Extra

Hardiman-13 entered the chamber where Morik and Ramiks were waiting. He was an Exo Warlock, painted red and a matte tungsten color for accents. All his lights were red.

"Alright, Guardians. I've been selected to undergo your training for analysis. I'm a former Thanatonaught, and I'm currently heading the research on the nature of the Light. After hearing as much as we have about your recent activities in the field, as well as some very credible rumors if the data from your capture is anything to go by, you've got the full attention of my research team."

He manifested his Ghost, which remained out to hover nearby and record the happenings from a third-person perspective.

"First, I want to monitor your connection to the network. I'll be locking your transmat and masking your connection to the Traveler."

The Vanguard and Crucible had provided Hardiman-13's authorization to do so after receiving his reports and request. As long as they were in the current chamber, he had full rights to tune them as needed from the outside.

"Is it done?" asked Ramiks.

"It is. Go ahead."

Ramiks crossed his arms over his body in an interlocking pattern, hands at or below hip level, arms straight. With a snarl, he uncrossed his arms and Arc Light flashed across his body. He now held four Arc Light daggers, his armor galvanized by the blade trance.

"Without even batting an eye. Incredible."

Hardiman remained quite calm, his face unreadable without human expression.

"And you?" he asked Morik.

Morik raised a hand over his head and swiped down, a flaming hammer coalescing from his Light into his fist. He stepped forward, the hammer sweeping back and vanishing, Arc Light snapping between his limbs and jumping across his armor. Another step forward, arms sweeping inward then out, and he created a Ward of Dawn.

"All three polarities, even. And this is something any Guardian can learn?"

Morik stepped out of the Ward, tilting his head. Hardiman repeated himself, remembering Morik couldn't hear him in the Ward.

"Yes. With training, any Guardian can reach for the Light on their own. We are made aware that the Vanguard regulates and monitors our use of the Light, but we are never told why."

"I'm not so sure, personally, that they even have a good answer for that. Of course, in the Crucible, that control is meant to create a competitive environment, which answers the question on their part."

"The only explanation I can think of is that the Ghosts must relay between themselves and the Traveler, something that can be done regardless of distance or even dimension. Standing in a Ward of Dawn does not inhibit other Guardians from using their abilities without this training, after all."

"An excellent point. You're surprisingly analytical for a Titan."

"It is the place of a Kell to understand those of his House. I have many Warlocks under my banner, and I must be able to hold a conversation them all."

"But you are a Titan. Don't sell yourself short. We digress, however. Tell me, as a Stormcaller myself, how do I begin reaching for the Light on my own?"

"We were able to do it first when we were cut off, as you have made us now, by Osiris. He and his Vex constructs jammed our connection, something that continues to confuse me. How can jamming work on Ghosts that can communicate with the Traveler even inside a Ward of Dawn?"

"Sadly, Osiris was the resident expert on Vex, as Toland was the expert on the Hive. Toland was killed, and Osiris abandoned us. Now we have Eris to teach us about the Hive, but no students of Osiris remain. I can't answer your question."

"Then we will move past it and answer yours. You must be as cut off as we are to begin."

Hardiman looked to his Ghost.

"Done," it said.

"And then?"

"In both our cases, it was in a moment of mortal danger. Unthinking. It appears to be a sensitivity, one that requires attunement through training. I and Ramiks are able to flow between polarities rather smoothly, Gravian is able to use Solar and Void with grace but struggles with Arc, and Dreskin and Yviks are still only able to use their most preferred polarities. Enki is able to use only Void, Kaara can use Arc and Void better than either of us, and Soren is able to use Void and Solar. That is every Guardian we have been able to train thus far. When my other Archons are fully capable, I will have them train the rest of my House. The plan was then to have my House teach the Vanguard and Crucible Guardians, our gift to our fellow Guardians and a way to cement our place here."

"An excellent plan. I promise I won't get in the way of it. I'm here to understand how you do it. My Ghost and I will analyze the scan data later, but for now I want to give it a try myself. We have the data from you two already - although, Ramiks, if you would demonstrate your other polarities as well, we would have better data - and we can use some from myself if I am successful."

Ramiks stood in front of the Ghost and moved through his polarities like Morik had. He lingered in Solar and Void longer than Arc, having less control over the two, something Morik had the eye for but that would otherwise be unnoticed.

Hardiman tented his fingers, resting them on his stomach, concentrating. After less than a minute, he raised a hand and touched his index finger to his thumb. When he pulled them apart, an electrical current connected the two, powered by Arc Light. It remained for a few seconds before dying out.

"A sensitivity indeed," said Hardiman. "I don't imagine any sort of connection is supposed to be easy?"

"It's not 'supposed' to be anything," said Ramiks. "Too few Guardians can do it for there to be standards."

"Good point. I can certainly feel the Light, but my connection is far weaker than with the help of my Ghost. It's downright impossible for me to use the storm trance like this."

"Is Stormcaller your preferred polarity?" asked Morik.

"Ever since it was reintroduced during the Taken War, yes. Before that, I was a Voidwalker. I'll worry about training with this later. For now, before we finish, I have a question for you two."

Morik and Ramiks waited, so Hardiman continued.

"If it is possible to learn to use all three polarities of one class with such fluid and instant transition, what exactly is stopping you from learning to use the abilities of other classes? Could not a Striker learn to throw an Arcbolt Grenade? Could a Defender use Novabomb? Could a Gunslinger rise from death with Radiance? Could a Sunsinger use the Hammer of Sol, or Golden Gun? If a Nightstalker can summon poison smoke, why can't a Voidwalker? These days, when a new Guardian is discovered and is brought before us, we help them tune their Light to a preferred class, but when the Traveler first slept, we were all just Guardians."

"It is worth attempting, but that, too, must be a sensitivity," said Morik.

"As Guardians who all favor Arc Light, perhaps we can meet again and help one another explore the topic. For now, my time is up. I have much to consider and much to analyze. Thank you both for your time."