The Tower, the place where the guardians reside. Aside from the pretty looks for a normal citizen of the last city, for an actual guardian, it was kind of a boring place. The only reason why a guardian came to the tower was to buy items, visit the annoying crytarch, and get bounties. for Kale, he barely wanted to be there, but also he found that he was doing the same thing over and over and he was sick of it. He was a hunter. Hunters push the boundaries of what the city knew. He was part of The faction New Monarchy, but to him they were just vendors that gave him marks when he wore their cloak in the Crucible. His friend Mika, was in the same boat as him. Trying to find something new. He then saw something right in front by the vaults. A citizen of the city was trying to draw a crowd of guardians. One of the Frames was trying to get him out of the way.
"You are not permitted to block guardians to their vaults," the Frame said.
"We I don't care, I am asking the guardians to do their duty to reclaim our lost lands," the citizen shot back. One of the guardians raised his hand,
"What kind of loot do we get in return?" the citizen upon hearing that snapped at the Guardian.
"Are you mercenary looking to get paid, or are you a Guardian that protects our city!?" with that comment, the crowd dispersed annoyed and angry. The citizen hung his head walked out of the way. Kale walked up to greet the citizen.
"Sorry I entered the conversation late, what where you doing?"
"I AM trying to recruit Guardians to help protect a settlement we are planning to build." A thought raced through Kale's mind.
"Go into the Tower Hangar and take a right. A city faction called Dead Orbit can help you. They are always trying to move out of the tower." The citizen seemed surprised,
"Really? Why thanks Guardian."
"You're welcome and by the way, the name is Kale."
"Well Kale, my name is Elander. Say are you interested as well?" Kale smile
"It's about time something new has come along and I'm not the only one who would welcome it."
-a few months later-
"Tomorrow, we should push into Old Shanghai for any relics of the Golden Age," Arach Jalaal said.
"We have to be careful, we don't know what's in the City," Kale answered. The other 3 Dead Orbit Guardians looked at him,
"Yeahhh we should be careful," one of them copied sarcastically.
Kale felt uneasy. Over the months, the Faction, Dead Orbit sponsored the colony project. Dead Orbit providing new weapons and gear attracted Guardians under their banner. A total of 30 Guardians answered including Mika and Kale. Although the Vanguard advised against it, Elander used some of the funds to train normal citizens in combat taught by the Guardians. In total there was 75 out of 150 citizens trained. On paper it looked fine and dandy, but in reality, the whole operation was a massive PR event for Dead Orbit. Training of citizens was reserved for only the highest Ranked Dead Orbit personnel and every single one spewed their ideas onto the citizens. Kale could see that this place is only to recruit members to man their growing nomad fleet and to upstage the other factions okay with staying in the City. They didn't care about the long term survival of the colony, the nomad fleet and leaving is what they are all about.
"Before we go back to the Colony, Kale, there is something we need to talk about," Arach Said. Kale could almost predict what was going to happen. He and Mika where the only non-Dead Orbit Guardians in the colony of Gudang. Nonmembers are a thorn in Dead Orbit's side and they were being passive aggressive toward them ever since Kale refused to join them. Initially not allowing the Faction weapons promised, regulated to menial tasks, random members complaining about random stupid things, and the aggressive attitude toward him and Mika.
"The food in the storage room, some of it disappeared when you were cleaning duty, did you hoard it off somewhere?" Arach accused. Kale was right in his assumption.
"I threw away the food that hasn't been touched since we first got here, it was moldy and thought it could get people sick," Kale Defended. Also, whole concept of putting a warrior like a Guardian on general cleaning duty when no other Dead Orbit or citizen got the job was absurd, but maybe that's why Dead Orbit put him there.
"Kale, Kale, Kale," Arach said "we only get so much food per shipment (bullshit), we can't throw any of it away." Kale wanted to defend himself, but knew that resistance was futile. They could scold him all they want. They weren't going to bully him off this new experience. Arach continued
"I have talked with Elander about these incidents and we have decided that you and your Guardian girlfriend Mika are not welcome here anymore." The sentence hit him a Cabal missile barrage. He and Mika weren't dating, but besides that point he couldn't believe how much Dead Orbit had brainwashed Gudang. Even besides that point, what was he going to tell Mika?
