavala interrupts. “She knows what she was, and she knows it varies greatly from how she has been, since the Cabal’s attack on the City and the Traveler.” His voice drops, becomes more somber. “We have both agreed to work on the things we can change.”

Shaxx leans in, just a touch, eyes piercingly locked on those of his friend. “And the things you can't?”

“To learn to accept them and move forward.”

“Are we talking about Cayde or about Miyu?”

“Either. Both.”

That's not the answer the more volatile of them wants to hear. “If you mean to tell me she's accepting that she'll never cast Dawnblade without the Traveler's bloody Light trying to rent her in twain, so help me-”

“I do not know what she thinks, on that front.”

“Then what do you know?”

Zavala regards him. There is the slightest glimmer of something new in his eyes, his posture proud but relaxed, less tense than usual. It's both familiar and not, Shaxx thinks. Perhaps, he muses to himself, they've found solace in each other.

“That she is free to make her own choices. Regardless of what I, or you, or even Ikora want for her. Miyu is… not any lesser than she was before.”

“You don't know that. You weren't with us at Burning Lake, you didn't see with your own two eyes the things I saw her do.”

If that throws Zavala for a loop, he does not react. Shaxx had sorely hoped it would, hopes still that it does, even if he does not indicate it. “I have not,” The Vanguard Commander agrees. “But I know a warrior's heart, Shaxx, all the same. She will find her way.”

“...Or, Ikora will beat it out of her,’ Shaxx grits, under his breath.

“What?”

Shaxx uncrosses his legs, then re-crosses them with the opposite one on top. “You heard me.” Zavala rises swiftly, fury morphing his features into something deadly dangerous. Shaxx is unimpressed. “Sit. Down. There is nothing that can be done for it now.”

“I will not-”

“She can fight her own battles,” Shaxx interrupts, rising as well. “I will not involve myself in your quarrel with Ikora any longer. You have my word. But, even so,” He looks his friend in the eye, imploring him to understand his resolve. “I cannot allow you to intervene.”

[netraptor]

Blessing of Light, Curse of Darkness

A new fanfic is going up! This follows my warlock Jayesh. Still somewhat battered after the events of Forsaken as detailed in Fireteam Vengeance, he’s assigned to visit the Dreaming City and try to redeem a Taken with the Light. This means teaming up with his ex-friend Madrid, a powerful Hunter who succumbed to the whispers of Riven and tried to feed Jayesh to the Chimera. But Madrid is sane again, and lives each time loop cycle in deep regret. Jayesh is the last person he ever wanted to work with again.

As they unwillingly work together to track down their target, they run across a newly-resurrected Guardian. Prince Uldren, who retains only old memories, has no idea that Madrid killed him, or why all Guardians hate him so much. Jayesh and Madrid, barely allies, are now faced with another hard question: to shelter Uldren, or let him become prey for the other Guardians, who still crave revenge for the death of Cayde-6.

Jayesh was blissfully, deeply grateful.

He lay in bed, his arms around his sleeping wife, Kari. His nose was buried in her hair, and his heart felt ready to burst with happiness and contentment. He'd just returned from a month-long assignment on Venus, where he'd missed his little family with a powerful ache.

Kari couldn't go with him on missions anymore, since she had to stay home to raise their son, Connor. This was hard on them both, especially since Kari was the better fighter. But Jayesh sucked it up and worked with other Guardians, improving his skills, and told nobody but his ghost how much he missed his wife.

But he was home in the Tower, and all was well. Jayesh's gratitude overflowed, and before he knew it, he was thanking the Traveler - for choosing him, for making him a Guardian, for making beautiful Kari a Guardian, for granting them a child of the Light, for everything it did for them. The bliss poured out of him, lying there in silence, yet singing in his heart.

When Jayesh had been a brand new Guardian, he had climbed up into the Traveler and been locked inside when the Red Legion caged it. He'd talked to the Traveler - or rather, he had argued and yelled at it. But by the time the war ended, he had forged a friendly connection with the paracausal entity that few others dared try. Indeed, many Guardians looked at him askance and whispered that he was a fanatic.

Jayesh never denied this. How to explain his relationship with a god?

So as he lay there, pouring out his gratitude to the Traveler, he felt its Light touch him. It acknowledged the praise, and it was pleased.

"I'm not kissing up," he told it inside his head. "I really am thankful. I don't say thank you enough, so - thank you."

While they often communicated, the Traveler didn't always use words. Mostly it touched his Light, strengthening him. Sometimes it gave him mental images or visions. But tonight, he heard it laugh with the voices of many Guardians. "Guardian Jayesh. My faithful servant."

