"You wish to help? Tell me, new Guardian, how could you help? Titans patrol our borders, yet every day they shrink more and more. Hunters patrol the wilderness, yet less and less do they return. Warlocks delve into the secrets of our Traveler, yet it continues to slowly die. So tell me, Odin: how could you possibly help?"

"...In every way I can."

-First recorded conversation between the Speaker and Warlock Odin

(0)(0)(0)

Meditation has been used by humans for millennia. From the oldest wise man to the youngest disciple, it has been used as a tool to clear one's head and seek wisdom of the world.

It takes many forms. For some, meditation is achieved through simple walking, finding peace in the repetition and wonderful emptiness in the mindlessness of it. Whether it is taking a small trip to the local town center, finding peace in a short travel in the woods, or even hiking great mountains and valleys.

For others, meditation is found within exercise. The lifting of weights, the rhythm of a rowing machine, or even the simple stretches of yoga. This helps not only to clear the mind, but also improve the body. Indeed, both are linked, and one can't be altered without affecting the other.

Most see meditation as the act of sitting and clearing one's mind. This method can be achieved through many varieties, but a common practice is to focus on breathing, setting a pattern for the breaths and following through on that pattern. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Three seconds for each breath, one second holding the air in the lungs.

As Guardians were born from Light, they achieved their own forms. For Titans, battle was a common tool. Losing one's self in the storm of gunfire and death, embracing the chaos and letting one's self be consumed by it. It was due to this trait that Titans became so useful and skilled in battle. It was, after all, their home.

Hunters often achieved meditation by their usual means: traversing the wilds alone. They found peace in the isolation, and let that peace echo through their body and Light. They would find a sort of equilibrium out there in the wilderness, far away from the Tower and any signs of civilization.

The warrior-scholars of the Tower, however, required a deeper form of meditation in order to commune with their inner Light. To be a Warlock is to seek the truth behind one's powers. Neither battle nor isolation was an option for this, and so Warlocks turned to a deeper form of peace.

It was the very art of nothingness. To embrace the void and be embraced by it. A Warlock would sit motionless for hours without even a twitch, slow their breath until no air entered their lungs, and even still their heart until it didn't beat. They would cease all activity to enter a state that was not completely death nor life, but could be either.

It was through that method that a Warlock could tap into their inner Light. It was through this method that they could discover the secrets of the mystery which had reawoken them to fight in the war against The Darkness. And it was that method which Odin was trying to use in order to pass the time.

Keyword: trying. After all, it's somewhat difficult to become nothing when someone's giving you the evil eye of death.

Odin looked up, giving up on trying to meditate. The person in front of him was human at least, but he carried a high quality assault rifle in his arms. He sat on a couch, glaring at Odin and occasionally taking a sip from what appeared to be a coffee cup. He was wearing dark armor, with midnight blue highlights. Odin thought it looked tacky.

"You know," the Warlock said, "you don't need to watch me all the time."

"I don't trust you," the other man replied.

Odin rolled his eyes and sighed. "So you told me five minutes ago. And five minutes before that. And the forty times before that. Can't you say anything different? Garrus has let me in here."

"Archangel," the man emphasized, "Let you stay here, without your gun and under watch."

"Really," Odin said, "Do you think I couldn't escape if I wanted to? I've gotten out of worse Fallen prisons."

"Right..." the man said. "Your crazy story about being from another universe."

"You don't believe me." It wasn't a question.

The man snorted. "Of course I don't. Who would believe crazy shite like that?"

Odin raised an eyebrow. "You saw what I did to those slavers."

The man shifted, giving Odin the stink-eye. "Nothing you did in there couldn't be achieved by biotics, tech, and some nice gunwork. Your gun's weird, I'll give you that, but that's not much. So long as you're staying here, I'll be watching you."

"Not much of a place anyways," Odin muttered. He looked around the building, soaking in the sights and architecture. The building was larger than what Odin was used to. Guardians usually stayed in barracks, though Warlocks tended to have additional rooms for labs. Citizens in the City had apartments, but they were typically compact, with families staying in small areas.

Compared to those, this place was practically luxurious. Two stories with plenty of rooms, as well as a basement for storing supplies. From what Odin had seen, Garrus' group (he refused to call the Turian by that silly name) had about a dozen members. The upstairs had been converted into a barracks of sorts. Weaponry and ammo was scattered all over the building. It was fairly defensible. Odin wasn't sure about the wide open windows and entrance, but the bridge was a good choke point.

He sighed again as he looked back to the person in front of him. The man had the mindset of a Titan and was stubborn as the Cabal. He was focused for battle and was slow to change. He was also loyal to Garrus to a fault, much to Odin's annoyance.

