Chapter 4
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{Last Transmission of a disappearing Vanguard Scout Rhyne on Earth's Moon, listed M.I.A, presumed dead. Investigation team will respond within the month.}
—
"I brought you a pur-ple, so I shouldn't get a bl-ue." The Titan was trying to explain to the blue cryptarch, who wasn't changing his view on the matter at hand.
"Bringing in Engrams from the wild is a sure way to get a rare item out of a legendary coded engram. Next time you want a guaranteed purple, bring in one you know it's origins from…" Master Rahool spoke, waving the guardian away, signifying that this conversation was over.
The titan let out a low sound the mix of a sigh and a grunt, best described as 'ugh', and walked off upset. Before the cryptarch could go back to decrypting the outdated message he had received from a Vanguard Scout, one of the Vanguards approached him, a Hunter on his right, and… a Queen's guar-?
"Master Rahool," Cayde started, a bunch of blue coded engrams in his hand, "These guardians are in need of some new equipment, don't worry, I've got the engrams covered." Cayde placed down the 16 engrams down on the desk, three of which were purple; how he was able to carry all of them, nobody had any clue.
"The hunter has the Cryptid 4.6 set…" Cayde started once again, dusting his hands off as he stepped back from the pile. "He also gets the 'Duke Mk. 44, and the LDR 5001'. The warlock has the 'Tengu Operant' set with the 'Final Rest II,' you'll know it when you see it." He finished, taking a step back from all the engrams. "Welp, I've done all I can for you two at the moment. Go to the Speakers appointment when the time comes, look around, get to know your gear, all that crap. I'm gonna head to the hangar to see what that cabal troop transport was all about." And before anyone could object or reply, Cayde had already taken off, hand cannon in hand.
"... well, guardians, i'll get to decrypting these engrams, in the meantime, you may want to get access to your vault." The cryptarch said, pointing behind them at these three pillars jutting out from the ground. "Simply create an account with your name, and class, and it will make available space for you. Now, you won't actually be able to access your vault to store things until you officially become guardians, why Cayden is even giving me these for you is beyond me… anyways, do go on and get set up, these should be done in about half-an-hour…"
—
Q: Kneel...
U: She's speaking to you Erina…
E: I know, I know… and I'm… I'm so sorry...
U: Sorry?! No-ho-o, sorry isn't an acceptable ans-!
Q: Enough..!
E/U: …
Q: Erina… as much as it pains me to do this… you have become a traitor to your people… you must be silenced, we both know that more than anyone else… Guards, take her away…
—
Katherine and the warlocks Ghost had finished dematerializing the last of the armor, opting to wait until they were in private to dawn the new set, like any responsible creature would.
But their weapons stayed on their person, Garrett very interested in the red and black revolver in his hands, and the sniper rifle on his back also felt nice; almost like the rifle belonged there.
Master Rahool was just handing Myra her fusion rifle, a model and make of the 'Dead Orbit' faction, whatever that meant, as it supported their logo and colors.
Before Garrett could speak to Myra, she was already gone, including her Ghost. So much for apologizing for earlier…
Katherine appeared and hovered over his shoulder, giving him a mix of a worried and helpful look, at least as much of one as a Ghost could give.
"Cmon." She said, waiting for Garrett to look at her. "Let's look around a bit, wait till evening rolls around, then we can go to the Speaker."
"Yeah… alright…"
—
Cayde finally made it to the hangar, taking a look at the wrecked cabal drop ship in the middle of the room. Frames were already putting out fires while others were giving out orders. He spotted Zavala and Ikora speaking to some other Exo, and began to make his way to the trio.
Once within earshot, he waved both arms above his head, Ikora seeing him first after Cayde had finally spoke up, sighing to herself.
Cayde jogged up to them, whistling at the wreck. A cabal dropship usually doesn't hit the ground in one piece, aside from the split hull and fires breaking out, that thing was still flyable.
He turned to them, a questioning look on his face.
