Chapter 3 - Sanctuary or Honor

The tower slowly came into view as they descended into the main square, the bank spires glistened in the afternoon sun, the guardians were busy trying to get ready for their next patrol or relaxing before heading to the tavern to relax after a long day of patrols. Some of the more rugged guardians who had been out for weeks were stopping in to restock munitions, food, water or trading their wares. The tower thrived with life, Hunters comparing Crucible marks and weaponry, Titan's peddling vast rarities in armors, Warlocks showing anomalies and secure results from their researches they had been busy with. Everyone seemed to move with a purpose.

Kant jumped smoothly from the cockpit to the docking back as his ship took off on auto-pilot to the hangar. Hume flew in right behind Kant, his boots hitting the floor with a small thud and kick up of dust. Kant slowly removed his helmet showing his pale skin to the sun, his dark jet black hair looked yin and yang to his complexion. Hume always left his helmet on just like most of the elite did when they entered the Tower. There was a strong belief that the elite always left their helmets on, to not only hide their identities, but also their scars from battle.

"Where are you headed first Kant?" Hume questioned as he eyed some of the near buy vendors, "I am hoping to sell some of this Spin Metal before turning in the rest to the arms dealer."

"I think I am gonna go take a look around and maybe pick up some synths before meeting with the Vanguard," said Kant eyeing the vendors as well before settling his eyes on some of the new Suros Auto-Rifle a Green and gold shaded Hunter had across his back.

"Do you want some back up for your get together?" Jested Hume.

"That would be good since I told them I was bringing along a good fire team member to assist in what ever they have planned," Said kant before looking over to Hume for his reaction.

"Always volunteering me for things... One of these days I am going to ask you to return the favor," Said Hume as he shook his head before walking off into the sea of Guardians.

Kant always loved the city, it seemed it was the only place left in the Cosmos where there was life that wasn't trying to kill you. He looked around a bit before checking in with Master rahool, the Cryptarch of the Tower.

"Rahool." stated Kant smugly as he took a look at Rahool's small stand.

"Master Rahool, did you bring me any engrams to work with today Guardian?" Asked Rahool, slightly annoyed by the Casualness of Kant.

Kant pulled out his Ghost to help him run through his inventory, for the light of himself, he couldn't remember if he had picked up any of the engrams.

"I don't have all day Guardian," said Rahool his tone growing even more frustrated.

"Sorry, it's Kant by the way. I guess I don't have any for you today Rahool, but I always did have a question for you. How do you get the items out of the engrams?" Kant asked curiously, he had seen Rahool pull out things, from common pistols caked with dirt from the Cosmo Drome to Legendary rifles lost after the Great Calamity.

"You see Guardian, when a item or object of great magnitude sits upon our sights, it has built up energy from the Traveler, well the children of the Traveler or Ghosts as we have taken to calling them, encode the items into a program file that allows the item to be carried without burdening the Guardian. The reason you want me around, is different Ghosts have different encryption systems, yet I know how to lock and unlock them all." said Master Rahool as he smiled with delight that someone had actually taken a interest in Cryptography.

"So anytime I see a enemy drop a engram, it's a locked encoded item made to be carried in the banks of my ghost?" Questioned Kant.

"Seems you understand the concept fair enough, the more rare the object, the harder the encryption. So far the most prestigious engram I have seen was coded in a yellow encryption and I liked to not have gotten it open. I hate to cut our conversation short Guardian, but I seem to be growing a queue." Rahool said gesturing with his chin for Kant to look behind him.

Kant turned to find fifteen guardians all waiting patiently to speak with Rahool, some with engrams in hand, others with slips given from the Package directory to pick up parcels from Rahool.

Kant smiled before heading off to the Arms dealer to pick up his synths he needed. The arms dealer never spoke much unless you didn't have enough glimmer to cover your expenses or if you really needed a tune-up on your weaponry. Kant laid down the sum of glimmer before having his ghost scan the Synths into his inventory. His sniper ammo turned to green, his Pulse rifle to White and his Rocket launcher which should have had a fine film of dust on it, Purple. He hadn't used Bertha in a while, just didn't seem fair or smart to waste Rockets on individual Fallen.

"Hey, have you seen that Hunter over at the Tavern, Guy is nuts I tell you. Got so mad at the tender, he threw a knife across the room and nearly hit Saladin who was sitting in the corner passing the time. I would have loved to have seen Lord Saladin waste that little dim." Said a passing by Titan talking to his Warlock friend.

"I doubt Saladin would have done anything to him as little as that Hunter was, come to think of it... He is the littlest Guardian, I have ever seen. That Warlock representing New Monarchy didn't seem to care," the Warlock Rebutted.

Oh lord, Hume had done it now. Kant began to push through the Guardians on his way to the Tavern before seeing a flood of guardians growing a circle outside of it. He could hear the uproar of the group as he got closer. Suddenly a huge surge of power pushed out as a Titan Jumped into the air pulling both of his massive arms back in a double ax handle motion before plummeting quickly to the surface, blowing guardians out of the way. Kant could see clearly as he ran up on the scene of devastation. Hume was holding the small Yellow and blue covered Hunter he had ever seen by the throat, while he began to press his burning glove closer to his face.

"Say your apologies to Lord Saladin, the lord of the Iron Banner, you little dim!" Yelled Hume ignoring the shock wave that had ruffled his Robes.

"I didn't do anything mister, all I did was kill the fly buzzing over his helm! Honest mister!" Said the Hunter keeping his cool.

Hume felt cold steel against his back.

"I would let him go before his betters get upset with the trouble he has caused them, Warlock," said the solid Gray Titan coldly as his armor still shown with Light that had not dissipated yet.

"He still owes the Lord a apology regardless who is his keeper Titan," Snapped Hume," If you shoot me, it will just make me press my glove into his face even harder scarring the little dim for life so make your decision count."

"I don't care what he looks like as long as he can do the job that is required of him," said the Titan, his voice like gravel.

The titan switched off the safety of his scout rifle before settling his finger on the trigger. Kant decided it was now or never as he blinked in appearing right in front of the right side of the Titan, he shined with radiance as his light formed a gun made of pure solar energies.

"If you do decide to snuff out this Warlocks light, he won't be the only one being put out," Kant said as he buckled against the energy, trying to keep it contained and not fire off randomly.

The four of them stood there as the guardians began realizing lives were at stake there at the Tower so some ran to be rid of the situation having seen to many guardians killed, others stayed knowing that light would be spilled and the victor would face the Vanguard. The Hunter squirmed in Hume's grasp as he his glove was inches from his face, the titans scout rifle pressed hard leaving a indention in Hume's robes and there stood Kant trying his best not to unleash the golden fury of his Light. It was a hopeless situation.