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Chapter Text

Wolf hated being dropped from great heights. Jumping was fine. She’d jump off insane cliffs or architecture all day every day. But that was quite different from being tossed out into the void and picking yourself up from the earth. Red earth obscured all her helmet’s vision when she opened her eyes. Her limbs were equally stuck in the ground and she had to rip herself out of the ground with a grunt. Only then did she hear Ikora’s voice in her ear.

“I hear you,” she said to make the worried tone stop. “Sound off,” she groaned as she got to her feet.

“Not dead,” Lizard said.

“Also not dead,” Cat said. She looked over and saw them ripping themselves out of the ground. Bear and Fox still lay half encased in the earth.

Rat was just sitting up and gave a rough, “Not dead!” as she knocked a rock off her pauldron. Reggie and Amelia came over to revive their Guardians, glowing in brilliant Light and their Guardians moved. Bear ripped himself out of the ground.

“That bitch,” Bear growled.

“What happened in there?” Ikora asked as Lizard went over to help pick Fox up out of the ground.

“We found her,” Ghost said, Wolf lost in her own thoughts. “We didn’t know if we’d get another shot so we just went.”

“Made some friends,” Rat said sarcastically.

“And actually made some friends,” Lizard said. “Cabal rather reasonable sort when they know they get to shoot you out of a cannon.”

“Savathun has the Light,” Ghost told Ikora. “We killed her but… it didn’t take.”

“That’s not good but it is what we expected-

“Its worse,” Ghost continued. “Somehow she was able to give the Light to other Hive.” Ikora said nothing about that. “Like with a Ghost. Or something that looks like a Ghost.”

“Come back to camp. We’ll figure out what to do about this here,” Ikora said.

“Sure felt like a real Ghost,” Wolf whispered. She wasn’t sure anyone heard. She wasn’t sure she wanted anyone to hear. But she wanted it to be out there. It had certainly felt like Light when she’d crushed it in her grip. She looked over at her Ghost who had a very serious expression in his eye. It reminded her of herself. Years ago. Hadn’t they learned anything from that?

Ships were brought around and everyone transmatted aboard their own vessel. They headed back to the Enclave, which wasn’t far but too far to hoof it. Wolf sat in the pilot’s seat while Ghost flew just looking at her hand. She only looked away as Ghost said they were at the Enclave and Ghost dropped her down amid the Hidden’s forward base. The others touched down shortly after but she went up to Ikora alone.

Usually Wolf was a good listener to Ikora but this time everything just washed over her like when she just passively listened to almost anyone else. She hardly heard a word Ikora said. She could still feel the delicate core of a Ghost snapping under her hand. The frantic look in its eye. The fear. That was why she’d never felt always completely right killing Eliksni or Cabal, especially Eliksni. They screamed when you shot them, tried to run away. Cabal never ran but they’d thunder hate at you while you shot them. That Ghost had screamed as she’d crushed it. And it had been Light. Or some horrible trick of Savathun. But the Light couldn’t be replicated. Couldn’t be predicted. It was what made Guardians so dangerous to things that tried to twist fate. How did you order your preordained future around beings who turned it to tangles? How could Savathun emulate the Light like that? Even in her own Throne World.

“Wolf,” Ikora said, clearly saying her name not for the first time. She snapped to focus. “How are you?”

“Fine,” she said.

“Really?”

“Given the circumstances,” she said.

Ikora’s face was grave but sympathetic. “Your journey into the Throne World was harrowing, was it not?”

“That is certainly a word for it,” Ghost said, grumpy.

“I’m sure you’re eager to get back out there. But until we have more information I can’t in good conscious send you-

“But we’re good at getting more information,” Ghost piped in. “Who else is going to get boots on the ground in the Throne World but us?” he asked. Ikora looked torn. She knew he was right but could tell, because she could always tell, that Wolf wasn’t doing well. “We need to find out how Savathun stole the Light as soon as possible, how she made those fake Ghosts,” he said with great conviction. Wolf didn’t think it was as black and white as that. Things rarely were anymore. It had been so much easier even when she’d been just a new Guardian. The aliens bad. Guardians and humanity good. But every year that got less and less defined. More and more like something so simple wasn’t and never had been.

Ikora’s curiosity and need to know what was going won out. And they all knew she couldn’t just send her Hidden into a Throne World blind. Glitterbomb was and always had been who you sent in first when dealing with Hive Gods. “Very well,” she said at length. Wolf didn’t argue. She didn’t mind. She needed to not be alone with her own thoughts. She needed to do something. She needed to know what had happened, what was wrong too.

“Oh. I almost forgot. We found this,” Ghost said and produced the strange artifact they’d found. Ikora caught it as it well out of transmat. “I don’t know what it is but it feels powerful. It was under a statue but it was partially destroyed.”

“Hmmm,” Ikora looked it over. Then she looked towards the cliff face with the slit cut into it. But she said nothing about it. “I will investigate it,” she said. “For now you go back up there and see what there is to see.

“Yes,” Ghost said and Wolf stepped away from Ikora. “We’re going back into the Throne World,” Ghost told the rest of the clan.

“Yeah? We going in the same way as the first time?” Lizard asked.

“Considering our ships can’t get close to it… yeah, probably,” Ghost said.

“I’m sure Commander Ghor will be most accommodating,” Fox said.

“Yeah now that you guys aren’t shooting at them,” Wolf said with a touch of disdain.

“Old habits okay,” Bear shrugged. Wolf just sighed.

“Let’s go then,” Cat said and their Ghosts put them back into their ships and headed for the Cabal cannon. Fox was wrong. Commander Ghor wasn’t accommodating about shooting them out of his cannon; he was downright giddy about it. At least that was one obstacle take care of with minimal resistance.

—

The Throne World was beautiful. Was what Wolf thought. A far cry from Oryx’s bleak and gallows Dreadnaught that looked like it’d been left in the ocean too long. Wolf kept stopping to admire the flowers, stand in front of a fountain and the grotesque sculptures. Everywhere was the antithesis of the Hive. Brilliant. Alabaster. Sparkling. Even the air was clear and pure.

It reminded Wolf of what it was like in the park directly below the Traveler. A beautiful place full of light where the air was pure and sweet and even the grass seemed touched by Light.

“Wolf, we have a mission,” Ghost said, pulling her attention from the beautiful and grotesque fountain.

“I know,” she said softly. Glitterbomb had split up to cover more ground. Far in the distance she could hear the sounds of battle. But not here.

“This place is a mockery of the Light. We need to get rid of Savathun quickly,” he said, annoyed.

“I think it’s pretty,” she said, running her fingers across the blood red petals of the flowers in a raised bed. She didn’t even have her gun up.

“It’s a trick. Everything about this place is blasphemous,” he said sternly.

“Stasis is blasphemous,” was all she said and that shut him up. They continued across the exquisite Throne City. She did meet some Hive but they seemed almost reluctant to shoot her for a moment. Then the Knight behind them bellowed and the Acolytes fired upon her. She wasted them with little consideration, ripping through them with precise efficiency. Then it was quiet in the gardens once more.

A comm signal disrupted her. “You shouldn’t be here,” a voice said frantically. “You really really should not be here. You need to leave before Savathun finds out you’re here.”

“Who are you?” her Ghost asked curiously.

“Never mind who I am. You need to get out of here. Now!” Then the communication ended.

She felt but didn’t see Ghost giving her a look as he was nestled in her hood. “We’re not going to, right?”

“When do I ever do something I’m told?” she asked him.

“It’s a very short list,” he admitted.

A grin hidden in her helmet she said, “Where’d that come from?” A waypoint appeared on her HUD. She headed for it, ignoring the odd Hive and trying to locate the source of the communication.

A few minutes passed and then it came again. Just as frantic and nervous as before. “No what are you doing?! I told you you needed to get out of here.”

“We don’t really do that,” Ghost said.

“Well now’s a good time to start.”

“Who are you?  Do you work for the Vanguard? I thought Hidden weren’t allowed in here.”

“Uhhhh… just consider me a concerned body.”

“Well we’re not leaving here without some intel on how to find and stop Savathun. So you’re just going to have to get over it,” and Wolf chuckled. “Unless you have some?”

The voice paused for several seconds, thinking. “Faster you get in, faster you get out. Right okay. Well meet me outside the fortress. But be discreet. I don’t need the entire Brood knowing I’m out here.” A new way point appeared on Wolf’s HUD.

“Fun,” she said quietly and headed towards it. Problem was to get out you needed to get through a gate or go over the wall. Wolf did consider the wall until Ghost pointed out a crank that would open the door. “Well that’s not problematic at all. Ghost, call Bear and Lizard over here. I need some muscle to get that open quickly,” she said.

“Already doing it,” he chirped helpfully. She stayed back in a huge flower bush where even the leaves were made of blades. She looked up at the sky of the Throne World. It wasn’t the red-orange of Mars. It was beautiful though. She knew it hadn’t always looked like this. She’d seen the bowels of the Throne World, the darkness, the typical Hive architecture. Savathun had gained the Light and then made herself an alabaster palace.

For the first time in a long time Wolf wondered what Oryx’s Throne World would have looked like with a new Master. If any of them had listened to Toland and taken the mantle. Could they have made it something good? They certainly killed enough and had the strength of will to maintain it. But it was such a fragile thing. Mara’s destroyed Throne World was a clear indication of that. As was the rotting Dreadnaught out in the rings of Saturn.

She looked over at the sound of overlapping but familiar footsteps. “So what’s the problem, boss lady?” Lizard asked her.

“We need you two to turn that crank and open the portcullis,” Ghost said and indicated the crank.

“Knew you only liked us for our bodies,” Lizard scoffed and Wolf couldn’t help the little giggle.

“We’ll cover you,” Ghost said and Wolf pulled herself out of the flower bush. “Since I’m sure this will alert the Hive.”

“More than likely,” Bear said. “Alright lets get that gate open,” and he and Lizard jogged over to the crank. Wolf put her gun up more than casually and kept an eye as they both grabbed a spoke of the crank and started turning it. They did a few rotations when Wolf’s radar just turned entirely red.

“Stay on course, we’ll take care of it,” Ghost said to Bear and Lizard as thrall and acolytes came from around bends and over flower beds, shrieking to get at them for disturbing their Queen’s Throne World.

Between her Light and her weapon Wolf kept them back with only some effort. Their attack seemed sluggish. Not quite hesitant but like they weren’t sure to make of this new Throne World themselves or their Queen. If it was even worth the effort of killing them. Wolf dealt with them without remorse anyway. They would try to kill her friends if she didn’t and she couldn’t allow that.

“It’s done. Look for a locking mechanism,” Bear grunted, leaning hard into the crank.

“Little busy right now,” Wolf said as a Wizard floated up to see why these acolytes and thrall couldn’t deal with this problem.

“What are you doing?! I said be discreet. The entire Brood knows you’re here now,” the frantic voice said over comms.

“We’re just trying to open the door,” Ghost said.

“Lizard, find the lock,” Wolf ordered even as she she reached for a well of warm Solar Light that came readily. Solar was dangerous for her right now. It could be so warm and pleasant but it could get away from her when she was… upset. She’d never had real flare ups before. But Solar was the worst offender now. It just felt so good to burn.

“Got it,” Lizard said and let go of the crank.

“Yeah just leave the Titan to hold it himself. Great plan,” Bear complained and grunted as he had to hold the crank open all on his own digging his metal plated boots into the alabaster ground.

“You’ll live,” Lizard said and was examining the gate house.

“Not the point,” Bear said.

Wolf shoved a piece of her Light into her gun, a scout she liked and was good for scouting like they were doing now, and the thing became charged with intense Solar Light, turning gold, heat lines coming off it it burned so brightly. The sound of the Golden Gun exploded out of the muzzle as she hit the wizard. One shot to crack the shield she used to protect herself from lesser beings and a second to crack her skull and the Light entered as a perfect Golden bullet that burned her from the inside. The wizard screamed as she turned to ash from the inside out. Wolf used the last shot on an acolyte that had gotten too close to Bear.

“I think I found it so your whining is utterly unnecessary,” Lizard huffed, not even having broken his conversation with Bear at all.

Without a wizard directing them no more Hive were coming. Lizard pulled a large lever, that was probably used by a knight, down and they all heard a heavy thunk as the lock engaged. Then Lizard grabbed the lever again, hand glowing purple with the Light and snapped the lever off at the base so no one could lock the gate again.

“See, complaining about nothing!” Lizard cried.

“You still took long.”

“No I didn’t. I counted. It took me exactly twelve point zero-three seconds. Which given travel time was impressive,” Lizard said matter-of-factly.

“That’s enough,” Wolf said before they could actually start an argument. Lizard just liked being right and sometimes it drove Bear crazy. “More stuff to explore,” and she went through the gate, jogging.

“This place is too big for just us,” Bear said, following. Looking down the way they were going she didn’t disagree. This place felt so huge.

“Yeah. Just from guesstimation it’s about twice as big as the Dreadnaught. Maybe bigger. Before we came to help you Fox reported she saw a city deeper in the Throne World. This place is enormous,” Lizard said.

That didn’t make her feel better. How were they going to find Savathun in all of this? They couldn’t just blindly go into every chamber, chasing every shadow, looking around every corner. “Once we have some ideas of this place I’m sure Ikora will send her Hidden in,” Ghost said. “And the Scouting Legion.”

“Feels like a few extra rain drops in a desert,” Bear said.

“A few extra rain drops can still make a landslide,” Ghost said. “We’ll find her, and stop her,” he said firmly.

“We will,” Lizard agreed. “Question is how long will it take? I don’t think Savathun’s going to give us the same time table her brother did. She knows about us. She knows we’ve killed her family. No way she’s just going to let us dick around in her Throne World and hope we get ourselves eaten like Oryx did. She’s too smart for that.”

“I’m sure with the Hidden and Scouts’ help we’ll find her no problem. We just have to get this place looked at in some vagueness first,” Bear said as they came to another gate house. They all stopped under the arches.

“This is a Throne World right?” Lizard asked and looked behind himself at a pristine alabaster towers of Savathun’s Throne World. “Like we’re in a bog,” he gestured wildly at the swamp that stretched out before them.

“This place is even bigger than we thought,” Bear said.

“Well split up. Let’s see what there is to see,” Ghost said. Wolf was looking at the marker on her HUD. What was waiting for them? Traveler above she hoped not another weird Toland-esque thing. She couldn’t take another disembodied voice annoying her around the Ascendant World.

They split off and Wolf headed for the marker. She came across some Hive which she expected but then also came across Scorn. “What are scorn doing here?” Ghost asked as they charged her. “I’ll never understand how they get into the Ascendant realm. They’re dead.” She just put them down again and continued on to the marker.

It was up a cliff and she saw the dead Hive Knight at the edge. This was the place. Where was the contact? “Hello?” Ghost called.

“Oh! You’re here,” now the voice was in the area around here but she still couldn’t see it. “Now just take it easy… Let me explain,” and she watched the Knight’s arm shift. For a moment she thought it was about to come to life again but instead a Ghost came out from under him. He flew up, a bit cockeyed from his broken shell, and looked Wolf in the eye. His shell was made of bleached Hive carapace and one prong had been broken off.

“No,” Ghost said quietly.

“Hey k’now, lets get the awkwardness out of the way first,” the Ghost said. And as soon as she heard that voice come out of the Ghost she knew it was a Ghost. A real Ghost. A real Hive Ghost. Not some Savathun trick. She could hear its perfect Light mechanisms. The soft twinkle of the Light radiating from it. A wave of nausea so intense it was all she could do not to rip her helmet off and vomit washed over her. She barely heard the rest of what the Ghost said. That Knight was his. Wandering Ghosts told sweet lies by the Hive God of trickery. A purpose.

She managed to focus up enough to hear that the Ghost regretted his choice. And wanted to pay due, somehow. And a temple to Xivu Arath. Well at least that was something. “Oh! Almost forgot. The name’s Fynch! Honor to meet you.”

“Wish we could say the same, traitor,” Ghost said with more venom and hatred than she’d ever heard out of him.

“Woah woah lets cool it with the name calling a little,” Fynch said. “We’re on the same side here.”

“I highly doubt that-

Wolf gently pushed Ghost out of the way. “Where’s this temple?” she asked.

“Hmmm,” Fynch looked at Ghost, contemplated how mad he’d be if her interfaced with his Guardian directly. So he just spoke to Ghost, “I can tell you. No problem! Its here in the Throne World. In all this mess,” he used his shell to indicate the swamp around them. “It is underground though.”

“Convenient then isn’t it? Hive temple underground. Right where there would be a perfect trap,” Ghost said.

“I’m not lying.”

“Either way,” Wolf said before Ghost could get in with this Ghost. “We need to report back to Ikora about this. About our… new friend-

“He isn’t-

“And,” she sent Ghost a look in her helmet, he quieted, “since the Vanguard are involved we need to include them on this information. The fireteam’s scattered across the Throne World. We need to regroup.

“Hmm? Yes, Ikora should be told,” Ghost said. “And if your lead to the Temple is phony, traitor, your days are numbered,” he threatened Fynch.

“It isn’t!” Fynch insisted.

“Ghost, tell the rest of Glitterbomb we have a lead. Can you pull me out of here?”

“I can. Can’t put you back though. Are you sure you want to leave?”

She looked at the twitching Fynch who was equally curious. “The others can stay. I want to talk about our contact here in person. You overshare.”

“I do not!” Ghost cried, indignant. But he did. And she didn’t want Ikora to know about Fynch. Not yet.

“Let’s go talk to Ikora,” she said, ignoring his outburst.

“Okay,” he grumbled and after a moment Wolf appeared on her ship hovering over the crescent shaped Throne World.

“Tell the others to keep looking,” she said sitting in the pilot’s seat.

“Ikora’s also calling,” Ghost said.

“Great. Cuts down on time. Put her through.

“Wolf you’re needed at the Tower.” She sighed, of course.

“What’s happened back home?” Ghost asked.

“Caiatl is upset about what happened with her men at the cannon. Zavala is asking you to be at a meeting to help smooth things over with the Empress. You’re the leader of Glitterbomb.”

“We didn’t kill that many Cabal,” Ghost said.

“Yeah because I told them to hold their fire,” Wolf said. She’d been distracted by the time distortions and had lagged behind until Ikora had urgently said she needed to get up there and stop her fireteam from firing on their Cabal allies. Her friends were so trigger happy sometimes.

“Regardless. The Empress is not happy. You need to go help Zavala make right.”

Wolf’s face tightened and she squeezed her eyes closed. “Okay. Okay. But first, we have a lead. I’m coming in to tell you about it.”

“Then I await with baited breath,” Ikora said, only slightly sarcastic. “And once we debrief you need to go to Earth at once.”

“Right,” Wolf sighed and Ghost dropped her off at the Enclave LZ.

Chapter Text

Since this was a Vanguard op there was no running until you ran yourself into the ground like Europa. Ikora had dictated everyone needed to take six hours to recoop after spending so long in the Throne World and running a Psi Ops for Caiatl: eat something, rest, return to the Tower to bathe if needed. So they had.

Wolf wasn’t sure she’d ever sleep again. Now that she wasn’t in motion after coming back from trapping that Risen Hive Knight everything felt utterly overwhelming.

She was sitting on her chase lounge against the wall of her ship, knees pulled up to her chest, eyes wide looking at nothing somewhere in the middle distance.

She could still feel the way her fingers can so easily wrapped around the Ghost’s core of those two Ghosts. Could hear Ghost saying something that sounded proud. Good riddance. Maybe something about stolen Light. She couldn’t remember. All she could remember was the way her fist had closed around the Ghost, the way its optic had seemed wide in fear; the way it screamed when she crushed it in her fist and she felt the Light.

Not stolen Light, not Taken Light, not corrupted Light.

The Light.

She’d killed a Ghost. A real Ghost. Fynch was a real Ghost. The others were real Ghosts. They were misguided but they’d all chosen their Risen amid the Hive and not humanity as they had for a thousand years.

Ghost passed in front of her like he was pacing and her eyes darted to him. He was very upset by this. Very upset about Fynch. Very upset about what a Hive risen meant. He didn’t even seem bothered she’d final deathed a Ghost, someone he might have known. A Ghost a time ago he might have been friends with. He was glad she’d done it.

To think she’d gone on a revenge fueled rampage because a Scorn had shot something so fragile. Something that had really just shattered like glass in her fist.

“Can’t believe Ikora is making us sit here and do nothing for six hours,” Ghost grumbled. “We should be out trying to figure out how Savathun stole the Light.”

But they both knew that wasn’t really what happened. Fynch said as much. The Ghosts did it willingly. Despair over not finding their Guardian over a millennial made them desperate for any connection, any relief from the loneliness.

Had her Ghost felt the same? So relieved when he finally found her? He hadn’t cared who she was or what she’d done. All he cared about was he’d found her after a millennium of searching fruitlessly. Would he have been desperate enough to listen to Savathun’s sweet words. The promise of a risen. Just raise a Hive. Just give the Light to someone else.

“Ghost,” she said softly as he paced.

“You agree right? We should be out investigating that temple,” he said firmly. She said nothing and just held her hand out. He floated over to it to hover over it. He looked at her with confusion when she just looked down at him. His shell wasn’t a solid piece. They both liked shells with more moving parts. It was fun that way. He looked very alarmed for a moment when she lifted her hand up to curl her fingers around his core, fingers slipping through the gaps in his shell.

“What’s the matter?” Ghost asked as she held him by the core. It disgusted her. She released him but didn’t say anything as he floated up in front of her face. “You can tell me.”

“I can’t imagine anyone else touching my Ghost like that,” she said softly.

Ghost frowned at her with a twist of his shell. “Don’t feel bad for those Ghosts. They chose the enemy. They could have found a human Guardian but they didn’t. They picked a mockery of what we have.”

She looked at him, “Eleven years ago you didn’t have a Guardian either. Would you have listened to Savathun?” she asked him quietly. “Would you have taken any chance to have a risen? To fulfill your purpose?”

Ghost looked down, his shell turning. He was thinking. “No,” he said after only a few seconds, voice firm. “I’d never betray the Traveler like those Ghosts have. I’d keep looking. I’d have looked until the end of time if needed. But I’d never raise something evil, something not meant for the Light.” He came up and nuzzled her cheek. “I’d have found you one day. I’d always have found you. And that was enough to help me keep going. I’m not like those Ghosts like Fynch or the Lucent Ghosts who gave up hope. Never.”

Wolf nodded slowly and gently touched his shell, giving it some pets. He liked that. He really just liked the attention. She hadn’t given him much the past few months. She wasn’t in a good place. She wasn’t sure she still wasn’t. Better than she had been but ‘better’ was a wide band filled with hope. “Okay,” she said softly.

“They’re bad, Wolf. They made bad decisions. They sided with the enemy. Don’t let that cloud your judgment,” he said firmly.

“Right…” and she wanted to say don’t let his scorn cloud his sympathy but the words couldn’t get out. He’d have to let it go himself. Just like how she’d had to let go of her rage and hatred towards the Scorn who’d killed Cayde. He was her Ghost for a reason. He was stubborn like that. But he’d come around.

She hoped.

—

She didn’t make it six hours.

By hour four she couldn’t just stay still in her ship anymore. She walked to the hastily erected Cabal forward base and newly installed cannon. She’d purposefully not told Ikora or her clan and had walked all the way from the Enclave to the forward base. It was only a few miles. Flying her ship over would have been obvious but she was a spot in the distance walking along the edge of the cliff. 

The Legionaries stared her down as she approached and then slowly lowered their weapons showing they didn’t see her as a threat. A few nodded their heads at her, recognizing her silhouette. The Cabal only valued power and who could prove their value in battle and even the Cabal had to have some respect for an enemy like Wolf. She just walked towards the front door not giving them mind, not acknowledging the bitter taste in the back of her throat that was deference. She should have been used to it now. She never was. 

As the main door was opening she heard the whir of high speed sparrows and two pings appeared on her HUD as ally green blips resonated on the screen. She turned as the sparrows skimmed along the sand and slid up to the ramp, one sliding on its side elegantly. “And where are you going, huh?” Bear asked over comms, still on his sparrow.

“What are you doing here?” Ghost asked right back.

“Nah uh, we asked first,” Cat said, wagging a finger at her.

Wolf’s helmet gave away nothing but Ghost was always so honest with his expressions. He looked very guilty. “We were going to the Throne World.”

“Alone? Without telling Ikora. She said six hours, its been four,” Bear said. He could be a real Titan sometimes. Always by the book.

“Six isn’t going to happen,” Wolf said quietly. “You can come or go back. I’m going,” and she turned and entered the base. She missed the concerned look Cat and Bear gave each other even through their helmets before getting off their sparrows and following after her.

Chapter Text

The two halves of Savathun’s Throne World couldn’t have been more different. For as beautiful and pure as the fortress was this mire was a grotesque and infested land full of darkness and corruption. And that was before you saw the Pyramid out in the distance. A Pyramid. Here in the Throne World. Wolf knew it wasn’t some impression of a Pyramid either. This thing existed in the Ascendant Realm as a dark reality and there was no Pyramid that mirrored it beyond the Ascendant Realm. But you could only catch glimpses of it through the trees as they trekked through the thick ankle deep mud and the ‘dry’ ground that was so over saturated so it moved under their feet. Trees with dripping dark lichen dominated most of the horizon dotted with tangle rooted trees that made cages around them and forced you in a single direction. A low mist clung to the top of murk and the swamp was so utterly silent. An artificial silence because Savathun couldn’t really create life. Couldn’t populate her swamp with creatures of nature. Even if they had other names things that were frogs, birds, or lizards should have been in this place, filling the heavy forest with the noise of their existence. But there were none. It was such a pure unfettered silence.

Except when it wasn’t.

Scorn screamed and howled as bullets and Light ripped through them. The sound of gunfire numbed Wolf’s thoughts into battle focus. The scorn were black and white. They were dead things who attacked anything that wasn’t another scorn. Eliksni said they didn’t even speak their language. Either it was no language or it was something bastardized and warped from the original, so unlike what it once was it was something else. Just like the scorn themselves. But unlike Eliksni Wolf had no problem shooting them. They couldn’t wait to shoot her back or drive their burning stakes into her guts or engulf her in flames or ice.

The swamp around them echoed as their gunfire ceased, a mimicry of their violence. Scorn lay dead in the water and mud, ripped apart by their weaponry. But it was a brief reprieve. As they trespassed deeper into the swamp’s miasma there were just more. More and more. Howling scorn that ended up riddled with bullets or Light burned and dead husks in the mireland.

Cat and Bear sometimes said something. A comment on their surroundings. Why the scorn were even here. How was there a Pyramid in here? Why was a Pyramid in here? But their voices seemed quiet even over comms, swallowed up by the mist and the swamp surrounding them. Wolf didn’t engage in them, her silence muffling their queries and had Ghost screen the repeated pings from Ikora as they delved deeper into the swamp. It didn’t matter what the scorn or the Pyramid were doing here. It didn’t matter if Ikora was annoyed that they were here. All that mattered was finding Savathun and Wolf’s singular thought towards that so her mind would cease its frantic thoughts and dwell too deeply on what was happening, on what they were doing.

Eventually Bear made her stop. They’d been in here for hours. Longer than they should have been resting for. But Wolf wasn’t tired. She rarely felt things like that when she was focused. A gift and a curse.

Bear and Cat weren’t in the same boat. They were, at the least, hungry. Bear had to drag her into a cave and sit her down so she’d stop. Otherwise she’d have gone on without them and they both knew it. They took off their helmets and pulled out ration bars from pouches. Wolf didn’t partake until Ghost just transmatted her helmet off. “You doing okay, baby girl?” Cat asked and offered her a ration bar.

“Fine,” she said and this time didn’t miss the worried look Cat and Bear shared. “Better than stewing on my ship,” she opened the ration bar and ate it without tasting it. Just to relieve some of their concern. Ghost pulled from their ships and a water ration pouch showed up on the rock next to her. It was liquid but full of electrolytes to stave off dehydration a little longer before they actually needed to bail and return to their ships for actual fluids. Like an empty stomach the Light couldn’t hydrate you if you died of dehydration. She drank that too. Tasted bad. Thankfully she didn’t taste it too much.

“So how much longer we going to be out here?” Bear asked, on his third ration bar.

“When Ikora figures out what that relic is,” Ghost said.

“Which we don’t know because you keep screening her pings,” Bear huffed.

“It’s been less than a day. It’s not about the relic,” Ghost said firmly. They both knew that too.

“I think we killed enough scorn to satisfy your contact out here,” Cat said, still wary about this ‘contact’. Wolf hadn’t divulged Fynch was a Hive Ghost yet. She didn’t know how the others would react. She didn’t know if she could crush Fynch, or if she could watch one of her friends crush Fynch.

“More than he deserved for sure,” Ghost scoffed. He hadn’t ratted Fynch out yet because Wolf hadn’t said anything. While he didn’t like Fynch he didn’t outright go against what Wolf did.

“So maybe we should head back and-

They all looked at the entrance of the cave at the very clear sound of a Golden Gun a ways off. There was no mistaking the familiar crack of Solar Light splitting and roasting the air. “Must be a scout,” Cat said as the Gun cracked once, then again. Wolf lowered her gaze and drank more of the electrolyte water.

“Didn’t think Ikora had sent any in yet,” Bear said and looked at Cat as the Gun fired three times in rapid succession. They had one shot left. Wolf hoped whatever that Hunter was dealing with was managing.

“You know they do what they want since Cayde’s dead,” Cat scoffed. “No Hunter Vanguard. They just listen to Ikora and Zavala as a courtesy.” Two more Golden Gun shots pierced the silence in their words and Wolf looked up. Another shot. Eight? Most Hunters didn’t have the Light to fire a Golden Gun so many times. Even other expenditures of Solar Light happened in one rush.

“Hey- Wolf,” Wolf grabbed her helmet and pulled it on as she left the cave. A ninth Golden Gun shot pierced the quiet stillness of the swamp, followed up by a rapid fire of four shots. Wolf broke out into a sprint towards the sound.

“Wolf where are you going?” Cat called after her over comms and she heard them running after her.

She stopped, panting slightly, amid the towering trees and swirling mist, and listened. No more Golden Gun. No! Where was it? But she didn’t have to wait much longer. She heard more Light power in the same direction. But it was an unfamiliar expenditure. Maybe a Hive Risen.

“Wolf for fuck’s sake-“ she shrugged off Bear’s hand as he tried to grab her shoulder and she crashed back through the foliage. “This fucking girl! Why’s she always like this with the damn Hive,” she heard Bear cry after her.

Then finally she could hear the sound of Hive and out beyond the trees, closer than it had been in some time, she could see the towering cake that was Savathun’s Light Touched Throne World. This close to the seat of their power a Risen Hive had decided to venture into the swamp. Or that’s what she assumed when she heard the horrible snap of a Hive Ghost as someone smashed it.

There was no clearing, just a break in the crushing roots that reminded her of mangroves, clawing at her ankles and thighs, trying to tangle around her. But she didn’t let it pull her into the mud and muck as she entered the break in the foliage. The Hunter, for of course it was a Hunter, if the Golden Gun didn’t give it away the cloak sure did. They were faced away from her and at this angle she could see the sword they were using, and pieces of the Hive Ghost on the saturated earth at their feet.

“You gotta stop running off,” Bear grabbed her shoulder as they caught up.

Their arrival made the Hunter turn. They wore armor she’d never seen before. It was sharp. Dangerous. As if covered in teeth, even the stitching on their leather seemed to be gaping maws full of teeth, ready to bite. But the stance was familiar, especially when he twirled his sword over to his side as he faced them.

“Hey there darlin’,” a familiar voice said over local comms.

Next to her a gun cracked and she jumped, startled at Bear holding a hand canon out in one hand that smashed itself into the Hunter’s head. “Hate that fucking guy,” Bear said, voice dripping with dislike as the Hunter crumpled into the swamp

“Bear what is the matter with you!” Wolf cried.

“What?” Bear cried.

“I can’t believe you just did that,” Wolf seethed.

“He deserved it and then some,” Cat said on her other side in their Old Guardian voice that made her very aware of how much Cat gave a shit. They acted all aloof but sometimes they really gave a shit and it was intense.

Wolf tried to get out from Bear’s grip again but he held her back when a familiar brown shelled Ghost slipped out from under their cloak. He looked at the three of them and waved. Only Ghost waved back. Because he was in the hood of her cloak she could hear the rapid twinkling that was his shell moving back and worth quickly, excitedly as the ghost remade their Guardian in the Light.

After taking a second to orientate himself Shin said, “Okay. I deserved that,” and held up one hand. “Anyone else want a go? I’ll give you one free shot,” he motioned to himself.

“I’ll take a rain check,” Cat said.

“Right,” Shin said slowly.

“What are you doing here? Pretty sure the Throne World’s restricted space.”

“Yeah but when do I listen to the Vanguard?” Shin asked, shrugging with his whole body.

“How did you even get in here?” Bear asked. “Ships can’t get close. There’s nowhere to transmat.”

“I have ways,” was all Shin said which Wolf knew pissed her clanmates off.

“What are you doing?”

“What’s it look like? You going to keep giving me the third degree or you want a forth gun?” Shin huffed.

Wolf again tried to pull away from Bear’s iron grip when Cat walked over to Shin but Bear was absolutely not letting her go. Cat walked up to him and got very close to him. They were the same height and met eye to eye. She thought Cat was staring him down but by the cock of his helmet no. They were having a private conversation. And Cat hadn’t killed him. What were they doing? Shin made the Hunter sign for ‘understood’ that you’d use when talking to a Warlock who knew sign and were dismissive of them. But Cat didn’t react and stepped away from him.

“We still hunting Scorn or what?” Cat asked.

“You can’t be fucking serious,” Bear groused.

“Suck it up Papa Bear,” Cat said dismissively. Reluctantly Bear let go of her arm and Wolf rolled her shoulder. She didn’t say anything she just stared at Shin.

“I was following some nasty trail before I ran into that... Whatever the fuck that was,” he pointed at the pieces of what looked like a Wizard but wasn’t quite right and a surrounding of Hive corpses around in the mud. “Festered like Scorn.”

“Then let’s see if we can’t find their nest,” Bear said. “Smoke ‘em out.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Cat said. “You had the trail. Lead on,” they nodded at Shin.

“Right,” and turned and went into the tangling, grasping, roots of the mangroves. She followed first, walking past Cat and Bear who fell in step behind her. None of them spoke as they went back into the swirling miasma of the swamp surrounding Savathun’s pristine alabaster keep.

Chapter Text

Shin finally felt like he could breathe again when he appeared on his ship. It felt like he’d been holding his breath the entire time around Glitterbomb. Not that he blamed Bear for shooting him in the head. He just thought maybe he’d get more than one sentence out before he did.

He put his weapons up, Thorn going next to his less used Last Word on the gun rack, and went and sat in the cockpit. He looked out and saw the ships of Glitterbomb further off in the distance, hovering in high atmosphere above some hidden forward operating base. They’d spent three hours clearing out a den of scorn. Cat and Bear talked, sometimes Shin was allowed to join the banter. Wolf hadn’t said a word the entire time. But he’d felt her looking at him any time she didn’t have to be focused on the enemy.

He pulled his helmet off and ran his hand through his short hair as he sent a hail message to Wolf’s familiar ship. “Bold aren’t we?” Magpie asked.

“Might as well get the slap out of the way,” he grimaced. He honestly wasn’t sure what Wolf would do. But good money was slap the shit out of him. He knew what he wanted to do to her but he doubted it’d work like that.

“She’s too classy for a slap. She’d just punch you,” Magpie said matter of factly and then his shell twitched. “Her Ghost said transmat is available.”

Only when he said that did Shin’s stomach turn over in sudden nerves. Well whatever happened happened but he was also ready to accept that it’d be nothing. That they were nothing. That he’d fucked up for the last time. He took a deep breath, stomach one huge knot, “Yeah. Let’s go see them,” he said and Magpie took them out.

Wolf’s ship was as expected. Cleared, two armor stands with extra armor, and a pile of purple and umbral engrams shoved into the back of the cabin. He’d been in her ship enough to know the pile of engrams never really went away it just got bigger or smaller day by day. She was sitting on her lounge but stood up when he arrived, still in her armor caked in mud. As if Shin had any room to talk. His own gear was mud almost up to the knees and ichor and ether residue the rest of the way.

She stared at him but said nothing. Then, “Hey,” Shin said to break the silence.

Wolf approached him slowly. He wasn’t sure what he expect her to do but he really was not reaching up and cupping a side of his face with one hand. The surprise was plain on his face. “I missed you,” and he thought he’d remembered her voice but his memory was faulty and no, she sounded exactly how he remembered but not what his mind made her sound like.

“I’m sorry,” he said as Ghost peeled her helmet off. Magpie could display Wolf’s visage to him with their optic, a perfect picture in full color. But it was nothing compared to seeing her in the real. Her starlight silver hair was still pinned around her head to keep it contained under her helmet contrasted her pale blue skin where it looked like stars lived. Every plane and angle of her face was finely crafted and elegant without any cherub roundness. He knew exactly what she looked like and had looked at pictures of her often enough but somehow Shin wasn’t ready for how utterly beautiful she really was with his own two eyes. He’d somehow forgotten. Or maybe he’d just gotten used to a picture.

“You never responded to my messages,” she said quietly.

“I didn’t always get them,” he admitted. “I wasn’t always somewhere to hear them.”

“Where?”

“Some very dark places,” was all he said softly, knowing she didn’t want exacts. Not yet. She just needed to know. “I’m sorry I was gone for so long,” and he bowed his head. She surprised him again when she hugged him. So hard for a second he couldn’t breathe. He hugged her back. She smelled like the Tower and the Light. Like home. He wanted to kiss her so bad but knew he hadn’t earned that. He didn’t deserve it. Not after the bullshit he’d pulled. “I missed you too,” he said, burying his face in her neck.

He stiffened and made an ‘ack!’ of a noise when Wolf made a fist and smashed it into his spine as hard as she could. “Okay, deserved that,” he gasped and let her go so he could stand up and crack his back into place.

“That was my free one,” she said, almost amused.

“I forgot you got a hook,” he said and rubbed his shoulder. Wolf did not fuck around. It still hurt. But it was a dull pain. It’d go away on its own.

“You didn’t have to go,” Wolf said, hand on his chest. “It was okay.”

“No. It wasn’t,” he said seriously. “I let it get away from me and I hurt you. I could have killed you.” He knew now he really could have killed her. The same way Dredgen Yor used to drain Guardians of their Light and life force. A Ghost couldn’t bring back what had no Light, no life.

“You wouldn’t have,” she reached up and touched his face again. Then she smiled faintly, “You cut your hair,” and her hand slid up the side of his face to his hair. No more long shag it had been driving Shin crazy. It was shorter on the sides than the top but not too long it got in his eyes.

“Yeah. That was me!” Magpie said, showing himself finally.

“Oh really?” she asked him, amused.

“Yeap. I said he couldn’t go to the Savathun’s Throne World and run into you before he made himself known with that mop he called hair. He needed to look nice.”

“You’re so fucking annoying,” and Shin pushed his Ghost away but his ears were burning. Wolf giggled. “You like it? I know you liked it longer too,” he said. That was why he’d let it get a bit out of control the previous year. Wolf had said she’d liked it and far be it from him to cut his hair when Wolf liked it.

“I do,” she assured him softly and he got goosebumps all over his body when she ran her fingers through the back. “You look nice.”

“Only the best for you,” he said.

She looked down with a soft breath. “Yeah,” she said quietly. “Were you going to tell me you were in the Throne World?”

“Well I thought it best if I was going to fuck around in there anyway to bring Ikora a peace offering,” he admitted. “You just found me before I could come back.”

“A non stop Golden Gun is a giveaway.”

“Heh. Yeah, guess it would be- hmm?” he perked up when she leaned her head against his chest. He heard her let out a shaky breath and for a second he thought was was crying. But that didn’t seem right. Wolf didn’t strike him as a crier. When he looked down he saw indeed, she wasn’t crying but she was trembling ever so slightly. He wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry,” he whispered and pressed his cheek to her pinned hair. This was the break. He wasn’t immune to the way Wolf’s voice became more and more upset over her messages, not desperate but depressed and weak. He knew she was really torn up about him leaving if only just from the messages she sent to Magpie. How quiet they’d become, like she was whispering into her Ghost because she didn’t know how else to handle him leaving.

It really made him feel guilty. Both that he’d left and that him leaving had reduced someone as strong as Wolf into that. Someone who sounded so lost. He knew she hadn’t been the best in the Throne World by her intense silence and he’d even signed to Cat if she was talking at all before this. No, they’d said.

“I needed you,” she said in a voice that almost sounded choked with tears but instead it was just choked. She grabbed onto his armor.

“You don’t need me,” he said quietly, “but I know you wanted me there and I wasn’t. I’m sorry,” he squeezed her. He knew Wolf didn’t actually need him no matter what she said. She’d gotten along without him before and she’d have eventually gotten along without him again. But she wanted to need him. But she didn’t and he wasn’t going to fool himself believing that, or letting her believe it.

“She really missed you,” Ghost said and him speaking meant Wolf couldn’t.

“I know,” Shin said softly.

“She didn’t take it well.” Yeah. He could see that. “Are you going to leave again?”

“Not on purpose if she wants me to stay,” Shin said, still holding her.

“She does,” Ghost said. “Not that I think you’d get away with that again.”

“Yeah… probably,” he grimaced. He knew Glitterbomb hated his guts after bailing for five months with no explanation and a heart broken Wolf to pick up after he’d run away.

“Please don’t leave again,” Ghost said in such a tone that Shin had a feeling that was exactly what Wolf was thinking and it hurt. “I don’t think you or anyone realize how stressful everything is for her.” He grimaced in sympathy.

“I don’t plan on it,” Shin said. He looked down when Wolf sniffed. Shit was she crying? As if he didn’t feel guilty enough now Wolf was crying about some asshole like him! He loosened his hold on her a little and looked down at her. Wolf just had her head pressed against his chest piece but he could see a slight reflection.

He made her look up at him and her purple eyes were filled to the brim but only a few tears raced down her cheeks. “Hey, don’t cry because of stupid me,” and he wiped her eyes. “I’m not worth crying over,” he joked.

She couldn’t talk still but after a moment made her hand work and signed, ‘Yes. Because I love you.’

He hugged her tightly. “I love you too,” he said softly.

His chest hurt as Wolf forced herself to talk because he couldn’t see her hands and she said, “Then why did you go away? Why did you leave me?”

“I’m sorry,” was all he could say. She sniffled a little and he just held her, her face in the muffler of his hood. He felt the edges get damp and he felt like such a horrible bastard. He didn’t deserve for Wolf to cry over him. “I’m so sorry.” She just held him back and he could feel the way she grabbed his cloak and back of his armor in a death grip, like if she let go he’d slip away again. What a useless, terrible, guy he was. Was this better than just never seeing her again?

They stayed like that for a long time. Longer than Shin expected. But Wolf wouldn’t let him go. Then he made a surprised noise when Wolf almost slid out of his grasp, literally. He caught her and while she still had a hand on his cloak her grip was weak. “She really just will fall asleep anywhere huh?” he asked her Ghost.

“Somewhere she feels safe, yes,” he said just to make sure Shin knew what was what. Right. Felt guilty again. “We were in that swamp for hours before we found you. And before that she’d been up for sixteen hours.”

“So when was the last time she slept?” Shin asked, adjusting his grip to scoop her up into his arms.

“Thirty hours ago. Had a full night sleep. But she’s back to sleeping poorly.”

Shin carried her over to her lounge but didn’t put her down. “We’re both covered in mud,” he said and knew the lounge doubled as Wolf’s ship bed.

“Well you’re touching,” Ghost said.

“Figure it the fuck out,” he snapped.

“He’s anxious,” Magpie said and the back of his shell twirled. He did Wolf first and then Shin, dressing them down to their thermal layer.

“It’s dangerous.”

“You need more practice,” Magpie said matter of factly.

Shin ignored the Ghosts and sat on the lounge against the high backed arm and just let Wolf lay on him. She was out and this felt really familiar. It reminded him of Europa and Wolf sleeping on him to keep warm. Now she was just tired and sleeping on him to feel safe. As she slept he carefully took all the pins out of her hair so the silver locks could pool around her face like liquid starlight. When they was done he put his head back and looked up at the ceiling of the ship, thinking his own thoughts.

She didn’t sleep long. Only about an hour. Then she woke up violently, digging her hand into his gut as she tried to push herself up and figure out where the fuck she was. Her flailing stopped abruptly when she saw what she was laying on. Shin grunted when she threw herself at him and hugged him.

“Not a dream,” he assured her gently, holding her.

“Good,” she said so softly he barely heard her. “I’m sorry- that was really stupid of me,” she said sheepishly.

“Ghost said you haven’t really slept. I get it,” he shrugged and gave her a squeeze. “I’d rather you sleep than think you need to deal with me.”

She pulled away from him and sat on his lap, straddling him. Then she roughly grabbed his face. “Where the fuck have you been?” she asked, pulling his face close critically.

“You want the long or the short answer?”

“I want whatever is the real answer,” she said. Now that she’d had her cry and her nap she seemed more like how he remembered her. In control, level headed, knew exactly what she wanted. She was even hotter like this than her normal self.

“Stop squeezing my face and I’ll tell you,” around his slightly puckered lips. She let him go. “For where I’ve been; a bunch of places. In this reality? Mostly Europa. Since that helped me the first time. And then just a lot of time… nowhere.”

“The Ascendant Realm?”

“Yeah but not anywhere we know or you’ve been. I was, quite literally, nowhere. I was in that place a long time,” he said, lost in thought for a moment. Remembering the echoing howls of the Ascendant Realm, the ethereal wind that always blew regardless of where you went. He’d run into Toland once at the beginning, his Light curious about Shin but ultimately finding ‘nothing of value’ with him. And then it had just been the endless Dark.

“Why?”

He refocused on Wolf and gently reached over to brush some of her hair behind her ear, “So I could really learn to control this without it ever getting away from me again.”

“It was an accident,” she said.

“You can’t have accidents with Hunger. It could have killed you. If it was anyone else it would have. You just have— mmm, insane Light output so it only hurt. If I’m going to kill someone its going to be on purpose, not because I can’t control myself and they make me mad,” and his eyes narrowed slightly.

“So you have it under control?” she asked him.

“Yes,” he nodded but wasn’t happy about it. Before it felt like his Light and Hunger took turns filling him with power depending on when he needed it. Now it was like Hunger had its teeth in his Light even as it burned it from the inside out. A equilibrium but each trying to consume the other away. But it meant he could easily call either power without having to dig down for it. It was just there whenever he needed it. Even though he had control over it it was still so shocking at how easily Hunger came, as swift and urgently as Solar.

“Shin,” they looked over as Magpie floated up to them.

“What’s up?”

“So you just… left Castaway on the Throne World. Buoy’s been pinging me the past hour-

“Oh shit!” Shin cried.

“Castaway?” Wolf asked even as Shin lightly pushed her off him.

“A new… friend,” he allowed. “He doesn’t have a ship. I completely forgot when I brought it over to the Enclave.”

“You… made a friend while gone?” Wolf looked at him in absolute confusion. “And you’re admitting they’re a friend. Are you feeling okay?”

“I— yeah. Also, this is Magpie,” he motioned to his Ghost.

“… And you named your Ghost?” Wolf asked, stunned. “Since when?”

“Since he asked?”

“Shin, Castaway,” Magpie said.

“Look, I’ll explain when I get back. I need to go pick Castaway up. I’ll be right back.” Wolf just looked so confused and genuinely stunned that Shin had made a friend while he’d fucked off for five months. Which, yeah, was pretty insane for him. But he couldn’t have just left the guy there. He’d have been torn apart by the remaining grumblings of Eramis’ House.

“You better be,” she said.

“Yes, right back,” and he looked at Magpie who pulled them off Wolf’s ship.

—

Wolf was waiting where he’d left her when he came back. He’d been gone only ten minutes but even still she looked relieved to see him. Like she was worried he wouldn’t come back. He didn’t know how he was going to convince her he wasn’t leaving. He sat on the lounge in a comfortable position to be sat on because the next moment Wolf crawled into his lap. He curled an arm around her waist comfortingly. “Told you, came right back,” he said.

“Who’s Castaway?” she asked him.

“A New Light,” he said.

“Oh. Why didn’t you bring him to the Tower?”

“It’s… complicated,” he admitted.

“Is that code for you’re not going to tell me?”

“Well considering everything else going on right now… no,” he said. “One world shattering thing at a time hmm?”

She rubbed the side of her face tiredly, “Yes,” she allowed. “But are you going to tell me?”

“I will. I’ll tell you whatever you want but some of it might need to wait,” he said.

“This New Light is your friend?”

“Yeap.”

“… How?” she squinted at him, not believing him. That made him chuckle.

“Approximately the same way Savant did where he just wouldn’t leave me the fuck alone and now he’s fine.”

“So you admit Savant’s your friend?”

“Yeah.”

Wolf stared at him and then put her hand up to his forehead and then the back of it to his cheek. “Are you sick?”

He chuckled. “No. I’m fine,” and gently took her worried hand. “I just… had a long time to be with my thoughts. And last year really made me really have to change parts of myself. But it wasn’t enough. I was still doing the same stupid things over and over again.” He sighed then took a deep breath. “I am really, genuinely, going to try and be a better person because I was still such a shit head before.”

“And when he’s not I get to yell at him about it,” Magpie said suddenly, now at his shoulder. “That’s why he’s got a hair cut you know,” he said smugly.

“You’re such a pest,” Shin pushed Magpie away.

“Why Magpie?”

“I liked it?” Shin shrugged. “Also I’m already surrounded by people named after animals. Figured he’d fit in better. Not like I could name him Crow-“ that made Wolf giggle. “And Raven’s too feminine sounding. But Magpie’s nice.”

“I didn’t take you two as someone who liked shiny things,” she said, leaning against his arm comfortably.

“Well yeah, of course,” and Wolf’s face turned dark when Shin gently toyed with a lock of her shimmering silver hair. “And Ghost’s always in the latest shiny shell with the flashiest shader you can find.”

She cleared her throat, “Yeah I guess so,” she allowed. “So… now what?”

“Well I doubt you’d prefer I wait back at the Tower-

“No,” she said before he could even get it all the way out.

“So then I’m just an extra set of eyes, an extra gun out here,” he said.

“It’s restricted space, Shin,” she reminded him.

“Yeah but when’s that ever stopped me from going where I want?” he asked her. “And I can get into the Throne World easier than getting shot out of a canon,” he teased her.

“What? Yes how did you get in there in the first place?” she demanded.

“Wanna see?”

“Yes,” she nodded.

Shin held his arm out and Hunger raced into his hand. Like someone was taking a bite of reality a tear appeared in the air. The wind rushed out of the Ascendant Realm casting a stiff breeze in the ship. In the distance they could see the island that was Savathun’s massive sprawling Throne World, gleaming white palace balanced atop a fetid swamp surrounding a Pyramid and darkened city.

“You can just do that?” she asked, shocked.

“Well its Hunger,” Shin said. “It can eat anything.” Closing a tear was more difficult. Hunger wanted to rip, not mend. But he did make it close the hole in reality it’d made.

“But I thought you needed to follow the sword logic to pierce the Ascendant Realm?” Wolf asked, so confused.

“Don’t I?” he asked her. “Don’t all Guardians?”

She was quiet in her own thoughts for a moment. “You can just open the Ascendant Realm and you were there a while. Can you make stuff in it?”

“Not really?” Shin said. “I can make somewhere to walk but that’s about it,” he shrugged. “Things of Light aren’t really supposed to have power in the Ascendant Realm from what I understand.”

“So you could sayyy, make a big portal in the Enclave and a path to the Throne World so we wouldn’t have to get shot out of a cannon?”

Shin gave her a look, “I could but would Glitterbomb forgive me taking their fun away? I’m trying to make them like me okay?” And that made her laugh. Not a giggle. A full laugh. He smiled and somehow had a feeling it’d been a while since she laughed. Just from what Ghost had said earlier. If she was exhausted she wasn’t happy.

“Well good luck with that,” she said once she settled down.

“Yeah,” he grumbled.

“The only one who’s remotely okay with you is Cat and that’s only because I love you,” and she touched his face gently. “But they did try very hard to get me over you.”

