Karn-7 was conducting a patrol in the center district of the Last City. Not that it needed it, for all practical purposes it would be more worthy of his time to patrol the outskirts for fallen raiding bands or scouting parties. But between the Guardians on assignment and the city guard all areas were covered. Karn was here on his time off. It was dark out, almost early morning but the city was ALIVE. Trufuly it never actually slept, but Oryx's death had given the citizenry a much needed boost in moral and cause to celibrate. Each day good news came from the system: beachheads established on the moon, the retreat of the House of Exile, the last of Crota's old lieutenants eliminated, and to top it off the Young Wolf had just joined the Iron Lords and defeated the Devil splicers in the Cosmodrome. All this gave the festivities more cause to continue.
Few Guardians bothered patrolling protected districts such as this, but other than wishing to witness the city in a time of joy, Karn-7 wanted the people to see a Guardian amongst them from time to time, as a reminder that they were safe. Or at least to feel like they were safe.
If only they knew.
This was a much needed break. Karn had been returning from a Moon patrol, purging remaining blight from Taken infestations wherever he could when Eks had made contact. It had been months since he last heard from him but that was not uncommon. Eks had been tracking a recently "re-undead" Omnogul, trying to prevent the possibility of Crota's return and had chased her into the Cosmodrome. Ecks should have called the Vanguard for a strikeforce but that would have taken "Too much time we dont have." As he put it. In the end they prevailed. Omnogul died, but not before consuming the light from a Warlock she had imprisoned. Whether or not she was the reason for Eks's haste, Karn would probably never know. They had brought her body and ghost to the Cryptarchs to glean anything she may had learned and to preform the proper burial rights. She had been a young Warlock, not risen more than five years ago, and already she was gone. Her song had been short, but her absence had been felt greatly by those present at the funeral. Now, to prevent another possible death, Karn had to keep Eks in the City to heal.
"Hail Titan!" A member of the inner guard called out.
Karn looked up from his musing and gave the guard a once over. An older bearded gentleman with no apparent faction allegiance, just a man protecting his community. Good. Next to him was an elevator to the top of the inner wall. Karn hailed back and approached him.
"Well met guardsman. I trust the night treats you well?"
The guard chuckled mirthfully: "Yessir she has. Just some noise complaints that we've been too 'busy' to attend to. I'm afraid the gatherings and dancing will have to continue until we finally lighten our work load."
Karn smiled. "The spirit of the City is strong, but it is important to give it rest from despair. You do well in your duties guardsman."
"Thank you sir Titan!" He held the elevator door open. "Watch your step up there sir, it's dark and I know the reputation you Guardians have with heights."
With a hearty laugh and some well wishes, Karn-7 entered the elevator and rode it up. As he did so a Ghost appeared by his shoulder and together they gazed up at the Traveler.
"I trust Eks is where you left him?"
"He is indeed. I have the New Monarchy grunt watching his door. We'll know if it opens."
"I doubt he would use the door. Who still owes me favors that has access to the hangar? I want his ship watched."
"Several New Monarchy members, some misc staff and that one Dead Orbit merchant. But Holiday wouldnt be too understanding of people loitering in her workspace. I might know a ghost or two who can hide pretty well?"
Karn shook his head. "Any Ghost with a Guardian wont stay long, and any solo Ghost shouldnt waste time with us. By the time we'd get there he'd be long gone anyway. I suppose we have no right to keep him here if he's that desperate to go."
At the top the Ghost vanished and Karn greeted the wall watcher. He turned north and followed the wall back to the Tower.
"Scribe, can you send Nat a request? She knows the North American continent well and can probably give Eks some light duties there. They work well together, even if they wont admit it."
From the back of Karns mind: "Certainly. She will inquire as to why, should I give details of his condition?"
"Just keep it vague. Eks can speak for himself if he even agrees to it, and i'm not optimistic about that. He is four times her senior. Not exactly a pride boost to manage supply caches in the wilds."
"We can remind him of the importance of such things for new Guardians and nomads in distress. Someone has to do it."
"We both know that isnt usually a job for Veterans like Eks. Especially Eks, he was with the Young Wolf in taking down two Hive gods."
"We were there for one of those too, and you take patrol missions occasionally. This shouldnt be such a big deal."
Karn laughed. "I was just crowd control as they did the work, Hive magic is beyond me. Dont put me on the same tier as them."
"Dont degrade yourself, it insults me. I chose you because you protect those who dont think to protect themselves. Half of those idiots would have bit the dust multiple times if not for you absorbing the damage. Immortality makes Guardians careless and they would have failed without you."
"Without us Scribe, without us. Forgive me, I didn't mean to offend. My point still stands though, Eks will never settle for small tasks when there are such big threats lurking around every corner in the system. And between the Guardians I know, he's one of the few who can handle most of them."
"That is exactly the kind of thinking that will get him killed out there. Maybe we should take him with us to Mars? Its just Cabal recon, he can handle that."
"I think he tires of me but I will ask. Best to have someone watch his back."
"Maybe ask him to bring someone with when he leaves? Then again Hoff would drive him nuts... AWS-4 has departed back to the Dreadnought... Natali wont leave North America un-watched." There are others but our best options aren't available."
Karn raised his hand. "Enough. We have one more day to ponder this. Tonight, let us bask in the light of the Traveler together and enjoy some rest. Should Eks escape by then... well, it will be out of our hands."
"Yes. It is good to be back in the City again."
"Indeed Scribe. Indeed."