It portrayed itself as male to Jayesh because that was how he best communicated with it. The voice that spoke to him was like a loving father's. "I am sending you to the Reef. There is a task you must do there."

Jayesh lifted his head, gazing at the ceiling. "The Reef, Traveler? But ... last time I was there ..." Fear flashed through him, leaving cold sweat in its wake. He showed the Traveler his nightmare memories of Taken, and the horrifying chimera, the Voice of Riven, its jaws open.

The Traveler's Light embraced him. "Yes, my Guardian. You suffered greatly for my sake. But this time I have a different task for you - a task that only great Light can accomplish."

Jayesh lay there, silent, unwilling to ask more. He didn't want to go to the Reef again. He'd freeze in the cold wind that ripped through the barely-habitable asteroid field and the derelict spaceships that linked them. And the awful chimera had haunted his nightmares for months. Sometimes he dreamed he was back in its jaws, screaming in agony as the teeth pierced him.

And the Traveler wanted him to go back.

"I don't want to," he told it. "I'm afraid of what might happen."

He'd learned that the Traveler wanted him to be brutally honest with it. It more or less knew everything he was thinking, anyway. Not being human, it overlooked many nuances that would have offended a lesser being.

Its Light touched him like a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You are my Guardian. I will empower you for this task. And the task is this."

It showed him a clear vision of an Awoken woman, with pale blue skin like starlight, long white hair, and glittering silver eyes.

"She has been Taken," the Traveler said.

The woman changed to a black shadow outlined in burning white. A blob of white on her forehead nearly obscured her features, but her jaw hung slack, her eyes gone dead and black, her fingers curled into claws.

Jayesh cringed. Taken were his particular terror.

"What do you expect me to do?" he thought. "You told me once that you didn't know if Taken people could ever be saved."

"That's what I want you to discover," the Traveler replied. "She was a servant of the Light, although not a Guardian. I will equip you with a transcendent blessing. Use it to free her from the power that indwells her."

Jayesh thought about this, tense and unwilling. He wanted to serve the Traveler, but it was asking him to face his greatest fear and attempt what, until now, had been considered impossible.

"Why now?" he asked. "Why do I have to do this now? Couldn't you try to save Taken people before this?"

"Consider the timeline," the Traveler replied. "Taken are a relatively recent invention by the Hive god Oryx. I have only lately awakened from my dormant state. It has taken time for me to study the Taken through my Guardians and ghosts. I have developed possible solutions to the problem. But my Guardians are my hands and feet in this matter. You are a healer. I am asking you to attempt to heal the gravest wound of all."

Put this way, Jayesh understood. A warm glow pervaded his being - the Traveler valued him enough to share its plans. He had always looked down on himself for preferring to heal. The Vanguard valued warriors, granting rewards and status according to who killed how much of what. The guy who stayed behind his fireteam, shielding, healing wounds that occurred faster than their ghosts could mend, or energizing his team - that sort of work didn't receive as much recognition. Of course, his fireteam praised him, but they were the only ones.

But restoring a person who had been Taken ...

His thoughts crawled back to one of his biggest failures - when a woman he had been trying to save had torn free of his grasp and thrown herself into a Maw. She had been Taken of her own free will. It still haunted him, usually late at night, when his treacherous mind called up all his failings and paraded them through his mind's eye.

Maybe Natasha could be saved, too.

Slowly he gathered his resolve. "I'll try, Traveler."

In response, extra Light trickled into him. But this was like another Seed of Light - a mote like the sun that he held in his heart. With it came words - a benediction - that would bestow the Light upon someone.

Imagining speaking a benediction over a Taken who was trying to rip his face off made him turn cold all over.

"My Light will be with you," the Traveler assured him. "Fear not."

Jayesh tried to respond that he wasn't afraid, that he'd be the first Guardian ever to pull a Taken back from the jaws of Darkness. But it would have been a lie. So he cuddled closer to Kari and tried not to shiver too much.

A week later, Jayesh received his next assignment from Ikora.

"Surprise," he told Kari, reading the message from his tablet. "She's sending me to the Reef. I get to mess around in the Dreaming City time loop. Go me."

"Oh, Jay." Kari put an arm around him. "It'll be all right. Guardians can get in and out of the time loop with minimal distortion. And hey, Madrid is there. Maybe he can help you out."

Jayesh gave her a sharp look.

Kari winced. "Or not."

