"I'm tired of this." The Fallen captain says grimly.

The two vandals and dreg give varied signs of agreement.

The captain and crew, from the surroundings, are deep underground and trapped behind a white energy barrier of Vex make. The halls of the cave are filled with similarly shaped prisons holding varieties of Fallen within. A massive Vex minotaur patrols in between the cages on an endless patrol loop. Every now and then it stops in front of a "cell" and silently stares at the prisoners.

The Fallen captain sits at the back of his cell his arms slouched and his eyes to the floor. His weapons lay neatly against the cave wall next to him. One of the vandals sits against the cell wall, his cloak covering his face. The other vandal paces in the cell moving from one side to the other. Every now and then he reaches for his wire rifle on the ground and reloads it. The dreg leans against the wall juggling his knife and pistol and seemingly having a blast doing it.

"First Mate!" The Captain suddenly shouts.

The vandal stops pacing and moves in front of the Captain. "Your orders my Captain?"

"How many days have we been here?" The Captain says tiredly.

The vandal brings one of his hands to his mouth while using the other to scratch the back of his helmet. "I'd say about a month my Captain."

The Captain lets out a sigh. "Any word from the outside?"

"None, Captain. These blasted Vex block all communications to the outside."

"Right. Right." The Captain leans back into the cave wall and stares at the ceiling.

He focuses on the water that flows down the mossy wall. He watches as it inches its way down further and further until it comes to the precipice of a droplet. It struggles to form the droplet, but it succeeds and drops onto the Captains face. The water splashes small droplets onto the helmet. He wipes the water away. He stands up and walks into the middle of the cell. He looks at each of his crew.

"If you lot had to choose between me or the House, which would you choose?" The Captain says sternly.

The first-mate steps forward. "I'm your first-mate captain. I've bled with you against the Cabal, the Vex and the Lightbearers. My loyalty is with you always." He looks at the other vandal and dreg, who nod in agreeance. "I believe I also speak for the crew."

"Good." The Captain says feeling a weight fall of his chest. "Because I think we found our way out of this."

The Captain points in the direction of the cave's entrance. Light has started to grow steadily from the entrance. As the purple light floods the room the broken remains of a Vex minotaur are blasted across the room. Its killer, a Warlock, flies into the center of the cave. With a careful shot from its sniper rifle, it blasts another minotaur which lowers the prison walls of a cell. The Captain and his crew press themselves against the walls of their cells in astonishment.

"The Given is freeing us?!" The dreg says becoming extremely excited. "Captain!?"

The dreg clatters her teeth in excitement. The Captain puts his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her down, but to no avail.

"Our warden has yet to show itself. Until it does we are still prisoners." The Captain tries to say with all seriousness, but his excitement breaks the image.

The Warlock stands in front of the Fallen that it freed with the minotaur kill. The Fallen in the cell quickly pick up their rifles and shoot at their savior. The Warlock takes a few shots before putting down the prisoners.

"Why did those idiots shoot?" The first mate angrily hits the forcefield. He looks at the Captain. "What is wrong with them!?"

The Captain looks at his first mate. "Their loyalty is to the House, and the House is at war with the guardians." The Captain holds up his purple cloak the image of The House of Dusk imprinted on it. "Don't forget we are also slaves to the House as well."

"But we aren't going to fight. Right?" The first-mate asks his fear becoming apparent with his question.

The Captain does not answer as he witnesses the destruction of another warden, and another cell cleansed of his brothers. The same loop happens again, and again, and again until only The Captains cell is the only locked one left. The warden of their cell is larger and more powerful. The Warlock engages the large warden.

"Grab your weapons." The Captain orders, his gaze still fixated on the Warlock.

The first-mate looks at the Captain. "We aren't going to fight the Given? Right?"

"Grab your weapons. Now." The Captain order again with more ferocity.

The other vandal and dreg look at the first mate. "To arms lads." The first mate struggles to say.

The vandal and dreg hesitate in grabbing their weapons. The first mate grabs his rifle and the Captain's sword and shrapnel launcher. The Captain grabs his weapons from the first mate gently.

The crew stands shoulder to shoulder as the Warlock blasts the wardens head off its body. The Warlock walks toward the cell until they are within arms reach of the forcefield. It maintains eye contact with the Captain as the walls dissipate. The Captain takes a step forward so that the Warlock has to look up at him. He looks the Warlock up and down. The Warlocks finger lies on the trigger of its gun.

"Show out. Given." The Captain says in the most understandable human-speak.

The Warlock shrugs and beckons the crew to follow. They make their way toward the exit but are stopped by the Warlocks ghost.

"Guardian!" The ghost shouts.

The Warlock jumps from the sudden outburst and quickly brings the ghost to its chest. The Warlock looks at the ghost slightly annoyed.

The ghost lowers its voice. "Is it wise to let these fallen free." The ghost hovers over the shoulder to catch a peek at The Captain. The Captain snorts at the ghost. "They look dangerous, Guardian.

The Warlock nods.