“See that worked real well for them,” he said sarcastically.

“I did have a fake girlfriend for a little bit. She was really nice,” Wolf joked. “But she knew we were just friends.”

“So then I take it I get to date you again?” Shin asked, a bit sarcastic.

“Yes, stupid,” she poked his face.

“Good, because I prefer you being my girlfriend than you having one.” She blinked at him, taking in what he was saying.

Looking back Shin had realized they’d never put a real name on whatever the fuck their relationship had been. They’d dated and he loved Wolf but he’d never just outright admitted they were anything. He knew Wolf was in the same boat that while feelings were easier giving a concrete commitment to someone was… difficult. It was more commitment than they’d given each other before. Guardians were transient beings a lot of the time, moving between things often. Sometimes even partners. It was just what happened when you were immortal. Unless you found that one person you could be with, literally, forever Guardian relationships tended to form and break easily and without much resentment on either side. It was just not going to work out ‘long term’.

But Shin had missed Wolf so desperately while he was away. Every moment he wasn’t working through his own shit or learning to control Hunger he thought of her. She’d been in every dream he could remember, good or bad. Sometimes the howling in the Ascendant Realm sounded like her. Once or twice he’d seen her standing off on a rock in the middle of nothing but it had just been a hallucination. Or more like a mirage and Magpie had been annoyed he’d left the path when there was nothing there.

He’d dated plenty of people in his long life. Happened when you were well known. It was always shallow. Not from lack of trying. Some even had been good. Ripping Shin out of his shell so they could know what he was really like. Either they didn’t like the answer and left him, or they did and that worried Shin enough he left them. But none of them ever made him act like he did for Wolf. Where he’d picked his miserable ass up to try and be better.

She was just so good and he knew he didn’t deserve her. He knew a thousand times over he didn’t deserve a girl like Wolf. Which was why he’d never done anything until he’d seen her almost killing herself trying to learn to control Stasis. And then it was reciprocated? Well he still didn’t deserve her. And he wanted to be. So he’d tried to change but it hadn’t been enough. Easy to fall into old and bad habits now with the girl of everyone’s dreams.

And now he was going to try really hard to be the type of guy Wolf deserved. Which was a tall order but he was going to try, really, truly. Because he loved her.

Wolf at least understood the significance of putting a real name to their relationship. He was still surprised when she kissed him, arms curling around his neck shoulders. A stiffness in his neck loosened when she did and he enjoyed kissing her. Fuck he enjoyed kissing her so much. It wasn’t a heated kiss but something sweet and longing that made him hold her close and want to savor every moment.

Wolf pressed her lips to his a few times even as she pulled away and rested her forehead against his. “You were already enough for me you know but I am glad you’re my boyfriend,” and her lips curled into a smile.

“Trust me, you’re the only one who thought that. Everyone thought  you needed better taste,” and that made her laugh. He liked when she cuddled against him and he gently rubbed her back.

“I fight gods for a living. I don’t have time for taste,” she said and that made him snort. A long, comfortable, silence passed before she asked, “Do you… want to talk about what happened?”

“Do you?”

She sat up, uncurling her arms from him which he wasn’t a fan of honestly. “I’m sorry,” she said.

He cocked his head to the side, “For what?”

“I acted really… self righteous about what you did. But I don’t really know what happened and I did know you did bad things before we got together. I just didn’t—“ she rubbed the side of her face. “I just thought it didn’t matter before. Then Drifter shot you and I kinda freaked out.”

“Being reminded I’ve done some fucked up stuff got to you huh?”

“I knew,” she insisted. “I did that stupid thing for Drifter a few years ago. But you’re just… never like that.”

“When I was with you, yeah,” Shin said slowly. “But I’ve done some bad things, Wolf.”

“I know. And looking back I sounded so fucking preachy like I haven’t done worse.”

“I wouldn’t say worse-

“I might not have killed Guardians but I’ve killed entire populations of Eliksni and Cabal, our allies. I finished destroying every fucking House the Eliksni have had. Devils, Kings, Winter, Wolves, Salvation; I am the one they point to when they talk about killing their last leaders. I’ve slaughtered entire legions of Cabal, the Red Legion fell apart specifically because of me.” She sighed a tired sigh. “And I know in their fucked up way I’ve killed Hive other members of their species cared about to. I’ve killed so many of their gods. And now I’ve…” she trailed off and got a distant look in her eyes.

“Now what?” Shin asked.

“They’re real Ghosts,” she said in a whisper and that revelation made her cover her mouth with both hands, her purple eyes going huge.

“… Wait. That thing I smashed was an actual Ghost?” Shin asked. He wasn’t new to killing Ghosts but he was sure that thing with that strange Wizard had just looked like a Ghost.

“They’re Ghosts,” she said still in a whisper. “I— I killed one,” her voice shook. “I don’t…”

He gently took her hands away from her face, “It’s okay,” he said kindly. “The first few are hard.”

Wolf needed a moment to collect herself. Shin was surprised. She was usually so unrattled. Somehow he knew this was going to be a problem. If not now than later when this was over and Wolf, Traveler’s favorite Guardian, was going to have a breakdown about killing a Ghost. She cleared her throat. “I didn’t really have the right to tell you you were wrong for what you did when I’ve been alive barely a decade and literally tried to commit genocide,” she said. She rubbed her face again. “It didn’t really matter when I was fresh, I didn’t care,” she said softly.

“Yeah. Caring sucks, can confirm,” Shin said candidly. Wolf looked at him in annoyance. “But it’s why I’m dating you so its worth it,” he kissed her on the forehead. “It’s easier to not give a shit what everyone or anyone thinks but it makes you a better person when you do. And I know that. I really care what you think about me, which is why I want to be better; for you. And you’re better because you care too.” He hugged her when she leaned against him. “And I know you gotta care about a lot of extra shit the rest of us don’t.” She nodded silently. “I don’t blame you for getting on my case either. I would have too if I was you. I did some fucked up shit.” He took a breath. “But the Shadows of Yor weren’t my friends, because I was too much of a self important piece of shit to care about friends,” he said. “Dredgen Yor cast a long shadow on Guardians. And I was self entitled enough to think it was my job to make sure everything about him was burned out of existence. I was a real dumb fucking young Guardian.”

“You’re still dumb,” Magpie called from the other side of the ship where he was playing tag with Ghost.

“Shut the fuck up,” Shin called back but had no heat to it.

“You were trying to do the right thing,” Wolf said.

“Yeah. What I thought was right. Real deathed a lot of Guardians along the way because I thought I knew better than them. In most cases they were beyond helping. Some… I pushed them,” he admitted. Then in a change of tone he said, “You know there’s this Warlock bitch who’s absolutely obsessed with me?”

“… Like good obsessed or bad obsessed?” Wolf asked.

“Like thinks I’m a lunatic and a bad person obsessed but also wants to take fallen Guardians for ‘reeducation’ under some Warlock doctrine.”

Wolf grimaced. “She also sounds like a nut job.”

“Yeap,” he agreed. “I haven’t seen her around the Tower but I’m sure she’s livid I’m just doing Tower stuff and Crucible activities and she can’t do anything about it. Like arrest me or something.”

“Why not?” Wolf looked up at him from where she was leaned against him.

“One guess?”

“… Ikora told her not to,” she groaned.

“Bingo.”

“She knows too much,” Wolf grumbled. Shin chuckled.

“You get used to it. Not that I’m nothing but on my best behavior around the Tower anyway. You know that.”

“Suspiciously yes.”

“Ikora’s scary.” Wolf paused and then turned into his thermal shirt and laughed so hard it made him tremble. Shin just grinned and leaned back against the high side of the lounge.

He glanced up when a Ghost came over. It was Wolf’s Ghost. “Speaking of Ikora,” he said. “She is still trying to get in touch with you,” he told Wolf.

“What’d you tell her?”

“That you were unable to take the call and you would when you were able. But she knows you disobeyed orders about going into the Throne World.” Wolf rolled her eyes. “But you still need to take her call at some point. She knows you’re back, Cat and Bear reported back. I think it might be about… our contact.”

She sighed and sat up. “Okay fine, put her through,” she said.

“You also making new friends and not telling me?” Shin teased her.

“It’s… complicated,” she said even as Ghost expanded around his core.

“Ah, there you are,” Ikora said through Ghost.

“Save me the scolding,” Wolf said before she could say anything else.

Ikora said nothing for a moment then, “It’s as important to rest between missions as it is to do them, Wolf.”

Wolf leaned forward, holding her chin in her hand, elbow on her knee. “What is happening now?”

“Wolf-

“Ikora,” she said back in the same concerned but annoyed tone that made Shin chuckle.

“Is someone there with you? This is Hidden business-

“He's fine. Now since you’re not here to scold me what’s our next action?”

Ikora was quiet and they both knew she was annoyed Wolf was ignoring her and her suggestions to relax or at least rest. “After discussing with Eris it’s decided we’ll take a chance on this contact of yours. Its our only lead so far.”

“Good,” Wolf said.

“But I can’t authorize a strike knowing you’re being disobedient-

“Ikora? When has the Vanguard being upset with what I do stopped me from just doing it?” she asked Ikora.

“Yes and how many times has it put you and others in life threatening situations?”

“The Vanguard have put me in plenty of those too.”

“Girls, don’t fight,” Shin said before it got too heated. “Just let it go, Ikora.”

There was a pause. “Malphur? What are you doing there?”

“Whatever I want,” he said smugly.

The silence on the other end was pure annoyance. But she must have calmed herself because her next words were not angry or heated. “Have you rested at all?”

“Yes.”

“She took a nap, I saw it,” Shin put in helpfully.

“I don’t know why you’d believe him but it’s true,” Ghost said.

“Since you won’t give us your contact I have no choice but to send you to get the information we need from them,” Ikora said.

“Once things have stabilized,” Wolf said.

“Very well. He said he had a lead that would get us to Savathun?”

“Supposedly. I’ll take a fireteam to deal with it and send back when we know what we’re in for.”

“Good enough I suppose. Keep me posted,” and Ghost closed.

Wolf got up, Shin grabbed her hand. She looked at him. “Everything okay?” he asked.

There was a long pause, “Better than it’s been in a while. Why?”

“You were really snappy with Ikora,” he frowned.

“I just am really tired of being questioned all the time,” she sighed but not angrily. “I know she means well but I’ve done more than her in ten years than she has in the centuries she’s been alive.”

“She’s worried about you.”

“I can handle it,” she said.

“I know. But that doesn’t mean people aren’t allowed to worry,” he said. He was worried she was snappy honestly. She never was before. “Do you want me to come with?”

“Yes— but you can’t,” she said softly. “I know the others would be pissed. No need to deal with that now.”

He squeezed her hand. Yeah that sounded about right. He was sure Cat and Bear had told the others they got a free one on Shin. He couldn’t wait to find out how a pair of Warlocks were going to vaporize him or a muscle head like Rat was going to do him in. The only one he wasn’t worried about was Cat. Not really. They’d probably just shoot him. That was fine. “Okay. What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to stay right here,” she said. He made a face.

“Wolf-

“You were gone for five months. You’re staying here,” she gave him a hard look.

He sighed. “Okay,” he lifted his free hand to show he wasn’t going to fight her. “I might go check on Castaway but I’ll be here,” he said and she nodded. He let her hand go. “Who’s this contact? You make a friend?” Shin joked as Ghost put her in most of her armor, different armor from before so it wasn’t covered in mud, except her helmet, pinning her hair back down into place.

“A Hive Ghost,” she said, looking into the middle distance for a moment. Then she blinked and focused.

“You mean a traitor,” Ghost harumphed.

“He’s not that bad. He was just… lonely,” Wolf told Ghost.

“So? He made a poor choice of companionship,” Ghost said.

Wolf looked frustrated but didn’t keep engaging. So they’d talked about this before. “He regrets what he did,” she told Shin. “And now he’s our best lead in the Throne World.”

“If he’s even telling the truth. It could just be a trap.”

Wolf grabbed Ghost and pulled him right in front of her face. “That’s enough,” she said in a soft, serious, tone. “Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Now stop it,” and she let him go. Ghost’s shell shivered from that but he did settle down. “I don’t know how long I’ll be,” she told Shin.

“I’ll wait,” he said and her face softened.

“You better be here when I get back,” she said sternly.

“Yes ma’am,” and he gave her the casual Hunter salute, touching his temple with two fingers and pointing them at her. It was a friendly thing Hunters did that drove most Warlocks and Titans absolutely crazy. He perked up when she took a step closer to the lounge and leaned down, kissing him. But she didn’t linger. “Love you too,” he said and watched a slight shift in her eyes to giddiness.

“We’ll be back,” Ghost said and yeap, that was it. Shin grinned and waved briefly as Ghost put Wolf’s helmet on and transmatted her out.

Shin and Magpie were alone after that. Just them and the quiet hum of Wolf’s ship. “Well that went really well,” Magpie said encouragingly.

“Yeah. She didn’t even slap me.”

“Just tried to dislodge a vertebrae,” Magpie floated over and gave him a quick scan.

“Ehhh, I’ve had worse,” Shin shrugged.

“Any friends who shouldn’t be around?” Magpie asked him.

Shin looked around the cabin. It was quiet. “No. We’re alone.”

“You need to tell her about that.”

“Yeah I know-

“Shin,” he gave Shin a stern look.

“It didn’t come up or have a natural moment okay?” Shin huffed. “Wasn’t just going to throw in a random ‘oh by the way Wolf I hallucinate’ along with all the other shit.”

Magpie’s tight shell relaxed. “You’re right. That’s not fair for her,” he sighed.

“How’s Castaway?”

Magpie paused and was contacting Buoy. “Buoy says he’s fine. Little shaken up because you just fucked off without him but he’s okay.”

Shin rubbed his face, “Yeaaaah. I didn’t think it’d be a good idea to bring Castaway along,” he sighed.

“He knows that. He’s a New Light not an idiot.”

“He’s my friend, he absolutely is an idiot,” Shin said blandly and that made Magpie make an amused noise. Not quite a laugh since Magpie didn’t really laugh. But that amused him.

“So now what?” Magpie asked.

“Well I’ve been commanded to stay here. So that’s what I’m going to do,” and he laid back on the high arm of the chase lounge.

“Just like a bitch huh?”

Shin closed his eyes briefly. “What’d you say?” he asked Magpie.

“I said very wise of you.”

“Yeah. That’s what I thought you said,” Shin agreed. “Tell Castaway we’re ship-bound for a while so he can just take a load off. If he needs something I can come back but he can just hang for a while. And pull my pockit over would ya? Been the first time in months we’ve been close to Vanguard networks,” he added.

“Going to see what you missed?” Magpie asked, transmatting the handheld tablet over from his ship.

“Well yeah? Once this has blown over gotta know how to deal with those scrubs in Crucible.”

Magpie sighed but it wasn’t in annoyance. “Of course,” he said in a way Shin could only describe as fond.

Chapter Text

Shin was surprised how long it didn’t take when Wolf was only gone a few hours and came back. As promised he was right where she left him. She stood in the landing area of her ship few a few long seconds, looking at him, then went and sat in the pilot’s seat in the cockpit. Shin’s brow furrowed as he and the Ghosts watched her go. “What happened down there?” he asked Ghost.

“Savathun was using Sagira’s shell as an offering or something for her sister Xivu Arath,” Ghost said.

“Uhh, who’s that?” Shin asked dumbly.

“Osiris’ Ghost,” Ghost said in annoyance.

“Don’t,” Shin gave him a look. “Knowing every Guardian’s Ghost’s name isn’t anyone’s responsibility. I also haven’t interacted with Osiris in almost three hundred years, let alone his Ghost.”

Ghost sighed. “Right,” he said but couldn’t fault Shin’s logic. “Savathun kept her shell after she… died. She must have kept with her enough because it remembered. Remembered something about Savathun.”

Shin’s lips went thin. He got up and went to the cockpit. Wolf was sitting in the pilot’s seat looking forward, looking at nothing. “Hey,” he said and put a hand on her shoulder. She turned her head a little, enough he knew she was looking at him. “Want to talk about it?” She just shook her head. “It isn’t your fault,” he said.

‘I know,’ she signed to him.

“You’re sure acting like it is,” he said in some annoyance.

“I thought maybe… she wouldn’t really be dead,” Wolf said in a whisper, looking back out at the empty Martian sky. Extra empty since both moons had collided with the planet during the war with Oryx.

“Where’s the shell?”

“Ikora.”

“Then you did the right thing. The most you could do. Osiris is the one who put himself into a situation his Ghost got killed, not you. And its not your responsibility to fix it.”

“She knows,” Ghost said as Wolf looked down. “But it still feels like it.”

“Osiris hates pity. Don’t start now,” he scoffed. Ghost gave him a look. “What? He was my Vanguard Commander for centuries. I know enough about him to know what he’s like.”

“Or at least that’s the impression you got being lectured for centuries,” Magpie said mildly.

“I’ve at least talked to him more than most people,” Shin rolled his eyes. “You did enough,” he told her. “And I bet Savathun had a big scary monster guarding her sister’s temple.”

“It was a big Scorn,” Ghost said. “A Baron but… not,” he trailed off thoughtfully. “We killed all those.”

“Eliksni rise into titles all the time. It might be a new one,” Shin said.

“Scorn aren’t really Eliksni,” Ghost reminded him. “They have the appearance of them but aren’t anything like what they were.”

“So you killed a big Scorn monster and got Sagira’s shell which gave you more information on Savathun. You came out on top. Now stop being so sullen,” he told Wolf.

She took a breath. “Just feels like I’m always five steps behind,” she said softly. “First with that annoying bitch Mara and now with this witch Savathun,” she pulled her helmet off to rub her eyes. “I’ve done everything right. Everything I should be doing and I’m always just… behind.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It isn’t your fault. Mara doesn’t tell us anything!” Ghost cried. “She likes her secrets and hates telling you anything. I think she hates you extra than normal Guardians,” he said in annoyance.

“I am an Awoken and you know how the Queen feels about City born,” she said.

“You also punched her-

“You punched her?” Shin asked.

“I— yeah,” and her face darkened a little.

“That’s awesome,” Shin said glowingly.

“She just made me so mad,” Wolf said. “Kept calling me an ‘it’ and acting so haughty and— I might have almost caused an incident,” she groaned.

“Of her own fault. You have a snappy one liner to go with the punch?” he asked her.

Wolf glanced away. “She told Mara she kept fucking up and Wolf was the one always cleaning up her messes, oh and that she was a sad lonely piece of shit,” Ghost said brightly.

“Really?” Shin asked, a smile fighting its way onto his face.

“In not so many words,” she muttered.

Shin leaned down, bracing against the arm rest of the pilot’s chair, “If I wasn’t in love with you already that’d def do it,” he said and kissed her. He was pleasantly surprised when she held his face, kissing him back, holding him there. He pressed one more kiss to her mouth as he pulled away, “So what now? You have another lead for what Savathun is doing,” he asked and leaned against the pilot seat.

“Something else happened down there,” she said softly. “I’m not… exactly sure what. Ikora and talking with Eris about it about what we should do next, how we should deal with this.”

“So down time then?”

She sighed. “I guess.”

“Well I’m not Ikora. Wanna go do something?” he asked her.

She looked up at him, “Like what? Mars isn’t exactly a happening place.”

“Yeah but look at that,” he pointed out at the Martian landscape where pockets of it were revealed to be from the Golden Age. “I’ve never seen anything like that. Have you?” She shook her head. “Let’s go look. Something to do and I know you aren’t going to listen to me about taking a nap.”

“Nope,” she agreed.

“The world was already overgrown when I was born. I’ve never seen what the Golden Age might have looked like. I want to see too. And its pretty safe I think. The Cabal control the air space and Savathun is keeping her Hive in her Throne World.”

“This is a weird date,” she said a little incredulous.

“We went out to the EDZ and killed Cabal for a date. I don’t want to hear it,” and that made her smile. “Better than sitting here, right?”

“I— yeah,” she agreed and got up from the pilot chair. His limbs shimmered as Magpie dressed him in his armor once again. Before his gear was meant to enhance his Light, not amplify it exactly, he didn’t need that. Not really. He already burned with such intense Solar Light he rarely needed the help. His new gear helped him properly control Hunger now, tethering it to himself and make it less likely to act out when he used it in a way that was… overly dangerous. Like sucking life or Light out of something. Like he’d done to Wolf that had made him so afraid he’d run away. Without it he didn’t feel comfortable using some of the bigger powers of Hunger since he wasn’t sure it wouldn’t just… kill someone.

“Okay, then let’s go see what there is to see,” he smiled at her before Magpie put his wicked sharp edged helmet on him. She nodded and their ghosts took them down to the Martian surface.

—

On the Martian soil the wind buffered sand lightly against Wolf’s visor as she and Shin were transmatted down. Ghost and Magpie had put them down near some of the strange pockets of space that revealed farmland and some homes to further in the distance. Wolf had never seen farms like this. All the farms in the City were vertical and contained in buildings. But here they stretched out until the rip in reality faded in the distance.

While they could step into the strange pocket they couldn’t go into it. They could only pass through it. But still the tall stalks bent gently when she pulled on the leaves. “What are these anyway?” She asked.

“Corn,” Shin said.

“Really?” She looked at him where he was standing in another row. “I didn’t know they grew like this. They’re so tall.” She’d knew what farms were like in the City but she’d never been to one. She’d never seen how the food the City grew was made, had no idea what crops looked like. “Do they grow this tall in the City you think?”

“Probably,” Shin said.

“You think anything would happen if I did something to it?”

“Hmmm, better find out,” she could imagine his wry grin, almost a smirk.

“I wouldn’t advise it,” Ghost said.

“Why not?”

“Well if people are growing crops they must need these crops. I don’t know how stable this time slip is but your disturbance could make something happen in that other time,” he said.

“It’s just fucking corn,” Shin said and tore an ear off the stalk. It fizzled in his hand even as he shucked it open, the kernels were small and undeveloped.

“Shin!” Ghost cried.

“Ghost, its an ear of corn, lighten up,” Shin scoffed. “No wonder he’s such a fucking narc about that Hive Ghost,” he said and Wolf knew he was rolling his eyes. Wolf giggled.

“His name is Fynch,” Wolf told him.

“Huh. Anyway, corn,” he offered it to her through the row. The pearly white, undeveloped kernels nestled in the green husk.

She took it. “What’s it say about me I’ve never seen corn like this?” That she was so disconnected from everything, everyone, that she didn’t even know what her food looked like.

“That you work too much,” he scoffed and stepped into her row. “And maybe should pick up gardening.”

“Maybe once its actually the end of the world,” she said softly.

“It’s always the end of the world,” he huffed. “You could-

“Excuse me. Ikora’s trying to get in touch,” Ghost butted in.

“About?” She asked.

“Just she wants to talk.”

“Fine,” she sighed. Maybe they had a clue.

Ghost expanded. “Wolf, what are you doing?”

Wolf’s eyes narrowed in sudden anger. Could she not go five fucking minutes? “I’m down here on the surface.”

“We agreed you were going to take it easy until Eris and I had come up with a plan.”

“I am,” she said, folding her arms.

“Then why aren’t you on your ship?”

“I can take it easy and not be on my ship.”

“That isn’t what we discussed.”

“I’m not in the Throne World. I’m not working. What else do you want?” Wolf demanded, getting angry. Couldn’t she just spend her downtime how she wanted without someone in her helmet trying to control her?

“I want you to rest. This is not resting,” Ikora was getting equally annoyed. Well good. At least they were both pissed off.

“I’ll rest when I’m dead. Until then I am not working and I’m just looking at the time anomalies and-

“Which we aren’t sure are even safe and I have told all Guardians to stay away from them until we know more about them.”

“I’m just looking at plants-

“That isn’t the point you are willfully disobeying a direct order-

“Ikora, that’s enough,” Shin said, talking over her. Good because Wolf’s body was glowing in frustration and anger. Part of her armor sparked with embers she was so… not even angry. Just emotional. All this bullshit the past six months with Mara and Crow and Shin leaving and Osiris being gone and she just wanted to explode like a super nova keeping her frustrations in. Because she was just expected to do whatever was told to her and couldn’t even look at these insane time anomalies. Her! The killer of Gods, monsters, Kings, Kells and everything in between. She jumped through Vex gates for fun and Ikora was saying she couldn’t investigate some mostly benign time distortions. The nerve.

“You have no say in this Malphur,” she said, annoyed at him now. Good. She could be annoyed at someone else besides Wolf for once!

“Ikora I mean this with the utmost respect; kindly fuck off,” Shin said plainly. That surprised Wolf enough to settle her flames. She’d never heard anyone talk to anyone in the Vanguard, let alone Ikora, like that. “Wolf and I are just down here on the surface smelling the flowers. You should know by your age you can lead a Hunter to a bed but you can’t make them sleep.”

“I’m still your Vanguard and this is not part of the plan.”

“No,” he said simply, “You’re not. You’re on the Vanguard. You’re not ours,” and he said it in a way Wolf knew hurt Ikora. Not because she wasn’t a Hunter but because Cayde was gone and no one had taken his spot and it wasn’t like anyone was going to tell Crow what Cayde’s dare had been. For all purposes the Hunters of the militia were running without a guiding hand. Zavala and Ikora did what they could but everyone felt the gap the death of the Hunter Vanguard had left. “You can ask us to listen but that’s about it. Now everything’s fine. Wolf’s fine. Go scheme with Eris or something more useful than being up Wolf’s ass,” and he made a very firm hand motion to Ghost Wolf used to signal the call was over. Ghost snapped closed without complaint.

“Thank you,” she said softly, still smoldering. Shin leaned over and put his helmet against hers. She could feel his own Solar Light reflecting hers, not as brightly but still flared up in her defense.

“Vanguard get on my nerves too,” he said. “Though mine were usually for shooting people,” he said thoughtfully. She made an amused noise.

“I know she means well but-

“Fucking Warlocks,” Shin finished for her. She nodded solemnly. “They all mean well but damn if they don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about when dealing with Hunters,” he huffed, tapped his helmet against hers and stood up straight. “Let’s go over there?” he pointed at a not buried city they could see beyond the Enclave’s cliff. “I want to see some real Golden Age buildings.”

“Okay,” and had Ghost summon her sparrow. “What happened to your sparrow?” she asked. Shin’s looked like it’d been through hell.

“I dropped it off a cliff in the Ascendant Realm a few times. Was hell to get back let me tell you!” he said. “Kinda like it. All fucked up. Like me.”

“More fucked up than you,” she said. “I could give you the schematics for one of mine?”

“It’s fine. Runs just as good as before. Just looks gnarly now,” he said and motioned for her to go first. She wasn’t convinced about that but wasn’t going to argue with him. Instead she just sped away, glancing back and saw him following.

Chapter Text

Wolf was actually tired by the time they went back to her ship. The sun setting was the only reason they’d returned. She was starving and her entire body was exhausted. Ghost gave her a scan, sensing how tired she was and he tutted. “You need water,” he told her.

“I know,” she said. She pulled her helmet off and went to her supplies. “Hungry?” She asked Shin.

“Yeah. We could just go to Earth real quick and get some real food,” Shin said as she was pulling out some packages of freeze dried and dehydrated food, checking the contents for meat.

“Unless I have to I don’t want to leave Mars,” she said. She perked up when Shin came up behind her and put his arms around her. “What?”

“I just missed you,” he said and she felt warm all over as he put his face against her neck.

She went through her packaged food but none of it was vegetarian. She grimaced. “I don’t have anything you can eat,” she said apologetically.

“I’ve been eating whatever lately,” Shin said.

She turned her head to look at him, “Since when?”

“Since I ran out of my normal rations.”

She paused. “So what have you been eating, or did eat in the Ascendant Realm?”

There was a long pause and he gave her a squeeze, “Whatever was available,” he said.

“Idiot did starve a few times,” Magpie tattled on him.

“Eh it’s not the worst it’s been,” Shin shrugged. “But yeah whatever you got in there I’ll eat,” he reached from around her to grab a package of food. “This one looks fine,” he said looking it over.

“So are you just… eating meat forever now?”

“I’d rather not,” he let her go, putting the package down. Well that was good. She couldn’t imagine Shin eating meat, or cooking meat. She’d always known him as a vegetarian so him saying he wasn’t temporarily was fucking weird. “But for now its fine.”

“If you say so,” she said slowly.

Shin leaned against the lockers next to her. “I’ve already gone through the bullshit of acclimating. It’s fine, really,” he told her.

“Okay,” she said but was still a bit weird about the whole thing. It was so antithetical to what she knew about Shin. But what he said was true. You just had to eat what you could when you ran out and if he was on Europa and the Ascendant Realm for most of the months he’d been gone there wasn’t any plant life in those places. So that made sense she guessed but she’d still also probably faint if she saw Shin eat a steak. “Go pull the table down,” she said as she had water go into her kettle to add to the food.

He just got up and did so. “You need water,” Ghost said again.

“I know I-

“Now, please,” he said seriously and transmatted a pouch of electrolyte water onto the short counter in front of her.

“Okay, I got it,” and she opened it to drink it. “Happy?”

“Yes,” he bobbed in the air. “And I’m glad you’re eating.”

“I’m finally hungry,” she said softly. She’d been too stressed out since they’d arrived on Mars to be hungry. The kettle dinged, the water was hot. She poured the freeze dried food into some shallow bowels and added the required amount of boiling water to bring them back to life. She grabbed utensils and took them over to the table where Shin was sitting and set the one Shin had picked out in front of him.

“Thanks,” he said. Then, “I still can’t believe you eat this shit willingly.”

“Well you’re certainly welcome not to eat it,” she said, sitting.

“What do you think would happen if you went back to Earth for meals?” Shin asked, stirring the dish. “Mars blows up?”

“Or disappears again,” she said. “I don’t know,” she sighed. “I just feel better being here with it.” Shin didn’t bring it up again. Good. She was glad he knew how to drop something, it wasn’t easy, especially when you knew it was self destructive behavior you were challenging. She knew it wasn’t healthy. But she didn’t know any other way.

“So what now?” Shin asked as they ate.

“Well we haven’t heard from Ikora since you told her to fuck off,” Wolf said, “meaning there’s nothing urgent.”

“Or nothing you can do anything about,” he said, seeing right through her. She grimaced.

“And I’m tired,” that not his notice. “I want to get some sleep.”

“Good,” and she started when Shin and both Ghosts said that at the same time.

“It’s not that bad,” she protested.

“She’s lying. It is that bad,” Ghost said, ratting her out instantly. “You’re up too much even for a Hunter. You need to rest.”

“I know,” she told her Ghost quietly.

“I’ll wake you if anything comes through,” he added, knowing that was why she hated sleeping. What if she missed something? What if something happened and she couldn’t get there fast enough to fix it? What if-

“I could also use some sleep. Been sleeping on fucking rocks in the Ascendant Realm mostly. Fucking sucks,” Shin groaned.

“Or falling,” Magpie said.

“It was more comfortable than the rocks,” he shrugged. Wolf smiled faintly. She could imagine Shin sleeping while just falling through the Ascendant Realm. There was no ground there other than what you made so it was less falling and more suspension after a while. Or she assumed. The idea of falling down in the Ascendant Realm did not excite her.

They finished their meal. Shin had a second one. Wolf got up from the table and Ghost dressed her down as she went to sit on her lounge. Shin watched her from the table. She laid down tiredly but didn’t sleep. She just looked across the small space back at Shin. “What’cha thinking about?” she asked him.

He swallowed what he was eating. “Magpie has a couple of looping shots of you just doing random benign stuff because he’s also an idiot,” Shin said, “and he’d play them for me when I missed you. But I was just thinking how you’re way more beautiful in the real,” and he smirked when she flushed and looked away from him, pressing her face into the pillow. “You asked,” he said smugly and went back to eating his food.

She heard him finish eating, get up and put away the dish. She finally had her face under control and could look at him as he put the table and benches up. She was a little annoyed when he went into the cockpit and sat up when she heard him talking into Magpie. She heard another voice coming out of it she didn’t recognize. That had to be the New Light he’d talked about. She’d already forgotten their name. She couldn’t deny she was curious though. He was only in there a minute or two before coming back into the cabin. Not for the first time now or before she saw his eyes go to a random part of the room and linger there for more than a few seconds. When she looked there was nothing there.

“Scooch,” he said, sitting on the lounge, Magpie dressing him down. Magpie had said he’d starved himself a few times while out and in just the black under layer he looked it. There was only muscle, no fat at all, and Shin was already a lithe Hunter. He was absolutely skinny now and she could see the press of his ribs on his tight shirt. A trickle of guilt slid down her throat. Shin had probably wanted to go to the City to eat for something actually substantial. But he wouldn’t go without her saying he could leave.

Shin rummaged in a cabinet above the lounge and found a blanket. Her ship was cool from space but it wasn’t exactly warm without a thermal layer. She tried not to sleep in her armor if she couldn’t help it. She would and could but she didn’t exactly like doing it. She was already in it so much.

She perked up when Shin wiggled into position next to her. It was still a tight fit anyway and she ended up half on top of him. Not a problem in her book and he didn’t mind. He yawned widely. “I swear if we go to sleep and Ikora immediately calls us I’m burning down that fucking LZ,” he grumbled. She giggled.

“She won’t,” Ghost said. “I told her you’re sleeping.”

“I’m sure she’s ecstatic,” Wolf rolled her eyes.

“She was pleased,” Ghost said, which could be a whole range of emotions from Ikora. From delight to quietly approving. Wolf didn’t hate Ikora or anything but Warlocks who didn’t have any strong reactions to things drove her crazy. Or maybe because she just spent so much time with Fox and Lizard who were emotions on steroids. Seeing Warlocks who were so reserved was weird when two of her best friends who were Warlocks were so open about their feelings and emotions; for better or worse sometimes.

“Good, she can keep minding her own damn business then,” Shin said and shifted a bit on the lounge to get comfortable. His arm she was laying on curled around her waist lightly. “Get some sleep,” he told her quietly.

“That’s the plan,” she said hopefully. Hopeful she would get to sleep. She laid her head on the pillow below his. She closed her eyes but it took a long time for sleep to come. Shin didn’t need that time. He was out quickly, the deep even sound of his breathing the only sound in the cabin beyond the sound of the ship itself. It wasn’t that she wasn’t tired it was it took her a long time to relax enough to sleep. But she did eventually and when she did it was dreamless, like Shin’s bright Solar Light kept the nightmares at bay.

Chapter Text

He was at a campfire in the middle of nowhere. Not nowhere terrestrial. Despite the pines and the ferns framing the edge of the camp he could hear the whistling wind of the Ascendant Realm. The trees didn't move with the wind. The boughs didn't creak to the sound of the wind around them. It was just silence except for the snapping of the campfire, the fire licking at the logs that looked like bones, charred black and flaking with each cheerful snap and pop of the fire. Across the fire, poking at the bones with a stick, was the ever helmeted body of Jaren, the fire casting him in orange, the leather of his gear almost appearing molten, the metal fixtures glittering in the firelight, brilliant silver despite the flame.

"You shouldn't keep a fire going in places like this," Shin said. "Never know what can see you through the trees."

"Eh, it's fine. What's going to get me now? Huh, kiddo? A bear?" Jaren laughed.

Shin leaned back, relaxed. He was vaguely aware he was in a dream but this was a dream and a memory, a few memories. "I could," Shin said.

Jaren paused his fire poking. "Heh. Careful or you'll start to sound like a Dredgen again," he said.

"That's fine," Shin said.

"I'm just saying be careful, kiddo," Jaren said. "Careful being so close to the Light; it blinds you know."

"I know."

"You know I worry about you sometimes. Even if you don't appreciate it."

"I know."

"Do you?" Jaren reached into the fire and pulled out a char blackened bone. "Because I don't think you do, or what I've given you," and he knocked the bone on the ground lightly. The black char chipped and splintered off like obsidian. "Its disappointing you know. You sacrifice yourself for someone and they just pick up all your worst habits," he admired the bone. It was still black and chipped and had a familiar shape to it.

Shin reached down to his hip but the holster was empty.

"I miss being alive sometimes, you know," Jaren said looking at the obsidian bone shaped like a gun.

"No one asked you to die," Shin said. "You could have found Dredgen Yor flatfooted."

"Nah," Jaren scoffed. "He only let you get the jump on him if he wanted to. Crucible legend he used to be, you know," Jaren said and he didn't sound like not-Jaren. He sounded more like Jaren than Shin had ever heard him sound. But he spoke with knowledge Shin didn't have about things he'd never witnessed. "A shining beacon of Light, Rezyl Azzir, hero of the City, champion of the Light." Shin was distantly aware of those things. Azzir's name had mostly been scrubbed from the Tower and any mentions of his existence were changed to say Dredgen Yor, as if Azzir had never lived. "First champion of the Dark too. Funny that," Jaren said thoughtfully. "Got away from him though. Let it go to his head," he was looking at the obsidian gun.

"The brightest Lights cast the darkest shadows," Shin heard himself say but it barely sounded like his own voice. It immediately made him worried about Wolf. She shined so brightly but their enemies knew what sort of darkness could become her, what sort of destruction came. And she was barely older than a decade. It should worry people more how brightly someone so young burned. It did Shin sometimes.

"They do," Jaren agreed. Then his posture changed, becoming tense, and he looked over his shoulder. There was nothing beyond the trees and ferns. Just the Ascendant Realm.

"What is it?" Shin asked.

Jaren said nothing, just staring beyond the trees. Then he turned back around and stood up. As he did his form shifted and wavered. It was still Jaren but not-Jaren. "Something ain't right. Here kiddo, you're going to need this," and he offered Shin the Last Word but it wasn't like how he knew it. It was made of pure Darkness like it'd been carved from a single piece of obsidian with golden fittings. Gone was the intricate filigree of Tex Mechanica. This was a different beast.

Shin looked at the gun for a long time. That wasn't his gun. But it was exactly his gun. Jaren just stood there, unmoving, offering him the handle, as quiet and still as a corpse.

When Shin took it he woke up. Not quite with a start but he was a bit out of breath like the dreams he used to have of Wolf shooting him. Wolf was still curled up against his side and across his chest, his cheek rested on her silver hair. His eyes snapped open and he lifted his head, looking around. The lights in the ship had been turned down to sleep but otherwise it was just as when he'd gone to sleep.

He checked the corners, the edges.

Vacant.

He let out a low breath and rubbed his face with his free hand. How long had he been asleep? What a fucked up dream. It was still prominent in his mind. It reminded him of back when he'd been mortal; him, Jaren, and the stragglers around a fire in the woods. But the memories that reminded him of that were newer than then. He rubbed one eye. "Magpie," he called softly.

He looked up at the sound of a Ghost and saw Magpie fly out of a cubbie. One he knew was usually reserved for Wolf's Ghost. Idiots. He floated down to Shin at eye level. "What do you want?" Magpie asked meanly.

"What'd you say?"

Magpie's shell moved in a way Shin could only describe as troubled, "I asked what's the matter?"

"Shh," Shin shushed him. Wolf was still sleeping. "How long?"

Magpie floated over to Shin so he was talking almost in Shin's ear. "About nine hours."

Oh good. An actual amount of sleep. "I don't want to move. But can you give me the Word?" and he held out his hand.

"Why?" Magpie asked, confused.

"Humor me," Shin said. Magpie hesitated a moment and then transmatted the Last Word comfortably into Shin's hand. He held it up and looked it over. It looked the same as normal. Tex Mechanica filigree along the barrel, well worn handle, heavy but felt good in his hand. It was as smooth and beautiful as it had always been. "Okay," and Magpie pulled the gun away.

"What was that for?"

"Just a weird dream," Shin whispered. "Got to me a little."

"Hmm," Magpie nodded slowly.

Shin didn't go back to sleep but instead was awake now. Magpie brought over his pockit and he used that while waiting for Wolf to wake up. It was a few more hours. She was beat. He was starting to really need to get up when Wolf finally stirred, rubbing her face against his chest tiredly, not wanting to get up. He squeezed her around the waist and that got her up a bit more. "Hmmm- Shin," she said softly on seeing him.

"Hey," he smiled. "Since you're up I gotta go," and he extracted himself from under her. Before she could question him he ducked into the closet of a lavatory in the ship.

"You could have just gone while I was sleeping," Wolf said when he came out, using some sanitizer to clean his hands.

"And then woken you up when I got back in bed. It's fine," he sat on the lounge and leaned over, kissing her lightly. "How you feeling?"

"Not so half dead as before," she said, then yawned and sat up, stretching widely. "Ikora know what she wants?" she asked Ghost, looking up.

"I haven't told her you're awake yet," Ghost said. "I will once you eat something."

"Okay," but she just flopped back down on the lounge, eyes closed.

"I'll get something started," Shin said and got up. He felt her hand lightly grab at his clothes but not enough to stop him. He got some of the freeze dried food made while Wolf woke herself up after about twelve hours of straight sleep.

Once they were both eating Ghost came over, "Ikora wants to talk to you," he said. She motioned for him to put her through.

"I'm glad you took your time to get some rest, Wolf," Ikora said as Ghost popped open. "I've been talking with Eris about what we should do and she's troubled about what you said when investigating Xivu Arath's temple. How things appeared and disappeared."

"I figured it was like how things were invisible like in the Dreadnaught," Wolf said.

"Perhaps. But Eris thinks its tied to the Pyramids. And since you're the only one who it's reached out to. We want you to go to the Pyramid on Europa and try to learn more," that made Shin perk up.

"Why do I have a feeling it isn't going to be that easy? Also why not the one on the Moon?"

"It's not reactive."

"Of course it isn't," she sighed.

"And no, it won't be without resistance. The Cabal have infiltrated the Pyramid and are attempting to take it over-

"What!?" Shin cried, for some reason infuriated.

"Malphur this is Vanguard business-

"Save it Ikora. I'm just doing as told and I listen to Wolf more than you," he said. Then continued, "The Cabal are trying to take over m- the Pyramid on Europa?" he stumbled a little. For a wild second he almost said his Pyramid. But that wasn't right. That couldn't be right.

"They've installed some defenses but we don't know how much. But we do know they haven't been there long." A cool annoyance settled over Shin like a cloak. That made him... so unreasonably, unnecessarily pissed off. "These aren't aligned with the Empress either. So feel free to take care of this insurgency," Ikora added.

"Got it. I'll bring a fireteam. We'll take care of it," Wolf said. "And figure out if the Pyramid has any insight on the changes of things."

"Very good," and that was it, Ghost closed.

"I'm coming," Shin said.

"Huh?" Wolf asked.

"I'm coming with you to the Pyramid."

"Shin that isn't-

"I don't care if your clan is pissy about it. I'll be on your fireteam or go myself. Either way; I'm going," he said, eyes narrowed slightly.

She looked so confused. "Why are you so worked up about this?"

"Its mi- where I learned to control my Hunger," again he almost said it was his. He was losing it. But also... it was. "I don't want the Cabal fucking around in it in case I need to use it again." And it was his Pyramid. He didn't know why he felt that way. It was something he couldn't explain.

"Okay," she shrugged. So she hadn't noticed him almost slipping up. Good. "Ghost see if Rat or Bear want to come. If its a bunch of Cabal we might want to have some extra protection."

"You got it," Ghost said as Wolf got up and went to the cockpit.

Magpie floated over to him. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Fine," he said softly.

"You seem worked up. You sure?" but it wasn't Magpie's voice.

"Again," Shin said, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment.

"Do I need to push the issue?" Magpie asked and this time it was his voice.

"I'm fine. Just a little... I dunno. I dunno I just- it's..."

"Just admit it, kid," and Shin got up and walked into the cockpit where Wolf was, walking right through Dredgen Yor.

Wolf was bringing them out of Enclave space when he stepped into the cockpit. "What's up?" she asked.

"I need to tell you something else now that we've both eaten and slept," he said and grabbed the back of the chair.

"Okay? Should I be worried?"

"No? Yes? Maybe? Depends on what you want to be worried about."

"Okay? What's up?"

"It started before I left," he started. "But I see shit."

"... You're going to have to be more specific," she said but looked up and back at him as they left the Martian atmosphere. "Like what?"

"Like--" he sighed. But he had to tell her. Magpie said he had to and he knew if he didn't Magpie would instead and he did not want Magpie to tell her. "Like the people I killed. I see them and they talk at me and shit and- yeah that look is completely appropriate but it's not nearly as bad as you think it is," he said.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she got up from the pilot's seat. "How long?"

"Well... it'll be about a year now," he allowed. Since he came out of the Pyramid the first time.

"So you were normal before?"

"I'm still normal. I just... hallucinate sometimes."

She looked absolutely devastated on his behalf. "Why didn't you tell me?" she reached up and touched his face.

"Because it was fine. I'm fine. I'm not sick or anything," he insisted. "And I thought they'd go away."

"But they haven't?"

"No. They've gotten better though. They were bad when I left. Real bad. But when I'm around real things they leave me alone. It's just-- heh, just when I'm alone," and Shin liked being alone. But he couldn't be alone and unfocused.

She looked so worried about him. "Can I help?"

"Just be around," he said.

"And maybe yell at them when they bully him," Magpie said, appearing over Shin's shoulder.

"Huh?"

"Well they've gone away when I've told them to stop bothering my Guardian," Magpie said.

"That... doesn't sound like normal hallucinations," Wolf said slowly. "Are you sure it's okay? That it isn't more? Can they touch you?"

"Uhh... no?" Shin said. The only time they'd touched him was the one time not-Jaren had reached into his chest and snuffed out his Light. But that had been the only time. Not even for as long and alone as he was wandering the Ascendant Realm all alone with just his Ghost and the shades for company did they ever touch him. She still looked worried and cupped his cheek. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry. You worry enough about stuff you can't control anyway," Shin said quietly.

"He's physically fine, also," Magpie said helpfully. "Shocking I know but his brain's totally normal," Shin rolled his eyes and Wolf bit her lip to not smile. "I think its because of his Darkness."

"Which is stupid because I was using it way before, and plenty of other Guardians are using Stasis and shit and don't hallucinate. Right?" He asked Wolf.

"I don't," she allowed. "So just sometimes you see dead people," she said.

"Yeah."

"And they talk to you?"

"At me. I don't usually respond to them."

She didn't say anything for a moment. "You really know how to pick 'em," Ghost said from over Wolf's shoulder.

"Ugh! Now is so not the time, Ghost," she cried and let go of Shin's face to give her Ghost a look. "Don't go sounding like Bear. I don't need it." She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Is there anything else I need to know?"

"Uhhh-" Shin glanced at Magpie.

Magpie gave him a look. "Sometimes you need to repeat things for him."

"Well no duh he never listens anyway," Wolf said in a helpless sort of manic mirth.

"Hey," Shin complained.

"While I agree with you-

"Heyyyy," Shin growled out. He was ignored again, of course.

"Whatever makes him hallucinate also makes him hear stuff you don't say. I'm not sure what exactly he thinks he hears though."

"Like what? Hive noises or something?" Wolf asked him.

"No," Shin said.

"Then what?"

Shin felt foolish saying, "It's just... the mean version of whatever you might actually be saying."

"You're right, I do know how to pick 'em," Wolf told Ghost with a sigh. Shin shrugged. "Okay," she took a breath. "It does explain some of the ways you acted before you left. Weird outbursts and stuff," she shrugged. She just looked at him sadly. "I wish you'd just told me."

"I didn't want to make you worry with my bullshit," Shin said.

Wolf grabbed his face in both hands, making him look at her. "It's not bullshit. Its a relationship," she said.

"Well I'm telling you now," Shin said. "I hid it before. I'm trying to do right."

"Yes. Thank you for trusting me," and she pressed her lips briefly against his. Then she sat back in the pilot's chair. "Who's coming with, Ghost?"

"Rat," Ghost said. "Bear got all grumpy and pissy when I said you were bringing Shin."

"Sounds like him," she scoffed.

"Damn. Was hoping I wasn't going to get bashed or decapitated by a Void shield today," Shin sighed dramatically.

"Thankfully you'll live!" Ghost said in fake cheerfulness. Wolf made an amused noise.

Chapter Text

Being inside a Pyramid that wasn't empty was so weird. He was used to the quiet halls and just the sound of his own breathing. But now there were the sounds of other footsteps but also signs of the Cabal had been here. Again it made him irrationally angry. Hunger gnashed at the edges of his skin like the teeth on his armor wanted to open into true mouths and bite something. His Light was a gentle flame compared, almost cool but not smothered like it had been before.

"These guys gotta stop meddling in our business," Shin said as he pulled his sword out of a legionary's head where it lay dead, bleeding out on the black floor of the Pyramid. Their black blood followed the groves of the strange floor and dribbled off the edge into a dark abyss below.

"You'd think after the Hive and now us they'd be over fighting things they can't win against," Wolf agreed.

"Try telling that to them," Rat said. Shin was surprised how cool Rat had been to him when they'd touched down. She'd punched him into atoms with an empowered punch but after that she seemed... fine. But Shin didn't know Wolf's friends well enough to make full comments on their personalities. She could be furious and Shin would never know. "Cabal have too much pride. Don't know when to quit when the getting's good," and her stalwart helmet turned and looked right at Shin. Ah okay. She wasn't fine. But she was going to kill him a thousand times with her words instead of beating him to a pulp. That was fine with him.

"Feels bad, punching down," Wolf said.

"These guys shot us first. And they aren't our allies. Who cares," Rat said flippantly. "Now which way?"

Wolf looked around and before the Pyramid had been guiding them in a way. But now the wall in front of them was solid. So they wouldn't be going that way. There were narrow walkways along the sides but they didn't look like they led anywhere. Wolf went up to the wall and put her hand on it. Nothing happened. "It guided us this far. Why'd it stop now?" She asked softly. Then she turned and looked at them, "Either of you see anything?"

"Girl you know I don't see shit. I just punch stuff," Rat said.

Shin rolled his eyes and also looked around. The Pyramid didn't want the Cabal here so why wasn't it letting them through? Unless it thought whatever was through that wall was more than they could take? Or looked out into the abyss below. It wasn't endless like the Ascendant Realm but it was deep. He was looking and as he looked back the way they'd come he froze.

"Magpie," he said softly, getting his Ghost's attention.

"Hmm?" His Ghost spun up and paid attention, coming into his hood from doing his own looking.

"Anything down that hallway?" Shin asked, nodding at the hallway they'd come.

"No," Magpie said. "Why? What do you see?" Shin stared at the figure. He'd never seen this one before. It was him. But not like Vale. The little shade waved at him. Unthinking he walked towards it. "Shin--"

"Shin that's the wrong way," Rat called after him sounded unimpressed by his sense of direction.

He went down the hallway they'd come and a new hallway had opened up. The shade, however, was gone. "No, it's this way," he said over comms. "There's another hallway," and he headed down it, looking for the shade.

"What? But we were just there," Rat said in confusion.

"Don't argue with the Pyramid, Rat," Ghost sighed and he heard them following him.

The hallway twisted, turned, and eventually opened into a big room where one of the statues was on display. And the Cabal were here. Shooting it. They were trying to take control and thought the statue was in control. "We can't let them destroy that statue," Ghost said. Shin didn't understand why. There were others. It wasn't like that statue was significant. But he didn't say anything. He also didn't know why or how he'd know that about the statue.

"Great! Punching and shooting, my favorite1" Rat cried, smacked her fists together and a Void over shield appeared on all three of them. "Have some fun busting some Cabal."

Hunger licked at the overshield, chewing a hole through it around his hands. But they hardly needed to be told twice. And Shin was still pretty pissed at these Cabal for being in his Pyramid. He used the Thorn on the Cabal with brutal efficiency and while using Hunger the gun was even more lethal and Shin unkillable. Every bite of the Thorn refilled Shin's Hunger and he threw more grenades, and more knives than he reasonably be able to construct. Usually only Solar felt so bottomless but the Thorn feeding his Hunger on the Cabal made him feel like there was no end to it.

The last thing to do was deal with the disgraced Valus. They bellowed a war cry at them as they destroyed his shield generators. Their armor was strong and took an expenditure of Wolf's Golden Gun, even bolstered by Rat's Ward. "I hate big Cabal, they never know when to just lay down and die with dignity," Rat growled.

"I got it," Shin said.

"Heh, yeah sure," she said sarcastically.

