Adrift in Space and Time
He was alone… the last that remained of the Traveler's warriors and his people.
The guardian knew this to be true, in his heart if not his mind. They knew of his kind yet knew not of them.
He could see it in their eyes, the abject wonder
The fear…
But the technology, there was recognition in their eyes as they looked upon it. They have seen examples of human engineering, but not humans. They knew of his race, but not of his people. He could only think of one reason that could be true. Humanity would never leave their achievements behind, not after they had strived so hard to attain them.
His society was gone, and they had left their wonders.
His memory was clouded in darkness; any recollection beyond the events leading up to the final attack on the gates was beyond his perception. He could still feel the wound in his side where he had been struck by a god. His armor had been repaired thanks to the enhancements bequeathed upon him by the Traveler, but his flesh had yet to benefit from the light's rejuvenating powers. Whereas most injuries would quickly heal, those inflicted by the strongest creatures of the dark always took longer to mend, and were not without their scars. Though he had suffered death more then once, and had returned from the threshold time and time again, most wounds did not leave marks behind. However, those inflicted by the purest manifestations of darkness always left some form of disfigurement on his flesh.
The reason was a mystery.
Perhaps there was some connection between the two asymmetric powers, and the repercussions that occurred when they inevitably clashed.
Whatever it was didn't matter now.
The guardian turned to the fox so cleverly named after his own species, studying the alien creature with an even more curious stare, looking for any excuse to not dwell on the ramifications of his realizations.
His initial surprise at the vulpine's appearance had not been the only thing to stay his blade.
What had caught him most off-guard was the light he could sense within the relatively smaller individual, however insignificant it may be. A human child possessed more light in their soul then this vulpine, and by rights such a creature should not have the Traveler's gift within its heart. Yet it was there regardless, a flickering candle lost in the abyss.
And the fox was not alone.
They all carried some infinitesimal connection to humanity's protector. He looked about the room and could sense it within all those present. The light was here, but was only a shadow of what it should be.
Though they all possessed some fragment of his god's gift, the vulpine burned brightest amongst them. It was intriguing, but not enough to remain at the top of his list of importance for more than the handful of seconds it took to catalogue that information for a time when he could afford to ponder what that might entail.
The chamber of steel and metal had been silent since he last opened his mouth in utterance of the one truth he had come to recognize. It was clear neither he nor they knew how to take this puzzling development. Indeed the guardian was still coming to grips with the understanding that he was the last of his kind, and had no idea where he was other than the knowledge that he was in a ship that resided at some point in space, in the custody of an alien race that was both familiar and unexpected.
He could have armed himself, having left his sword on the deck since he so carelessly let it slip through his fingers, but he felt no danger from these animalistic aliens. He doubted a creature of any kind that harbored the Traveler's guiding light was cause for concern.
Besides, he still had his rifle slung upon his back. If Ghost had been with him, he would have had access to the entirety of his arsenal, a host of lethal weapons, some of exotic origin, and others molded into legend by their wielder. The pang of loneliness that arose from remembering that painful detail was brief, unpleasant, and quickly buried away.
For the moment he decided to refrain from any action that could be interpreted as antagonistic. The Guardian had no quarrel with these aliens and possessed no desire to fight those obviously not under the influence of the dark.
He looked to the vulpine, deliberating internally on the merits of reinitiating their dialogue when he heard footsteps from the corridor across the expanse, his enhanced sensory abilities able to discern this fact even through a bulkhead of steel. It was a singular individual he heard, their gait suitably calm and collected that he had to assume it to be either a creature of high personage within the alien's ranks, or someone very confident with their position in life.
The far door opened with the faint hiss of pneumatic pumps, revealing what had to be the captain of this ship if the somewhat familiar ranking paraphernalia pinned to the hare's chest was to be believed. But what more gave his status away then the unusual markings on his suit, was the clear and direct gaze that was leveraged upon him. The guardian found himself intrigued by this one. Not many in his life had the strength of will to match his scrutiny. Even the foulest minions of the dark averted their eyes upon meeting his.
Although, it could merely be attributed to the fact the hare knew not who he was, had no reason other than the unknown to be wary him.
Curious, the guardian shifted his body to face the newcomer, ensuring that the rabbit would recognize that he had his attention.
Seeing his superior, the vulpine quickly moved to converse with him, the feline that had been standing beside him followed shortly after.
The Guardian did not bother to intrude upon the dialogue, confident in the knowledge that he would be able to react suitably should the situation rapidly deteriorate, and was overall unconcerned with what they might be discussing. While undoubtedly pertaining to him, there was naught he could do about it.
Instead he waited till they had finished and the captain approached, his eyes a soft steel grey, but no less commanding as he focused them upon the ancient soldier.
"You… are a Forerunner yes?" The hare inquired, rather bluntly if the guardian was to admit.