Madrid had been the third member of their fire team, an expert Awoken Hunter, and a steadfast friend to them both. But witnessing the death of Cayde-6 had changed him. He had listened to the whispers of the Ahamkara, Riven, and had tried to feed Jayesh to a foul monster from the Ascendant Realm. He had also murdered the Awoken Prince, Uldren, in cold blood. He was serving a sentence of forced labor in the Dreaming City, a Guardian made to fight the same enemies every time the time loop reset. Nobody knew how long it would last.

Jayesh hoped he never laid eyes on Madrid again.

"I don't know how long I'll be gone," Jayesh said, closing his tablet and looking glum. "I'll be hunting for one particular Taken out of hordes of Taken. I have no guarantee the Darkness will even drop her into our reality. And then I have to identify her long enough to not kill her in self-defense. I don't know if I can do this. The Traveler's asking the impossible."

"Maybe for anyone else," Kari said, rubbing his back. "But I believe you can do it. Why else would the Traveler ask you?"

He leaned his head against hers and sighed deeply. "Kari ... I'm scared out of my mind."

She kept stroking him and said nothing.

Connor toddled up to them, holding up a toy car. "Da!" he exclaimed.

Jayesh picked him up. "Daddy's going on another trip, Con. Be good for your mama."

Connor sucked his thumb and regarded his father soberly. His ghost floated nearby, wearing a waterproof shell smeared with baby food, her expression one of constant longsuffering.

Jayesh hugged his son and his wife. "When I get back, I'm taking a month off. I miss you both too much." He didn't voice the tiny, nagging fear that maybe this time, he wouldn't come back - that somewhere out in the savage, lawless Reef, his Light would finally be quenched. That was one of the risks of being a Guardian and didn't bear mentioning.

"You'll do great, Jay," Kari told him. "Keep in touch while you're out there."

"I'll write you every day." He let Connor slide to the floor. Then he wrapped his arms around Kari and kissed her slowly and deeply. "I married you so we wouldn't have to be separated," he whispered. "And here we are, separated. It's not fair."

"I know," she whispered back. "I wish I could go. But Connor ..."

"I know." He held her for another moment, then released her with a sigh. "I'd better get going."

"Hey." Kari held out her hands. Her ghost transmatted her graviton lance into them. She held it out. "Take this. It'll remind you of me when you use it."

It was her favorite rifle, and it fired black holes. Jayesh was fond of it, too. He accepted it reverently. "I'll take perfect care of it, lovelight."

"I guess it's just you and me, Phoenix," he said to his ghost as he walked to the hanger.

"Just like the good old days," Phoenix replied, twirling his red and yellow shell. "Alone. Scared. People trying to kill us."

"Playing with Taken," Jayesh said. "Listening to the Traveler. The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Jayesh entered his ship, stashed his gear, then waited for takeoff clearance from Tower Control.

As he did, he thought about his conversation with Ikora, the Warlock Vanguard.

"I've had word from the Traveler," she had told him quietly. They had been alone in her office. Other Guardians still tended to treat Jayesh like a pariah for his claims about meeting the Traveler - and the following media campaign against him. But it spoke to Ikora, too, and she understood.

"It's sending you to the Reef to study Taken," Ikora went on, watching his face. "But I see that you already know."

"It told me," Jayesh replied. "I was just waiting for you to send me, officially."

Ikora had smiled. "This won't be an easy task, but I'm not throwing you to the wolves just yet. Rendezvous at the Dasa compound in Reefedge City. It's our only Guardian foothold in the Reef. The Dasas have years of experience with Taken and will help you. If you need a fireteam, they'll assign you one. But this may be a solo mission."

His dread must have shown on his face, because Ikora looked compassionate. "Don't underestimate yourself, Guardian. You've faced far worse things than a single Taken."

"There's no such thing as a single Taken," Jayesh had replied. "They run in packs."

"I know. And I still think you can handle it. I'm prepared to award triple the usual bounty for this mission. If we Guardians can steal the Taken from the Darkness, itself? That is a devastating weapon against our enemies."

While he was grateful for her confidence in him, and the extra bounty, Jayesh sat in his ship's cockpit, waiting for permission to take off, and didn't feel like he could handle this mission. Why was it that no matter how much he accomplished, or how much success he had, inside, he was still the same frightened young Guardian?

Phoenix floated beside him, ready to operate the ghost controls. Without a word being spoken, he turned and examined Jayesh's face. Then he flew up and leaned his shell against Jayesh's cheek in a silent expression of companionship. Jayesh cupped a hand around him and held him for a moment.

"I'm here, Jay," the ghost whispered to his mind through their bond.

