Vexxing Explanations

Corrin paled as the Warlock explained the Vex. If these things had managed to take her from her realm, then maybe her kingdom was in danger. If the Vex found a way into Nohr or Hoshido, she knew that her people wouldn't stand a chance against them.

She opened her mouth to speak when Valeria's Ghost floated up to her. "You say that you were in the midst of accessing your own pocket dimension, oui?" The Ghost asked. "Did you notice anything strange? Like the sensation of falling from experiencing non-linear time, or even the sensation of being submerged?"

Corrin bit her lip and shook her head. "N—no. I accessed the space the same way I always did: through a doorway, any doorway. I'm the only one who can access it… that's the way Lilth created it."

She frowned. "Truth be told, I don't remember much about the journey. Usually it's as simple as walking through the door, into the swirling tunnel of magic and then through the door on the other side. But I don't remember anything about how I came to be here. I was… I had just finished a meeting and wanted a quiet place to think and..."

The next thing she knew she was waking up in that destroyed city, surrounded by those fallen brigands.

"It doesn't normally make me forget though. Something had to have gone wrong..." she looked to the floor, sighing.

"This is the Vex we're talking about," said Chance. "I've been into the Infinite Forest. Can't tell which way is up half the time."

"Seems like the Vex have somehow managed to pluck you from your reality and transport you here," Grey said. "Though I ain't got no idea why you popped up in Old Chicago of all places."

"Perhaps an experiment gone wrong," Valeria suggested. "You know how much the Vex love their experiments."

Aside from construction, experimentation was something the Vex were truly obsessed with. They wanted to find out what could be made to fit in their pattern, and if it could be made to fit.

Unique data was something they prized. The Vex on Nessus were especially focused on endless experimentation, like how they did with the long-dead crew of the Exodus Black when it crashed. The ones on Io seemed weirdly obsessed with studying human culture and society.

The Hunter nodded at that. "Yeah, could be."

"If the Vex manage to find a way to access entire other dimensions, well, that's worrying," Chance said.

"That's one hell of an understatement," Zeke muttered.

Corrin looked to Grey, then to Chance, and finally Valeria. Then she sighed. "I'm sorry that I can't be more helpful, but I'm afraid this matter goes beyond simply returning me home," she fidgeted slightly. "If these Vex are as dangerous as you make them sound, then maybe it would be better if I didn't attempt to go back. I don't want to risk my kingdom. If they were to follow..."

Perhaps it didn't matter if Corrin went back at all, maybe those things would find a way there regardless. But she wasn't sure she could risk being the one to expose Nohr or even Hoshido to the Vex. Her well being paled in comparison to that of her kingdom, family and friends.

But Val raised her hand dismissively, calming Corrin somewhat. "I am sure you needn't worry," she said. "The Vex, for the most part, are only truly capable of rewriting reality within their own simulations and realms, like in the aforementioned Infinite Forest or Vault of Glass. They have yet to display the ability to do so in our universe."

"And if they do..." Chance said. "Well, that's probably gonna be the end of us all."

"Indeed," Valeria nodded. "I find it unlikely that they have the ability to actually travel between dimensions, and not just different timelines. Your arrival here is very much shaping up to be nothing but an accident."

Grey looked to Corrin. "If the Vex do somehow manage to find a way into your dimension, and given the current technological level your world seems to have... well, even a single Minotaur may be too much," he said, shaking his head. "The Vex managed to turn the whole of Mercury into a Machine World within days, not to mention that crazy structure underneath Io."

"Very much so. We still understand very little about the Vex themselves," said Cierra. "The Vex are just about the only ones who have yet to touch Earth. We hypothesise it is because Earth, as where the Traveler now lays, is the greatest focal point of the Light in the entire Solar System. Given Light is something the Vex cannot accurately simulate alongside Guardians, perhaps they are afraid."

The Vex sought data, understanding. They looked for a way to predict everything. Something that they couldn't simulate terrified them as much as emotionless cyborgs could. Failsafe on Nessus had said that the Vex called Guardians 'those who wield what we cannot predict', or something along those lines.

