revivalproject | ♤ Into the Unknown

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♤ Into the Unknown

WHO: Cayde-6 and OTA
WHERE: Temba
WHAT: Weathering the storm...
WHEN: Midway into things
WARNINGS: N/A, will change as needed

If not for Sundance, he would have no idea how many days have passed since they'd arrived back on Agra 10, much less how long they've endured the storm once they'd left for the ruined city.

It was easy to say that that had been a mistake. The wrongness brought on by the storm had warped Temba's atmosphere somehow. He felt just as weak as he had when Ghaul had first slapped that oversized bear-trap across the Traveler and cut off everyone's Light. Naturally it didn't stop him. He'd survived before, he'd do it again. He treated this storm intrusion and all it brought to bear as a challenge, and being the stubborn Hunter that he was, he wasn't backing down.

At first he'd tried his best to play it off. He'd heard about what the previous storm had brought, and at least he had Sundance here to confirm that the things, the people he'd seen in the storm were not really there. It was only a slight comfort, because it was damn hard ignoring the accusing eyes of an old friend and brother. Except Andal Brask didn't leave. And eventually such visions came back...with friends.

Not actually friends.

Rain soaked most of the interior of his clocktower as though the wind had purposely made an effort to hurl water into every corner and crevice it could through the cracks and gaping holes in the walls. Thankfully he hadn't much he'd left behind, but as he picked up soaked, blank sheets of paper from dark puddles, Cayde felt like he was being watched.

The crack of gunshots wasn't as sharp as they would have been, not with the storm's relentlessness, but they were noticeable within the near vicinity of the clocktower, as well as the brief flash of light that accompanied each shot, flaring feebly through the ruined upper floor of the building, as though the darkness itself were alive and seeping in. But that was just one's imagination. Wasn't it..?

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With the library not being very far from the clocktower, the shots don't go unnoticed by the Archivist as he checks on the building and the various rooms in it he has assigned certain uses to. At least the work he has put in to make sure the library can withstand these storms seems to be paying off, which doesn't mean that Jon isn't looking out of one of the windows and over to the tower with a concerned frown.

Whatever Cayde is fighting most likely isn't real. But that he is fighting something at all only means that even the Exo isn't free of deep terrors and fears he usually doesn't let show.

Grabbing the heavy coat he has left on a shelf, Jon casts a nearby lingering figure a quick, warning glance before heading out into the storm again. Rather than sticking to the road, he decides to take the direct path, crossing over the muddy grass between the library and the clocktower, only stopping once his feet step on less muddy and more solid ground while ignoring the mocking invitation of a yellow door and the smug expression on the face of a well-dressed man watching his every move.

"Cayde. Cayde!" Jon shouts up into the storm while moving closer to the building. It's very doubtful that the Exo has heard him, isn't it.

At least Jon will be spared having to go up the dilapidated stairs in the darkness. A shadow leaps down from the opening in the wall high above, glowing blue eyes and the trace of amber light a sure enough hint as to who it is. Cayde turns quickly, gun upraised in alertness, but he does a double-take when he notices the Archvist.

"Jon! What're you-" A sound yanks his attention back upwards, and as lightning cracks somewhere, it's enough to throw light upon the red-armored creature that stares looks at them below. It's bigger and definitely more intimidating than an Agrii, four limbs about all they have in common, save that two are synthetic, but they grip the large rifle in the creature's hands steadily enough. The Fallen laughs, then drops down to join them, but surely the vibration from his landing is merely the echo of thunder from the storm. Cayde's got his gun aimed even before Taniks touches the ground, his optics narrow slits of blue.

The Fallen mercenary laughs again, belting something out in sibilant Eliksni. "You tried and failed twice before. This time I will let you join your brothers."

"Third time's a charm," Cayde quips, but there's a hard look in his eyes. If this isn't real, it's still a nasty surprise. The blows traded earlier sure felt real that it's hard for him to know what to believe, and he's not taking chances. Not with this guy.

Jon may be thankful to be spared the stairs, but seeing the Exo jumping down like that... It's something. And it's especially something that makes the Archivist take a step back in surprise, blinking widely at Cayde first, then over to the other creature as it lands not far from them.

Oh..

"What is--" He responds to Cayde's question with one of his own and equally doesn't finish it as the armored being cuts in. This has to be tied to the storm as well. Or is it?

"Cayde!" Jon tries to address the Hunter once again, though not without a bit of a grimace. "Is he another result of the storm?"

That's a bet Cayde wishes he could say he were confident to take, but he's not sure, and that's what bothers him more about the situation. And when he's not sure, he'd rather take care, because Taniks isn't someone you took lightly.

"If he is or if he ain't, he's dead either way," the Exo says, Ace's hammer pulling back as his finger twitches against the trigger. Several shots ring out, but the Fallen ducks and skitters aside, cloak whipping in the rain-tossing wind. He answers with a few shots of his own, just as loud as Cayde's, but Exo moves, and he'll grab Jon to get out of the way if he has to.