The Crew and Warlock make their way into a room with a Vex data module in the center. The ghost goes toward the module and scans it. The Captain and dreg flank the ghost as it scans leaving the Guardian with the first mate and vandal. The dreg clatter with glee examining the small ghost scanning the module. The Captain, however, has his gaze locked upon the data module. The ghost notices and hovers in front of the Captain.

"This module has experimentation data that the Vex acquired during your time in prison." The ghost explains in Eliksni. "It says that you were told to kill each other until one remained, and the reward was freedom. It says that every prisoner refused to shoot upon their fellow prisoner."

"Loyalty is everything." The Captain responds rubbing a hand against the module. He looks at the ghost. "Where did you learn my language?"

"We ghosts love to obtain information that could aid our Guardians. Learning languages is just another helpful tool." The ghost proudly states. The ghost hovers above the module and spots a Vex portal. "I believe that's the way out, Guardian."

The Warlock nods and steps into the portal leaving the crew behind. The Captain takes a step towards the portal, but the first-mate grabs his shoulder.

"Captain are you sure we should trust the Given?" the first-mate cautiously asks.

"Do you have a better plan?" The Captain responds with slight sarcasm. The Dreg snickers.

"No, but it stirs me in the wrong way that we would follow the words of a Given." The first-mate argues.

"Yet following the words of the House has brought us a fortune, has it?" The Captain says slightly annoyed. "I think its high time we left the House of Dusk."

The Crew looks at him in awe. The first-mate turns the Captain around with unexpected anger.

"We would leave the House of Dusk?!" The first-mate questions. He looks at the floor and brings his hands to his head. "We would be traitors in the eyes of our brothers!"

The Captain takes a seat on the steps leading to the teleporter. "Do you remember when I asked where your loyalty lies?" He looks at each of the crew. "I ask again; Does your loyalty lie with your Captain or with the House."

The vandal and dreg look at each other. They take their places behind the Captain and sit with him on the steps leaving the first-mate alone. The first-mate starts to pace and starts to whisper to himself. After a few laps around the room and a multitude of violent arm movements, he stops in front of the Captain. The Captain stands up and extends his arm towards the first-mate.

"Are you still my first mate?" The Captain asks flexing his hand.

The first-mate looks at the Captain's hand and then the Captain. He lets out a sigh and clasps arms with the Captain.

"You better not get us killed. Captain." The first-mate jokes.

"Not without good reason first-mate." The Captain returns the joke. "Now let's get out of here."

The Crew step onto the Vex teleporter and are transported to the surface of Nessus. The red grass and bright sun greet their darkness adapted eyes. It's blinding at first, but as their eyes adjust the blindness fades.

The Warlock greets them outside the portal and its ghost appears in front of the crew.

"Looks like you made it out in one piece." The ghost says with a comforting tone. "We thought that the Vex might have imprisoned you again." It says jokingly. "My Guardian was wondering what your names were; purely for educational purposes of course. You never know when you may meet friendly fallen." It says happily.

The Captain looks at the Warlock who looks eagerly at his crew.

"My name is Rastrok. Captain Rastrok. My crew just call me captain." The Captain introduces himself. He points to the first-mate. "His name is Efevrok. He is first-mate of my crew." The captain points to the vandal who silently cleans his rifle. "That's Beraks. She's our sharpshooter and mechanic/gunsmith, and last but not least." He points down at the dreg who clutches to the Captain like a child. "This little scamp is Kerkos."

"What does it do?" The ghost questions.

"SHE does….." The Captain looks at the first-mate who in turn shrugs. "She does something." He pets the dregs head which clatters in approval.

"I see." The ghost says slightly disappointed. "Well, this is where we part ways. My guardian and I wish you luck and safety."

"My crew and I thank you for saving us." The Captain says kneeling before the Guardian. "We pledge never to fight against guardians in honor of your kindness today." He rips off his purple cloak and throws it to the ground. His crew follows suit.

He stands up and extends his arm to the guardian. The Guardian extends their arm and shakes the fallen's arm.

"Till we meet again, Guardian."

The guardian nods. They summon a sparrow and give a final wave before speeding off into the distance.

"What now Captain?" Efevrok asks.

"We find a new House to join. One worth fighting for." Rastrok responds opening a map labeled with fallen encampments.

He puts the map on the ground allowing the whole crew to look upon it. He kneels next to it placing a finger on a point on the map

"This is where the search starts." He says placing his sword through the map.

"Exodus Black?" Efevrok questions.

"Sounds promising doesn't it," Rastrok says gleefully.

"Sounds dangerous, Captain."

"Oh come on Efevrok. Where's your sense of adventure my friend." Kerkos clatters with excitement. "Kerkos agrees with me."

Efevrok looks at Beraks who shrugs and lets out a laugh. Efevrok lets out a long sigh.

(First chapter in what might be a continuing project. Who knows. Anyway, I appreciate any criticisms/advice as I haven't written a proper story in ages. *Insert haven't had a proper swordfight in ages meme from Got*. Anyway hope you enjoyed and look forward to another chapter in a decent time frame.)