Chapter 18

In the morning, the reality of the previous evening settled in a bit more. I woke slowly, confused as to what was off, then I realized that Elgan hadn't woken me like he normally did. I showered and went to dress and my armor wasn't waiting for me like usual. I put on a simple shirt, utility pants, and boots. I poured myself a bowl of cereal, settled on the couch, and looked for something to watch to pass the time. Crucible matches could be found most times throughout the day, and I was not disappointed now.

This morning's broadcast was focused on a new match type Lord Shaxx had instituted called "Supremacy". I had yet to have an opportunity to try my hand at one, so I watched with interest. The match in progress was staged at The Anomaly and had reached the heavy ammo portion. Alpha Team was attempting to claim both drops with three members in the cave and two approaching the hangar location. They had come through the caverns and approached through the supply stacks. They were so intent on reaching it that they didn't notice movement from the other direction. A Titan from Bravo team leaped from the platform overlooking the area, slamming home with a Fist of Havoc. Arc energy ripped through the other Guardians, wiping them from the map and causing a small token to fall from each. The Titan scooped up the crests dropped by her fallen foes. The rest of Bravo quickly swarmed over and acquired the ammo when it became available.

From that point, Bravo took control of the match. They managed to eliminate the three Alpha members that had obtained heavy ammo without suffering any losses. When a Hunter from Alpha managed to snipe the Titan I had seen earlier, one of her teammates picked up her token before it could be claimed. The match clearly favored close quarters combat, and Bravo had come more prepared.

When it ended, I checked my messages. It took me a second to remember my password to sign in through the datapad. Normally Elgan just read them to me. I might need to learn to rely less on the little flashlight. Nothing from the Vanguard urgently requesting my presence, so they obviously hadn't decided to see things my way overnight. No threats of dire vengeance from the Rainbow Death Squad, so either FWC didn't know about Jaeger's fate, they didn't care, or it would be more subtle. There was a message from Zillah, which surprised me. I opened it.

Claney,

After our conversation last night, I went ahead and requested to be reassigned quarters in the Tower. The request was granted almost immediately. I will be heading out to the Vestian Outpost to begin the process of transferring my things back to Earth. Try not to pick any fights before I return.

Zillah

So, she was really cutting off her attempts to gain acceptance with the Awoken. It was a big move, and one I wondered if she would end up regretting. I decided that if we did start a fireteam, discovering what became of Mara and Uldren would be an unstated goal of the team. Not that I had a clue where to look. No matter. I could subtly poke around and see what came up.

The next message was from Celeste, stating that she had left the Tower to find something. It was oddly short and vague for her. She also felt the need to include a warning about picking fights. It really made me wonder who these people thought I was.

Celeste's message was the final one. I set the datapad aside and kicked up my feet, resting them on the coffee table in front of the couch. Another Crucible match was set to start, and I decided to enjoy my forced vacation. This match was a tense affair that came down to the time limit rather than overall score. A Warlock from Bravo went down under a hail of auto rifle fire. The shooter from Alpha and another member of Bravo, both Hunters, raced for the crest. Bravo's Hunter reached it a split second before the Hunter from Alpha and scored a denial. That put Bravo in the lead as time expired.

I'd been so invested in the match that I threw my arms up in excitement and cheered at the end. Unfortunately, that sent the remains of my cereal scattering across the living room. Great. I slipped off the couch and dropped to my hands and knees to pick the stuff up.

Not quite the start I'd had in mind.

I watched a few more matches before deciding that sitting around staring at a screen all day was less enjoyable than some people made it sound. I ventured out into the Tower with no real destination in mind. I considered the hangar bar, but I had no desire to pass under the watchful eye of Lakshmi just now. No point to visit the Vanguard before they reached their decision. I had no desire to bring New Monarchy into my problems, or do something that would result in them being pitted against the FWC in some way. Like Zavala had said, a Faction War was the last thing we needed right now. Still, I drifted in that direction.

I didn't visit New Monarchy, however. It was something even less likely. I ended up at the Speaker's chamber.

The Vitalis dominated the room, spinning and twirling silently as always. The opposite side of the dome stood open, with the Traveler in full view. I glanced to my left, my eyes traveling up the stairs to where the Speaker was often found studying, but he was not present today. I considered making my way up to that platform, but it felt like sacrilege to do so with him not present. I wasn't even sure I wanted to be in the room if he wasn't there. Still, I stepped forward.

Overhead, the Vitalis slowed, the outer rings coming to a stop. Now only the central piece rotated around a hologram that looked like a representation of the Traveler. I felt oddly drawn to the small pedestals that ringed the large machine. Above each hovered smaller holographic images that resembled solar systems.