"Want to hear a story?" Odin said to the man.

The man raised an eyebrow. "A story from your 'galaxy', I'm guessing?"

Odin nodded.

The man snorted. "Sure, why not? Bored anyways."

Odin took a moment to take a breath and organize it in his mind. "Once," he began, "There was a Titan. She was born like other Guardians, born again in the Light of the Traveler. She was full of youth and vigor, and traveled to the Tower. She trained under the Vanguards, was equipped with arms and a ship, and gained the Speaker's blessing.

But she could not stay at the Tower. She itched to travel, to go out and fight the Darkness. To bring the fight to them. The Vanguards urged her to wait. The Speaker advised her patience. But she did not listen. She took her ship and left into the unknown.

She went out to Earth first, traveling to the old Cosmodrome. She explored it, gathering spinmetal and investigating the ancient ruins of civilization, when she came across a Fallen. She asked it, 'What are you?'

The Fallen answered her. 'I am the scavenger and the pirate and the slaver. I am that which preys upon your ancestors. I assaulted your city and spilled your blood. I am the Dreg and the Vandal and the Captain. I am the Kell and the Archon and the Prime Servitor.'

And so they fought. The Fallen attacked with arcbolt and shockblade and shrapnel launcher. But the Titan was strong and had her guns. She caved in the Fallen's head and left it dead in the soil. But she was not yet satisfied and departed again.

She went to the moon, to the remains of the lunar bases. She explored it, gathering helium coils and delving into the ancient explorers, when she came across a Hive. She asked it, 'What are you?'

The Hive answered her. 'I am the consuming swarm which rages against the Light. I am that which devours all and leaves the universe cold and empty. I am the army which broke your lines and spread this moon with the corpses of your kind. I am the Thrall and the Acolyte and the Knight. I am the Wizard and the Ogre. I am Crota and Eir and Ur and Xol and Yul and Oryx.'

And so they fought. The Hive attacked her with shredder and boomer and cleaver. But the Titan was good and had her fists. She broke the Hive over her knee and left it dead in the dust. But she was not yet satisfied and departed again.

She went to Venus, to the Ishtar campus. She explored it, gathering spirit bloom and delving into the scholars of the Golden age, when she came across a Vex. She asked it, 'What are you?'

The Vex answered her. 'I am the single mind and the many bodies. I am that which tears time and space asunder and consumes the remains. I imprisoned your predecessors and ancients and bent them to my whim. I am the Goblin and the Minotaur and the Hobgoblin. I am the Cyclops and the Hydra and the Harpy.'

And so they fought. The Vex attacked her with slap rifle and line rifle and torch hammer. But the Titan was great and had her Light. She crushed the Vex under her boot and left it dead in the mud. But she was not yet satisfied and departed again.

She went to Mars, to the ruins of Clovis Bray. She explored it, gathering relic iron and searching for the secrets of Humanity, when she came across a Cabal. She asked it, 'What are you?'

The Cabal answered her. 'I am the legion of iron. I am the juggernaut which grinds worlds into my machine of war. I have conquered this land and seized it for my own. I am that which crushes all beneath the treads of my tank. I am the Legionary and the Centurion and the Phalanx. I am the Colossus and the Psion. I am the Bracus and the Primus and the Valus.'

And so they fought. The Cabal attacked her with slug rifle and projection rifle and heavy slug thrower. But the Titan was mighty and had her skills. She tore its head from its body and left it dead in the sand. But she was not yet satisfied, so she departed again.

This time she traveled far, beyond the asteroid belt, beyond the Light of the Traveler. She went far and far, until she could no longer pick up the Guardian signals that called her home. And there she found the Darkness. She asked it, 'What are you?'

But the Darkness only smiled.

And so they fought." Odin briefly fell silent, taking a breath and organizing his thoughts.

The man leaned forward impatiently. "So what happened? She won right?"

Odin looked at the man, his eyes sober. His gaze fell downward. "No," he said. "She died. The Darkness consumed her, devoured her body, mind, and very Light."

"Jesus," the man said, running a hand through his hair. "That's one fucking story. You use that to scare kids?"

"New Guardians," Odin corrected. "It's used as a cautionary tale to teach lessons. Now I'm using it for you."

The man's eyebrows furrowed. He leaned back slightly. "What do you mean?"

Odin rolled his eyes. The mentality of a Titan. "Let me ask you a question," he said. "Why do you fight?"

"Huh?"

"Why do you fight?" Odin repeated. "Why do you follow Garrus into battle?"

The man didn't hesitate. "It's to help this fucking station. It's filled with corruption. We fight to put some good into it, to help the common person."

Odin nodded. "I see. Who do you fight?"