"That is what you may call my people, but we went by a humbler title. To us, we were all humans. Humanity as a whole you could have called us." The guardian answered with a curt duck of his head in greeting, ensuring he remained somewhat polite to his new hosts. "To call us Forerunners would be to insinuate that we were the first. This is an incorrect assumption."
The Captain nodded at that, easily finding the logic in his answer. It was clear there was more he wished to ask on the subject, a great deal so. But it was even more apparent that such questions could wait till a later more opportune time.
"You must feel quite disorientated right now. I assure you that you have my deepest sympathies for your plight. I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like for you. And though it may be crass of me to push such considerations to the side, there are more immediate things that I think we both agree must come to the fore."
What the rabbit spoke was true. The Guardian was sure they had many questions to ask, as did he, yet there was a time and place for such. For now, he would settle for those of immediate use. Questions such as, where was he? Who are they? And what happens now?
Unsurprisingly, he had never found himself in a position where he was the last human in a universe he most likely would not understand. And he could confidently say no one had either. For the moment, he would be glad to simply have those three questions answered and dealt with.
The Guardian could have allowed himself to be crushed under the weight of his situation, could have surrendered to despair and shock. After all he had just learned that everyone he had ever known was most likely if not certainly long dead and that the culmination of all humanity's achievements were nothing but ancient history to these creatures, the stepping stones to their own rise to power. But he would not allow himself to falter. He was a guardian and a lord of iron. He had challenged the physical manifestations of both gods and demons. And when he had been struck down, he had returned, stronger than before and empowered by the traveler's light.
He was a guardian… one of the original light augmented soldiers that had served under the broken form of their god.
As such, he had lived for several thousand years, and had endured more than his fair share of circumstances beyond belief, insidious hive rituals and vex temporal anomalies so incomprehensible that even those of the strongest wills could succumb to madness. He had watched the veil of reality itself, tear at the behest of Vex machinations and battled hive sorcerers whose capacity for cruelty was only matched by their unbelievable power.
This was a unique state of affairs, to be sure, and perhaps even the most potentially cataclysmic, but not something he could not overcome.
"If you would come with me, we could see about handling some of the more pivotal issues." The rabbit gestured to the door he had arrived from, no doubt intending to take him to a more secluded location where the already extensive collateral damage could be mitigated.
It reminded the guardian of an archaic, but no less useful euphemism.
Loose lips sink ships.
Fox was not sure what to think as Peppy winded down from his long speech on the current state of the galaxy, a rather boring lecture he already knew by heart, or at least it would have been tedious in any other circumstance. The vulpine had been fidgeting in his seat throughout the entire duration, still unused to the ovular chairs ringing the rather ostentatious table of filigreed steel and haptic interfaces. The Great Fox was still fresh out of space dock, so some of the rooms were relatively new to him. He hadn't really had reason to come down to this part of the ship as Eden Prime had been their first, albeit unpleasant, operation.
The dreadnaught-cruiser hybrid was a unique vessel, sporting the size and weaponry of a battlecruiser, but possessing the speed and maneuverability of a frigate, all of this supplemented with a hyper advanced stealth system. All in all, it was the prototype for a new line of lylatian fleet support craft.
Though it was prohibitively expensive during construction and was likely to lose some of its more prominent features in the production models.
Yet the ship was not what put doubt into his mind in the moment he made himself comfortable, but rather the towering individual sitting across from him.
This Forerunner, this… human, had listened to Peppy's speech with silent and attentive intensity. He had not spoken a word since the hare instigated the ad-hoc debrief; his expression more schooled then even an asari matriarch and twice as unreadable as a starship's bulkhead. This male was unlike anyone Fox had ever encountered before, which in hindsight was not all that surprising given the situation.
The vulpine had yet to come to terms with the fact he was sitting across from what was quite literally a living legend, someone he had often wondered what it would be like to meet. And now given the opportunity, he realized he didn't even know the first thing to say.
So he remained mute, casting a curious glance over to Miyu and Bill.
The feline had followed them to the briefing room, where Bill was quick to arrive once he heard the news that was no doubt circulating the ship at breakneck pace. The canine had only briefly startled upon seeing the alien, but was quick to recover as he had taken his seat.
He had yet to speak with the dog about this most recent development, and in fact had not seen him since he woke up. Thankfully, Bill looked no worse for wear after that last mission, something Fox was glad for as that was one small bit of good news from their most recent excursion.
"Now that I have talked your ear off, I can go on to say that I'm not entirely sure what to do now." Peppy confessed with a rather apologetic grin as he returned his gaze to the human sitting at the table. "As you could imagine there are no precedents for this moment and the fact you seem to understand out language is a particularly fortunate as we have no linguistic experts onboard. This is after all a military starship. That aside, I suppose I should welcome you to the modern galaxy."
As every eye had been firmly centered on the ancient alien already, their stares only deepened as it was clear he had been prompted to speak.