Fresh holes pock the wall of the clocktower where Cayde's bullets have struck, but between the dreary atmosphere and the encroaching darkness, it's hard to tell where Taniks' shots have gone, if there'd been any. The darkness does seem like it's particularly thick here, strangely enough. Even the lightning seems to have ceased, the only light coming from Cayde's face and whatever mechanisms make up Taniks' armor.

"Where'd he go..?" Cayde not quite growls, turning sharply to try and get a bearing on the Fallen, but it seems like Taniks has completely melted into the darkness. "...Jon?"

Jon gets jerked out of the way of those potential shots with a yelp of surprise from the Archivist.

"Cayde- I, I'm here!" Jon replies, grimacing as he looks around at the encroaching darkness and the lack of sight of Cayde's opponent. The Archivist's voice sharpens. "Who is this person, Cayde? Is he someone you're afraid of- Or... Is he capable of doing something you are afraid to see happen?"

Because it's the things they fear that this storm draws out.

"His name is Taniks. Fallen mercenary, he took up the bounties on me an' some of my Hunter pals. He killed my friend...the Hunter Vanguard before me..."

Cayde nears where Jon is, if only thanks to Sundance giving him a better approximation of where the man is. The darkness is so thick it practically swallows everything, and even the Exo's internal lighting seems muted. "Thought we put him down- twice. Bastard just keeps coming back... Second time's when he got Andal..." When Cayde accepted losing the Dare and allowed himself to be tethered to the Tower, to the Vanguard.

His hand grasps in the darkness, trying to find Jon. "...this is somethin' else though..." he starts to realize. Taniks had no abilities with the darkness, and he can't hear the Fallen anywhere now.

"Right. It's the storm." Jon settles, one hand reaching to grasp Cayde's wrist, letting his hand be drawn towards the Exo's anxiety. Which seems less spurred by the creature seemingly attacking him than the fact that this Taniks isn't acting the way Cayde expects him to. The uncertainty paired with the darkness making it even harder to keep track of the Fallen and actually see what is happening.

He gives the Exo's arm a little pull, wordlessly indicating Cayde to follow his lead. Which for the beginning would be simply away from the tower. "Don't pay attention to him, Cayde. Look at me. He isn't real!"

He barely feels the Archivist's hand, distracted as the Exo is. While he isn't necessarily afraid of Taniks if he actually was here, he's afraid of what the Fallen was capable of.

Although Cayde likely would hardly be moved if he were adamant about it, he goes along with Jon, finally, if with some effort, pulling his attention from the surroundings he tries to search in vain, looking to the Archivist. "I know, I know..! It's just..." His metal features tighten in a scowl. "Is this a thing? With the storms? I don't remember hearing about.....about..."

His eyes have slowly drifted away from Jon again, but he's looking up, around, noticing how thick the darkness has become. He can barely see Jon, the clocktower's as good as gone. It might have been a forced laugh that he makes, but it's strangled, obviously taking an effort to even try to make the attempt.

"Cayde. Don't pay attention to it!" Jon hisses and his other hand grabs Cayde's arm, which the comparably short man then uses as guidance for his hands to find the Exo's shoulders next and step around and right in front of him to make himself more visible to Cayde.

Jon's voice adopts a sharp tone when he speaks again. It's almost commanding but without his compulsion being woven into the urgent words. "Look at me, Cayde! Ignore what's around us. Just look at me and tell me what you see."

Sundance's own tone bears an extra edge in concern as it rings out in his head, underlining the Archivist's words as he steps around in front of him. Cayde's anxiety doesn't quite surface on his metal features, but his distraction is quite clear, and it takes some effort for him to pull his attention away from his surroundings to look at Jon. Despite the lack of lungs he still expels a breath, or rather mimics the motion and sound.

It's a little distressing barely being able to see the man standing in front of him, even hearing him right there, verified by Sundance's radar. His free hand moves, finding the hand Jon's placed on his shoulder, gripping it. "I can barely see you, I- I know you're there because I hear you and feel you and Sundance is telling me someone's there, but..." His optics shutter slightly, straining against the darkness, trying to make out Jon's outline and failing.

"Barely is a start. But you know I am here. And I am not leaving you in... This." Whatever this strange darkness really is. Jon's hand pats its way back down from Cayde's shoulder. Down his arm, over his elbow and back to his wrist before finding the Exo's hand.

"I will ask you to trust me, Cayde. Take my hand and close your eyes and I will lead you out of this." He pauses for a moment, then adds: "Maybe you can tell me about Sundance along the way. I currently can't see them, but I believe I got a quick look a moment ago."

There's an amber sliver outlining the sad smile from the Exo. His hand tense, but only to move and grasp Jon's. "I trust you," he says, and then as his optics shutter completely, blotting out one of the only other light sources in the unnatural darkness, "...Andal's out there. Not really. But if you see him, tell him I'm sorry."

His voice bears a wistfulness, and he draws himself up, nodding to signal he's ready to go whenever Jon starts. The darkness almost seems alive, sometimes in darker, almost solid wisps that try to cling and grab at the two as they begin to walk. Jon might catch a glimpse of red, Taniks sneering and cocking his rifle. "I'll kill them all," he promises, but although Cayde's hand tightens slightly in Jon's, the Exo doesn't open his eyes.