The man sent an irritated glare at Odin. "The mercenary and criminal groups in the station."

Odin nodded again. "And when you've finally killed all these mercenaries and criminals, then Omega will be rid of evil? Be filled with justice and light and goodness?"

The man stopped, blinking and sitting back a bit. "...What?"

"Your group's plan," Odin continued, "When you've killed and killed and killed, will your work finally be done? Will the people be able to walk on the streets without fear and keep their doors unlocked?"

"W-well," the man began.

Odin interrupted him. "Or will others fill the vacuum that you will have created? More mercenary groups and more criminals and more slavers? Or perhaps you will fill the void? Become tyrants of justice and dictate how others will live so that they will commit no crimes at all. Will you become that which you fight?"

The man curled his lip back and snarled slightly, leaning forward. "Why-!"

Odin stood. "You asked for the meaning of the story? If you fight the minions of Darkness and evil, then you can win. But if you fight the Darkness itself? You will be destroyed by it at best, and corrupted by it at worst."

Odin opened his mouth to continue when he suddenly stopped. Something was touching on the edge of his senses, a small warmth pressing on his mind. He turned his head and focused.

Lights were approaching the building. Several dozen of them. He could feel the teeming emotions contained within them. Hatred. Nervousness. Fear. They were advancing slowly towards the building, and it was obvious to Odin that they weren't friendly.

Odin looked up to the ledge and jumped, loosening the hold of gravity on his body and gliding up to the second floor. The man below made a protesting noise, but Odin ignored him. He walked quickly to the ledge and looked out.

He could sense the beings. They were supposed to be coming to the opening of the bridge now, but Odin couldn't see them. Were they cloaked? Odin looked closer...

There. He could see the faint shimmer of light. Focusing closer, he could see that it was in the shape of an alien. Perfect.

"The hell are you doing?!" the man exclaimed, running next to Odin.

Odin didn't look at him. "Is anyone supposed to be coming here?"

"Huh?"

"Is anyone supposed to be coming here?" Odin repeated with heavier emphasis.

The man thought for a moment. "...No, Archangel left an hour ago, but he isn't due to be back yet. Why?"

Odin held a hand out to the side and focused void energy in it. "Wake everyone up."

The man stepped back from Odin and furrowed his eyebrows. "...Why?"

Odin focused on the energy in his hand. It was a chaotic, swirling mass of dark energy, decaying particles, and collapsing matter. He narrowed his eyes, concentrating the mass further, down into a single point.

After a second, it was ready. Odin cocked his arm back and hurled it.

It sailed through the air slowly, belying its dangerous nature. Like a heavy balloon, the dark violet ball glided out onto the bridge.

Then it impacted.

There was a cacophonous explosion. The ball burst, shaking the bridge and building with its impact. A great, swirling sphere of void energy shot outward, filling the width of the bridge.

Screams filled the air of the area as the front line of the cloaked invaders blew apart. Literally. Body parts and blood flew through the air, and the shock wave broke the cloaks of those that were spared instant death. Odin could see that they weren't a single mercenary group, though there were numerous Blue Suns and Eclipse.

Odin held out a hand. There was a shimmer of light, and a gun materialized into it. It was a pulse rifle, one that Odin had found and assembled over the course of decades. The bones of a young Ahamkara were built into it, and malevolent green energy filtered up from the barrel.

"Ghost," Odin said.

Above his shoulder, the fragment of the Traveler appeared. "Here."

"Jam their comms," the Warlock said. "I want false signals, true signals, and static filling their channel. Send them into chaos."

There was a second pause. "Done," the Ghost said.

Odin turned to the man, who had been staring with his jaw practically on the floor. "You're under attack," the Warlock said.

"Jesus," the man wheezed, "Mother of Christ. You weren't lying. Holy shit."

Odin stepped forward. He gently slapped the man's cheek, shocking him out of his stupor. "Focus," he said. "You're under attack. You need to get your teammates and get them armed."

The man blinked. "Y-yeah. Yeah, right." He turned away and began to head down the hall when he stopped and looked back at Odin. "What about you?"

Odin aimed his gun down the bridge. "I'm going to do some cleaning," he said, sighting an alien in his reticle. He pulled the trigger and the gun barked, sending three shots downrange.

The bullets sped down into the bridge and impacted in a Turian, penetrating its armor easily. The Turian spasmed and collapsed, dead on the ground.

Odin smirked as he felt the gun in his hands hungrily devour the alien's Light. The bullet counter on his HUD jumped back up to 24, and the gun touched his mind. It had eaten, but the Turian's Light was only a bite. Barely a snack. It wanted more. More Light. More battle. More bloodshed.

Odin was more than willing to oblige it. He shifted his aim and began sending more and more bursts down range, killing more and more aliens.