Fox once more took in the human's appearance, thickly armored gauntlets lying upon the tabletop beside his plumed helmet, expression as emotive as a stone wall, yet no less friendly for it. The vulpine was surprised to feel a continued sense of peace and cordiality from the strange alien. Though his situation was beyond natural, literally out of place and time, he still persisted to carry that calm, patient exterior that reminded Fox of someone that had simply seen all there was to see. It was… fascinating.
In answer to Peppy's declaration of greeting, the olden male inclined his head in gratitude, his soothing response arriving in a smooth baritone.
"I thank you for the kindness in which you have treated me. It has been a long time since I last spoke to another race that bore no ill intent." The human lifted a gauntlet to gesture purposefully at the galactic map that Peppy had keyed into the table's interface at the onset of this discussion. "I see that the galaxy has indeed changed much since I was last awake, and I must also admit, these races you speak of, I have not heard of their like before."
His armored hand shifted in its direction, surprising Fox once it had landed upon him. "However, most curiously, the likes of your own species and those within this room I have seen before, though they were admittedly in a far more primitive state. I can only extrapolate that you have evolved in the 50,000 years or so since my… entombment."
Fox was not sure how to respond to that, or if there was even a way to. This human had seen their ancestors, had presumably interacted with them in some form. The implications behind that were just… astonishing.
"You know… you're taking all of this rather well." Miyu observed with a curious tilt of her muzzle. She imagined that if she had been in the same situation, she would not have endured this with nearly as much nonchalance as this human. In fact, he seemed more curious than alarmed, at least now that some time had passed since his awakening.
"What you speak is true. But I have lived for a long time, and once you have lived as long as I have it… well it puts things into perspective you might say."
"You don't look all that old." Bill spoke up, eyeing the human's features inquisitively. While unalike in appearance to a lylatian or even an asari, neither he nor anyone else could see any sort of weathering on the human's face to indicate advanced age.
As fox might attest to, he most certainly did not suffer from old age's decrepitude.
"Mayhaps not outwardly, but I have lived for many a long year. And in those years I have seen a great deal many things that might make one question reality. While my current situation is certainly far surpassing that of any previous, I will not dwell upon the past. To do so would be… unpleasant." The human admitted with what was the first grim expression Fox had seen him make.
"What will you do now?" Captain Hare inquired. He had no desire to seek to imprison the possibly last remaining member of their precursor civilization, nor did he feel such an extreme measure necessary. So far the human had made zero indication that he was prone to violence or hostility other than what could be brushed off by the nature of his sudden and traumatic drop out of stasis. In fact he was nearly amiable to a fault. Peppy did not have any wish to withhold the human from the galaxy. He had no right to do that. "I imagine there are quite a few scientist and scholars out there that would sell their kidney just to spend a minute with you."
The human chuckled at that, his surprisingly jovial outburst filling the briefing room with a sound that could very nearly be called musical. "Such individuals would be sorely disappointed once they met me. I am more warrior then scholar." His smiling visage soon darkened. "However there were a few of my brethren that would have been delighted at the opportunity." He could count on a hand just by reflex the number of warlocks that would have loved such an opportunity.
Fox decided that perhaps now was the time to ask the question he knew everyone in the room as dying to ask.
"What happened to them? Your people have left relics behind, but precious little else."
The human looked uncomfortable as he answered, scratching the back of his gauntlet with an idle digit. "I am… uncertain. My memory is not what it used to be. Since awakening, recent events before my slumber are… shrouded."
There was partial truth to his statement. The exact nature and cause of humanity's disappearance was unknown to him, though it was not difficult to postulate the most logical explanation. But such was a scenario he desperately hoped beyond hope was false, and neither did he have any desire to relay this information. He would not start his days here as a mad prophet, proclaiming the end of modern civilization, at least not without proof. For now he would wait until further data could be extrapolated. There was no need to unnecessarily concern the modern denizens of this galactic evolution. It was not as if anything he would say had basis anyways, and would in all actuality, probably be brushed off as the raving of an archaic individual. He had too much experience in life to think anything otherwise. After all, he had seen examples of such situations himself.
"You need not tell us now." Peppy offered with a small smile. "We understand that some things may be… difficult for you to speak of.
The relief on the human's expression was quite apparent as he smiled softly. "Thank you Captain, perhaps another time."
"So… what will you do now?" Miyu returned to a previous point in their conversation.
"I do not know truth be told. Much of what I valued is no longer present in this world, nor do I think I could explain in a means you could comprehend on what remains. You say that modern civilization has found what you call the Citadel? Perhaps I would like to see it."
