The Darkness In Us

Deceit

-Two Months Later -

Mars

"Got anything, Partner?"

"Nothing yet, Cayde."

"Alright. Well let's go."

"Wait."

"For what?"

"Let's explore a bit longer."

Through my sniper scope, I can see him shifting uncomfortably. I look over to the other side and Johannan gives the all clear. It's been awhile since I had interacted with him after the whole Awoken being slaughtered thing. He had been exiled and after making an appeal, he won. Ever since, he's been a loyal informant for the Vanguard, along with Xander.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and I turn. I don't have time to react before feeling a knife at my throat. I look up and see Shiro and give a sigh of relief.

"You scared me." I say. He raises an eyebrow.

"Did I? That's odd..." he says, staring at me, eyes narrowed with suspicion. I clear my throat.

"Look, you caught me off guard. It happens to the best of us." I say.

"Right. Well it's been happening over the last month or so. I thought a highly trained assassin would know how to react better." he says. The other two approach us and I cross my arms.

"What's going on?" Cayde asks. I glance at Shiro, who looks like he wants to say something.

"Nothing. Just wondering what Shiro is doing here is all." I say.

"The Vanguard would like you to report back. Now. We have an urgent issue."

"It's always something, isn't it?" Johannan says with exasperation. I nod.

"Yep. Always. Let's go guys." I say. Cayde and Johannan go ahead of me and as I pass Shiro, he stops me, grabbing my arm.

"I know what you're hiding. If you think you're going to get away with it, you're wrong. Whatever plan you've got...it's going to fail." he says. I shake his hand off.

"I have no idea what you're on about." I say.

"Oh don't worry. You'll see all the evidence come forward soon." he says as I walk away. I look at him and I wonder if he really does know everything.

There's no way. He's bluffing. He has to be.

We head off to the Tower and while Shiro talked to Cayde and Johannan, I could feel his eyes burning holes into the back of my head. Once we arrived, we headed straight to the Hall of Guardians and met up with Zavala and Ikora. Standing with them was Uldren. Shiro joined him and the other two Vanguard. The air immediately became dense and full of tension.

"Good of you to make it back, Guardian." Zavala says as a greeting. Several Guardians, Shaxx included, walked in and the doors closed.

"Execute a city wide shut down. All Guardians on standby." he says. I can feel the muscles in my neck tense up and Zavala signals to some Guardians on the far left of the room. They come forward, holding a body between them and I realize that Shiro wasn't bluffing. I move forward but I'm restrained by two Guardians and held in place. Cayde is staring at me and my jaw is clenched.

"Your little act is over, Raven." Uldren says coldly.

"What's the meaning of this?" Cayde asks.

"Cayde-"

"Why does she look identical to you?" Zavala asks, looking at the unconscious Guardian and then to me.

I sigh, making the Guardians let me go long enough for me to press a section of my skin on the side of my neck, revealing myself at last.