Risen

Chapter 9

   "What exactly were you thinking?" Zavala demanded, planting his fists on the table and leaning forward on his knuckles. Ikora stepped up next to him and laid her hand on his pauldron, turning to look at Narvuk, who was standing across from them. 

"I think what Zavala meant to say is 'We're glad you're alright.' But you cannot just run off like that, especially when you've only just accessed your Light. We're only beginning to see what you can do. More importantly, so are you." Narvuk had the sense to look ashamed for a moment or two before he perked up again. 

"Whhile I wass there, I did somethhing new. Pulled blade tto me."

Ikora leaned forward at that, raising an eyebrow. "Using Light to manipulate objects? Show me." Narvuk nodded and looked around for something to use. His eyes landed on the Newton's Cradle on Zavala's desk. He stretched out his hand slowly, and a tentacle of Arc leapt out and grabbed the top of the cradle. 

"Narvuk! Be careful with that!" Zavala exclaimed, his eyes now fixed on the Arc energy extruding from Narvuk's rocky palm. The Knight carefully withdrew the crackling extension before carefully guiding the tip to coil around the left-most ball. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Ikora typing notes on her tablet hurriedly. He tensed, not used to such scrutiny, until he saw - and felt - the Arc tense with him.

He inhaled deeply, held it, then released slowly. As he relaxed, the Arc's grip relaxed as well, though it did not let go. "Narvuk, see if you can move the ball." Ikora prodded, still watching the tentacle intently. He nodded slowly and focused on the energy connecting him and the cradle. He realized he could almost feel the ball between his fingers. He gritted his teeth and tried to concentrate harder, but he lost the connection when the door to the office opened behind him, and the tentacle vanished.

   To Narvuk's pleasant surprise, Poppy and Sienna walked in, helmets tucked under their arms. The Hunter winked at Narvuk as they passed by, stopping side by side in front of Zavala's desk. "Yes, Guardians? What can I do for you?"

"Sir, Wraith just gave us some concerning intel from the Tangled Shore. The Fanatic's back, and this time, he's got a friend."

"A new Scorn Baron?"

Sienna shook her head. "Negative, it's some Hive witch. Our best guess, she's out to be the new Brood Queen and thinks the best way to do that is to get chummy with the Scorn."

Zavala straightened and turned to gaze upon the Traveler. "An alliance between the Scorn and the Hive could be disastrous. Magics and the ability to return from the dead could bring this whole system to its knees."

"With all due respect, sir, fuck that noise. Requesting permission to conduct a strike operation."

"Your objectives?"

Sienna's Ghost, Harrier, materialized and displayed a holomap of the Shore as the Hunter continued. "Primary objective will be the elimination of both the Fanatic and this Wizard. We go in, we neutralize them at any cost. Secondary objectives are intel and elimination, in that order. We kill as many Scorn as we can, maybe buy ourselves time before they come back. If we can, we get either the wannabe Brood Queen or some other Hive to talk. If some no-name is trying something like this, who knows what the higher-ups are planning."

Zavala and Ikora exchanged glances before they turned to Sienna and Poppy and nodded in unison. "I'll see if there are any operatives in the Shore who can help."

Poppy spoke up. "Actually, Commander, we wanted to request that Narvuk" - she gestured towards the Knight, who looked shocked - "be temporarily assigned to our fireteam."

   Ikora shook her head immediately. "Absolutely not. he only just returned, and we still haven't figured out who he'll be reporting to from now on. Not to mention this new ability he has. There are no records of anyone ever being able to use their Light to directly manipulate objects."

"All due respect, Ikora, I've been on both end of Narvuk's combat skills and his Light. So has Poppy. He's strong and fast, which isn't exactly common at his size, he's a sound strategist, and he's proven to be surprisingly adaptive. If he's not ready, then neither am I." Sienna shot back. The Warlock Vanguard was taken aback, and Narvuk's jaw was practically on the floor. Zavala looked at Sienna, clearly impressed, before nodding again.

"Both request are approved, Guardians. Be brave."

With that, Poppy and Sienna turned to go, the former beckoning Narvuk. "You coming, Guardian?" He took a moment to nod farewell to the Vanguard before hurrying to catch up.

"Ddid you mean what you ssaid back there?" the Knight asked as they trio made their way to the Hangar. Sienna raised an eyebrow at him. "Maybe. Why?"

Narvuk shrugged and side-eyed the Hunter. "It ssounded like respect, is all."

"Don't flatter yourself, big guy." she responded jokingly.

Poppy interjected once more. "That's a yes, if you couldn't tell." Sienna punched her arm gently, and Poppy laughed with her. Narvuk let out a gravelly chuckle, then quickly turned it into a cough when the girls snapped to stare at him. He gave them the best innocent face he could manage, which caused them to burst out laughing again.

"Whew, haven't laughed like that since Wraith whiffed a Goldie shot! Narvuk, you're so riding with me on the way there." Poppy said after she'd caught her breath.

  He has grown [sharper], and his bond with the false god's servants has grown strong. But he is not [sharp enough]. I am a knife, and I will sever the ties that bind.