It had been a very long time since the guardian last set eyes upon the mightiest construction humanity had ever set upon, what was to be center of their growing golden age empire. Though they called it something else, he could not think of any other piece of human ingenuity to be what they had spoken of, and yet such a construct had not been lasting, soon consumed in shadow in the declining years of the second war of heaven. He had been one of the last guardians to retreat from the fallen station, leaving it in the fetid claws of the wretched hive, but not after ensuring they would pay a heavy price for their victory.
One of the more burning questions he wished answered, was what happened to the enemy? Where were the forces of darkness? He had once grown accustomed to the nearly ever-present sensation of the dark; that a lack of its presence was near deafening. The current galaxy, or at least within his range of sense, was near devoid of darkness, harkening back to the first days of the second golden age, back when they had truly started to believe in their success.
"Of course, we should be arriving within a few hours, and I am sure the council will want to meet you." Peppy informed him.
Ah… the council, what amounted for a government in this new galactic iteration. Quite a unique concept as humanity, being essentially isolated in its plight, had always been guided by both The Speaker and The Traveler. Yes, he would indeed like to see what these species had accomplished with the foundational groundwork left by his race. Perhaps the sight of it would give further meaning to the sacrifices made by those he unwittingly left behind.
"I would like that very much, and perhaps if you would be so gracious, I would also wish to inquire about one of these codices you talked of. There is more detail therewith than spoken word I believe. And there is much I most undoubtedly must read upon." Such would be twofold purpose, occupying his time till they arrived and imparting some much needed knowledge on the universe at large. He had been away for a long time, and had missed much. Some study would do well to abate the demons of the past.
"I can certainly grant that request… I'm afraid you have yet to divulge your name…?" Peppy trawled to a stop.
The guardian took a moment longer than usual to respond.
"Uther… t'was a title I had once been known by. I imagine it should suit me fine here." He decided. It had been some years since he bothered with a name, such conventions lost meaning in the many years he had been alive. The simple designation of guardian had been more than sufficient. He had shuffled though so many titles that they all eventually stagnated and lost any inherent significance. But in this new galaxy he suspected a name would be necessary if he were to form any lasting bonds. Things he imagined he would need if he wished to see what had become of the past and uncover the fate of his people.
This will take some getting used to.
Fox shuffled in his boots at the door to the airlock, casting regular glances across his team to the hulking alien standing beside them, his encompassing casing of silver and obsidian shinning bright underneath the lights of the ship, more heavily armored than even the toughest krogan and adorned in mysterious weaponry. In front of the group, Peppy led the way, intending to be the voice for their party once they disembarked.
Not minutes ago they had docked with the citadel and he had been sent to retrieve the human who had been spending the hours between in the hanger, where he had expended his time reading from the omni-tool offered to him by the captain, and fiddling with the pod he had awoken from. Though it seemed he had only good intentions thus far, he remained under guard nonetheless in that time, the squad of sentries having had difficulty deciding on whether they feared or were curious of one who had once been called forerunner. It seemed however, that they were more inclined to the former as they were certain to keep their distance from the human while he toiled.
Fox was not sure what Uther - as he now had been named - sought to accomplish with his efforts, but did not place much consideration into something he decided he would not understand. Instead he had merely informed the human of their arrival and escorted him throughout the ship to the airlock.
They had exchanged a few words, nothing more than mindless pleasantries as anything more invasive might be considered in ill taste and the human had most of his inane questions answered by the codex now in his possession.
The vulpine admired the human, impressed by both his resilience at such a taxing situation and the kindness with which he spoke. His manner of speech was odd, seemingly antiquated and full of polite etiquette. Regardless, Fox found himself enjoying the odd male's company. He was unique for more than his appearance and lineage. The male himself was a curious individual.
No doubt he would become more than just an idle curio once he made galactic headlines, with the possibility to shake the very foundations of interstellar society, which allowed Fox to truly appreciate how surreal their predicament was. Standing less than two meters from him was an ancient individual from more than 50,000 years in the past, and they had just exchanged a rather banal conversation of the like one might share with a passerby.
This very moment he should have been gaping in awe, a thousand questions waiting to part from his mouth… and yet that was near the last thing on his mind. There was just so much that needed said in such a small window that he simply didn't have the time. Any information pertaining to their new guest was strictly regulated already by the captain in anticipation for the eventual fallout with the news networks.
As such in this moment, only those aboard the Great Fox, and just recently the council through a secure transmission, were informed of the situation regarding the forerunner relic and what had once been its contents. To say that the three heads of galactic politics were eager to meet a member of their precursors was a hilarious understatement.
The only thing Fox hoped from this, would be that with all this excitement the rather unfortunate events on Eden Prime might be somewhat glossed over, or rather his perceived liability. He had little yearning to be held responsible for actions beyond his control.
The hiss of the airlock's magnetic release brought Fox from his reverie and the vulpine lifted his gaze to watch the cumbersome airtight partitions peel apart, snatching one last peek at the human out of the corner of his eye. It would be difficult for Uther to not attract attention. What his armor already did not do to set him apart from anyone else, his titanic stature and hulking figure ensured it would be impossible for him to go unnoticed or ignored.
