Intermission
A Raid team of Vanguards were waiting outside the subway tunnels, wasting anything dumb enough to get close. When Morik, Kaara, Enki, and Soren finally emerged, the extra Vanguards didn't withdraw until their ships were out of sight. The forward report received from their team was valuable and surprising enough that when they finally reached the Tower, they were met by the Speaker himself.
"Let me be the first to acknowledge your efforts… And offer my condolences for your lost friends. Blytz and Azariah were always quite the pair, and it is painful to hear they are lost. I am sure you need rest, but I must ask you for your Ghosts first. See the Vanguard when you are well rested, and we shall see to a fitting reward."
The relief was apparent on each of them as they were dismissed, half expecting to be put through questioning and more. They all retired, none emerging until the day after.
Several weeks later
"I'm sorry, I can't allow it," said Lord Shaxx.
"You distract Guardians all the time. What makes this any different?" said Commander Zavala. "A good spar every now and then is healthy."
"Not for him," said Shaxx, nodding toward Morik. "You know I have to keep things equal in matches. Light has to tune weapons, adjust power for everything, inhibit some and empower others. Allowing him in, to say nothing of my arenas, would be a balancing nightmare. If I made him equal to the others, he would be a massive target. If I strengthened him to compensate, he would win every match. So I would have to make him equal. That would make him see his size as a disadvantage. That kind of thing would worm into his field tactics, ruin his thinking. You might call this 'distraction' but I aim to make the best Guardians ever seen here. When the true fight begins, those under my banner will show their worth. But not him."
Commander Zavala opened his mouth to respond when a louder voice toned in.
"He's right," came a baritone voice, coming down the stairs near Shaxx' desk.
"Lord Saladin!" said several people, some in surprise, others in acknowledgement.
"Guardian," said Saladin, addressing Morik, "It's true you need a rival. A sparring partner would do you some good. But that can't be any of us. Even the greatest Titans cannot stand equal to you. As it should be, of course. You are a Kell, and a Titan yourself. The Iron Lords wouldn't allow you into their tests either. You are simply too new to us. Do not misunderstand, however. You are, likely, our most valuable Guardian at the moment, if inexperienced. I understand the Speaker wants you trained, but without others like you, Archons or Kell, we can't set you up in matches. I'm sorry."
"Took the words right out of my mouth," said Lord Shaxx.
Morik stood next to Tower Prime, in the dark basement chamber, lit by the massive Servitor's lights, waiting. The doors opened and he turned, regarding his first visitor. The Vandel knelt in the doorway.
"My Kell," said the Fallen in his native language, "I am called Ramiks. I was raised by my Ghost just hours ago. I was directed to you when I arrived."
"Welcome, Ramiks, to House Light. I am Morik. First, let us tend to your ether. We will begin your training immediately. Work honestly, fight well, and you will find plentiful reward as a Guardian. We are a small House, but our standards must be unlike any other before us. Do not assume you will be Archon for being the first under our banner… Though I have high hopes."
A small ceremony was being held at the base of the Tower, where the City could attend if they desired. There wasn't much advertising, but word had spread unexpectedly far. Morik knelt on a shoulder-height platform, a huge crowd of curious citizens amassed before it. Without his armor on, Morik was less imposing, but almost fear inducing. His face, with multiple sets of eyes and two rows of teeth, was almost as much a mask to the citizens as his usual armor. Well sustained with ether, and experienced in combat after serving with the Vanguard, Morik was muscularly built, but smooth. Unlike a body-builder, defining muscles, Morik's strength came from constant work and fighting, resulting in a thicker and less defined build, just like in humans. His eyes glowed with ether, more a show he put on for witnesses than necessary. Enki and Ramiks, now a Captain, stood on either side of him. Behind each of them were tables with shrouded contents. The Speaker and Vanguard leaders were also on the platform, off to the sides.