"But the Vex just plucking someone or something from another reality—not just another timeline—is unheard of," said Chance. "None of the Vex collectives we know of are capable of such a feat."

"It could be a new one we don't know of," Grey suggested. "Like, I dunno, one that's remained hidden at the edges of the Solar System, left to their own devices to run their experiments for who knows how long."

"One thing we do know is that if this was indeed a failed experiment, the Vex are sure to try again. Nothing's stopped them before, an nothing will now," said Valeria. "That could very much pose a massive risk, not to mention the possibilities of them entering a reality ruled by the Darkness itself."

The prospects were terrifying, as were the thoughts of a second Collapse, or something far worse. There were already rumours of ships matching that of the Pyramid on the Moon that had been sighted at the edge of the system, though nobody could verify that.

Chance spoke up. "You know what? I think we should take this to the Vanguard."

Val blinked, and then turned to glare at him. "The Vanguard? After all that's happened, you still think they will solve this problem that we have? This is an outside context problem none of us could have predicted!"

"They've solved lots of problems before!" the Titan shot back. "They've got more resources than the three of us."

"Throwing a fist into the problem in the hopes it'll explode and go away won't solve it."

"Maybe it will!" Chance turned to Grey. "Come on, Grey, what do you think?"

"Yes, Grey, tell him!" Val cried. "I know you don't trust the Vanguard either!"

For his part, the Hunter just sighed. "Well, as much as I don't like the Vanguard, I guess Chance does have a point," Val looked in surprise as Chance had the closest thing to a look of smugness. "On the other hand, the Vanguard does bicker too much and never gets anything really done. So..."

He turned to Corrin. "What do you think?"

Corrin balked slightly at being under the spotlight again. "Uh, I'm not sure I'm even qualified to make that choice," she said. She was the outsider here, but the three had a much better grasp on how the Vanguard operated.

She thought about what she would do if something were to happen in her world, and turned away to pace back and forth. She needed to put her princess skills to work.

On the one hand, the Vanguard could give them access to more resources. On the other, the Vanguard could also react less than favourably should they discover Corrin had apparently been brought here through a Vex portal, not to mention her whole nature.

Finally, she stopped and turned to the fireteam. "...I think we should at least tell them about me," she said at last. "I would rather avoid any potential trouble should they discover my origins on their own. Even if they don't help directly their resources should be useful."

Grey folded his arms. As a Hunter, he naturally tended to look for the most pragmatic approach to problems. Titans solved problems with their fists, and Warlocks looked for why the problem was there in the first place, but Hunters acted. They just saw the best solution to the problem and solved it, even if the solution was a little half-assed (most of it was impromptu), but they got things done.

Corrin seemed to have the right idea, speaking her mind about what was the best solution. She'd make an excellent Hunter, Grey thought.

"Commander Zavala would be our best bet," said Chance. "He's the Titan Vanguard and Commander. The de facto leader of Guardian forces, really. I've known him since I first came to the City, and I fought alongside him in Twilight Gap. He's a good man."

"As much as his indecisiveness goes," muttered Val. "But I concur. He listens to reason."

The Titan nodded. "Besides, this whole new Vex interdimensional thing could pose a threat to the City, and for that we're gonna need to tell them, anyway. We're Guardians, after all."

The three seemed to agree on that, even Val. She was a member of the Praxic Order, after all. She took the Praxic Creed, pledging herself to fight the Darkness at all costs. Now, the threat of a reality where the Darkness was a rule loomed over them.

Grey took a step forwards then. "I guess it's settled, then," he said with a sigh. "We tell the Vanguard what's going on and just hope that they'll have what we need. I'll take Corrin here to Zavala's office. He may be skeptical at first, but, well, he's seen stranger things. We all have."

"Good timing, too," said Zeke. "Zavala just got back from a mission. Probably the first time he's actually left the Tower in a while."

"A mission?" Saratoga asked, curious. "Must've been real important."