"Just watch," and Shin collected Hunger in his hand and it formed a super dense point that yawned desperately to be filled, to be fed. He suddenly felt that same hunger in the pit of his stomach. He was starving. Then he over handed the tiny point of Hunger. It collided with the Valus and the Cabal had time to roar in rage even as the point expanded to almost a dozen feet across. Unlike Xivu Arath's Celebrant the Valus wasn't too big or the Singularity. It latched onto the Valus and sucked.

"What the fuck?" Rat said slowly as the Valus vanished into the hole in the world.

"Stay in your bubble," Shin advised as she approached it.

"Is it dangerous?"

"It doesn't have a friendly fire mode," he said.

"Dude what the fuck?" Rat stared at him.

Shin just stared at it and after another moment it ran out of energy, ate itself, and collapsed with a snap. He was just left with an ache in the pit of his stomach. "That was cool," Ghost said.

"I said I had it under control," Shin said, holstering his gun.

"Also: what the fuck was that?" Rat demanded.

"Darkness powers ungiven," was all Shin said and went over to Wolf who was standing at the statue, looking up at it. "It supposed to do anything?" He asked her.

"It always has before," she said softly. "What was that thing that changed things in the Throne World? It has to be related."

"Wolf, report," Ikora said over comms. Shin stepped away to not be part of it.

He went to just look around but he didn't make it far. Standing against the side of the statue, hiding behind the draping robes, was the shade from before. Shin rapped his knuckles on the forehead of his helmet, squeezing his eyes shut, like he was trying to rub his eyes. But when he opened them it was still there. "What's the matter?" Magpie asked. He knew the signs when Shin saw things by this rate. "Who's bothering you?"

"No one," he said quietly. "Its just... me," and he stared at the child figure of himself. Twelve, maybe thirteen. They hadn't known how old he was. No one had bothered to keep track of some orphan's age. His hair was a mess and wore a tattered coat. But it wasn't really him. The kids' eyes were mean. He'd never been a mean kid. Vindictive, bit vengeance filled but never mean.

"Should I tell it to go away?" Magpie asked.

"Just wait," he said. Usually the shades taunted him by now. But this kid was just mean mugging him.

"Can I see your piece?" The kid asked. "Your iron?"

Shin lifted his cloak to show the hip he usually kept the Last Word was empty. No iron for him. He remembered asking Jaren the same thing so many times. He just wanted to see it. All the guns in Palomon were rusted ancient things that sometimes didn't even shoot and always got jammed at the worst possible time. The Last Word was a far cry from that. Shiny, clean, and beautiful. A weapon from a more civilized place than that dusty place he'd lived. The only beauty allowed to exist in Palomon belonged to the Magistrate. Yet Jaren had waltz in with it and pristine and intricate made armor like a spit in his eye.

Shin could still distantly remember the party the adults had thrown that night. As much as they could. Through a child's eyes it had been the biggest event of his life. Looking back on it it was barely more than a big dinner with music.

"You don't even use it anymore. What good's it anymore?" Shin just shrugged. Wolf was still talking with Ikora. "Can't even use it for what it was for, like Jaren did." Shin didn't react. He'd learned not to react to them better than before.

"Shin?" Magpie asked. Shin just held up a hand briefly. Not yet. Why was there a shade here in the Pyramid? He'd never seen one in the Pyramid before. They only tormented him outside of this place. He also hadn't come here again since he'd left the first time. What was different now?

"Just going to stand there huh?" and Shin didn't move but looked to his right and there was Dredgen Yor. His pristine shining armor looked extra immaculate here in the Pyramid amid its fetid air and encroaching dark. "Leave that pretty girl of yours hanging?" he taunted Shin.

But that didn't make any sense. Shin wasn't doing anything. And he certainly couldn't do anything right now. Right? He looked over at Wolf and she was just standing in front of the statue looking up at its barely marked face. He couldn't see her face but her stance was aggravated. They'd come all this way for nothing. "Nothing for it?" he asked her.

"We just don't get why it'd lead us all the way here to kill the Cabal and just do nothing," Ghost said. "It wanted protection from the Cabal. It has to know what we want."

"Maybe it can't help for once," Rat said.

"Eris said it should," Ghost said.

"Well it isn't. It can sense the Darkness in all us. It knows we bat for the other team sometimes. So now what?"

Shin stepped away from the shades. "What exactly were you hoping it'd do?" Shin asked.

"There was some strange... anomalies in the Throne World. Acknowledging them changed them. Something happened like that in Oryx's Throne World but I could sense those," Ghost said, "and reveal them. This is Savathun's flavor of things and it's difficult to trace. It's hidden like- like--

"Like it's on the tip of your tongue," Rat's Ghost offered. "Only through sight."

"Yeah! And passing through certain areas reveals them," Ghost said.

"Huh," Shin said and they all looked up at a feeling coming from the statue. It felt like... acknowledgment. Then he was filled with a strange sense of clarity.

"Ikora, the statue did something," Ghost said. "But whatever it did doesn't seem to do anything? We'll need to investigate the Throne World to figure out what it might be."

"Very well," Ikora said as Wolf stepped away from the statue with Rat. Shin stayed looking at the statue.

"You're a real dumb dumb," the little shade said next to him. Shin looked down at him. "Didn't ask what you were even coming to get before he came and got it."

This shade talked differently. It wasn't like the others who Shin knew were manifestations of his fears, his doubts, his darkest moment, his darkest memories. This one didn't talk like the shades. It sounded like him, it looked like him but while the voice coming out was his the mouth moved to another's speaker. He didn't know how he knew in that instant but he did

"Well we got what we came for. Let's get out of here," Rat said.

"Did you also get it?" Ghost asked her.

"The ringing? Yeah. Loud and fucking clear," Rat huffed.

"Alright, then let's go," Ghost agreed. Shin heard them walk away. He was still looking at the shade.

"You leaving again? Until you need something right? How like you," it said.

Shin turned off his comm entirely, externals only. He could tell from his HUD that Wolf and Rat were gone, no longer pinging on his radar. "Shin," Magpie said worriedly as Shin took a knee in front of the shade.

"It's okay," he told Magpie quietly. "What? Want me to stay?" he asked the shade.

"Wouldn't kill ya."

"Wouldn't it?"

In a motion that was immediately familiar to him, because he used to do the same thing when adults annoyed him, he stomped one foot. Shin couldn't help but smile slightly. No wonder adults always laughed or rolled their eyes when kids threw a temper tantrum. "That's not the point," it said. Shin glanced up when not-Dredgen Yor came and stood behind the child shade. "You keep leaving you're never going to get it."

"Get what?"

"All of it. Dumb dumb."

"Hey, Shin!" he looked over his shoulder when he heard Wolf call him over externals, her voice amplified by the speaker.

"Coming in a sec," Shin called back. He looked back at the shade, ignoring not-Dredgen Yor. "I dunno if you're actually me or what but lemme tell you; you never get all of it. And that's fine. You learn as you go," and he stood up.

"But if you stay-

"I'll be alone. And I'm tired of that. Trust me, I know, it'll work out for us," and the shade just stared up at him. Whatever it had expected Shin to say it hadn't been that. He gave it one last look and turned and left.

"What was that?" Wolf asked him as he left the big room. The Pyramid moved and shifted around them, closing it off again behind them. He looked towards Rat. "This is a private line," she added.

"Just seeing thing," he said around a deep breath.

"Should I be concerned?"

"Nah," he shrugged as they followed Rat.

"Magpie?" she asked his Ghost.

"It seems to be okay," Magpie said slowly.

"Everyone talk to themselves sometimes. I just see it when it happens," Shin said sarcastically. "Hmm?" he looked over when Wolf grabbed his hand.

"If it is something, tell me," she said.

He leaned over and tapped his helmet against hers.

"Will you two stop making out back there and keep up," Rat called from a hallway junction.

"Rat," Wolf sighed.

"We can actually if you want-

"Shin!" he laughed when Wolf, Magpie, and Ghost all yelled his name in annoyance.

"Anyway, it's this way," and he took a different hallway.

"But we came from this way," Rat said, a bit flustered.

"Yeah but it's this way," Shin said.

"How would you know?" Rat grumbled even as they both followed.

"Pyramid," was all he said.

"The fuck does that mean?" Rat grumbled to herself but didn't question because Wolf didn't. They walked for a bit and ended at a dead end. "Told you it was- what the fuck," Rat squeaked. The Pyramid had opened in front of Shin when he reached out and touched it.

"Told you it was this way," Shin said and looked out the hole.

"The fuck he just do?" he head Rat whisper to Wolf.

"You're going to like this. We're high," Shin said looking down. They were about half way up the Pyramid and it was a long way down to the snow below. The wind was icy up here and chilled his head completely even in his helmet.

"I fail to see how that's good," Rat said.

"It smooth?" Wolf asked, seeing what Shin was getting at.

"Oh yeah," Shin said with a smirk. "Ladies first?"

"No way," Rat grabbed Wolf's arm. "Age before beauty and all that." He could tell Wolf rolled her eyes by the movement of her head.

"Yeah okay, sure," Shin said.

"I'd just like to say this is a terrible idea," Magpie said just to him.

"You've picked me off bigger falls," Shin said and jumped off the edge.

"That's not the point!" Magpie cried over the wind as Shin landed on the Pyramid.

It was covered in ice and he leaned back as he slid down the Pyramid. He looked back up and grinned when Wolf shot out a few seconds later and then behind her was Rat. Shin used the teeth on his gauntlet to keep him going straight and not fly out into open air. He wasn't sure what Wolf was using but a glance back told him Rat was straight up sledding on her Void shield. He could distantly hear them both whooping over external speakers but but the wind snatched it away.

Then the end of the Pyramid came in a rush. "Get ready," Shin said over comms. Unlike the times Shin had been on it the Pyramid wasn't on the ground but rather floating. At the edge he got his feet up and jumped, throwing himself off and towards the high snow banks all around.

He landed with a soft thump as he crashed into a snow bank and went down a foot or so. He heard Wolf and Rat scream in delight as they also sailed off the edge and he dug himself out of the snow. Wolf landed nearby but Rat slowly drifted down. "Hey! Cheater!" Wolf yelled, pointing at Rat.

"Not my fault Hunters fall like lead in an ocean," Rat said and she landed lightly.

"That was fun," Shin said, smiling widely. "Ah!" and he was tackled back into the snow by Wolf. "Hey," he said cheerfully. She didn't have her helmet on. His heart hammered excitedly. She popped the seal on his and the European air was bitterly cold on his skin instantly when she pulled it off him. Then she kissed him. Her skin was oddly cool and he realized obviously she was channeling Stasis so she wasn't cold. Well she was cold and the air was cold. But kissing her was wonderful and Solar Light trickled up to his skin making him warm again. They started to sink a bit deeper into the snow drift as Solar Light filled his skin and there was not a little bit of steam rising up out of the hole in the snow drift. Shin hardly minded. All he was thinking about was Wolf and the taste of her mouth, the touch of her lips, the way her cool hands held his hot face.

"Oi! You two going to stay in there all night or what?" Rat yelled from beyond the snowdrift.

"I could," Wolf said softly against his mouth that sent a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold down Shin's spine.

"Ship's warm," Shin grunted and shit when had his hands put themselves on her hip and ass? He hadn't really been thinking about them but damn if he didn't just want to touch her.

"I guess," and she sat up. Shin couldn't help but think the view was great. Even in her armor he could still get a sense of the shape of her.

"There you are. Get out of there it's freezing," Rat scolded her.

Wolf laughed and grabbed her helmet from off the top of the snow. "Can't feel the snow for the Stasis," she said and pulled on her helmet and then climbed off him, leaving him in the snow about two feet down.

Shin just turned up the heat. Steam poured off him as his body flared up with Solar Light and around him the snowdrift melted away until he could just casually step out of it onto solid ground. "Show off," Rat said as Magpie transmatted his helmet back on.

"There gotta be perks to just being good at one Light, right?" Shin asked sarcastically. "Might as well let it be just burn everything."

"Wouldn't know," Rat said. No. Like a good Defender Rat didn't know how to use Solar Light very well he'd heard. Bear could he knew.

"Okay let's get out of here," Wolf said. "Head back to the Throne World, give this... whatever a try."

"Sounds like a plan," Rat said and their Ghosts took them away.

Chapter Text

Wolf was talking to Ikora and Shin was sick of looking at the inside of her ship so had transmatted down to the Enclave while he waited for her to finish up with the Vanguard. It was a bare bones FOB with a handful of Hidden about and several more than that of the Scouting Legion. Seemed Ikora had finally brought them in to do what they did best and make sure the Hidden didn't make fools of themselves getting into places they couldn't get out of.

He was interested in a strange black rock break in the cliff face. It felt Dark. He glanced back at Wolf and Ikora, they were still talking, and decided he could check it out for a few seconds.

Or that was the plan but a Warlock stepped in front of him before he could go down the black steps. "What do you think you're doing here Malphur?" asked the whip sharp voice of Aunor Mahal; officially Shin's 'favorite Warlock' and by favorite he meant he'd love to jettison her into the sun. She was dressed head to toe in Hidden attire for once and not her gaudy Praxic robes meaning today she was working for Ikora.

"Waiting for my girlfriend to finish talking to Ikora," Shin said casually in a way he knew always infuriated Aunor. But it wasn't hard to get her whipped up. She had few gentle thoughts towards anyone and Shin was at the very bottom of the list because in her eyes he was just as bad as those he hunted. He was sure she'd shit a fucking brick if she saw what he could do now.

She sputtered for a second. The casualness he said it or was so close to Wolf grated on her. "Very presumptuous. I heard you had done her a favor and broken up," she said and he could imagine her narrowed eyes under her helmet.

"Well like most of our interactions, Aunor, you just believe whatever you want to believe," he said, rocking back on the heels of his feet.

"Should have."

Shin rolled his eyes, too bad he was wearing his helmet so Aunor couldn't appreciate it. "I know you're forever single, Aunor, but some of us get laid."

He saw a fireball appear in her hand at her side. Ah he'd really poked something deep in her huh? "You shouldn't be here, Malphur. This is official Vanguard and Hidden business."

"And what about those Scouts over there?" he nodded over at a group of three Scouts and a Hidden Hunter where they were absolutely playing slap hands.

"As I said, Vanguard business," she hissed at him, the fireball in her hand crackling.

"Aunor, I know you're real mad Ikora said you can't arrest me or whatever but even for you this is some real petty shit. I'm reformed and minding my own business," he patted his chest. "I haven't done anything reprehensible in over a year. You proud of me?" he smirked and the fireball's spiral tightened and hissed.

"I highly doubt someone like you can be 'reformed'," she bit out.

"Shin," Wolf's voice cut through over local comms, "we're going."

"Beautiful girls do all sorts of things to ya. Anyway I'm gonna go now. Maybe we can play criminal and officer some other time," and he stepped back away from Aunor and he knew she was furious he was just getting away. Shin was good at that and boy did he love getting under her skin.

"I have to go to Earth- oh were you talking to one of those Hidden?" Wolf asked.

"Yeah. No big deal," Shin shrugged at Wolf. "Earth? What for?"

"Tracking a Lucent Knight who is working on something in service of Savathun," she said and their Ghosts pulled them out of the Enclave.

"Are we maybe going to the City after?" Shin asked hopefully as Wolf went to sit in the cockpit.

She looked to the side like she was guilty of something. "Yes," she said. "We can stop before coming back to Mars," she allowed.

"Hell yeah. I want to take a shower so bad," Shin said. He leaned around the pilot's seat even as she engaged the NLS, "Maybe you'd like to join me huh?" he asked and ran his hand down her chest. He chuckled when she went still for a second and then batted him away, flustered more than anything.

'Stupid' she signed at him.

"Eh, I'll take it," he shrugged and leaned against the chair looking out the front window. Then the world skidded into view and Earth filled the entire window. "Missed that blue and green ball," he said fondly.

Wolf flew them to the EDZ before she got up. "I shouldn't be too long," she said as she got up. "It's going to be me, Rat and Bear. Then once we're done I know Ikora likes that I check the containment."

"Containment?" Shin asked her.

She didn't say anything at first. "The Cabal are helping us keep the Lucent Hive in stasis and access their minds through psions. The Cabal have them contained. It's... some nasty business."

"Necessary?"

"Unfortunately. They're planning something and its the only way we know how to... well, figure out what's going on in a Hive's mind. Not like they're about to tell us."

"Stupid question; you ask?"

"Not like Hive speak our tongue... well except their Gods seem to," she added thoughtfully.

Shin didn't say exactly what he was thinking, instead he said, "Yeah but doesn't Toland's death like you or something? He could speak Hive."

"Pffft. Not even. He's helpful sometimes but he's still so mad the Dreadnaught is still empty. That none of us took over," Wolf said. "Okay, I gotta go. You wait here," and she reached up to bonk her helmet against his quickly like a kiss.

"I'd say good luck but-

"I don't need it," she said.

"Kill 'em good then," he said.

"As if I do it any other way," and she was gone.

Only then did Shin take off his helmet with a sigh. "We close to any City relays?"

"No but with the ship's radio I can still reach the City," Magpie said.

"Cool. Traveler's sake put in my usual order of rations," Shin cried and Magpie made an amused noise that wasn't quite a laugh. "And some extras for Castaway."

"I assume you don't want to stuff him full of vegetables too?"

"Probably not," he allowed. "How's he doing over there anyway?"

"It's easier to find food on Mars than Europa," was all Magpie said.

"Yeaaaah. Ice balls don't really like things with blood living on them," Shin agreed.

After that all he could do was wait. It was by far the worst part of this entire time he spent with Wolf. Just waiting for her to come back. He wasn't worried. He knew she'd cut through anything that moved it was he was so bored! He ended up just napping to pass the time and so the shades couldn't bother him. He dreamed of the Enclave. Of the black stone steps Aunor hadn't let him go down.

A hand on his shoulder woke him up. It was Wolf, covered in Hive ichor. "You look great," he said sarcastically. "Covered in guts. My favorite."

"It was a lot of Hive," was all she said. "We're en route to the City now. I expect the Knight to be in containment by the time we get there."

Shin sat up and stretched, "Right. Before we head back out I ordered rations. Need to have those brought on board."

"Magpie knows he's got transmat clearance," she said.

Shin got up and went to the cockpit where Ghost was flying. They flew over the mountains and he smiled slightly at the sight of the Traveler, the City, and the Tower. "Are you coming with me to the containment area?" Wolf asked him from the cabin.

"Hmm?" he turned around. "Yeah sure but first we're both taking a shower."

"Shin-

"I've been out for six months, you've been out for eight days. Trust me. Cleaning up helps with the stress." He heard her sigh. "I know Ghost knows how to lock up your ship. Doesn't it sound like a good idea Wolf takes care of herself a little, Ghost?"

"... You just want me to agree with you," Ghost said.

"Well I'm right aren't I?"

"Yes but you don't have to be so smug about it," Ghost huffed.

Shin chuckled. "Part of the charm," and he gave Ghost's shell a little pull which made him spin the back of his shell like he was annoyed at him.

They flew over the Tower and their Ghosts dropped them off at the LZ, Shin back in his helmet. He grabbed Wolf's hand before she could complain. "C'mon, it'll be over if you just don't argue with me," he said, knowing he was being annoying but also it was for Wolf's own good.

"That's been like half of my interactions with you most of my life," she said but did follow him. Shin couldn't say she was wrong. Before Europa, when they'd just been friends, there was plenty of petty bickering. Mostly that Shin was annoying her and wouldn't leave her alone or wouldn't shut up or needed to mind his own business. Looking back on it Shin realized he had a huge crush on the Godslayer and had no way of dealing with it other than just putting himself in her way. Of course Shin had been too full of himself to admit he was like everyone else in the damn Tower and had a crush on the Godslayer because only a fool or aspec person wasn't a little in love with her. She was so... radiant and perfect. How could you not be? "But after I do have to go the the H.E.L.M."

"So you said," he acknowledged.

They went to Wolf's apartment in the Wall and Shin noted some damage in the kitchen. Very minor. Looked like heat damage. Some peeled paint that hadn't been properly refinished. He'd ask Ghost maybe. At least to make sure the oven still worked. "I dunno why you want to spend your time in your ship when you have such a comfortable bed for napping here in the Wall," Shin said.

"Being closer to Mars makes me feel better," she said. "We aren't staying long."

"You joining me?" Shin asked her, taking off his helmet and Magpie mostly undressed him.

Her helmet was unreadable. "I have to take a call from Eris. She's been so flighty lately I need to take it while I can," she added before Shin could say fuck Eris.

"Alright," he sighed and went into the bathroom. He spent a while in the shower just enjoying the water. He hadn't had a shower in so long. He also wondered if he spent long enough Wolf would join him. She didn't.

Finally his skin was pruney from the water and he got out. One perk of being able to use Solar Light was flash drying yourself after a dip and he did so as he stepped out. The Light left him comfortably warm, the tips of his fingers glowing slightly from it. Solar was so comforting and in the harsh cold of Europa or the Ascendant Realm had been the only comfort he'd had other than Magpie.

Wolf was leaning on the counter when he came out of the bathroom in just a towel, still talking in her helmet. He saw the way she started when he did so, not used to seeing him shirtless. Unlike Wolf who just walked out of the bathroom completely naked. He chuckled when she signed to him, 'stop that' while still talking to Eris.

'You're the one looking,' and she turned fully around. He laughed.

He went into the bedroom part of the apartment and pulled open some drawers. He found his clothes in there untouched for the most part though they'd been refolded and shoved over into a further corner. The drawer was... more full than he remembered. And not just with black. There was City clothes in here, and color. "Wolf hates shopping," Shin said to himself, confused more than anything.

"She did say she had a fake girlfriend," Magpie said over his shoulder.

Shin didn't say anything for a second. Then he pulled out one of the more colorful things. It was a really cute summer hooded short sleeved thing that absolutely would not cover all of Wolf's stomach. "This sucks," he grumbled.

"What?"

"She works all the time. I'm never going to see her in all this new cute shit," he complained, folded it back up and put the hoodie back into the drawer.

"I guess you'll just have to take her on more dates," Magpie said in amusement.

"Yeah when they don't involve who can pop the most heads the fastest," he grumbled and pulled out his own clothes which were completely monochromatic. Whatever. Once he was dressed he sat on the bed and finally heard Wolf finish her conversation with Eris.

"That could have been a Ghost communication," Wolf said when it was over.

"Really had to drill it in huh?" Shin asked.

"I've never met a Hunter who talks so much," Wolf sighed then looked at Shin, "was she always like that?"

"Fuck if I know. Eris was a nobody who, like many, idolized Eriana. She was categorically below my notice."

"Even though she went into the Hellmouth?"

Shin's eye twitched. "What can I say? Some bad fish get away," he said not a bit maliciously. "Trust me when I say Toland was at the top of my list at all time. I regret I never convinced Ikora it'd be easier to just off him while he was still at the Tower. Those Guardians didn't deserve what he led them to, what Eris became."

"I'm surprised you listened."

"It's one thing to kill a bad Guardian. It's another thing to do so right under the Vanguard's noses. They had plausible dependability if it happened outside of the Tower. Really got some members of the Praxic Order all pissed off," he shrugged.

"That Warlock who's obsessed with you," she said.

"Yeap. That was her at the Enclave," he said in delight. "She's so mad Ikora's got her on a short leash about me. But Ikora cares more about you than Aunor's sense of duty to quash the Darkness, so I get to stay." Wolf's face darkened slightly in a flush.

"She did almost set you on fire though. You should be more careful," Magpie said.

"Eh, what's a little fire going to do to me?" Shin scoffed. "You going to shower? I thought you wanted to go to the H.E.L.M."

"Ah- yes," and she ducked into the bathroom.

While she was in there he just looked around. It looked the same as he'd left except Wolf had a new black pillowcase. Upon further inspection he saw it wasn't a pillowcase. It was a shirt. His shirt. "Ah hell," he muttered. He took the shirt off the pillow. She wouldn't need that anymore. He didn't see any other changes in the room other than Wolf's collection of armor and cloaks had expanded. He also checked the kitchen and was greeted by several Warlock level science experiments. He tossed them and cleaned out the fridge for the most part so when they eventually came home he'd have a clean fridge to fill. He threw away a bunch of empty or stale boxes of snack food. "You stay here," he told Magpie and he left briefly to throw out the full bag of trash.

Wolf was out of the shower when he came back. "- right back- oh, Shin, there you are," Magpie said cheerfully when he saw him.

"Where'd you go?" Wolf asked. She was already dressed, already in armor.

"To throw out the science experiments in your fridge," he said.

"Oh... yeah," she said sheepishly.

"We going to the H.E.L.M.?"

"Yes," she said and Magpie wrapped him in his hungry armor. "Glint just called and said Crow and Saladin are arguing, again," she sighed.

"That's a losing battle. Saladin's stubborn as they come," Shin said as they left the apartment.

Their Ghosts transmatted them to the H.E.L.M. and Shin followed Wolf down the stairs where Crow liked to hang out out of the way. Down here was a technological nightmare. A psion hooked up to some device and Hive in suspended animation in tubes. They walked in in the middle of Crow and Saladin's arguing but were ignored mostly.

Shin folded his arms while they listened to Saladin basically call Crow soft and give him a lecture in the form of a story from the Dark Ages. Shin didn't really get the correlation since Crow's view point seemed to just be... don't be an asshole and show more compassion than their enemies. Shin hadn't been a Guardian when the Iron Lords had been a real deal and only had Saladin to go off of but if the stories were anything to be believed he knew they were extremely dogmatic in their beliefs. By the time he'd been born the era of Warlords had been fading but from what he understood the Iron Lords had put a choke hold on Europe to bring peace and you either sided with them and their Iron Decree or they final deathed you. Most Risen sided with them. Kill enough powerful Warlords and the small fry fell in line. And Saladin's story to Crow about mercy was similarly dogmatic and pretty baffling honestly. Maybe Shin was too stupid to get it.

"That's the dumbest moral story I've ever heard," Wolf said aloud as Saladin was winding down, startling the men who'd not realized they were standing there.

"Oh- I didn't hear you two come in," Crow said.

"It's that you must make hard choices to do the right thing," Saladin said. "A lesson young Crow should learn sooner rather than later," but there was obvious contempt in his voice. Saladin did not think much of Crow. Shin had watched VoDs of the Proving Grounds last year and yeah, that hadn't changed much.

"That doesn't mean we have to be monsters," Wolf stepped further into the room. "Humanity is better than the Hive because of our kindness."

"There is no place for kindness in war," Saladin tried. "You wouldn't understand, you're too young."

Shin side stepped and grabbed Crow's arm, pulling him back a few steps. That was exactly the wrong thing to say to Wolf. Crow looked at him in confusion. Shin just put a finger to his helmet like he would to his lips for Crow to be quiet. He'd say something in sign but Crow hadn't been taught it. Shin hadn't had enough time to teach him any beyond 'yes' 'no' 'go' 'stop' basically before "Osiris" had taken over and he knew the twins didn't even grasp that that should be their jobs. Crow looked at Shin a few more seconds and then at Wolf and Saladin, worry etched in every line of his mouth.

"I wouldn't understand?" Wolf asked Saladin, voice incredibly tight. "You're telling me, the Hero of the Taken and Red Wars, the one they send to clean up every stupid mess the Darkness makes, that I wouldn't understand war?" she sounded so incredulous.

Saladin back pedaled almost immediately. "Not in ways your elders have," he said. "The Dark Ages and our battles with the Fallen."

Wolf cut an intimidating figure despite the height difference between her and Saladin. "The war with Oryx came to our system when I was two," she said. "And me and my friends waded into the Dreadnaught alone and slaughtered more Hive than you can possibly imagine, Saladin," her voice was quiet but sharp and very, very, dangerous. "I saw my friends torn apart or blasted out of existence by Hive and Taken a thousand times. I was two when I had to fight a Dark Blade older than our sun with a weapon that had killed more things than either of us can comprehend while thrall tore at our bodies or exploded us into vapor so fine our Ghosts just had to make it up." Saladin looked away, not moving his head, but he couldn't meet Wolf's unflinching helmet. "And then when we were done we cried and embraced and reminded each other how grateful we were the others were there, because without them we'd be gone into the Darkness." She was quiet a moment. "Look at me if you're going to talk shit about me, Saladin," she said because he still wasn't looking at her.

The old Titan looked at her, his face troubled and guarded. "I do not speak to diminish your accomplishments my Young Wolf," he said gravely.

"Then think before you try to tell me I'm 'too young'. Or that Crow is too young. That somehow compassion is something we cannot afford even our enemies. We do this out of necessity, not because we want to. If I had it my way this wouldn't even be here," she motioned to the array of Hive in tubes. "It is unbecoming for the Champions of Light to sink to the same level as the Hive. Don't you think so?"

Saladin took a graven breath, "Yes," he had to agree or he'd really be putting a target on his forehead. "I was merely trying to impart some wisdom to Crow from a long tenure of helping people in the Dark Ages."

"This isn't the Dark Ages, Saladin," she bit out. "It hasn't been for a long time. And from your own telling the story just shows me how much you didn't know what you were doing. You just gave a girl you'd never met and had no reason to trust immense responsibility and trust that she'd just figure it out and work out a problem you couldn't fix." Shin realized it then that this was also some unresolved issues Wolf had with Saladin coming to head here. Things she'd never spoken of but seemingly ate at her and now in this altercation was raising its head. He was sure all the other bullshit she was dealing with wasn't helping either. "That from my perspective that's pretty typical of you. Did you have Jolder fix your problems too?"

Saladin's eyes narrowed, "Do you talk about what you don't understand," he jabbed a finger at her.

"Or what? I'll make you sad?" she demanded back. "In case you forgot I'm the one who went down into the SIVA control where you were too afraid to go into for centuries and see what ha happened to your friends. Saw what SIVA did to them because you and the other Lords had too much hubris that you thought you could control something people of the Golden Age sought to keep contained. SIVA had kept them alive you know? Horrible. But alive." Saladin's eyes widened at being told that. That was when Shin noticed Crow was holding his arm because it suddenly became a vice grip. "We only saw two, covered in SIVA infection who made noises like just being alive was agony."

"Shut up," he growled and his fists started smoking, fire licking at his gloves.

"Or what?" she asked back, incredulous. "Your war in the Dark Ages is nothing to the nightmares I've seen, Saladin. Nightmares you and old Guardians made by choosing violence first instead of trying to understand one another or any alien race you encountered. There are murderers and saints on every side. You don't have to be the murderer every time."

She looked at the psion and then stepped back away from Saladin like she just hadn't turned him inside out. She went and looked at the screen readouts on a counsel. "Get out of my H.E.L.M.," she said in a soft coldness, not looking at him. "And never call me your Young Wolf again. I am your nothing."

"Wolf-

"I have nothing else to say to old men like you, Saladin. Let this be your lesson in mercy," she said in the same soft coldness. Saladin came up short, stood there a second, and then stormed out of the room.

Crow was still holding his arm hard enough it hurt. "For the record," Shin said once Saladin was gone, "that was hot as fuck." That made Crow loosen his grip on his arm. "Do that to Ikora next."

"No. I actually like Ikora," she said quietly but the dangerous edge was gone.

"You didn't have to do that," Crow said, finally letting go of Shin.

"No. I did," she said, using the touch screen console. "I didn't mind for a long time but I really never forgave him for stealing my name. And I'm so tired of his blood thirsty nature."

"... Stealing your name?"

She turned her head and looked at Crow. "Well my name isn't really Wolf. You know how many people remember it?"

"Uhh... not many? But I thought you liked it."

"I do," she looked back at the screen. "But I would have liked to chose an alias, not have it put on me."

"Well... I can call you by your name if it'd make you feel better," Crow said helpfully. Next to him, Shin snorted. "What?"

"If anyone gets to call Wolf by her real name again first it's me-

"Or Cat," Wolf said.

"We're all friends here," Crow said.

"Yeah but she's my girlfriend so I get to be first," Shin said and watched poor Crow's ice blue face go absolutely white. Well the kid would have to be let down eventually. Might as well be in casual conversation and not when he was trying to make a move.

"No one is calling me anything but what I want to be called," Wolf said. "And Wolf is fine still. Also Ghost if Zavala calls because Saladin is upset just screen his call. I don't care."

"I already planned on it," Ghost said.

"Good boy," and even though wasn't directed at him made Shin perk up a little. Next to him Crow did too by looking at her. Geeze Wolf really attracted a Type huh? Not that he was particularly shocked.

"That screen make any sense to you or you just looking at it for effect?" Shin asked her.

"Yes, smart ass, it does," she said and he chuckled.

"Well it all look good? We done?"

"Yes, I suppose," she stepped away from the counsel.

"Great. To celebrate you telling Saladin to fuck right off we should go out for lunch," he said cheerfully.

"Shin I don't-

"It's good for you. And I bet you haven't hung out with our baby Hunter nearly enough," he wrapped an arm around Crow's shoulder tightly.

"Don't bring me into this," Crow squeaked.

"Mars isn't going to explode if you take a second to go out with your two favorite Hunter guys," Shin said. "Not like you can get to your ship. Ghost locked it, remember?"

"You're so annoying," she said through her teeth.

"Part of the charm darlin'," and he made a sign Hunters had specifically for flirting while in their helmets. It was the equivalent of a wink. It was almost never used seriously and often times overused by Hunters who somehow found themselves dating a Warlock which Shin thought was hilarious.

She stood there a second and then walked out. "Unbelievable. Bear was right when he shot you," and Shin laughed, letting go of Crow's shoulders. But he wasn't out of the woods. Crow gave a little cry when Shin grabbed his scarf and pulled him along.

"So where do you want to go? Up here in the Tower or you want to go down into the City?" Shin asked her, totally undisturbed by her faux hostility.

"I dunno how I got roped into this," Crow complained.

Shin looked back at him. "You're our friend," he said. Crow blinked at him a few times, processing the 'our' in that and Shin knew he was because Shin always used to just call Crow Wolf's friend. "Now stop whining, I haven't seen you in months."

"I-- yeah, okay," Crow said.

"I know you probably want to eat your weight in stuffed mushrooms but I want meat," Wolf said as they left the H.E.L.M.

"Luckily most places do both," Shin said, finally letting go of Crow's scarf so he could grab Wolf's hand. "Or maybe the place Savant took us that one time? The one that blew your face off?"

"No you and Savant are just freaks who can eat stuff spicy enough to melt metal," she scoffed. Then she looked back at Crow, "You're not a spicy fiend are you?"

"Uhhh... shocking I know but crop rotations in the Reef weren't exactly as varied as you'd think. Chilies weren't exactly on the list."

"Good. A normal person," Wolf said.

"But they made it-- wait a second. How would you know that?" Shin stopped them and looked at Crow.

"Know what?"

"What crop rotations on the Reef are like?"

Crow suddenly looked very uncomfortable and clammed right up. Then Glint appeared over his shoulder. "While my Guardian doesn't want to tell you; I will. He went and talked to Savathun after you were gone. Savathun, somehow, unlocked his memories of his first life. So he remembers. Everything."

Shin looked at Crow for a long minute and Crow looked like he just wanted to fall through the floor. "You promised me," he said in a dead serious tone.

"What?" Wolf asked.

"I said if I got him five minutes with the crystal he'd drop it. That was that time Mara said I was in her room. What the fuck kid, why did you do that?"

"It wasn't enough time," Crow said weakly.

"Was it worth it?" Shin asked him. "Now knowing the real reason you're shoot on sight for a lot of Guardians? Why you think people have a hard time trusting you?"

"Shin," Wolf said.

"No. He brought this on himself. And you broke your promise to me. We shook on it and everything."

"I needed to know," Crow said. "I needed to know something. I didn't... I didn't think it'd be that. I'm sorry," he hung his head. "I knew no one else would answer me."

"Because its forbidden for this exact reason. Traveler above what the fuck? The Vanguard don't forbid learning about our pasts for no reason. Its because what if we look too well and don't like what we find? We were all risen knowing how to kill, Crow. What kinda past would you want to find?"

"Because other than you two everyone acted like I was still him, okay!?" Crow cried. "Saladin still does, I can tell when he looks at me, and lectures me. Zavala forgave but I know Ikora hasn't, not really. Everyone else I know who's seen my face and who knew what Uldren looked like just sees him. Not me. And I had to know why. What did I do that was so bad?" He sighed and looked down. "I thought... knowing would help me understand."

Wolf moved past Shin, who was still pissed Crow had broken his promise, and went over and hugged Crow. "We know you aren't him. And I know it feels like its just us but it isn't," she assured him. "And I know Shin would have just told you if you'd asked."

"Yeah and not memory dumped on you. Fucking old hag of a Hive," Shin folded his arms, still annoyed.

"But I asked him not to. Just like everyone was asked not to. We thought it was better. That that was the right thing to do and for you," she let him go. "I know it sucks. But you aren't going to be a martyr forever."

"Yeah right," he grumbled.

"No she's right," Shin said. "Eventually people get over it."

"How'd you know? You're a legend," Crow grumbled.

Shin barked a laugh. "Kid you have no fucking idea."

"You killed that guy. Yoshi or whatever."

"Yeah. And then I murdered a lot of other Guardians too," Shin said. "Popped their Ghosts right in the eye." Crow stared at Shin. "Only difference between you and me is you killed a Guardian people liked. But they forget. They move on. Forever is a long time to hold a grudge."

"I didn't-- really? You did that?" Crow asked him. He looked at Wolf, "Did he?"

"Yeah. He's done that," she said. "But not just random. They were bad. Rouge."

"Still real deathed a lot more Guardians than you'd be happy to hear about," Shin said gravely. He went over to Crow. "I'll give you a pass since I was gone when you fucked up this time. But next time don't break a deal with me," he said, looking Crow dead in the eye. Even if Crow remembered being Uldren he was still Crow and gulped at being dead-eyed by Shin's wicked helmet. Then Shin relaxed. "Now we still going to lunch? I'm fucking starving," he complained.

"Only you would bring up lunch after that," Ghost said.

"Well what else is there to say? It happened and I haven't had real food in like four months. So yeah. Let's get lunch," and he grabbed Crow's scarf again when he acted like he was just going to stand there moping. "There's a do it yourself barbecue place that does seitan along with meat that's to die for. We should go there," he said.

"Sounds fine to me," Wolf said. "You aren't going to drag him the entire way are you?"

"I dunno, if he doesn't keep up I will," Shin said with a smirk.

"I can walk," Crow stammered. Shin let him go. "Even after that you-

"Kid shut up. I said, you're our friend. Gotta accept they fuck up sometimes. Otherwise I'd never tolerate that fucking idiot robot," Shin groaned. Wolf just giggled. "Now stop looking like you're about to cry and keep up. We don't have all day or Mars is going to blow up while Wolf is standing to enjoy herself."

"Y-yeah. I'm coming," and Crow quickly followed after.

Chapter Text

Wolf nearly tripped over Shin when she transmatted back onto her ship after another talk with Ikora and another investigation that had ultimately lead nowhere. Shin wasn't laid fully on the floor but sitting on the floor with his legs out against her lounge. Her ship wasn't very wide so he took up almost the entire space width wise. "Uhhh, are you okay?" She asked Shin.

"I'm so bored," he said, head tipped back on the seat of the lounge looking up at the ceiling.

"That sounds like a problem of your own making," she said. If Shin hadn't fucked off for months she wouldn't feel the need to keep him here where she could- not keep an eye on him- but just have him around. She'd missed him. She didn't want him too far.

He leveled his dark brown eyes at her. "Or I could go be useful while you're in the Throne World for hours," he sighed. He got to his feet. "How did your talk with Ikora go?"

"Ended up with nothing," she said in disappointment. "She said the Hidden and Legion have moved into the Throne World to help but it will take time."

"So what? You're just going to wait around?" She didn't say anything to that. "I bet Ikora would like you to," he said.

"She did ask."

"I'm bored. You don't have any pressing missions. Let's go cause some trouble?"

"For who?"

"Savathûn, duh," he smirked and she realized he'd stepped up to her. She could feel the soft heat of his Light even through her gear. Well more he could feel his Light. "I want another crack at those... things. The Hive Risen."

"Maybe," she said but Wolf did everything in her power to avoid them. "Ikora has the Hidden and Legion mapping the place out but they could always use the help."

"Sounds good. I need some target practice," he grinned and immediately was covered in his armor. "You want to go the Cabal way or try a nice walk through the Ascendant Realm?" He asked her in his best charming voice. It still annoyed her that a guy like Shin, a perpetual loner, knew how to be charming. How? He barely talked to anyone before he'd started bothering her!

But the idea of just walking to Savathûn's Throne World was tempting. "I like long walks in the Ascendant Realm," she said and he chuckled.

"Okay. I don't want to do it in here," and he turned and headed for the air lock. "The pressure difference will make a mess," he said. She followed after and squeezed into the small air lock with him so they could go to the outside of her ship. The ship was in atmosphere but at this altitude there was a strong wind. Still her ship didn't move an inch. They were still blasted by the Martian wind when Shin opened the door to the outside.

They climbed up to the top of her ship. Shin looked around briefly and she could feel it. Like how she could feel when a Guardian used Stasis. But this was different. It felt different. Shin held out a hand and a bite was taken out of the world. That was the only way she could describe it. That whatever Shin was doing was eating its way through the very veils between their world and the Ascendant Realm like some sort of hungry beast. She'd seen many portals that carved through reality to the Ascendant Realm and the one Shin made was relatively small. Just big enough for her to step through if she maneuvered herself around the edges.

"Let me go first. There's no platform on the other side," Shin said and stuck half his body through the rift. Then he went the rest of the way, having to slide through awkwardly since if the portal was small even for her it was even smaller for Shin. "Okay, it's stable over here," his comm cut through but like most transmissions through the Ascendant Realm it was muffled, a hint of static at the edges.

Wolf climbed through after him and fell ten feet onto a platform only about ten feet in diameter. "Why such a small portal?" she asked Shin.

"It's harder to close when its big," he said, hand reaching up to where they'd fallen from, and she looked up at the portal too. It spat and crackled before eventually closing.

That left them alone in the Ascendant Realm, void in every direction except one. Off in the distance but not so far they couldn't walk, was the towering island of Savathun's Throne World that hung above the void like someone had uplifted part of a world and set it adrift in the astral sea. The wind of the Ascendant Realm moaned and tugged at their cloaks. "Is it really that far?" she asked him.

"Depends," he said. "Distance is variable here. Time and space don't really play nice in this place," she nodded.

"So how are we getting there? You promised me a walk in the Ascendant Realm," she said.

"I did, didn't I?" and he was quiet after that. She didn't rush him. She couldn't control the Ascendant Realm or its fabrications. She'd never tried of course. But it took a being of immense power to do so, which was why the Hive Ascendant used it. Then, slowly, ground rose up from the void, forming a slightly meandering path out into the distance towards the Throne World. It was about as wide as the platform they were on now and perfectly smooth and flat. Not like the stones she'd seen in the Ascendant Realm before which were rough and like naturally formed stone that was being reflected by the Ascendant Realm. These were new.

"Where'd you learn a trick like that?" she asked as they walked.

"Once you leave known areas there's... nothing. Eons and eons of just nothing," Shin said, the wind blowing back his hood so his helmet with teeth was exposed to the Ascendant Realm's wind. "You either are stuck in the places made already or you learn to move yourself. Further out past here is the Reef which exists a lot more in the Ascendant Realm than Mara wants to admit."

"And you saw her bullshit of a Throne World?" she asked him.

"Yeah. And other places. Scorn were there."

"The Leyline conductors," she said.

"Hmm. Maybe. I didn't stay there longer. I went out further, saw Oryx's Throne World. It's even worse than it looks in our world. A place full of true decay. Then beyond Oryx's Throne World there's just... nothing. At least that I could find with reasonable ease. I'm sure with enough power and practice you can just fling yourself through the Ascendant Realm but I'm just a Guardian. I'm not supposed to be here."

"But how'd you learn to make these pathways?" Wolf asked.

"My Pyramid--uh."

"Your Pyramid?" she asked suspiciously.

"Well I mean it's helped me twice with this bullshit," he said quickly. "So I guess just in my head I think it's mine. Like the Thorn or Last Word are mine. A tool I'd like to keep around if I need it again." When he said it like that it made sense but that wasn't the tone he'd used when slipped up. It made her nervous. Not of him but for him. Since he'd told her about the fact that he hallucinated things she worried for him more than before. What else wasn't he telling her? She knew he was keeping things from her but she didn't even know what to ask to know what they were. She wasn't even sure she really wanted to know.

"If it helped you why'd it take you so long to come back?" she asked him.

Shin said nothing for a solid minute. "I'm not ready to tell you," he said softly. "But just know it didn't give me what I wanted so I had to look elsewhere." And that worried her. She grabbed his hand.

"Okay," she said, "Whatever it is you can tell me though."

"Probably. But I don't want to yet. I'm still... figuring it out," he allowed. "Also, we're here," he pointed and she looked away from him finally. And indeed they'd arrived at the edge of Savathun's island. Swamp muck dribbled off the edge into the void, the roots of the mangrove-like trees curled around the cliff of the world.

"That should have taken us more time," she said, shocked but not unpleasantly so.

"Like I said, time and space don't work the same in here unless you command it to. We're still pretty far from most known areas so there's no Vanguard link," and Shin finally pulled his hood back up now that the Ascendant Realm's wind had died down. Wolf's hood had been undisturbed that entire walk. She'd felt the wind but it never tugged so hard on her hood it removed it.

"Then we'll be doing some good mapping this area out," Ghost said.

"Yeah. Though lets stay clear of that," Shin pointed left and in the distance was a Pyramid and a collection of dark buildings. "I really don't like it."

"It's a Pyramid, what's to like?" Wolf asked and stepped onto the Throne World.

"Yeah but it feels off, you know?"

"Like how?" she asked as they waded through the ankle deep water looking for high ground.

"It feels... inhabited."

She looked at him sharply. "What?"

"I dunno how to explain it. But it's not like the one on the Moon or Europa. They've been... not abandoned but they aren't occupied. I went past a huge gate while hunting those Scorn when I ran into you guys and even from there it didn't feel like the other Pyramids. Have you been close to it?"

"No," she admitted. "I've mostly been underground looking for clues to Savathun's plans or how she did this. How she stole our Light. It is... frustratingly slow."

"She'll be revealed. I know it," Shin said firmly. She believed him. She had to. She didn't want to imagine what it would be like if they didn't uncover her plans. It made her afraid. Not much made her afraid.

Their Ghosts floated above them doing full environment scans to add to known maps once they reached a place with Vanguard relays. The swamp gave way to, not dry, but hard ground and the trees stood tall with long draping moss and lichen. There was, to their surprise, no enemies here. No screaming Scorn or chattering Hive. The forest was quiet. And like before Wolf noted the lack of sounds of animals. No frogs or birds, not even the ripple of fish of reptiles in the water. The swamp was empty.

The first firefight was a welcome distraction from the silence. It was a patrol of some Hive through a well walked area and they weren't expecting two Guardians. They were eviscerated. "We should see where they were coming from," Ghost said and scanned the path. "If this is a patrol path then it should lead somewhere interesting."

"Sounds good to me," Shin said. The walk down the path was easier than just through the swamp and forest and it led up into Savathun's beautiful alabaster fortress. But not at an angle Wolf had been to before. Their boots left dark tracks of mud as they climbed a red velvet lined stairway up to the fortress proper.

"It's crazy this was made by a Hive god," Wolf said as they topped the stairs. "Oryx's Throne World was nothing like this. It was a cave basically."

"A crypt," Ghost said.

"Yeah."

"Some of her Throne World is still like that. We saw it," Ghost added.

"Still. Once given the Light Savathun made something... beautiful."

"Yeah, a rose," Shin said. "With biting thorns at every edge."

"Are we in range of known relays?" Wolf asked Ghost.

"Yes. The Legion's been out here already. They placed some relays and tapped into Hive broadcasts if you want to get some insight on the Hive's plans?" Ghost said helpfully.

"Hive broadcasts? Neither of us speak Hive," Wolf said.

"No," Ghost agreed slowly.

"Lets listen to one anyway. See what it's like," Shin suggested. "The Legion wouldn't have tapped them for no reason."

"I guess. We have a network for sparrows?"

"It hasn't been established here," Ghost said apologetically. "But the nearest beacon isn't far." A waypoint appeared on her HUD. It was only a dozen or so meters away.

They found it and Ghost accessed it through the Legion's hack which made it come out garbled at first and then... perfectly understandable words. "- my little antisocial arthropods. This is First Ghost Immaru talking. We got word of those glitter headed idiots encroaching on our territory near Zikov's Tower. Keep your three eyes peeled for intruders. Zikov's work must not be... interrupted," and the communication ended.

"Immaru?" Shin asked.

"Savathun's Ghost," Ghost scoffed. "He took a new name when he changed sides. He's a real bully."

"Any idea on Zikov?" Wolf asked.

"Never heard of her," Ghost said thoughtfully.

"Well if they're going to be protecting the tower then that's a good place for some target practice," Shin said. "We know where that is?"

"A tower near here was marked by the Legion," Ghost allowed. "Might be the one."

"We'll know by the amount of Hive around," Shin nodded. "Let's go see what trouble we can get into, huh?" he asked Wolf.

"Let's go," she said, a smile working across her lips. Ghost put a waypoint on her HUD and the two of them headed out.

They knew they'd arrived at the right place by a small force of Hive guarding the stairs up to a smooth white tower crowned by thorns and spears of alabaster. They were able to see from around some rose hedges without giving themselves away. There were some wizards, a not insignificant amount of acolytes and an annoying amount of thrall. And there were two of the Risen Hive. Wolf swallowed. She wasn't afraid of them. She just didn't want to... to get their Ghosts.

"Those big Knights are Risen," Magpie said in a soft tone.

"No shit? I thought they just looked like that weird Wizard."

"They look like a warped reflection of Guardians," Ghost said, anger in his voice. "Those would be 'Titans'."

"Posers," Shin said. "So you want to charge in or plink 'em from back here?" Shin asked.

"We'll need to get in close to kill the Ghosts," Ghosts reminded him. "Or they'll just bring their Risen back."

"Ah. Right. Well," he shrugged, "no big deal. I don't fancy playing slap fights with those thrall though," and he unstrapped the sniper from his back, pulling it around.

"Just leave some for me," Wolf said and finally pulled up her scout.

Shin looked at it, "You still using that old thing?"

"I like it," she said. It was the one she'd gotten off the Hunter's body in the Glykon. "Figured Katabasis would want someone to keep using it."

"Shit that's right that was that weirdo's name," Shin said and took a knee, looking down his scope. "Knew there was a reason I couldn't remember it, it was weird as hell," and he fired down range, catching a thrall in the head.

"I'd argue with you but you aren't wrong," Wolf said sending a volley of shots down to the Hive. They were, of course, noticed, and the Wizard screamed for the thrall to charge.

"We counting?"

"I already have more than you," she said and he chuckled.

"Yeah. Can't compete with your count," he agreed. They thinned the herd of thrall and finished them off with the Light as they entered melee range. Grenades of Light exploded and burned or vaporized the thrall to atoms. Well placed knives through the surprisingly soft skulls of a thrall finished the others. Ghost fabricated her knives almost as fast as she could throw them after she ran out of ones in the normal places.

The thrall did push them back some just by numbers alone. Only about twenty feet but it was enough for acolytes to start to move up. "Bet they're calling for more thrall," Shin said and got back behind half cover. "Wolf- get behind cover," he hissed when she was just standing in the road.

She didn't. Instead she filled her hands with knives and each one burned with Solar Light. The acolytes were moving up and so was one of the Risen Hive. With perhaps more flourish than was necessary but who cared it was fun as hell Wolf did a full three-sixty jump spin and out of her hands flew all her burning knives in the sound of a muffled explosion. But she couldn't expend all her Light like that. She physically couldn't release the amount of Light she needed to sometimes when super charged and Light spilled out of her as droplets and motes at her feet. The knives all found marks in skulls and chests and exploded in glorious Solar Light. But she was still brimming with Light.

She signaled to Ghost and the limit was just how fast he could fabricate knives for her. The Hive Risen hadn't fallen and was now charging at her. She heard Shin shoot it but it shrugged off the bullet. She flung a handful of knives at the Knight and it stuck in his carapace but didn't slow it down. More sniper shots but they raised a shield made of Void Light.

That annoyed her.

She didn't know how Savathun had done it but she was damn sure the Light didn't belong to the Hive. Ghost was taking too long. She dropped the knives and raised her rifle with a snap of harsh Solar Light that burned the air as it became a Golden Gun. She saw the way the Knight's fetid green eyes widened at seeing that and it had half a second to do something as Wolf pulled the trigger.