"Today," began the Speaker, "We officially announce these reborn Eliksni, known once to us as Fallen, as allies of the Light. Before you is our Kell, Morik, leader of this new House of Light. His banner shall join the Vanguard and Crucible as a recognized branch of the Guardians, and he shall lead all those Eliksni who join the Light."
"To commemorate this event," said Ikora Ray, "We have prepared appropriate effects for our Kell. Previously, we've been content to model his armor after the House of Devils."
The crowd murmured. They knew who clawed at the walls.
"But that simply isn't a fitting aesthetic for one who we call an ally," she continued. "So our foundries have been working on new armor designs, for all levels of our new allies' bodies. These new armor sets will distinguish our allies from the Fallen more readily, and maintain the aesthetic of their Class. Titans will be heavily armored, like any current Titan, and ready to break down walls and build them up. Hunters will have a balance, focusing on traveling light and surviving any conditions as they strike out in exploration. Warlocks will have sensitive robes and gloves, their boots light and reactive, so they make walk among the stars and pluck from them the answers we need."
"To this end," said Zavala, "we dedicate this unique armor to Morik, Kell of Light."
He motioned to Enki and Ramiks, who pulled the cloth from the tables behind them. Each table had pieces of Titan armor, sized for Morik and perfectly fitted. A third table was carried onto the platform and placed behind Morik, shrouded. The armor was loosely based on the Iron Banner set, and was clearly forged by the Iron Lords, but lacked their sigil. The smooth, rounded plates were picked up and Morik stood to be fitted. The Glimmer infused armor thinned and widened to fit over Morik's feet and hands before tightening around his limbs and hardening. The white and gold motif fit perfectly with the banner that unfurled on the Tower, displaying an unknown emblem, beside the Vanguard banner and opposite the Crucible banner. Above the three hung the Titan, Hunter, and Warlock banners. When Enki and Ramiks finished, they backed away and Morik knelt once more. The Speaker pulled out the last piece, the helmet, from the last table.
"From today, your House shall be recognized by all who rest in the Traveler's Light. Rise, Kell of Light, and lead well."
He placed the swept back helmet on Morik's head. It was wider than the usual Iron Banner helmet, like a Captain's, with glowing white eyes like Morik's previous helmets. The entire suit used reverse-engineered technology from captured Fallen armor to receive ether and channel it, designed to be just as natural to use as any armor he'd worn before.
"The Iron Lords," said Cayde, "send their regards as well, and hope the armor will serve you well. Sadly, they could not attend, as they have pressing matters to attend to. Their message, I believe, was to 'consider this compensation for being denied the honor of competing.' But that's not all we're here for today. You see, since Morik joined us, the Traveler set its Light on another Eliksni. Ramiks," he said, motioning to the Captain beside Morik, who straightened, "will receive armor as well."
Morik stood, fully armored, and removed the shroud from the table behind him. A large spot was empty, where his helmet had been, but the rest of the table had small plates organized on it. Morik helped Ramiks into the new armor, for the ceremony like his own fitting, and Ramiks' Ghost manifested the cloth befitting a Hunter.
"Finally," said Cayde, "We have prepared a sigil for the House of Light. Dubbed the Light Of The Prime, it will adorn the Marks, Cloaks, and Bonds dedicated to those who are allies of the House of Light."
Kaara and Soren walked onto the platform, already wearing the mentioned class items, dark blue, yellow, and white. The symbol was a minimalistic dark blue Servitor, its eye and outline Iron Banner gold, with a white light gradient surrounding it. The light reached full intensity on the top, with a line above the limit, gently curved to signify the Traveler shining its Light on the Servitor. The same symbol, the blue and gold Servitor, was on the banner now flying next to the Vanguard's. Kaara attached the Mark to Morik's hip and Soren draped the Cloak over Ramiks' shoulders.
"With their help, may the Light shine ever brighter," said the Speaker, ending the ceremony. The crowd applauded modestly, still wary of a race that had haunted their children's stories for many years, but hopeful for the future.
Cypher Control coming soon...