"I heard on the Ghost-vine that he'd gone to the Almighty with Ana. Red Legion was up to something again after we ruined their plans with the Sundial. Something about a 'troubling development'."

"The Almighty?" Grey asked. "Huh, haven't heard that name in a while. The Cabal haven't fixed it, have they?"

"They don't have the means to at the moment. It's something else. They won't be able to blow up the Sun again, at least, but it's pretty close if the reports are true."

Well, that wasn't ominous at all, thought Corrin.She swallowed her worries. "So… do we need to make an appointment or do we simply walk in and request a meeting?"

"I've already made an appointment a half-hour from now," Saratoga spoke up. "Great that we got it this early, thought he'd be too busy sorting through reports and making plans for Vanguard operations."

Grey nodded. "Thanks, Toga," he said, turning to Corrin. "We should head back to the Tower. That's where Zavala's office is."

Next, he turned to the other two members of his fireteam. "Well, guys, looks like we're gonna get busy again."

Chance grinned at that. "About time! I was getting bored doing the same few missions over and over again. Not that I don't like escorting refugees to the City, it's just that I don't get to punch enough things."

Val groaned and shook her head. "I just wanted a day to myself..."

Encouraged by the help being offered to help her, Corrin offered a short bow to the three Guardians. "I appreciate all the help you three are offering," she said in earnest.

Though it seemed it had been some time since the team had such a daunting task before them, Corrin didn't relish putting something like this on their shoulders. Hopefully, this Zavala would have some advice or resources that could ease the burden.

She and Grey turned to leave, Corrin wondering what she ought to say to the man. Of course she was well versed in the fine art of meeting politics. Being a princess, such skills were essentially a requirement.

"Wait. There's something I want to tell you," Val suddenly said, stopping the two in their tracks.

Grey turned back around. "What is it?"

"It's you, Corrin," the Warlock said, stepping closer to her. "It's something I've only noticed just now. The amount of Light you hold within you... well, it's impressive, to say the least. I've never seen so much Light in a non-Guardian before."

The Hunter rose a brow. "Huh? What are you saying?"

Val scowled at him. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed it. You're a Hunter, for Sky's sake. You're supposed to be more aware than the rest of us."

"I did notice her Light, but..." he paused for a moment, his expression turning into one of surprise. "Well, I'll be damned. That is a lotta Light."

Chance spoke next, equally surprised. "I've been protecting the people of the Last City for over a century and a half, and no one even comes close to the amount of Light you have."

Corrin looked down to her hands. "I was told that by a man going by Drifter earlier," she said, a little unsure. "I'm unsure how this light interacts with the magic of my homeland. I haven't tried using any spells or anything here, but who's to say the two aren't connected."

"The Drifter?" Val asked, frowning. "Oh, of course he knows. He knows a lot of things most of us shouldn't, especially regarding the Darkness. I wouldn't trust that rat."

"Come on, Val," Grey spoke. "Him knowing more about the Darkness than even the Praxic Order is probably why he hasn't been kicked out yet."

The Warlock scowled at him, but then shook her head and turned back to Corrin. "In either case, it does appear that you house a plentiful supply of Light. More specifically, Void Light," she raised her palm and summoned forth a pulsing purple sphere of Void energy. "In essence, you can draw power from the vacuum and obliterate your foes with it. I am the most experienced with this form of Light, hence I am a Voidwalker."

Corrin stared at the glowing purple sphere in Val's hand with a look of awe. "Whether our magic and your Light are the same or not… does my having it here bode… well?" She tilted her head to the side.

Then, her eyes lit up.

"Could I learn to use it like you Guardians do? Perhaps then I would be less of a burden, or maybe even help you all. So long as I am here, and given the potential for me not being able to return home, I'd be honoured to help humanity any way I can."

Chance gave a guffaw at her enthusiasm. "Ha! You've got spirit, kid! Maybe I could even teach you how to punch like a Titan!"

"Please don't," Zeke pleaded.

