Through Time and Light [Cayde-6 Fanfiction]

Chapter 20 A New Threat on Nessus

The Tower buzzed with activity as Cayde and Liv received the latest intel from Zavala. As always, the weight of their duty loomed over them, but something had shifted between them after their intimate night together. Liv felt more connected to Cayde than ever before, their bond no longer just an unspoken understanding but something tangible, grounding her even as they prepared for yet another dangerous mission.

"Looks like the Red Legion is causing trouble on Nessus again," Zavala said, his voice steady and authoritative. "We've picked up unusual Cabal movements near the Exodus Black crash site. Failsafe has reported a possible artifact in their possession-something powerful enough to disrupt the Vex network on the planet."

Liv frowned, her mind already running through the possibilities. "The Cabal aren't known for messing with Vex tech. What could they possibly want with it?"

Ikora, who had been silent up until now, crossed her arms and nodded in agreement. "Exactly. If they've managed to access something that powerful, it could put both the planet and the Tower at risk. We need you to investigate."

Cayde, ever the joker even in the face of danger, smirked. "Ah, Nessus. The land of killer robots and malfunctioning AI. Sounds like a vacation."

Zavala shot him a stern look, but Liv could see the hint of a smile on Ikora's face. "Stay focused, Cayde," Zavala said firmly. "This could be bigger than we think."

Liv exchanged a look with Cayde, the familiar thrill of an impending mission sparking in her chest. She could feel the tension in the air, the uncertainty of what they might find on Nessus. But with Cayde by her side, she felt ready for whatever was coming.

"We'll check it out," Liv said, stepping forward. "And if the Cabal are up to something dangerous, we'll put a stop to it."

Cayde gave her a wink, his grin returning. "Just like old times, huh?"

The jump to Nessus was smooth, their ship cutting through the atmosphere as they descended toward the surface. The planet's vibrant reds and greens stretched out beneath them, a strange juxtaposition of natural beauty and Vex architecture. The constant presence of the Vex was unnerving, their sleek, mechanical structures a reminder that this world was never truly safe.

As they landed near the familiar crash site of the Exodus Black, the eerie quiet of the planet surrounded them. Liv glanced around, her hand instinctively reaching for her weapon as she scanned the landscape. Failsafe's voice crackled through their comms, her usual cheerful tone belying the seriousness of the situation.

"Welcome back, Guardians! So nice of you to visit me again. I'm afraid the Cabal have been very rude guests this time. They've brought something dangerous-something that even the Vex are wary of."

Cayde arched an eyebrow, looking at Liv with amusement. "Failsafe, you're making this sound like a family reunion gone wrong."

"Oh, I assure you, it's much worse than that!" Failsafe chirped, her voice suddenly switching to a more serious tone. "The Cabal are digging for something deep within the Vex ruins. I've detected unusual energy readings-readings I haven't seen since the Red War."

Liv's grip tightened on her weapon as she exchanged a glance with Cayde. "Let's head to the site and see what they're up to."

As they approached the Cabal excavation site, Liv's stomach twisted. The Cabal had set up a massive camp near the ruins, their towering figures marching through the area as heavy machinery drilled into the ground. At the center of their camp, surrounded by soldiers and engineers, was the artifact Failsafe had mentioned. It pulsed with a strange, almost alien energy, its surface covered in glowing Vex symbols.

Liv's Ghost floated next to her, scanning the area. "That's Vex tech, all right. But there's something... off about it. It doesn't match anything we've seen before."

Cayde crouched next to her, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the scene. "This is bad. Whatever that thing is, the Cabal have no idea what they're messing with. We need to destroy it before they figure it out."

Liv nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Agreed. But we'll have to get through those guards first."

Cayde grinned, the familiar mischievous glint in his eyes. "Good thing I'm great at distractions."

Before Liv could respond, Cayde stood up, casually tossing a grenade toward the Cabal soldiers with a flourish. The explosion sent shockwaves through the camp, and suddenly, all eyes were on him.

"Hey, ugly! Over here!" Cayde shouted, waving his hand as he started firing at the Cabal. The soldiers, confused and disoriented, began charging toward him, their heavy steps shaking the ground beneath them.

Liv shook her head with a smile, quickly moving into position as Cayde provided the perfect distraction. While the Cabal forces focused on him, she slipped through the shadows, her movements quick and precise as she made her way toward the artifact.

Her heart raced as she reached the massive device, its pulsing energy vibrating through the air. Her Ghost appeared, scanning the artifact with a sense of urgency. "This thing is tied directly into the Vex network. If we can overload it, we should be able to shut it down, but it's going to be messy."

Liv grimaced. "Do it."

The Ghost began its work, a series of beeps and clicks filling the air as it interfaced with the artifact. But as the process started, a surge of energy shot through the ruins, causing the ground beneath Liv's feet to tremble. The Vex structures around them began to hum with power, and suddenly, a wave of Vex units appeared from seemingly nowhere, converging on the artifact.

"Cayde, we've got company!" Liv shouted, drawing her weapon as the first of the Vex units charged toward her.

Cayde's voice crackled through her comms, filled with adrenaline and excitement. "I'm on my way! Don't start the party without me!"

The battlefield erupted into chaos as the Vex and Cabal forces clashed around the artifact. Liv fired off shot after shot, her body moving on instinct as she dodged incoming fire. Her heart pounded in her chest as the Vex units closed in, their sleek, robotic forms relentless in their assault.

Cayde appeared beside her, his gun blazing as he took down a group of Vex with deadly precision. "This is getting out of hand!" he called over the noise of the fight. "You almost done with that thing?"

Liv gritted her teeth, firing at a Vex Minotaur as it charged toward her. "Working on it!"

Her Ghost beeped urgently, its voice strained. "Almost there... just need a few more seconds!"

The Vex were closing in fast, their numbers overwhelming. Liv could feel the pressure building, her muscles straining as she fought to keep them at bay. But just when it seemed like the tide was turning against them, a blinding flash of light erupted from the artifact.

The energy from the device surged outward, disrupting the Vex units and sending them into disarray. For a brief moment, the battlefield fell silent as the Vex units staggered, their systems overloaded by the surge.

Liv didn't waste a second. "Now's our chance! Let's finish this!"

Together, she and Cayde charged toward the heart of the Cabal camp, their weapons blazing as they cut through the remaining forces. The artifact, now destabilized, began to collapse in on itself, the energy swirling around it becoming more volatile by the second.

With one final shot, Liv fired at the core of the artifact, and the device exploded in a brilliant flash of light, sending shockwaves through the area. The ground shook beneath them, and the remaining Cabal forces scattered, retreating in the wake of the explosion.

Breathing heavily, Liv turned to Cayde, who was grinning like a madman. "Well," he said, "that was fun."

Liv laughed, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. "You and I have very different definitions of fun."

Cayde shrugged, holstering his weapon as he flashed her a playful grin. "Yeah, but you love it."

Liv shook her head with a smile, her heart still pounding in her chest. "Come on, let's get back to the Tower. I think we've earned a break."