"So… no Cabal?" He asked, upset but still hoping for a chance to one up the Speaker about something, for reasons.
"No Cabal." The Exo confirmed, the black and red color palette of the Exo giving him an evil look, and his Ghost matching was not helping either.
"This is Adam-2, or Adam as he prefers to go by." Zavala informed Cayde, holding out his arm and gesturing towards the Exo, now known as Adam.
"He stole the Cabal dropship… after being revived for the first time on Mars…" Ikora stated blankly, almost as if she didn't even believe what she was saying herself.
"...you three are, really, good at jokes. Ugh…" Cayde couldn't even keep up with his sarcastic remarks, rubbing his forehead as a headache started to form. "You know what? No, he's a Titan, he's your responsibility now Zavala, I'm done with this today." He turned to leave the hangar, patting Zavala on the shoulder. He was so sick of this Vanguard position, it was driving him crazy. He left the hangar, heading back to his room rather than the 'Hall of Vanguards,' enough was enough for one day.
—
The sky had an orange glow to it, the bottom fourth of the canvas a sunset orange and red, and the other three fourths an endless void of purple and stars. The Speaker was looking over the sky, and the Last City. It was truly a beautiful sight before him, and it's what all guardians were fighting to protect.
But he knows it more than anyone, that they will not win this war of four fronts.
Every citizen wants to know if humanity is losing. The guardians know that they are losing.
The Speaker however, wants to know if they've lost.
His concentration broke as he heard footsteps on the glass bridge to his chambers, turning to see a Hunter and Warlock walking side by side. He checked the time, not like he needed to; even in new armor, he could still recognize the two figures before him. He welcomed them in, inciting for the two to follow him up the stairs to their left. Once he had ascended such steps, they did in turn follow.
The Speaker took his seat, and he had set up two other chairs in his observatory for the two to take a seat in. Once they had sat down, they began.
"It has been seven years since we last had revived guardians.., and yet, we achieve two resurrected in the same 24 hour period. You two have no idea how exceptional you are." The Speaker relaxed in his own chair, sighing to himself. "You two have the choice to take up the mantle of becoming guardians, something that I hope you leave here today agreed upon."
Garrett looked at Katherine, and then his arms, covered in Hunter garb. "I thought we already were guardians?"
"You Garrett, can be, everything has been laid out for you, it is now up to you to walk the path of a guardian, as a Hunter…" The Speaker trailed off, now turning to look at Myra. "And you, Myra, the light and dark in your blood nominates you to become a Warlock, and a mediator on the dreadful forces in this system." The Speaker paused, before leaning forward, his hands clasped around each other. "The both of you have a difficult choice to make. It's a simple either or, but it's one that will have its consequences either way… leave this tower, keep your Ghost, and live in the Last City, and make a life, a family, and happiness for those you hold dear." He paused, standing up slowly, speaking as he rose from his chair, "Or… become a guardian, and help push back the minions of Darkness, or it's very self, should it come back. Defend the rest of Humanity, of earth-born Awoken, and the Exos… and defend them till we breathe our last…" The Speaker was standing up straight when he finished, slowly walking over to the two, hand outstretched. "Join your fellow guardians, and ill let you know everything that you need to know."
Garrett took the hand, he had already made up his mind when he set foot at the Tower, he was ready to become a guardian.
Myra, on the other hand, backed up, her mind wasn't made up yet. She was grateful at the second chance of life, but she was indecisive. Her Ghost noticed this, and spoke up.
"We need… to think about this, could you give us until noon tomorrow to make up our minds?" The Ghost asked, hoping to pull his guardian out of the conversation.
"But of course, please, both of you, do take time to sleep on this, for this is no small choice, come back around the evening, I will be awaiting your response." The Speaker spoke, while pulling Garrett out of his seat, the white mask staring at Garretts new helmet. "Speaking of which, you two have new rooms here in the tower. Garrett, Myra, coordinates have been sent to your Ghosts, you will keep these rooms if you choose to take up the responsibility of a protector, a savior, and a guardian. Go, now, leave me be for tonight. I hope you both make the right choice…"
Garrett sighed, nodding at the Speaker, and leaving to his new room, chatting with Katherine once he had left the observatory. Myra also left, but had a more serious talk with her Ghost.
