Ignoring the challenge itself, the constant pain caused by the fighting of the Crucible is too much for some Guardians. But others thrive in the environment, relish the pain. Glory is earned. Friendships are built. Most of all, rivalries grown. Very rarely, though, all three occur together..

Excerpt taken from Tales of the Crucible

Rand yelled in frustration at the papers scattered around him. He couldn't make heads or tails of what most of it meant. What was this Leviathan; let alone what its slumber was. The one thing he found, he wished he hadn't. The labyrinth was the Vanguards name for the inside of Mercury. Endless tunnels and machines that no Guardian had ever gotten more than a few transmissions out before they went silent. What reports that did come out of there talked about a force of darkness draining their light, an endless flood of Minotaurs, and a room. A few of those who were strong enough to survive the Vex claimed that the maze was shifting around them, a hallway they walked through turning into a wall behind them. All of this seemed to be directing them to a single location. Only one team ever transmitted from there.

-Nightmare, -cut- everyone's nightmare -cut- no where -cut- run-

There wasn't very much to it, but something about the Guardian's voice sent a shiver down Rand's spine. He had seen many terrors in his life. There was many of them he did not want to face again.

Rand rubbed his eyes and picked up his helmet. The papers would still be there later. It had been too long since the last time he had been to the city. He had someone he needed to see.

Carrying his helmet under his arm Rand left the New Monarchy Archives and walked out onto the street. The sight of the city always made Rand smile some. All of these people running about. Safe. Whenever he saw them, the mother with her children; the well dressed man walking fast, late to work or a meeting. No matter how bad the city seemed sometimes, it was better than anyone outside of it could even imagine. He just couldn't see why anyone would want to join the Dead Orbit, leave all of this they had worked for. In the Monarchy you were always told to know what it is you are fighting for. Some Guardians fought because it was all they had left;, others fought out of pleasure, relishing the kill; members of the Monarchy choose to fight for this, to protect all of these people. Rand, however, fought for one.

After walking a few blocks into the city, Rand turned and walked up to a small home and palmed the door. He walked as the door opened and set his helmet down on a table next to the door. He heard footsteps coming towards him and looked up.

"Daddy!"

72 stopped right outside the door and turned his head looking at Ja.

"Listen, this guy can be, well- an ass. So could you just stay here for a moment and... yea."

"Yea."

"Ya."

"Ja."

"Ja?"

"Ja."

72 shook his head and walked in, closing the door behind him. Ja just sighed a little and waited. He had just started to sit down when he heard the thud of a shotgun. Pulling out his MIDA Multi-Tool, Ja shoved the door open and saw the body of his friend sprawled on the ground, all that remained of his head was a few sparking wires. A bulking Titan stood over him and kicked his side with his boot- Holdfast Type 2, Vanguard issued, matching the rest of his armor. Resting in his hand was the shotgun Universal Remote and strapped to his back was Zombie Apocalypse WF47. Subclass Striker. Race human. Blood type O. All of this Ja-119's processors analyzed in microseconds.

"Drop the shotgun," Ja demanded raising his gun at the Titan.

The Titan raised its head and stared at Ja.

"I said drop it."

The shotgun flew at Ja smacking him in the face. He turned to aim his Scout Rifle just as a fist slammed into his face. Ja stumbled backwards and blocked the next punch with his gun shoving the Titan back a step. Before he could attack again, Ja's Energy Drain pushed him back further. The Titan yelled, then charged Ja before he could try to ready his weapon again. The force sent Ja sprawling on the floor with crushing arms wrapped around his head.

"Let him go Fisch," came 72's voice followed by the sound of a Fusion Rifle.

Rand smiled at the girl asleep beside him. He had only planned to stay a few minutes, well maybe an hour if he was honest, but certainly not the ten hours that passed by. Emma didn't stop talking for the first solid hour.