He sighted what appeared to be a Batarian and fired a burst at it. He stopped when there was a shimmer and his weapon's magazine remained at 21. There was a flicker of irritation on his mind, and it wasn't just the gun. His eyebrows furrowed. Was this a kinetic barrier that he had heard about?

There was another shimmer, and the Batarian staggered to its feet. It began to shout, attempting to rally the nearby mercenaries.

Odin couldn't have that now. He fired a burst at it, and it stumbled back as the bullets impacted on its shield. He fired another burst. The first bullet impacted on the shield. The second bullet broke it. The third bullet landed right between all four of its eyes, and as it fell back, Odin's pulse rifle refilled. He gave a nod, the new information recorded in his mind.

Movement down the bridge caught his eye. It was a Salarian who was charging into the vortex that Odin's Nova bomb created. Odin smirked. This should be good.

The Salarian took one step into the vortex. Odin could see that its armor was beginning to decay, the teeming mass of particles and energy eating away at it.

By the second step, most of its armor was gone. It began to scream in pain as its body wore away.

On the third step its voice disappeared and it fell, slowly dying. Odin grinned as he felt the Light leave its body. That never got old...

He shifted to another target. A small, tuneless hum bubbled up from his throat as he fired down on the aliens.

He had always loved the song. He couldn't sing worth a damn, something that Cayde-6 never let him forget, but he loved hearing other people do so. Most of his adventures into the City had been to places where people sang, from operas to run down karaoke joints.

The song he remembered now was a favorite of one of his mentors. She had been a Titan, strong as steel and just as unwavering. More than once she had trained him to the point of death... literally. She had been an unforgiving taskmistress.

But she had her depths as well. Once, during a moonlit night when Odin and her were watching the Traveler and the City beneath it, she had confessed that she had been a singer before she had died for the first time. Odin had taken this confession with wide eyes and teased her about it.

In return, she punched him off the Tower.

When his Ghost had revived him (much to its exasperation), Odin had apologized and asked for a song.

She, after much convincing (and some shameless begging) had relented and sung. It wasn't a long song, only a few minutes long. There hadn't been instruments, or backup singers, or surround sound. No stage, no audience, no theatrics.

Yet, it was one of Odin's most cherished memories. He had watched his mentor give her performance quietly, his eyes wide and eager. When she had finished, he clapped, earnestly and for a long time. He had never heard anything like it before.

Odin smiled as he remembered the memory. He wondered what Amaris would say if she could see him now...

Probably to stop spending so much time reminiscing and start fighting harder.

Odin smirked at the thought. He shifted his aim only for his eyebrows to raise slightly. The bridge was clear of hostiles. Well, living hostiles. There was plenty of corpses, blood, and... bits scattered around it. He focused his senses, and confirmed that there wasn't any Lights in the vicinity.

Excluding those of Garrus' team, who were at the moment headed up the stairs. Odin turned to look at them. He smirked slightly. About time they got here.

"Where are the hostiles?" the man Odin had been talking to asked.

Odin pointed at the Bridge.

Their reactions were comical, to the point where Odin almost burst out laughing. Most of them gaped at the devastation the Guardian had caused. One of them muttered what sounded like a swear. The Krogan looked at Odin and made what appeared to be a grin. "Not bad human," he grunted.

There was a pause. "So..." the man said, "What now?"

Odin glanced over his shoulder at his long time companion. "Ghost?"

The shard of the Traveler narrowed its eye. "They're reeling right now. They were expecting that attack to catch you all unaware and wipe you out. Now that it's failed, they're unsure of what to do, but it sounds like they're going to try a massed attack." It paused. "And I just contacted your leader. He's headed back as quickly as he can."

There was a brief silence from the group. "Is that..." the female Turian said, "Is that an AI?"

It glared at her. "I'm a Ghost, actually."

"But is it an AI?" she insisted.

"It's a Ghost," Odin said, repeating his companion's statement. "And right now it's what's keeping you alive, so I'd suggest that you focus more on repelling the oncoming assault."

That seemed to strike a chord through the group. "Right!" the man shouted. "Let's get to work!"

Odin tuned out as the man began to bark orders. He holstered Bad Juju on his back and held out his hand. There was a shimmer of light, and a weapon fell into it, drawn from his Ghost's databanks.

It was an old companion, one that had seen him through thick and thin. He had originally gained it from Master Rahool, a surprising gift after Odin had found an incredibly rare engram.

When Odin had killed Phogoth the Untamed, it had been this weapon that had delivered the killing blow. When his ship had been shot down, before he had claimed the Aspect, it was this weapon that had ensured his survival until he could find his way back to civilization.

