Forsaken Light

Ikora and Zavala

"The Hangman." The Spider said as he looked down at the two Vanguard, it was odd they were becoming accustomed to the fallen. They were getting used to the constant movement that this mission relied on but they were tired. "Reksis Vahn, the Hangman, a silent sadist. Used to dock the armos of Dregs with his Bare Hands. Beware of his flame cauldron, it can kill most with a single shot. He's been capturing my servitors, free them." The Spider muttered as he handed Ikora the data pad with the last location of the Baron. The two Vanguard thanked their reluctant ally before departing his lair. 

    "I'm not particularly fond of doing the Spider's dirty work." Zavala admitted.

    "Are you going to say that with every Baron we come across?" Ikora asked as they started their task of finding the first drained servitor. Ophiuchus appeared in Ikora's hand as he scanned over the servitor, before marking the map for the warlock.

    "I'm just saying."

    "If you want to go back to the tower so bad, then go back. I don't need you here to get Cayde back. I've been in more battles than you anyway, I'm certain you're very tired." Ikora said with her back turned towards the titan. She could feel the anger at her back and she just hoped to infuriate the Commander enough to remain here with her.

    "I know what you're doing." Zavala accused.

    "Oh, and what am I doing Zavala?" Ikora asked as she started towards the marker that her ghost had created.

    "You are trying to convince me to stay." Zavala growled as he rushed after the warlock.

    "Perhaps, I'd rather not do this alone. Cayde will need both of us in the end of all this, but if you feel that you aren't needed here, there is little I can do to stop you." Ikora admitted as she pulled a grenade from her belt and threw it over at the approaching enemies as they were sucked into the black hole.

    "Ikora-"

    "Don't Ikora me!"

    "HEY!" A voice echoed over top of them as the two turned their attention to the hunter who stood on a building above them. The torn and tattered gauntlets had pieces of metal sewn into it holding it together and making it just that much more dangerous. Their black cloak was torn at the edges the frays were burned away and they both knew the cloak didn't come that way. A hand cannon was strapped to their side, and the hunters, dark boots were covered in a layer of sand and inky blood. Their helmet was just an expanse of a black face shield, that seemed to hide every evidence of who it was. A dark blue and silver ghost hovered over their left shoulder.

"Are you two done arguing, because our focus should be on the next baron." Sentry growled as Cassidy crossed her arms.

    "What are you doing here?" Zavala asked.

    "Your job." Sentry called before Cassidy pulled something out from under her cloak and threw it down between the two commanders. The rifleman's helmet sat between the two Vanguard as Ikora and Zavala stared at it for a few moments.

    "Who?" Ikora whispered.

    "The Rifleman. The one who killed Cayde's ghost." Sentry snapped as he cast a glance at his guardian for a second before forcing his attention back to them. "The least that you two could do is not argue like a bunch of children. You are guardians, so start acting like it!" Sentry shouted as Cassidy skidded down the building before she landed a few feet away from the Vanguard.

    "You're the sniper that killed the Trickster." Ikora pointed out.

"And you also got that weapon that we had Banshee lock down." Zavala stated as Cassidy marched forward towards the titan, her anger boiling.

"I did what I needed to do. At least I do my damn job and don't complain about it the whole way!" Cassidy snarled, catching Zavala off guard. He'd never heard her voice before and it was surprisingly harsh. "Now, if we are done arguing. I have a baron to kill." Cassidy spat as she roughly bumped the titan's shoulder pushing him out of the way.

"Cassidy!" Ikora called stopping the hunter. "You can't just go around killing all of them."

"Why not? What other things would you have me do? Lock them up in a prison, that worked so well the first time. I'm going to kill them, Ikora. Say or do what you want, I could care less. I'm going to kill them and force Uldren to come out of the hole he is hiding in."

"You could force Uldren's hand." Zavala stated as Cassidy turned to look at him.

"Since when did you get a heart?" Cassidy asked. "Last I checked you wanted nothing to do with Cayde. Why the sudden change?" Cassidy wondered as Zavala gave her a confused look.

"We may have not always gotten along, but he is still my fireteam member."

"He's just a forced part of your team." Cassidy muttered.

"That's not what I meant!" Zavala yelled as Cassidy pulled her helmet from her head, letting her dark brown hair fall around her face in waves.

"Then tell me what you meant. Because to me and the other hunters you could care less if Cayde was the one up in the tower with you. I don't even know why you're here." Cassidy snapped.

"I'm here because Cayde is a Vanguard, he is my fireteam member. He is..." Zavala stopped mid sentence as Cassidy laughed.

"Friend. Were you about to say friend? Let's be honest Zavala, you don't care. I don't think you ever have, since Andal died you've always pushed hunters away. Well if Cayde dies, I'm afraid you're going to have a very hard time." Cassidy growled as the Awoken stared at the Human for a few moments.

"What do you mean Cassidy?" Ikora asked.

"The Vanguard challenge. It's up in the air now. If Cayde dies, I become the next Vanguard but I'm certain you knew that already." Cassidy admitted as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"You?"

"Who else would be stupid enough to sign that piece of paper?" Cassidy asked. She huffed a breath before she pulled her helmet back on. "Now, I really need to go deal with a baron." Cassidy said before she called out her sparrow. The hunter mounted up the bike before she flew off, leaving the two Vanguard in her dust.

"Zavala?" Ikora questioned as she moved towards the titan.

"I...  I have a lot of ground to cover, when we get Cayde back." Zavala admitted as Ikora gave a small nod.

"Come on, we can't let her have all the fun." Ikora whispered before summoning her own sparrow. Zavala nodded before he called out Crusader.