Chapter 4: Kill the Preparation (Reconnection Saga Finale)

Pace sits, legs crossed and hands on his knife, on one of the many crates filled with ship parts. He can hear the whirs of the jumpships as they head to complete their missions and the chatter of the local residents and fellow Guardians, including his teammates, Atlas, his brother, and Ilene, his girlfriend.

They've been discussing about the new threat that has come to haunt the Last City, the same one that Fireteam Raid and other search teams have been trying to gather information about: Malok.

"So, any updates, Atlas?" Ilene asks.

"Well, I've been searching the Cabal ship and looking through the chryptarchs' database of Oryx's descendants for any intel about the Pride, but nothing popped out," he answers. "How 'bout you?"

"Same thing; nothing."

"I came out with absolutely nothing," Pace intervenes, "but I might know a guy who we can ask for anything related to the Darkness, if you know what I mean." He chuckles with that thought.

Being the not-so-smart one of the team, Atlas has no clue who he's talking about.

Being the all-knowing Warlock, Ilene automatically thinks one of the only people smarter than her; one person that has all the information in the Solar System: Osiris. "So, what you're saying is that we should earn our worth to speak to the Warlock again, but this time ask for anything about Malok, right?"

"Exactly," Pace answers as he readies up his primary Crucible weapon set: the Boolean Gemini Scout Rifle along with the 1000 Yard Stare Sniper Rifle and the Choleric Dragon Rocket Launcher. He channels his inner Arc energy, activating his Bladedancer abilities. His Ghost, Nolan, also stores his Bolt-Caster sword and a Shadow Price Auto Rifle in case he would need it as a replacement

Ilene asks her Ghost, Peter, to bring out her preferred weapons of choice for the Crucible: the Lord High Fixer Hand Cannon, her modified Dreg's Promise Sidearm, and the Ruin Wake Machine Gun. She chooses to stick with her current Subclass, Sunsinger.

Atlas calls upon the gods for Solar energy and becomes the legendary Sunsinger, equipped with the Universal Remote and the Matador (69) Shotgun and the Choleric Dragon Rocket Launcher. "Great! Let's get going," he beams with excitement. "Knowledge doesn't just grow on trees anyways."

"Atlas, 2763," Pace jokes.

The Titan groans in disgust of his "brother". "Ah, just shut up, bro; I really hope that boneheaded friend isn't getting anywhere near your skull..."


Meanwhile...

The day is just like any other: the sun shines through the skies, the clouds are glistening, and the ships of other Guardians fly across the air. Currently, Fireteam Raid is heading towards the Speaker's quarters when Mine spots three certain ships. "Hey, Leone!"

"Yeah? What is it, girl?" the brawler responds.

The sniper gives a smug look at her. "Seriously; I don't usually like it when I'm not mentioned as my name." She looks up at the sky where the stated ships are. "Anyways, I believe you need to know about those three Guardians."

"Yeah, those guys make up Fireteam Draco, one of the absolutely amazing teams that defeated the Taken King," Tatsumi continues. He reveals a wide grin of passion. "I know for a fact that one day, we will become legends like those guys and ride the skies like we never have before!"

"At least, that's what I force him to say all the time," Bulat interrupts with a laugh.

"Bro, stay out of this," his Guardian groans.

The girls and other Ghosts join in on the shame-train. "Wow! Ha! I thought we are space zombies running around with guns and swords, but you are the closest to one!" Leone cries.

"And I love the sight of Guardians enjoying each other," a lightened, yet deep voice cuts through.

All three members of Raid jump backwards and fall down the stairs of the podium. Mine breaks her neck, and her Light heals it up like no problem. "What the hell was that, Speaker?!" she yells. "I thought you were subtle, but not sneaky!"

"I can have fun while watching over the city," he interjects. "Besides, how did you even get here?"

The three then notice that they've been walking fast the whole time, ending up at the Tower North without thought.

"Huh, I guess we just didn't have our heads. Figuratively, of course," Leone blurts.

"Yeah, yeah," the Warlock retorts. "Anyways, Speaker, do you have our Spark?"

Leone questions this "Spark" her teammate mentioned, while the Voice of the Traveler opens up a small, highly decorated and reinforced chest his Ghost, Peace, materialized (Yes, I know. That Ghost name is super corny). Inside it is a spherical ball exerting huge amounts of Light.

"I believe that this is for you, Titan," he says. "This Spark of Light is a gateway to becoming legend; it opens up a shortcut to a Guardian wanting to get to the real fight immediately. Will you take it?"

The other two Guardians move to the side.

The Titan is unsure weather to take it or not. On one end, Leone is urging herself to push back the Darkness even more and have even more fun right away. She also believes in rudeness for refusing a gift.

On the other end, she's also the one to believe that strength comes from experience with no shortcuts.

But nah, fuck it.

She grabs the Spark from the chest, feeling its power surging through her veins (and arteries? Whatever...). "Mr. Speaker, thank you so much for this opportunity! Actually, you know what, I can't thank you enough!"

"It's always my pleasure to see a Guardian push through the ranks," he chuckles.

Lubbock activates the entity, allowing his owner to infuse it into her body. "It is ready whenever you are, Guardian," he mutters.

Leone holds her object close to her chest and sighs. "Well, here goes nothing." She slams it into her heart, which beats faster as her blood boils at an unthinkable rate. "What the hell's happening to me?".

Then, her vision goes black.


From everyone else's perspectives, she disappears in a bright flash. Shocked, Tatsumi analyzes where she was. "Where the heck did Leone go?" he questions.

"Don't worry, fellow Guardians," the Speaker mentions. "Certain Guardians react in certain ways to the Sparks of Light, but they all end up the same way: they would be stronger than ever."

The Warlock sighs in relief, but the Hunter is still doubtful. "Pssh, I hope so."


In an empty void, Leone floats around waiting for what will happen next. She tries to move, but nothing happens. She tries to call for help, but nothing happens. She tries again, this time at the top of her lungs, but nothing happens.

So, she decides to wait.

Five seemingly long seconds after, a bright flash surrounds her vision. At its center stands a hazy city covered with smoke. She can hear the victory cries of soldiers waving their flags high in the air.

Then, something hits her hard on the chest with the power of a gunshot, but it did not pierce through her body; she looks down and now dons armor that she never wore before, not even during her Guardian days. Her HUD activates, and she tumbles on the floor.


"Leone!/Leone, thank the Traveler you're back!/Well done, Guardian." Those were the voices of the three other people surrounding her.

"Leone, what happened? Are you fine?" Tatsumi asks with a stressed voice.

The brawler groans. "I'm fine. You don't have to worry-" is what she attempts to say when Mine interrupts her.

"Wait, hold up!" she says. "The legends were true! Leone, YOU'RE WEARING THE TAGOMIZERS!"

Of course, said Titan has no idea what they are until the Warlock points at her Gauntlets. They have spikes protruding through her shoulders and elbows and a dark-red color to them. They feel extremely heavy, even to a brawler like Leone. "Well, what's the point about these things?"

"Let's just say that you will shock your enemies like you haven't before," Tatsumi remarks.

"Whoa. Nice!"

"Well then, Guardians. I hope you and your Ghosts are ready for the next fight," the Speaker interjects. "Get out there, and push back the Darkness. The Traveler will definitely guide and thank you."

And thus, Fireteam Raid is now solidified!


Meanwhile...

Pace feels a shiver down his spine. "Hey guys, I think that we're gonna have a bad time during our run," he mentions.


And that's the end of the introduction saga. The real action will be starting in the next saga which will be sometime soon. See you next time!