Odin lifted his Ice Breaker and aimed down the scope. Any mercenary that walked around the corner was going to get an unpleasant surprise.

(0)(0)(0)

The next time Odin saw Garrus, he almost shot him in the head.

To be fair, he had been sitting in the same spot, focusing through the scope of his sniper rifle for a good hour and was getting rather bored. In addition, he was expecting the next being he saw through the scope to be a mercenary, and Garrus' bright blue armor did make him look somewhat like a Blue Suns.

So when Garrus rounded the corner, Odin damn near squeezed the trigger. Luckily, he managed to halt himself in time, stiffening his finger to prevent the gun from firing. He blew out a breath and lowered the Ice Breaker. That had been too close.

He stood and waved at the Turian. Garrus' head moved up to see Odin, and he waved back. Odin smiled and stood, beginning to walk downstairs to where Garrus' team was.

To be perfectly plain, Odin liked Garrus. The Turian was friendly but tough, and had a demeanour that Odin enjoyed. Garrus had the makings of a smarter Hunter (a statement that most Warlocks would argue was an oxymoron), and Odin enjoyed his company.

As Odin walked down the stairs, he saw that Garrus was talking with his team. "Everyone alright?" the Turian asked. "Any casualties?"

"Not one," the man (Odin made a mental note to continue to not remember his name) said. "Thanks to... well..." He glanced at Odin. "Him."

Odin smiled, walking to Garrus and holding his sniper rifle in a relaxed pose. "Garrus."

The Turian nodded at him. "Odin." He paused, shifting slightly. "Thanks. For saving my team."

Odin nodded. "No problem. We'll just call it even for the bar fight."

Garrus returned the nod. "Deal." He turned back to his team. "Our position has been compromised. We should assume that our identities have as well. So I'm initiating Blackfall."

There was a murmur from the team, but Garrus raised his hand. "You all know this was a possibility, so stop whining. We'll see each other again." He paused, then chuckled. "Assuming we get out of here alive that is. I'm looking at you, Butler."

"Oy!" the man shouted as the group laughed. So that was his name. Odin promptly forgot it.

Garrus took a few moments to let his team laugh before he spoke again. "But first we need to get out of here," he said. "Mercenaries are massing outside the front entrance, so that's a no-go. Any ideas?"

"Sky car?" asked the female Turian.

Garrus shook his head. "Unlikely. We'll be shot down before we can make it down the block."

"Why not just kill them all?" the Krogan grumbled.

"I saw how many mercenaries were lining up for our heads," Garrus said. "We'd take too many casualties. I'm not willing to risk it."

"Dammit!" the man whose name Odin didn't remember swore. "If only we had a gunship or troop transport..."

Odin stepped forward. "I may be able to help with that," he interrupted.

The group all looked at him. "...How?" Garrus asked, after a moment.

"My ship is docked with Omega," Odin explained. "It's small enough to get in here, large enough to carry three, maybe four of you at a time, and is tough enough to take a few hits."

"And you'll be willing to help, just like that?" the female Turian asked.

Odin shrugged. "Why not? It's not like I hate you all, and I've already saved your collective asses. Besides, do you really have a choice?"

The group looked at each other, collectively considering Odin's offer. Garrus sighed. "No, I guess we don't. When can you get it here?"

Odin smirked. He raised a hand and snapped his fingers.

Outside the building there was a shimmer of light. In the air, a shape appeared, hovering silently. It was large, several times larger than a fighter. It sported an impressive array of weapons scattered over it, and its hull sparkled a coppery-silver in the Omega light.

Garrus' team gapped at the sudden appearance of the ship. "Holy hell," one of them muttered. "That was fast."

Odin grinned. "I had my Ghost fly it over when the mercenaries attacked." He looked at Garrus. "Which three will be the first to go?"

Garrus considered it for a moment before he pointed to three members of the team. "Ripper. Vortash. Erash. You're evacing first."

One of them grumbled, but they all nodded. "So," one of them said, looking at the Aspect. "Is there a ladder or-"

His question was cut short as their bodies shimmered and disappeared. Garrus flinched. "What-"

"It's fine," Odin interrupted before the Turian could panic. "They've been teleported onto the ship. Upload the coordinates to my Ghost of where they should be dropped off."

Garrus blinked. "Right," he said, opening his omni-tool. He tapped a few keys, glanced at Odin's Ghost, then tapped a few more. "Done."

Odin looked at his Ghost, who nodded. There was a pulse of engines from the Aspect, and it flew off into the distance.

Garrus watched it leave. "How long will it take for a round trip?"

"Fifteen minutes," the Ghost supplied. "Assuming nothing tries to get in its way."

