Sometime Earlier…
Civilians in the restaurant couldn't help but stare at the guardian as he sat in a secluded corner, guzzling a rare beverage known as Nighthawk. The guardian was on his sixth bottle, with five empty ones sprawled out across the table.
"You really must stop with this drinking," a high-pitched, robotic voice spoke up.
The guardian titled his back to a small, floating machine. "Polaris, relax. I've downed more than this before."
"And you ended up puking to such an extent that our ship had to be professionally cleaned," the robotic being added. Small, metallic components on the machine rotated in a counter-clockwise pattern. It was one of the few ways a ghost could communicate expressions.
The guardian stared at his ghost for a moment more before finally conceding. "Fine," the man sighed as he set his half-drunk bottle of Nighthawk on the table. He then reached for his helmet and brought it down upon his head. A swift movement of his hands brought his hood over the helmet, and the last to come up was his bandana. The hunter rose from his position at the table and proceeded to the exit of the restaurant. The facility was located in the southern portion of the city, and few guardians were known to venture into this particular region.
"Might I ask why you always return to that restaurant?" Polaris abruptly asked as the pair journeyed down an adjacent alleyway.
The hunter lifted his head to the ghost. He remained silent as he stared at the floating ball. He couldn't bring himself to utter the words he longed to speak. "It's because of her," he eventually stated in a hushed tone.
"Saris?" the ghost inquired.
The hunter instantaneously turned to continue down the alleyway. His footspeed increased, as if it would somehow console his mind.
"Should I have not said her name?" Polaris questioned as he chased after his guardian.
The hunter stopped. "Polaris, just quit talking," he growled, his gaze falling to the ground. To his pleasant surprise, no response came. He sighed with relief, believing he had actually forced his ghost to silence. Then, a robotic scream ignited his eardrums. "What did I say?!" the hunter shouted in anger as he spun around. His eyes immediately locked onto a pistol. The weapon was pointed in his direction. There was another, and another. The hunter took a step back as he analyzed the situation.
"Don't make another move, guardian," a stern voice demanded. A young man with spiked, black hair had his energy-based sidearm aimed directly at the hunter's head, with Polaris firmly gripped in his left hand. A pair of henchmen were at his sides, their weapons raised to the guardian as well.
The hunter gave the slightest of smirks beneath his helmet, and haphazardly crossed his arms. "What do you want, crook?" he asked. The cocking sound of a rifle caught his attention, and he quickly took a glance at the rooftops above. Three more men stood on the roofs of the two-story buildings, automatic rifles in hand.
"That's a simple enough question to answer," the black-haired man remarked as he stepped forward. "We want your armor and your weapons," he smirked. "It's not everyday we find a lonely guardian wandering about, and we simply must capitalize on this opportunity." The man stretched out his arm and disengaged the safety on his weapon. "I'm sure you can understand that this is nothing personal," he grinned.
The hunter lowered his arms to his sides. "Then you can understand it won't be anything personal when I paint these streets with your brains," he threatened.
The hostile men lowered their stances, ready to fire if the guardian made any additional motion. "Don't try anything," the crime boss warned. "We've got six guns on you."
The hunter stretched his fingers, ready to reach for the hand cannon at his hip. "I've won against twelve," he replied. Three bullets rang out, and screams from nearby streets erupted as civilians sought safety away from the chaos. The crime boss and his two henchmen toppled to the ground; the hunter's motions were so blazingly fast they couldn't even get a shot off. The men above were slightly more fortunate, being able to return fire on the guardian. Still, they were hopelessly outclassed. The hunter sidestepped, weaving between their bullets as he raised his crimson revolver in retaliation. He pulled the trigger twice more, causing two of the men to free-fall from the rooftops to the ground below. Before he could end his final victim, however, the criminal got off a lucky shot and knocked the hand cannon from his grip. The guardian immediately reversed his movements as he reached around to his rear. Unveiling a pristine knife, he sent the blade hurtling towards his final opponent. The weapon tore through the man's chest, and he too fell forward off the edge of the roof.
"Thank the Traveler," Polaris exclaimed with joy. "Now please, help me out of this vile man's grip." The ghost was still pinned beneath his captor's hand.
"I'm confident you can get out by yourself," the hunter replied as he retrieved his revolver.
"You're such a pain," Polaris stated as he wiggled his mechanical body out from under the man's hand.
"Let's just get out of here," the hunter said as he turned to exit the alleyway. It was at that moment his body bumped into a full suit of heavily plated armor. The impact caused him to stagger backwards.