"Go back to the Tower you prick!" added one of the Other Guardians.
10 minutes later.
Mika was patrolling the new colony of Gudang. Watching for nonexistent enemies that hadn't shown up since they first touched down. This was the most boring mission Kale dragged her to. Along with Kale not getting along with Dead Orbit, she was hating this The only weapons firing were from citizens from the city attempting to learn how to shoot with common and uncommon weapons bought from Banshee-44. They also tried their best to modify guardian armor (any class) to suit them. The only good weapons or armor were from Dead Orbit and besides Kale and her, all the other Guardians were from Dead Orbit. They were outsiders in a mission totally controlled by Dead Orbit despite what Elander says. She herself wasn't in a faction and she wondered if she will join one. There was Kale's New Monarchy, Dead Orbit, or the Future War Cult. There was no need for her to join one, but they had some good gear. Dead Orbit was a little too hardcore for her but they had awesome discipline and strength armor she could call her own. She then caught herself. I just join and support a faction only for gear not knowing that her support allows the factions more power and advance their agendas. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of sparrows. Kale's gray sparrow zoomed through the colony gates. He was flanked by 4 other Dead Orbit guardians. Kale looked uneasy, as the Dead Orbit Guardians kept staring at him. They took off their helms. She immediately found Arach Jalaal's glare. Arach was so excited about Gudang that he himself left his vendor post in the tower to lead the Dead Orbit. He as with most the Dead Orbit faithful jumped at the chance to show the City that colonies can exist outside of the last city. To them, this is one step closer to their star faring fleet they want so badly" Kale approached her.
"What's wrong," Mika asked.
"Another 'issue' Arach has with us, I don't think we can stay here long."
"What was the issue this time?" Kale took a big sigh,
"I threw away all their moldy spoiled food. I couldn't stand it but they are outraged that wasted food and it was their food and I had no right to throw it away." Mika made a face, she knew Kale acted irrational at times even if she too didn't like Dead Orbit ways, but it hurt them both because they weren't Dead Orbit.
"Well Great, you spoiled a new experience for both of us, when do we leave?" she said.
"He didn't say but….," Kale replied. His face drooped into a frown. He knew he had disappointed her.
"We shouldn't wait to find out," he ended and with that Mika brought out her ghost to teleport her to her ship in orbit. Kale tried to say more but she was not going to her any more. This was the last straw He has had many adventures and she had barely any. Most of her best armor were hand-me-downs that Kale found and couldn't use. Maybe it was time she her own thing. Mika then was back in her ship. She plotted a course to complete some old bounties and rocketed off, leaving Kale behind on Gudang.
Near Gudang
"The City Dwellers don't know of our presence Kell Draikous," a Dreg said.
"Yes, we have the element of surprise and superior numbers, just give us the order Kell and we can eliminate them before they can flee," A Captain said. Towering behind them was their Kell, Draikous and his guard.
"We may kill all of them, but their city will wonder where they have gone. They will investigate and eventually find us. Who would have the advantage then?" Draikous said.
"But what are we going to do with them? They have settled on one of our fields," The Captain replied. The Captain then shuddered as he realized he questioned his superior. Draikous took no offense to the question and replied,
"You weren't living the last time the House of Industry fought the City that holds the Traveler. It was not pretty. I will not make the same mistake as the Kell before me. I want a cloaked scouting crew watching them constantly. I want daily reports of their behavior and patrols. Relay orders to all Fallen that they must avoid The City dwellers at all costs for our safety and prosperity are at risk."
"Yes Kell," the two Fallen said with a bow.
A few hours later
Kale felt the wind crashing against his helmet. He was trying to forget his expulsion and Mika's departure, by wandering aimlessly through Old China on his Sparrow. Elander was not on his side after Mika left. Arach and the rest of Dead Orbit wanted him out so he just volunteered to patrol and never come back. At least he wasn't totally exiled from the City like Toland the Shattered, just forced to quit the mission to set up a random colony. For now though the factory ruins of old China were a new sight to him. Gudang was on the outskirts of a former city called Shanghai. Totally unexplored by Guardians. Apparently China was a hub for manufacturing goods throughout Earth before the Traveler came. Some of it manufacturing roots still pertained throughout the golden age and collapse. Now it was mostly gutted factories and building towering over him.