Questions were inevitable, despite the fact his alien visage was concealed behind the sterling silver and obsidian ornamented great helm of antiquated design. He was far too large and muscled to be taken as any species other than a krogan, and the distinct lack of a humped back eliminated that possibility at the start.
Fox could see a great many problems already, even as they stepped out of the docking tube and entered the main processing courtyard. Thankfully as they were a military vessel and had the captain with them, they were afforded lenience from the usual procedures, waived in after only a cursory examination from the pair of guards by the door. Once on the other side, they found themselves in the entrance to C-sec, the citadel's main security element. More a paramilitary force then your usual run-of-the-mill constabularies, they were prepared to respond to nearly any threat imaginable, which was quite necessary given the size of the space station and its importance to the galactic community as a whole.
Various officers of numerous species were spread out across the chambers of silvery walls and bulletproof window panes, but were predominantly of turian and lylatian allegiance. Similar in mind to the turians and their ethos for public service, the species of Lylat had quite easily stepped into peace keeping rolls within the galactic community, something that admittedly may have been partly responsible for their near effortless integration. The council had every reason to welcome the large fleets and protectively minded inhabitants of the Lylat system. Their forces both helped ensure citadel authority and offered a safer life for every species and their colonies.
It was these individuals that stared holes into the towering alien that followed after Fox and their small group. The human's massive boots echoed throughout the cavernous building, the weight behind each footstep announcing his presence to all those within earshot.
Yet perhaps what truly made the security officials keep their gaze on the armored warrior was the presence of a two meter hunk of steel sheathed upon the human's back, and the fact it seemed to possess a faint molten glow.
Fox thought that strange. Uther was clearly equipped with a rifle as well, quite a large one at that, but it was the blade that brought him the looks. Though he supposed he should not be startled by that. Blades were not all that common unless you happened to be a krogan. Then they were apparently a necessity.
The vulpine watched curiously as one of the turian officers stepped away from his cohorts and warily approached them. The avian-like alien shifted his mandibles, eyes widening slightly as they traveled up and up the human's armored frame, close proximity imparting upon him the true size of the individual standing before him, someone who could look the tallest krogan dead in the eye.
"Uh… Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave your… sword, with C-Sec. Exotic weapons are not allowed in the wards or presidium levels without a Class-A armament license."
Fox felt nervous in the minute of silence that persisted after that declaration, a sentiment that was easily shared amongst the small group and C-Sec officer equally. The vulpine prayed that the human would not make a seen.
Uther's arms shifted into motion, startling the turian police officer but for only a moment before his gauntlets reached behind his back, quickly disengaging the magnetic coils that kept his blade secure.
"It shall be as you say, peacekeeper. I shall leave my blade in thine care." The large human responded with soft humility, retrieving his blade and offering it to the speechless turian with deferential care.
With an uncertain nod, the alien grabbed hold of the blade, his clawed digits wrapping firmly around the hilt and the midpoint of the shallow groove etched into its length. Visibly struggling with the titanic sword the moment Uther released it, the C-Sec officer was clearly surprised at the unexpected weight, his voice retuning in a thin grunt. "Thank you for your cooperation, Sir. Once you are ready to… depart the station you can retrieve your weapon… from customs."
With those final words, Fox and the rest of their party watched with thinly veiled amusement as the turian fought with the blade in his claws as he set off to catalogue what was undoubtedly one of the most unique confiscations of his career.
"This… Omni-tool, it is a most useful implement." The human mused as he looked down upon his bracer to the orange glowing device located upon it. Shortly before departing the ship he had integrated the peculiar device into his armor systems, surprised at how easily his suit's software had accepted the alien programs. "In moments that alien's tongue was as clear as if I had spoken it since the day I had been born."
Uther was utterly fascinated by this technology, something not even the height of the golden age had achieved. Then again, there was not much reason to understand the many languages of their foes, and no doubt they were far more complex in design.
"Did your people not have similar tools?" Miyu wondered with a curious flick of her ear as they resumed their journey, stepping out of the C-Sec academy and into the wards.
"No. We had no need for things such as this." It was long known that communication would not bring peace with the forces arrayed against them and all humans were unified under the Travelers's guidance, a universal language binding them in their accord. Turning his eyes away from the object on his arm he studied a sight that was nearly familiar to him but not inherently so.
Not much had changed of the Citadel from what he remembered, a forest of towers both in front and above his gaze, wrapped around the circular arms of the monolithic space station. The artificial day/night cycle saw the quasi sun at its zenith, or midday he supposed it was. Far off in the distance a flurry of shuttles zoomed across the golden sky like minute motes of light in the afternoon haze, their metallic sheen reflected in the mirrored windows of clustered habitation pylons.