Grey rolled his eyes, but spoke. "To tell you the truth, I ain't sure," he said. "Only Guardians can wield the Light as a weapon, channeling it to power our weapons and abilities."

"Indeed," Cierra said. "There are no records of non-Lightbearers being able to wield the Light the same as Guardians."

"Not just that, but you heard what I said earlier," Saratoga added. "We Ghosts seek out our Chosen, those who can wield the Light as a weapon, and resurrect them as Guardians, essentially directly connecting them to the Traveler itself."

Val nodded, but stepped forwards. "While they are correct, you are a special case. As you do not originate from this reality and say you come from a world where magic is commonplace, it is possible that you can in fact wield the Light. The question is how."

"Us Guardians pretty much instinctively know how to wield the Light, just as we can with weapons and vehicles. You? Well, I ain't sure how you can," the Hunter said.

"Maybe it's just a matter of unlocking it," Chance suggested, turning to her. "Say, have you ever, I dunno, tapped into this whole magic thing before?"

"I don't have a tome to use here, but perhaps I can still use my magic," said Corrin, looking to her hands. She didn't know if she could harness her world's magic here, but she liked those odds.

"It certainly doesn't hurt to try, though," she told the three Guardians, looking up. "I've spent a great deal of my life dedicated to the studies of magic. In my world it's a skill that can be honed with training and time. With the right tomes and dedication anyone can cast."

Of course, some were better than others. Leo was as dedicated as he was talented, and Corrin had done some studying with him.

Then she remembered something crucial.

"Oh, my dragonstone still works, so maybe my other magic will too!" She wrapped a hand around the shimmering blue stone. Thank goodness it worked, or else she ran the risk of running wild through the streets. Given the veteran Ahamkara hunters in the Last City, such a catastrophe wouldn't end well for her.

As Corrin looked to the confused expression of Chance and Val and Grey pinching the bridge of his nose in anticipation for an argument, she realised that she hadn't mentioned the stone to anyone else.

"I, uh, I can turn into a dragon," she explained awkwardly after a moment. "Dragon blood runs through the veins of the royal families in Nohr and Hoshido. Maybe that's why I have a lot of Light."

"You can... turn into a dragon?" Val asked, skeptical.

"Yes, she can," Grey told her.

Chance was the next to speak. "Like an Ahamk—"

"Yes, like an Ahamkara!" Grey cried. "Look, it's a hell of a story, okay?"

"This is serious, Grey."

"You think I don't know?" the Hunter snapped back. "I saw her change right in front of me, into a damn dragon that fought off the last Fallen behind us in the streets of Old Chicago. I'm still trying to come to terms with the whole thing myself. Besides, you can bet my spurs she ain't one of them."

The Titan glanced at Corrin, and then frowned. "Does the Vanguard know about this?"

"Wha—Chance, I literally just met her and came back to the City yesterday. Of course they don't. The only ones who know are her and me."

Val had largely remained silent, deep in thought with her hand on her chin. "The Vanguard being unaware of this development could prove beneficial to us," she said. "Zavala has always been cautious, putting the City and humanity above all else. More than that, he's a veteran of the Great Ahamkara Hunt who himself has slain many an Ahamkara. He was one who rallied for the Wish-Dragons to be exterminated in the first place. Perhaps it is for the better that they don't know."

"Well..." the Titan turned to Corrin, carefully studying her with his bright blue optics. As someone who'd seen entire generations of civilians in the City grow through the years, reading a person came easily. When he looked at her, he didn't see her as one of those malevolent shapeshifting dragons in human form. Rather, just someone barely even an adult who was lost in an unfamiliar world. "I guess you're right. If we did tell Zavala, who knows what he might do."

"That's why we should keep this between us four," Grey said. "It'll just be our little secret, how 'bout that?"

Chance considered it for a while, before nodding. "I've known you for a decade, and you've never really hidden anything from us."

"I'm quite sure he was planning to hide the whole dragon business from us were it not for Corrin here revealing it herself," Val muttered.