It brought both throwing shields down in front of it like a barricade and hid behind it as Wolf shot it. All six shots went into it and then even she was tired. The shields chipped, splintered and cracked. The last two shots made it through and gouged a huge chunk in the Knight's leg making him roar in pain.

Three snipers all cracked into the Knight as it's shield went down. A rain of high caliber gunfire it's carapace couldn't defend against forever. Wolf needed a second to recover from such a Light expenditure, even for her, and that was all it took. A bullet finally got through the tough hide and smashed through the Knight's brain and he crumpled.

A few seconds later his Ghost came out in an attempt to revive. Wolf almost reached for it. But she couldn't. She didn't need to. Before she even had the chance Shin was around and snatched the thing out of the air. He looked down at it in his hand as it struggled to escape his grasp and then like it didn't bother him in the slightest he crushed it and tossed the shell to the side.

"Well that was interesting," he said and tossed a grenade down the road where it exploded in a magnificent Solar explosion. Then he looked behind Wolf and pointed. "Over watch," he said. She looked where he was pointing. Two Guardians were atop a building a ways away with sniper rifles. Shin put a hand up like he was shading his eyes, "... is that... a Sin?" he asked.

Wolf looked closer. "Could be Hidden," she said because indeed it did look like a Hunter and Warlock, though at this distance it was impossible to make out any features. But the long horns of a Nezarac's Sin were pretty hard to hide when skylined like that.

"Yeah I guess," Shin said slowly. "Lets go deal with the rest huh? Deal with that Zikov Hive."

Wolf nodded and they looked at what they had left to deal with. Some Wizards, the other Risen Hive, and some acolytes. Easy enough. They picked off the last acolytes and the Knight wisely was letting them come to him. Wolf popped the shields on the wizards with some well thrown knives and they went down by simultaneous sniper fire from their friends above. That just left the Knight at the end.

"I want to try my hand this time," Shin said before Wolf could engage.

"Alone?"

"Lil bit," he allowed. "See how it deals with Hunger," and he formed a perfectly black blade in his hand made of pure Hunger. It warped the air around it even from just him holding it trying to eat the very air.

Wolf stood back but kept her gun ready as Shin engaged. And she was impressed at how honestly easily Hunger dealt with the Knight. Shin just had to get in close. Very close. So insanely close it made Wolf nervous enough to shoot the Knight to distract it. The Knight did hit Shin too with one of its shields, cleaving off his arm. But that let Shin get in close and she watched him shove a ball of darkness into the chest cavity of the Knight before diving out of the way.

The Knight roared as the ball expanded and consumed it. The aura lingering for a few seconds before closing. All that had escaped was one of its shields. Magpie was already remaking Shin's arm while he'd watched. "Where's the Ghost?" Ghost asked.

"Got sucked in too," Shin said.

"How do you know? Are you sure?" Ghost asked.

"Yeah. I'm sure," Shin said and got to his feet, whole as before, testing out his new hand and arm like he was shaking out numb fingers.

"How can you be sure? We didn't see it?"

"I felt it," Shin said as a way to shut him up. "Trust me. It's gone. They're both gone. Seems Hunger does the same thing to Risen it does to everything else. Good to know," he said more to himself.

"Oh, we're getting a communication," Ghost said.

"From?" Wolf asked.

"Hmmm, I don't know. They say they're a Scout."

"Put them through," she said.

"You two going into the tower?" the Scout, a female, asked.

"Yes. We heard an Immaru communication to the Hive that Zikov's work musn't be interrupted. So we figured we'd go mess it up," Ghost said cheerfully.

"We've been monitoring that tower. We're coming with you," she said.

Ghost looked at Wolf who nodded. "Sure. Any idea who Zikov is?"

"One of Savathun's high ranked witches. We'll talk more over local comms. The Hive can intercept long range helmet comms," and they disconnected.

"So what's up?" Shin asked.

"A Scout's going to join us."

"Oh? Okay. Never say no to someone in the Legion joining up."

Wolf hesitated then felt she had to ask, "What's the Legion?"

She felt Shin staring at her. "Seriously?"

"I've heard of them but... well me and Glitterbomb usually do our own scouting," she said awkwardly.

Shin sighed. "I forget sometimes you're a baby who doesn't know shit," he said, hands on his belt.

"Hey," she growled.

"The Warlocks have the Hidden, the eyes and hands of the Warlock Vanguard tasked with the most secret missions of the Vanguard, the ones who dig deep and find the why to the chaos. Titans have the Pilgrim Guard, the strong arm and bulwark of the City, who's sole duty is to protect the City and its citizens at all costs. Hidden used to be exclusively Warlocks but when Ikora took over she saw merit in letting other classes join. The Guard have always welcomed any who wanted to stand and protect the City regardless of class or ability. The Scouting Legion is a very elite group of Hunters the Hunter Vanguard sends out to go into the worst places and do recon so strike teams can be sent in to deal with the mess. Every strike you've been on has first had recon run on it by the Legion. They're exclusively Hunters, its a real circle jerk kinda group sometimes," Shin said. "So if we're getting a Scout joining up then they've been ordered to scout the tower to send a strike team. If we're going up then they're coming to make sure we take care of it and they can report back that it's been dealt with before they even put it on the books."

"I see," Wolf said. "I... I had no idea. Is that what Crow and the twins do?"

"I think technically they're part of it? But I don't know if they know that," Shin said slowly. "I don't interact with the Legion much except when Osiris or the Hunter Vanguard would send one out to keep an eye on me," and she could sense a roll of his eyes.

"Now I wonder why they'd do that?" Ghost said sarcastically.

"Couldn't be the bad stuff you were doing or anything," Magpie said.

"Hey! Enough from the peanut gallery," Shin growled. As he did two Guardians strode up.

"Thanks for waiting," the female voice said over local comms.

"Don't need to make your job too difficult," Ghost said jokingly.

"Yeah, that's my job," the other Guardian, a Warlock, said.

"You fucking-

"Savant?" Wolf asked.

"Oh! Yeah. Hi," he waved.

"... What are you doing here?"

"Working?" Savant asked, head cocked.

"Bullshit," Shin snapped. "This is restricted area and you're too stupid to get access."

"He's with me," the Scout said. "Don't make that face Shinny, it'll get stuck like that," she said.

"Shinny?" Wolf looked at Shin, who was, of course, still in his helmet.

"I have told you a thousand times stop calling me that!" Shin yelled.

"Do you... know each other?"

"Unfortunately!" Shin growled.

"Don't act like that, Shinny, you'll give Wolf the wrong impression." Shin just made an annoyed growling noise. "Eric Moonheart," she gave Wolf a casual salute. "We met briefly during the Dawning."

"I gave you your Dawning gift then too," Savant said helpfully to jog her memory.

"Oh. Right," Wolf said slowly. She'd been really out of it that day. She'd just wanted to sit at her favorite spot and be alone and sad in peace.

"I've known Shin a long time," Eric said. "He's just grumpy I'm a faster draw than him."

"You are not," he said. "You still haven't explained why he's here," he pointed at Savant accusatory.

"I told you. Working," Savant said.

"Ikora said only Hidden and the Legion were allowed in here," Wolf said thoughtfully.

"Yeap," Savant also nodded.

"You're not Hidden," Wolf said.

"Nope."

There was a long pause. "No fucking way you're Legion," Shin said.

"Yeap."

"Horse shit. Legion's Hunter only."

"We made an exception," Eric said.

"What? Since when does the Legion make an exception? Does Xander know about this? How the fuck he allow this?" Shin demanded.

"Of course Xander knows," Eric said.

"Yeah, he's the one who gave me my Legion coat when I first joined," Savant said.

"And it was a few decades ago," Eric said thoughtfully. "But also it isn't any of your business, Shinny. You're not Legion and membership of the Legion is strictly Legion business."

"Yeah but why him? He's a stupid Warlock," Shin motioned to Savant.

"Yes. He's my stupid Warlock," Eric said and that was the end of that discussion. "Anyway, I was just sent to do recon on the tower here but if you two are here I don't think we'll be sending a strike team."

"Shin said you needed to make sure it was handled?" Wolf asked.

"Correct. And of course we'll be offering aid," she motioned to Savant.

"Ugh," Shin complained.

"Sounds fine to me," Wolf said, ignoring his belly aching. She knew he was certifiably full of shit.

"We got a communication from Immaru about a Wizard named Zikov. You know anything about that?" Ghost asked as they headed into the tower.

"We've been listening to Immaru's transmissions for a few days," Eric said. "Zikov is one of Savathun's high witches. We don't know what sort of spell she's working in there but Immaru's been running stolen Light in there regularly, always guarded by some Lucent Hive."

"Sounds nasty," Ghost said.

"Zikov's tower has been a mid high priority for us since we found she was using Light in whatever she was doing," Eric said.

"Well we'll take care of it," Ghost said and then ducked behind Wolf as they encountered the first enemies. Thrall and acolytes in the lowest foyer that they caught unaware. Between the four of them they were shredded in moments, even their helpful moths. "I guess Zikov is at the highest point of the Tower?" Ghost asked and Wolf looked up. The tower was hollow but a stairway ran up the inner sides with landings at regular intervals.

"We believe so," Savant said.

"We do need to investigate where they're taking that Light," Eric added. "Legion has been given strict orders to recapture or destroy all captured Light."

"What good is it to us to recapture?" Ghost asked even as Wolf headed for the stairs.

"Above me," Eric said.

"I think the Hidden want to mess around with it," Savant said. "Warlocks always getting into stuff they aren't supposed to."

"So long as they don't overstep," Shin growled, at the rear of their strike team. "Though I'd love to see Aunor try and talk her way around that," he said in grim amusement to himself.

The landings were standard procedure. Inspect and then rinse the Hive inside. It wasn't too many. Mostly acolytes. Most of the rooms were for unknown purposes but did indeed seem to have some sort of purpose. Near the top of the tower they found a room of huge urns.

"This what we looking for?" Ghost asked.

Eric's Ghost scanned the urns. "Yes. But they're empty," he replied back before going back to hide in Eric's hood. "Still have high trace amounts of Light within. We're getting close."

The next room was empty and then at the top of the stairs was just... nothing. They were stairs to nowhere. "Well that's not right," Ghost said.

"We've been watching this Tower. We're not nearly high enough to be at the apex," Savant said, confused. "It's missing another fifty feet of tower and we haven't found any of the Light."

Wolf put her hand on the ceiling. It felt like a ceiling. She looked around. There were windows here. She stepped over to them and looked out, hanging onto the side so she could lean almost all the way out and look up and around. "See anything?" Shin asked.

"No," she frowned.

"Well we can always just blow a hole in it," Savant said cheerfully and as she ducked back in saw him starting to collect a nova in his hand.

"And give away our position," Shin scoffed. "So far Zikov or Immaru hasn't sent any force to counter attack us. Blowing the tower open will certainly alert them to our presence," he folded his arms.

"Well what's your idea then Shinny?" Savant asked sweetly. Shin growled wordlessly at him.

"Does anyone else see that?" Wolf asked and pointed at something across the tower.

"See what?" Savant asked.

"I see it," Eric said.

It looked like a localized cloud of dust. It took her a moment to realize it was like that thing she saw days ago in Xivu Arath's temple. "I also see it," Shin said. "Is that that thing we went to the Pyramid for?"

"I think so?"

"See what? What do you guys see?" Savant asked.

"What is it?" Eric asked.

"We're still not sure," Ghost said. "But Eris thinks that because Savathun so recently and absolutely recreated her Throne World that some things aren't quite... sticking. She says its a way to view the Throne World before it looks like now, to change it."

"... I hate Hive magic bullshit," Savant said and that made Eric giggle. "And why can't I see it?" he complained.

"Hive magic is dark, you only use the Light?" Eric suggested helpfully.

"That's lame," he grumbled.

"Well it's floating in midair. Any suggestions on how to get to it?" Shin asked.

"I mean... I'm just going to jump," Wolf said.

"That doesn't- there she goes," Shin sighed when Wolf did just that, jumping through the physical manifestation of memory. It reached out for her but not in a way she expected. It drew the Stasis right out of her, connecting to the Darkness and for half a second the world was upside down just like it had been the last times she'd interacted with these things.

She expected to plummet to the bottom foyer of the of the tower. She'd have survived, even if getting back up would have been very annoying. Instead she found herself almost crashing into a chain holding a huge caged sarcophagus that reminded her very abruptly as the horrible prison deep in the Dreadnaught where she'd fought the Dark Blade. She grabbed the chains before slipping down.

"Can't believe that worked," Eric said.

"I'm a good jumper," Wolf said and that made the other three laugh. She looked up. The ceiling was gone and instead the chain went all the way up to a ceiling high above and there were more stairs. "It doesn't last long, go up," she ordered and hoisted herself up so she could climb the chains to the top of the sarcophagus. At the top she jumped back across to the stairs even as the sarcophagus itself started to feel... hazy. A few seconds later the floor reappeared.

"I hope whatever was in that thing is gone," Savant said and Eric immediately punched his arm. "Hey," he whined.

"Don't jinx it stupid," she scowled at him.

"Oh... right."

"He already did, too late," Shin said tiredly. "Who would have thought, a Warlock in the Legion was a bad idea. Bet no one saw that coming," he said sarcastically. And Shin signed 'bad luck' more like a punctuation than anything.

"And you Hunters could stand to be a little less superstitious as a whole. Maybe you'd be less weird," Savant huffed.

Wolf knew she wasn't the only one who rolled her eyes at that.

Above the new floor was more stairs and another hanging chain. But the chain was empty this time. That worried her. Just a little. The chain went up through a hole in the upper ceiling that was the top of the tower.

"Stolen Light," Eric said, having investigated the rest of the room. She stood in front of some more urns and Wolf could feel that they were filled with Light. "Too much to transmat back. Ghostie," and several urns were taken away before Eric took out her gun, took a few steps back, and shot the urns. Savant joined her, shattering the strange ceramic so the Light spilled out across the floor like strange milk. Almost like Radiolaria.

Wolf let them get to that. She started up the stairs. She didn't care much for the mission the Scouts were on. She was more concerned with Zikov. Shin followed after her.

The sound of weapons being fired up here didn't go unnoticed. A horrific screech rended the air and made her ears ring. The Wizard had finally noticed their presence. "Oi, we got company," Shin called even as a wizard floated down from the hole and summoned a platform from nothing. From above thrall and acolytes fell onto the platform and jumped across to the stairway.

"Take care of it, we need to deal with this Light," Eric said as the thrall rushed them on the stairs.

"Love fighting on stairs," Wolf said softly, sarcastically, shooting at the thrall. Mid step some screamed and revealed themselves to be cursed. She jumped away but there wasn't much to go and the acid from their heads and shock from their body's explosive nature hit her. The acid instantly ate through her leather and fabric armor and the blast did more internal damage than external. Another exploded almost right in her face even as she shoved the barrel of her gun into its screaming mouth and pulled the trigger. The explosion still went off and now the acid could get to her skin. Even as it ate down to the bone she didn't scream.

She ducked back and rolled, barely catching herself on the stairs to get behind Shin. Ghost needed a half a moment of calm to start fixing her and hiding behind Shin while he zoned an area above them with a Solar and Hunger grenade was enough. "Do something about that Wizard," he said as it started to shoot them.

"I'm working on it," she said through gritted teeth as Ghost healed her flesh, soothed her pain, and mended her armor. It only took a few seconds but during a fire fight it seemed to last forever. Even as Ghost was repairing the leather of her curiasse she pulled a knife out of a sheath, set it on fire, and hurled it at the Wizard. It smashed through its shield making it scream and Wolf already had her fusion rifle up. The linear beam caught the wizard across the skull, crack its bony head but not quite killing it. Even as she was charging up another shot a sniper shot from below finished the job.

"We need to get off these stairs," Ghost said.

"The platform is gone," Shin said still taking shots at the last few acolytes. The Wizard above screamed furiously again and a huge hand of an ogre appeared on the rim of the circle leading up. "Oh, ogres. I love ogres," he said.

The ogre tried to poke its head down through the hole and Wolf's eyes widened. It was Taken. Fuck. She hated Taken ogres. It didn't last long as four guns opened fire onto its eye. It roared and pulled back, batting at the chain, making it sway.

"Was that was what was in the tomb?" Savant asked as he and Eric climbed the stairs.

"Hive don't entomb ogres," Eric said. "Only problematic members of their kind and ogres are just mindless creatures of destruction. They don't have the mental capacity to be truly problematic and disruptive. They only do as they're told."

"That ogre was Taken. I thought after Quaria Savathun couldn't Take anymore?" Ghost asked.

"How do we get up there?" Shin asked.

"There's a door. And just because Quaria is dead doesn't mean they weren't still some around before they died," Eric said. "Trust Savathun to have some laying around."

"Unless this is part of Zikov's work," Wolf said.

"And what door? You mean that thing sealed by runes?" Shin scoffed.

"Hopefully the ogre is just an ogre," Eric said, ignoring Shin and slipping between the two of them on the stairs. She did it so quickly and elegantly Wolf barely noticed. The stairs barely fit her and Shin standing side by side but Eric was so small she did so without much notice. She went up to the top of the stair where there was indeed a door to the top of the tower.

"How you going to get through there?" Ghost asked. "Should we call Eris?"

"Nah," Savant said.

"She'd just use magic to teleport you. Inelegant," Eric said and touched one of the runes on the door. "Hive locks aren't that difficult to pick," and Wolf had no idea what she was doing but one of the rune stones and chains vanished. She touched the other one. "Whatever is going to be on the other side is going to be very upset, I suggest you ready yourself," and the second rune stone and chain vanished.

"Well that was easy... why's it always so hard when we do it?" Ghost complained.

"You brute force it," Eric said and stepped away from the door. "Heroes first," she said to Wolf.

"You'll have to show me that trick," Wolf said as she stepped up. She checked all her weapons were loaded and then quite literally kicked the door open.

The room was focused on the hole. The Taken ogre looking down into it. But that wasn't all that was there. Inside were three Lucent Wizards, brimming with Light, and a huge Wizard with a face like death itself. Normally wizards had no easily visible eyes. But this one had a head almost like an ogre with one huge and horrible, baleful, eye that leaked Light all over its grotesque floating body. Her head was almost shaped like a cup and Wolf knew more Light was contained inside.

Wordlessly she fired a linear fusion shot at the big wizard's head, chipping the cup and Light flowed out like a waterfall down onto the smaller Lucent Wizards below. She shrieked so loud it made the walls ring and Wolf slid over to the side and found some cover. "Four wizards and the ogre. That's it," Ghost relayed over comms.

The others managed to duck in, the fury of Zikov on Wolf, as was the Taken ogre's eye blasts. The smaller Wizards orchestrated a barrier around Zikov and the ogre. Just great. She loved when Wizards made barriers.

"We need to focus down those wizards," Eric said.

"Those are the kind you can't just kill outright," Shin said. "They've got Ghosts."

"Still take a bullet well enough," Savant said shooting one in rapid succession and it collapsed to the ground. "Not so bad," he said even as her Ghost came up and gathered up the Light for revival. Before they could just shoot the Ghost another Wizard flew in front of it, blocking the shot and sent a hail fire of Arc bolts down in a line towards them. "Hey! None of that shit," Savant yelled back and pointed at the Wizard.

"... Since when has he done that?" Wolf asked as Savant without any more prompting launched a narrow beamed chaos reach from one palm that went through the wizard and splashed against the barrier wrapped around Zikov.

"Since always?" Eric asked back.

"What the fuck? Since when are you a Stormcaller?" Shin asked.

"Always?" Savant answered, confused as he cut off the beam. "I was raised a Stormcaller. Void's just more fun," and he tonked the horns of his Sin.

"... You're so fucking annoying," Shin huffed.

"Less talking more shooting," Eric said as the ogre finally had a chance to change its target and was eye beaming somewhere other than Wolf's cover.

The first wizard was back up by now and they revived their fallen comrade. Then all three went super empowered with a scream and sent down a rain of lightning bolts and grenades that had them scattering across the room. Zikov had also recovered from the shock of having her carapace chipped and was now also attacking them. She was also able to eyebeam them but it was with tainted Light.

"So, any good ideas? We'd love to know," Ghost said.

"We need to get those Lucent wizards away from Zikov so we don't get eyebeamed by them and the ogre," Eric said.

"Or down them all at once? Their magic and Light is what's keeping the shields up," Savant suggested. "I don't think they'll come to us."

"That sounds like the best idea. We need to synchronize," Ghost said. "Eric and Savant take one, Shin take the other and we'll take the third," and he marked the one Wolf was dealing with on her HUD. She knew he'd sent similar marks to the others.

"We'll get into position," Eric said and Wolf saw her and Savant leave a cover to go somewhere else even as the ogre was stomping towards them.

"On my mark," Ghost said and Wolf poked her linear fusion rifle over the top of her cover and aimed it at the Lucent wizard. She fed her Light into it and it started to glow, first white hot and their perfectly, beautifully, golden. "Ready, steady, go!"

The Lucent wizards dropped almost simultaneously. Floating above Zikov made a confused noise as her shield dropped. "Focus the ogre!" Shin cried and they did, Wolf emptying her other Golden Bullets into the ogre and then the rest of the clip of regular energy besides. She was reloading but the ogre was only more pissed off and had found Eric and Savant. It raised a huge hand and swatted them out from behind the pillar they were hiding behind, scattering them across the wall with a roar. Eric slid down against the wall and slumped onto the floor and didn't move while Savant's metal body stuck into the wall half an inch before falling out face first onto the ground.

"It's coming for you," Ghost said to Shin as the ogre shook itself and turned to look at Shin.

"Yeah I see it," Shin said and popped out of cover, an empty urn of Light his Thorn glowing gold. Black and white ichor dripped out of the ogre's eye and it howled in pain even as it tried to eyebeam Shin down. He unloaded an insane amount of Golden Bullets into the ogre but Wolf couldn't watch and see what happened. The Lucent Wizards' Ghosts had gathered enough Light to start to revive them.

She lined her linear up on one of the Ghosts but hesitated even as the gun charged up. But she couldn't finish and released the trigger. "What are you doing? Shoot it," Ghost said urgently.

"I know-

"If you don't they're going to put that shield back around the ogre and Zikov."

And Eric and Savant needed some help reviving. She knew that. There was too much evil and darkness suffocating a normal Guardian's Light in this place. They wouldn't be able to revive without help but she didn't know if she could get to them both and Shin before being focused down by a wizard or the ogre.

A beam of energy smashed into one of the Lucent Ghosts and fractured it, sending it flying across the room but didn't kill it. The core of a Ghost was quite fragile but the shell? It was made of something harder than what it looked like. Something you had to try and damage. The second shot was also a bit wide and sent it spinning away. The third shot she finally got under control and stabilized her breathing so she could shoot it right through the eye. It shattered in a small nova of Light and she felt the shockwave against her own Light like the gentle lapping of a wave on the shore.

Shin's Golden Gun had stopped and she looked over where he'd been. The ogre was gone and while she couldn't see him she could see the edge of his cloak around the urn.

Casting a look at Zikov who was furious Wolf sprinted and slid across the room to behind the urn Shin was behind. She couldn't do anything for him directly but Ghosts needed a jump start of Light to revive their Guardians in such a fetid area. "Ghost, bring the others over," she said. She normally hated doing this. She only did it during especially dire situations and while the door was right there, and thus escape, being the last in a fireteam of four alive was pretty dire.

"They're coming," Ghost said even as Wolf held her hands in front of her. Most Guardians just produced orbs when they had to shed an abundance of Light after going super charged. The act of being super charged so intense that not even that expulsion was enough to shed the excess Light from making them explode, so they generated orbs of Light as an excess. Wolf was always full with abundance. When Glitterbomb had seen the Light output she could generate they'd all agreed she should keep this to themselves. She already got called a Freak of Light. No need to nail that coffin.

Orbs pooled and gathered in her hands and then fell down to the floor. Dozens of them. All big and fat perfect white pearls of pure Light. They gathered around her knees and eventually the surface tension of them caused them to burst into pure liquid Light. Orion and Ghostie came over to accept the Light jump start as Wolf slowed the flow of Light. This part was always... difficult. She naturally just wanted to expend and expend until she was finally empty but she knew she couldn't, eventually she'd have to stem the flow.

Magpie looked at her, even as his core was filled with Light. "What?" she asked him.

"No wonder Hunger didn't kill you," he said softly. "I don't think it could eat you even if it wanted to."

"Wha- actually, never mind. I don't want to unpack that. Just bring Shin back up," she said as Eric and Savant were also getting to their feet. Magpie did so and Shin came back on his feet. The pool of Light under them was immediately pulled into his body. It was effectively just scattered Orbs so didn't disturb Wolf at all. Of course Shin would take in her Light.

"I got the ogre," he said.

"You did," she said and pulled him down so he wasn't standing visibly behind the urn.

"Barrier's back up," Eric said and Wolf finally looked at Zikov again and indeed the huge wizard was behind a barrier again now that the two remaining Lucent Wizards had been revived.

"Rinse and repeat," Savant said. "You two get the one on the right."

"Sounds good," Shin said.

"Wow you didn't even argue with me on a play, amazing," Savant said.

"Not fucking now," Shin growled. Savant laughed.

"Ready," Ghost started even as the Lucent Wizards started firing Arc Light at them. Wolf had to switch to her scout rifle, her linear fusion rifle was spent. "Steady. Go!"

The Wizards didn't let them get them so easy this time and flew around crazily, shooting bolts of lightning and destroying pieces of the room. Zikov didn't care about eyebeaming her own tower either and destroyed a fair bit of stuff as well even destroying a wall or two and opening it to the rest of the Throne World. "These ladies really pissing me off," Eric said where she and Savant had retreated almost half way around the room now.

Wolf heard the crack and pop of Stasis crystals and Eric had the most amazing throwing arm she'd ever seen. Silence hit one Lucent Wizard across the head, ripping open their skull, and Squall gouged a huge hole in the other. The ice storm it created in the room was instant and furious. Wolf had never seen anyone but Glitterbomb use Stasis though she knew other Guardians had gone to Elsie to learn. It was a surprise to see someone use it. The storm froze the Wizards in place and they could pick off the second one which was bleeding out. Eric shot one Ghost and Shin shot the other.

The barrier around Zikov went down.

Zikov screeched and it was muffled when Savant immediately threw a Nova Bomb into her mouth. Wolf charged her scout up again and it glowed gold. Next to her Shin also let loose all his Light. Zikov was wrapped in the Stasis storm and crystals formed and popped as Light was unleashed on them and she tried to fire her eye beam even as Light sloshed out of her cup of a head and splattered across the floor and down her robe-like chitin. Shin was the last one expending his Light, almost fifteen shots of a Golden Gun, an insane expenditure of Solar Light that Wolf couldn't match like that. Eventually just trying to explode her Light out like that took more effort than she could manage without just the Light bursting the dam.

She reached over and grabbed his shoulder, startling him. "Keep going," she said and though she couldn't see his face she could imagine his surprise when Wolf just pushed her Light into him. Shin channeled it through his Golden Gun and fired until Zikov was a shrieking mess on the floor of ichor and broken Light. Wolf removed her hand and Shin took a step away, stumbled and caught himself like a drunkard before righting himself.

"Well, Wizard killed," Savant said and floated over to Zikov to inspect the body. It was starting to steam and fester. He poked it with his sniper barrel to make sure.

"Too bad we didn't find out what she was doing," Ghost said. Wolf was looking at Shin who was looking back at her, helmet fixed right on her his posture open surprise.

"We might," Eric said and went into the room.

"What was that?" Shin asked through private comms.

"What was what?" she asked.

"What'd you do?"

She stepped out from behind the urn, "They don't call me a Freak of Light for nothing," was all she said and Shin stared after her as she went to go see what Eric was doing.

"What can you find now?" Ghost asked as Wolf came up behind Eric where she was at some strange device.

"Is that a World's Grave?" Wolf asked.

"It's a computer," Eric said.

"That's what I said it was!" Wolf cried. "Bear and Rat acted like it was some insane device that held all the world's knowledge."

Eric chuckled. "Well it uses some folding reality quantum computing so it's not exactly like a pokit. This one Zikov was using as a personal device so lets see if I can't figure out what she was doing."

"Don't you use your Ghost for that?" Wolf asked, looking over her shoulder at what was like a swimming portal of runes.

"Ghostie can't read runes," Eric said.

Wolf looked at Ghost, "Can you?"

"Um... well... sort of?" he said. "Enough to get the idea. I usually send it back to Eris for proper translation."

"It was the principle of the thing, Eric," Ghostie huffed.

"Yes you're very special with that," Eric said, ignoring him.

"So you just getting this for Eris?" Wolf asked.

Eric looked at her with her black glass helmet, "No? I'm going to read it now, maybe pull some useful information, and then wreck it so another Wizard can't continue the work," she said and went back to the panel.

Wolf connected to Savant, "She's your friend right?" she asked over a private channel.

"Yeap," he said cheerfully.

"Can she actually read Hive runes?"

"I mean I can't but she always acts like she can," Savant said and shrugged. "I'm not about to argue with her."

"Ghost, make sure you grab a copy of whatever Eric pulls for us to send back to Eris too," she said to her Ghost privately. Ghost just nodded. "So what was Zikov doing with all this Light?" Wolf asked Eric.

"Trying to become a Lucent Hive without dying first," Eric said and didn't look at any of them. "With enough Light and channeling of Hive magic she wanted to create a ritual that would teleport a Ghost to her that would bestow the Light upon her."

"That's dumb," Shin said.

"Yeah," Eric said and looked at Shin slowly, "That's only happened once I wonder why she thought she could force it."

"Search me," Shin shrugged.

"Okay I have the necessary information," Eric said and stepped back from the panel. "Everyone stand back," she said even as Ghost zipped over quickly to copy his own part of the information. "Ghost that means you," she added.

"I know!" he yelped and flew back over to Wolf.

"Savant," Eric motioned to the panel.

Savant gathered Void Light between his hands and instead of a huge nova bomb he tossed a small hand held nova at it that blew the entire interface up. "All set," Savant said cheerfully.

"Great. Let's get out of here. We need to report back to the Enclave, gotta fill out some paperwork," Eric sighed. "You're so lucky the Vanguard stopped making you fill out mission reports," Eric said to Wolf.

"Oh I do," she said. "Just when I feel like it. Zavala still sends me a mission report every time I leave Earth."

"She fills them out like a quarter of the time," Ghost said helpfully.

Eric laughed. "Must be nice. Xander would have my cape and my Warlock if I didn't fill out my report. He's been extra annoying about it the past few years." A very diplomatic way of saying since the Hunter Vanguard was killed.

"So how we getting down? There wasn't exactly more of that darkness stuff up here," Shin said. They all looked at him. "Why do I even ask." He huffed. "It's always jumping off shit with you young Guardians," and he marched over to a hole Zikov had blown in her own tower and just jumped out.

"He's so silly," Eric giggled and went after, jumping gracefully after.

"After you," Savant said, motioning to Wolf.

"You just don't want to embarrass yourself by eating shit," Wolf said even as she stepped off the edge of the tower.

"Well yeah," Savant said over comms even as he fell out of view.

There was a few seconds of blissful free fall and then Wolf had to check her momentum. She looked down at the ground and saw Shin was already down there and Eric did an elegant roll as she hit the ground. Wolf just hit the ground in a three point landing on one knee. Broke her knee cap but Ghost fixed it so fast she barely noticed.

"Oi, hurry up you floofy Warlock," Shin called up to Savant who was gracefully gliding down from the top of the tower.

"I'm enjoying the lovely view," Savant said back.

"Pest," Shin grumbled.

"I'm glad we had you on this mission," Eric told Wolf, "I don't think a normal fireteam would have been able to even get up the Tower or deal with Zikov."

"So we'd have been sent to deal with it anyway is what I'm hearing," Ghost said.

"Yeah, probably. Now our mission objective is complete so Savant and I will be leaving- if he ever fucking comes down," and she looked up at Savant still slowly floating down.

"I said enjoying the view!" Savant cried.

"I admit that was more excitement than I was expecting," Wolf said.

"Not any worse than any other date we've been on," Shin said, arms folded.

"Ohhhh you guys were having a patrol date? How cute!" and Savant was abruptly on the ground, only checking his momentum at the last moment.

"Not that its any of your business, Savant," Shin growled.

"We'll be going," Wolf said and grabbed Shin's arm. "Have fun with your paperwork. And don't tell Ikora you saw me."

"See you? I don't know who you even are," Eric said and gave them both the salute. Wolf gave it back even as as the two were transmatted away.

"Not exactly a romantic walk through the Throne World," Shin said even as Wolf pulled him further from the tower.

"I had an approximation of fun," Wolf said.

"What she means is she wasn't thinking about Savathun for a little while."

"Pft, yeah," and she finally let Shin go. "Ghost find us a transmission that isn't so... high octane," she said.

"Hmmm. Well this one is a bit old but," and he played another message from Immaru.

"Listen up my little Light Up Bugs, we got intel on a scorn push to the Brilliant Labyrinth and I want heavy backup there now to fortify our crumbling flank since the boys over there have zero idea what they're doing. Take out those scorn, don't let a single one through. First Ghost out!"

"Where's that?" Shin asked.

"Nearby," Ghost said. "Should be some easy picking to thin the crowd- oh, we just got a confirmation from the Legion. We won't be the only Guardians there but they've asked that anyone in the area go there and pick off any stragglers from this Scorn/Hive altercation."

"Sounds more relaxing than getting eye beamed by a fucking Wizard," Shin said. A heading appeared on Wolf's HUD.

They headed out and spotted the Guardians before the enemies, perched up on top of a wall overlooking a maze of streets looking down into the fray. Not too many. Just a few scattered around. They found their own spot to set up.

"So... what the fuck was that back there? With the Light?" Shin asked her. She didn't answer him. "Nothing?"

"It's something we don't talk about," was all she said.

"Felt like being set on fire," Shin said, "you can just do that whenever?" She shrugged. "Wild. I've got plenty of Light but that was some next level shit. How are you just not empowered all the time?"

"Very carefully," she said looking down the iron sight of Dead Man's Tale at the enemy.

"Why not?"

"Why what?"

"Why aren't you? Wouldn't it be easier if that's your Light output?"

"Shin, that's enough questions," she said in a tone that left no more room for anything else to even be said. And it was because then there'd be no hiding. If she could stopper it she could pretend she was just like any other Guardian. She could keep on playing pretend that there wasn't something fundamentally different about her that other Guardians just didn't have. Because ever since the moment she was risen she'd been different. Even her own Ghost had been shocked at how quickly and powerfully the Light had come to her. The Vanguard had been shocked and not a bit in awe when she had, at only a few days old, killed the Devil's Archon Priest. All by herself. No fireteam. Not even a cloak to her name yet, barely had a weapon of any substance. But who needed a weapon when the Light provided? When she'd burned him away with brilliant Solar Light.

But if she held back and kept up the facade then she could almost look normal. Her titles and accomplishments notwithstanding. Unless you looked real close she looked just like everyone else. Glitterbomb was used to it but she'd seen the way some Guardians looked at her when she did something crazy, something that should be impossible.

"Okay," he said but she knew he wanted to push the issue. Know what was really going on with Wolf's Light. Know just how deep the well was.

"After this we should head back," Ghost said.

"Why?" she asked him.

"Ikora needs to talk but I said you were responding to a Legion broadcast. She asked that once you wrap up you report to the Enclave."

"She going to yell at me again?" Wolf asked with a roll of her eyes.

"No. I think we have a lead," Ghost said.

"Ah. Finally. Tell her I'll be along as soon as we're done here." She watched the Scorn crash against the Hive and the young Lucent Hive used their Light abilities against the Scorn to a devastating degree. It was hardly a contest. No. It rarely was when the Light crashed against something that just used normal weapons. Even things as warped as a Scorn, made of dragon magic, a well meaning wish, and corrupted ether.

As the Hive moped up the Scorn intruders members of the Legion and probably the Hidden opened fire down into onto the group. The Lucent Hive scattered, flinging Light up at their aggressors in what Wolf could only call fear. Next to her Shin took out some standard Hive. Wolf had trouble pulling the trigger as she watched the Hive scatter, some Knights returning boomer fire and hiding behind their shields.

"Well that took care of that," Ghost said when all that was left of the Hive were scattered chitin, a road stained black from their blood, and Light scored ground. "Let's go talk to Ikora."

"Yeah," Wolf said quietly and looked back at Shin who was holstering his sniper rifle and getting to his feet. "Lets," and their Ghosts pulled them out of the Throne World.

Chapter Text

Shin convinced Wolf he was allowed to leave the ship when she was gone. He wouldn't go anywhere but he wanted to go down to the Enclave or go check in on Castaway who was using his ship. Buoy had taken the ship away for a while to some more hospitable parts of Mars so Castaway could practice using his Light and find food. He'd been really happy when Magpie had dropped off a load of rations on the ship.

He was in the Enclave being polite. He'd even gone and said hello to Ikora who'd said he best behave while he was here. Shin had just said Ikora keep Aunor away from him and it'd all be fine. They'd left it at that.

There were Scouts and Hidden in the Enclave going over maps, looking at holographic sections of the Throne World made by Ghosts and working on their reports to their Vanguard or Commander. A few Hidden were clustered around a board set up with items of interest connected by white and red string. That looked messy.

Shin wasn't interested in any of that. Now with Aunor not around to stop him Shin went down the black steps into the mesa. The temperature dropped the further he went in and a obsidian door silently and perfectly slid open as he approached.

"Oh man," Shin said quietly. He didn't know what he expected at the bottom of the stairs. It wasn't a huge slab with a pendulum swinging over it, always in perfect sync to a turning top that allowed it to pass through. The walls were decorated with what looked like... gun molds? "What is this?" he asked Magpie.

"The Enclave. Guess they named the LZ after it," Magpie said thoughtfully.

"Yeah," Shin stepped up to it. It was surrounded by that dirty air like they'd seen in the Throne World. He looked at the slab. It was full of puzzle pieces of different gun molds. Some were shapes he even recognized. Others were a great mystery. He reached out with his Hunger to the strange miasma around the Enclave. The air shimmered and the pendulum paused at its highest arc for several seconds. "Uhh...

"You broke it," Magpie huffed.

"I didn't-" the pendulum swung down, across the opening in the turning bit.

Then the Enclave started moving. Shifting its molds around and pulling one forward until there were two in front of Shin, each slab holding its own mold.

"Huh, I don't what those are for," Magpie said looking down at the molds.

But Shin knew. He knew instantly because it was like they were calling out to him. One was for the Thorn, the other for the Last Word. "What's this thing do?" Shin asked, keeping the nerves out of his voice but just barely.

"Hmmm," Magpie was accessing some data from the Hidden no doubt. "Scouting report says it makes new weapons from an alloy you can find in the Throne World and Mars. Hidden report says it creates the memory of a weapon in its many forms. So you put a rifle into it and it will give you the ability to pull the knowledge of all iterations of that weapon out as the weapon you desire."

"Is it permanent?"

"Hmmm. Says here Wolf's used it about four times on the same weapon, adjusting it back and forth to be exactly what she wants. Oh my, Lizard's used it thirty-nine times," he said, surprised. "Only Guardians attuned to the Darkness can operate the Enclave," he added. "According to the log they have of all uses of the Enclave even Eric came by and used it to build herself a sniper rifle. How interesting. Then she came back and put it back the way it was originally because she didn't like it."

"Huh," Shin said looking down at the molds that were perfectly suited for the Thorn and Last Word.

"Why? Fancy modifying your rifle?" Magpie asked.

"Not exactly," and Shin undid the buckle on the holster of the Last Word and after a moment of hesitation he drew it.

"What are you going to do with that?" Magpie asked, fin going over his eye in confusion.

"It fits," and Shin put the Last Word into the mold.

"I wouldn't advise that," Magpie said even as Shin was pulled away from the mold. There was an interaction interface on the side of the Enclave. It was nothing. A black panel. But it didn't matter. You saw what it wanted you to see in your mind.

He saw the Last Word made of chipped obsidian and bone. The gun not-Jaren had pulled out of the fire in his dream over a week ago. Like before it was offered to him and all he had to do was take it.

"Shin what are you doing?" Magpie's voice startled him so bad he took his hand off the monitor. The vision of the Last Word wavered like water.

"Nothing. I was just looking," Shin said numbly.

"Don't mess with your gun. It's an heirloom you know," Magpie said in annoyance.

"I know."

"It's your inheritance," Magpie stressed.

"... Right," but Shin touched the monitor again. For a brief moment it looked like how it had looked when he was Vale. He'd painted it ugly gray blue with green fixtures, covered up the Tex Mechanica branding so it was just a handcanon. The paint was peeling, revealing the dark undercoat he'd put on it. But it didn't stay that way long. Briefly it was a shiny solid barrel thing and then again; the gun made of obsidian.

Shin pulled his hand off the monitor again feeling disorientated. "Shin. We should go," Magpie said. "I don't like it here."

"I know," he said gently.

"It reminds me... reminds me of that place," Magpie flew into his hood. "Can we go now? I want to go."

"Okay. We can go," and Shin stepped away from the monitor. It did feel like that place. He didn't blame Magpie for being afraid. He'd almost been snuffed out there. The Light almost lost in the Dark. Only Shin's Solar Light had been able to light the way. This place wasn't evil the way the Throne World was but it was Dark but not even in the sinister way that the Pyramids were. It simply existed as a real thing of Darkness the same way Guardians existed as real things of the Light.

Shin went over and picked up the Last Word, almost dropping it. "What did you do?" Magpie asked him, his voice sounding very far away. The gun was the one from his dream, not the Text Mechanica steel he'd placed into it.

"I-- I didn't mean to," he said softly. He'd just wanted to look. As he held the gun he knew it was still the Last Word but it was different. And the thing was was that in a year, since he'd started using Hunger, the gun felt good in his hand again. Proper weight, an extension of his hand like it had been for centuries. Not some wild beast he missed shots with until it annoyed him so much he pulled out Thorn and could hit a damn shot.

"Well I did give it to you," he started when not-Jaren appeared next to the Enclave and leaned back against the slab. "Like my little buddy said, an inheritance. But it's not mine anymore. It's yours. And you ain't me." Shin didn't move his head to look at the shade.

"Shin, turn it back," Magpie said.

"I thought you wanted to go," he said.

"Both," he complained.

Shin looked at the gun. Even though it didn't look like Jaren's old gun in style the shape was the same, the barrel the same length and heavy style. Even the polished bone handle was the exact same grip that had been worn to Shin's hand over the centuries. "You've used it longer than I ever did," not-Jaren said. "It's more yours than it ever was mine. Heh. Almost like I was just holding onto it for you. Universe has a funny way of making sure things always end up exactly where they need to be."

"Shin," Magpie flew in front of his face. "I know there's a shade here. Stop listening to it. We need to leave," and Shin's focus was on his Ghost. Magpie turned around, "And you shade, leave my Guardian alone," he said sternly.

Not-Jaren chuckled. "He's real sweet on you now. Good. I'm glad." And Shin wasn't surprised not-Jaren didn't vanish. He was always the one not affected by Magpie telling shades to fuck off. He was the only one who'd ever touched Shin before too. Shin knew he wasn't just a shade from his mind. He was but he wasn't. Shin didn't like to think too hard about it.

"We're going," and he snatched Magpie out of the air and left the Enclave. The black doors closed soundlessly behind him as he climbed the stairs up to the arid Martian desert above. Magpie flew up to the top of the stairs and waited for him like a nervous twinkling star.

"You need to put it back," Magpie said as he came into the light.

"It's fine," Shin said.

"Shin it's-

"It's mine," he said, giving his Ghost a hard look through his helmet. "There ain't nothing wrong with it."

Magpie's back fins spun nervously. "But-

"He's gone, Magpie," Shin said softly.

"I know that. You're my Guardian," Magpie said in annoyance.

"And he wouldn't want either of us clinging to the past. It's still the Word. It just looks different. It's for me now."

Magpie spun worriedly anyway and then came and hid in Shin's hood. "There was another mold too," Magpie said quietly. "If it did that to the Last Word I can't imagine how awful the Thorn will be," and his wings shivered, tapping Shin's helmet.

"I'm not stupid enough to put the Thorn into an evil gunsmithing machine okay?" Shin asked incredulous. "It might explode or something. Or Eat it."

"Good. You're not going to change it back?" Magpie asked softly.

"No. Not yet. Maybe one day," and Shin left the top of the stairs. "Wolf still on her mission?"

"Yes."

Shin approached one of the Scouts. He didn't recognize them and they were respectfully disdainful of him. Not a shock. But he asked if the Vanguard had a spot they wanted people to test the Enclave weapons that didn't interfere with anything. He had a feeling Ikora didn't want you shooting Darkness made guns around the LZ. He was surprised when they said there was a range of sorts back down and behind the Enclave.

"We are not going back down there," Magpie said.

"... I am," Shin said.

"Shin- do not go back down there."

Shin gently pulled Magpie out of his hood. "Just wait for me up here. Promise I won't put the Thorn in the Enclave." Magpie made a nervous noise. "I want to see if the Word feels better or worse than it did before. If it's worse I'll change it back, okay?" Magpie hadn't missed that Shin used the Last Word less after all. He knew Shin's ability with it had suffered for some reason but he had no idea why. Shin didn't either. Magpie nodded in the air. "Stay away from Warlocks," he added knowing Aunor wouldn't hesitate to snatch Magpie if she could. Magpie just floated up out of easy reach and hovered over the entrance.

Shin went back down into the Enclave and behind a false wall were more stairs. He was surprised it just led down to natural rock. Floating pieces of the same material as the Enclave hung suspended in the air of the large cave. Weird but also not. The Enclave made guns. Of course it'd have a place for beings who used the weapons to test their new weapons.

Shin unholstered the Last Word with a habitable spin. Felt good. Hadn't felt this good in a while. He fired off a few shots and it was like he barely had to aim the gun. Bullets just found themselves in the targets. That was what he expected out of the Last Word. That it was so easy to fire, like all he had to do was see the target and think it needed to get shot and so it was. The past year he'd been fighting with it in Crucible. It had felt so... unnatural. But now made of obsidian and bone it felt like it had before, like it had for centuries.

He fired off a few full expenditures of the Last Word and each bullet found a target. He twirled it around a few times before shoving it back into its holster casually, buttoning the strap over the grip. Felt good. Looked like he wasn't changing it back. "Sorry, Magpie," he said softly to himself.

"Well you can't go back, I don't know why you'd expect your iron to," Shin jumped when not-Jaren appeared. Or maybe he'd been sitting on a big rock to the side the entire time and Shin hadn't noticed him.

Without his Ghost around Shin couldn't help himself, "Why?"

"Like you said yourself, kiddo; its yours now. New you, new gun."

"Why couldn't I use it before?"

"I don't know? You try aiming it?"

Shin squinted at not-Jaren. "I know you have answers and just delight in not telling me."

"I gave you plenty of answers," not-Jaren got up and came to stand in front of Shin helmet to helmet. "If you do anything with it is entirely your own doing." He paused and cocked his head to the side in a way that was very much un-Jaren-like and was only a move he'd seen not-Jaren use. "Just don't disappoint me, kiddo. I put a lot into you. And I hate disappointments."

"You came to the wrong guy. Should'a asked Wolf if you didn't want disappointment," and Shin took a step back.

Not-Jaren chuckled. "No. She's too good. You ain't. But you're good enough. Enjoy it," and when Shin blinked he was gone.

"Man he annoys the piss outta me," Shin grumbled and left the range and walked back up out of the Enclave. Magpie was fluttering about anxiously. When he saw Shin he dived right into Shin's hood. "Okay. We're leaving," he told Magpie.

"Thank the Traveler!" Magpie cried. "Your ship or Wolf's?"

"Wolf's. It's been a few hours. She should be winding down her mission soon I think," he said thoughtfully. Magpie made an affirmation noise and took Shin off the LZ and back to Wolf's ship floating a few hundred feet up above the LZ with a bunch of other ships of the Guardians working the Throne World.

Chapter Text

He'd started out sitting on the lounge with Wolf while she tried to get some rest. The last mission she'd been on had left her shaken and she hadn't wanted to talk about it. So Shin had just let her be, brought some food to life with hot water and convinced her to get some sleep. It was the middle of Shin's 'day' though and he hadn't been tired but he'd sat on the lounge until she'd fallen asleep. She'd held onto his cape in her sleep and he'd just left it with her when he'd eventually gotten up.

Now he was in the pilot's seat on his pockit watching helmet feeds from some Crucible players he liked. Because he did like watching good plays and while Shin didn't like using some weapons he could admit there was a flair and serious skill to using a fusion rifle, or a sniper rifle in close Crucible quarters. He didn't watch people who used shotguns. And there were good players out there. Shin hung around the top of the leader boards because the Word and Thorn were monstrous guns he could shoot in his sleep but there were Guardians with as good of Crucible gun skill as him. Sure there were the times he went deathless for an entire match but he'd worked his ass off for those and didn't usually place first either. But being deathless in his skill bracket was as impressive as winning.

Magpie and Ghost hung over his shoulders also watching the game. Since it was a helmet cam there was no Shaxx voice over. But the Guardian's Ghost was providing commentary now and then. She was also playing with teammates and their callouts gave a good picture of what was happening in the game.

"Oh-

"Get it-

"Almost," they sounded off as the Guardian engaged in a gunfight but got out shot and went down in a spray of submachine gun fire.

"She should have had it," Ghost said.

"Sometimes you just get unlucky," Shin said as the Guardian was revived.

The Ghosts leaned closer as the Warlock ran right in but Shin lifted his head. He heard something. He wasn't quite sure what he was hearing though. It sounded like shuffling. He looked behind the chair. "You see something?" Magpie asked him. The cabin was empty except for Wolf sleeping in her lounge.

"No," he said slowly and turned back around looking at the little screen. But the sound of the Crucible couldn't completely distract him now.

"I still don't get that. Why is he seeing things now? He used that green fire for decades at least?" Ghost asked Magpie.

"I have no idea," Magpie said. "He's fine."

"Debatable."

"You can scan him yourself, he's fine," Magpie insisted.

Shin was barely listening to them or the Crucible. He heard movement behind them but when he looked again it was nothing. No shades. No aliens. Just Wolf sleeping on her couch bed. "You hear that?" he asked, interrupting the Ghosts bickering about Shin's mental health.

"Hear what?" Magpie asked even as a low moan sounded from the cabin. It made all the hairs on Shin's arms and the back of his neck stand right on end. He got out of the pilot's seat, putting the pockit down, as he heard more noises. "I do hear that," and the Ghosts flew into the cabin.

"It's Wolf," Ghost said, hovering over his Guardian. From the lounge Wolf made another pained noise, louder this time and now that he was properly facing the cabin he could see she was sleeping fitfully, twisting the sheets and his cloak in her fists. "She's having a nightmare-

Shin covered his ears out of reflex when, still sleeping, Wolf let out the most blood curdling scream he'd ever heard. It sounded like she was dying, or being tortured and filled the entire space fully as it just didn't stop. Then it started getting ionic in the cabin. Static started discharging off the electronics and arcing off and onto Wolf as little bolts of lightning. And it was suddenly so hot in the cabin but still the blue Arc Light flickered around the cabin and the screaming did not stop.

Shin went over to the lounge and saw Wolf and was... well he was absolutely terrified honestly. She was sparking, dripping sweat from the heat, and flickering as she went in and out of invisibility. Somehow able to cycle through all the facets of Light as rapidly as a heart beat. Or even more terrifying still; using all three facets of Light at once.

He wasn't the oldest Guardian. Not by a long shot. But he was still pretty old and he'd never seen anything like this.

He had to make her stop. If only the screaming. But she'd rip her ship apart eventually from the Light output. He took a knee on the lounge and even though he was full of Solar Light she burned him when he grabbed her arms. He gave her a shake but didn't bother saying anything, she was screaming too loudly.

The next thing Shin knew was there was an Arc knife in his guts, disemboweling him.

Wolf was awake and breathing hard, half sitting up, eyes wild. Her hand was wrapped around the hilt of the Bladedancer's dagger. Then her eyes focused. "Shin? Shin!" and she yanked the dagger out of his guts.