I found myself engrossed in the swirling lights. Something stirred in the back of my mind. It felt like some lost vestige of memory trying to awaken. Something familiar and important...

A loud clang sounded, startling me out of my reverie. I flinched and looked to the source of the sound, seeing the large rings sluggishly returning to life. When I looked back at the hologram in front of me, whatever I had felt before was gone. I stared at it a moment longer, then turned to leave. I was startled again at the sight of the Speaker standing in the doorway, seemingly watching me. Of course, it was impossible to truly tell behind that impassive mask of his.

Even though I hadn't been doing anything wrong, I suddenly had the feeling of a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. The Speaker stood in silence for several seconds before turning and heading up the stairs. He glanced back to me. No words were spoken, but I had the distinct impression that he was inviting me to follow him. So I did.

When I reached the top of the stairs, The Speaker was standing with his arms behind his back, hands lost in the volume of the sleeves of his white robes. He was facing toward the opening in the dome where the curve of the Traveler shone brightly. He introduced himself to every new Guardian by saying he spoke for the Traveler. I never fully understood what that meant. I wondered if he was in communion with it now somehow.

"Welcome, Claney," he began. "It is rare that I receive two visits from the same Guardian this close to each other. Excepting the Vanguard, of course." He paused, though I did not believe he was waiting for a response. He turned from the Traveler to face me, "You have served well since you were revived by your Ghost. Your deeds may not be as heralded as some others, such as the slayer of Crota and Oryx, but the City owes you a great debt."

"Thank you, sir," I replied.

"Because of that record," he continued without acknowledging my statement, "it was with great surprise and sadness that I learned of your altercations with Jaeger-10. Particularly in regards to your ending the life of a fellow Guardian."

I should have figured that the Vanguard would have mentioned something to the Speaker. I thought I would have heard something from them regarding their decision before they took it to the Consensus, though. Guess I thought wrong.

"Sir, I..." I began, but he stopped me.

"I have reviewed the data myself, both your testimony and the memories of your Ghost. I am well aware of what transpired on the Moon and in the replication chamber. There is, of course, no corroboration for your version of events at the Vestian Outpost, since you had left your Ghost behind. A curious action. I am inclined, however, to take your word at face value. It is clear that the other Guardian was the aggressor for the most part.

"There is so much Darkness out there," he continued, turning back toward the Traveler, "and we are so few. The death of a Guardian is a dimming of the Light that cannot be restored. Worse than that though, would be a corruption of that Light. Another Dregden Yor. It is my belief that you prevented just such an occurrence with your actions in that cave. I made my recommendation to the Vanguard that you be restored to service immediately and without censure. Of course, the decision rests with Commander Zavala."

I let the words settle in. "Thank you, sir," I repeated.

The time, the Speaker nodded. He let out a sigh, then bent and opened a book at his desk, then asked, "Is there anything else that you need, Guardian?"

"No, sir," I replied. I quickly made my way down the stairs. Casting a last glance at the images surrounding the Vitalis, I left the chamber.

The Speaker's recommendation gave me hope that things would be resolved quickly. It would be shocking if the Vanguard disregarded his opinion. I knew Zavala and felt I could say with certainty how he would go. Cayde might be upset that it was a Hunter that died, but I had a feeling he would come around as well. Ikora, however, was harder to read. Warlocks could be a tricky lot. They always seemed to have their own way of looking at the world that didn't always gel with what might seem obvious to others.

Thinking of Warlocks, I considered dropping in on Scott-20. If we were really going to put together fireteam, and have a full team of six, he was someone I wanted to be a member. I decided to wait to bring it up until the situation was fully resolved though. No point in making plans that might come to naught.

Since I was nearby, I decided to visit with the New Monarchy representative. No, I didn't want to bring them in to anything that might happen with the War Cult, but I remembered that the Crucible handler was selling new wares, so I decided to see if New Monarchy had changed up their offerings as well. One, there might be something good. Two, it was a way to pass the time, and, three, I was currently avoiding the two places I would have to go to check what else the Vanguard might have available.

The rep today was someone I hadn't met before. As usual, there were a few people in the area, all wearing the white triangle with three red bars of the New Monarchy. I didn't draw as much attention as I would have if I'd strode up in full armor, but Guardians do still tend to be recognizable. Especially Titans as we tend to run a little large. Whether our Ghosts were drawn to large skeletons, or if it had something to do with whatever the Light did to bring us back, who could say? Regardless, I received several nods of respect from the adherents, and a warm greeting from the representative.

