Eris Morn stood by where her ship was anchored, ignoring the looks she received. Her ship had changed long ago during her travels in the Dark below the surface of Luna, as had she of late.
She didn’t mind the looks of horror she occasionally got as young Guardians and those who worked in the tower passed her by, for they had yet to witness the horrors the Hive would unleash on them in battle.
If anything, she pitied them for their ignorance. Few Guardians had that sort of luxury these days, considering how many were needed on the Frontlines on the various inner planets of this system.
“Eris Morn, Mistress Ikora has need of you.” A Ghost had appeared beside her, Ikora’s due to the fact it was summoning her. The strange Star-like orbs, the spawn of the Traveler, were a constant among Guardians.
Except for Eris, whose Ghost had been lost during the raid on Crota’s netherworld, when her Light had been taken by Crota. She had witnessed a Wizard, the Heart of Crota, tear the very Light from her late friend Omar’s broken and battered body, but it seemed as if the average Wizard needed a Guardian on the verge of death and held in place, within a place of Darkness to even be able to attempt it, since she had yet to witness it again.
Crota didn’t need to worry about something as trivial as ‘life’ to stand in the way of his Hunger, it seemed.
When she realised that Ikora had no reason to summon her, Eris hid her surprise, the only indication of which was a small movement in the glowing orb within her right hand. She had not yet returned to Hive space, on Mistress Ikora’s recommendation due to the rising threat the Hive represented. She had agreed, knowing just what sort of monstrosity would rouse the Hive to think of taking Earth.
Since she had been forced to keep station at the Tower, she had nothing new to report, so why would Mistress Ikora need her?
One thought struck her with force.
CROTA! Her anger, and her fear, had been and still were quite strong, for she had lost those closest to her to the Hive’s perverse god. But she had yet to see any Guardians capable to take him down.
It was not for lack of strong Guardians, of those there were plenty, but it was mainly due to them either being in positions of power, thus making them currently irreplaceable, or had difficulties working well with others.
And considering it had taken the power of six Guardians to even make it to heart of Crota’s fortress, they needed to trust and rely on each other, especially if Crota’s defenses had improved. And his defenses had already been formidable and vastly unique compared to what had been seen in the caverns below Luna.
“Miss Eris?” Ikora’s Ghost roused her from her mind, its monotone voice bringing her back to reality.
“Sorry, revered spark of the Traveler’s Light. I’ll be along in a moment. I must secure my burden.” She replied, indicating the Hive relic burning an unholy and perverse green from within its containment orb.
“Understood. I’ll report back to my Guardian.” Ikora’s Ghost left, heading past the Special Orders office towards the Hall of Guardians. For one with such a strong personality, Ikora’s ghost seemed to lack even the small quirks the average ghost seemed to develop, especially of those who had been to the front-lines.
All the Hidden have their burdens……
Unfortunately for her, most of her burden was a physical one. She wasn’t one hundred percent sure what the relic was, or how she had acquired it. But it was all she had to prove she had been to Crota’s hellish cosmos, and she would not let its power escape.
Especially, if her suspicions were true, if Crota had finally turned his gaze on Earth, and would seek to carve it in the name of his father, Oryx.
Let us hope that Osiris was wrong, and that Oryx has long since passed.
——————
It was night by the time Eris was finished stowing her relic on-board her warped ship, so she made her way down into the Hall of Guardians, passing the Guardians bugging the bounty Frame, Xander 99-40, for new ways to break the hold of the Darkness across the inner solar system.
She continued past the dual crucible booths, watched over by Lord Shaxx and his personal Frame Arcite 99-40. While Lord Shaxx’s methods would serve them well should the City be attacked again, or an event like the Battle of the Twilight Gap repeat itself, those who partook of his training weren’t of use to her, given the inherent differences between reality of the universe, and the reality of Crota’s netherworld.
Upon entering the Halls, Eris noticed that is was surprisingly empty, given how vital it was. The various aides and workers were not at their terminals along the edges of the large and open room, where they helped keep the Tower running efficiently.
They weren’t vital, but they were crucial for keeping the Vanguard up to date. Having them empty, meant that what was to take place was deemed so important that no one but whoever turned up was to know of what was spoken.
Given how both The Speaker and Commander Zavala had treated Toland when they had learnt of his obsession with the Hive, and their views, not unwarranted given what she had become, on Eris herself, this shouldn’t surprise her.
In the lowered area at the center of the room, where the Vanguard planning table sat, only Ikora remained, on the right side of the table. In her long years serving Ikora as one of the Hidden, it was rare she had seen the table bare of any planning materials, excluding the area near Ikora.
And it was odd not seeing Cayde-6 or Commander Zavala here either.
Upon noticing Eris’ arrival, Ikora Rey looked up from the constant work she had. Being the Warlock of the Vanguard, she was constantly working, mainly because so very had the knowledge she had access to, and someone needed to do the work.
“Before you ask, Zavala left mainly to plead ignorance if things were to go wrong, given his stance on Hive arcane. And Cayde sends his apologies, because he’d love to see this if he could. Apparently something came up, in regards to the Awoken in the Reef and their supposed control over a Fallen House, and he’s meeting with an emissary from their Queen.”
A small smirk appeared than quickly died on Eris’ features.
Nothing gets past Ikora these days. Then again, if something did, we’d all be in trouble.
“Since you seem to know what is on my mind, what can I do for you, Vanguard Ikora?” Eris asked, walking down towards Ikora, and standing a few feet away from her. The low lighting combined with the inherent darkness of night within the Traveler’s shadow made for an eerie scene, Eris’ eyes adding a creepy glow to the area infront of her
“Ah, so there is still humour in you, that is good to hear.” Ikora respond, a slight smile showing.
“We have found enough guardians to do what you have warned us about.”
Eris flinched, as she thought of what Ikora had said.
“You mean, we shall final silence the horrid calling of the being the Hive call Crota?”
Ikora nodded, motioning to the six sets of folders laid out near her.
“We have four survivors from the Vault of Glass, three of which have successfully cleansed the dark heart within. The other two have shown they can work with any team, and come with glowing recommendations from Zavala and Cayde, in regards to their ability to work with others.”
Eris glanced at the names. She knew of two of the names, due to their work on Hive arcana. Not as prolific and heretical as Toland’s had been, but getting pretty close.
“How long until you want me to meet with them, and to start planning the death of Crota?” Eris asked, wanting to read more of the files, and learn of the extent to which these Guardians had tested themselves against the Darkness within the Sol system.
“Within an hour. I know the importance of information, and that should give you enough time to read my reports and convince you that this mission is worthy of your time here.” At that, Ikora stood up, taking her other files into her hands.
“I’ll take my leave, so you can prepare yourself.”
Once Ikora left, Eris started on her reading. She had much to do, if Ikora, and the other Vanguard were correct in that they had finally found their God killers.