"It's fine," he said even though his intestines were quite literally in her lap and blood was making it hard to talk. Non instant death sucked. He hated slow deaths.

"I didn't-- It was an accident."

"Hey. I know," he said gently and cupped one side of her face. "M-Magpie," he coughed and looked away from her.

Magpie had been hiding along with Ghost when the screaming and Light storm started. He flew over. "Oh dear," even as he pulsed with Light, his core humming and glowing white.

Shin swallowed the blood and feeling his guts pulling themselves back into his body was so uncomfortable. It didn't hurt exactly. But it didn't feel great. Then in a shimmer Magpie also cleaned up the blood that was all over his torso and pants. Wolf just had her hand over her mouth looking very upset.

"See. All better. Nothing to worry about," he said, healed and whole once more, even his burned and blistered hands.

She didn't cry but she looked more upset than he'd ever seen her. "I didn't mean to," she said.

"I know," and he kissed her on the forehead. "You were having a nightmare."

"Yeah," she said, voice shaky and sat up so she could lean against him. He wrapped his arms around her. "Yeah I-- I haven't had one that bad in a long time," she whispered.

"You were screaming. I've never heard you scream in your sleep," he said idly, gently rubbing her shoulder. She didn't answer him. "What was your nightmare about? You want to talk about it?"

"No," she said in the softest voice.

"Fox says its good to talk about your nightmares," Ghost said, appearing.

"You don't have to," Shin said softly. They sat like that for a little while before Shin gently pushed her back, 'But you can tell me,' he signed since he knew it was easier for Wolf in sign sometimes.

'Oryx came back in Light,' was the brief and now Shin knew why Wolf was so freaked out. If Savathun could return in the Light than so could Oryx. Wolf had been... normal, more or less, before the Taken War. A normal young Hunter who maybe did some dangerous stuff the Vanguard should have never asked of her but she did so anyway. He could remember bothering her before the Taken War. She was still quiet back then and stuck against Cat's cloak like a little shadow but looking back on it she'd been so much more excited about just life. She was reborn and loved every moment of it. Loved the power and the Light and the adventure.

The Taken War and especially the death of Oryx had changed that.

He remembered just before the War he'd found her in Crucible. Like him she was at the higher levels. She'd been there since you put a gun in her hand, Shaxx had gone absolutely nuts for her. A natural, he'd said. They'd bantered and had fun killing each other for a few matches and like she didn't have the weight of the world on her shoulders. He hadn't seen her during the War but he'd heard. It was impossible not to hear. It was all the Tower, all the City, could talk about was this young Hunter and a tiny fireteam of six was wading through the Dreadnaught.

On the strike against Oryx itself he hadn't seen her until later. And when he did even though she smiled and laughed all the same as before, told him to fuck off and bantered when they might have matched in Rumble together he could tell; she was different. She'd killed a God for the third time. First time you kill a God you got lucky, second time is a fluke, third time it's a habit. He saw her less and less and only heard about her more and more. By the time SIVA was infesting the Cosmodrome he hadn't heard her talk in months, hadn't seen her face in longer. And then it was all Saladin's big talk about a new age of Iron Lords and his Young Wolf. The work swallowed up her voice, her face, and eventually even her name.

And now that work was being undone. All that agony and fear she went through during the Taken War, or the fighting on the Martian pole. If it started with the Hive what was next? Lightbearing Vex? He supposed Lightbearing Eliksni wouldn't be too bad, or Cabal. But true evil like the Hive Gods? The great Vex Minds?

He'd been getting more and more worried for her over the years watching her just keep taking more and more weight. That was why he'd been so worried about Europa. What if something had happened? What if she finally did it? She finally snapped. Especially now he thought about it more often than he'd like to admit. Brightest Lights cast the longest, darkest, shadows. And Wolf's was cast out over an ocean of blood, death, and destruction. If something happened that made her break it wouldn't just be bad it'd be catastrophic. Maybe not world ending right away but he didn't know if anything could stop her if something broke. How'd you stop a Killer of Gods with more Light than he'd ever seen from doing whatever she wanted? Dredgen Yor had nothing compared to the destruction and mayhem Wolf could wreck upon the entire system if she ever unraveled.

He held her tightly staring at the wall behind the lounge his mouth dry.

A few moments ticked by. "Some nightmare," he said sarcastically, making light of the horrible idea that Wolf's greatest triumph in the face of the Darkness might just... come back. "Good thing he's somewhere in the clouds of Saturn and I don't think his stupid sister can find him," he rubbed her shoulder.

"Yes. Because she went into his ship to look for him," Ghost said.

"How do you know that?" Shin asked him nervously.

"When she couldn't find Oryx she brought his only competition. A Dark Blade named Alak Hul."

"You mentioned him when yelling at Saladin," Shin said numbly. "You killed him."

"We did. He came back. Savathun brought him back," Ghost said quietly. He felt Wolf squeeze the back of his shirt.

"But you killed him again right?"

"No. His... Ghost got away," Ghost said.

"I see." No wonder she'd been such a wreck when she came back. "You'll get him," he said and gently pet her hair. But there was an unspoken 'but what if I don't?' that lingered in the way she pressed against his chest, squeezing his shirt for dear life. "I'm guessing more sleep is out of the question huh?" She nodded mutely. "You want to go do something?"

"Like what?" she whispered.

"I dunno. What's the rest of Glitterbomb doing?"

"I uh-- don't know," she said, voice thin. "I think they're uh-- they're still in the Throne World."

Shin looked down at her. "Do you remember how you got back here?"

"Ghost brought me," which was unhelpful. He looked at Ghost. Shin raised his eyebrows at him and Ghost looked away. Ah so he didn't want to talk about it in front of her.

"I'm going to go get my pockit. I'll be right back, okay?" And Shin slowly let her go. It made him insanely worried when she looked like she wanted to grab his hand but didn't. He got up and went into the cockpit. "What's the matter?" he whispered at Ghost.

"She had... a bit of a melt down in the Temple of Oryx in the Throne World," Ghost said hesitantly. "I've never... seen her like that before. She wouldn't move, she wouldn't shoot her weapon. It wasn't until Cat and Bear both went down that I think she even did anything."

"Has Cat been with her on most missions?" he asked Ghost.

"Yes. They're... very worried. So is Bear."

"Shin?" Wolf called from the cabin but even now it was quiet and nervous.

"Just a sec," he called back loudly, so she knew he absolutely was there. "And have they done anything?"

"She won't listen to them. They've both tried. You've seen her, she won't rest, she barely eats. It's a miracle I brought her back in one piece and not just as a piece," Ghost spun his back fins stressfully. "This latest mission has me really worried. The only time she's been this unresponsive to me was on the Shore. But that was... anger. I don't know what this is," he looked towards the Cabin a moment then back at Shin. "Alak Hul's Ghost didn't get away."

"What?" he whispered nervously.

"Wolf had her in her hand and just... let her go. A few moments later she realized what she'd done."

"Bet it wasn't pretty."

"No," Ghost said in a tone that was a frown.

Shin went back into the cabin where Wolf was sitting on the lounge looking shockingly frail waiting for him to come back. Ghost was right. He'd never seen her like this. He was really worried. "So I was thinking since I'm sure you're tired of Ikora yelling at you to not spend all your time in the Throne World, and you don't want to leave Mars, we could go patrol some other parts of the planet? It is where the door to the Black Garden is after all. Plenty of Vex to pop," he said, feigning being more upbeat than he was.

"I guess. Yeah, that could be entertaining," she said. "Man I haven't fought Vex since I killed Quria."

"They're real satisfying when you pop their capsules," he added.

"Yeah," she allowed. "But I dunno where to even start for looking for the Vex on Mars other than the Buried City?"

"I know someone who does."

"You do? Since when?"

"Uhhh Savant? The fucking Vex obsessed freak?"

"Ohhh. Right! You're willingly going to go on a mission, with Savant? You feeling okay?" she asked him and the banter was making her more normal, taking her mind off what was happening. When she smirked she looked almost herself.

If it'd make you feel better. "I can tolerate him in small amounts," Shin allowed. "Now you want to go?"

"Yeah."

"First," Ghost butted in. "You haven't eaten all day."

"I'm fine," she said, rolling her eyes.

"You might feel fine but I assure you, your body chemistry is not happy. And when I have to worry about that I'm not happy. You know I hate doing math and science!"

That made her laugh. And the frail, fragile, worrying part of her faded away. "Okay," she allowed and gently teased one of Ghost's fins. "We can eat and call Savant and see if he knows any big scary Vex I can go shoot."

"You did promise him like two years ago you'd get him a Hydra's eye," Ghost said thoughtfully as Wolf got up to get some food.

"Right, to go with his Gate Lord eye. Like he needs more Vex stuff," she scoffed.

While Wolf talked with Ghost Shin went back to the cockpit. "Call Cat," he said.

"... Cat?" Magpie asked him.

"Did I stutter?"

"You remember they think you're shit and if you fuck up they're going to shatter me right? They did say that," Magpie said with a shiver.

"Just call them," Shin growled.

"Fine," and Magpie expanded and glowed.

A lovely female voice answered, "This is a surprise. What do I owe the unfortunate pleasure?" their Ghost asked.

Shin rolled his eyes. "It's about Wolf. I'm worried about her. Let me talk to Cat."

"If you did anything-

"She's the one who let Alak Hul's Ghost get away," he snapped quietly. "This is a problem. Let me talk to Cat."

There was no reply and then, "Malphur," from Cat's deep sultry voice came through Magpie.

"Ghost told me what happened on the strike," was all he said. "She is not okay."

"What happened to her? Did you-

"I convinced her to go to sleep. She... had a nightmare."

"A normal one or one that put the fear of the cosmos in you?"

"That one," he swallowed. "She's had them before?"

"Used to. I assume you woke her up?"

"Yeah I-

"Shin, did you want anything?" Wolf called from the cabin.

Shin leaned around the pilot's chair, "Yeah. That spinach pepper pastry thing," he called back.

"And she's eating too? Good," Cat said, a touch of worry in their voice despite themselves.

Shin sat back properly. "I'm really worried about her."

"So are we," Cat said gravely.

"You've seen this more than me. Can I... do anything?" Shin hated feeling helpless. But he was. It hadn't been so bad at first. Just not sleeping was one thing, Hunters didn't sleep. But this felt like more and he was way out of his depth.

Cat let the question hang for a moment. "When we came out of the Vault and the Pit she slept with me for three months, you know?" they said quietly. "She didn't want to be alone. I never pushed her away but I think she thought she needed to learn to deal with it herself after Oryx and I fooled myself into thinking it was okay. Surprisingly you're already doing the best thing. She's not alone even though she'll never tell us she needs it. But if she's starting to have nightmares again the only way I've ever found to keep them at bay is to sleep with her. I dunno why. I think knowing someone is with her helps."

"This is the first time since I came back she's slept alone. First time she's had a nightmare," Shin said quietly.

"Sounds right," Cat said gravely. "Bear and Fox told me she'd sometimes go sleep on their couch after a Big One."

"Not you?"

"I know her. Little girl always thinks she's intruding. She doesn't want to be a burden to anyone. Even though we're always here for her. I dunno where she got it into her head we can't help her when she needs it."

He heard a noise that was Cat's Ghost start to speak but stop. Not even a word. Just a sound.

"What?" Cat asked.

"She stays up when everyone else goes down," was all the Ghost said.

"Ain't that some shit," Shin said quietly.

"Shin, food's ready. What are you doing up there?" Wolf called.

"I'm keeping an eye. She really needs a fucking vacation when this settles down," Shin said.

"Pfft, good luck convincing her that, kid," Cat scoffed. "Keep her safe," and Magpie closed.

Shin came out of the cockpit. Wolf was already eating. "Who were you talking to?"

"Castaway," he lied. "If we're going out I wanted to know where he was."

"That's good of you. Am I ever going to meet him?"

"Remember what I said? One world ending event at a time?"

"Right. Well it can't be any more world ending than Savathun and the Hive with the Light," she sighed.

"Probably," he agreed and sat. "Still good to keep ground breaking things separate.

"Finnne. But I'll have you know I am dying to know. Glitterbomb was so curious when I was helping Crow get out from under Spider last year. Who was this New Light I was mentoring? How was I the Mentor?" They both laughed. Wolf was so young. She shouldn't have been a Mentor yet. "Anyway, I called Savant while you were talking to Castaway. He was so excited we are going to do patrol for some Vex. He sent Ghost like half a dozen LZ's here on Mars he wanted to investigate."

"Great," Shin said, relaxing now that she didn't look or sound like she was about to collapse. "I'll be sure to keep mute handy," he grinned. She playfully kicked his foot while he ate the barely not soggy pastry full of spinach, peppers, and cheese.

"Speaking of him. He brought his ship around," Ghost said.

"He's not coming on here," Shin and Wolf said at almost the same time.

Ghost flexed, "Surely not," he agreed humorously.

Wolf scarfed down the last of her meal and put the dish away. "Let's go see where he wants to go," and she got up and headed for the cockpit. Ghost dressed her in her patrol gear as she went, stuff he'd seen her in a thousand times with a short cloak and a pair of pants that never failed to make her ass look great.

"You going to be enough, boy?" Shin didn't even flinch at not-Dredgen Yor's words or appearance. "Real tall order keeping that contained. You going to be able to do it?" Shin ignored him and went to put his own dish away. "You're not strong enough for it."

"Magpie," he said as the ship started moving.

"Hmm?" Magpie floated over.

"There's someone in Wolf's seat. Tell them to get out would ya? I need to put the table up," Magpie flew over to get in the shade's face. "Higher," he said because Magpie was about at not-Dredgen Yor's chest. Magpie floated up. "Higher."

"Oh it's him," Magpie growled. The only time he'd ever heard Magpie angry was when Shin told him not-Dredgen Yor was bothering him. "You leave my Guardian alone. He's doing a good job and you're stupid and dead." Shin blinked and the shade was gone. "He gone?"

"Yeap," Shin said folding the table and chairs back up.

"Good. He's icky. I hate hate hate hate him!" Magpie said.

"That's not nice to say about your Guardian, Mags," Wolf called back from the cockpit.

Shin chuckled and went over. "For once he wasn't talking about me. So we going to have some fun?" he asked, hanging off the chair.

"Well there will be explosions," she said thoughtfully.

"So yes," he grinned. He was glad when she laughed.

Chapter Text

It didn't take much talk to convince a bunch of bored Scouts to play cards. Shin was still stuck on Wolf's ship again since she was on a mission. Though they had gone on patrol for about a week. But he was always so bored on the ship alone while Wolf was off doing important shit. So he was happy to distract himself with cards. Castaway didn't get them, yet, and Wolf was terrible.

They were taking turns at decks. It was Shin's turn just by chance. Shin's deck was full of Solar cards and even his Voids looked more like the sun than a classic Void card. All the Scouts were good too. Shin lost more games than he won but they were fun even to lose so he didn't mind.

He wasn't the only one who looked over when transmats fired in rapid succession at the LZ. It was Glitterbomb. All of them. What were all of them doing here? Bear was carrying some large statue that looked like a worm. "Looks like our next problem just showed up," one of the Scouts said.

"You mean finally, some work," another scoffed. "I've been out here three days with shit to do because Ikora doesn't even know where to direct Commander to send us."

"Map's bad," one said solemnly. "Can't get around enough." Shin mimicked the others when they made a sign against bad luck for a bad trail. It resembled the sign name of the old Vanguard, Caliban. Bad intel and recon had gotten his Ghost. Shin was about as superstitious as the next Guardian but you didn't mess with bad intel. That led to bad orders given and that got Guardians real deathed.

"And who's fault is that? Some paper pushing Warlock. I see the Hidden missions. She's sending Warlocks in deep like they aren't completely swayed by magic," they scoffed.

"Ikora knows what she's doing," someone punched their arm hard.

"Does she? That isn't the face of someone who knows what they're doing," and they pointed at Ikora on her position at the cliff as Bear gave her the statue. Every Scout and Shin turned and looked. She did not look confidant. "That's the face who doesn't have half the answers she wants."

"Well if you're so smart why don't you go talk to Xander about it, Razor," they shoved the nay-sayer. "Bet he'll happily give you some missions."

Razor ended up just leaving the table. "Punk," several of the Scouts grumbled, making a one handed low hand sign for 'lacking', short hand for lack of respect. Between Hunters it was a pretty rude sign to make towards someone between equals or from a better to someone lower ranked than you. Shin winced in sympathy.

"We going to play another game?" Shin asked to lighten the mood.

"Don't you usually got shit to do after GB comes back from a big mission?" one of them asked.

"Uh? No?" The Scouts between each other and gave him a look. "What?"

"Word was since you came back you've been playing house pet to the Young Wolf."

Shin's smile was mean when he did. "I see," he said and gathered up his deck. "Well in that case I better go help her out of her gear," and everyone there got what was implied and they scowled at him. Yeah they liked to tease but Shin wasn't stupid. He knew half the Tower had a crush on Wolf. And if they wanted to poke him about it he'd gladly remind them that he was the one seeing Wolf, not them. And they could take what he said however they wanted. He and Wolf hadn't done anything like that since he'd come back. Felt rude when she was hunting down Savathun and about an inch away from a full blown Light melt down at every moment. But they didn't have to know that. "Later losers," and made a playfully rude sign at them for good measure. Shit heads.

Ghost flew up to his face after he'd barely gotten a dozen steps. "Don't leave yet," he said.

"Huh? Why? What's the matter now?"

But Ghost didn't answer. He just flew back to where Ikora and Glitterbomb were. Shin put a hand on his belt curiously. What was this about?

Then Wolf left the group and walked down the pathway with the worm statue. As she did the rest of Glitterbomb transmatted out. Ikora followed her. Wolf just made a sign at him to follow and he went around to meet her at the LZ. "What's up?" he asked them.

"It's a lot to explain," Ghost said. He looked at Wolf but had trouble figuring out what she was thinking. Her body language was neutral and she was wearing a helmet. "Short answer is we need to find a memory this petrified worm has and Ikora thinks they can untap it in the Enclave."

"I see. And you need me because?"

"Wolf tells me you have a unique set of skills that may be helpful," Ikora said. Wolf made a sign for hungry out of sight of Ikora. Oh. Hunger. Darkness. A different sort of Darkness than Stasis.

"You going to lecture me about it if you don't like what you see me do?" Shin asked her.

"I learned long ago to not worry myself with whatever you do or don't do, Malphur. But I probably won't like it anyway."

"Yeah, probably," he scoffed.

"We should waste no time," and Ikora continued down into the black staircase.

'You good?' he signed to Wolf before they followed.

She seemed at a loss for a moment, hand raised but listless. 'I will be after.'

"Good enough," he grunted and they followed after Ikora. "So how do you know you'll be able to pull a memory from this thing?" he wondered aloud.

"We've done it before with Savathun's memories. But it didn't work with this," Ghost said. "Ikora still thinks we can access its memories but these won't be Savathun's."

"Interesting. I'm guessing that's given you some leads huh?"

"More than a few. But not enough to know what she's fully planning. Hopefully this will shed some light on what she's scheming with her worm," Ghost said as they entered the Enclave.

Ikora went over to the Enclave but she only held the Light. It didn't react to her. "I can't do it, I can only guide you," Ikora said. "Bring it over. See what the Enclave produces," she beckoned Wolf over.

Wolf brought the worm over and laid it on the edge of the Enclave. The Enclave started shifting and rearranging itself, pulling and drawing until it brought forward a piece. "It has a slot for this? It's a worm," Ghost said, confused.

"It is part of the Darkness," Ikora said. "You also come over here," she told Shin. "Show me what this useful thing Wolf said you can do is."

"Well--" and he held out his hand. Under great strain he let the bead in his hand raise up and form a perfect black pinprick of a singularity.

"That's just Void," Ikora said.

"No," Shin said. "Void disrupts, causes instability, and explodes. This just... consumes. Completely, absolutely. It used to even try to consume me. When it's consumed enough it implodes."

"Is it safe?"

"Absolutely not," Shin said and closed his fist around the micro black hole. "It's entropic. It obeys but there is a disorder to it. I don't use it around others," he added to Ikora's stern look. "And I don't plan to use it in Crucible you can stop giving me that look," he added which made Wolf giggle and Ghost spin their shell in amusement. "But I guess I can use it to help with whatever... this is?" he looked at the Enclave. "Why not the rest of Glitterbomb?" he asked Ghost.

"We thought a difference would be more helpful than a bunch of the same," Ghost said.

"I see," Shin said and came to stand in front of the worm. "So what do I do?"

"Have you used the Enclave before?" Ghost asked.

"... Yeah," he said.

"Unreported as usual," Ikora said mildly.

"I don't file reports," he said with an annoying smirk.

"Then you know it reacts to intent," Ghost said. "So I guess we want to know what this worm has to tell us. What memory it holds."

"A memory of Savathun?"

"No. We believe this is something Savathun doesn't know," Ikora said.

"Something she doesn't know? Isn't that like... an oxymoron or something?" Shin asked.

Wolf chuckled. "Very nearly, yes," Ikora said.

"Okay well nothing like trying it I guess," Shin said and let Hunger fill his entire body instead of the Light. Next to him the temperature dropped a degree as Wolf gathered Stasis around her. Hunger ate the cold and he felt it bring a slightly chill to his core and temper his Light. But he wasn't afraid of it.

"You need to manipulate the Enclave to show a different state of this worm," Ikora said. "It's dead and petrified now but it wasn't always. The Enclave can show you all states of a thing through time, its past, its future. We want to know this worm when it was alive."

Shin thought about how he manipulated the Ascendant Realm to do whatever it was Ikora was asking. Wolf, as usual, brute forced it. He could feel it in the way the air changed. But she was all might no finesse. Above them the pendulum was starting to swing faster, the tower in the center spinning faster. But nothing was happening with the worm. He'd see it flicker in places, patches of skin become almost like skin and then return to stone. This wasn't going to work with the way they were doing it. Then he remembered a few weeks ago when she'd just... touched him and kept him super charged to almost the point of fainting. He had the finesse but this needed power. He reached over and grabbed her hand. It was like grabbing a chunk of ice. She started and looked at him. "Give it to me, knocking on the door ain't helping," he said.

"What are you planning?" Ikora asked.

"Just wait and see if it works first," Shin said and he was at once freezing. Wolf was pushing her power through him as a conduit and it was like his very blood was ice and he swore he could feel ice forming on his skin under his armor. In that moment he felt like he'd never be warm again. He was distinctly reminded of when he'd first found Wolf above Europa. Freezing from the inside out, trying to get a handle on Stasis. And he knew there would be warmth again.

He reached out like before and the pendulum stopped swinging right inside the tower that was spinning even slower now. "You broke it," Ghost said.

"Quiet," Shin said and his lips were numb. His teeth hurt his face and mouth were so cold. Magpie would have to fix some frostbite when this was over because he couldn't feel his hand holding Wolf's and it was locked around her hand.

Then the worm started flickering and going through states of being. Alive, dead, petrified, dead, petrified, alive, dead, alive, dead, alive, petrified, all in instants. Almost too fast to see and around the Enclave was moving and shifting. The pendulum was swinging again but now in an ellipse, the tower in the center spinning so fast it was a blur.

Shin wanted the worm to be flesh. Be alive. Be living. Show us the secret under the stone. But it had been this way for millennium. It did not want to come. But like when he formed a pathway in the Ascendant Realm he pressed it. The Darkness obeyed power. And he was powerful and Wolf's power was beyond even that. There was no argument in this. There would be a worm here or he'd rip this entire Enclave apart.

The worm became wriggling flesh as the pendulum stopped and pointed at it, quivering in the air. When Shin breathed out in relief he'd done it his breath was a cloud of cold air. Everything hurt now. Power he could only feel and not see jumped from the pendulum to the worm and the memory inside it revealed itself.

Wolf let go of his hand. He slumped against the Enclave and crumpled to the floor. He was so cold and in so much pain from ice in his lungs and his blood. How the fuck had Glitterbomb run missions and strikes like this for weeks? Wolf knelt down next to him and took off her glove, cupping his face. "No wonder you were addicted to this last year," he said as warmth returned to his face from Wolf channeling Solar Light.

"Very funny," she said softly. "Lucky for you it's just temporary," and now that Shin didn't feel like he was dying from hypothermia he could see what the memory was, what it truly was.

"No," he heard Ikora whisper as the secret plan of the Worm Gods were revealed before them. "That- That's the Traveler."

Next to him Wolf was still. "Feel better?" Ghost asked him.

"Yeah I- hey. Wolf," he tried to grab her cloak when Wolf stood up and just walked out.

"Wolf where are-" Ikora also tried to call after her.

"Ah shit," Shin scrambled to his feet. "Get that worm off the Enclave," he told Ikora as he ran after Wolf. She was already out of the LZ. "Magpie, where'd Ghost send her?"

"Her ship," they both looked up but the ship was gone.

"Shiiit. Where's mine?"

"Castaway has it. He's on the other side of the planet."

Shin looked around the LZ. There were some Hidden and Scouts hanging around and he checked all the area. He never thought he'd be relieved to see the stupid prongs of the Nezarac's Sin in familiar colors. He went right over to Savant and Eric who were in front of what looked like a bounty board of some sort. "Hey," he announced himself.

"Oh, Shin, didn't know you were around," Eric said.

"Hey, Shinny," Savant said cheerfully.

Shin ignored him. "I need to borrow your ship," he said to Eric.

"Uhhh. Why?" she asked. "You have a perfectly good ship."

"I let someone use it and it's on the other side of the planet. Now I need to borrow your ship?"

"Why?"

Shin contemplated how much to tell her. But it was Eric. He knew all her dirty secrets just like she knew his. She was the first person he'd ever let see the green fire. Not on purpose of course. He even knew about what she could do, what she played off as simple curiosity. As if she couldn't do some fucked up shit that if it was anyone else Shin would have Ghosted a long time ago. And he knew Savant was too stupid to tell someone's secret.

"This is confidential," he said and then just told her what he'd just seen in the memory of the worm. The lie of the Hive that undercut everything they knew or what the Hive knew about their being. Eric stared at him. "And then Wolf immediately walked out and she's been... unstable the past few weeks. And I can't go after her without a ship."

"But she seemed fine when we all went out to Red River Canyon," Savant said, sounding upset.

"She is not fine. But she does a good job acting like it. Now can I borrow your ship?" he asked Eric again.

"Just don't crash it," she said with a nod. "And you owe me one."

"You owe me like four, we're down to three," he said and she gave him an annoyed look. "Magpie?" he asked his Ghost.

"Ghostie's giving me authority just a sec," there was a pause and then he was pulled off the Enclave.

Eric's ship was a small jump ship made for traveling and not for living. Magpie put him right in the pilot's seat. "Where'd she go?" he asked Magpie as he familiarized himself with the controls. Amanda was a wizard shipwright and had mostly standardized ship controls for ease of learning to fly and so just about any Ghost could fly every ship if needed.

"I'm pinging Ghost," Magpie said. "North at least. I don't know exactly where." Shin turned the ship and pulled it up into high atmosphere for a parabola jump.

"Is Ghost responding?"

"Yeah but he's also trying to get Wolf to talk to him."

"Shit." He turned on the radar, a thing he didn't normally care about. But he potentially needed to find a needle in a hay stack if Ghost couldn't give them proper coords. She wasn't that far ahead of him.

He ended up not needing the radar or Ghost. Even as the ship appeared on radar a flare appeared on a Martian plateau. But it wasn't a typical flare. It looked like a bonfire. "That's... not good," he said and realized what he was seeing. He'd heard of Guardians going out into the wilderness and just expelling a ton of Light because of their frustration or anger. It was a good, relatively, harmless release of anger nd pent up energy. But they were usually little whispers against the grand size of a planet, barely bigger than a campfire. Shin could see Wolf almost from space.

"She's really mad apparently," Magpie said.

"Yeah. Got that," Shin said. The ship pinged him that the Light and radiation levels here were insanely unsafe. "Anchor off Ghost, get me down there."

"You'll be vaporized," Magpie said.

"She can sure try," Shin said and gathered Hunger under his skin. If Wolf had something to feed it it'd Eat.

"I'm not going down there but okay," and Magpie transmatted him down.

It was quite literally like being on the surface of the sun and the only reason Shin's armor didn't burn off instantly was because Hunger was gleefully absorbing all the Light. Wolf was at the center of a white hot star on the plateau not even burning through a facet. It was just Light. He knew Light could be used in its raw form by Guardians but in small amounts. He'd seen Eric use raw Light once or twice and he considered her to be one of the better users and it was faded at that. Raw Light was incredibly unstable and wanted to become everything. So the fact that Wolf had made a star of pure, unfiltered Light of rage and heat was... terrifying.

He stepped into the star. He found Wolf at the center just standing there, helmet off but otherwise still in her gear. Her hair was flying in the power swirling around her and burning Light was flowing from her eyes like tears. This close was almost the limit for the gluttony that was Shin's Hunger. It was almost too much, like trying to fit more food into your mouth than could fit. But still it Ate greedily anywhere the Light tried to touch Shin. In his personal bubble of calm he was unaffected by the power thrashing around him.

She started when he grabbed her hand and looked at him, hair whipping. "What are you doing here?" she asked and there was an etheric quality to it, an echo like shouting into a void.

"I didn't want you to be alone," he said, "especially when you're upset."

The star dimmed slightly. "Why?"

"Because I love you, obviously," Shin said. "You aren't alone. I want to always be here. You don't need to leave me in the dark."

The star dimmed some more. "I never wanted it to be me," she said softly, her voice echoing in the Light around them.

"I know."

Then at once the star was gone. Wolf once more had a lid on her power. Shin needed an extra second to contain Hunger. She hugged him and he held her tightly. "It chose them too," she whispered.

"I saw."

"Why am I doing this?"

"Because it's what needs to be done."

"I never wanted to," she sniffed.

"I know," he kissed her neck gently. "I know, darlin'. No one ever wants to be a hero once they see what the hero has to go through." They stood there for a moment, "Going nova make you feel any better?" he asked rubbing her back.

"Little," she allowed.

He let her go so he could hold her face in both hands. "You're not alone, darlin'. You don't and aren't doing this alone, okay?"

"Feels like it," she said softly.

"I know. But I'm here. So is Glitterbomb. We're worried about you okay? And do not say you're fine. You're not fine. Look at this," and he motioned around them. Grass was growing under their feet, seeds that had been dormant for hundreds of years since the Dark Ages suddenly bursting with life from the Light. The starts of Martian flowers were starting to appear and shoots of bushes and plants. It didn't rain on Mars anymore but Wolf had soaked the earth in Light and it couldn't be ignored.

She sagged. "I know," and she stepped away from him. She went and stood at the edge of the butte. "I know." He went to stand next to her. She signed to him, 'I just wanted to be like everyone else.'

"Yeah. I get it," he said because he did. Shin had never had the chance to be a 'normal' Guardian either. He'd shown up with Dredgen Yor's death hanging over his shoulders. He'd been a Guardian three weeks and done one thing and lauded as a hero. It went to your head. It had gone to his head.

"I thought for a while it meant something," she said quietly, barely heard over the wind.

"You don't anymore?"

Wolf was quiet for a long time. It was just them and the wind looking out across the empty Martian rockscape. Behind them the sounds of foliage groaned as it rushed to grow from Wolf's Light bomb. "I've only told Cat this," she said, not looking at him. "They told me not to tell anyone." Shin looked at her curiously. What secret could Wolf have that her mentor said keep quiet about? "They said it would make life difficult for me. And I see that now."

"What is it?"

"The Traveler spoke to me," and Shin stared at her. Wolf wasn't looking at him. Her face was utterly unreadable as she tucked some of her silver hair behind her ear. "When I arrived at the Tower I asked Ghost what that noise was and he said there was no noise. But there was. When I told him he didn't understand. I went down to the park under the Traveler and heard it louder there."

"W-what did it say?"

"I don't know," she said. "But it was... comforting. I remember-" she paused, laughed softly, "I remember I asked the Speaker if he could hear it. He just said 'child, the Traveler cannot speak, that is why I do it for it'. After that Cat told me not to tell anyone else, or bring it up with the Speaker. It made me really mad this guy was claiming to speak for the Traveler when he couldn't even hear it, when it wasn't even talking to him."

"Does it... still talk to you?" Shin asked carefully.

"No," she said sadly. "The last time I heard it was when it burst out of its cage Ghaul put it in."

"Not when it reformed?"

"... No," she said and sniffed. "It hasn't spoken to me since. And so I wonder sometimes what I'm even doing. Nothing like your god not speaking to you to rattle your faith in yourself," she tried to play it off with a smile but Shin could tell she was crushed by this. "And now the Traveler gave the Light to the Hive-- Savathun didn't even have to steal it. It was just freely given. It was always freely given. It all feels so pointless. If we're both chosen by the Traveler should we even be fighting? You can't force a Ghost to pick a Lightbearer. It has to be given willingly. Were all these Ghosts just... waiting for their Hive?"

"You forget the part where we absolutely killed a big evil Wizard trying to make herself a Lightbearer?"

"It wouldn't have worked," Wolf said.

"But she was evil. The Hive are evil."

"Are they? Or are they like that because their worms force them to consume and grow stronger than others and to do that they must act evil and if they don't it literally devours them from the inside out. That doesn't seem evil. It seems afraid."

"Don't sympathize with the enemy."

"Well I do that!" she turned and yelled at him. For a second her eyes flared with Light. She was just barely holding onto that nova of Light from earlier. "Cabal and the Fallen are our allies now. Last year I was slaughtering them faster than they could produce warriors. Now I get a scolding if someone who shouldn't die does." She looked away and ran a hand through her hair angrily. "I'm doing everything right. I'm a model Guardian. I keep everyone safe. I do the right thing. Why did it pick someone else?" she asked the empty Martian landscape. "Did I do something wrong, Traveler?" her voice was so small.

"I think trying to know why the Traveler does anything is a quick way to make yourself go crazy," Shin said after a moment of silence.

"But it used to talk to me."

"And I hear shit. That doesn't make what you hear have any value in your life," Shin said. "You are a good Guardian. The best of us. You don't need some half dead god to give you purpose." She wouldn't look at him. "Wolf-

"I appreciate that you may understand what it's like having a legend bigger than you. But you will never understand what knowing the thing that gave you life again rejects you feel like," she said in a quiet angry tone. "You told me your mortal parents were killed by Eliksni. I bet they wanted you." And that stung. Shin didn't let it dig too deep. He knew she was upset.

"Okay. I don't. But I think I know you pretty well. You're more than just the Traveler's big stick. You're not the Traveler's puppet. Isn't that what they always say about you, you make your own fate?"

"So long as it's with a gun in my hand," she said bitterly. "So long as there's killing to be done!" she shouted into the desert. Then she sighed and looked up. "I'm sorry," she said, defeated.

"For what?"

"I know you're just trying to help. I shouldn't yell at you."

"Wouldn't be the first woman who does. Least I know you don't mean it," Shin shrugged. Hesitantly he reached out and grabbed her hand. "I'm sorry the Traveler's quiet. It's always been silent for me." He didn't have anything else he could tell her since that was what she was really upset about. That the Traveler was silent and it had given the Light to one of their greatest enemies and could give it to anyone. That it didn't even seem to care about humanity. It just wanted whatever was the biggest stick in the yard to beat back the Darkness. He was glad he hadn't introduced Wolf to Castaway yet. Not now.

"I think we should leave Mars for a bit-

"Shin-

"It's not good for you," he said and looked at her.

"I am-

"Don't you dare say fine," he scowled at her.

"Handling it as best I can," she allowed.

"You need to take a break. Even if it's just for one day. You were so much better after we spent the afternoon with Crow. This is exactly what worried me in Europa, you don't know when you need to stop."

"This is different than Europa," she protested.

"How?" he asked shortly. "You're killing yourself now like you're killing yourself then? You were on the verge on collapse when I showed up at Europa. You were freezing to death; all of you were. Now you're working yourself to death. I know you don't know how to stop so I'm telling you; you need to stop. If you love me you'll stop for a day and come back to Earth with me."

He knew she knew he was right. But would her stubbornness win out. He wouldn't leave but how the fuck was he supposed to just watch her run herself into the ground like she had on Europa? Or after when there was an intergalactic incident between Earth and the Cabal and she barely slept for three months?

"I know you're right," she said softly, closing her eyes. She nodded. "I... I should be away from this for a little while," she swallowed heavily. He knew it was hard for her.

"This isn't moving at high speed. If something happens we'll be back with plenty of time," he assured her.

"I know," she nodded. "It's just... hard."

"I know," he squeezed her hand. He touched a tab on his gauntlet. It was a transmat anchor that pinged the ship. Shin would often leave his Ghost on his ship when hunting dark Guardians. It was safer. When he was done or something happened, if he couldn't talk, he could activate the anchor and his Ghost would pull him immediately. There was a delay here since his ship was so far away but he was sure Buoy would tell Magpie. "Tell the rest of your clan you're taking the day off. I know it'll make them really relieved."

"I'll tell Ghost to," she said.

Then Magpie transmatted them onto Wolf's ship. The Ghosts flew over and scanned their Guardians. "I was so worried," Ghost rubbed against Wolf's cheek. "Are you okay?"

"Relatively," Shin said as Wolf sat on her lounge. "Take both the ships back to the Enclave. Magpie let Eric know her ship is en route."

"I will," Magpie said.

"Where's your ship?" Ghost asked him.

"By Olympus Mons," Magpie said.

"That's half way around the planet," Ghost said, confused.

"Our New Light friend is using it," he supplied.

"Right. I forgot you do friends now. So weird," and that made Magpie make an amused noise. Closer to a laugh than Shin usually heard out of him.

Shin sat next to Wolf, she was still holding his hand. 'Thank you for talking. I know it's hard,' he sighed as well as he could one handed. 'Do you want me to cook or do you want to go out?'

'I don't want to go out,' she signed and with a sigh leaned against him.

"Magpie, bring me my pockit would ya," he called up to his Ghost where they'd both disappeared into the cockpit. It appeared in his hand without Magpie around.

'What?' she asked.

"Going to order some groceries delivered," he said. "We'll get back, clean up and I'll make something. Do you want me to buy some baking stuff? It looks like you went through everything during the Dawning."

'No.'

"Okay," and he opened the Guardian ordering app on his pockit. You could, quite literally, order anything in the entire City. "Do you want anything special?"

'Cake.'

He chuckled. "So you want cake you just don't want to bake it?" he teased her. She nodded against his arm. "Okay," he kissed the top of her head. He filled the cart with stuff he wanted but not too much stuff. They were going to be in for a day or two, maybe three if he could convince Wolf to stay, he didn't want to get a bunch of stuff that would just rot in the fridge when they left. "It'll be nice to sleep in a bed again huh?" he asked her. She nodded. "We'll check on the H.E.L.M. too, sound good?" More nodding. He wasn't expecting much else. Wolf had just had a planet altering melt down and then done a lot of talking about herself.

"We're at the Enclave," Ghost announced and flew back over to them. "Did we need to do anything but deliver Eric's ship back?" he asked Shin.

"Tell Glitterbomb Wolf's taking a day or two off. We're going back to Earth."

"We are!?" Ghost cried excitedly. "I'll tell them right away, and Ikora," he added.

"Good. I take it between you two you can get us to the Tower," Shin said.

"Yeap! We'll handle it," and he zipped off.

"I like when he's cheerful," Shin said fondly. "He's been real worried too." He looked down at Wolf and she just had her eyes squeezed shut.

"I didn't mean to make everyone worry," she whispered.

"I know. You're very brave trying to do it all by yourself. But you don't have to," he kissed her forehead as they pulled out of Martian atmosphere.

Chapter Text

The trip back to Earth was short and their Ghosts put their helmets on and hoods up before dropping them off at the Tower. They'd put Wolf's ship into the hanger to be refueled and stocked and looked over by Amanda. Shin held Wolf's hand as they walked to the nearest door into the Wall and he was grateful for the quiet of the Wall and the buffer between Wolf's room and other Guardians. No one bothered them at all.

Wolf went into her apartment, leaving half her gear on the floor as she walked down the hall and fell onto the couch in the living room with a sigh. Ghost flew after her, picking up her clothes as he went and sat on the back of the couch. Magpie joined him a moment later. Shin took off his gear and had Magpie hang it in his apartment. He didn't have space for it here. The place was full of Wolf's gear and weapons, as it should be. But he did leave the Last Word and Thorn on the edge of the kitchen counter, both unloaded. Sitting side by side they looked almost like sisters instead of rivals.

"You'll let me know if anything happens, right?" Wolf asked her Ghost.

"You will be the first to know," he assured her.

Shin went and pulled some fresh clothes out of the dresser for the both of them. He stared right at the nice cute clothes Wolf's not-girlfriend had bought her but knew so was not the time. He was still annoyed they existed because he knew with Wolf's terrible work-life balance he'd never see her in them unless literally every ally of the Darkness just spontaneously dropped dead and she didn't have to fight anymore. "We should clean up," he said as it put the clothes on the bed, both black compression shirt and pants that were very comfortable and also they wore them all the time while in full gear.

"I'm fine."

Shin leaned over the back of the couch. "That's not what I asked. Showering makes people feel better. It's been weeks and while Ghosts are very good at recovering your body at peak freshness there's nothing like a shower."

She made a face but sat up. "You're right," she said. Then she signed to Shin that was a fucking kick to the face, 'At least it's not as bad as when you left.'

"Yeah you were actually smelly then," Ghost chimed in. Shin wisely covered his mouth so he didn't snort and looked away when Wolf glared at her Ghost. "And you're happier when you smell good," he added cheerfully, totally unphased by her glare.

"Who doesn't?" Shin asked, face under control. He grabbed Wolf's hand. "One of you get the door when the food delivery shows up," he said.

"We'll put the cake in the fridge," Magpie assured him.

Shin pulled Wolf into the bathroom and started the water. He absolutely stared when he turned back around and Wolf was taking off her clothes. "What'cha looking at?" she asked him like she hadn't just taken her top off. "Shin," she scoffed, flustered, when he was too stupid to make words so did the low hand sign for 'titties' which was both hilarious and vulgar. The same sort of hilarity saying 'penis' got a group of Guardians giggling like Lightless children. "I swear sometimes you're a twelve year stuck in an adult's body, how old are you?" she scolded him jokingly as she took off the rest of her clothes. She wasn't that far off, all things being equal.

"I dunno you'd have to ask Magpie, he keeps track of that," Shin said dumbly getting an eye full. Magpie, obviously, didn't have any loops of Wolf naked and he'd been gone for months. He wasn't even particularly turned on but he'd be a fool not to enjoy the way her body looked. It was perfect. He knew Ghosts brought Guardians freshly born back in their prime and as they aged the Guardian could adjust their physical age as they discussed with their Ghost. But there had to be some crazy Awoken magic going on to make Wolf as beautiful as she was. He wasn't even particularly attracted to Awoken over Humans like some people were (which he thought was a bit creepy and fetishy honestly). It was probably just because he was crazy in love with her that was making him think this. Or you know, he really was a stupid boy stuck in a grown man's body.

When she walked past him his head moved to keep her in his sight. "You don't bathe fully dressed, Shin," she teased him and gave him a sweet tap on the chin that went all the way through his body. Then she stepped out of view into the shower and he was left standing there very stupidly fully dressed.

He shook himself. This girl made him so stupid. She'd been making him stupid for about a decade now and he'd just refused to admit it until recently.

He pulled his clothes off and followed after her. Wolf was just standing facing the water. She looked over her shoulder when he came up behind her. "There you are," she said.

"Sorry had to restart my brain for a second," and that made her smile. He grabbed a washcloth and the soap from the shower bar. "Allow me?" he asked.

"Far be it for me to stop you," she said. "Just--

"I get it," he assured her. No funny business. He could handle that. He could appreciate her without that anyway. Before he'd left it'd been different but with everything going on Shin did not blame Wolf at all for having zero interest in any fooling around.

"Thanks," she said softly, barely heard above the splashing of the water. He didn't mention it put his arms around her, pressing the suds filled wash cloth to her skin. He was gentle but purposeful, turning the shower head away so it didn't instantly wash away all the soap. Despite Wolf literally sleeping next to or on him for several months now this was the most intimate they'd been. No Ghosts around. Just the two of them and the sound of their breathing, the feeling of her warm skin under his hands. He didn't let it get past familiar, keeping his hands perfectly polite despite them being everywhere.

Wolf ended up leaning back against him, head on his shoulder as Shin pulled the shower head back around. "How was that?" he asked, arm around her waist.

Her voice was so soft when she spoke, tired but quiet so he could just hear it as she spoke near his ear. "I know you've been back a little while but I feel like this is the first time we've had any time together."

He nuzzled her wet neck. "You've been busy," he said.

"I hate being busy," she said turning her head and kissing him. He also hated her being busy but he knew he couldn't help that. He'd come in in the middle. Everyone got her time before him. He was only slightly resentful but those were the pitfalls of falling for everyone's favorite Guardian.

"Maybe once Savathun is dealt with you'll have a moment to breathe," Shin offered helpfully when he pulled away.

"Hmm, maybe," she said softly, leaning against him again. As if there wouldn't be another emergency around the corner. There was always something. At least all the insane shit that happened was kindly letting Savathun take center stage the past few months. Wolf would fall apart at the seams if she had to deal with Savathun and say, the Vex came and started causing trouble on a system wide scale just from wanting to do everything at once.

He pushed her off him to stand up so he could wash her hair. She sighed contently and enjoyed the attention. Shin smiled as her shoulders lost some of the stiffness in them, sagging and relaxing. He was glad she could relax and enjoy something. But he supposed she was good at enjoying something under high stress times since that was basically her entire life. He rinsed her hair and washed it again so it squeaked when he pinched it. Plastered against her shoulders and upper back her hair looked like liquid mercury across her skin. Awoken bodies were wild.

"Okay I think you're as clean as you're going to get," and gave her a light smack on the butt making her start with a yelp. He laughed.

"You're bad," she said, turning around to scold him.

"Mmmm, yeah. But that's why you like me," he said and leaned down to kiss her firmly. "And I'm a good kisser," he teased her back.

"Annoyingly, yes," she scoffed. That made him chuckle. "I guess it's my turn," she said and gave him a look up and down. She took the shampoo. "Lean down, you're tall," she said.

"I'm average thanks," Shin said and only bent his head down. He wasn't that much taller than Wolf. Not like Bear who really did tower over everyone in Glitterbomb and most other guardians that didn't fall into the 'huge fucking Titan' category, which was more Titans than you'd think. He had a lot less hair to wash since he'd had it all cut off but Wolf still took her time washing it and he enjoyed every moment of it. There was something so nice about someone else washing your hair for you.

Like Shin doing it to her Wolf was purposeful but her hands were gentle. He enjoyed the preening immensely and closed his eyes peacefully as she scrubbed him down. He grunted in confusion when she lathered up his chin and jaw. "What?"

"Magpie's been lazy," was all she said and somehow, from somewhere, Wolf produced a razor. She didn't have a razor in her shower where the fuck had it come from?

"Well he is a lazy bum so that tracks," Shin said and had the very novel experience of someone else shaving his face. As expected Wolf was an expert with the little razor. Shin didn't grow a lot of facial hair though so it was more getting rid of the scraggly bits. She got all the little stray hairs trying in absolute vein

Then she sprayed him in the face with the shower head.

"Hey!" he cried but not angrily. Wolf just laughed. "You're so lucky I like you or you'd be in big trouble," he threatened her jokingly.

"I'm sooo scared," she said and put her hands on his chest with a smirk. "When you talk like that it reminds me of the first time I talked to you. You remember that?"

"Yeah. I believe you said something like I was an annoying brat with a big mouth right before shooting me in the head," and he grinned when she laughed.

"Yeah something like that," she beamed at him. Her hands ran up his chest and shoulders, one going up along the back of his head. "Now look at you," she smiled gently at him.

He couldn't stop the stupid thing that came out of his mouth. "Yeah, got the dream girl." And oh he just said the dumbest things around her when not paying attention? When'd he get like that? He got a stupid feeling in his chest when she kissed him and like really kissed him. He looped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him. But kissing while getting pelted with water wasn't great and Shin reached behind her to turn the water off. In the quiet after all he could hear was the sound of their breathing and the frayed sound of his short hair being played with while Wolf kissed him.

It was a long time before Wolf finally pulled away and Shin didn't mind one bit. She still had her hand in the back of his hair, idly playing with the longer parts. For the moment she looked so at ease and he didn't want to ruin that. Then she laughed quietly when, in the quiet, they both heard Shin's stomach growl. He grinned sheepishly. "I guess that's a sign we should get out huh?" Wolf asked him.

"I'm surprised it wasn't you. You didn't have breakfast," he said even as he pulled back the curtain. As he did the air around them both got very hot as they super heated the air around them with Solar Light to flash evaporate the water off their skin leaving them perfectly dry. It did make their hair a bit frizzy but whatever.

"Wasn't hungry," she said.

"Yeah but I should have asked you to eat something," he said, following her.

"It's fine."

He stopped her as she opened the door, arm going around her waist. "I love you, and I worry about you," he said softly. "You need to take better care of yourself." She looked away but knew he wasn't wrong.

"I know," she said softly.

He pressed his lips to her temple. "I'm going to get dressed and make us some food. Any requests?" He left the bathroom to go put on his clothes he'd pulled out.

"You know I like everything you make," Wolf said and was doing the same.

Shin went to the kitchen and found the Ghosts had put away the groceries including the cake. He had only gotten comfort food, high carb and flavor that he knew Wolf liked. He picked out the cheese and spinach stuffed ravioli and a pot to get them cooking. Wolf lounged on her bed idly, looking at her pockit.

Food was easy to make he was just glad it wasn't rehydrated. And he'd been dying for some fresher style pasta. "Shin?" Wolf asked as he was taking out a jar of tomato sauce from the cupboard.

"Yeah?" Shin called back, running his hand across some of the damage to the cabinet. The veneer was peeling at the edges.

"What'd you do with my pillow?"

"Pillow?" he asked himself. He hadn't done anything-

He set the jar down and left the little kitchen. Wolf was leaning over the side of the bed looking for the pillow that had been stuffed in one of his old shirts. She heard him approach and sat up. "Well?" she asked curiously.

He just leaned down and hugged her tightly, knee on the bed. "You don't need it. I'm here, silly," he said gently.

"I- right," she said, hugging him back. "I just got so used to it," and she cleared her throat even if her voice didn't shake. He rubbed her back with one hand. He ended up pushing her back onto the bed, just holding her. Her hands held the back of his shirt tightly so he couldn't have pulled away even if he wanted to.

"Sorry- Shin the pot's boiling over," Magpie chirped from the side after what felt like no time.

"Ah- fuck," and he detangled himself from Wolf even though she didn't want to let him go. "Fuck!" he cried softly and took the pot full of pasta off the electric burner where it was spitting and hissing at him, yanking off the lid. "Thanks," he added to Magpie who floated over. He hadn't even heard the burner hissing.

"Well one of us needs to be aware of things," Magpie scoffed.

Shin snorted, "Yeah sure. Like you're not distracted by shiny things," and he glanced over at Ghost who was talking to Wolf still in the bed. Ghost wasn't in an overly shiny shell now but Shin had seen him in enough gaudy and overly decorative shells that were often chromed that he knew it wasn't out of character. "Just like a proper corvid," he teased his Ghost. Magpie wasn't easily baited but he did turn and fly away as his own form of flustered. Shin chuckled as he put the pot back on the burner.

Shin dumped some sauce into a pan to come up to temp and cut up some fresh herbs and some extra garlic because in his opinion you could never have enough garlic. When the raviolis were done he spooned them into the sauce to coat. He didn't care if it looked pretty and just plopped all of them into one big bowl and grabbed some forks, knives, and napkins.

Wolf looked up when he joined her on the bed. It occurred to him Wolf's place didn't have a table to eat at. He didn't know why he'd never noticed before. He'd been willfully ignoring a lot of stuff before if he was honest. And why was she still in a New Light's apartment? His was just as big but he never used it so didn't need the space. And Shin knew Wolf kept a lot of mementos from her adventures. He'd seen them in boxes in her closet when he'd snooped once. But she had no room for them. She was a legend why'd she have such a dinky apartment?

Something to worry about later. Right now he was just worried about Wolf eating on a regular basis.

"Tada," he said, showing off the food.

"Sharing bowl," Wolf noted.