It had been nearly six months since the Vanguard had let him off of Venus. He didn't do as much for the Monarchy as he used too. Most of his time was spent doing research for the Vanguard or looking after Emma. It never seemed to bother her how much he seemed to be gone, but it was always something he regretted.

Emma had just finished fifth grade at the New Monarchy school and was at the head of her class. She had always been exceptionally bright, and Rand was sure her future was going to be as bright as she was. He never met her parents before the were killed by the Hive, but he hoped he had raised her well enough for them. He loved when Emma called him Daddy; every time she said it, it filled him with joy. However, it also made him wonder if he was doing as good a job as they would have.

Navi helped a lot. She had barely seemed more than a girl herself when she first had started helping Rand, but she always proved to be a great help. She may have been Rand's assistant, but she was like a big sister to Emma. Navi was right now curled up next to Emma asleep on the couch. She had stayed up a while longer than Emma chatting with Rand.

"How's Newt been while I've been away?" asked Rand. "Staying out of trouble?"

Navi, blushing at the mention of Newt, said: "Yes, he has been doing fine Sir. He's been away for the past two weeks for the Monarchy. Something on Mars."

"Navi, are you blushing?" chuckled Rand.

"No," she lied.

"Oh come now Navi, you and Newt have been together for how long now, and you're still blushing?"

Navi didn't answer but just looked down, her face red.

"Hey Navi, just wondering but since you're dating Newt, do you know, like, what an Exo has? You know, down there?"

She didn't answer, but she did look up and glare at Rand through her hair.

"Do you have any idea how much that hurts?" demanded 72.

"Oh shut up, you. Have you ever been hit by one of your damn fusion rifle rounds?" said Fisch

The three of them had moved to a table in another room and were sitting chatting with each other. When the Titan had released him, Ja was ready to keep fighting. However, 72 and Fisch holstered their weapons.

"So how exactly do you two know each other then?" asked Ja.

"This guy is the most annoying Fusion Rifle Prick there is," said Fisch.

72 nodded slightly, "Master Blaster. Fisch here is the most overpowered, shoulder charging Titan you'll ever meet,"

"So Fisch," asked 72, "Do you think we can convince you and your stupid Fisch-t of Havoc to come help us?"

"Go on an uncertain quest to do an uncertain thing with uncertain odds of survival? Hell yeah, let's do this!"

"Fisch, I like you."

Even after what happened with Fisch, Ja wasn't expecting the unpleasant reaction he had when knocking on Rand's door.

"How the hell did you even know this is my home!" Rand shouted.

"Phone book," replied Ja-119 shortly.

"I don't even have a fucking phone!"

"Ghost book." said 72

"... I hate you."

"On a more serious note we found Fisch after a little... Fisch-asco." said 72

"If you make another God damn pun about me I'm going to punch you."

"I'd like to see you try Fisch. You know how the last Iron Banner match went,"

"As I recall, you ate my shoulder," Fisch said angrily.

"Only as much as I shocked you,"

"Ahem," intervened Ja, "As much as I would love to watch another make out session between you two, Rand did you find anything?"

"Well the Leviathan is a thing that is really surrounded by a lot of Vex in a maze inside Mercury."

"Alright, so how exactly do we find our way through this maze?"

"Well... I have no idea,"

"Come on Rand," said 72

"What, why?"

"We are going to get Kaleb, I have a feeling that he will have one idea or another on how to navigate it... or blow it up..." said 72 "Dead Orbit has more freaking fire power than the Future War Cult..." He added quietly, "Ja, could you and Fisch go and see the War Cult about contracting a little help?"

"If you do, drop my name to Lakshmi-2 and ask about Vera, she's a good girl," Rand added, a little red in the face.

"Yea we could handle that,"

"Thanks for asking me," complained Fisch

"Why in the world do you want me to go to get him," questioned Rand

"I think he likes you," said 72 with his best attempt at a smirk

"I need to tell someone goodbye first," said Rand

"I can wait," said 72 as he sat on the ground