"Hello, Guardian. What can I do for you today?" the man asked. It was not uncommon to find Executor Hideo himself here welcoming Guardians himself, but today he was nowhere to be seen.

"Yeah, hi. I'd heard that some of the vendors in the Tower were carrying new stock these days. I was wondering if New Monarchy was offering any updated merchandise."

"Certainly," he replied with a smile, then seemed to size me up. "Titan?"

"Got it in one."

"Right. Yes, well, give me a moment," he pulled out a datapad and tapped a few things, then presented it to me.

Armor and weapons were displayed on the screen. The new armor was called the "High Command" series. It looked like re-purposed Pandion armor, splattered with the white triangle. Quite frankly, it made me think of a quilt. I'll pass. The weapons were more interesting, however.

It seemed the Monarchy had developed a fascination with speed. Nearly everything on offer featured high rates of fire. The shotgun, Bad Counsel IV, was similar to the Burden of Proof that had served me well before. I'd just bought a shotgun however, and, despite the low ammo count, the Curtain Call still seemed like a nice weapon. I preferred my machine guns to hit harder than the specs for the First Citizen IX suggested. The stat profile for the Assembly II looked intriguing, however, so I decided to put in an order.

"Very good, Titan," the representative smiled. "If you could just have your Ghost complete the transaction?"

Ghost. Right.

"Yeah, tell you what, I'll have to get back to you on that one," I said, handing the pad back. "Save one for me though."

I left the baffled vendor behind. I don't know why I had thought I could pick something up, given that my armor and weapons were all currently locked away from me. Stupid. Frustration at the entire situation settled in then, and I was seething when I reached Scott's study. I did my best to clamp it down though, no point in taking it out on the Exo.

I entered the room, and Scott-20 looked up, his red optics taking a moment to focus. I was struck by the disconnect between his exterior and his personality. All Exos were originally built for war, and Scott's appearance seemed designed to provide a level of intimidation. His personality was about as threatening as one of the frames out in the hall, however. Perhaps it was a result of one of his memory wipes.

"Claney?" The Exo sounded surprised to see me.

He set down the book he had been reading and move to stand. I waved him back down.

"Hey, Scott. Thought I'd swing by and check on you. You know..." I tapped a finger to the side of my head.

"Ah, yes. I am doing quite well, thank you. No lingering side effects or signs of damage that could not be repaired. Nothing to indicate any SIVA infection was missed, either."

"Good, good," I replied, glancing around the room. Scott's study was immaculate, every tome and paper in place. "Any response from the Executor about your report from the Plaguelands?"

"Nothing as of yet. I'm certain there will be a large number of questions eventually, however."

"I'm sure." A pause. "Mind if I stick around for a bit?"

"Not at all," he replied. "Though I do not have another chair to offer."

"Floor's good," I stated, lowering myself to the ground. "What were you working on?"

"Not really 'working on' anything at the moment," he lifted the book from the desk. "Just reading up on Fallen Splicers. If we are going to be dealing with this particular branch of them, I thought it best to keep informed."

I nodded, and he continued.

"One thing I find fascinating is a brief parallel in human history. Some pre-Golden Age records we have pieced together show there were groups who were very interested in modifying the human body in the same way. Cybernetics was seen as the next big step in human evolution. There is much speculation that Exos are a result of similar thinking. Of course, we have no real answer to that. At any rate, it seems the appearance of the Traveler and the changes that came then stamped out most interest in splicing in human culture. The recent transmission outbreak seems to be the remains of a more subtle modification program instituted by Clovis Bray, proving it did not die out entirely."

"Well, if the Devil's give anyone the idea that trying it again with SIVA sounds like a good idea, remind me to punch them," I responded, which brought a chuckle from the Exo.

"I do not much imagine peg legs and protruding clusters coming in high demand," he replied dryly.

"Let's hope not. Well, don't let me keep you from it." I indicated a book that had caught my eye as I sat. "Mind if I do a little reading as well?"

His brow-plates raised in surprise that he hadn't quite been able to hide. I swear most Warlocks just assume Hunters and Titans are functional illiterates.

"Of course," he said, then watched with interest as I reached over and carefully removed a book on weapon crafting from the shelf.

The book stood out to me because it looked new. After I spotted it, I noticed others that looked that way as well, but this had been the first one to draw my interest. The contents were all related to weaponry built and improvised by people during the Dark Age following the Collapse. I'd read a couple dozen pages when I realized someone was calling my name.

It was coming from the Tower Public Address system. The Vanguard was ready to see me.

"Wish me luck," I told Scott. I started to return the book, then thought better of it. "Mind if I borrow this?"

"Not at all. Just, try not to damage it, please."