"Yeah since you don't eat fucking anything all your leftovers are in there already for me," he teased her and handed her a fork. That made her laugh. They ate and when finished Shin cleaned up the small mess he'd made. As he'd expected Wolf had had only a handful of bites before saying she wasn't hungry and Shin ate most of it.

Before joining Wolf on the bed again Shin grabbed her tablet from the coffee table. Then he flopped down at the head of the bed, supported by Wolf's way too many pillows. Wolf came over to press against his side and he put an arm around her shoulders. "Oi, one of you come be useful," Shin called to the Ghosts. Ghost came over curiously.

"This is demeaning," he complained as he saw what Shin wanted him to do.

"Tell that to your Guardian who doesn't own a wall screen," Shin rolled his eyes as Ghost held the tablet in midair motionless. "What you want to watch?" he asked Wolf.

"I don't care much," she admitted. "I know you want to watch Crucible VoDs, we can watch those," she assured him, hand on his chest. Shin pulled some up and squeezed Wolf around the middle as they started playing. These were official ones commentated by Shaxx. Magpie ended up floating over to watch over his shoulder and even Ghost looked down to watch.

"You want to play some tomorrow?" Shin asked her after a few matches had played out.

"I thought you played solo," she said.

"You know I can be a team player when I want," he scoffed. "Even if it is with Savant," he rolled his eyes and Wolf laughed. Before last year he used to play Gambit exclusively with Wolf and Savant honestly. He'd never had a choice with the latter person and then that fucking idiot had made friends with Wolf and then he'd really never gotten out of playing with him.

"Shaxx would pass out if he saw you play the objective," Magpie commented mildly.

"I'd pay to see that," Shin smirked. "So?" he asked Wolf.

"That could be fun. A nice distraction at least," she allowed.

"Perfect," he kissed her temple. "Can't wait to see Shaxx lose his mind because we're both playing."

"I'm a little rusty at Crucible, I don't think-

"You're a natural," he corrected her.

She sighed softly. "Yeah. Right," she said quietly, looking away. Then he remembered her anger about how everyone only valued her so long as she had a weapon in her hand.

"We can do something else if you want? I saw your fake girlfriend got you some new clothes. We could just go hang out in the City," he asked not a bit hopefully. He wanted to see Wolf in those cute clothes so bad.

"Hmp. Crucible sounds fine," she said.

--

The first block of ranked matches for the day would be starting in about an hour. By now all the scrubs had come and gone to staging so it was just Shaxx, Arcite, and a few frames milling around the staging area. First matches of the day were not broadcast or commentated by Shaxx and were for New Lights or Guardians with poor Crucible gun skill so they could get their footing without feeling overwhelmed with the pace of normal Crucible. Shin and Wolf absolutely weren't allowed anywhere near those. Shin recalled she'd been in one when she first came to the Tower and had mercied a control match all on her own. He hadn't seen it first hand but he'd watched the VoD.

Shaxx didn't acknowledge them at first as they went over to the bounty screen. But nothing escaped him in staging as he watched Shin take control specific bounties. "And what's this? The end of the world?" he asked Shin, startling him.

"Huh?" Shin hadn't even considered Shaxx would recognize him. He wasn't wearing any of his old gear. But of course Shaxx probably clocked the Last Word on his hip from across the damn Tower.

"Half those bounties are for playing the objective," Shaxx said with mild curiosity.

"Yeah?"

"He said he was going to play the objective-

"Wolf!" Shaxx cut her off and Shin chuckled when Shaxx suddenly hugged her, lifting her off her feet in a bone crushing embrace. "It has been too long!" he boomed.

"Shaxx- can't breathe," she gasped.

He set her down. "Ah- forgive me. I thought those friends of yours complained enough you'd never set foot in my arena again," Shaxx said sheepishly.

"No. Just-- it's been a busy year," she said.

"Indeed. And I suppose I hoped too much you'd find a spot in your busy schedule for my silly game," he sighed but didn't sound especially upset. Everyone knew Wolf had very little free time. "But you're here now! Ikora released you from bondage huh?"

"Uh-- sure," Wolf said awkwardly, not about to tell Shaxx what was happening.

Then Shaxx' helmet turned to Shin, "And you show up after seven months? Unlike you."

"I hate to tell you Shaxx but my life doesn't really revolve around Crucible," Shin sighed, hands on his belt. "I just like to come by and make sure the scrubs remember how to have a real gun fight against someone who's not chronically in the Crucible." And that made Shaxx roar with laughter. "We're letting off some Light," he shrugged.

That was when Shaxx seemed to realize... they were both there. Shaxx knew they were friends but never played together. Of course not since Shin only played Rumble and they'd only get matched accidentally and take turns being kill leader while talking shit over comms. "Are you a fireteam?" Shaxx asked.

"Uhh, yeah?" Wolf asked.

Shaxx said nothing for about ten seconds. "Told you he'd have a heart attack," Shin laughed and elbowed Wolf on the arm.

"That just means you're a bad team player," she teased him right back. "You good, Shaxx?"

His shoulders shifted. "I've officially seen everything," he declared.

"Anyway, we'll see you in Crucible," Wolf said and tugged on Shin's cloak. The arena was out in the Flood Lands and they'd arrive just in time if they left now. Shaxx just raised a stupefied hand in farewell as their Ghosts took them to Wolf's ship.

Chapter Text

They were in the middle of their third match of the day when Ghost said, "You have a ping from Zavala."

"I'm kinda busy," Wolf said, reloading her hand canon with a flick of her wrist while ducked behind some cover.

"He said it's urgent."

"Like how urgent?"

"Shaxx isn't commentating these next few matches because he was also called to the meeting," he said.

Wolf peered around the cover to see what was going on. Someone was sprinting right at her with a shotgun. She pulled a knife from her boot and set it alight. They were sliding, barrel aimed at her gut when her knife found itself lodged into their helmet and through their skull. Their momentum carried them forward a few extra feet before their Ghost transmatted their corpse away to a respawn anchor. "He say what the meeting was about?" she asked.

"No."

"Tell him I'm busy," and she moved out from cover that was a low crumbling wall and headed into the open B zone. She hated B here in the Rusted Lands. It was surrounded by high ground with only a single pillar as any sort of cover. She watched the mark on her corner of her HUD fill with blue showing the point was transferring to her team. As it was starting to finish her radar flashed red to the upper right and without checking chucked a grenade towards it. Crucible had an audio cue for Guardians who did damage to an enemy and Wolf listened to it ping for a few seconds as they burned.

The point was finished being captured as several of her teammates pushed up. "They always come after we already did it," Ghost muttered. They engaged the Guardian who'd been about to challenge Wolf on B and they were cut down.

"Being the point anchor's important," she reminded Ghost.

"I guess," he grumbled. Wolf backed off from B but knew the other team would try to take it if someone wasn't actively on it as the entire game rotated across the map. She put herself into a better position and waited.

Sure enough two Warlocks showed up to take B.

As she moved to engage Ghost said, "Zavala again."

She groaned even as she fired three shots at one of the Warlocks, downing them. Which gave enough time for the other to start firing at her. "Just put him through," and she dodged to the side, avoiding a hailfire from a submachine gun. She was returning fire when the sound of a familiar gun came from the ruins behind B and she glanced up to see Shin reloading the Last Word.

"See, still playing the objective," he said, jumping down to reclaim B even as Ghost patched Zavala through.

"Wolf, where are you?" he asked immediately.

"Busy," she said in annoyance.

"We need you at the Tower now."

"Is the sun gone?"

"No."

"Are the Cabal attacking the City?"

"No," though he sounded a bit annoyed.

"Has a different Hive god shown up?"

"No I don't see what-

"Then it can wait until I'm done with this Crucible match."

"Wolf this is serious."

"Yeah. And I'm seriously trying to have a day off." Zavala's silence was odd. He'd never heard Wolf talk like this. She didn't normally. Usually it was how high when asked to jump. "I'll be in the Tower once I finish up here. Wolf out," and Ghost cut the connection.

"We're leaving after this?" Shin asked over comms.

Wolf wasn't feeling the game anymore. She'd been enjoying herself before. Now it felt soured because she couldn't even just have one day. Just one day! Ikora had been begging her to take a day off for almost four months and now that she was they couldn't leave her alone. This was why she didn't take days off. "Apparently there's an important meeting in the Tower," she said. "He even pulled Shaxx." She shot lazily at some of the enemy team down range with the Dead Man's Tale. She liked it better than a sniper sometimes. They responded by blowing her up with a rocket.

"Must be a serious meeting," Shin said once she was revived.

Wolf stood at the respawn location, gun at her side. The match was nearly over but she didn't feel like playing it out. Zavala calling had taken the wind out of her sails. "Yeah. What a kill joy," she muttered.

She stayed by A, defending it but didn't venture into the arena. When the timer ticked down she barely waited long enough for tokens to be applied to her account (as if she needed them) before Ghost pulled her to her ship and she sat in the cockpit. Three seconds later Magpie had Shin also on the ship.

"So much for a relaxing day shooting people," Shin complained, pulling off his helmet as Wolf pulled her ship away from the ships gathered around the arena.

"If it's not one thing its another," Ghost said. Then to Wolf he said, "If it makes you feel better Zavala also called all of Glitterbomb and Targ says a bunch of other important Guardians were called to the meeting too."

"Oh joy," she said, deadpan.

Shin came around to the chair. "So what's so important?" he asked, grabbing the headrest.

"No idea," Ghost said.

There was silence for a second, "Bet it's about that fucked up shit we saw in the Enclave," Shin said candidly. "Who's on the guest list, Ghost?" he asked.

"Saladin, Shaxx, Saint, Eris, Ana-

"Ana? Like Ana Bray?" Shin cut him off.

"Yeah."

"Why the fuck is she invited? They've been trying to get her to behave almost as long as me. Believe it or not she's more of a problem child than me," he sounded almost proud of that.

"That sounds unlikely," Ghost said.

"I might shoot Guardians but at least I don't go around blatantly breaking the number one rule about being a Guardian; your past life is unknown," Shin scoffed.

"Well you know yours," Ghost said in annoyance.

"Yeah but I still wouldn't be doing it. Ana's gotta know because her name's plastered all over Mars and Europa and like half of Venus," she could hear the roll of his eyes on that. "Isn't like... her sister or something on Europa?"

"Her half sister from another time line," Wolf said quietly.

"... Yeah. Why's she not invited and Ana is?"

"If I knew that we'd be Vanguard," Ghost said. Shin chuckled. "Xander, Rech, Holborn, Chandra, and Viadra are also coming along with the rest of Glitterbomb."

"I don't recognize half those names," Wolf said.

"Viadra leads the Pilgrim Guard from what I can see," Ghost said, "Holborn leads a large host on Mars who's been punching holes in the planet for centuries. I think he's a similar rank to Sloane?"

"Nah, under Sloane," Shin said.

"Regardless, Mars is his jurisdiction. Chandra is the leader of the Praxic Warlocks-

"Greaaaat, bet she's going to love this," Shin scoffed. "Last time Chandra and Eris were in the same room together they nearly set the damn place on fire, and that was before she went to the moon."

"Xander is Commander of the Scouting Legion," Ghost continued like Shin hadn't spoken. "And Rech is... just a Warlock? That can't be right," Wolf glanced over at him, he was frowning, back of his shell spinning in annoyance.

"Sounds like a high ranked Hidden," Shin said. "Hidden usually aren't announced. At least Aunor won't be there for the Hidden or Praxic. Lady would go nuclear if she knew what we know."

"All these big important people coming to a meeting I already know everything about. I really could have just been left alone for more than twenty hours," Wolf sighed.

"Sucks being the hero sometimes," Shin said as they came into view of the Tower.

Their Ghosts dropped them off at the LZ and Shin followed her to the catwalk that led to the Bazaar. They took the elevator down to the level Zavala's office was at. The door was half open and she could hear talking inside. Shin leaned against the wall next to the door, fully intending to stay out here. No fucking way. If she was suffering this stupid meeting so was he.

"Ah!" Shin gave a little yelp when she grabbed him by the front of his scarf and pulled him inside.

"I'm here. What was so important?" Wolf asked over exterior comms. Not a few people turned and looked at her. She swallowed.

"Never took you to not be on time," said a Warlock she didn't know, Ghost plastered the name Rech above his head on her HUD. He wore an old school Obsidian Mind.

"Reality is full of inconsistencies," she said and walked deeper into the office. Those attending moved out of her way. Glitterbomb was waiting to the side of Zavala's desk where he and Ikora were standing. She joined them and felt better standing with them on her side. Shin she saw try to be unnoticed for the most part and stood behind everyone else.

"Good, you're here," Zavala said when he saw her.

"What was the hold up?" a Titan asked. They wore very over the top plating all over but it all looked so... fancy and not so usable. Ghost provided their name too Viadra. He'd said they were the head of the Pilgrim Guard here in the City.

"I was trying to take my first day off in sixteen months, so sorry for the inconvenience," Wolf said with more than a bit of venom. Even before Shin had left she never had a real day off. Sure she'd get maybe half a day to do some Tower activities, Crucible, or Gambit but something always came up. Last year she was called on almost every day and would just come home and face plant in her bed and Shin would make her dinner. But it was constant. Even during festivals there was no rest. Someone always needed something. And last Festival of the Lost and Dawning her friends had kept her extra busy because they were worried. She worked until she was exhausted and then slept until she was rested. No one said anything to that.

The meeting went about how she expected. Ikora gave a grave account of their findings and no one spoke. No one dared to even breathe.

"That can't be right," Chandra said.

"I'm afraid it is," Ikora said.

"But everything we've-- that it would just-" and Wolf wasn't the only person to notice the young faced Warlock's eyes starting to smoke in absolute rage. She was bald like Ikora but Wolf had a feeling she burned her hair off more than it was how she preferred it styled.

"And who used the Enclave to find this out?" Rech asked. "It's also an instrument of the Darkness. It could be lying."

"I did," Wolf said.

"And you are tainted with Darkness," Chandra said, flaming eyes furious. Wolf knew Chandra didn't hate her like some Praxic Warlocks did all Guardians who took up Stasis. She was just furious about the news.

"We are not discussing this," Ikora said.

"We should have someone who doesn't use the Darkness pull answers from the worm," Chandra said.

"The Enclave only responds to those who have communed with the Darkness," Eris said.

"Sounds convenient to me," Saladin said.

"I hate to be a nay sayer but isn't that Savathun's worm?" Holborn asked, unlike the others his voice was even keeled and almost low. "Sure it ain't a trick?"

"I saw it with my own two eyes," Ikora said. "Wolf saw it too."

"I believe you saw what you saw. But did you see what was true?"

"All the other memories we've accessed have been true."

"You should let us study it, figure out if it's truth," Rech said.

"Ikora said it was petrified before the Enclave. How you going to get secrets out of a rock?" Saladin asked.

"We have ways," Rech said.

"Ugh, Warlocks."

"We can't let it stand that this might be a lie," Viadra insisted. "A trick by Savathun. Isn't that her entire deal?"

"The Enclave isn't a device under Savathun's control," Eris said.

"But she could have figured out a way," Saladin said.

Wolf looked across the room where Xander was standing and saw Shin slide up next to him. The Legion Commander noticed him instantly and she watched them have a brief conversation in sign. She nudged Fox next to her who was not looking and made a slight motion to watch too.

"This is a useless argument!" Fox yelled over the arguing company. They quieted. "The Enclave showed us the truth. And the truth is terrible, and we all hate it, but it is truth."

"How can you know that? It is a message from the Darkness," Chandra said.

"Because the Darkness don't lie," Xander said, surprising everyone. They looked at him and Shin was impossible to miss standing next to him. "Far as I understand from the reports we've been getting from the Throne World Savathun's been using her Light to conceal ugly truths of her true self with pretty scenes. I know some of you have read the reports of the Darkness clouds around the Throne World. That reveal what is otherwise unseen, an inconvenient existence Savathun wants to cover over."

"Hive tricks," Rech scoffed.

"The Darkness is just that, a darkness that conceals. Do not mince words with me, Nightjar," Chandra narrowed her eyes at him.

"It can be quite illuminating if you allow it to be," Eris said. "A shadow is nothing but a reflection of what the light illuminates."

"And distorts its true form into something it isn't," Chandra shot back.

"So you're just going to distrust everything that doesn't fit into your neat lil box, Chandra?" Xander asked.

"Arguing on what the Darkness' nature is is useless," Fox said before Chandra could rebuff. "It is a tool, just as much as the Light. And just like the Light can be twisted into something ugly the Dark can be used for the sake of good. Now enough with this stupid ass bickering. The worm showed us the truth and you're all pissed about it. Believe me when we say no one is more pissed about it than us," meaning Glitterbomb and Wolf was glad Fox was doing the talking, as usual. "Now the real question is what are we going to do with this information?"

"I still would like to study-

"Too fucking bad!" Bear spoke over Rech. "No one's studying the worm. It's on my ship and if anyone's got a problem with that they can come and get it." No one said anything. "Good. Now to the matter at hand. We can't change what happened oh... six billion years ago?"

"Give or take," Eris said quietly.

"But the Traveler is here with us, now. It wasn't going to just give the Light to the Hive. It was going to give them a Golden Age, just like the Eliksni, just like us, just like it did countless other species before us. It giving the Hive the Light now means it knows there's a danger out there greater than we can face alone."

"You're pretty confidant for a hunch," Rech sneered.

"Yeah, almost like I've been killing the nastiest shit in the universe for the past decade. Tends to give you real life experience," Bear said viciously.

"Do you think it'd give the Light to our other allies?" Saint spoke up for the first time.

"It's a ball in the sky. Who knows," Bear shrugged.

"What we do know is that something orchestrated the Hive becoming what they are-

"The Witness," everyone looked at Shin. "Ah-- sorry," he ducked his head.

"The what?" Ikora asked.

"It's uh... called the Witness. That's what lied to the Hive through the Worm Gods."

"And you're the expert are you?" Chandra growled.

"I dunno I only go around killing Darkness worshipers," Shin said candidly. "Something's gotta call Lightbearers astray. You don't just shuck off the trappings of the Traveler's gifts if something doesn't sound more tempting than, I don't know? Immorality? Adoration of all of humanity? Literal magic? You don't just leave that without something tempting you."

"We have no records of a Witness," Ikora said slowly. "Eris?"

"I have not heard it whispered but I have not been listening for such things."

"Also there's something in that Pyramid in the Throne World. Dealing with Savathun's only half the problem," Shin piped up again.

"Again, how do you know?" Chandra growled.

"Because I'm not a fucking idiot? Something's controlling the Scorn now that Uldren and his Barons are dead."

"I feel it too," Wolf said, speaking now. "It calls out to the Darkness in me," and Glitterbomb nodded along. "You can only feel it when you're close. But there is something going on in that Pyramid beyond the worm incubation. It is a physical thing from our reality stuck in a Throne World."

"So no one else has to ask; why's that important?" Holborn asked.

"A Throne World is made of thought," Fox said. "By the Pyramid is not. It's like the Traveler, or a Guardian, it's a paracausal thing. You can't just create a Pyramid in the Ascendant Realm. The fact that it's there means Savathun put it there on purpose and locked it inside her mind scape."

"So... what's in it?"

"A problem for after we deal with Savathun," Bear said.

"Which we have no consensus on how to deal with," Rech scoffed.

"Yes, because having so many minds argue a point worked so well for the City before," Lizard said, mechanical voice buzzing in annoyance. "You all are here as a courtesy not as a requirement. Unlike our last ruling body it was hoped you'd have something else to offer but blithe arguing."

"Do not speak what you don't understand," Viadra said.

"Regardless of what you Pilgrims think we're not fools. Unless I'm the only other person here who reads the Legion reports?" Lizard asked candidly. Across the room Xander chuckled.

"No one reads the Legion reports since Cayde got himself killed," Xander said in amusement.

"Great. Than shut the fuck up Viadra. Your Pilgrims almost allowed a fucking coup in our City," Lizard sneered with a hiss of mechanical lisp. "Those Lightless faction leaders allowed the power to go to their heads because strong voices didn't tell them to shut the fuck up. Unless we all want to just forget Bannerfall or the Great Catastrophe? We're here to fight the Darkness; Savathun, the Witness, whatever, not each other. If you disagree with that we do have the City's best Guardian killer in the room," and no one said a word. Wolf looked across the room at Shin and she wasn't the only person to notice him casually put his hand on his gun holster.

"The worm's vision is true. That is the end of the discussion," Ikora said, trying to get a grip on the meeting, "Now how do we handle this."

"The only way to defeat Savathun is with a truth she cannot dispute," Eris said.

"She's the queen of lies," Saint said in annoyance.

"Only to others. Savathun must know all truths, that is her nature. She must know more, be more cunning. If a truth like this is known to her... I don't know what it would do."

"Probably destabilize her at the least," Ikora said.

"The worm didn't interact with the memory pool before," Fox said.

"Well it will have to be with someone else's memory."

"The only other person who saw it was Wolf."

Wolf didn't chime in to say that wasn't true. They all knew it wasn't true; Ikora and Glitterbomb. They all knew Shin had seen it. Hell Shin had made the vision appear. She hadn't been able to do it. But she'd never good with finesse. She was all bluster and Light without reserve. An open fire hose of power if she didn't carefully keep it contained.

"Well she's already watching us in there. I doubt she'd let us wander into her sanctum now. She has to know we stole something from her temple," Fox continued.

"Unless we bust in without asking," Bear said.

"Or be invited," Eris said in her hushed way. "A thing the Witch Queen doesn't know. Sounds like an oxymoron. She'd be compelled to want to know."

"Her worm's gone. I don't think she would be," Chandra said.

"She's been like this billions of years. Old habits die hard," Ikora agreed. "If anyone has anything else to add? Our next course of action will be how to entice Savathun to viewing the memory of the worm."

"We need to focus our patrols around and into the Pyramid. There's a whole city in there too," Xander said quietly. "Even between the Legion and the Hidden we don't have the man power to scout the High Court and the Pyramid."

"You suggest we let normal Guardians in there?" Saladin scoffed.

"We let them into the Dreadnaught after Glitterbomb killed Oryx. I'm just saying my kids are good but even they can't be in two places at once," Xander sniped back. "Ain't like those -those Hive Lightbearers are unknown to the Tower. Every Guardian worth their Light's been champing at the bit."

"I am inclined to agree," Chandra said, her smoldering rage cooled. "Haiden, Gwyn, Rain-5 and I have been talking. The Warlock Orders want to try their Light against these... what was it you called them Ikora?"

"Lucent Hive," Ikora said. "And that is the name they gave themselves."

"I cannot sanction further activity in the Throne World to deal with these Lucent Hive and Scorn until Savathun has been dealt with," Zavala said gravely. "Once the Hive God is dead any Order, Host, or Gang are free to request access through proper channels, same as always."

"Great. Then can we end this stupid meeting? We were in the middle of tracking one of those new Scorn Barons," Rat said in annoyance. "The fact that there are more should be as concerning," she added. There was a silence that followed that everyone knew what she meant.

"This meeting is adjourned. I don't think I have to remind everyone that knowing this truth is privileged information," Ikora said.

"Right," Rech said dismissively.

"Keep your mouth shut, Rech. You're already on my list," Shin growled from next to Xander. Wolf grinned to herself watching the Hidden blanch in his helmet and scurry away.

Chandra lingered for a moment as the others filed out, "Really?" she asked Shin's directly.

Shin blew a raspberry, "I dunno who the fuck that guy is. But he's fucking annoying." Chandra smiled briefly and left with the rest.

Xander had gone to stand across from Ikora and Zavala at his desk. "I told you this was a bad idea," Wolf heard him say before getting caught up in private comms with Glitterbomb.

"So what were you doing on your day off?" Cat asked her.

"We were playing Control," Wolf said. "That's ruined," she sighed.

Shin crossed the office before she could keep going. "Day's still not over," he said.

"Don't worry, nothing exciting's going to happen," Cat said. "We got a figure out a way back into her uhhh-

"Mind alter thing," Rat said helpfully.

"Yeah that, before anything else," Cat agreed.

"I know but-

"We don't need the help," Fox assured her.

They were all looking at her and she knew they all desperately wanted to take the day off. "Good enough for me, let's go," and before she could say anything else Shin grabbed her hand. "Call if the world ends," he called back cheerfully, pulling her out of Zavala's office.

Chapter Text

Shin was sleeping and then he wasn't when someone shouted almost right in his ear. Next to him Wolf sat bolt upright gasping. He sat up next to her. She grabbed at her chest with one hand useless for a moment, her legs tangled in the blanket. "Hey it's alright," he tried. At least it wasn't a screaming Lightstorm of a nightmare.

"No," she said, purple eyes wide, the soft glow the only thing visible in the darkness.

"Wolf it was just a-

She stumbled out of bed, almost falling before she wrenched the sheet from around her legs. "Ghost," she called sharply.

"Hmm? What's the matter?" Ghost asked in a sleepy voice where he'd been in low power mode with Magpie on their shared pillow.

"Clothes-

"Wolf, what's the matter- Wolf!" Shin scrambled out of the bed when Wolf jogged around the corner and he heard her go for the door. He managed to grab her before she ran out in very nearly her underwear. "Hey, stop- it was just a nightmare," he said, holding her arm, trying to close the door.

"No," she said, eyes wide and wild. "It wasn't. I heard it."

"Just slow down," Shin said. "What did you hear?"

"It's gone," she said and that helped him in no way. "Don't you not hear it?"

"Hear what?"

"The Traveler!" she shouted at him, more out of fear than anger.

"What about the Traveler-

"It's gone!"

"It's not gone there is no way it could be gone," Shin insisted because that was insane. "Not even at the height of Savathun's power could she just steal the Traveler," he said, trying to be reasonable.

"Shin," she said, "remember I said the Traveler hadn't spoken to me since it destroyed Gaul?"

"Yes," he nodded slowly still blown away the Traveler spoke to her. In thousands of years the Traveler had spoken to no one. But it spoke too Wolf.

"It spoke to me now. Now let go," and she pulled her arm out of his grasp.

"It was just a dream Wolf the Traveler can't be-

"I need to check," and she left and he groaned as she ran down the hall. Ghost at least had dressed her in some clothes.

Magpie floated over to him. "Well?" Shin snapped in annoyance.

"After you," Magpie said with a shimmer.

Shin huffed and ran after her. Of all the stupid nightmares. The Traveler couldn't be gone. Savathun hadn't been able to take it, Oryx hadn't been able to take it. There was no way she could do it now. The Light was powerful but it didn't interact with Hive magic well.

He saw Wolf as he stepped out of the Wall. She was on her knees on the top of the Tower looking towards the Traveler. Shin followed her vision-

The space where the Traveler had hung for centuries, for over a thousand years; was empty. The lights of the City below illuminated nothing, only the cold and empty sky. Shin's steps faltered as he slowly went over to Wolf. It was Hunter's Hour, the City was asleep, the Tower was asleep. Only the Hunters who watched the Wall were still awake. His hand found Wolf's shoulder and he couldn't look away from that empty hole above the City.

"Mag- Magpie-- c-call Ikora," Shin said, fumbling foolishly over the words.

"It's gone," Wolf said in a small, weak, voice.

"This had better be good Malphur," Ikora said.

"Are you in the Tower?" Shin's voice sounded far away to his own ears. He saw lights appearing along the wall. Hunters at their nightly posts lighting flares that something was wrong at their stations.

"Yes. What's wrong?" Ikora didn't miss the tone of his voice.

"Look outside," Shin said.

"She disconnected," Magpie said. All along the Wall the alarm lights were going up as those on watch recovered from the insane thing in front of them; the Traveler was gone. Even at the height of the Endless Night, when Blights had started to eat away at the air and City itself it had never disturbed the traveler.

"Wolf," Shin heard Ghost saying. "Wolf, say something. Blink. Do anything," he was telling his Guardian. Wolf hadn't moved an inch.

"Where's uh-- the rest of GB?" Shin asked Magpie.

"I think some are on Mars. I'm pinging the others," he said quietly.

"We're getting communications on all open channels along the Wall," Magpie announced. "Four members of Glitterbomb are in the Throne World, Bear's on Mars in his ship keeping an eye on the petrified worm in case someone wants to take it," Magpie recited.

"Get me one of them," Shin said softly.

He ended up getting Lizard, "We know," came the mechanical hiss of his voice.

"It's there?" Shin asked.

"Oh yeah. It's here. Big bright white ball in the sky. Showed up, oh, ten minutes ago," he said in a strained casual way like he wasn't losing his mind that the Traveler was in Savathun's Throne World. "Where's Wolf? We can't get in contact with her."

"She's here. With me. She's... not great," Shin said.

"Well snap her out of it-

"Ikora is requesting," Magpie said quietly.

"As soon as I can. Ikora's asking," and he switched over to respond to Ikora, leaving Lizard to deal with the Throne World for now. "Yes?"

"Where's Wolf?"

"In the Tower."

"She's not responding to my communications."

Shin looked down at her where she was just staring, unmoving, her face a ruin. "Give me a second. I'll call you back," and he motioned to Magpie to disconnect.

Shin knelt in front of Wolf and grabbed her face. "Look at me," he said seriously. Her eyes were unfocused and he could only imagine all the nightmares she was remembering, "Wolf, look at me," he said. Her eyes focused and she blinked a few times. Her breath came out in stutters. "Its in the Throne World," he said, keeping her focus on him. "Savathun has the Traveler."

"How?" she whispered.

"I don't know. Now pull yourself the fuck together," he snapped. "She stole our Traveler. She stole your Traveler," he stressed. "If she gets to keep it there's no more Light."

Wolf's eyes came into sharper focus now. A killing focus. "No she fucking is not," the words hissed out of her. Shin got up and helped her up too. "Ghost, bring the ship around."

"It's waiting," Ghost said and indicated the ship hovering barely a hundred feet above them. "Ikora wants to talk to you-

"Don't care. I know. Ship. Now," she said, fury radiating from her very pores. She was glowing softly in the darkness of the Tower. The Light threatening to escape. Shin glanced at Magpie who realized what was needed and when Wolf was transmatted up to her ship Shin went too. He appeared in his armor, helmet hanging off his fingertips. Ghost was flashing Wolf through several sets of armor before settling on something that finally made her stop glowing. Something that could finally reign in her Light enough to dim its power. Shin knew most Guardians had armor that amplified their abilities, bolstered their Light, helped tune, focus, and magnify it through a specific lens. He remembered that time on the EDZ now so long ago Wolf had given him a helmet that helped focus his decision making and reflected his Light in such a way. And it had never been worn. Did Wolf's gear not amplify her like it did other Guardians?

The thought terrified him.

He knew Wolf could pump out massive amounts of Light but did she look for gear that specifically restricted her power output?

He looked at her, dim now, her Light contained neatly under a helmet and a wicked pair of gloves. And he thought of his own gear. Ones he'd crafted special with Magpie in that place to keep Hunger in check because if it got away from it it'd Eat the entire world.

"Wolf," he said, pulling her away from her pacing while the ship flew to Mars.

"Yes?" she asked, voice quiet and angry.

He pulled off one of his gloves and held it out. She gave it a confused look. "You're too full of Light, you're going to destroy your armor before you get close to the Traveler." He could tell she was still confused. "Hunger eats everything, even Light," he said simply. "If your gear can barely contain you you're going to split. I know you don't want everyone to see you like you were on that butte on Mars."

She tugged her glove off too and took his hand. He threaded their fingers together and it felt like he was dunked head first into a pool. Unfiltered Light rushed into him and into the endless, empty void, that was his Hunger. When he was ready for it it was almost refreshing. Like a perfectly cold glass of water on a hot summer day but not so cold it hurt your teeth. Not the biting cold of Stasis. That wasn't to say it wasn't a torrent but he was ready for it.

"We've arrived," Ghost announced.

Wolf took her hand out of his. "Does it hurt when I do that? Sometimes the others say it gives them pins and needles," she said, curious.

"No. Felt like I'd decided to dunk my head under a waterfall but otherwise," he shrugged. He grabbed her hand again and looked it over for the tell tale signs of the withered skin from months ago when he'd just... lost control. "I didn't hurt you did I?" he clarified because her soft blue skin looked fine but Shin knew Hunger could turn your bones into dust if you weren't careful.

"No," she said. She pulled her hand back to put her glove back on. "I don't think you could if I'm actively feeding it," she said thoughtfully.

"Good," Shin said, more than a little relieved. He'd have hated to have gone through everything just for it to be meaningless and it hurt her anyway. "Better?"

He couldn't see her face but he imagined her small smile, "Took the edge off I guess."

"Good enough," he pulled on his helmet.

"Ikora's just arrived, she wants to speak with you briefly before we head into the Throne World," Ghost told Wolf.

"Alright. I'm guessing I can't tell you to stay here-

"Absolutely not. That's my Traveler too," Shin said.

She took a breath, "Yeah," she agreed softly. She leaned over and Shin pressed the front of his helmet against hers. "Do not die," she told him sternly.

"Wouldn't dream of it, darlin'," he said nicely. "You neither."

Wolf stepped back and Ghost transmatted her away. "So we taking the fun way or not?" Magpie asked when they were gone.

"I bet there's a line to get shot out of that canon," Shin said and headed up to the top of Wolf's ship. Going through the Ascendant Realm was better.

Chapter Text

As one would expect the Throne World was... not chaos exactly but there were more enemies swarming than Shin had ever seen. Even Savathun's pristine white palace was thronged with thrall and screaming wizards. The mire had been left behind, all Guardians to the fort to beat at the tide of rising Hive. There were more Guardians than he guessed were in the Hidden or Legion. There were too many. Zavala must have done some emergency accepting to allow the amount of Guardians in here.

And above them the Traveler loomed.

Normally Shin always thought the Traveler made him feel at ease. Safe and secure when he looked at it. It was nice knowing the Traveler was there.

Here in the Throne World where it cut across the fetid green sky it was oppressive in a way Shin had never felt before. He could feel it like a lightning storm about to let lose the flood gates hovering over their heads. But there was nothing for it. All any of them could do was beat back the Hive's tide.

They'd gotten a wide broadcast a while ago that Glitterbomb had engaged Savathun which made it better somehow. It gave everyone hope.

It made Shin nervous.

It probably had something to do with the gathering shades who'd decided to make themselves known. They'd been quiet and gone for weeks. They didn't speak but they stalked around Shin like carrion birds, watching him.

In a lull Shin took a knee behind a perfectly manicured white rose bush. "Worried 'bout that pretty girl of yours?" Vale took the same stance next to him. "She's going to get herself kill't y'know," he said in Shin's voice.

"Magpie, do me a favor and tell me to shut up," Shin said, ignoring the shade, not even looking at him. He just was trying to catch his breath.

"What happens when she reaches out too much, Shin? What then?" Vale asked as Magpie came out of his hood. "You won't be enough-

"Stop talking to my Guardian. He's not you anymore, and frankly you're the worst version," Magpie said with more venom to the rose bush than Shin had heard in a while. When he glanced over Vale was gone.

"Thanks," Shin said. "Hurt a little."

"Which of your stupid aliases was that one?" Magpie asked.

"First one," Shin said with a shrug.

"Ugh. You were such an edgy teenager as that one. Definitely the worst," he muttered and Shin chuckled as Magpie went back into Shin's hood.

"Most Guardians don't get to have edgy teenage phases, you should feel honored," Shin teased his Ghost.

"Should have left you in the woods," Magpie grumbled but Shin just chuckled knowing he didn't mean it. "Is that the only one?"

"Yeah just the on-" Shin looked up at the Traveler. If he bothered to look he wasn't the only one. In some places in the Throne World where Guardians fought the Lucent Hive the battle came to a dead standstill. Anyone with any connection to the Light felt it. For a moment he thought it was the Traveler. But it wasn't because the Traveler winked out just as Shin looked up. The sky above was empty of it's strange and oppressive white curve and just the sickly yellow green of Savathun's Throne World looked back. But that didn't stop Shin's Light from being pulled to the top of the fortress. Almost like-

"Oh no," and Shin got up.

"What? Is that Wolf?" Magpie asked.

"Yeah. Feels like when she lost it the other day," and Shin called Hunger to his hand. He didn't have time to fight with the Light, which worked fine but Hunger was more or less gravity and he could use it to more effectively clear a path through the Hive. Magpie guided him following maps and paths made by Scouts and Glitterbomb themselves going up there.

The Light faded after a few minutes but that didn't make him feel better. "What you scared of Shin?" not-Dredgen Yor teased him as he cleared out some acolytes in his way. "And don't tell me you're not; your fear is palpable. Afraid of what you'll find?" Shin ignored him and kept going. "Or what you won't?" he called after Shin.

Shin wasn't the only Guardian who'd made it to the top of Savathun's fortress. It was a deadly alabaster port and beyond was a great lake. In the distance was an island. "What the fuck was that?" one of the Hidden who'd rushed up here asked.

"I've never felt anything like that."

"Is the Traveler safe you think?"

"It better be."

"Someone contact the City and get a confirmation."

"Where's Savathun?"

"Is no one going to talk about that insane burst of Light we all just felt?"

"Everyone shut up, look," and Shin looked at someone who was pointing out across the lake. The platforms were just barely under the water. Shin recognized the armored shapes of Glitterbomb as they headed away from the island at a brisk pace.

"Anyone on this channel?" Cat asked.

"Yeah!" someone answered. It was the channel they were all on now.

"We need some containment on the island. Savathun's body's there. Her Ghost escaped-

In an instant a dozen Warlocks very nearly flew towards the island, feet only briefly touching the water as they skipped across the surface. Some a bit faster than others from the gouts of flames shooting from their bodies like wings. Several Hidden Titans ran after them, making Glitterbomb move to the side as they sprinted across the water logged bridge, sending out an insane spray of water.

Shin met Glitterbomb at the edge of the dock. Even revived they all looked worn. Their armor was ruined and covered in ichor and gore. Their Ghosts had barely had time to patch holes and they were covered in claw marks. They moved in a strange formation with Lizard in the middle and Bear blocking most of him from view. Shin felt his nerves ratchet up a bit noting he only saw five people.

"We need to get this area secured. Who's got any authority here?" Cat barked over comms.

"I suppose me? Scout," a Hunter came forward. There were only Hunters remaining but more Guardians were starting to appear at the top of the fortress, catching up to the others who'd gotten there first, drawn by the Light burst.

"I want a way down secured and send any Warlocks to the island. We untangled the spell but I want Warlocks to turn that spell table to fucking smithereens," Cat hissed.

"Is the Traveler safe?" someone else asked.

"Yes," Fox said. "We freed it and Savathun's hold on it vanished. It should have returned to where it was before Savathun's spell." There was not a significant amount of relief among all the Guardians and Ghosts who heard that.

Shin had sidled slowly closer to the group. Lizard was still being completely obstructed mostly by Bear and Cat and Fox was now trying to organize things. He saw why they were hiding Lizard now. It would have looked so bad for everyone to see Lizard carrying Wolf's limp body in his arms. Her armor was in an even worse state than the others and her cloak was torn to utter shreds.

Shin felt like Wolf had shoved Stasis through his veins again.

His HUD dinged and he switched frequencies to accept the communication. "She's not dead. Her Ghost is fine," Lizard said in a bone weary way. As Lizard said that Ghost poked his eye out from Wolf's hood and glanced around.

Shin was tall enough to easily join the physical shield to hide this reality. "What happened?" he asked as Magpie poked his own eye out of his hood.

"We're... not sure. I was dead," Lizard said. "I think... we were all dead."

Shin felt a chill again. But it had to do with remembering something from a few weeks ago when Wolf had had that nightmare that had scared the shit out of him. Cat's Ghost had said something: Wolf stayed up when everyone else went down. That was why she didn't feel like she could ask her friends for help coping with her issues. She was always fine.

"W-why's she's not awake?" he asked, clearing his throat.

"Not sure," Lizard shrugged. "Ghost says she's fine- oh, hey there," he noted when Magpie flew out of Shin's hood and joined Ghost in Wolf's. "Well that's so cute I could barf; if I could barf," he said mildly looking at the Ghosts as they huddled in Wolf's hood and muffler.

"You good to keep holding her?" Shin asked Lizard. He could see the EXO was pretty beat up all things being equal.

"Let her down already today dying in a stupid way. I got her," he said stoically. "Rat already called dibs," he added.

"Yeah, Malphur," and Rat punched his arm maybe a little harder than she needed to.

"Okay. We're set here. We're good to leave," Fox said over comms all at once. "The Hidden and Legion will take it from here."

"Good. Let's get out of this hell hole," Bear grunted.

Shin trailed after Glitterbomb as they left the top of the fortress. The way down had been cleared of all enemies or ones that remained were being kept far at bay with sustained multiple machine gun fire. The promenade was chaos. But Shin hadn't seen so much Light being cast in a long time. The alabaster was burnt from the Light and the dead Hive lay piled on top of each other like fucked up snow drifts. But there were no Hive combatants. With the slaying of their God they were in disarray. At least for a little while and they'd scurried off to the dark places of the Throne World.

"Wait," Shin said before they could go much further.

"What?" Fox asked.

"It's far to get to the transmat zone."

"Well we don't have much choice," she said in some annoyance.

"Mmm, well... not exactly. We're almost right over the LZ honestly, just in the Ascendant Realm, you know," Shin said and that made sense because time and space were weird in the Ascendant Realm.

"And your point?"

"I have a faster way," Shin said.

He could feel them giving him unimpressed looks. "I don't see how but I'll bite," Cat said. "What is it?"

Shin didn't say anything. He just walked a few feet away, tested something with his Hunger and then ripped a huge hole in the Ascendant Realm. And sure enough. Through the hole was the Enclave's familiar cliffs and below was the LZ. "You just gotta jump," Shin said, looking back at them.

"When the fuck you learn to do that?" Rat sputtered at him.

"I wasn't sitting around with my thumbs up my ass while I was gone," Shin scoffed. "Now anyone going to jump? I know you young Guardians love to jump off high places."

"That's really the Enclave?" Lizard asked.

"Yeap."

"Cool," and he went forward.

"Woah there," Bear grabbed Lizard by the shoulder.

"What?" Then Shin was aware they'd changed frequencies to have a conversation privately without Shin. Lizard ended up shrugging off Bear's hand. "You're all overreacting," and in three steps jumped through the hole, still holding Wolf.

"Lizard you little- I hate when he does that shit," Bear growled.

"It's just a hole," Shin said. "And it really shouldn't be kept open like this. Anyone else want to jump? I'm going to go after him in a sec." They all hesitated. "You really want to leave Lizard alone with Wolf when she wakes up?" Shin asked them, raising his eyebrows.

They all jumped through without a word.

Shin followed a second later, grabbing the edges of the hole with his Hunger and turning the hole inside out. For a moment he dangled by one arm in the air of reality as the hole closed itself around his hand. Making sure the fabric of reality was secure he released it and the rift was closed. Shin fell a few hundred feet, catching himself on the Light almost at the last moment.

The LZ was empty save for Ikora but as soon as she saw them she ran up to them. Her Ghost was open with a steady stream of communications coming through it but for the moment she ignored it. "What happened up there?" Ikora asked. "Is she alright?" the worry in her voice for Wolf was thick.

"Ghost says she's fine. She's just unconscious," Cat said, saying it as if to ease everyone's worry.

"What happened?"

Before Cat or Fox could answer Bear put a hand on their shoulders. "With all respect Ikora, can we do this report later?" he asked. "It's been a harrowing few hours. We're all exhausted and Wolf's not even conscious."

Ikora looked torn between knowing that was a reasonable request and wanting to know. "Very well. Go home, clean yourselves up. When Wolf awakens Zavala will have that report."

"Fine," Bear said wearily.

"What's going to happen with the body?" Fox asked.

"We'll be keeping it under watch and putting it somewhere her Ghost can't get to her," Ikora said. "How'd Wolf miss the Ghost?"

"We don't know. We were all down," Fox sighed. Shin didn't say what he was sure all of Glitterbomb was thinking; that Wolf hadn't been able to smash Immaru even if he'd been in her fist. That for all her death and destruction Wolf couldn't kill something as pure as a Ghost made of pure Light, no matter who it served.

"We'll reconvene on this matter in twenty-four," Ikora said, "for now the Hidden will handle the Throne World."

"Sounds good. Lets' get back to the Tower," Fox said and then on a more private channel said, "I want to sleep that entire time," in a bone weay tone. They'd all been keeping up with Wolf these past few months and Wolf was doing her best to run herself into an early grave. Shin was sure they were all exhausted.

Magpie poked out of Wolf's hood and with a shimmer transmatted Wolf out of Lizard's arms. "Ghost isn't good at moving touching objects," Magpie said before anyone could ask why he'd done it. "She's on her ship," and then he pulled Shin up there too.

Wolf was on her lounge looking like she was sleeping in her helmet. Shin stepped over, pulling his helmet off and took a seat on the lounge. He looked over at the Ghosts who were in the cockpit. He could hear Ghost's worried voice and Magpie sounding very calm and reasonable. They were busy flying the ship back to Earth. Shin took Wolf's helmet off so he could look at her.

Like usual when she was working for a long time Ghost had her silver hair pinned up around her head so it'd fit under her helmet. But she just looked like she was sleeping, eyes closed, pale sky blue skin the same hue it always was. Her breathing was even and unvaried and she seemed utterly fine.

He got up from the lounge and went to the cockpit. He leaned around the chair to look at the Ghosts who stopped talking when he appeared. "There's nothing wrong with her?" Shin asked Ghost.

"She scans fin," Ghost said.

"What happened up there?" Ghost hesitated. Shin didn't have time for this. He snatched Ghost out of the air by the shell and brought his optic up to Shin's eye. "What happened up there. We all felt the Light burst. She had a fucking melt down. What happened?"

Ghost's optic shook nervously and then he said, "The rest of Glitterbomb fell even as we were cutting the last threads of Savathun's spell to sever it from the Throne World. Savathun was furious we were doing it, and with showing her the memories of the worm, the truth she'd never known. If the others hadn't hid Savathun would have crushed their Light. So it was just me... and Wolf." His voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "This isn't... the first time this has happened," he admitted.

"What?" Shin asked sharply.

"When she was still fresh and we stumbled into the Vault of Glass. Atheon was like nothing we'd ever fought. It was going to kill us. It killed all our friends and scattered the others to the edges of its Throne. Wolf was the only one still up. Atheon was about to kill her too but--

"It's hard to withstand a nova of pure Light," Shin said softly, his grip relaxing on Ghost's shell.

"Yes," Ghost nodded. "It's-- it's happened a few other times in drastic moments. It leaves her completely drained. Usually we all agree to wait and revive our Guardians once Wolf's recovered. But this is the first time other Guardians have been around to feel it, we couldn't wait. Especially not with Savathun's body laying there."

"What about Immaru? Did Wolf get him?"

"No. After ripping through Savathun she said some cryptic things and in the flash of Light that the Traveler returned to Earth he escaped."

"Could Wolf have done it?"

"Yes. She was angry. I've only seen her that angry after Cayde died. She wouldn't have hesitated snapping Immaru after what Savathun did. Their interactions were uhhhh-- pretty toxic," he added sheepishly.

"How long does it take her to recover?" Shin asked. They were hovering above the Tower now.

"Depends. Less than an hour? The only time it's been insanely urgent was when we fought the Warpriest in the Dreadnaught."

"And Oryx?"

"No. Oryx... basically let us kill him," Ghost said thoughtfully.

Shin let go of Ghost finally. "When was the last time it happened?"

"Hmm," he was thoughtful. "A few years ago? When we fought Xul on Mars? And even before that it had only happened less than the count on one hand," he added.

"Is that how she killed that Devil Archon when she was a two day old?" Shin asked.

"No. She just shot him to death," Ghost said thoughtfully.

"That's honestly way more comforting," Shin muttered making Ghost give a sparkling little laugh and Magpie an amused huff. "And Glitterbomb... doesn't know about this?"

"No. You're the only one who knows, or who's seen her lose control like a few days ago. But Glitterbomb... doesn't know."

"Why not?"

Ghost looked up at him and said the most chilling thing he'd ever heard out of him; "They're already scared of her. She doesn't want to frighten them more."

"W-what?" he coughed.

"You've never seen it. She's... different when striking, or leading an assault somewhere really dangerous, or raiding. They'd never say it out loud but they've seen Wolf do things that should be impossible. That should kill a Guardian. You've seen what it's like when she wants to empower someone. She can keep all of Glitterbomb super charged almost indefinitely. Until they physically can't channel the Light anymore. They know she'd never hurt them or anything but when you realize your little sister is on another level it scares you, what she can do. And during high stake missions she's mmmm- intense. Them knowing she could do that would just frighten them more so we've all agreed to keep it quiet."

Shin didn't exactly blame them. He was just starting to see the insane power output Wolf could generate and yeah, it scared him. It freaked him out like nothing else because it should be impossible. It should, as Ghost said, kill the Guardian doing it. And the Ghosts all agreed not to point a finger Wolf anymore than she already had by announcing that she could just... expend so much pure, unfiltered, unfocused Light that it could kill a god.

He sat down in the pilot seat.

"Shin?" Magpie asked.

"I get it," he said softly, looking at Ghost. "Scares me too sometimes." He looked out at the sky, the ship was pointed towards the City and the Traveler hung there like it always had. Like eight hours ago it hadn't been stolen. Hanging in the blue sky and white clouds it looked peaceful and he felt it looking at it. Below the City was projecting words and pictures on the lower section, he recognized some as short hand for rejoicing or celebration. They did similar things during holidays and after the Red War and the Traveler had broken free of its chains.

He flinched slightly when the familiar voice of not-Dredgen Yor said, "What happens when you can't put a cork on that power huh? Who's going to handle it?"

"Shin?" Magpie asked again, recognizing the sign of a shade.

"Glitterbomb can't even keep up with her. They all fall like little tin toys. You saw what happened when I got a little power. She's so much more." Shin didn't acknowledge the shade or his Ghost and was just staring out the cockpit window. "Hive got a little power and killed galaxies and she kills their greatest gods for fun. Who's going to stop that when she decides she's tired of being nice?"

"Shin," Magpie flew in front of his face. Shin could see not-Dredgen Yor's shiny helmet lowered down to his ear out of the corner of his eye.

"Shh," Shin said, not looking at not-Dredgen Yor but not letting Magpie quiet him either. The way he talked made no sense. It sounded good. But that wasn't right. Shin knew it wasn't right. So what was this shade getting at? This was more than just his anxiety or fears. This was like not-Jaren. Something was talking through this shade's mouth. But it wasn't what used not-Jaren's mouth. They didn't talk the same.

"Finally listening to reason huh?" not-Dredgen Yor chuckled. "We both know when she snaps it'll make what I did look like nothing. A few destroyed towns? A couple of dead Guardians? Girl's already killing gods. She'll level a planet. You can't let that sort of untapped power run wild." Shin's eyes narrowed slightly but he just stayed quiet. Unlike not-Jaren he knew there was no value in talking to not-Dredgen Yor. Jaren had answers; cryptic answers, but he did have them. Not-Dredgen Yor just confused Shin. What was the game? "Only thing that could would be if you could suck up all that power, render it empty-

"Okay that's enough," Shin said and pulled the Last Word out from the holster in his hip and put it through not-Dredgen Yor's head. The shade vanished.

"What was that about!" Magpie cried as Shin picked himself up from the pilot's chair.

"Trying to figure out what these fucking things want," Shin said and shoved his obsidian gun back into the holster.

"What?" Ghost asked as he went back into the cabin where Wolf was still sleeping.

"Shin they're just hallucinations," Magpie said, flying over to him.

Shin looked at him, glanced at Ghost, then back at Magpie. "That place was real," he said. "That was real. They're not all just hallucinations."

"They have to be."

"I saw myself-- my actual self in that Pyramid when we went to Europa," Shin said. "That's never happened before. No. These aren't just my brain fucking with me. Not all of them. Something is maliciously doing this."

"Like what?" Magpie asked worriedly.

"I don't know. Now let's get Wolf to her room. I'm sure the others want to know if she's okay," and he pulled on his helmet. Ghost put Wolf's on and he leaned down, picking her up.

"What did that last shade say?" Magpie asked.

"Insinuated Wolf's going to lose it and the only way to stop her from leveling a planet is if my Hunger Eats all her Light."

"No," Ghost said.