Corrin looked to Grey. He was quite adamant about keeping her nature a secret. However, she hadn't even thought that he intended to keep her draconic heritage from his teammates. Given they were supposed to be their allies, surely that meant they could be trusted with this information. Did he truly trust them?

"Uh, right," the Titan cleared his throat and stood up straight. "I, Chance-28, Titan of the Pilgrim Order and protector of the Last City, solemnly swear that I will keep this little secret between us and totally not tell anyone else."

"Is there truly a need to be so formal?" Val rolled her purple eyes. "Anyway, I too will keep this a secret between us and us only."

Grey nodded. "Me too," he turned to Corrin. "Fireteam Martingale'll keep this hidden, so don't you worry about anyone finding us. Unless you let it slip, of course."

The princess breathed a sigh of relief. "I appreciate your support," she nodded to the group. "And I assure you, my draconic heritage is a far cry from these Ahamkara. I can't grant wishes or warp reality or anything so grand."

She loosely held her dragonstone. "I promise not to mention it again," she looked to Grey, her expression somewhat sheepish. "I'm sorry, I thought you'd want them to know."

Grey shrugged. "I had a feeling they'd find out eventually, anyway."

"Indeed," said Valeria. "There's no use hiding secrets. I am a Warlock, after all. Secrets are what I seek."

"Besides, Grey's a Hunter. He's used to bending the rules," Chance spoke. "I gotta be honest. I'd probably report this to Zavala."

"And Zavala'll probably toss her into a cell or keep her in the City," Grey muttered, crossing his arms.

Chance looked to him with a frown. "He won't do that. Keeping her in the City, yes, but not throw her in a cell."

"How do you know that? He ain't gonna be happy with the whole not-Ahamkara dragon transformation thing if he finds out."

The Titan crossed his arms, resolute. "I've known him longer than all of you have. I've fought by his side. He's a trusted friend. He cares for the City, but I'm sure he won't do anything that rash."

Grey shook his head with a scoff.

Val, meanwhile, was staring at Corrin's dragonstone. "What is that, I might ask?"

"It appears to contain a large amount of Light within it," said Cierra, floating over to it. "If you don't mind, I would like to take a look."

"Uh, well, I wouldn't—" Corrin began, but was cut off by Cierra proceeding to scan the stone. proceeded to scan it. A blue beam of light was projected out of her optic and washed over the stone as she prodded the crystal. Corrin gripped the stone a bit tighter.

Once she was done, the beam receded, and the Ghost floated backwards. "Hm, I see. Yes, it contains a massive amount of Light, and it seems to be directly connected to your signature," she said. "Almost as much as one of the many lesser Shards of the Traveler scattered around the EDZ."

"A crystal containing pure Light?" Val asked, cupping her chin as she always did. "Interesting. If you don't mind, perhaps you could impart it to me for a period of time to study it."

Grey raised a brow. "What, for the Praxic Order to study? I thought you guys studied Darkness artefacts."

"Correct, but a specimen such as this would too mandate further study, especially one of the Light."

Corrin frowned. "I, uh, I need to keep it on my person," she tucked the stone back under her armor. "Without it my powers can be unmanageable. Even though I don't intend on transforming again, I don't want to risk anything. That and it's one of a kind and a gift from a departed friend. I'm afraid I'm not comfortable letting anyone study it."

Val didn't exactly seem very happy with Corrin's refusal. "Are you certain?" She asked. "It would only be for a short period of time. I assure you that I work fast."

Chance rolled his eyes. "Just let her be, willya?" He asked. "She already said no. Besides, you can always study it some other time."

"It's an artefact of Light! It could be of some use," the Warlock argued.

Grey groaned as the two bickered. Val and Chance were always at odds with each other, even after all this time. Of course, quite a number of Warlocks openly disdained Titans, mostly seeing them as ignorant and thick-skulled who preferred to solve problems with their fists. Then again, Chance didn't exactly help that stereotype...

"We should get going," Grey interrupted. "Don't wanna keep Zavala waiting, after all."