"Quite the mess you've made, Tolcum," a powerful voice remarked. The titan, covered in silver and purple armor, was easily a head taller than his fellow guardian.
"Trouble always seems to find me," Tolcum replied simply. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Saint-14?" the hunter asked as he gave a sarcastic bow.
The mighty titan stared down at the hunter, not swayed in the slightest by his attitude. "A fellow hunter is requesting your presence at the tower."
"He'll have to wait then," Tolcum replied as he brushed past the titan. "I've got more important matters to deal with." Before he could venture any further, a hand sternly grabbed hold of his right shoulder. He winced as the crushing strength of the titan brought him to his knees.
"The meeting is being sanctioned by the Vanguard. I would advise that you not deviate from their directive," Saint-14 stated.
"Fine," Tolcum muttered through the pain he was experiencing. The hand on his shoulder released, and he fell instinctively forward to recover from the numbness in his arm. When he finally turned around, the titan was gone.
"Who's this hunter I'm supposed to speak with?" Tolcum asked his ghost as he impatiently waited in the tower plaza.
"I believe he's a rising star amongst the guardian ranks," Polaris answered enthusiastically.
"Indeed," a smooth voice stated from behind the pair.
Tolcum whipped around to see a charismatic exo standing before him. The being wore leather-based armor emblazoned with several ace symbols, as well as a black cloak which flowed steadily in the breeze behind him; but his most distinguishable feature was the blue horn that jutted out from his forehead. "Who exactly are you?" Tolcum questioned.
"Name's Cayde-6, and you?" the exo answered happily. He outstretched a hand to greet the fellow hunter with a handshake, but Tolcum remained motionless. After realizing no handshake would occur, Cayde awkwardly reeled his arm back.
"Tolcum," the other hunter eventually replied.
"Pleasure to meet, buddy," Cayde lied as he put on a plastic smile.
"What did you want to meet with me for?" Tolcum questioned as he crossed his arms in irritation.
"Well, it's about your recent behavior," Cayde admitted.
"You'll have to be more specific. I've always been a thorn in the Vanguard's side," Tolcum replied.
"Let me be frank," Cayde began to say. "You've been acting very suspicious, disappearing into remote parts of the city and chatting with guardian groups you shouldn't be," he explained.
"The Knights of Earth just happen to be a group of guardians I don't despise," Tolcum argued. "They haven't done anything to receive such ill will from the primary factions, yet you all seem to believe they're plotting something sinister."
"It's more than that!" Cayde snapped. "We know you've been delving into prohibited warlock texts; teachings of Osiris and whatnot," he explained. When Tolcum failed to respond, he continued to speak. "I have a feeling you've gotten your hands on far worse books than those of deranged warlocks."
Tolcum stared at the exo, shocked by how much the Vanguard knew. "We all have our interests in life," he eventually replied. "Mine happens to be with the void."
"It's no interest with you, it's an obsession," Cayde argued. "Don't get me wrong, I like power, but you're after abilities that aren't yours to wield."
It was at this moment Tolcum began to slowly step away from the accusatory hunter. "If I'm not meant to wield the powers I'm after, I'll simply fail," he stated.
"Where are you going?" Cayde questioned as he watched the reckless hunter step to the railing of the plaza.
Tolcum paid no attention to Cayde's question. "However, if I succeed, I'll be the most powerful Guardian to ever live." With that, he leaped over the railing. Cayde sprinted to edge of the plaza to witness Tolcum's fate when a sudden surge of wind rose from the space beyond the railing, knocking him back. A pale phaeton class ship wearing a symbol belonging to the Knights of Earth rose high above the plaza, with Tolcum standing triumphantly upon it. "If you'll excuse me, Cayde, I have a very important task I must tend to." With that, his body disappeared from the ship's exterior.
"You're welcome," Polaris greeted as his guardian approached the ship's controls.
"For once, nice job," Tolcum complimented as he took hold of the ship's controls. He quickly turned it around, and primed the thrusters. A moment later, they were rocketing higher and higher through the atmosphere.
"Troposphere cleared… stratosphere cleared…" Polaris began to list off as they continued up. Once they exited the exosphere, they were finally clear of Earth.
"Polaris, prep the NLS drive," Tolcum ordered and he reviewed the ship's systems.
"Of course, sir," Polaris replied. "May I ask, though, where we're headed exactly?"
"Mars," Tolcum answered.