"Thanks," Jayesh thought.

It was all that needed to be said. Ghost and Guardian trusted each other implicitly.

fanfiction.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13237621/1/Blessing-of-Light-Curse-of-Darkness

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18155048/chapters/42931655

[alterautomata-blog]

Destiny Fanfic: Lost Days

Author’s Notes: Destiny fanfiction set months before House of Wolves, featuring my Hunter OC, Ashe Winters, an awoken who begins to question the Speaker, the Traveler and the shadow it casts, even her own paracausal existence.

AO3 link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/10342830/chapters/22857783

Tags: Angst, Existential crisis, Snark, 

Chapter 1: Fire and Ashe

“I don’t know why you insist on doing this every morning,” a Ghost whined, it’s internal circuitry grinding with irritation.

“You know for an AI, you complain a lot.”

Year 2631, 0600 hours, Tuesday morning.

Earth’s orbit.

Space’s grasp was vast and everlasting, and its view had remained even greater than that calibre for the last eternity. It was an interstellar spectacle of distant worlds, and star stuff, which, even when broomed through thoroughly, not even the most seasoned of space explorers would find every nook and cranny of this all-omnipotent being.

Just off the coast of the distant Planet Earth, not so far from it’s atmosphere was a Guardian class jumpship, floating off in the embrace of space. Inside it was what one would expect; a Guardian herself—Hunter class—and the Ghost who oft criticised her of the many unhealthy decisions she dared to make.

Ashe Winters was very enthusiastic about the sunrise, and viewing it from space at that.

Her Ghost, who she had cleverly given the name of Blink—an odd name from a being from some Golden Age program used for children’s amusement—was barely accepting of her latest escapades, mostly the ones that would land the both of them in trouble with the Vanguard. He would often advise against Ashe’s rash decisions, but alas, she never even considered the consequences. But that’s how she was on leisure time. On missions, the Hunter was often compared to Cayde-6 when it came to getting things done.

She didn’t care how she did it—as long as it was set and over with.

If anything, Blink was the voice of reason in these types of situations, that Ashe had no intention to listen to anytime soon.

The Ghost floated near Ashe’s head, whirring it’s gears in irritation and worry while the Hunter had a big smirk plastered on her face.

“So tell me; are you insane? Because Zavala tells you, personally, time and time again to not linger outside of Earth’s orbit—due to the fact that Fallen ships could easily pick you up on their scans, and are oh-so eager for Guardian blood to be spilled.”

“So?”

“And yet, you continue to do it!”

“Uhuh.”

“Why!?”

Ashe turned her gaze out of her ship’s port window, a resolute curve of her lips still plastered on her face. She appeared to be amazed, enveloped in the type of awe that a child would have. She directed her Ghost’s attention out to space with a point. “Because on Earth, you’ll never get to see something like this.”

The black and white patterned shell turned, and his single eye blinked for a moment.

Through the ship’s window, the sun glared, reflecting from the very surface of the large blue planet before the two. It’s golden view were like brightly shining arms made of pure light, wrapping around the sky. This sight enthralled Ashe; brought out expressions from her no other Guardian or Ghost would ever hope to coax. It was a simple thing to be so fixated with, yes. But in times like these, the small things were all a person—even a Guardian—could ever want before everything turned to shit. It wasn’t out of the ordinary at all, especially for a Hunter, to have an interest for something of nature and science. Warlocks were often the same, even more with science, however, and Titans with their trinkets—items from a distant time before The Collapse that managed to maintain their shape and form.

In particular, Ashe was interested in the sun, and strangely enough, she was hardly a Gunslinger.

The Awoken woman sighed with elation in her voice before her hands reached over, and touched the controls of her ship.

“Sit tight. We’re going back.”

The Traveler.

It was practically within the grasps of those who beheld it’s somber-like presence. While yes, life no longer stirred within it, it remained a moniker of hope to those who beheld its glory—a metaphorical and funnily enough, literal sigil of Light, which spurred on the desires for peace—to drive Guardians and humans alike to fight for the day where Darkness would no longer lust for their lives.

At least, that was what everyone’s beloved Speaker would tell them. And repeat like a mantra.

In truth, the Traveler was only a facade. A lie, and the Speaker along with it. It was only a gargantuan floating ball that smelled faintly of vanilla; casting an overbearing shadow on top of The Last City.

While, yes, it did well to stave off the Dark; as ever-growing and infinite as a plague. With as much as the concept of Light was deconstructed, only to be revealed as something so morbid, Guardians—those who are lost to natural causes, who defy death constantly—it was a necessary evil. Knowing so, must such a wonderful falsehood be broken?