It was logical to assume that with a prefabricated construct like the Citadel, that not much would need to be altered to suit the needs of anyone that wished to utilize it for their own needs. Even the chamber for Citadel Security had been a place of analogous utility back when humanity still possessed it.
The sight itself was… strange. For even half a moment, he expected to see one of his own kind in the bustling crowds, perhaps a guardian wandering the streets before heading off on patrol or a family out for a day at the park. Such was still here, but not what it once had been. Blue aliens holding a striking similarity to mankind strode through causeways of pale white steel as they intermingled with the abundance of other species filling the paths, peacekeepers bedecked in blue armor dotted the living landscape, overseeing their wards.
It would never again be what humanity had made it.
Nevertheless… Uther found solace in such visions of peace. He knew not how nor why, but the darkness was gone, banished by means beyond his understanding. He could feel but the barest traces of the enemy of light, a faint scratching at the back of his awareness, faint enough to be ignored. Hopefully it would never return to prominence, would never again threaten the innocent.
"Are you alright, Uther?"
The guardian's musing was averted by the now familiar voice of Fox, the one most attuned to the power of his fallen god amidst those he had come to consort with, and the human turned to answer. "I shall endure. Though I should not, I remain wondrous all the same at the achievements made by yours and the other peoples of this new galaxy. You have come close to the path my own people trod."
Fox was not sure why, but he found himself smiling at the unintended praise, still carrying the grin several minutes later, even as they arrived at the Lylatian Embassy. Councilor Daala had already been made aware of the situation, and was in fact charged with organizing the upcoming meeting with the council. This responsibility should have been considered an honor, a great leap of faith and trust for the newest additions to the galaxy at large, but such came as a double edged sword as other races would hold the continued rise of Lylat in contempt.
It was not long as they were quickly screened by the guards and escorted through the halls bustling with aides and representatives, straight to the door of Councilor Daala herself. Peppy took one last look at the small group in front of him before entering with them in tow.
The Councilor's office was about what one would expect of an individual in such a position, designed to provide a tasteful yet spacious floorplan and strategically placed items and lights that seemed to subtly imply that the person who owned this room was very influential. Though oddly enough, the workspace was inhabited by a rather humble and plain desk of seamless steel, with photos of those that were in all likelihood family or close associates.
The woman herself was seated behind her desk, her bright yellow fur dappled with brownish markings from what could be seen past the shiny laminate of her apparel. Such an animal was known to Uther, a feline that had once roamed the plains of the African continent, what was so many years ago. T'was a strange sight, seeing so many familiar species of terran species now given prominence in this new world order.
At their arrival, the female was quick to excuse herself from her seat and cross the lengthy expanse of her office, a small and somewhat nervous grin pulling at her lips, which could easily be attributed to the circumstances arrayed around this meeting. Although the guardian stood at the rear of the party, that did little to prevent the woman from singling him out and making her way towards him. The others were quick to disperse and let her through as she approached.
Uther regarded the short statured feline as she halted a few feet from him and tilted her muzzle backward in an effort to establish eye contact through his helm. Seeing as she was a person of high esteem in this galaxy, he removed that piece of armor so that they might speak face to face.
"You know… I spent the last three hours preparing a speech for just this moment. And now that you're here, that I see you, the words seem to have just eluded me." The female cheetah confessed with an uneasy chuckle as she studied a unique set of alien features, for all appearances looking baffled beyond words.
"You need not worry for appearances or lavish speeches on my behalf, Councilor. Such things were never of any interest to me. A simple greeting and firm handshake should more than suffice." He replied with an outstretched gauntlet.
The feline stared at the proffered limb for only a moment before accepting the gesture with a beaming smile, her comparatively miniature paw eclipsed by his massive, plated digits. "Thank you. It is not often I don't have to worry about the words I say. Still I must inform you that it is an absolute honor to be speaking with you, a living member of our predecessors. I, and the galaxy I imagine, have a great deal many questions for you…."
"You may call me Uther." He replied in answer to the unspoken question.
"Then it is a pleasure to meet you, Uther. And though I wish we had more time for niceties, the council is perhaps even more eager than myself to meet you, which in retrospect I find highly amusing. They requested that I bring you to the council chamber the moment you arrived. And they will want Mccloud and his team as well to discuss the events of the mission that… unearthed you." She looked back to the vulpine and his two friends briefly before returning her eyes upon him with the most diplomatic of smiles.
"I dislike having to ask, but would you please put your helmet back on till we reach the presidium? That should help keep the bulk of the crowds away… for the most part. They shut down the entire tower in anticipation for your arrival so I can only assume they wish to keep this under wraps for now."
"You need but request and I shall abide." The human declared with a humble bow as he donned his helmet once more with elegance and grace expected of an action that had been performed times unending.