"Thanks Spark… I just… I needed to think on this, I'm scared of, this, more than anything really." She explained, her head hung and her back arched slightly.
"Believe me," Spark started, getting in front of Myra, "No matter what, we're in this together. Let's go sleep on it, we can talk it over in the morning." He spun a little, the blue eye waiting for praise of his idea.
"Alright… yeah, ok…" She didn't know how to respond, well, she did, but she was just now realizing how exhausted and tired she was. She stretched her hands above her head and arched her back forward, multiple pops were heard and she yawned. She unclasped her new helmet and pulled it off her head, staring at it in her hands, thumbing over the small visor. It disappeared out of her palms, Spark taking care of it and storing the piece of armor.
"Where's our room?"
"It is… this way."
—
The Hunter and his Ghost stepped into their room, taking it in. It was like a hotel room,or apartment. That was the best Garrett was able to describe it. To his left, the bathroom, to his right, a normal sized closet. In place of where typically would be a second bed, there was a TV, couch, and shelves, and of course there was a bed for him to sleep in.
His new armor slowly disappeared around him, leaving him in the skintight black undersuit, sighing as he laid down on the bed, rubbing his forehead as a headache set in. If there was something he didn't miss, it was his head being a pain in the-
"Hey. I just gotta ask… why were you getting so close to… Myra, was it? When she was sleeping?" Katherine materialized herself, and rested on the bedside table, slowly shutting down her systems so she could hear Garrett's answer. She also shut the lights off, the only light now coming from her singular eye, glowing perfectly blue in the dark, staring back at Garrett
"Gah, I don't know… there was just something luring me I guess. You could've told me she was awake."
"I could've, but where's the fun in tha…"
Katherine shut down, entering a rest mode where she'd be awakened if Garrett needed her. Her blue eye slowly faded away, until the room was pitch black.
Garrett adjusted himself on the bed and under the covers of said bed. He finally had another chance for his thoughts to linger on his purpose, why he was brought back, and if he truly wanted to re-exist. He groaned to himself, adjusting his head on the pillow, and dozing off.
—
Myra entered her own room, akin to a hotel room, or an apartment.
You already know what it looks like.
She plopped down on her own bed, resting her head in her hands. Her armor slowly dissipated, and left her in the skintight bodysuit she was resurrected in, a dark purple and pink design.
Spark looked at her with worry, and slowly came closer, speaking up. "Myra, are… are you..?"
"I'm fine. It's just… a lot to take in… they can't just expect us to agree to this, can they?" She looks at Spark, lifting her own head out of her hands.
"I think they'd understand your decision if you chose not to accept the new responsibilities… but, the Traveler brought you back for a reason, it knows the good you can do." Spark said optimistically, resting himself on the bedside table, dimming the lights to near complete darkness.
Myra pondered on what he had said, and sighed as she laid back onto the mattress. Maybe he was right… she'd figure out all she needed to know in the morning.
Goodnight, you two.
Those nights are numbered.
—
Six fools stood before strength.
Five were crushed by the immense force.
One was left in agony.
The one in agony is the one in mourning.
Mourning.
Mo(u)rn.
Morn.
Eris Morn.
—
Annddd that concludes this chapter of 'It Is Near'!
Sorry that this one was shorter, not much to do with the time off.
I can't wait to get to the Dark Below, The Taken King, D2, ah…
In the meantime, please leave a review about what you liked, or what you didn't like, I could use the support/criticism!
Here's the Discord aswell for anyone with questions, theories, or just interaction!
The link works, just take away the spaces and it should allow you in!
discord . gg / C9YEgcS
Until next time then!
Echorent