It took everything I had not to sprint to that room. As ready as I was to find out what they had decided, I wanted to maintain my composure. Even so, I don't know that someone could move any faster and still have it referred to as walking. I descended the stairs and was met by two armored escorts. They walked with me the rest of the way to the Hall of Guardians, and once again the large doors shut. I stood at attention and waited.

"Claney Beamard," Commander Zavala began solemnly, "as a Guardian, you have served with distinction for many years. The Vanguard values that service. It has been a long time since we have had to consider the actions of a Guardian who intentionally took the life of another born of the Traveler. That person was someone who had once served with distinction as well, so past merit plays no part in the decision we have made today."

"In the interest of total transparency," Ikora picking up where he left off, "we want you to be aware that we brought the Speaker in for his counsel. The Faction heads were not consulted. While the Speaker's opinion is obviously of great value, this decision was made by the three of us."

"We reviewed your reports of each incident," Cayde joined, crossing his arms over his chest, "as well as took a look at your Ghost's recordings. As far as can be determined... you're in the clear."

A wave of relief rolled over me then, but I managed to contain it.

"We could find no fault with the way you handled the situation," Zavala again. "Your team was placed in jeopardy the action of the deceased, and he placed himself in the ultimately fatal situation. You are to allowed to return to full duty status immediately. All restrictions to weapons and armor are lifted as well."

"Welcome back, Titan," Ikora added, with the barest hint of a smile. "Someone has been anxious to see you."

Elgan materialized and zipped to me. He flew in quick circles around me, and I couldn't help the grin that came to my face. Zavala informed me that I was dismissed, and we headed back to the courtyard. Once topside, Elgan darted skyward.

"Oh, it feels so good to be let out of that room!" he exclaimed. "I thought your armor was cramped, but the little box they kept me in there made if feel luxurious. It did smell a little better than you, I'll admit."

"How would you know? You can't even smell anything."

"Call it a hunch," he retorted. "So... what did I miss?"

I relayed everything that had happened since I was forced to leave him behind. He told me about the questioning from the Vanguard. We returned to my room, and I set Scott's book carefully on the table. Someone had returned the armor I'd been wearing, as well as my weapons, to the room and they were laying on the bed. All was right in the world again for at least a few minutes.

I had Elgan send a quick message to Celeste, Scott, and Zillah letting them know what had been decided. Then he checked for any new messages and found one. And the day got that much better.

Iron Banner.

It was the official announcement that the Iron Banner was returning in a few days with a change. Rather than Lord Saladin coming to the Tower, he was inviting every Guardian to Felwinter's Peak. We would be battling to celebrate the Iron Lords by using the Iron Temple as our launch point. Time to start getting ready.

….

AN

So. Destiny 2 confirmed for this fall. Guess SOMEONE needs to finish this story in the next couple months, huh? Good thing we are barreling toward the endgame here. Might even have it wrapped up before I get all kinds of distracted by Mass Effect...

So, a few mentions of Dredgen Yor here. One thing I discovered is that I had the timeline wrong. I was thinking Yor/Ward happened further back in than it did. When I had Claney state earlier that no Guardian had attacked another since his resurrection, that was actually false. So I had to go back and tweak that a bit.

Thanks to MWJAD for the story follow, meep15 for the story favorite, and Furious Titan for the author favorite!

New Guest (maybe?) – I... uhm... okay then. Surprise Koala? Not a bad call sign or ship name...

Returning Guest – I know the feeling. Page views sustain mine. Thanks for helping keep it afloat for another few days.

Ivan and Carl – Well, that wasn't a REAL trial. If they found something questionable in the account, I would think there would be something more official, involving other members of the Consensus. The Speaker, maybe the heads of the Factions. Honestly, I didn't think about it at first either when Claney pulled the trigger, but it dawned on me that the Vanguard wouldn't take too kindly to Guardians killing each other. Wouldn't want a return to the days of Warlords.

Amberstar of Thunderclan – Eat him? He features rather prominently in her stories. Devouring him puts a big hit on the numbers for the Dysfunctional Fireteam.

Jayfeattheris Awesome – "Great," you say? Great? Thanks! As for Uldren, he does seem like he would be a little bitter. But rumors are hard than that to refute. It's already out there that you threatened to eat him, and that is what we are going to choose to believe. It's on the internet, so it must be true.

Daydreamer B.A – My one Zillah fan. That conversation ended up coming out a little differently than I was thinking when I first started typing. Thinking it's going to force me to change my original ending for her a little bit... As for the "disgraced Titan" deal, calling himself that was more of a "humor as a coping mechanism" sort of thing.