Garrus narrowed his eyes. "That means an hour before we can get you all out of here," he said to his team. "If we're lucky, they'll be taking more time before they assault us, and we can spend time to prepare-"

"They're not," Odin interrupted. He began to walk to the stairs. "I'm sensing the Lights of many beings assembling on the other end of the bridge."

Garrus cursed. "How many?"

"Hundreds," Odin said, nearing the top of the stairs. He turned the corner and raised his Ice Breaker. "And who knows what else they're bringing with them."

"Right!" Garrus shouted. He looked at his team. "For almost two years we've harassed the scum of this station! We've crippled their operations, assassinated their leaders, and been an overall pain in the ass for them!"

There was some laughter among the group. Garrus let it settle down before he spoke again. "We've been a bright light in Omega. We've helped those who couldn't help themselves, and although this station may not be perfect, we've made it better."

He sighed and looked among the group. "But now they've found us, and they're not here for drinks and snacks. We have to hold them off until we all can be evacuated. We've got about an hour until we can all leave, so I'm giving you all an order."

Garrus looked among his team. He grinned. "First to die buys the drinks!"

A cheer went up among them. "Now get to your positions you bastards!" Garrus shouted.

As the group went to defensive positions, Garrus turned and walked up to Odin. "Think we have a chance?" he asked.

Odin pursed his lips together. "If you were alone, you'd definitely take some casualties..."

Garrus looked at him. "But?"

Odin grinned. "But I'm here, so you'll all get out alive."

Garrus shook his head. "You sound cocky."

"Not cockyness," Odin corrected, "Confidence. I've been in worse positions than this and come out on top."

Garrus grunted. "I find that hard to believe."

Odin opened his mouth to respond, only to stop as something caught his eye through the scope. "We have incoming," he said, shifting his aim.

They were gaunt creatures, with their skin tight around their bones. They had odd looking crests, and their teeth... or rather, their fangs, were exposed. It seemed they lacked lips. In a way, they reminded him of Fallen Dregs or Hive Thralls. What were they called again?

Ah yes. Vorcha. Well, it didn't really matter.

Odin breathed out, stilled his heart, and squeezed the trigger.

Within the Ice Breaker, a small glimmer forge activated, converting a small amount of the material into a drop of ferrofluid. The fluid was elevated within the chamber for a fraction of a second, before the magnetic rails along the barrel of the sniper rifle activated. The ferrofluid was then caught by the magnetic field and accelerated to near relativistic speeds.

The drop screamed through the air, extending into a needle like shape and superheated by the friction of the air. In less than half a microsecond the liquid reached the Vorcha's head, piercing it like a hot chainsaw through butter. For all intents and purposes, it was like the Vorcha wasn't even there.

Powered by Golden Age tech, the superheated round transmitted its incredible heat directly into the Vorcha's body, flash boiling all the liquid within its body. The rapid expansion caused the creature's body to literally explode, sending high temperature steam and flaming body parts into its nearby companions.

Odin smirked as the screams of the aliens filled his ears. He shifted his aim, sighting the next Vorcha.

"Your guns make enemies explode?" he heard Garrus exclaim.

Odin didn't look out from the scope. "Yours don't?"

"...No."

He shrugged and pulled the trigger, killing the alien. "Pity."

Odin narrowed his eyes as more and more waves of Vorcha spilled from the entrance of the bridge. It wasn't as though they weren't easy to kill. After all, their bodies were thin and wiry, and Odin was using a sniper rifle that was made from Golden Age technology.

But they just kept coming. Ice Breaker's glimmer forge was highly efficient, but its cooling systems were limited. If Odin pushed it too far, he risked it blowing up in his face, and he really like this gun.

It was like the tactics of the Hive. Drown the enemies in cannon fodder, exhaust their ammo and energy, and then send in the stronger units to clean up.

"So we had the same idea," his Ghost said, appearing just above his shoulder.

Garrus flinched at the sudden appearance of Odin's companion. "What do you mean we had the same idea?" he asked.

The Ghost gave him an annoyed look. "I was talking to Odin, not you."

Garrus blinked. "Oh." There was a pause. "So, what was the idea?"

"I'm familiar with these tactics," Odin explained. "How are your soldier's ammo supplies?"

"We knew what we were doing with this place," Garrus said, a hint of pride in his voice. "It's pretty much a fortress. We've stocked the place up to the crest with ammo."

Odin paused at the odd metaphor before shrugging it off. "I hope it's enough," he said, shooting another alien. "They're probably not going to stop assaulting this place for a while."

Garrus thought for a moment. "Assuming we can't escape, we could probably hold out for a week. A week and a half if we conserve ammo."

Odin nodded. "That'll do." He paused as his Ghost relayed information to him. "Get the next batch ready for extraction. My ship's incoming."