"Wait Stop!" a familiar voice rang in his head. It was his Ghost.
"What is it Ghost?" Kale answered. He stopped his Sparrow.
"I'm detecting Fallen communications," His Ghost replied. Kale looked around.
"Are you sure? You and your brethren didn't detect anything back in Gudang. What are they saying?"
"I don't know, the words don't make any sense."
"What do you mean it doesn't make sense?"
"I keep hearing 'guningun has stopped in front of meat market'."
"Can you find the source of the signal?"
"I can't." Kale rolled his eyes. The ghost seemed good for a guardian, but all they do is detect com signals and open doors. He looked at the building that flanked him. The building to the right had writing on it.
"Ghost, what does that say there?"
"Oh…. It says Meat Market!" Kale's ghost said.
"That means that we are Guningun. We are being tracked, but why aren't we being attacked?"
"We need to find these Fallen. They pose a threat to the colony. We need to warn them!"
"Agreed, but I was kicked out of the colony and Dead Orbit won't believe me anyway. We need to search for them." Kale's Ghost sighed.
"Fine." Kale pulled out his sniper rifle. These fallen must have a sight on him from one of the buildings. He scanned buildings until he found what he was looking for. The glint of a fallen wire rifle. He could also see the static from the fallen cloaking system. The fallen had a clear shot, but it didn't take it. Why it didn't was something he was going to find out.
"Found him. Ghost we are going in." he entered the building. His Ghost turned on it flashlight. He climbed some stairs, he then heard the Fallen descending down the shafts. Crossing the room to a window, he saw them. A group of Vandals and Captains were sliding down a crooked pipe. Their cloaks were bright orange. Some unknown Fallen House? Some were already getting into their Pikes that were waiting for them. There was no way to get to them, unless. Kale brought out his ghost to summon his Sparrow.
"What are you doing!?" his ghost asked. The Sparrow materialized under Kale. Kale floored the gas and he burst through the window and went after them in hot pursuit.
Mika, meanwhile, was blasting Hive on the moon. She was trying to find this one Hallowed Hive Knight that for some reason was preparing hive seeders for an attack on Earth. The Vanguard knew this Knight was up to no good and should be stopped but there was no reason was why this knight was doing this. After the group of Guardians called the Hidden dismantled the hive plan resurrecting their God, One would believe that the Hive would be on the defensive. Nevertheless, they seemed to be continuing on. Also with the Seeders, why send more Seeders down onto Earth. There was enough seeders in Old Russia. Were they attacking a new area? Retribution for the Hidden's actions? Better to stop this Knight before she found out. She already disrupted their loading procedures as she entered the chamber with the largest seeder. The Knight she was looking for was halfway up the ramp into the seeder, a Hive Cleaver in one hand and oddly a weird bright orange cloth in another. It stared at her for a second and pointed at her, queuing the Hive around him to bum rush her, Thrall and oddly Acolytes alike. Wrong move for them for she was a Titan, and specifically a Striker Titan. She jumped into the air and then pounded her fists into the ground, sending every hive, except for the Knight, flying and dissolving in Arc Light. The Knight paused for a moment then tried to make its way up to the Seeder, but the moment allowed Mika to tackle the 8 feet tall Knight to the ground. That was the wrong move for Mika. The Knight quickly threw her off and Mika flew into the wall of the chamber. The Knight then rose and walked to her as she struggled to get to her feet. The Knight raised his Cleaver to strike her. A blast of Void Energy slammed into the Knight, knocking it down before it could deliver its blow. Not a second later, another void blast ended the Knight's existence. Two Warlock Guardians were standing at the entrance of the chamber.
"Trying to hammer it out alone will get you killed," Said one of the Warlocks. Mika totally forgot those two were with her. She was going to respond when the other one said.
"At least you kept Vorox from initiating this Seeder attack, but I think you we only delayed this attack" Mika also forgot the name of the Knight.