"Sundance...oh yeah, you haven't been introduced yet. She popped up aboard the Agrii ship. My Ghost."

Jon may not be particularly fond of darkness himself, but this is anything but normal darkness. This is the result of this storm. The manifestation of deep worries and underlying fears. This? It's something he has come to understand and know.

Moving carefully but without slowing down, Jon leads Cayde down the street that will take them to the center of the city, his eyes darting from one apparition to the next, drilling into the illusion of the taunting Fallen and taking it apart, reducing it to whatever underlying basic fear it feeds from.

"Your- Ghost. I assume that's not meant in the spiritual way." Jon notes, making a mental note on this Ghost being referred to with a female pronoun. Which indicates she's a sentient being. Jon follows with a brief warning. "Slow and steady steps here, Cayde. It's the nasty part of the road. You can introduce me once we have reach the shelter."

It isn't Taniks himself that Cayde is necessarily afraid of. At its core is a general fear that probably isn't unfamiliar at all, the fear of loss. This Fallen had taken the lives of good Guardians, good Hunters...his friends. And one friend in specific.

Another figure materializes in the darkness. He wears the same gear as Cayde, but the hooded cloak is the most notable. His hollow-eyed expression follows the pair as they move, and he says nothing, but without Cayde's reaction to fuel the illusions, the effect is more regretful than one of judgement.

"Yeah. I mentioned them, didn't I? In the book? Our Light... she's the one who found me, way, way back. Been with me forever." Cayde slows his steps with Jon's warning, stumbling only a little before he adjusts to the unevenness of the road.

"Right. I remember that." He just didn't make the connection right away. "And she's with you again now. That's nice." It is. Having an old friend back, Jon assumes, must be comforting. Especially while trapped on an alien planet.

As the move on, Jon takes note of the quiet figure. He could probably ask Cayde about the man, yet it may be safer to not point him out while they are still being surrounded by that mass of darkness. And just going by what the storm has been causing so far it's not a far guess to assume this illusion only means more harm if given the opportunity.

"I recall that every Guardian has their own Ghost, so they are unique entities, then?" He opts to keep the focus on what he hopes is an easier topic. Ghosts. Sundance. Cayde's... Partner? Is that an acceptable term to use?

Partner. That's the most appropriate term and not one Cayde would deny. He nods, even allowing for a smile. "Oh yeah. Own personalities an' everything. They got their work cut out for them. There's still a lot of 'em out there, searching for their Guardian.

"Heard that for a while, back during the Dark Ages after the Collapse, the first Guardians were either runnin' around power-hungry and doing as they pleased or were crazy despots. All their Ghosts could do was watch, rez 'em when the dumb things they did got 'em killed, and the whole thing would start again. Took a looong time for people to get organized."

The darkness around them seems to thin a bit, revealing the silhouettes of the surrounding ruins as though someone were pulling back a gauzy black curtain. It feels like a change in pressure that hadn't initially been noticed until sound and wetness begin to resume. Rain starts to drum steadily again, thunder rolling in the near distance.

"....hey, Jon? Thanks...for runnin' out here." The Exo's eyes are still closed, but he still remains trustful of the Archivist's guidance.

He notices the slight change in the atmosphere around them as well as the fact that they are getting closer to their destination. Which is good, It gets them away from those false manifestations of fear. Another good thing? That little lesson on Cayde's Ghost - And those like her. Apparently sentient beings in their own right - And some of them... Lonely?

"Do they have to find a specific Guardian? I mean- If their Guardian has died. Can't they find a new one?" Jon wonders aloud, but then is hit by the Exo's words of gratitude that initially take any remaining words from Jon's mouth, but then put a little smile to his features even as he shakes his head. "You're welcome, Cayde. Very much so."

He's not about openly accepting a thanks. In fact, it feels nice to be able to help someone for once. And Cayde has quite literally rescued him when the thing with the Graq went wrong.

"...one guardian to a Ghost. They don't even know how it works, don't think anyone does. But once they find 'em, they know. The Guardians they find are already dead. They bring 'em to life. Do it again and again because we Guardians tend to be a little reckless." He smiles crookedly.

"We're pretty much bonded once we're found. Ghosts can't do anything for anyone else that they're able to do for their Guardian. Healing. Rez'ing. So long as we have our Ghost, and the Light, we can keep coming back. We lose our Ghosts? Then our next death is our final one."

He may not be able to see Jon's smile, but Cayde is, all the same, grateful that he's made some good friends here. He'll stick his own neck out for them as many times as he has to.

"Wow..." Jon mutters in response to that explanation. "But dying and being revived over and over... That sounds terribly painful." He has died once and was brought back by some sort of Eldritch fear-magic or whatever has happened after the Unknowing. Jon has mostly given up trying to make sense of it. Trying not to get killed again has been a rather effective distraction.

"It must have been worrying for you to not have Sundance around all these months." The Archivist muses as they finally reach the building and he gives Cayde's hand a brief, final squeeze. A wordless 'thanks' for trusting him. "We're here. I think it's safe for you to open your eyes again."

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♤ Into the Unknown

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