The other side of the bridge blossomed in fire, utterly engulfing the assaulting mercenaries. The next second, the Aspect of Glass roared overhead, slowing to a stop near the building.

"Next group!" Garrus shouted. "Mieren! Krul! Monteague! Let's go!"

Three of the fighters pulled away, rushing to the entrance of the building, covered by the brief reprieve granted by the ship. As soon as they got outside, their bodies shimmered and disappeared.

Odin felt a confirmation from his Ghost that they were aboard, then gave the mental command to the ship. It lifted off and pulled away, escaping before the mercenaries could attack it.

Odin narrowed his eyes as the fire on the other side of the bridge faded. He couldn't sense any more Lights heading for the bridge, but there's no way that the mercenaries would give up that easily? Were they about to send in the heavy hitters? More cannon fodder to soften them all up? What were they planning...

"Archangel," said the female turian, climbing up the stairs. "Looks like they broke off the assault."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Odin said, peering through his rifle. "From what I've heard, these guys have a major hate-on for all of you. I don't think they'd give up that easily."

She glared at him. "How do you know?"

Odin rolled his eyes. "This isn't the first siege I've been through," he said. "Believe me, when someone or something wants you dead this much, they won't stop until you're in the ground."

"Alright, that's enough," Garrus said roughly. "Odin, can you tell what they're doing with your... magic... power... stuff."

Odin chuckled, then narrowed his eyes, extending his senses. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "I can sense a few Lights near us, but the majority is-"

Something slammed into Odin's head, hard enough to almost send him tumbling over. He spun, trying to absorb some of the impact. A fraction of a second later, an awful crack echoed through the area, drowning out the surprised sounds from Garrus and the other Turian.

A horrible pain cut through half of Odin's face, as though someone had ground glass into it, then doused it in gasoline and lit it on fire. The sensation shut off as the pain inhibitors in his armor activated, clamping down on the nerves and replacing the pain with a blessed numbing sensation.

He tried to open his eyes to see what had hit him, then immediately regretted it. Despite the lack of pain, he could feel something jutting out from his skin, cutting into his right eye.

What he could see wasn't much. His vision was tinged with red, his blood if he had to guess. The HUD of his helmet was off, with half of it gone. It took him barely any time to realize just what had happened.

He had been shot in the head. Hard enough to break his helmet, shatter the glass into pieces and send it into his face, but not hard enough to kill him.

Odin gnashed his teeth and stood upright, swearing out curses. He swore in a dozen different languages. Russian, English, Mandarin, even Eliksni and the language of the Cabal. He began to gather energy to destroy the snipers.

There was a sensation of falling. The numb feeling in his face was replaced by... nothing. An utter hollow lack of feeling where there should be something. Dimly, he tried to understand what had happened, looking around, searching for answers.

There was Garrus, his mouth agape. Next to him was his soldier, holding a hand in front of her face, as though she was trying to shield from the sunlight. What were they staring at?

Sluggishly, Odin turned to look more. The building was just as normal, though there appeared to be blood splatters around the room, along with shards of... something. There was his body...

Oh.

He had died.

He could feel his Ghost recalling his Light into it, ready to resurrect him. It would take a few seconds to do so, but after it did, he would be back to normal. Guardians died all the time, after all, something like this would be no trouble to Odin.

All he had to do was wait a bit.

...

Fuck that.

Odin reached out with his mind, grasping towards his body. He felt the small spark of Light that still remained within it, separated from his full Light. He focused on it, fueling it, letting it grow. Through his power, that spark became a flame.

And that flame became a bonfire.

Odin erupted from the fabric of reality like an exploding volcano, his body wreathed in solar flames which danced and poured across his body. Twin wings of fire burst from his back, jutting into the air. A corona of light hovered just behind his head, like a halo made from the Sun.

He turned to witness the bridge, across it his killers. He focused his mind, his burning passion, and picked out the tiny Lights of those who had killed him. His brow furrowed and he snarled, Solar Light rippling across his body in response to his desires.

He raised his hand, and the fire leapt to attention, coalescing into a serpent of flame that coiled around and just above him. It hissed, though the noise could have been the sound of the air itself burning.

Odin snapped his fingers.

The construct of flame roared in response, leaping from his body and hurtling towards the snipers. Faintly, Odin could hear the surprised cries and yelps of the aliens as the unfamiliar power attacked them.

Those noises were replaced by screams as the serpent surrounded them, then began to coil in towards them, the sheer temperatures from the creature already melting their armor onto their bodies.

The screams ended quickly as all the air around the snipers was consumed by the construct of fire. It constricted, tighter and tighter, first burning their armor, then their bodies. It turned them into cinder, carbonized husks of what could have once looked like a living being.

