The Strong and Silent Type [DESTINY2XOC] (NO LONGER CANON)

Watching and Wondering- Curse of Osiris

"Watch my dogs while I'm gone."

Setting down the small tablet, I collected the last of my things and gave the two fluff balls their final pets for who knows how long before leaving.

It was time to conduct an experiment. What would happen if I left?

I had multiple hypotheses. The most hopeful one was that someone more powerful than me would take my place, so I could perhaps retire, and do my own thing. The worst case would be that I'd have to make my reappearance sooner than I would like and aid the Last City, while taking care of whatever the next threat would be. But the expected result was that a new group of guardians would take my place and things would be as they had been, just without me.

What I hadn't expected was a more than capable hunter, who seemed to have been around just a little bit longer than me, taking my place, only to still hand the credit over to me as though I were still the one doing the dirty work. Then, he made it seem as though he had never existed.

Why? I have no idea.

The only person I told what I was doing was Ikora- she would be the only one to understand. Because of that, I got the first word on what was happening on Mercury and how Osiris needed help... and how she had found Sagira. She asked if I could help, but I told her that I was set on my course- my experiment. She had given me an understanding nod and told me, "At least wait with me while I find someone to take your place." I granted her that much.

I stood a good distance away while a hunter with gilded silver bones for gauntlets approached her. She told him what she needed his help with, and he seemed remarkably well read on who Osiris was. He had good humor, too. Ikora joked about how if he didn't keep the operation a secret, she'd be throwing him off the wall. He took it in stride, laughing, albeit while posing the question, "that was a joke, right" through nervous laughter. She responded with a nod, confirming it was.

So, the Hunter and his Ghost, along with the added bonus of an "unconcious" Sagira, headed off to Mercury with me in tow. Unknowingly, of course.

Ikora explained what the Infinite Forest was along the way, although he seemed to know a lot more about it than he should have. Or, at least, he knew about it to the extent Ikora explained. I listened in on the same comm, albeit masking my presence with the help of Ikora's line. But him knowing about the Infinite Forest already was one of the first of many peculiarities.

Brother Vance greeted them both graciously, although Ikora continued to lead the way. The hunter didn't say much as Vance and Ikora spoke to one another, though. Not that I blame him- that was an odd tenseness to have to bear. Even if it was laughable from time to time.

He broke through the Vex with relative ease. There was a moment of silence as I watched him and the gateway, waiting for what I already knew was going to happen. They couldn't get through. The hunter and his Ghost didn't have the means necessary. Before he could do anything about that fact, though, the Vex arrived. And not just any Vex- all the Vex. Vex from all timelines. That was a little concerning, although, I will admit, he knew how to deal with them. That would mean he likely was with one of the fireteams to enter the Vault of Glass.

He met with Brother Vance afterwards, who told the hunter he could help revive Sagira. There was a temple on Earth that could help. I followed him with increasing intrigue. But the followers of Osiris were found dead. The Hunter's Ghost tried to help fix Sagira by using whatever modified Vex tech the followers had. Instead, the Ghost became sort of... possessed, by Sagira. According to her, though, it would be alright.

Immediately after they were back on Mercury, and I still followed them and watched from afar, taking notes and recording with the help of Silver. But with Sagira's help, he was able to make it into the Infinite Forest. Me, on the other hand... well, let's just say I had to hijack his way through. And by that I mean I blinked to be beside him in the last instant, touched his shoulder and entered at his side, openly to disappear in the next instant. Another quick thing- I had a cloaking device (a gift from Cayde) that came in hand on more than one occasion. As did the tactic. The moment I broke away the hunter whirled around as if sensing me. It was a tense moment, but he didn't call out or see me, so with a roll of his shoulders he continued on.

Then he met the Reflections of Osiris. God, that wasn't a fun one. A couple of them saw me- the cloaking device doesn't last long enough to keep me covered and needs time to recharge. Luckily they didn't question me too much, or try to get the hunter's or Sagira's comment on it.

