City Life
Log Entry, Logan Goodwin.
With the testimony of Paige Middleton, we were able to solve the murder of Albert Brann. The man who had put her up to stealing the weapon was Samuel Wyther, also known as 'The Bull'. He was the man I had seen smoking the cigar at the Jolly Dragon, the one who had smirked when the Guardian had been run out of the building.
We raided his place, and found plenty of evidence. It was all a set-up to take out two rivals. Wyther, it turns out, is also not a fan of Guardians, and was able to use his ties with anti-Guardian groups to get them to do much of his dirty work for him without realizing what it was they were doing.
It turns out, the plan nearly backfired. Wyther wanted to frame Jackal-9, so his whole plan apparently boiled down to using a gun that would have been easily traced back to Jackal. One of his agents saw the exchange between Jackal and Brann, and Wyther and three of his men intercepted Jackal in the alley with stun guns. Apparently, they were able to hit him with enough electricity to overload his systems and incapacitate him. When Brann came looking for Jackal, Wyther and his men were waiting with the Ruinous Effigy.
What they didn't know was that the gun apparently taps into Guardian's Light in some way. When his man pulled the trigger, the gun sucked the life out of him. As he fell, the beam fired from the gun hit another man, and, "Turned him into this weird glowing thing." The third man panicked and kicked the orb, which caused an explosion of Void Light when it hit the ground, and that is what killed Brann and created the energy that we detected at the crime scene and pointed us toward a Guardian as the culprit.
All of this caused enough of a commotion to attract attention. Wyther and his surviving underling grabbed the gun and ran, leaving an unconscious Jackal to be picked up by City police, Brann lying burned and dead, and plenty of Void energy to tie the deed to him. They then gave Middleton the gun to return to Jackal's ship.
So now this case is wrapped, and we are left with three criminals with dreams of power taken out of the situation. Brann is dead, Wyther is in jail, and Jackal has been turned over to the Vanguard for sentencing. I should feel relieved. Somehow, I don't.
Anti-Guardian sentiment continues to grow. Even though Jackal didn't murder Brann, finding out that a Guardian was involved in illegal narcotic businesses in the City has only added to that. This has disillusioned a lot of people who looked up to them. Criminals are clearly growing more bold, taking advantage of how much manpower we are having to devote to quelling the unrest and preventing riots, and I'm already hearing rumors about people trying to fill the vacuum that this case created.
I walk the streets now and can feel a sense of unease and dread growing. Something is about to break. I just hope we can contain it and keep this City together.
…
Your Choice
"Guardian Jackal-9, step forward."
Jackal rose from his seat, his glowing optics darting from one member of the Consensus to the next as he stepped into the open floor arrayed before them. The representatives of the three factions, City representatives, Commander Zavala, and Ikora Rey all stared down at him. He glanced at the empty seats that had belonged to The Speaker and Cayde-6. That last one left him with an odd feeling of shame.
"While you maybe have been found innocent of the murder of Albert Brann," Commander Zavala intoned, "you are still accused of crimes unworthy of a Guardian, crimes you yourself have admitted to."
Jackal's head drooped, his gaze falling to the floor.
"Were this the only indiscretion in a long history of distinguished service, some members of this body might have found cause to be lenient with you."
This brought the Exo's head back up, his face plates shifting through various emotions.
"However, you have other reprimands on your record. Several other Guardians have had cause to find fault in your actions in the past. And we have to take other events into consideration. We have to show the City that Guardians are here to protect them. You violated that trust.
"As such, it is the decision of the Consensus that you be banished from the City and the presence of the Traveler. It has been many decades since we have had to take similar actions, and is not a decision we make lightly."
"What am I supposed to do?" Jackal asked. "Where am I supposed to go?"
"That will be your decision," Ikora Rey spoke up. "For your sake, we hope you make a good one."
"You will be escorted to your quarters under guard so that you can gather whichever of your possessions you choose to take with you," Zavala said, "then you will be escorted outside the walls. If you return…" the Awoken man trailed off, averting his eyes. "Well, it is best that not happen."
The rest of the proceedings were a blur in Jackal's mind. The next thing he knew he was surrounded by Guardians in non-descript black armor who led him away. A short time later, the same Guardians led him through the gates, which shut behind him with a loud clang.
…
Had to post a few days late due to Halloween being super busy, and then not feeling well for a couple days. Didn't have the time to write every prompt, but had fun doing this little challenge I set for myself. If I would have gotten to Boss Fight, we would have actually seen them take down the culprit. Sorry if the lack of that feels like a let down.
This idea mostly spun out of hearing idle dialogue in the Tower with someone complaining that "...the Titan said they would protect us…" and something about the Red Legion taking over. I referenced that dialogue in "Husky" as well. I was originally thinking of doing this as a full story, asking to borrow one of NetRaptor's characters as the lead, but opted to go this way with it instead.
Thanks to everyone who read along, those who commented, liked, favorited, or gave kudos. Now I can turn my attention back to finishing "These Walls Grown Cold" and "Dust to Dust and Memories." Which means I probably won't do Destcember this year so I can work on those, but… never say never.
Per Audacia Ad Astra.