Through Time and Light [Cayde-6 Fanfiction]

Chapter 2 New Light

Entering the Tower The cold metal steps echoed beneath Liv's boots as she followed Cayde into the main hall of the Tower. The walls soared high above her, familiar yet so much more overwhelming in person. The Tower was alive, bustling with Guardians, vendors, and the hum of spacecraft coming and going. The place that once felt like a safe, distant screen now surrounded her.

Cayde led the way, chatting casually, cracking jokes, seemingly unaware of her inner turmoil. Every step Liv took felt like crossing into a world she wasn't meant to inhabit. Yet, here she was, in the middle of it all, with Cayde-6—alive and breathing (well, for an Exo)—right in front of her. Her heart still pounded from the shock of it. Every time she looked at him, the knowledge of what was coming gnawed at her, but how could she explain? How could she warn him?

Cayde turned his head and flashed a grin, breaking her thoughts. "Hey, you okay there, rookie? You look like you've seen a ghost." He paused, then laughed at his own joke. "Well, besides the Ghost, that is."

Liv forced a smile, trying to play it cool. "I'm... fine. Just... taking it all in."

"Ah, I get it. First time in the Tower is always overwhelming. You'll get used to it," Cayde said. He nodded toward the Vanguard War Table. "Let's get you set up. Ikora's gonna want to meet you."

As they walked, Liv's mind raced. Ikora Rey? Commander Zavala? She was about to meet the most powerful leaders in the universe, and she wasn't even a real Guardian. She had no idea how to fight like them. This wasn't a video game anymore—this was real.

When they entered the command center, Ikora stood before a large display of the galaxy, her eyes fixed on distant star charts. Her presence was intense, commanding, but with a serenity that made her appear all-knowing. Beside her, Commander Zavala—tall, stoic, and as serious as Liv had always imagined—crossed his arms as he observed Liv's approach.

Cayde waved nonchalantly. "Zavala, Ikora, meet our new recruit."

Zavala's piercing blue eyes locked onto Liv with a quiet intensity. "You must be the Guardian the Traveler recently revived. It's good to see you on your feet."

Liv opened her mouth to respond, but her Ghost suddenly appeared at her shoulder, speaking for her. "She's... special, Commander. The Traveler brought her here for a unique purpose."

Ikora's gaze narrowed, and she tilted her head slightly. "Special how?"

Liv felt all eyes turn toward her, heat rising in her cheeks. She hadn't even figured out what she was doing here, let alone how to explain it to the Vanguard.

The Ghost hovered forward, its tone more serious now. "The Traveler has chosen her for something different. She's not like the other Guardians. There are... memories she carries, knowledge of things yet to come."

Zavala frowned, his arms tightening across his chest. "What do you mean, knowledge?"

Liv swallowed hard. This was it. She had to say something. "I know about... the future," she began slowly, carefully choosing her words.

She couldn't finish the sentence, but Ikora's sharp gaze softened with understanding. "You're here to stop something."

Liv nodded, her voice strained.

Liv looked at Cayde, her heart heavy with the weight of what she knew. "I've seen things. I know what happens. I know how you—" She choked on the words, unable to say it outright. She couldn't bear to see him look at her with that carefree grin while she held onto the knowledge of his fate.

Zavala's expression hardened. "We can't allow any disruptions to the natural course of events. If you truly have knowledge of the future, that's not something to be taken lightly."

Ikora, however, remained contemplative. "The Traveler acts in mysterious ways. If it sent her here to change something, we need to understand why. Liv, do you know what will happen if you change what you know? What ripple effects that could have on the world around us?"

Liv looked between them, frustration welling up inside her. "I don't know. But all I know is that I can't just stand by when I have the power to stop it."

Cayde, meanwhile, seemed oddly calm, his signature nonchalant tone creeping back into his voice. "I don't know if I should be flattered or freaked out. But hey, if you know something bad's coming, why not give me the details? Maybe we can figure this out together."

Liv's chest tightened at his casual reaction. He didn't seem to understand the gravity of it all. "It's not that simple, Cayde," she whispered. "I don't know what's at stake if I try to change things. But I do know what happens if I don't."

Ikora nodded, turning to Zavala. "We'll need to prepare her. If she's going to prevent something significant, she needs to be ready."

Zavala agreed, though his frown didn't fade. "Then it's settled. We'll put her through standard Guardian training and see if she truly has the strength to alter the future."

Cayde grinned. "Looks like you're stuck with me, kid. Better get used to it."

Liv's heart raced at the idea of fighting alongside Cayde. She had dreamed about moments like this for years. But now that it was real, now that he was real, the stakes felt higher than she could have ever imagined. It wasn't just about surviving missions anymore. It was about saving him from a fate she knew was coming. But how could she stop it without unraveling everything else?

As they left the command center, Cayde shot her a playful glance. Liv's stomach twisted. She wanted to tell him the truth, but every instinct warned her against it. Instead, she forced a small smile.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of training exercises and introductions to her new role as a Guardian. But Liv's mind was somewhere else entirely. She replayed Cayde's death over and over in her mind, thinking through every possible way she could prevent it. What would change if she saved him? Would it make things worse? Or was this her chance to rewrite the story in her favor?

As the sun set over the Last City, Liv stood on the balcony of the Tower, staring up at the Traveler, its immense form glowing softly in the sky. The weight of her task pressed down on her shoulders.

Could she really do this? Could she defy fate?

Her Ghost floated beside her, silent for once. It seemed to sense her inner turmoil. Finally, it spoke. "Whatever happens, remember that the Traveler brought you here for a reason. You have a choice."

Liv glanced at it, her heart heavy with doubt. "Yeah," she whispered. "But I don't know if I'm ready for the consequences."

As the stars blinked into the night sky, she made a silent vow to herself. No matter what it took, no matter the cost, she was going to save Cayde. She had to.