"Let's," Corrin agreed.

He turned around and led Corrin out. The other two members of Martingale nodded at their departure, Val turning to Chance. "And now, we'll need to have a little talk about your actions last strike."

The Titan blinked. "Last strike? What did I do wrong?"

"You punched a Screeb."

"I punch a lot of Screebs."

"The Screeb you punched was surrounded by a dozen other Screebs, causing a chain reaction that left us all dead."

"Oh... right," Chance shrugged. "So what about it?"

"That was the third time it happened on the same strike!"

"Uh... so?"

Val groaned in exasperation. "Let's start by saying that you an utterly ignorant and thick-skulled imbecile, so take a seat and allow me to tell you why that is so."

Grey thankfully closed the door before the pair could witness Val tear into Chance for what was probably the hundredth time or so. He called the elevator and stepped into it.

"So..." he began, turning to Corrin as the doors closed. "What do you think of my fireteam?"

"They are… charming", the princess chuckled after a moment. "Lively, that's for sure. Even with them butting heads I wouldn't want to encounter them on a battlefield."

Grey gave a short laugh at that. "Well, I don't blame you," he said. "If I were the unlucky mother hubbard on the other end of a Golden Gun I'd run too. A single Guardian can chew his way through entire armies. A fireteam of Guardians is unstoppable."

"Val doesn't strike me as the type to do this but..." Corrin glanced to Grey as the elevator began its descent. "She, or rather anyone for that matter… they won't take my stone, will they? And this commander… you're certain he won't see me in a cell? Dragon form or not I am an outsider."

Grey dwelled on that for a moment. "Val would, if I'm being honest," he told her. "She's a Warlock of the Praxic Order. They're the ones studying the Darkness to learn how to fight it. But don't you worry about nothing. She'll keep asking, yeah, but this is something none of us have ever seen before. It's pretty much an artefact of Light. That's something that calls for study. As for Zavala, well..."

He turned to stare out the elevator window as it descended, watching the City go by. "He puts the City and humanity above everything else. As much as I hate to say it, it ain't hard to be cautious when you've got the entire weight of the City on your shoulders. He's the Vanguard Commander for a reason, and, well, he's pretty much an archetypal Titan: Brave, noble, and selfless," Grey said. "He ain't gonna toss you in a cell and cut you open to study your insides, that's for sure, but, well, he ain't gonna let you go without an explanation."

"When there's a threat to the City he's the one taking the brunt of it. He built this City with his own hands from the ground up, and he does everything to keep it standing. When it fell during the Red War, he blamed himself for it," the Hunter shook his head and turned back around, folding his arms. "I gotta be honest with you. I don't how how or when we'll get you home, or if the Vanguard's gonna be any help. Worst case scenario, you'll be stuck here in the Last City. Best case, we find you a way back."

The elevator stopped the doors opened. Grey stepped out. "When it comes to the Vex, it ain't as simple as finding another one of your portals. Hell, maybe we would... after getting trapped in the Infinite Forest for a couple of centuries like how Saint-14 did."

Saratoga appeared next to him. "Technically Saint only got out after the Wolf saved him from his final death."

"Exactly," Grey said. "We're gonna need some kind of divine intervention. Probably."

Worry flashed in Corrin's eyes at Grey's honesty. "I see", she tucked the stone safely under her armor. "Then perhaps I'll reconsider my plan to let her see it, so long as she doesn't need to take it. As much as I want to be helpful I, can't risk this stone. Both due to my powers and for… sentimental reasons."

"As for Zavala, all I can do is tell the truth, as unsatisfactory as it might sound," she sighed. "Stepping through a doorway and into a barren battlefield."

She hoped that would be enough for this Commander Zavala. He struck her as a dutiful leader, not unlike her brother. Bearing the weight of the City, the last hope for humanity in this strange world could not be easy.

The two walked in silence outside. Grey got onto his Sparrow. "Let's not keep Big Boss Blue waiting."

They were off again.