Stage Act

Chapter 1, Mourned

Evelyn stands on the side of a funeral procession that's carrying a stretcher, the body of Cayde-6 under a silk sheet as it was led into the halls of the old Tower. It was quiet, the only sound that evening was the sniffling of mourners. She glanced down to the candle in her hands, a somber expression on her faceplate as she watched them carry the body into the tomb. She also looked at the armor she was wearing; astronaut armor from the Exodus Black, reshaded into her color of purple, about as ramshackle as the weapon on her hip that was also recovered from the wrecked starship.

Once the body was settled, the mourners began to leave, Eve watching as Zavala and Ikora entered the tomb. She followed, setting her candle down at the right side of the tomb door before standing at one the back wall with her hands clasped in front of her waist, taking a deep breath when the tomb door closed behind them. Zavala stood in the darkness beside Eve as she turned her eyes to the left to see The Guardian stand at the opposite side of the room; it was dark enough she couldn't discern what their class was. Ikora stood just beyond the light that shone over the body of Cayde, taking a deep breath before speaking, holding her hands behind her back.

Ikora; "He had the worse jokes... Even worse timing. I wanted to laugh. I really did."

She spoke again before approaching the body, resting her hands on the edge of the slab that had the deceased resting on it.

Ikora; "We should've been there..."

After a pause, she turned her head to The Guardian, but did not make eye contact.

Ikora; "This is not your fault... This, is on the head of Uldren Sov."

She looked back ahead at nothing, continuing to speak.

Ikora; "But if he thinks what he's done is the end, it's not; it's the beginning. We're going to fight him."

She then turned to look at Zavala, gesticulating with her right hand. Eve was in the periphery, and straightened her posture.

Ikora; "Do you hear me? All of us; Every Titan, every Warlock, every Hunter. We will take the Reef by storm!"

Ikora turned back to looking at the back wall as Zavala stood near motionless, staring at the body.

Ikora; "And then... We will mount the head of that son of a bitch on his precious throne. For our fireteam... For Cayde."

Eves eyes turned to Zavala as he took in a breath before speaking, gripping her hands out of anxiety; she knew the lone word he was about to say.

Zavala; "... No."

Ikoras brow furrowed as she looked back to Zavala.

Ikora; "What did you say?"

Zavala responded quickly, keeping his gaze on Cayde.

Zavala; "We are not an army. We are not conquerors; we are Guardians."

He continued speaking, glancing to The Guardian as he wandered over to the opposite side of Caydes body, looking now at Ikora.

Zavala; "We need to keep our eyes here. On our home, our people, the Traveler. The Reef was lost the moment it lost its Queen. So if another Sov wants a stretch of lifeless rocks... Let him have it."

Ikora leaned forward as she spoke to Zavala, Eve taking in a silent inhale at the tension building in the room.

Ikora; "This is Cayde we're talking about. For us to do nothing is... Is-"

Zavala cut her off before she could stammer again.

Zavala; "Say it."

Ikora narrowed her gaze as she whispered.