But none of the reflections wanted to tell Sagira or the hunter where Osiris was, or what he saw.

Although they did give a good explanation of the Infinite Forest. And a tour. And a story. It made me want to explore it and research it as Osiris had been. I was lucky enough to get dragged along wherever the hunter went- although there were moments where the case wasn't very lucky and he nearly saw me. Through these stories and tours and explanations, the Reflection of Osiris told the hunter of Panoptes, Mind of the Infinite Forest. Introduced the Vex Mind to all of us as well.

The mission was simple: Panoptes needed to be stopped in order for things to go as we need them to. The Hunter would be the one to do it. If not? I'd have to step in.

The hunter did well. Surprisingly well. There were hiccups here and there, but he always found a work-around with the help of Ikora and Sagira. Until... well, until Sagira got caught by Panoptes. That caused a bit of a panic for the hunter AND me- and none of the Vex could even see me! Or at least I don't think they could. If they could, they never did anything about it. The hunter got transported out of the Infinite Forest because of it, and his Ghost was back. The Hunter tried to brute force his way back in, and failed- as expected. So their decision was to get Ikora. And she went with them, and broke a way open for them. The power she has is unbelievable- I still have yet to get her to teach me how she did that, among other things. Although, I'm sure I could teach myself.

The hunter found Panoptes quickly, and I had to watch him fight. He rarely got hurt- it was as though he knew what was going to happen before it happened, which is saying something, since he was going up against a Vex Mind who also knew what was going to happen before it happened. But that capability got thrown out of the window once Osiris and his Reflections got involved. Hell, I'm pretty sure they're the only reason the hunter was able to defeat Panoptes.

It was a sight to behold.

What was even crazier was the weapon the Hunter retrieved from his Ghost to destroy the Vex Mind.

He had made to unsheath something from his back, only for a tall and sturdy axe to transmat onto his back as he grasped the handle, pulling it free and holding it in boths hands. It was sturdy, sharp, and symmetric in the way metalwork can be. With a step, it ignited into a bright and brilliant flame, and in that instant I recognized it. What the Hunter held in his hands was the Iron Lords Axe- an ancient one, though. From where I was, it looked as though it might be the same one I wielded- if not, one identical to it. But there were no bonfires to light the axe, meaning he lit it on his own. That meant he was either much older than I had first perceived him to be, or he had far greater power than I had first estimated.

Osiris gave the hunter the chance to hit Panoptes only once, and in that one opportune moment the hunter lunged forward in a great leap, slamming the axe in a downward arc with a loud yell, shocking everyone who saw. Even Osiris seemed impressed, which is saying something, because he is a hard man to impress. I'll admit, I even stood from my hiding place to get a better view- with how far back I was, I had to. Panoptes had let out an ear-piercing and robotic screech as he fell, combusting and dying.

Although the hunter had dealt such heavy blows, Panotptes creaked and made to regain its balance, only for his grip of Osiris to loosen further, giving the warlock the chance to gift the Vex Mind his final blow. And just like that, Osiris and Sagira were freed.

Osiris stood in front of the Hunter, after making his final declaration in fire, sword, and words. He turned back to him, his eyes skimming over me, a frown etching onto his face. I ducked down just as the Hunter turned back to follow Osiris' gaze. I was a good distance away, but within minutes I heard the stomping of boots- those I recognized to be the Hunter's. In a panic, I leapt over the edge of the structure I had stood on, making to hide beneath it. He didn't seem to find me, since a few moments later I heard him leave with no remarks to make. All this tells me is that I need to work on my stealth.

There was a moment during Ikora and Osiris's interaction that I thought he may have known I was there- him and the hunter both. But nothing was said from either party to confirm it. I was just glad to hear the Infinite Forest was open. And that I had a ready replacement if I were to be defeated. But that wasn't all- I partially came out of hiding after that, but mainly kept watching the hunter and other guardians to see if there could be other candidates. And as time passed, a new threat arrived. Once again, the hunter rose to meet it.