The corridors of the ancient fortress hadn't changed. They were still covered in junk, and devoid of all life save one being. The hulking colossus was steadily pumping a thick liquid into his suit. With a satisfying click, the being finished and unhooked the pump from his armor. He then set the pump gently on the ground. It was nearly midday, and he felt the irresistible urge to eat. Ala Zan lumbered over to his rickety table where an enjoyable meal sat waiting for him. He was about to sit and partake of the food when a knife flew past his helmet into the wall behind him.
"Sup buddy," Tolcum said as he entered the chamber.
"Is this always how you greet others?" Zan questioned angrily.
"No, those I don't like die. You're still standing," the hunter pointed out as he approached the towering cabal.
"What do you want, human? From my understanding, we settled our debt," the cabal stated as he tilted his massive frame to gaze down at the significantly smaller man.
"Indeed, we did," Tolcum admitted. "But, as much as I regret saying it, I need your help again."
"With what?" Zan growled, clearly irritated.
"The Last City, the final home of my race, is under siege," Tolcum stated. "Few are willing to fight for it, and if we fail, our species fails."
"This hardly seems like something for me to get involved in," Zan scoffed as he began to turn away from the hunter.
"I'm not asking you to fight for us," Tolcum explained, attempting to regain the cabal's attention. "I just need some information, that's all."
Ala Zan turned back to the hunter. "What sort of information?"
"As I've come to understand, you race is no friend of the hive. While you strive for technological advancement, they sit in darkness praising and sacrificing to beings we both know are not truly gods," he explained.
"What's your point?" Zan asked, confused by the direction of the conversation.
"Because of these polar opposites between your races, I've come to understand that your kind has created quite a large database centered around the hive. Some of these files discuss topics such as their shrines of worship, correct?" Tolcum inquired.
Ala Zan's eyes grew large with worry. "What are you after, guardian?" he questioned, his voice hushed.
Tolcum's gaze fell to the ground. "Though they may try, my comrades are helplessly outnumbered against the fallen. It would seem we are destined to lose, unless something unprecedented occurs." His head then began to lift. He clenched his fists as he came to understand the true gravity of his decision. "I am that unprecedented thing. I can wield the Darkness, but I need more strength. I need a deeper connection to it now more than ever," he explained, his voice throbbing with power. "All I require of you is a location, and I'll be on my way."
"Your plan is to tame the Darkness?" Zan questioned.
"Or be consumed in the process," Tolcum admitted. "Either way, I'm out of options. Now, do you have a location?"
"In giving you a location, I'd be doing you another favor," Zan stated. "That means you will once again be in debt."
"Fine," Tolcum reluctantly acknowledged.
Ala Zan began to chuckle. "Very well, then." The cabal stomped away into a back room without saying another word. A minute later, he returned with a disk in hand. He lumbered over to Tolcum until he was a mere foot away. "There are many dark places we've located, such as the Temple of Crota. This, however, is by far the darkest we've ever seen," Zan stated before handing the disk to Tolcum. "The Shrine of Oryx."
"Many thanks, Valus," Tolcum said. He then slipped the item into his pocket and turned. He sprinted out of the chamber in a hurry; time was of the essence. His fellow guardians would be making their stand soon, and he had to be there when they did.
"What a curious human," Zan remarked as he turned back to his table. The food was surely cold by now.
The Hall of Guardians was crowded. Word had spread of Tolcum's tale, but more importantly, there was the issue of the Knights of Earth completely abandoning the Chamber of Steel. They had all left in the early morning, and the Vanguard was under a tremendous amount of pressure. Even Shaxx appeared to be sympathizing with Tolcum's forces.
Guardians of all classes were voicing their opinions when a peculiar sight forced them to silence. Through their ranks advanced a single soul. The guardian's maroon outfit was torn, but intact; the warlock's helmet had been scratched, but was still in one piece. All others made way for the clearly injured warrior as she pushed past, intent on seeing the heads of the Vanguard.
Ikora stared on in shock. "Iris…"
The warlock came to a halt in front of the most notorious guardians. Saladin, Shaxx, Zavala, and Ikora stood before her. "It's me," Iris nodded, unsure of what to say. She was happy to be alive.
"What happened to you, guardian?" Zavala asked.
"The Kell of Kings happened," Iris stated.
Shaxx looked away from the group, deep in thought. "So, Tolcum wasn't lying," he whispered to himself, almost in relief.
"You were with Tolcum?" Ikora asked, her eyebrows lifting.
"Yes, I was," Iris admitted. "We learned of an impending attack on the city, but I assumed he already told you this."
A sudden voice caught everyone off guard. "He did!" Cayde boomed from behind everyone. "But, as usual, the stubborn titans didn't listen."
"Silence, Cayde!" Saladin barked.
Still, Iris stared at the group in utter shock. "He told you everything, yet here you stand in indecision? What guardians are you to not defend your city?"
"That wasn't the problem," Zavala tried to argue in an attempt to defend his position. He would've brought up Tolcum's use of the Darkness had the room not filled once more with voices. Guardians were outraged, many suddenly deciding to stand with Tolcum.
"If it's proof you seek, then here!" Iris shouted above the cacophony of voices. Zoira materialized from thin air and stared out at the group. Her eye flashed bright blue, and a holographic map was emitted.
The guardians were transfixed on the enemy positions, horrified by the numbers being projected. "Everything he said was true…" Zavala muttered.
"For the record, I want to say that I always believed him," Cayde remarked with glee.
The room was growing increasingly crowded with voices when the Iron Lord finally spoke up. "Silence!" he shouted. The room immediately grew quiet. "This was admittedly a major oversight by the Vanguard to not have realized the truth behind Tolcum's words. However, there is nothing that can be done about the past. Instead, we must look to the future," he stated. "Go, all of you! Rally the troops, for we have a city to defend," he instructed. All those in the room besides the commanders and Iris evacuated with haste. Saladin then turned to his most trusted comrade. "Shaxx, bring the frames online. Whether old or new, we'll need them all for this fight," he said.
"Of course, sir," Shaxx replied with a slight bow. He then vacated the room to complete his task.
"Even with our legions, we'll be stretched thin across the city borders," Zavala remarked as he observed Zoira's map.
"We'll need to be very strategic about our targets," Saladin stated as he approached the group. "The fallen first have to reach the city, and travelling over the mountains can be quite treacherous. We have several forts within the mountain passes that will provide excellent locations for us to dig in and defend," he pointed out. "I will oversee the defense of Twilight Gap. I want the rest of you taking up positions along other key locations around the city. Even you, Cayde," he said, purposefully tilting his head to the charismatic hunter.
"Understood," Zavala replied. With that being said, he and the others exited the room. The only two left were Saladin and Iris.
"What of me, sir?" Iris asked.
"You, young wolf?" Saladin questioned. "You will join Shaxx. I trust he will have some use for you."
The warlock acknowledged her orders, then left in a hurry. Saladin stood in the middle of the hall, alone. The moment was almost peaceful, though his stomach turned unsteadily as he felt the anxious anxiety of war taking hold. He looked out the hall's large windows to the view beyond. Smoke was rising through the sky in the distance, and he began to fear that they were too late.