Would it even be insulted to be called something wonderful?

These were Ashe’s constant thoughts, day and night. In space. On patrols. Even on supply runs, such things would not leave the Hunter’s mind, that she figured someone such as her might as well had been a Warlock. Funnily enough, not even their kind questioned this very way of life. Instead, they had their heads buried in a book, wondering why the Moon wasn’t made of cheese, or something along the lines.

Was everyone content with this life, though? Constantly fighting, while knowing that even something as majestic as the Traveler casted darkness as well? Maybe they didn’t know, and continued to go about life as normal.

Was that the life Ashe wanted to lead? Would she had rather been as ignorant as any other Guardian?

A neon glare turned over towards the Hunter, from an Exo from the same class. Rather it was her mentor, a member of the Vanguard, Cayde.

She pretended to not notice him at first, and Cayde pretended to actually be angry. He knew Ashe’s schtick better than anyone else did, that and he had to put on a good show for the other two Vanguard members.

“Look, I’m not saying that you can’t handle yourself,” he began, his geared jaw illuminating for every time a syllable sounded. “But we made it clear that Guardians aren’t allowed to linger in orbit like that. We wouldn’t want you getting fried by the Fallen or, whatever is out there. You’re too valuable an ally to lose, Ashe.”

There was an inkling of a moment where her eyes turned to the Exo, then passed over to Zavala who wore that eternally stern expression, and finally to Ikora, forever to be carelessly buried in her collection of pre-collapse books and ancient texts of dragons and whatnot.

“Is that why you’re sticking me with a permanent fireteam? For the fifth time?”

“Sixth. Franz was only one man, but we thought he could really…” Cayde’s eyes darted behind him so indecisively as he could feel the tension rise. “Keep you in check. Zavala’s words. Not mine.”

As if on cue, the Titan stepped forward and stood adjacent to Cayde, looking down on the wayward Awoken Hunter who quirked an incredulous brow back at him.

“You are a menace to those around you and yourself, Winters. That Ghost won’t last long with this continued behavior,” the big blue statue according to Cayde bellowed. “Show more pride as a Guardian, and perhaps this would be a permanent fireteam for you. But time and time again, your lack of tact either drives them away or worse, get them—”

“You act as if I want to be on someone’s leash.”

She didn’t realize it before, but the negative effect of her reflexes were showcased right there. Ashe was already standing up, staring down the Commander.

Me and my big mouth, the sensible part of Ashe thought, grimacing.

Zavala wasn’t phased however. That stoney-faced Awoken didn’t even flinch when Ashe engaged in a stand-off with him.

If Cayde had sweat glands, he would’ve been soaked.

And there was Ikora, still immersed in her books, a care spared not.

For a moment there, Ashe thought she was going to find her entire body rocked to it’s core from a Storm Fist—and then the Tower would have a fight on it’s hands—but she knew Zavala better than that. He wasn’t your average, everyday Titan, mindlessly punching things that provoked them.

“Your team will be issued to you tomorrow, Winters. In the meantime, you’re dismissed.”

Fuck you, the irrationally angry side of Ashe wanted to say. She really did. With a click of her tongue, she turned on a heel and stormed off.

As the Hunter reached the hall, her Ghost materialized next to her, following the hastened pace she walked, giving her a look of counsel that said a lot without words.

Don’t give me that, Ashe looked back.

“That could have went better. You know Commander Zavala is like a rock on this sort of thing.”

“I know he has more authority than he does brains, and throws that around mindlessly.” She continued walking, towards the Tower’s hanger where she passed by overhung logos, riddled through the place, used as daily reminders to what she was brought back from the dead to become.

“You and I both know that isn’t true—and where are you going?”

“The Cosmodrome.” She let only a second pass before speaking again, not enough time for Blink to ask why she was going to such a place. “I need to blow off some steam.”

“Oh, nothing says blowing off steam like firing lead into the filters of a Fallen Captain’s Ether mask.”

“The ship, Blink.” Ashe’s voice was laced with impatience. She walked past the floating AI, and it in turn whirred with exasperation at her soiled countenance.

With a sigh, the Ghost soon phased out of existence. Ashe did as well once her all-around grey jumpship revealed itself in the hanger, rising up along the platform as if being offered to her by a mechanical host within the Tower. With a pull of the throttle and a few flips of a couple switches, the engines roared to life and the ship took off, the Cosmodrome of Old Russia in mind as it’s destination.