"Yeah! Exactly. Hence why I don't think it's just me because I sure as shit wouldn't think that. Now let's go down to the Tower. Ghost, tell Glitterbomb Wolf's okay and we'll be in her room if they want to come check on her." And with that Magpie transmatted both him and Wolf down to the Tower.

Chapter Text

Like the last time they wee there the Tower was empty. But instead of it being the Hunter's Hour it was just empty because so many Guardians were probably trying to get into the Throne World or were in the City below the Traveler probably throwing a party. Shin just walked to the door, shoved some Light into the key hole and the door opened. He was mindful as Wolf's head as he entered the Wall and her apartment.

Magpie dressed her down to her under layer as Shin laid her down on the bed gently. "How long's it been?" he asked Ghost.

"About forty minutes," Ghost said.

"This is normal?"

"As normal as could be expected," Ghost said slowly. "But I've never tried to wake her up."

"Hmm. Well can't be any worse than her putting an Arc knife in my guts," he mused. Both Ghosts scowled at him. He took a knee on the bed and put a hand on her shoulder, "Wolf. Time to get up." He wasn't expecting much and sure enough she didn't wake. Shin noted Ghost had kept her hair up so he just started taking the pins and snaps out thinking how to best wake someone who wasn't sleeping but just knocked out that didn't involve stupid ideas or slapping them.

He was surprised Wolf's eyes opened while he was in the middle of it and before he could react her hand shot out and grabbed his wrist. He looked down at her and for a moment her eyes were more intense than he'd ever seen them and then after a few seconds they relaxed. She looked up at him, "What are you doing?" she asked in confusion, still holding his wrist.

"Preening, now can I have my hand back? I'm almost done," Shin said. Wolf blinked at him than let him go. He took out two more pins and Wolf's silver hair was free of its restraints. He fluffed it with one hand so it rested naturally around her shoulders before leaning down and kissing her sweetly. She let a low, tired, sigh as she kissed him back.

"I take it the Traveler's where it belongs?" Wolf asked when they parted.

"Yeap."

"Savathun?"

"Hidden's problem now," Shin shrugged. He looked over when Ghost flew over. "Yeah, Ghost?"

"Glitterbomb wants to know if she's awake. They're all really worried."

Wolf sighed tiredly and leaned back on the pillow, "You can tell them I'm alright," she said. "Just had a flare up," she smiled weakly.

"They want to come over."

"Sure," Shin said before she could protest. He grabbed her hand. "They probably need it more than you," he told her. She nodded. "I dunno about you but I'm starving."

"I am a little hungry," Wolf admitted, holding Shin's hand.

"Look at you with a regular appetite," he teased her and Wolf smiled. "Any requests?"

"There any of the cake left?" she asked in a quiet voice.

He chuckled. "Yeah? I think so," he said thoughtfully. "I'll send Ghost with a slice over," and he got up. Reluctantly she let go of his hand and he didn't miss the way her hand was also holding his cloak. He just left the cloak with her. She laid back down and stretched as Shin went to the kitchen.

There was indeed still cake in the fridge. Ghost flitted over and Shin put a plate with a slice of cake on top of his shell, which had to rotate at an angle for it to rest level. "Hold on," he said before Ghost could fly off. He put a fork on the plate even as there was a rapid set of knocking on the door. Ghost wandered away and Shin went to get the door, knowing what he should expect.

He took a step back out of the way as the entirety of Glitterbomb spilled into Wolf's little apartment. "Very dignified," Shin said mildly as they scrambled to put themselves together. "She's on the bed," and pointed. They'd all at least changed out of their Light scored and claw marked armor. A few just in their under layers but at least two had managed to put on some actual clothes.

Shin closed the door as the fireteam went further into the room. He mostly tuned them out as he heard them talking and grabbed stuff from the fridge for food. He had a feeling he'd be feeding Glitterbomb too. He made more rice as Magpie floated over and without asking shimmered in Light to change Shin out of his hungry armor into some regular clothes and started playing some music quietly.

"Everything going good in there?" Shin asked Magpie as he chopped vegetables for the fried rice he was going to make.

"I think she's currently being smothered mostly against her will," Magpie said and that made Shin chuckle. Good. After a minute or so he heard multiple voices from where the bed was but Shin busied himself elsewhere. He knew how worried Glitterbomb were of Wolf. He'd get a minute alone with her later to put his hands on her and assure himself she was as fine as she acted but her friends got to first since they were the ones who'd revived to an unconscious Wolf on the ground.

The food occupied him for a good while, the pan not big enough to cook it all in one go so it took extra time. He spooned some into a bowl for himself and another for Wolf, and left the rest in a big bowl and the pan with a stack of serving bowls next to it.

He came around the edge of the room to see what orientation they'd found themselves in. Wolf was seated in Bear's lap, basically drowning in his huge form. Bear was a black skinned human with a short, tight, fade and a nick on his eyebrow that helped his rugged good looks. He completely dwarfed Wolf who looked like like a kid sister in his lap. Cat and Rat were also on the bed, Cat sitting next to Bear and holding Wolf's hand. At first glance Cat almost looked Awoken with strange ashen skin like they'd been almost completely bleached of color they were so pale and dark gray hair but the eyes gave them away. Cat had piercing gray-purple eyes but not in the glowing way Awoken were, like Wolf's were. Rat was lounged at the foot of the bed. She was darkly tanned, probably more brown than not but her skin was winter touched from living in her helmet with russet brown hair and strange golden eyes for a human.

Lizard noted him first, sitting in a chair he'd dragged over, sensing him only in the way EXOs could sense people without seeing them first. Shin still couldn't get over how intensely orange his chassis was that made his eyes hurt with the pure dark blue racing lines across his scalp. The contrast was a pain to look at he didn't know how Glitterbomb did it. He looked right at Shin. Fox was sitting on Lizard's lap. She was almost purely purple. Pale purple skin, plum colored hair and a sweet cherub face with intensely blue Awoken eyes. She and Lizard made a striking pair all purple, orange and blue.

Fox was talking, motioning with her arms as she did, as Shin came around and stepped between the two groups only to give Wolf her bowl of fried rice. "Thanks," she said cheerfully.

"There's more if you want it," Shin said feeling very watched at that moment. He didn't let it show and just stepped back went to eat on the couch. "Hated that," he muttered to Magpie as he heard them talking again.

"Takes some guts to walk in on a Glitterbomb talk session," Magpie agreed. He did glance over his shoulder when he heard two sets of footsteps go investigate the kitchen. Lizard and Rat had been sent. Shin just pulled out a tablet to occupy himself as there was the soft clinking of bowls and they returned with food for the others.

Shin didn't listen to what they were talking about but he did roll his eyes at Bear going, "Where's the meat in this?"

"Shin's a vegetarian," Wolf said.

"Why?"

"Don't be a baby," and he imagined Cat smacked Bear on the arm from the sound of it. "There's egg in there. Also someone made and is sharing their food, I know whatever Host you trained in as a New Light taught you manners," they huffed.

"I was just saying," Bear said.

"It tastes fine. You don't even notice it doesn't have chicken," Rat said.

"Yeah just shut up and eat it," Lizard grumbled. "At least you can taste it."

"Honey it's not Shin's problem your taste buds are bad. It's well seasoned for organics," Fox said.

The conversation turned away from that after some annoyed noises from Lizard but that went a long way to making Shin relax. Oh good. They probably weren't going to cash in their one free one to off Shin while they were here. Shin just politely ignored them and carried on on his tablet. The news was all about the return of the Traveler. There was even some video capture of the Traveler inside the Throne World and then when it vanished. Shin was surprised by that. More that the Vanguard allowed it and hadn't stamped it out immediately. The relays out on Mars didn't always get up to date news so it was nice to have actual news and not stuff that might be a few days old.

One of the sites he looked at had converted almost wholey over to covering the goings on of the Eliksni district. Apparently while he'd been gone they'd constructed a dust barricade and had completely leveled the entire neighborhood and based on areal videos were rebuilding from the ground up. And Shin didn't know how he'd missed it but there were apparently a bunch of ketches in orbit around Earth now to the benefit of House Light.

Was now a good time? He looked behind him over the back of the couch and Glitterbomb was right where he'd left them. But there was no way it'd go unnoticed and they still had stuff to deal with in the Throne World. That Pyramid was active and needed to be dealt with before anything else happened.

No. Now wasn't a good time. After that.

Before he flicked to another site Shin caught a few lines about some new tech that was coming out of the Eliksni district. Some recording app or something. He didn't think much of it and went back to browsing.

It took a while but eventually Glitterbomb did leave. Shin watched them and for not the first time felt nervous watching Cat interact with Wolf. They held Wolf's face and kissed her all over the face and forehead. Wolf just closed her eyes like she thought it was super embarrassing but let Cat do it. Shin wasn't worried about Cat changing his relationship with Wolf he was nervous because it was like a constant reminder of the first time they'd found him in the Throne World. Cat said Wolf was their precious girl and if Shin pulled some stunt like that again they were going to crush his Ghost in front of his eyes. Shin didn't know a lot about Cat but they were Wolf's Hunter Mentor and had been around since the beginning, fighting every Dark evil Wolf had from the start. He didn't doubt they'd wreck his shit.

Finally they were all gone and the door closed. From the bed Wolf made a loud 'phew' of a sound and flopped down onto the bed. "What? Friends too much?"

Wolf raised her hands and signed in the air, 'I forget how much they can talk sometimes', and that made Shin laugh.

Shin got up from the couch and went over to her. 'Well we don't have to if you don't want,' he signed and sat on the bed.

'I like the quiet.'

'We can be in the quiet,' he said and moved so he was sitting closer to her. She immediately moved to drape herself over his lap, maneuvering until she could press against his chest. Shin showed his tablet, he'd been in the process of watching a show. A Lightless drama he'd been watching on and off for... oh a hundred and twelve years and had been going for that long called Days of our Past. It was a light weight drama where nothing really had any weight but it was nice to see what sort of stupid drama Lightless got into. Wolf didn't say to change it so Shin just let the episode keep playing. He rested his head on hers and they sat in comfortable silence watching as the drama for this series of episodes was about one of the teenagers cheating to pass some entrance exams for the more prestigious City university.

'This is so stupid,' Wolf signed after three episodes.

Shin snorted. 'Yeap.'

'You watch this?'

'For like a century.'

Wolf turned and looked at him. "I'd rather die," she said aloud and that made Shin laugh so hard he fell back onto the pillow. Wolf moved to lay next to him. "Put something else on."

"Mmm, okay," and he found some other show he'd seen mentioned on the net but hadn't watched yet. It was an animated thing. By the end of the first episode Wolf's eyes were huge.

"That's a drawing," she said.

"Yeah."

"That's amazing," she whispered and was en rapt attention to watch the next episode. Shin had more fun watching Wolf than the show really. She was so into it and every now and then when something intense happened she fisted Shin's shirt. It was pretty cute. He knew Wolf was always busy so rarely had time to watch things but he didn't expect her to get this involved in an animated show.

It was late when they finished the season. "And that's that season," he said.

"That's it?" Wolf asked.

"Yeap."

"So... no more?"

"Hmmm," Shin looked to see if they were making more. Usually they were. Animation was cheaper than paying actors. "Looks like they're working on the next season but it won't be out for two years."

"Two years!" Wolf yelled, sitting up.

Shin laughed. "Well yeah. They have to draw all those drawings," he grinned.

"Ugggh," she flopped down on the bed dramatically. "I want to know what happens now," she whined.

"If I knew you were into that stuff I'd have picked a completed one," Shin chuckled. "You hungry?"

"Not really," she laid back down, moody now.

That's when it occurred to Shin. "You're not arguing with me about relaxing," he said.

"The others... beat me down about it," she admitted. "They said I'd killed Savathun and now we're going to let the Hidden deal with the fallout for a few days. After that we can go blow up the Pyramid."

"Oh good. So plenty of time to lay around and watch cartoons huh?"

"Hmmm... this feels like a trap," she said, squinting at Shin.

"I think these days off will be good for you," Shin rubbed her back since she was laying against him again.

"Unless something important comes up," she said.

"Of course. But lets hope with Savathun dead the cosmos can take a fucking break for a few days," he huffed.

"Maybe," she said in a quiet voice.

"Let's watch something else," he said and put a completed show on. It also had twelve seasons. He ended up passing out after a few episodes with Wolf laying on his chest. Worse ways to get a night's sleep.

Chapter Text

The Enclave LZ was empty when they landed. Not a single Hidden or Scout was around and the place was eerily quiet. The only person around was Ikora who was standing at the board covered in leads and connecting lines. Shin stayed a few steps behind as Wolf went over to her.

"Ikora," Wolf said in greeting.

"Ah, Wolf. Have a good few days off?" Ikora asked. Between Shin and Glitterbomb they'd bullied Wolf into taking five days off. Glitterbomb had also taken that time off. It was only because she was wearing a trough in her apartment that Shin agreed she had 'suffered' inactivity enough. The bags under her eyes were significantly reduced and she actually looked relaxed. Or as relaxed as she could all things considered. But Savathun being gone and the body locked away helped a lot for her stress.

"Yes," Wolf said. "Ready for the next thing that needs my attention."

Ikora looked at the lead board. "I don't have to tell you the Pyramid needs investigating," she said.

"Yes. We've been inside before."

"Yes and I've had Xander send his Scouts into that hole in the Pyramid exclusively. From what I understand of the reports there's a strange city in there? An empty city but its' on the edge of the Pyramid. They've mapped what they can but have noticed that they meet a wall all along the side."

"Those are something like worm incubators or something," Wolf said. "We went through and shut down a bunch of their growth chambers."

"Yes but I don't think that's all there is. The Scouts report a heavily defended gate that leads to the Pyramid properly, not just a hole torn in the side as we've been getting in now," Ikora pointed at something on the board but Shin wasn't at an angle he could see what it was.

"Shin said there's something in the Pyramid," Wolf said after she looked at the picture. "It isn't like the one on the moon or Europa. It has a... pilot? Occupant at least."

Ikora looked over at Shin. "And?"

"That's literally it," he shrugged.

"And that wasn't triggered by that Scorn Baron? The one running the worm incubators?" Ikora looked briefly at Wolf.

"It isn't. Scorn don't-- mean anything?" Shin said, not quite sure himself.

Ikora was quiet a moment. "How do you know?"

"That's a like three hour conversation I don't have time for," he huffed. Wolf laughed quietly. "Or want to have to be honest," he shrugged.

"So we just trust you that there's some sort of presence in the Pyramid?"

Shin rolled his eyes, tilting his head back so it was obvious in his helmet. "I don't lie for fun. Also what'd it gain me if I did?"

"The rest of us felt something while in the Pyramid as well," Wolf said. "Didn't know how to describe it. But Shin saying its some presence makes sense."

"It hasn't come up in a report."

"How many Scouts use Stasis?"

"Not many," Ikora admitted. "We discourage Guardians from attempting to use Stasis." Wolf nodded, she got it.

"We can only sense it because we can use Stasis. Same with the Enclave," Wolf said and Ikora frowned. "So we need to get past that gate?" she continued.

"Yes."

"Any idea what's beyond it?"

"Reports indicate swamp and some buildings that run up to the Pyramid. But the walls surrounding it are too high to jump and no ships in the Throne World."

"So we don't know."

"No," she admitted.

Wolf was quiet for a moment. "I want a big strike team," she said.

"Hm? Yes of course, take all of your clan-

"No," Wolf said, "I want more than that."

Ikora just looked confused. "Why? You've never asked for more before."

"Because I'm tired," Wolf said with such a bone weariness Ikora blinked, taken aback. "And the Pyramid is huge. There's a city. How are six of us going to find this thing in it by ourselves? It will take us days at the least. We've only just finished mapping the top of the Throne World and some of the underground tunnels, and that's with every Scout and Hidden helping. No, you're going to authorize a large strike force to raid the Pyramid under my leadership."

Ikora didn't say anything at first. "I cannot, in good conscious, force anyone to enter the Pyramid. But I'm sure we will get plenty of volunteers if I mention it," she added before Wolf could get upset.

"Probably," she agreed. "Glitterbomb and I will get the door open. Send out message that anyone who wants to join to meet us there. They have an hour, enough time for anyone in the Throne World or on Earth to show up."

"You're going now?" Ikora asked.

"Yes? Of course we are. Savathun locked that Pyramid in her Throne World for a reason. Whatever is in there needs to be dealt with now. Also make sure everyone who joins us knows they may not come back."

"Wolf that isn't-

"It is a reasonable expectation when going on a raid into the unknown," Wolf cut her off. "Glitterbomb always goes into this stuff knowing it might be the last time we might not come back out. It would be a disservice to those volunteering to not have them prepared. Either they come out, or their Light is scattered. This is serious, and dangerous." Ikora said nothing. "We do this all the time, Ikora. Don't get cold feet now. You and Zavala send me and my friends into what could be our real deaths all the time."

Her eyebrows showed more emotion than Shin had seen in literally centuries. "I know," Ikora said gravely. "And you're right. It would be rude to not let them know what stakes there are. I will send out the broadcast. Only Scouts and Hidden may join you, other Guardians I'm not sure will have what it takes."

"Very well. We'll be going then," and Wolf transmatted away. Magpie pulled Shin away after her.

"Taking the fun way huh?" Shin asked. They'd chain transmatted across the planet to the big Cabal cannon.

"Might as well get some fun in," she said. Ghost spoke to the Cabal Valus in charge and he was delighted to shoot some Guardians out of his cannon.

"Glitterbomb's already there waiting," Wolf said over comms as they stepped into the cannon. Shin had taken this way only a handful of times. He preferred to just walk. It made him nervous.

"How many people you think will show?"

"Hopefully enough," she sighed. "And hopefully they can take fucking direction," the cannon's chamber closed.

"You ready to handle that many people?"

"We'll manage," Ghost said as the cannon fired and they were launched out into the open Martian space. Guardians and Cabal had blown some holes in the Throne World's outer shell so it was more direct to get into than navigating the underbelly of the Throne World. The hole spat them out over the cliffs overlooking the swamp area claimed by the Scorn that also housed the Pyramid. It'd been officially marked on maps as the Miasma.

They jumped down from the cliffs and summoned their sparrows. This was well tread ground for Guardians. They drove past furious Scorn that shot at them and skimmed across the top of swamp water, dodging around trees and Scorn shots. It took a minute or two to reach the gate. Shin had been here before and it was normally guarded by some Lucent Hive Knights. And they were there this time too. But so was Glitterbomb, all parked and sitting on their sparrows under a rock outcrop, watching the gate.

"So what'd Ikora say?"

"She said she can't force anyone to enter the Pyramid, but she put the call out for volunteers," Wolf said with not a bit of scorn. Shin had never heard Wolf use that tone when talking about the Vanguard.

There were various groans and gross noises from Glitterbomb. "Can't make anyone go but sure as shit make sure we go," Rat said.

"God killing squad never gets to volunteer," Bear also grumbled.

"You find anything out?" Ghost asked.

"Yeah we poked their defenses a bit. The Lucent Knights call for back up and then a shade of Savathun shows up," Fox said. "It's not really her, its like those things we fought in the Psion mental world things," he said in a way that was very unhelpful to Shin. What? "But about as real as when we'd fight echoes of Oryx."

"She seems to only have a few moves she can use too," Lizard said. "We poked her a bit. Then when we backed off the alarm went down, it disappeared."

"Well we told Ikora they had an hour to meet us at the Pyramid. Let's deal with this," Ghost said.

"No saying the echo and alarm won't trigger again," Lizard said.

"If they can't deal with an echo they aren't up to handle what is going to be going on inside that Pyramid," Wolf said. There was some muttered agreement.

Wolf got off her sparrow and jogged towards the gate. The others followed suit. Two gave Shin a look as he followed. He was just one of the bigger strike team he just happened to show up immediately. He didn't want Wolf going into that place without him.

The Lucent Knights spotted them and sent boomer fire towards them. They returned fire even as a rod in the middle of the gate house glowed. The echo of Savathun appeared, huge and fully formed. Shin had never seen Savathun and was taken aback, hesitating a moment. Didn't last long.

Glitterbomb crashed into the Lucent Knights, turning their bodies into heaps and shattering their Ghosts that squealed as they were snapped. Even as they did Hive started coming out of the walls and Savathun's echo rained down Arc lightning from on high. But like Lizard said she could only do a handful of things. "Everyone with single target capabilities lay into her," Ghost said. "The rest handle the fodder."

Shin looked at the Last Word in his hand, well that was him wasn't it? He was just thinking that as a huge Nova Bomb collided with the echo. Shin fired a dozen Golden Gun shots into her to finish her off. "That wasn't too bad," Lizard said as they mopped up the remaining Hive. "Not the most annoying gate we've opened either," he added as the gate slowly opened inwards.

They went through but the Pyramid was still a ways off. Sparrows were resummoned and they sped off into the swamp. It was easy to get lost and they did a few times. Took a wrong turn, drove past a building they thought led somewhere. "What the fuck is that?" Shin asked when they came to a clearing with some black structures. In the clearing was a spindle of black spinning darkness material.

"Key of some sort," Ghost said.

"Bet it needs to be charged," Fox said.

"Don't get too close," Rat advised everyone. "We see anything?"

Without venturing too close everyone looked around. Shin went around a long way and found... something. "I got something," he said over comms.

"What is it?" Fox asked.

"Looks like a Darkness shard," he said. "Should I touch it?" There was silence. "Should I?"

Someone came up behind him. It was Bear. He looked at the glowing shard. "Eh, better you than me, string bean," he told Shin. Shin reached out and took it. He almost dropped it. Instead he just backed up into Bear. Bear put a hand on his shoulder. "What'd it do?"

"It powers the boat," Shin said. "And-" and everyone drew their weapons as corrupt ether flooded the clearing and started to collect into Scorn. But the shard told Shin exactly what they were supposed to do. It somehow gave him the understanding.

"Anyone else going blind?" Fox asked even as everyone laid into the Scorn that had appeared. The rest of Glitterbomb agreed.

"Get close to the boat," he said. "It's the ether, somehow."

"How do you know?"

"The shard told me? That's all I can explain it as," Shin said even as he was shooting Scorn almost as fast as they appeared.

"I like having a test subject that's not one of us," Rat said and Glitterbomb all laughed.

"Abomination spawning in," Ghost said.

"Focus it down," Shin said. Not quite sure why but he felt it was important. Bear ended up smashing it to pieces with his flaming maul.

"Hey look, one of those shards," Bear pointed at the shard sticking out of the abomination's neck. "Didn't hurt, Malphur?"

"No."

Bear picked it up. "Well damn," he said, not even flinching like Shin had. He waded through the screebs trying to explode on him, bashing each with his hammer as he went, and approached Shin. He offered him the second shard.

"What's that for?" Shin asked him.

"Feels like you'll know," Bear said.

Shin took the shard. "These things are really starting to freak me out," he said.

"Welcome to a Glitterbomb raid," Bear chuckled as another abomination pulled itself from the ether covering the ground. This shard told Shin more about the boat. It needed to be powered by these shards. The shards came out of the abominations and other Scorn. The boat with the spindle was a key to a lock to the Pyramid up ahead. He was annoyed that the reason escaped him. But once the spindle was charged enough it'd seek out higher charge shards, stopping accepting lower powered ones.

Lizard grabbed this shard once the abomination was killed and brought it over to Shin. He took it. "How many more of these we gotta kill?" he asked Shin.

"Enough to charge the spindle," Shin said and explained what the previous shard had given him. That they'd know when it was enough because the boat would move on its own. This third shard gave him the knowledge of why this thing was here in the first place. Savathun had ripped it out of the key hole shortly after she'd returned to the Throne World and met with the occupant of the Pyramid. The Scorn couldn't charge the spindle themselves but the shards grew on them and aggravated their biology enough to transform them into abominations. "This thing wants us to charge it," he said as he explained the rest.

"Then why the fuck are they attacking us?" Rat growled.

"Because they're Scorn and stupid," Shin went to the spindle. All along the base of the boat were slots for the shards. He slotted the three he had into them. The clarity he'd had before left him. He could still remember but the crystal clear understanding was gone.

"So how many more?" Cat asked.

"At this charge level six more," Shin said. "They can also appear on not abominations. Check your kills," he said even as he shot a Scorn running at him in the face.

With that everyone started checking corpses and indeed found some among the dead as another abomination was forming from the ether network. Four more were added before the abomination was killed. The last one Wolf slotted in from a normal Scorn. They all jumped in surprise when the spindle started spinning faster, throwing off strange flecks of Darkness like butterflies and the boat hummed. Then the boat shifted and sped off at a significant speed away from them and the Scorn.

"Hey!"

"Don't lose it," Wolf ordered and was already pulling he sparrow up under her and sped after it. The others followed suit even as more Scorn were starting to fester. The boat was fast and didn't care about foliage. It just barreled through whatever looking for the source of more power. It finally stopped at another series of buildings.

"So now what?" Fox asked.

"Rinse and repeat," Wolf said. "There's gotta be a stronger shard around here." And they spread out to find it. Cat ended up finding it and slotted it into the boat even as dark ether flowed across the ground, corrupting their helmet visors, making them go blind slowly if they strayed too far from the boat. Now that everyone knew what to do it was quick and painless to get the shards into the boat.

Once the boat was charged it flew off at even more speed and they had to jump onto their sparrows to keep up again.

This happened several more times before they arrived at the base of the Pyramid that was sitting in the mud of the swamp. They charged the spindle and it rocketed across the swamp towards an opening in the Pyramid, ramming itself into a keyhole. Shin almost missed seeing it it'd happened so fast.

The door leading into the Pyramid opened. "Hold," Wolf said before anyone could go in. "I told Ikora we'd wait for others at the Pyramid. How long's it been?" she asked Ghost.

"Half an hour," he said.

"They have thirty minutes to potentially fight an echo and make it here," Wolf said. "Put out a beacon," she told Ghost. He nodded and expanded, his core flashing now and then. It'd appear to any friendlies within so much area and help guide their big strike team here.

"You think we'll get exact instructions inside too?" Fox asked as she leaned across the handle bars of her sparrow.

"Doubtful," Bear said.

"Damn. I liked that. More big bads need to give us explicit instructions on how to kill them," she laughed.

"I'm going to investigate the very inside," Cat said.

"Be careful," Fox said.

"This is me you're talking to."

"Exactly."

Cat just chuckled and with a heel turn became completely invisible and Shin assumed went into the Pyramid. Not for the first time Shin was jealous of Nightstalker's ability to go invisible. Made tracking your targets so much easier.

"How many you think will show up?" Rat asked.

"Enough," Wolf said.

"We going to run normal group or everyone going to handle some normies?"

"Depends on how many show and how big this place is."

"It's a Pyramid, it's massive, bigger than you expect," Shin said.

"And you're the expert, huh," Rat said sarcastically.

"That's enough," Wolf said before Shin could bite back. "Everyone brings their own knowledge. Let's not bitch about who knows what."

"Speaking of. Those knowledge spikes. How'd they work?" Fox asked Shin.

Shin did his best to explain them and Fox and Lizard listened most intently. "So do you still remember?" Fox asked.

"Yeah? But its already fading. Its like- like dream memory. You remember in the moment but after it slowly slips away," Shin said.

"Hmm."

They all perked up when an on fire sparrow zipped up to them. It was a Warlock, Hidden by their gear. "Am I the first to arrive?" they asked over local comms.

"Yeah. How was the gate? The alarm reset?" Fox asked.

"You mean the apparition of Savathun? Yes. But the door was open, I just rode through." They looked up at the great door. "We're waiting for others yes?"

"Yes," Fox said.

And more came. A lot more than Shin expected honestly. About twenty Guardians had answered the call Wolf had put out. Unlike the Warlock they all came at once and without the flaming sparrow. It was a collection of Hidden and Scouts so there was the whole band of classes. "And that's an hour," Ghost said and closed, turning off his ping. "Everyone you are joining a Glitterbomb ops meaning that without question you will be following the instruction of one of Glitterbomb or the Ghosts. If you can't do that you can leave." No one moved. "Good. Then I assume you all can understand instructions. You are to keep a member of Glitterbomb in your sights at all times inside the Pyramid. If for some reason we have to split up it will be orderly. For now marching line is Glitterbomb first and you all behind. No sparrows. Do not touch anything. Don't shoot anything. Keep comms quiet. This is not just enemy territory this is the lair of Darkness we are entering. Any questions?" None came forth. "Great."

Glitterbomb got off their sparrows and finally followed Cat into the Pyramid. They were broadcasting a local waypoint so everyone knew to come to them.

This Pyramid was different than Shin's. He realized that instantly. This one had objects in it. Pots and devices and as they entered a large room the walls had been painted in garish colors. "What you make of all this?" Fox asked Cat.

"Think the host has an interior decorating kick," Cat said.

"Point of entry?"

"All doors are sealed but it looks like something ripped the hinges off a door in the floor. It's open," they went over to the hole in the floor and the Guardians all crowded around behind him.

"Not the highest jump we've done," Lizard said.

Wolf didn't say anything she just stepped off the edge and dropped like a stone. Shin followed in the same step as the rest of Glitterbomb. The Guardians above hesitated before following.

Glitterbomb all managed to land lightly. Shin came in a bit hot, not used to falling such a height, and shattered one of his legs. Magpie healed it almost instantly he didn't even have a chance to feel it. About half of the Guardians landed lightly the others didn't check their speed and ate shit, the force of impact making their bounce comically off the ground. There was a muttering of annoyed Ghosts as they revived their Guardians from such an ungraceful death.

There was only one way to go and they walked down the hall into a chamber that at first looked like nothing. "Oh gross," someone said as they walked past slices of worms encased in some sort of container. These were bigger than any Shin had ever seen and weren't like the little things that infested a Hive.

"Don't like that," Fox said looking at the worm.

"Who'd do that? Why?" Lizard asked.

"Someone who either doesn't like Hive worms or someone with an obsession for them," one of the Hidden Warlocks said. Several Ghosts came out to photograph and record the cut up worm.

"Well the Pyramid does house worm growing chambers so I'd say obsession," Bear said.

Shin looked away from the worm as he... felt something. "We're being watched," he said and that got everyone's guns up.

"Where, who?"

"No idea. But we are," he looked around the edges, the ceiling.

"So many intruders... Or perhaps you are guests?" a masculine voice said and Shin felt not a few of the Guardians call the Light to their hands feeling safer with the Light than a gun. "A little rude of you to barge without so much as an introduction, but I'll pardon this," it said mockingly. "It's not as if you will be staying here very long. Enjoy yourselves," The presence retreated and Shin didn't feel it watching them anymore.

"I hate when they monologue," Fox said.

"Who the fuck was that?" one of the Scouts asked.

"No idea," Fox said.

"Our target," Ghost said. "Now we move forward," and Wolf stepped away from the group.

"So how do we even know what we're looking for?" someone asked softly.

"We don't. But we'll find our way there," Ghost said.

"Big bads love the drama of fighting Guardians. Trust me, it'll be obvious," Rat sighed as they left the worm room and entered a part of the Pyramid where they could see a long way into it but not inside one of the rooms. "See, told you!"

Out in the distance in what was probably the center of the Pyramid was an enormous worm curled and coiled around a floating brick, its mouth open around a beam of orange energy. If it was coming out of the worm or going into it was impossible to tell at this distance. Another huge worm lay coiled across the ground between them and the energy but was still faded by the distance. The sizes and distances of the worms and the Pyramid made it almost impossible to gauge how far away it actually was.

"Worm gods," Bear said.

"From what we know about the Worms I doubt they're gods. Just mature worms," Fox said.

"A-are we going to fight that thing?" someone asked.

"If we have to," Ghost said.

"We should investigate down there."

"Yeah see if we can get close and tell what's going on."

"No," Ghost said.

"But we could find a way there-

"We are not splitting the group. If we send Scouts out there and they get in trouble we can't help them, we won't help them," Ghost said and the protesting ended. "Everyone is to stay together. There will be a way to that place. Our... host wants to toy with us."

"It could be a straight shot."

"Keep arguing and you're out," Wolf said in a tone Shin had never heard. "There is no arguing. We do it my way or you get the fuck out of my strike. Get yourself killed on your own time, not mine." There was no more arguing. "Make sure everyone follows," she told Glitterbomb.

"Roger," Bear said as they walked into another room.

"My, my, arguing already?" the voice said as they entered a room of strange painted walls and odd statues of panels where something was inside them. "It would be a real shame if your morale broke now. You've come so far and yet have so far yet to go..."

"That's going to get annoying sooner rather than later," Lizard said as they paused briefly to look at the strange statues.

"At least Oryx didn't talk shit when we were on our way to kill him," Rat said.

"Something tells me whatever this is isn't as noble as the Taken King," a Scout said and the group laughed.

All the lights went off in the room. "Oh, someone's sensitive," someone else sneered.

"Everyone quiet, do you hear that?" Ghost said. Everyone fell silent.

"Scorn," Cat said even as the hiss of tainted ether came over them. "Little light would be nice you know."

"Oh, sorry," and in an instant Fox burst into a sunbeam, startling not just the Guardians but the Scorn that were seeping in from the far door. She had a sword like a rapier in her hand and it was made of pure radiant Light, the blade so bright it was white. It completely illuminated the room as the Scorn coalesced from the ether.

They were ripped apart screaming in seconds as bullets shattered their bodies.

"Well this answers the question of who's controlling the Scorn with Fikrul and Uldren dead," Ghost said. "Keep moving. There's a doorway up ahead."

They followed Wolf's cloak to a new room filled with more paintings and art. The lights were on here. As soon as they entered though the lights went off. "God it's so petty," someone said.

"Can you do anything?" Shin started by the sudden private communication by Ghost.

"Like what?"

"Well you did something at the Pyramid in Europa," he said.

"Uhhh... maybe?" That was different. That was his Pyramid. This Pyramid belonged to someone else. And they were in full control of it.

"Anyone see a door out of this place?" Fox asked, holding her rapier above her head. Several other Solar Guardians had created lights that cast flickering shadows across the room making the exact size and shape of it confusing not helped by the decorative plaques in the room.

"Give it a try. It'd be helpful to not have to stumble around blindly," Ghost said.

Using a light on the tip of his finger Shin left the group as Ghosts and Guardians looked at the plaques and strange designs around the room. He went over to a wall not covered in gaudy paintings and leaned against it pressing his hand flat against it like he would in the Europa Pyramid.

While the Pyramid didn't react to him it did reach out to him. A deep, dark, terrible feeling washed over him and he jerked back from the wall. He looked at the black wall but it gave him nothing. He put his hand back on the wall and let the evil feeling creep back over him. He hated the feeling. The Pyramid here was at least like the one one Europa... alive... in a way. Not that it was sentient but it was somehow aware. And it recognized the deep darkness in him too.

The lights came on.

"There's a door here," someone said over comms. "Its closed though. Any ideas?"

"Well if push comes to shove we'll just blast it open," Rat said.

"I don't think that will be necessary," Ghost said.

"You think these paintings are important?" a Warlock asked. Shin didn't see who asked it but only a Warlock would ask something like that.

"Maybe."

Shin pulled his hand off the wall as they talked about the paintings. As he went to join them by the door he had to pass the strange iconography. They were surprisingly well made. Whatever this entity was had a lot of time on their hands.

"I wonder if the paintings will tell us more about whatever's in here."

"It matter? We're here to kill it."

"Might give us a clue since we're going in blind."

Shin stepped up to the door and didn't even have to touch it. The Pyramid recognized like and opened in front of him. He wasn't sure he liked that. He could sense their 'host' watching them and could tell it didn't like it either. It was just a feeling he got.

"Leave the paintings, we're heading out," Ghost said.

Beyond the gallery was another one. This one open to the inside of the Pyramid. In the distance they could see the worm and the orange beam but closer there was a display of a huge bone bigger than most Earth whales cradled on top of a pair of towering trapezoids. "Whatever lives here sure has a flair for the dramatic," someone said. The rest of the space was filled with other statues of animals that looked nothing of Earth. Dotted around were doorways marked by vibrant iconography that had to lead to other galleries. Scorn milled about the strange open gallery not quite looking at the art or maybe looking at it very carefully.

"I'd say an artist," Shin said. "A really shitty, bored, artist." There was some laughter from that.

"How you want to handle it?" Bear asked.

"Everyone take a couple new guys, fan out and find a door. Something tells me there's going to be a specific way we unlock whatever we find," Ghost said.

"Must be annoying if you lose your keys," someone said.

"Bet it's to keep out the neighbors."

"I'd want to keep the Hive out too!" There was some laughter at that.

"Quiet," Wolf said sharply. "This is serious. Stop dicking around and go with your assigned clan member. Deal with any Scorn you come across."

Shin was 'randomly' assigned with Lizard. He went over to the EXO. "What are we looking for exactly?"

"A door."

"Yeah but that's boring," Shin scoffed. It hadn't escaped Shin's notice that Lizard had been given all the Warlocks and Shin. So a bunch of smart guys and then the guy who would commune with the Pyramid.

Lizard's intense helmet turned to him just a fraction as they moved around the room. "We're to find out more about our host," Lizard said.

Shin looked behind them at the five Warlocks gathering around. His face soured at seeing one of them but he turned back around to ignore him. "They know that yet?"

"Nope," Lizard said and they watched the other groups break off. Wolf was left alone and she jumped up onto something above them. Shin looked up and saw her drop down into a squat on a mantle above them. So she was just watching over everything for the time being.

"We going to go find that door?" one of the Warlocks asked.

"Nope," Lizard said. "You're all coming with me," and he headed back into the room they'd just come from. "There are more doors to explore. So we're going to explore."

"But they were closed and locked."

"Don't worry. I got a key," Lizard said and patted Shin's shoulder. "We'll let the Hunters and Titans bash their heads against the door. We're going to see what we can find out about our sensitive host."

"But the Young Wolf said don't split the fireteam," someone said.

"She also said follow your clan member. Now hurry up so you don't get lost," Lizard said and there was some muttering but they were followed. Shin didn't like leaving Wolf alone but knew it was more helpful if he went with Lizard so kept up with him as they entered the gallery again.

Chapter Text

"So what do you make of all the art?" Lizard asked as they entered the previous gallery.

"Shouldn't we be helping the others?"

"We are. It's called recon," Lizard scoffed. "Hidden could learn a thing or two."

"Hey, I know what recon is," Shin winced at Savant's voice.

"Well it doesn't resemble any Earth iconography," one of the Warlocks said standing in front of one of the plaques. "But it clearly has meaning."

"I don't think there's much to learn in here," Shin said.

"How you figure that?"

He shrugged. "Not an important room."

"How you figure that?" they asked again.

"Let's keep the stupid questions to a minimum," Lizard said.

"Well how can we just trust someone on their word?"

"Because I trust his word," Lizard said in an annoyed rasp. "And I also agree. There's nothing here that tells us about our host. Bird get a shot of all these pieces and send them to Wolf since they show up in her gallery too." Lizard's camo painted Ghost did a flyby of all the paintings and snapped pictures of each one. "Let's find another door, saw one in the previous room," and they left the room. As they did Shin saw Bird zip back into Lizard's pocket. Glitterbomb really needed to relax with the fucking animal names for everyone. As if he had any room to talk with a Ghost named Magpie.

"I've read reports that the Pyramids can change what their geometry is like on the inside. That true?" Savant asked.

"Yes," Lizard said.

"So how will we make sure we can get back to the others?"

"I'm not worried about it."

"We are," Savant said nervously.

"I wouldn't let us get lost," Lizard said reassuringly. "This isn't the first labyrinth world I've navigated."

They arrived back at the strange statue gallery of bodies frozen between fogged panes. Shin stood in front of one and looked at it. It wasn't any sort of Earthly creature and whatever alien it was was long dead. The thing that lived in the Pyramid must know exactly what was in here because there wasn't even a note of what it had been and the features were impossible to tell. Some had two legs. Others looked almost like worms.

"Shin," Lizard said, pulling his attention from the strange display.

"Yeah yeah, coming," he stepped away from the statue and joined Lizard by the door. He wasn't the only one looking at the strange statues.

This door didn't open right away but it did when he put his hand on it. "How'd you do that?" one of the Warlocks asked.

"He's special," Savant said smugly.

"Traveler, shut up," he groaned and Savant laughed which made some of the others chuckle as well.

The hallway they found themselves in was triangular in shape with lights along the bottom but was otherwise completely dark. The door didn't close after them. The hallway ended in a dead end except it didn't. "Everyone gather around quick," Lizard said and none too soon as the floor shot up under them and launched them up to a higher level above the buildings they'd been transversing to another story.

"How'd you know it'd do that?"

"Lucky guess. Other guess was it'd fall out," Lizard said.

"So we'd all plummet to our deaths together?"

"Better with me than staying up there alone," Lizard said with a shrug and stepped off the lift onto the new platform that led to yet more rooms. This room had huge grated windows that gave a good view of the worm in the distance and the huge dark city inside the Pyramid.

"What's the point of the city," someone asked, standing at the window looking out.

"Savathun locked whatever is in here in here. Probably bored," Lizard said.

"I can see the part of the Pyramid where it opens into the Throne World over there," Savant pointed out into the distance. "Xander's sent Scouts out there to investigate the worm production facilities there. You think once we kill whatever is in here that will shut down?" he asked.

"Unless it's automated. But I don't think Savathun's very interested in worming her people after our last battle," Lizard said gravely but no one but Shin and Savant would understand; the lie of the worms to the Hive. "If she ever gets revived I mean," he added.

The next few rooms were similar to the ones they'd seen before. Different garish paintings and strange sculptures. Lots of sun motifs and repeating paintings. The designs were strongly colored to contrast how dark and dank the Pyramid itself was. Strange statues of creatures started appearing more in the rooms and so did the pottery and metal and Pyramid material jars. But they found no enemies and their host wasn't interested in them.

"We've moved through here pretty easily," Lizard said to Shin.

"He's not looking at us," Shin said. They were standing in front of a statue that looked like a horse but it was very much not a horse. "Whatever the others are doing in that big gallery is distracting him."

"We need to find some sort of access terminal. Something to give us some insight."

"I'm sure this place has a library," someone chimed in helpfully.

"Yeah how we going to find that?" someone else grumbled.

"Well the geometry moves," Savant said, "so we just have to hope it moves right?"

"Can you do that?" Lizard asked over private comms.

"What?"

"Wolf said you can do shit. Can you move stuff?"

"I-- don't know?"

"I have a feeling most of these are empty and full of stuff for his ego. So unless we find a library or some sort of terminal we're going to find a whole lot of nothing," Lizard said gravely.

Shin looked at the five other Warlocks milling around looking at the ugly statues. "Keep 'em walking. I don't want them around while I work."

"Why?"

"Because I dunno what I'm doing."

Lizard chuckled. "Never pegged you as self conscious type," he said.

"I don't need any more rumors about me than this is already going to make, okay?"

"Eh, I get that. Fair enough." Then over the group comms Lizard said, "Okay we're moving to the next room. Don't dawdle."

Shin hung back as they followed Lizard. "You coming?" Savant asked.

"Part of the plan. Go on," Shin said to make him leave. He sure as shit didn't want Savant around while he tried to do anything.

"... Okay. Don't get lost," and he left the room.

Once they were all gone Shin went and sat on a set of steps that led nowhere. Magpie flew out of his belt pouch. "So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know," Shin sighed. He pulled his helmet off and rubbed his face. "I dunno how long it'll take either if I can." Then he sighed deeper and looked up at Magpie. "Can you leave?"

"What?" Magpie asked, aghast.

"I want you to go with the Warlocks for a while."

"Why?"

"Because you're not going to like what I'm going to do. It's better if you don't stay so you don't worry."

"I will still worry!"

"Magpie, just go," he said.

Magpie spun his back piece back and worth in aggitation. "As soon as you're done you ping a transmat beacon and I'll be right there," he said.

Shin smiled slightly. "I know, buddy," he said, "now go on."

Magpie still looked worried but he did fly off quickly after the Warlocks.

"Fuck this is so stupid," Shin said and rubbed his face with one hand before he got up. He pulled on his helmet and called upon Hunger letting it fill him to the brim, its sharp teeth curling around the spark of his Light like it was savoring a jawbreaker. "Jaren?" he asked the empty air. Nothing. "Or whatever the fuck you are?" Nothing again. He rolled his eyes. "You never want to talk when I want to talk. Your lackies are causing me problems."

"Well that sounds entirely like a you problem, kiddo," and Shin looked over at one of the statues that was and wasn't a horse and there was the figure of not-Jaren in his Dark Ages gear. Always so perfect down to the last detail Shin could remember even after all the centuries including that scratch across the visor. He was leaning against the statue at a nearly impossible angle, arms folded.

"Well I'm making it your problem," Shin said.

"Cosmic forces don't have problems, kiddo," not-Jaren chuckled.

"They do if they might real death me," Shin said seriously.

Not-Jaren scoffed. "So dramatic. Kassandra wouldn't let you die. Real treat she is about that. I don't even gotta keep an eye on you."

Shin gave him an annoyed look through his helmet. "Who is this?"

"Below my capacity to care so who knows."

"Obviously they work for the... Witness?"

"Probably."

"So?"

"So, what?"

"What can we expect?"

"Mucking with the Hive? Something older than them. Something powerful. But been stuck here a while. Neglected. Rejected." Not-Jaren looked up at the statue. "Bored fool who likes to play with its food. You should Eat them first."

Shin got goosebumps. "I don't do that and I ain't doing that," Shin said.

"Of course," not-Jaren said like it was inconsequential what Shin wanted.

"I can sort of control this place," Shin said and not-Jaren nodded. "How come?" Not-Jaren didn't answer right away. "I won't like the answer huh?"

"Not so much."

"Just tell me," Shin sighed, folding his arms.

"It's toying with you."

"The thing in the Pyramid?"

"No."

Well that just left one option for what 'it' was. The Witness. "Well that sucks," Shin said.

"Told you. Just remember who you belong to, kiddo," not-Jaren added, for a moment his voice slipping and many voices poured out, jumbling all together in an overlapping wave that made Shin's ears ring.

"Doesn't explain why I can use the Pyramid. Thought it was just the one on Europa."

"When you get the keys to the sparrow it works for them all," not-Jaren said. "You're just fighting with the current driver."

"So just... fuck around and find out?"

"Smart boy," not-Jaren gave him a finger gun.

"You're not so annoying when you actually answer my questions you know."

"Your questions are just so boring," not-Jaren stood up from the statue. "Ask some better ones next time," and he was gone.

"Fucking guy," Shin muttered and pinged his Ghost as he said he would.

Magpie appeared in moments. "What happened? What'd you do? Are you okay?" and Magpie quickly scanned him.

"I'm fine ya worrywart," Shin said, grabbing him out of the air and just lightly holding him so he could run his thumb along one of Magpie's fins. "Lizard you hear me?"

"I hear ya," Lizard said.

"Making some progress. Don't get too far ahead. I'll have more to report in a few."

"Roger. We'll loop back around. There isn't much to see."

Once he'd pet Magpie a bit more he released him. Magpie shook all his fins like he didn't know what to do with himself and then darted unto Shin's hood to hide in his scarf. Shin decided the best thing to do was close his eyes. He couldn't see what he needed anyway so having his eyes open didn't help at all. He also couldn't see anything around him either but it was just... a feeling. Blind intuition. "Where's the library?" he asked the Pyramid quietly.

"Shin?"

"Shh," he shushed his Ghost gently. But the Pyramid gave him nothing. Just... confusion? Well this was a big place, big enough to house a dark city, and this thing in the Pyramid seemed the megalomania type. "Where's a library?" he asked this time.

He opened his eyes at the sound of stone grinding and watched the far wall open and platforms made of the Pyramid rose up and around it to create a pathway off and away. "Wow. How'd you do that?" Magpie asked.

"You don't want to know. It's stupid," Shin said and contacted Lizard. "I have a pathway to a library? Possibly."

"On our way."

Shin only ventured a dozen or so feet down the new pathway before the Warlocks appeared. "That wasn't there before," one said.

"Yes. Amazing deduction," Lizard said sarcastically. "Library?" he asked Shin.

"Or as close to this thing understanding what a 'library' is. It might not be books but it will have knowledge," Shin said thoughtfully.

"Great then let's-

"Shin can you read me?" Ghost's voice cut over comms.

"I hear you," Shin said, narrowing the link so it was private. He waved the Warlocks through his pathway.

"We need you down at the art gallery."

"Why?"

"Wolf's getting frustrated."

"Just tell Lizard. I'm coming," Shin said and started back tracking.

"Just stay with her once you get there. I'll call when we need a direct route out," Lizard said as he left. Shin gave an affirmative.

He went down the hallway, jumped back down to the previous floor, through the gallery full of statues and plaques, and into the large gallery with the enormous bone. There was fighting going on now. Scorn were pouring out of different rooms and being wasted, their bodies piling up, while barely noticing the Guardians unless they were right in their way. The Scorn were busy trying to shoot pillars dotted around the gallery.

"I'm here, what do you need?" Shin asked.

"Come down here," Ghost said, he and Wolf were between the two monoliths in the center of the room. Her armor didn't have a scratch on it and she was orchestrating and less doing whatever it is they were supposed to do in here. Shin wasn't on that frequency but it seemed... complicated.

The sound not unlike a fumbled mechanical lock chimed and the pillars went dark. The Scorn retreated into ether. Some not quick enough to not avoid being killed. "Edgar, Val, come to the middle," Ghost said.

A Titan and a Hunter came down nervously, guns clutched tightly in hands. Shin wasn't sure what this was about. "Where are we in reality?" Wolf asked Shin.

"Huh? Hmmm, even accounting for Pyramid bullshit I'd say a few klicks north of the Enclave? Why?"

"Send them home," Wolf said shortly.

"What? But we just got started," the Hunter said.

"You are failing your task. I've watched you let them shoot the totem six times in a row. Get the fuck out of my strike. If you can't follow directions you're gone. Shin," she said sharply.

Shin should have been nervous by her tone, which was dangerous and hard. He just thought it was hot as fuck. There was definitely something wrong with him. "It's not like it's easy-

"No shit. If you can't handle it you can't handle it. I can't be carrying around dead weight and then your dead bodies. Now when the portal opens you jump through or Bear will toss you. Pick whatever one your ego can handle," Wolf said without sympathy.

Shin let Hunger tear a hole in reality and on the other side was endless red sands and rock. He made a motion they should jump through. "We just wanted to help," the Titan said.

"Yes. And you are not up to standard needed for this. You will just slow us down. Report back to Ikora and tell her what's happened. Now go," Wolf wasn't leaving any of this open for discussion. Reluctantly first the Hunter and then the Titan jumped through the tear. Shin grabbed it by the edge and pulled it back closed making sure the veil between realities was once more sealed around them. "Reorganize and do it again. Do it fucking right this time. We've had three hours here. Get your shit together," Wolf said.

Three hours? Shin and the Warlocks had only been gone thirty minutes if that. Shin didn't know how he could forget that time moved differently in Pyramids. He couldn't explain why or how but it did. It was why his first experience had felt like a week but it'd been two months and why the Cabal were so entrenched in the Europa Pyramid despite it only being a week or two.

"You're dropping like flies at the front door. How utterly tragic," the voice said around them. "But it's what I expect. Fall down and drown."

"He's been like that for three hours huh?" Shin asked Wolf.

"Yes," Ghost said even as Wolf signed in low hand a simple, perfect, 'pissy Warlock'. Shin laughed. "How did it go with you and the Warlocks?"

"I sent them to a library. Hopefully I didn't kill them... well okay hopefully I didn't kill five of them."

Wolf elbowed him. "Savant's not that bad," Ghost said.

"Ehhhhh," Shin said watching the other Guardians run the unlocking mechanism. From what he could tell it involved matching certain paintings they saw to what were on the pillars. Now and then Wolf shot a floating totem between the two monoliths that glowed yellow. He had no idea what it was for. "How is this how he opens his door?" Shin asked Ghost.

"I imagine it was created to slow us down while he prepares to face us," Ghost said.

"I'd be surprised if that didn't sound likely," Shin said, folding his arms. Then there was no more noise around them and he looked around.

"Last tumbler engaged," Bear said over comms.

"Good job, everyone," Ghost said. "Collect any glimmer or materials you find, let's keep going."

The hallway out led to a courtyard with the weirdest statues Shin had seen yet. Huge horse creatures with a bunch of repeating back sides. In the distance they had another view of the Worm with its jaws splayed open around a red beam of energy. Around it was clustered a dark city, empty as a grave. "Are the other Pyramids like this?" one of the Hidden asked.