Then it even consumed that, leaving not even ashes.

Odin watched as the serpent faded, its job done. With a shuddering breath, he let the flames fade from his body. When he had been only a human he had... experimented a few times, but nothing he had ever encountered came close to Radiance. It was a rush like no other.

But the crash was so much worse as well. The solar fires enhanced every aspect of the Guardian. When that faded, it sometimes made one feel... lesser. Weak. Empty. Odin had long since learned ways to deal with this feeling, but even still it wasn't easy to overcome. He only had his discipline and will to overcome the effects of it.

With a sigh he turned away, only to see Garrus and the other Turian. They were staring slack jawed at him, and the female had almost brought her gun up to a firing position. Odin cocked his head slightly. Why...

Oh. Right. Non-Guardians.

"What the fuck!?" the female suddenly burst out. "What the fuck was that!"

Odin blinked. "Radiance," he said simply. "One of my powers."

"Not fucking that!" she shouted back. "You got shot in the fucking head! How did you survive that!?"

"I didn't."

She ground her teeth and reached one hand (talon? claw?) to rub her head. "So," she bit out, "How. The hell. Are we talking?!"

Odin took a tentative step back, not sure how she was going to react. "...I came back to life."

"Oh he came back to life!" she shouted, flinging her arms wide. She turned and ran to the edge of the balcony, leaning over to shout inside the house. "You hear that everyone! He came back to life! Everything's fine and fucking dandy because he came back to life!"

Garrus sighed as Odin looked between him and her. "Look," the vigilante said. "We don't have your space magic Varrenshit in this galaxy, so try to explain in simple terms just what you did."

Odin rolled his eyes. "I'm a Guardian," he explained. "That means that I was reborn in the Light of the Traveler, you remember it when I explained?" Garrus nodded and he continued. "That Light powers me and fuels my body. My Ghost here regulates that Light, and ensures that everything runs smoothly. If a Guardian dies, their Light returns to their Ghost, who can then resurrect them as though nothing happened."

Garrus paused. "And is every resurrection so... fiery?"

"Well... no. I can revive myself without my Ghost doing so."

Garrus cocked his head. "Right... So death doesn't bother you at all then?"

Odin shrugged. "It's an inconvenience," he said lightly. He glanced at his Ghost. "Ship's arriving."

Garrus blinked, then turned. "Ship's arriving!" he shouted to the inside of the house. "All of you get your asses on board!"

Odin watched as the four hurried out of the building, just as the Aspect of Glass flew over the bridge. It would be a tight fit, but he understood where Garrus was coming from. Better to get them away quicker.

He nodded as they teleported onto the ship. Good now to get them awa-

"ARCHANGEL!"

Odin's eyes widened and he ducked as the side of the Aspect of Glass was wracked with gunfire, making it lurch dangerously. A gunship shot past, its searchlight on and its guns blazing. Odin's gaze shot to his Ghost. "Get it out of here!"

The Ghost looked between him and the ship, and the Aspect's engines bloomed, sending it into the depths of Omega as its cloaking activated.

Odin ducked into cover. "Garrus!" he shouted. "I can't fight that thing with my ship! It's not meant for in-atmosphere fighting!"

"Shit!" Garrus shouted back. "Can you teleport us from a distance!"

Odin grit his teeth. "I can with me, but..."

"Shit," Garrus repeated. "Go ahead and do it then! I'll be alright!"

"Fuck that!" Odin shouted back. "You think I'm gonna ditch now?! To hell with that! Both of us go or neither of us go!"

Garrus was silent as the gunship made a strafing run, its gunfire biting into their cover, but not penetrating. "Fine!" he eventually shouted. "But it's your funeral!"

"I've already been to my funeral!" Odin retorted. "I'm not going to die from something as trivial as this."

A ball of Void Light formed in Odin's hand, and he grinned as he began to plan his next moves.


Xur is selling Gjallarhorn and there's a new chapter of Son of Light!

Welcome back. In this chapter we see more action and character development from Odin, as well as some of the weapons he has. After all, he wouldn't just travel with Hawkmoon.

KINGREADER: In The Last Word's description, it says that Shin Malphur is a renegade hunter, which implies that he's not attached to the Tower or the Guardians. The Last Word is also a rare and famous weapon, which would be coveted by Guardians.

Ddragon21: In Odin's eyes, his Void powers completely outclass biotics in every way. He may copy some biotic powers, but he won't be using biotics himself.

Warlock: He's wearing Obsidian Mind, Gloves of the Hezen Lords, Deathsinger's Herald, and whatever the Warlock in Pathways Out of Darkness was wearing as a coat.

See you all in the next chapter!