"Thank you." The cheetah expressed her gratitude with rose tinted cheeks and a light, airy chuckle. "If you would all follow me I we can get started on what shall undoubtedly be a day that will not be so easily forgotten."
With little else to be said, the councilor ushered the small party out of her office and set them on the path to the tower. Not soon after she began to speak once more, and the guardian listened in as they traveled the beatific paths of planed steel and cleverly placed horticulture, his eyes roving to ingest the unsettlingly familiar sights and sounds.
"Captain, it has been some time since last we spoke… the Benning Crisis if I'm not mistaken." The councilor began as she turned to the hare with a grin.
"Ah Benning yes… has it really been that long?" Peppy asked as he turned to address the councilor.
"Four years as of last month if I'm not mistaken. And it looks like you've kept busy since." She declared with an amused smile. "Somehow I'm not surprised you had something to do with all this."
"Is that because of Saren's suspected involvement?"
"Not quite, though I am aware that you two have somewhat of a… history." She answered tactfully.
"Yes… one could certainly call it that." Peppy agreed somewhat distantly as Fox looked to his captain with unspoken curiosity.
This stroked the guardian's interest. He had heard a little of this Saren individual in both the report concerning his retrieval, something that had been quite bizarre to read, and from the galactic codex. The turian was a council specter, a positon of some esteem and mystery from what the extranet described, what was perhaps this galactic iteration's strange attempt at a guardian.
The human warrior also found it disconcerting that such an individual might have some influence regarding his awakening, and even more concerning that it was possible the citadel agent was corrupt and responsible for the loss of life preceding this. That revelation would indirectly lay blame on his shoulders for the loss of life on the world he had been taken from.
Uther felt some guilt that those who suffered were directly or circuitously harmed because of his existence, that the attack on the lylatian colony had something to do with him, though what for was one of the greatest questions he wished answered.
It was all so strange to him. Never had the guardians had to worry about traitors or defectors in their ranks. Such was literally an impossibility and without precedent. But such was also a grim reminder of the years following the first collapse. There had been no guardians after the Traveler fell, just individuals given too much power and no wisdom to utilize it. In those days he had learned that humanity was in fact its own worst enemy, and they were capable of acts just as horrific and cruel as the darkness that had laid them low.
Not that he had been any better.
"Here we are… the Citadel Tower." Uther's fetters of past recollections sloughed away at the sound of the councilor's rather grandiose declaration and he lifted his helmed head to regard what was the heart of modern civilization as she gestured rather proudly at the sight with an upraised paw.
In a reoccurring theme he was starting to expect, not much had changed with the Tower of the Speaker, though unexpectedly it went by a different name. No longer did the Traveler's voice guide its flock amongst the stars, now it was home to the heads of a galaxy that had forgotten or never knew its teachings.
Uther was silent as they walked down paths and architecture he had personally witnessed his people build in what was perhaps the pinnacle of their civilization. Much of the technology and knowledge that had been put into the citadel had been lost after its fall, as had a great deal of humanity's strength.
He had borne witness to the destruction of their fleets during the siege of Elysium, what these people now called the citadel. He had watched as millions were slain in their failed efforts to retain the newest seat of their power, the blood of armies washing the once pristine streets of pale alloy a deep crimson. Not even the combined might of the Iron Lords had been enough to hold the line, their valor overrun by relentless hordes of the darkness' most vile creations.
Barely a handful of broken vessels had been able to escape through the jumpgate, leaving behind a hundred times their number as shattered wrecks in the void. The fall of Elysium had beckoned the end of humanity's interstellar empire, and introduced the centuries of bitter withdrawals that would become known as the fall to future desperate generations.
"What does it feel like… to be back?" The inquisitive voice of Fox emanated from beside him, reminding the human that his battles had been long in the past, undeniably lost to ancient antiquity.
Uther pondered at the vulpine's question for a few moments.
"I shall tell you when I find out." He answered, the guardian's tone low and pensive.
Fox's curious gaze upon the human waivered only at the sounds of a verbal conflict ahead of them, two turians embroiled in a heated discussion.
"Saren's hiding something, give me more time… stall them." The turian in blue demanded.
"Stall the council?" The alien in red scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous. Your investigation is over, Garrus." With a dismissive wave of his hand, the irritated turian turned away and set off in a direction that would take him away from his companion.
The other avian-like alien - who Uther recognized as a member of citadel security given his armor pattern - growled in vexation as he made an effort to leave, in doing so his roving eye found itself passing Fox, though not for long. In moments the turian seemed to recognize the vulpine and made his intent clear when he approached.
"Commander Mccloud?" The C-sec officer inquired in his strange, slightly harmonic voice.
At a nod from Fox, the turian continued as Peppy and the councilor only briefly acknowledged the conversation before moving to wait for them at the foot of the steps leading up to the amphitheater.