"Vorox had a piece of cloth with him," Mika said. The cloth was lying on the ground where Vorox used to be. One of the Warlocks picked it up.
"Interesting, this seems to be part of a Fallen cloak, but it's not from any house I know. We should report this to the Vanguard."
-back on Earth
As much as the chase started out with great ferocity, the Fallen were leading him in circles. It was obvious to him that they were trying to make him give up on them. Also weren't even trying to shake him as they were making the same turns over and over again. They're Pikes also seemed to go on indefinitely like a Sparrow. He would have stopped if it wasn't his ghost constantly yelling in his head to keep going after them. Strange how his Ghost was scared shitless when he blasted out of the warehouse and now was fine with it. He shook that thought from his head and started on the big picture. They were avoiding the downtown of the city. What would happen if he went towards it? He decided to turn away from the fallen and into the city center. He braced himself for his Ghost's ridicule. Nothing, his Ghost then said with surprise,
"I'm hearing panic all over the place from Fallen Channels. Um Keep going into the city." That was something that Kale wanted to hear. He noticed the Pikes he was chasing now chasing him. He then looked in front of him to see a massive gathering of fallen….. and a Spider Tank aiming its targeting laser right at him. He tried to swerve out of the way, but the Tank fired its main gun and the shockwave sent him flying off his Sparrow. He rolled a few time until a Fallen foot stopped him like a soccer ball. His eyes met a massive Fallen Captain looking down at him with it four blue eyes. Its face was tightly draped in orange wrappings with respirators and a regular Fallen Horns poking out. Kale was about to pull his hand cannon out, but stopped It suddenly said in English,
"Well you were difficult to handle, well, since see that you're listening and not shooting me right now, I'll introduce myself." The Fallen removed his foot and helped Kale up. His Ghost materialized right on his shoulder, a Fallen speaking English was new for both of them.
"My name is Draikous and welcome to a place you should be leaving soon." Kale, shocked had dozens of questions.
"Why aren't you attacking me? How are you speaking English? I thought you Fallen hated us," he said.
"This House knows it is unwise to attack your Last City and its denizens just because we disagree and at least some of us learned English just in case of these situations. Now, my Kell wants you to leave us in peace and forget you saw anything. " Draikous said.
"Where is your Kell? Pardon me, but the first Fallen house to ever do this is worthy of the City Consensus knowing." The Fallen moved his face closer to his.
"Look, if you are going to tell your government, that colony, or any other soul, light or dark about us, then you're not going to leaving this place."
"If I die, the City will investigate my death. That would be bad if you want to remain hidden," Kale responded.
"We know that," Draikous shot back.
"But you don't want me to talk about this place," Kale smiled, "Your Kell doesn't know what to do with me, doesn't he?" suddenly a Fallen in the Fallen language called out behind Draikous. The Fallen was only slightly smaller than Draikous, but a lot skinnier than the Fallen Kale's seen. Kale's Ghost suddenly translated the message,
"Draikous, my love and Kell, I'm home." The Kell face palmed.
"Glad for you for you to join us Markara," Draikous replied in English. He glared at the Ghost as he turned to address Kale, "follow me," he then talked past him, "I want you four to stay by him at all times, the rest of the guard can protect me." Kale looked behind him to see 4 Large Fallen. Each one seemed to have armor and weapons a usual Fallen didn't. One had bits and pieces of Hive armor shells while wielding a Hive Cleaver. Another had Vex armor topped off with the heads of Vex Minotaur's as shoulder armor armed with a Vex Torch Hammer. Yet another had plume and armor of the Cabal Siege Dancers lugging a Cabal Heavy Slug Thrower. The last one sent a shiver down Kales back and probably down his Ghost's if it had back, as it donned Guardian armor modified to fit the Fallen guard. The guard carried a bandolier of dead Ghosts and also carried a Shotgun from the Vanguard. Its Cloak was half red and half orange. Besides the 4 guards, Kale saw more Fallen in one place than he has ever seen. The Spider tank apparently one of 5 that were now leaving. Kale slowly turned and followed Draikous into one of the buildings. This was still dangerous despite what Draikous unwillingness to kill him, He hoped Draikous could protect him.