"No," Ghost said. "Now come on. We have a long way to go," and they headed into the hallway.

Chapter Text

Shin was sitting watching Wolf pace. They'd stopped for a sustenance and water break. His helmet was by his feet and he had the end of a straw in his mouth drinking some concentrated water that tasted awful but was packed full of all the stuff you needed to keep going. Ghost kept transmating a drink pouch into Wolf's hand as she paced restlessly and kept putting it away. It'd be cute if it wasn't concerning.

They'd been wandering the Pyramid, mapping its wandering corridors, for hours now. Now and then they met Scorn or Taken but nothing that weren't shot down quickly. They hadn't found a way down into the dark city below and the Worm in the distance taunted them at every outside walkway or window. Their host was also watching them constantly and often commented on how they were horribly lost and even if they wanted they'd never find a way home. He was particularly obsessed with oceans and how they were far from shore and how even if they were very careful they'd end up drowning in this place. Their bodies left for the creatures of the deep. There were other, equally annoying things he said but Shin didn't bother to listen to them.

He started when Magpie put his helmet on him and nearly spit all over his visor in surprise. "Shin- Shin are you there?" it was Lizard.

"I am reading you-

"We need a way out of this... library. Quickly. There's something in here and it finally found us."

"Uh... where are you?" Shin got up and started looking around for a doorway. "Magpie be ready to accept a distant ping."

"Shin where are you going?" Ghost asked but Shin ignored him.

A ping came and Shin looked towards it. It was very far away. "Where's that pathway, Shin?" Lizard asked.

"Hold on I'm looking for a door," Shin said and ran out of the room to find a door in that direction.

"Shin, what's the matter?" Ghost asked again.

"Lizard and the Warlocks need us," Magpie said.

"Everyone get up, we're going to connect with our Warlocks," Ghost said sharply but Shin was already two rooms away. Where the fuck was a door.

"What's in the library?" Shin asked Lizard.

"It's big and ugly and doesn't like bullets. Let's go with that," Lizard said and his comms had some static in them.

"Is it close to you?"

"Yes," more static and the waypoint vanished off his HUD.

"Get away from it. It's interfering with comms and Ghost waypoints,"

"Love that," it was more static than Lizard's voice.

The point came back as Shin finally found a door that led in that direction. "Where's the library the other Lightbearers are?" he asked the door. It grinded open and dark panels started shuffling around to create hallways and rooms.

"Oh, so that's how you did it. We can't have that," the voice said.

The hallway started unshuffling and collapsing even as the rest of the strike team caught up to Shin. "No. I need to go to that library, directly," Shin said. The hallway unfolded.

"We'll need to sprint," Magpie said. "Whatever is controlling the Pyramid knows Shin can manipulate it and is fighting it."

"Just give it a sec," Shin said and waited until the floor stopped moving. He knew they'd start moving again any second. "Now," and everyone sprinted after him as he bolted down the shifting hallway.

"Tisk tisk, what misbehaving guests. And after I was such a kind host letting you live for so long," the voice said, coming from everywhere and nowhere.

The end of the halls came up abruptly and Shin skidded to a halt. The momentum behind him of the other Guardians shoved him off the edge and he flailed a moment in empty space. Two hands grabbed him, one on his cloak and another his hand. He looked back wildly and saw Bear had his cloak and some other Titan had his hand.

The voice chuckled. "Watch your step. Wouldn't want to fall," he said in a smug purr as Shin was hauled back onto the platform.

"Where's that backup Malphur?" static and Lizard's voice cut through his comms.

"We're coming. Our host has other plans."

"Well tell him to fuck off would'ya?"

Shin didn't answer him. "Magpie do we have telemetry for Pyramid sectors?"

"If it's anything like the one on Europa I can extrapolate from helmet data," Magpie said and expanded, his brown shell spinning around the light. A wireframe of the Pyramid appeared on Shin's HUD, each sector labeled if he wanted, and Lizard's waypoint appeared in the sector it was located in.

"Gotcha," Shin said softly. "I want to go to the library in sector K-6," he said. The Pyramid knew what he knew and started building a new hallway under his feet.

"And now where are you going, hmmm?"

"To kick your ass, now shut the hell up!" Rat yelled at the ceiling.

"He'll try and keep moving the hallway. Run," Shin said and took off. The others followed. Any time the hallway was about to fall apart Shin had to stop briefly to demand access to sector K-6. Their host didn't know where that sector was so couldn't block them entirely and couldn't divert them so much as just stall them.

"You guys almost here? I got Ghosts up and that's about it," Lizard said over comms, barely discernible through the static.

"We're almost there," Fox said. "I see the library, there," she pointed at something through a window. Then before Shin or anyone else could say anything she went full Radiant and flew down the hall and out a window to the building.

"They gotta stop running off," Bear puffed as they continued to run.

The hallway ended in a wall. No doorways. "I think that's quite enough messing about my ship," the voice said.

"Guys where are you?" Fox asked over comms.

"Someone find me a door," Shin said urgently.

"Too slow. Stand back," Bear said and everyone moved out of the way as Bear supercharged his Light. Shin did not miss Wolf had her hand on his bicep under his pauldron. Lightning crackled all around his body in a frantic static storm so powerful it affected the electromagnetic fields of everything around them. Shin felt his cloak lift up and his helmet systems started flashing telling him he was about to get hit by a lightning strike, the HUD turning enemy red.

He blinked and missed the launch. The explosion as Bear hit the wall with the force of a thousand lightning bolts sent everyone not sitting flying. Shin smacked against the wall and was stunned for a moment. He wasn't the only one.

"Now now, don't break my things," the voice said and Shin focused and saw Bear had smashed a hole in the black wall.

"Quickly, before he puts it back up," Ghost said.

"Rat, come help me brace," Bear said and stood under a descending piece of wall, holding it open.

"You're way too tall for that, Niva, get in there," Rat pointed and another Titan equally as massive as Bear came to brace. Everyone scurried and slid between and around their legs to make it through the closing hole in the wall. As Shin was falling he heard them yell and some metal squealed as it was snapped and bent. One of them had been crushed.

The fall was further than it looked. Worse there was no floor beneath them that would get them to the library. "Floor floor floor," Magpie said urgently in his helmet.

"I know," Shin didn't bother asking the Pyramid.

Several Guardians slammed face first into the sudden platform that appeared below the lowest one, creating horrible gore stains across it from skidding. Most of the others were too surprised to check their momentum enough and those that didn't die on impact cried out as knees, femurs, and pelvic bones turned into dust on impact. Shin managed to check some of his momentum but landed on his knees. He hunched over briefly even as Magpie healed him.

The only person who landed unscathed was Wolf.

Shin pushed himself to his feet the pain of his shattered and healed knees forgotten and over. Ghosts were reviving their Guardians rapidly, remaking them from the dark smears on the platform. "Quickly," Ghost said. "Fox, do you copy?"

"I'm heading towards you," she said back, panting. "I have everyone's Ghosts."

That worried Shin. "And the threat?"

"Oh, it's chasing me," she said in a fake, overly cheerful way.

Wolf took off at a sprint and everyone followed behind. They ran down two hallways before seeing Fox's magnificent red and teal robes at a distance racing towards them. A cloud of Ghosts flew after her. And behind her was what looked like an abomination wrapped in bandages and a strange device on its back.

"What is that-

"Who knows, shoot it," Ghost said.

Shin wasn't the only Guardian to go super charged. He fired twelve Golden Gun shots into the creature even as it kept lumbering after Fox. It was being pummeled by the Light and weapons of every element but it still managed to catch up to Fox as she turned to hurl her own flaming swords at it. But it couldn't withstand the onslaught and fell to one knee. Even as it did it reached out and grabbed for Fox floating in the air above it. It grabbed her boot and her Radiance was snuffed out in a moment. At this range it was also affecting Shin's visor and much like the static over comms it was making his visor flicker in static as well.

"Fuc-!"

The thing unraveled into dust and sand even as whatever it was doing killed Fox in its grip. The device on its back burst and created a spectacular tree-like structure in the middle of the hallway.

The hallway was quiet.

"Okay. What the fuck was that?" Rat asked.

"No idea," Ghost said slowly even as Fox's Ghost remade her Guardian.

Another Ghost flew away from the cloud surrounding Fox. "We need to return to our Guardians, quickly," Bird said. Of course Lizard's Ghost had the most insight on what to do next. "We need to go back before it changes the walls again."

"Oh yes, that would be quite a problem, wouldn't it?"

"Fuck you, Rhulk," some Ghost said, looking at the ceiling.

"Yeah. Bitch!" another Ghost cried.

"My my, such awful manners you little drones have. I thought the Light was better than that," he tutted. Even as he said that it was impossible to miss the sound of the hallways and Pyramid moving.

"That's not good," Ghost said.

"And its worse than you think," a Warlock's Ghost said

"Which is?" Ghost asked.

"Rhulk put a worm in a scorn."

Everyone was quiet for a moment. "I'm sorry. What?" Cat asked.

"We need to get back to our Guardians before the library is closed off," Bird said urgently. "And there's another one."

"Where is it? The library?" Bear asked.

"No. But it came to the library," Bird shimmered in annoyance. "I sent the way to Kaley."

"How are we going to get to get to it though?"

"Its a monster. Usually they want you to fight their monsters right?" Bird asked.

"Eh. He's got a point," Rat shrugged.

"What about the Warlocks?"

"Ghosts with me, you all deal with that," Shin said, the hallway to the library had already closed up. "I'll get the Warlocks up." Even just mentioning it had the Pyramid starting to unfold.

"Ah. So you're the trouble maker," their host said and Shin found himself sectioned off from the others in a box. "I don't like trouble makers."

"Shin?" Ghost asked.

"I'm alive," he said.

"How childish," Magpie said from his hood and in a moment he was transmatted out of the box and right next to Wolf and Ghost.

"That's cheating," the voice said.

"Get bent," Magpie said.

"Let's try that again," Shin said and the Ghosts that had been with Fox flew over to Shin and not a few hid in the shadow of his cloak. The others were planning on getting to the place this worm infested scorn was. "Show me the library," he said quietly and the wall unfolded a bit before their host started closing it again. Long enough for Shin to jump through, coming out of it in a roll.

He looked up at the sound of another body hitting the ground in a roll. His brow furrowed. "Stay with the others," he told Eric where she was getting to her feet, sniper in hand.

She just pulled her hood out a bit and Shin frowned seeing the familiar ringed shell of Savant's Ghost pressed against her neck. "He won't go with you," she said. "And you could always use backup in this place."

"I don't need backup."

"Oh well. We need all Warlocks up."

Shin sighed in annoyance. But she was right. "Fine. Keep up."

"Just because my legs are short doesn't mean I can't keep up," she said. He rolled his eyes and ran off. She ran after him. The hallways had changed but Shin opened them as their host, Rhulk, was clearly distracted by the others now moving through the Pyramid with a bit more force. Even from here they could hear the explosions of the strike team being fed up with doors and walls and just blasting their way through to get where they needed to go.

They arrived at a library of sorts in short order. It was an impossibly tall cylinder of a room with many floors each lined with a railed walkway. Behind the walkway were shelves full of... books? They looked like books but as they passed into the library they looked almost decorative. Each spine intricately painted along the walls surrounding a podium.

Lizard's body was right at the entrance of the library. Bird flew out from Shin's cloak and revived her Guardian. Several other bodies lay scattered around the library's floor or on higher levels. The Ghosts went to revive their Guardians. Eric had to go find Savant since Orion wouldn't leave her hood.

Lizard came back standing. "Where's Fox?" he asked immediately.

"With the others."

"Where's the monster?"

"Being dealt with."

"Great. Everyone, form up. We need to get out of here," Lizard called over local comms.

"Ah so this is where you got, trouble maker," the voice, Rhulk said.

"Why do I not like that?" Shin asked himself.

"Jump," Lizard said and Shin didn't even think to ask why. He just did. Perfectly timed as the floor beneath him fell away. He jumped again and latched onto a statue attached to the wall.

"Give me the quick notes on this thing. It has it out for me," Shin said quickly to Lizard even as he felt the wall moving beneath him.

"His name is Rhulk, he's a Disciple of the Witness and the originator of the 'Worm Gods'. He's the last of his kind and has been stuck here for a while," Lizard said quickly even as Shin had to let go of the statue as the wall tried to slam down on him. He rolled away from it. "He's very powerful and has been alive since before the Hive Gods."

"So a cake walk. Got it," Shin said.

"You can only know a drop of who I am little lightmonger," Rhulk said. "The vastness of my self would make your little mechanical brain short circuit."

"Sounded like a boring read to me!" one of the other Warlocks called.

"Yeah. The author is a real self important jackass."

"The Witness tasked him with aiding the Hive," Lizard told Shin over comms while the other Warlocks harassed Rhulk. "And from what we could find he's a bit obsessed but hasn't been in contact with the Witness in centuries."

"No wonder he's so pissy. Mad daddy doesn't love him anymore," Shin said sarcastically. The Warlocks all laughed.

"Enough," Rhulk snapped.

"Hit a nerve--!" Shin yelped when the floor too far to jump dropped out from under him.

"That's quite enough from you little trouble maker. It's time for you to be buried like a good little dead thing."

"Shin!" Lizard called but there was nothing to grab onto as the floor closed back up.

For a second he floundered in the pure darkness. Then he landed hard on a surface of his own making rather ungracefully in a sprawling tumble. He knew he'd smashed his head a bit too hard because the next thing he knew he was on his feet in the darkness. "Lizard? Eric?" Shin asked over comms. He switched through a few frequencies but they all gave him nothing. He was alone in the darkness. "Well this feels familiar," he grumbled and conjured a ball of brilliant Solar Light in his hand. The hole he was in was perfectly smooth and had no visible bottom or top. "Can you hail the others?" Shin asked Magpie.

"No," Magpie said. "We're in a comm dead zone."

"Love that for me," Shin grumbled. "Where are we roughly after the fall and where are the others?" Magpie projected the wire frame Pyramid cut into sectors and showed them and the others. "We fell pretty far, huh?" Shin said looking at the map.

"Indeed," Magpie said.

"No doors," he frowned looking around. He snuffed out the Light and called Hunger to his hand so it coated his fingers like a claw. He wasn't keen on using this power up close but it could eat anything right?

The platform extended under his feet to the wall and he sunk his clawed hand into the wall. He ripped a part of the wall away and it showed the dark city around him. "Well we're here," Shin said, tearing more of the wall away.

"But where is here?" Magpie asked as Shin tore enough of the wall down to wiggle out.

"Can you hail the others?"

"Not directly but I can leave a message via a long range ping. I'm not sure why. We aren't so far and Lizard called us from half way across the Pyramid."

"Time and space are fucky in this place. Just let them know I'm alive and I'll make my way back to them," Shin said standing in the middle of the city's empty street. Magpie flew around like trying to find the best angle to send the transmission.

"Sent," Magpie said after a few moments.

"Great. Just in time," Shin grabbed Magpie and put him into the soft pouch on his belt for protection as corrupted ether started flooding the street. He pulled out the obsidian made Last Word with a twirl as the first Scorn materialized out of the ether screeching.

Chapter Text

If Lizard had blood it all would have rushed out of his face when a hole opened in the floor and Shin fell through it. For a moment he did lunge forward to grab him but the hole was too big and then the floor sealed back up.

"That didn't just happen," Lizard said with a nervous buzz in his voice looking at the hole.

Wolf was going to disassemble him!

Cat was going to crush his spine!

Fox was going to be so upset!

Oh, that didn't just happen. Lizard didn't just lose Shin Malphur.

"Hmph, that should slow you nosy Guardians down," Rhulk said and was booed by the rest of the fireteam.

"I can't reach him," Bird said.

"What?" Lizard asked in a strained voice.

"My pings to Magpie just bounce back. I'm getting nothing," she said.

"This can't be happening," Lizard said quietly. "Oh, why'd this have to happen to me," he rubbed the front of his helmet miserably. "I'm going to get turned into atoms."

"Don't be so dramatic," Bird huffed.

He tried to get himself sorted out. He had handled worse and the rest of the fireteam needed his guidance. He had fought against Gods. He could handle this. He looked at the gathered Warlocks. All Hidden.

"Oh!" Bird cried.

"I just got a ping from Shin," the little Hunter who'd accompanied Shin said.

"Me too," Bird said.

Lizard nearly collapsed in relief. His plating was safe from his clan's wrath.

"Magpie says they're alive and will make their way back to us."

"Oh did he now? How novel," Rhulk said smugly. "Can't have that."

Lizard looked at the little Hunter who'd accompanied Shin. Bird had long since labeled who was Legion and who was Hidden. He didn't trust a Hidden in this place alone. They'd get distracted. But a Scout? Two Scouts?! Shit when did the Legion accept Warlocks as Scouts? "You," Lizard indicated the Hunter and the weird Warlock Scout who looked at him. 'Go find Shin, now,' he signed.

'He said he was fine,' she signed back.

'Because if you don't Wolf is going to explode that we lost her boyfriend,' Lizard signed pointedly.

"Copy that," the Warlock Scout said, grabbed the Hunter by the cloak and dragged her down the hallway.

"The Young Wolf said don't get separated," one of the Warlocks said even as the Warlock Scout blasted a barred window with a nova bomb and the two jumped out.

"I'm making an exception," Lizard said. "Now let's get back to the others." And hopefully Wolf wouldn't have a melt down. Or worse; kill all of them. She was finally better! He didn't want to see what she'd look like mad.

Chapter Text

The thing about a dark city inside a Pyramid was there were plenty of places to hide. Which was good because Shin was ragged when he ducked into a building and slammed against the wall out of sight. He was a good shot but one Guardian against a hoard of Scorn had him overwhelmed. "Fucking crossbows," he looked down at his left leg which had three void bolts sticking out of the thigh, having penetrated the leather and sharp edged scaling of his leg armor.

"Is it safe?" Magpie asked from the pouch on his hip.

"For now," Shin said, sinking deeper into the dark building. There were no lights on and while decorated to look like someone lived here no one did. Rhulk had been seriously bored for a while and designed a city and all the homes in it. Guy needed a fucking life. He could hear Scorn outside and ducked into the darkest of shadows. He knew they'd find him eventually but he needed Magpie to heal him first.

Magpie flickered out of the pouch and scanned him. "Got you bad," he said sympathetically and expanded, flushing Shin through with the Light. His skin crawled as the bolts were forced out of his thigh but it didn't hurt exactly. It was just weird as fuck. Then Magpie fixed the damage to his gear.

As Magpie was about to close his shell he paused and still expanded looked towards the door. Shin was ready to snatch him out of the air if a Scorn appeared. "What is it?" he asked quietly.

"I'm getting a communication from Ghostie-- Eric," he added to Shin who didn't know who that was. Right. Shrimp had a stupid name for her Ghost like she was some Lightless child.

"What?"

"She and Savant are down in the city. Lizard sent them. They're looking for us."

Well at least he wasn't just abandoned like Wolf had threatened those Scouts. He wasn't half sure she did it just to keep everyone together. He knew she'd never actually leave anyone behind. "Well send her our location."

"Not that easy. I'd need to send them the Pyramid telemetry. I shared it with Ghost before we left but... It's a lot of data," he got to the point seeing Shin was losing the thread. "A data burst of Light like that will absolutely be noticed by the Scorn and if not them than Rhulk who will direct them here."

Shin checked the ammo he had. Not a lot but enough. "Do it," he said, reloading Last Word.

"They'll come."

"Then they'll come," he snapped the barrel closed with a flick of his wrist.

Magpie's core pulsed brightly before he snapped closed quickly. Half a second later Shin heard the sound of a Scorn screech from outside. A figure appeared in the doorway and Shin shot them. Magpie darted backed into his pouch as Shin moved out of the house firing his gun.

Corrupted ether flooded the street around the house and Shin booked it. As he did the ether condensed into Scorn and they started firing at him. He had to stop and turn around to return fire. Each trigger pull found a Scorn's horrible visage even as he fan fired the Last Word. More ether collected around his feet and Scorn leapt from the swirling gas out at him. He rolled to the side and threw a searing knife at the Scorn making them smolder in embers. He grabbed another from a sheath as Scorn rushed him and threw it into their head. The Light imbued in the knight exploded, catching other Scorn alight.

But there were still more Scorn. Shin kept having to back up down the avenue, firing the Last Word or using the Light to keep them at bay. And still they managed to slash his cloak or rack their claws down his armor, ripping into it as they tried to tear it off him. The most annoying were the guys with the flaming or Stasis filled censers who did their best to burn or stop Shin for others to get in close. The only reason their crossbowmen didn't shoot him was because if they did they'd risk just shooting one of their own.

A screeb exploded almost right in his face. Its horrible body bursting like a disgusting balloon that sprayed acid. The acid wasn't too bad. It was just strong, fucked up, stomach acid. The concussive blast from the thing erupting staggered Shin and stunned him for barely a second. A second was all a wraith needed to swing its two flaming torches at his side and send him flying across the street. He skidded to a stop against the curb and before Shin could even get his bearings more Scorn were on top of him, screeching and beating at him.

"I'm getting real sick of this shit," he growled as a stalker scratched its claws across his helmet leaving some deep grooves in it.

He didn't like using it in close range but these bastards weren't giving him much choice. Even as he felt claws slice into his actual skin Shin let Hunger rush into his hands and he struck out with a knife hand into a stalker's throat. Whatever weird life was inside the stalker ended in a moment as Hunger ate it. He grabbed another Scorn by the face and it yelped once before falling silent. He punched his way out of the dog pile to a pile of dead Scorn at his feet. The wound on his side healed on its own but he didn't think too much on it as the wraith from before came in swinging.

Shin made as if to grab a knife and the Hungry Blade formed in his hand. He dodged out of the way but sliced the wraith along the stomach and flank with the knife and it collapsed behind him also dead. He reabsorbed the knife and pulled out the Thorn, reaching for bullets but found none.

"Magpie?" he asked as more Scorn were still coming for him and the crossbowmen were lining up shots.

"You used all your ammo. These things don't drop glimmer. I haven't been able to synthesize anything," Magpie said over comms.

"I have no ammo?"

"I had to cannibalize most of the green and purple to keep you loaded with the Word. You've got some but-

"Right. Give me Thorn bullets," he dodged out of the way as a censer guy came down swinging on his head. "I don't care how."

One of the massive dagger bullets appeared in his hand and along his belt after he said that. He opened the Thorn and loaded in a few then fired it at the crossbowmen down the road. The shot made their head burst. He fired the others at Scorn up close. As he backed up to load more bullets into the Thorn he had a stupid, wild, idea. It'd either destroy the Thorn (unlikely seeing as how Dredgen Yor got it in the first place) or it'd make his life a bit less hectic right now. As he loaded the bullets he coated each other in Hunger and even let Hunger seep into the Gun. Shin had spent a not insignificant amount of time making sure Thorn could never real death a Guardian with a single shot ever again but this seemed pretty close. He hoped this didn't fuck that up entirely.

The Hungry bullets created a bubble of instant death when Shin fired the first one. The leeching cloud that accompanied the Thorn wasn't sickly green like usual. It was pure black and it stuck to the Scorn like silly string. When it touched their skin Shin could feel it zap their strange life force and it just fed Shin's Hunger. He wasn't sure he liked that that much.

The Hungry bullets did a good job keeping the Scorn away but it seemed like there was always more. For every Scorn he killed two more appeared.

He ran out of bullets again. "Magpie," he grabbed at empty air on his belt where he'd been pulling the Thorn bullets.

"That's it. No more ammo. I even took the ammo you had in your other weapons," Magpie said over comms.

"Fuck's sake." He shoved the Thorn into its holster. Shin knew a normal person would be baffled by the amount of weapons a Guardian could keep on their person. Once he'd asked Magpie about it and Magpie had just said something like 'we're borrowing it from another you. Don't ask' and Shin hadn't because that sounded way out of his comprehension. "Sword," he said, holding out his hand.

"You're going to ruin it aren't you?" Magpie huffed but did put it into Shin's hand.

"Yeah probably," Shin said and like the bullets covered the sword in Hunger turning the blade jet black. "Also where the fuck is Eric?" he asked as he cut down a raider.

"It's only been about two minutes since I sent out that pulse," Magpie said. "She's coming."

Two minutes? Felt like hours.

The problem with killing so many Scorn was that it opened the way for the crossbowmen to get shots on him. And they certainly did now that their brethren weren't choking the street so densely. Several void bolts found themselves in Shin's shoulder and back. No way in hell he was having Magpie come out to heal him though. That was suicide.

He whipped around hearing the snap of Stasis half expecting to see a censer Scorn about to come down on his head. Instead a kamas whirled past his head and slammed into the ground creating a bubble of sudden freeze. The next one landed in a Scorn's chest a ways down the road and a Stasis storm whipped itself into a twister. The grip on his sword relaxed slightly as he saw the familiar forms of Eric and Savant down the road.

When he turned back around a Scorn was frozen right in front of him making him start. "Traveler," he backed up.

"Duck," Savant said over comms and Shin knew better than to argue. He ducked and rolled to the side of the road, out of the way of a Chaos Reach from Savant's palm that shattered all the Scorn in the road frozen by Eric's Squall.

"Is your Ghost safe?" Eric asked as Shin jogged towards them.

"Yeah," but Shin was more than winded and the void bolts were still in his shoulder and back. He could feel himself bleeding heavily from the wounds.

As Savant landed he did so with force and a rift appeared at his feet even as Shin took a knee next to Eric. The rift was rejuvenating but didn't do anything for the bolts. Instead his flesh just healed around them. "Magpie, it's safe enough," he said and his Ghost appeared. "Thanks for coming," he looked up at Eric and Savant as Magpie dealt with the bolts. "What took ya?"

"We were going the opposite direction as you," Eric said and chucked two shards of Stasis in rapid succession. They erupted into a Stasis wall in a sort of chevron arrangement in front of them and filled the entire street. Scorn shot at the crystals from the other side. Huh. He always thought Eric's power was faded. Did that not apply to Stasis? Guess you spend centuries trying to keep up when you finally had something that worked it worked real good.

"We can't stay here," Savant said in as serious a way as Shin had ever heard him. It was weird.

"Yeah," Shin got up, feeling better thanks to Magpie and Savant's rift. "I have no ammo."

"What? How are you out of White?" Eric asked him.

"This Pyramid isn't of our system. There's no traces of Glimmer. Or that's what Magpie says. No Glimmer. No ammo."

"Men," Eric said in a way he imagined rolling her eyes. "Here. Don't tell anyone I gave you these," she added and handed Shin three packs of condensed glimmer; ammo synths.

"I thought the Vanguard banned these because Guardians were hoarding them," Shin said even as he cracked one of each pack. The glimmer inside each one was enough glimmer for everything to be fully loaded.

"Exactly why I didn't give them to you," Eric said.

"Gave me what?" Shin asked even as the Stasis walls started to pop and crack as the Scorn tore them down.

"Less talking more running," Savant said, grabbing both of them by the hood and dragging them away from the corrupted ether that swirled around the crumbling wall of Stasis. Shin got his feet under him and ran away with them. As they ran down the street Eric would periodically throw a Stasis wall grenade behind them to put blocks in between them and the Scorn.

Once there were quite a few Stasis walls between them and the Scorn Eric slowed and that made Shin and Savant stop. "We can't just keep running blindly. Where are the others?" she asked Ghostie who popped out from where he'd been hiding.

"... I don't know," Ghostie said.

"Magpie?" Shin asked his Ghost.

"I can't get a reading," Magpie said over private comms because of course he wouldn't speak aloud around Eric and Savant.

"Magpie can't get a lock on them either," Shin said.

"We came out there," Savant pointed and Shin looked up and had to squint and adjust the zoom on his visor to see what he was pointing at. It was way up high in the Pyramid and streets away. "If the others are going to deal with that... thing! then they're probably headed to collections."

"Sorry what?" Shin asked.

Even in his helmet Savant looked suddenly very guilty. It was the way he dipped his head slightly. "Savant, what'd you do?" Eric asked.

"I didn't do anything. It was Bee," he insisted. "She went off to rest her eyes after scouring the information in the library and I knew better than for her to just wander on her own. So I went with her. And we entered this huge room where that thing was. Well there were two of them, that one and another one. I told Bee we needed to go back but she wouldn't listen. When it noticed us I dragged her back to the library before it could catch us but it followed us. Lizard had us retreat so we didn't damage the library but we had to fight some. But it didn't help. It just killed all of us," he huffed. "But if they're going to deal with the other one then they're going to collections."

"Which is where?"

"Based on this telemetry from Magpie I'd say around here?" Savant said and the way point appeared on Shin's HUD along with a dot appearing on the wire frame of the Pyramid.

"Can you get us there?" Eric asked.

"Maybe? If we can't send out communications from the bottom of the Pyramid I don't know if the Pyramid can hear me," Shin said as they heard the cracking of Stasis crystals.

"Great," Savant sighed even as the last Stasis wall shattered. As it did the Scorn cried triumphantly and then perhaps one or two with a sense of identity still screamed in fear when Savant chucked a spinning Nova Bomb at them, evaporating them. "They just don't stop," he said as he landed lightly.

"Nope," Eric said grabbing his hand and took off down a side street chucking a Stasis grenade behind her for good measure. Shin the same with a Solar grenade as he went after them. "If we could just get some height."

"That's rich from you," Shin said.

"Not now, Shinny," she snapped.

"Hey if I can't joke when I might die what's the point?" Shin asked.

"He's got a po-

"Do not agree with him!" Eric scolded Savant.

"So, height?" Shin asked looking around but the city was dark and quiet and the roof tops were far to high to jump in one go.

"Yes."

"Okay stop," Shin said. "Keep the zone clear," he said as the others stopped and Scorn were close behind. Grenades were thrown to zone out the side street as Shin needed a second to just focus. On literally anything. Either the Pyramid or on the Ascendant Realm. He brought up the Pyramid wire structure up on his HUD and Magpie had edited it to include the point of interest Savant had mentioned so it was situated within the grid.

"On our left," Eric said as Scorn came from a side street. Explosions and gunfire followed.

He could fell the creeping dread of the Pyramid all around and said, "I need a lift." Nothing happened. He tried a few other things but something was preventing him from reaching the Pyramid. Rhulk must have put a lock down on it. Great.

Brute force came next and Shin shattered the street under them as he created new platforms out of the Ascendant Realm, bringing them from outside Savathun's Throne World and into this space. The Pyramid's space was different from the Throne World which was different from the Ascendant Realm and they all overlapped in wonderful and horrible ways. He created an ascending series of platforms up into the sky of the Pyramid. "Okay. We're going," Shin called and jumped onto the first platform. The others followed and as they left the platform behind Shin had it slam back into the ground below.

The climbed up Shin's platforms until they were far out of gun range and then Shin stopped and created four walls and a roof over them, casting them in darkness. But only for a moment before he formed a glowing sphere of fire and Light hovering over his palm. "Okay. We're out of that," he said.

"I'll ask how the fuck you did that later," Eric said.

"Ammo check," Savant said and everyone dutifully checked their stock of ammo.

"I'm good," Shin said. He hadn't used too much since Eric had given him a synth brick.

"I'll manage," Eric said.

"I'm low on rockets but I'm not worried about it," Savant said. "So now what? We're in a box."

"I needed to get us out of that city," Shin said.

"Archives?"

"Can anyone contact the rest of the strike team?" Shin asked.

Magpie tried immediately and Shin saw the shine of Eric's Ghost do the same. "No," Ghostie said gravely. "We're still solo."

"Maybe we're not high enough," Eric said.

"Or Rhulk's watching us," Savant said.

"Somehow I have a feeling he's more worried about Wolf and them fucking things up than us."

"Let's just see where we are and go from there," Shin said and moved the panels so they could see but arranged the walls more like the petals of a flower so they weren't visible from below.

"I say fuck the archive," Eric said. "We should go there," she pointed and both Shin and Savant looked at the the worm and the brick in the distance.

"The Upended or something," Savant said. "Rhulk's thousand memoirs are dense and incredibly self flattering," he tipped his head in a way that meant 'eye roll'.

"You don't say?"

"He calls himself a 'subjugator'. Not a conqueror or tyrant like a normal person."

"God he sounds so annoying," Eric said.

"He seriously is," Savant said.

"Can you get us there?" Eric asked Shin.

"With the Pyramid? No. Elsewise? Maybe," Shin said thoughtfully. He'd made a pathway through the Ascendant Realm to Savathun's Throne World but this wasn't just the Ascendant Realm. This was inside a Pyramid with a pilot. He honestly wasn't sure how him making things in the Pyramid would work with the Pyramid itself.

"Well the other option is the city," Savant said leaning over the edge. "And they're shooting us still, so you know," he told them.

"So the only option is you make us a path," Eric said and Shin could hear the frown in her voice.

"Shit I guess," Shin said like he was complaining. Wasn't hard. He was good at complaining. Eric punched him in the arm.

"And get us some height. We might be able to contact the others if we're higher," Savant said.

"Should have just left me with the Scorn," Shin grumbled. Eric and Savant both made annoyed noises at him. "A path huh?" he looked at the geometry of the Pyramid and wondered how fucked up the space warping was in this place. He hadn't thought too hard on getting them out so it had torn up the street. He didn't really want Rhulk to notice them either they were sitting ducks up here on whatever platform he made. It'd be best if he could connect to a piece of already existing architecture and then just make the walls open for them. It'd cause the least amount of attention. For that they needed to go up even higher to meet up with a suspended piece of the Pyramid's main walking space.

Shin pulled out a scratch pad from a pouch on his hip. "What are you doing?" Savant asked.

"Doing calculations," Shin said, making a rough drawing and some measurements to his best guess.

"Please don't do calculus during a raid," Eric sighed. "Bad enough Savant talks about quantum mathematics whenever we go to Europa to beat Vex back."

"I did that once okay," Savant complained. "And that was just because I couldn't believe the state of the warp gates in that place!"

"And once he did complex geometry to see if he could make it across a canyon from a high point with a glide. It didn't work," Eric continued.

Shin chuckled. "No no, nothing that serious. I just am making sure we can all make the jumps."

"What jumps?" Savant asked as Shin was finishing up.

"These ones," and Shin pulled a series of flat rocks into the space above them.

"... How'd you do that?" Eric asked.

"You don't want to know."

"Someone taught you?" Shin shrugged. "Who?"

"You don't want to know. He's a fucking dick," and Shin jumped up onto the first rock.

"Can't be worse than Drifter," Savant said, following. "And by the Traveler would it kill you to make them a little closer together?"

"Learn to jump," Shin rolled his eyes. "And yes, way worse than Drifter and Drifter actually shot me."

"I've shot you. It's really not that hard," Eric said casually and Savant laughed.

"You got lucky," Shin said.

"Lucky fifteen times? Doubtful," Eric said as they got up higher and higher. Shin just grumbled. "Oh! Ghostie can reach the others."

"Yes!"

"I'm having him tell the others we'll meet them mmmm, there," and a waypoint appeared on Shin's HUD. It was near the Upended but not at it.

"Well at least we have a location," Shin said. Then privately to Magpie he said, "Stupid question: Ghost available?"

"He is not," Magpie said.

"That's what I figured," he sighed. "Okay," he switched back to local comms. "Let's go there," and he connected his pathway to the Pyramid's hallways.

Rhulk must have been focused on the others because he gave them no trouble as Shin spliced his path into the hallway and then asked the Pyramid to construct a path for them to the meet up. "What's up with this guy and this ugly ass art?" Eric asked as they walked.

"He's obsessed with horses and legs," Shin noted.

"Yeaaah. From what I read he's very proud of his kicking ability. Or not that but he doesn't--" he made a noise like a cough and switched to a strange monotone, "I wouldn't bother to soil my hands with those beneath me. They are for the Witness to command and until it does they shall not partake in useless violence. There is no need. I have other ways."

"Traveler, does he really write like that?" Eric asked.

"Yeap!" Savant said, back to his normal voice. "I didn't read these but one of the others uhhh Seeker, got bogged down in what they realized were early journals and Rhulk has such a fetish for this Witness thing."

Shin and Eric laughed. "What's the Witness look like? It say at all?" Eric asked.

"I dunno Rhulk uses the same sort of flowery violet language as Theo's horrible romance books. I know it's tall," Savant said. "And it's white, and black? And has deep mysterious eyes 'like the point between stars or the sudden depths of a black hole beyond the event horizon'."

"I'm going to fucking puke," Shin groaned while Eric laughed.

"But no actual descriptions?" Eric asked, still giggling.

"Nope! I don't think it has like... bits," he said after a moment. "Or I'm sure there would have been so much awful poetry and journaling about it one of us would have just blown our heads off."

"You find out anything useful about Rhulk?" Shin groaned.

"He's an ego maniac who's insanely old. Like older than the Hive Gods. Older than the Worm Gods. He's the Witness' first Disciple. Or at least I think? He might just be calling himself that? The books aren't in a language we know so we were all translating on the fly and you know how Orion is."

"Useless?" Shin asked.

"Easily distracted," Eric said.

"Both," Savant said. "So we had a bit of-- You feel that?"

"Yeah," Shin said slowly. The entire Pyramid shook.

"What was that?"

"Some seismic event," Ghostie said, poking out of Eric's hood.

"We're in the Ascendant Realm. There's no earth to move for an earthquake," Savant said. The Pyramid rumbled again.

"It's not an earthquake," Shin said, as Magpie put a location on the Pyramid wireframe on his HUD of approximately where the shaking was coming from.

"Then what?"

The blip on the wireframe was high and moving and doing so quickly. "It's the strike team," he said.

"... What?" Eric asked.

"They're making a huge structure like this move? How?" Savant asked.

"I don't really question how Glitterbomb does things if I'm honest," Savant said. "But I'm pretty sure Wolf is unhappy we're here by ourselves."

"That is an insane amount of power and force to shake a Pyramid," Savant said.

"Yeah and Wolf's got what? Her clan and like ten other Guardians who are all Hidden or Scouts thus the cream of the crop? I'm not surprised," Shin said. "We need to keep moving. They're roughly headed for the same place we are. Let's not keep them waiting huh?"

"Shit I guess so," Eric said slowly.

Whatever the main fireteam was doing had Rhulk completely distracted and he didn't bother them once as they jogged down the hallway. Now and then through a window the Upended and its worm loomed closer and the trembling of the Pyramid grew. No Scorn bothered them but Taken would sometimes cross their path and were handled with ease.

Finally they arrived at the waypoint. The rumbling had stopped now and Magpie had the strike team as a dot on Shin's HUD that was rapidly moving forward towards them. It was a cathedral of a structure they came into filled with shadow thrall that Eric dealt with with a throw of her kamas. The ice twister froze and shattered them all as it tore down the hallway before dissipating in a shower of ice.

At one end of the hall were stairs down, at the other was the way forward. A platform that led right up to the Upended and below against the darkness was the churning red energy in the maw of the Worm. "So... we just wait?" Eric said.

"I guess so," Shin said. "They're coming."

"I wonder what that is," Savant said looking out at what was clearly some strange arena Rhulk had constructed.

"No idea," Shin checked the state of his ammo. "Ammo check," he added to remind them. He wasn't low on anything but wasn't at max either. Eric and Savant were the same.

An explosion of Light down below behind them startled all of them. "Guess they caught up," Savant said.

Shin leaned over the edge just to see and saw the rest of the strike team having to climb their way up from platforms where they met some sort of resistance. Not enough to slow them down so much as distract them. Eventually they got to the level of the stairs on the other side of the hallway and split the team just to make sure everything was clear.

Ghost appeared next to Shin before they saw anyone else but only for a moment before flickering away. What was that about?

Half the strike team appeared down the hall shortly after and from the other side of the open space they heard gunfire and Light use as they dealt with their own shadow thrall. "Made it just in time to kick that idiot's ass," Rat said as Magpie connected Shin back to the team's main comms.

"After all the journaling I had to read I wouldn't miss it," Savant said. "Someone has to pay for the immense boredom." The Warlocks laughed the loudest at that one.

"Everyone on the platform. He's waiting for us," Ghost said.

"But being melodramatic," Lizard's voice buzzed.

"He's been anything but?" someone else asked. The team laughed.

"Wait," Magpie said quietly to Shin and he didn't join the others jumping across to the platform of the Upended.

Wolf was there with three Guardians still. Two Hidden and a Scout from the dress of them. Wolf was in gear he'd never seen before. She looked like the Pyramid had swallowed her and spat her back out with armor that looked like pieces of it. The other three had some of that going on but nothing like her. "These three going home?" Shin asked casually.

"Yes," Ghost said. "On their request which is very mature of them," he added proudly.

"Alright. I have no idea where you'll end up with how much we've moved around. You'll be on Mars but I can't promise it'll be near the Enclave," Shin said.

"Mars is better than here," one of the Hidden said.

"Alright then," Shin said and dipped into Hunger to open a rip between the Ascendant Realm and reality. "Off you go." These Guardians needed no pushing and jumped right through.

That just left Wolf and Shin alone for the moment as Shin yanked the portal closed. Wolf came up and put her hand on his arm. "Are you alright?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah. I'm fine," he said.

"I was worried."

"I know, darlin' but I'm fine, really," he said and leaned down to touch the front of his helmet to hers. Her hand squeezed his lower arm but that was it. "Time to finish the job," and he stood up. She nodded and walked past him, hand trailing along his arm before she let go fully.

He followed her as they jumped down onto the platform. The others were relaxed in a way only seasoned warriors ready for a fight could be. "We're running low on ammo," Bear said as Wolf and Shin joined them.

Wolf didn't seem even slightly worried. "They won't need it," she said in such a way that made Shin's skin crawl. Whatever was about to happen was not going to go the way Rhulk was planning based on his little arena. She was looking at the crystal hovering over the the stage and pulled out a rocket launcher. Everyone perked up when she fired it at the crystal.

"My my, where are your manners?" Rhulk asked as the crystal shivered and opened revealing Rhulk floating in it upside down.

"Man this guy never gets tired of being the most pretentious guy I know!" Rat groaned.

Rhulk righted himself looked down on them and before they could even step forward to engage a shimmering golden forcefield appeared before them. "I'm so glad we have finally met. It's time for you to be useful and become proper corpses," Rhulk said with all the smugness of someone who thought they were better than you. Beyond the forcefield the air started to shimmer as Taken and Scorn appeared for the fight.

Chapter Text

Wolf was two things: tired, and furious.

And looking up at Rhulk, finally, as he taunted them didn't help with any of that. She wasn't sure what she expected from Rhulk, especially given the way the Warlocks had complained about him the entire time because of his books. But she hadn't been expecting a tall red chitin covered humanoid with a head like a traffic cone and far too many eyes.

The others killed the Scorn and Taken as they manifested but Wolf was done. She'd played Rhulk's stupid games this entire time. The last time someone had played games with her was Calus on his Leviathan and at least those had been fun! But this? His endless hallways and contraptions and gates and stalling tactics and his stupid paintings. If Wolf had to look at his stupid paintings one more time she was going to blast her own head off.

And now he thought after toying with them for hours he could just do this? At least Oryx had been up front with them when they'd finally made their way through his Throne World and killed his pawns and his daughters and survived the perils of his Throne World. But this was just toying with them for the sake of it. Rhulk didn't want a fight. He wanted entertainment. He wanted to watch them squirm and struggle and run around for his amusement, just like they had this entire time.

She was over it.

Wolf stepped up to the forcefield. It pushed her hand back when she touched it but there was give to it. While everyone else was dealing with the enemies Wolf was ignoring them until a shadow fell over her. She looked up and her helmet met Rhulk's squinting eyes. "And just what do you think you'll do?" Rhulk asked her with all the hubris of a thing who forgot what it was like to feel pain.

Wolf looked at him, then the barrier, then back at him as she shoved both hands into the barrier charged with Light and ripped it open. "Kill you," she said, glaring at him through her helmet as the yellow barrier warped and rippled around her before the force of her tearing it open made it break apart.

"How did you do that?" Rhulk's voice only reached her, his many eyes widening. The enemies stopped being drawn in as Rhulk's focus went entirely to her.

"Come down here and I'll show you," Wolf said darkly. "Unless you're afraid?"

Rhulk flew back and landed lightly at the base up the stairs leading up to his anvil. The charade of a game was gone. A weapon appeared in his hand not unlike the Enigma; a huge glaive with an axe head like a pendulum. "It is you who should be," Rhulk said and beckoned to them as he ascended to a platform above.

"Are we sure about this?" someone asked.

"Stay down here if you're afraid. Everyone else with me," Wolf said and headed for the stairs. Several Guardians did stay and she did not blame them. She'd been afraid when facing Atheon. She'd been afraid when Oryx had nearly snapped them out of existence and when Gaul had her under his boot and when she looked down Xol's throat and when the City had been bathed in darkness. Countless fears she'd overcome and would again. But these Guardians hadn't had to face those fears in a long time. She didn't blame their hesitations as they climbed the stairs to meet Rhulk head on.

Rhulk was waiting for them, standing straight and true, cocky as could be. "Ah, so many little lights come to die. How delightful," he crowed.

He'd been talking like that the entire time. It pissed her off so much. "I know you don't think much of Guardians or the Light but shut the fuck up," Wolf said over speakers.

"Struck a nerve have I? Not all of you have made it. I don't know what you have left to show me from this pathetic display."

"You have no idea what we're capable of," Wolf said with violence and let go of the dam she held up to keep back the Light. She didn't do what she'd done when she'd found out about the Hive and the Traveler. That wouldn't be helpful here. Instead the Light rose up from her skin and through all the layers and cracks of her gear, slipping through seams and between the fine woven mesh and cloth and spilled out of her as something usable. Pure Light that she felt the Guardians around her soaking up and becoming stuffed to the brim with. She could feel them starting to strain under the influx of Light. Normal bodies, or even Guardians, weren't prepared to take all this Light.

"... What are you doing?" Rhulk asked, confused.

"Killing you, asshole," Cat said on Wolf's left and fired the biggest void shot she'd ever seen. It landed on Rhulk's chest hard enough to stagger him and then exploded like a thunder grenade.

That was the cue and all the charged Guardians unleashed their Light on Rhulk. Then as soon as they'd expended their Light there was more as it flowed out of Wolf like a torrent, feeding the others with her Light. Rhulk did his best to counter the heavy beating he was getting with slashing glaive and kicking not a few Guardians clear off the platform. But it was too much and overwhelming. For everyone.

Even without Rhulk Guardians fell back, exhausted from the amount of Light channeled through their bodies at a rate they'd never felt. They crumbled away until there were just a handful left. The ones who couldn't handle it were far from the ocean of Light Wolf had created around herself, collapsed in heaps smoldering with their Light. A Guardian was a conduit for the Light but there was a limit to how much Light could be pushed through it before it burned out. It was why you couldn't be super charged all the time.

Unless you were with Wolf.

Finally the last Guardians up were Cat, Fox, Bear, and Savant and they were ragged and drooping. Cat hadn't moved from her side the entire time and was just firing arrow after arrow from their Void bow at Rhulk but even now their arms drooped, shoulders shaking from the intensity. Bear was half holding Savant up and Fox was powering three Wells of Radiance by herself alone to keep up with the amount of Light Wolf was generating.

But Rhulk was the most ragged. He was on one knee, entire body smoking from the onslaught of Light that had ripped his body apart. He was alive but barely as strange branches grew from his back and along the back of his legs and the red armor he had had been flayed off him to reveal his dark skin beneath. He was on the edge but not dead yet.

With more difficulty than she'd like Wolf stopped the flow of Light and siphoned what was left on the ground the other's couldn't take back into herself. Next to her Cat finally collapsed in exhaustion and no longer bolstered by the Light.

Wolf walked over to Rhulk and picked up his glaive. She wasn't disappointed when that made him flash with fury. His chest burned with light and every edge of him became larger and sharper. "How dare you you vile little thing," he hissed and swiped at her with renewed, enraged, energy.

The glaive was just a weapon. Not even a special one. Sure it was fancy but it was recognizable. She shoved her Light into it and glowed Golden. When he swiped at her she slammed the butt down onto his hand. The Light exploded and ripped off his hand on contact. Rhulk roared with pain. "My friends have told me about you," Wolf said quietly, softly. "And about your devotion to your Witness," Rhulk staggered to his feet, fury in his eyes. "But I'm here to tell you it's not here." He lunged at her and despite its massive size she moved the glaive with great speed and dexterity and rammed the axe blade's rounded side right into his chest, using his own lunge against him. "And it doesn't care about you," she continued and dug the glaive deeper into his chest making him gasp. "It left you here with Savathun. It is not watching over you."

With a heave she shoved Rhulk onto his back with the glaive and stood over him. "The only thing here after your lifetime of destruction is the Light," she said and she finally saw his mouth as it opened to cough out blood. "Not the Darkness, not the Witness but the Light. I give you more dignity than you deserve with this death," and she raised the glaive. "No one will remember you now, Rhulk, last son of Lubrae," and she brought the glaive down on his neck.

Rhulk's cylindrical head rolled away from her and the glaive that had parted it from his body. She stepped back as branches erupted from his corpse, lifting off the ground as some fucked up testament to his form.

"It's done?" Bear asked.

"It is," Wolf said and walked back to the others and the Guardians laid about on the platform. "You guys did great," she said, taking a knee by her clan who'd all moved to one place.

"Warn us next time maybe?" Lizard asked wearily. Fox was already passed out in his lap, still slightly glowing.

"You guys figured it out," Wolf said with a touch of amusement.

"He's like... dead dead, right?" Rat asked.

"I don't think even Disciples of the Witness can withstand getting their heads chopped off," Wolf said.

"Oh good. He was so annoying."

"More than Calus?" Cat asked.

"Calus just wanted to fuck Wolf, so does everyone else in the Tower-" that made the others chuckle weakly. "Big deal. This guy just talked too much."

"Well he's dead now," Wolf said. "You guys rest. I'll keep an eye," and she stood up to them nodding. "Call those down on the platform up here," she told Ghost.

"Doing," Ghost said as she looked around and after a moment spotted Shin sitting off to the side. Even with his helmet on she could feel his hundred yard stare. Many Guardians here shared it. They'd never experienced the Light like that.

She went over and took a knee in front of him. 'Okay?' she asked in sign.

He looked up at her. "That was crazy," he said. "Didn't know you could do that."

"Only when needed," Ghost said.

"I'm burnt out," Shin said wearily.

"Yes. You all are," Wolf said, looking around. The only Guardians up had come up the stairs from below and were stood stunned at the top of the steps.

"Now what?" one of them asked.

"We rest," Ghost said. Then to Shin he said, "Can you get us out? And also keep it open? Once everyone's rested an easy way back here to deal with this device will be needed."

"I think so," Shin said. "I need a hand up," and Wolf stood and reached down. He grabbed it and she hauled him up. He stumbled a bit but she caught him. "Thanks darlin'," he said and righted himself. He sounded exhausted. He walked away from her and she could feel the way the air warped around him as he raised an arm. His hand was black and crawled up his gauntlet like sludge as he tore open a large portal like unzipping a coat. It opened over nothing. Wolf lurched forward to catch him when he collapsed again, too exhausted to do much more than that.

"You four," Ghost said, indicating the Guardians who hadn't helped. "Go through and have Ikora bring around some sort of depot. "We'll come through once everyone can stand."

"Oh! Right," and the Guardians jogged over and jumped through.

Wolf pulled Shin away from the portal before sitting down. He draped himself across her lap. "Sorry, that took it out of me," he said.

"I know," she said softly. "You and everyone else."

"Is it safe to sleep?"

She leaned down and tapped her helmet to his, "It's always safe when I'm around," she said gently.

"Good. Also make sure Savant knows I stayed up longer than him," he grumbled and she smiled at that as he went limp in her arms. He breathed deeply as he slept and Wolf just stayed up, as always. She was always the last one to stay up. Around her the others were either laid out or heaped in a pile together, resting, sleeping. Everyone's Ghosts were huddled together above them before they went off back to their Guardians.

After checking in with Magpie Ghost floated over to Wolf and expanded and started to play some gentle music. Only then did Wolf allow herself to relax. Ghost always played this type of music when it was done. When the monster had been slain and the enemies beaten back Ghost knew how to calm her down. Any residual anger she had about this place eased away. She'd managed to get through a raid and no one had died. Not a single lost Ghost. She could stand to rest for just a little while.