"Garrus Vakarian. I was the officer in charge of the C-sec investigation into Saren." Uther noted that this particular member of his species contained an admirable, albeit youthful attitude. But that did not interest him so much as the fact he carried a somewhat more potent sense of the Traveler's light. As the guardian had discerned previously, this individual's race and most others carried a more muted aura than that of the Lylat races he had originally encountered. The portent for this strange development was beyond him, however, he decided to make note of this particular character as he tuned back into Fox's conversation.
"So… what was that all about?" Fox gestured vaguely in the direction of the turian who had just stormed off.
"That was Executor Pallin, head of Citadel security and also… my boss. He'll be presenting my findings on Saren to the Council."
"Find anything worthwhile?" Fox inquired hopefully. However the negative shake of the turian's head was quick to dismiss his expectations.
"Saren is a specter, everything he does is classified. I couldn't get anything solid, but I just know he's up to something. What's it you lylatians like to say? I feel it in my gut?"
Uther smiled faintly at that, finding it strange that some euphemisms managed to survive the ages.
"Look…" Garrus began, seeming for a moment to be moderately uncomfortable. 'I know you are heading up there to speak with the Council. So I feel it would be fair to warn you that they won't like to hear anything you have to say about Saren. He's their best agent, and I know they won't stand to hear such accusations without good evidence. I guess what I'm trying to say is… good luck Mccloud."
Fox nodded grimly. The vulpine had come to suspect this as well, but felt that he had to at least try if for no other reason than he could stand up for his principles.
"Thanks Vakarian."
With a wave farewell, the turian moved down the path they had come from while Fox pushed ahead with his group, turning to Uther curiously.
"So, ready to meet the Council?"
In response the human shrugged. "I am curious to see what you have all done with what has been left for you." He hoped that the speakers for the entirety of galactic civilization would be just and sensible paragons of noble virtue. He had not had much chance to garner a more in depth study of galactic history, but the fact that civilization was still standing had to be a good thing.
The man followed Fox and his companions as they ascended the steps into what had once been the public forum, where the everyday citizen, and even other guardians with concerns could freely discuss them with the Speaker or on occasion, one of the Iron Lords. Uther recalled with some fond amusement, that he had often found himself on either side of the proceedings that had once been carried out here. Shaxx in particular had always been hesitant to be on this level of the tower. He had confided in Uther his concerns that he would be barraged with complaints on the difficulty of his wargames. And from what he remembered, that had been a very valid concern.
It was painful to evoke past memories, a bitter sweetness of reminiscence for the glory days of his people. Those days had been long ago, such moments of joy consumed by the darkness. Shaxx was dead, killed when overwhelmed by a cadre of elite Kabal centurions from the Sky Burner's Legion, his ghost executed alongside him. That had been moments after the wall had fallen to the enemy, the titan cut off from his brothers and surrounded. Uther had fought fiercely, tearing through hordes of psions and a company of phalanxes as he tried to force a path to his fellow guardian, an ultimately futile action as he had been forced to retreat or end up like his comrade.
Shaxx's death had been the first of the notable warriors of light since the siege's commencement, and had been a tragic blow to the defenders that they had never recovered from. But it was nothing new to Uther. Often times the man cursed the manacles of immortality. It was impossible to appreciate such a gift when all he could remember was death and suffering. His first life, that of when he still possessed his humanity, was all but lost to him, nothing but scattered thoughts vanished in the ages, as were the majority of his memories. But he could still recall the deaths of every guardian he had ever known.
Uther wished that The Traveler in his infinite wisdom had not sought to bestow upon him such a pointed memory. Ask him and he could recall the minute detail of every small skirmish, battle, and lengthy campaign he had ever fought. But make an inquiry of the lives of his fellow guardians, and one would be surprised to realize that he could recall virtually nothing. Idle conversation, stories amongst comrades, even the topic of love was beyond his grasp. He could not even remember if he had ever found one to consider so closely, what was perhaps the greatest tragedy yet to befall him.
However the guardian banished his morbid musings as they were in this moment unimportant. He was to meet the leaders of modern galactic society at the top of these steps, and he did not want the ill-fated events of his past to stain what was to be a momentous occasion for both himself and these civilizations.
This no doubt comes as a surprise to all considering it's been a long time since I touched this particular story. However as I am super close to finishing the next chapter for Legacy, though struck by a case of dreaded writer's block, I still felt the need to get something out. I was relieved when I shifted focus to this, that I found some manner of inspiration. considering I do not touch this piece all to often, reviews are especially appreciated, I welcome all reasonable advice for the direction of the plot and perhaps might even require the services of a few imaginative individuals in the future for short, one time characters to make an appearance, and perhaps one or two more permanent individuals depending on the their quality and make. As the mass Effect universe is quite large and a fascinating place to create. If I do have need for such characters' I'll be sure to let you all known for certain.
Till then, keep the faith!
