I had to use some creative ways of explaining the Awoken's territory in this chapter. The Reef is described as an asteroid belt so I doubt there's a planet they are occupying. They're described as a settlement so it's not ships they are using (otherwise they would be simply be nomads). That only really left one other option, as you'll find out further down.
Chapter Two
"Unidentified ship, you have crossed into the realm of the Awoken; state your business or be destroyed by order of the Queen."
Still friendly as ever.
After a day of hard travel cooped up in her tiny cockpit, Elissa had finally reached the borders of the Reef. The almost blinding blue light spread across the horizon, occasionally punctuated by long destroyed vessels drifting lazily around the asteroid belt that the Awoken called their home. Despite all the knowledge the Cryptarchs had assembled over the decades, the Reef was still shrouded in mystery. How the Awoken had survived was an unknown, and they were uninterested in sharing the tale.
"I'm a representative of the Traveller, here to discuss business with the Queen." Elissa responded, far more confident this time than the first occasion she and the other two fire members were hailed.
The last they were all there, Crayta and Xon had let her do all the talking, perhaps sensing a women's voice was more likely to be respected in a matriarchal society. No doubt the Speaker had considered this as well. Elissa leaned back in her chair and resisted the urge to sigh once more at the decision while she waited for confirmation to be confirmed by the Awoken. There was little room for talking in a Guardian's life- smoke and death with time for rest and nourishment were the norm. What passed as free time and entertainment for the Guardians was spent kicking the shit out of one another in the simulated Crucible arena.
"Attention Guardian; please conform to these landing coordinates. If you deviate you will be treated as hostile."
Ignoring the threat, Elissa punched in the coordinates to her onboard computer and guided her fighter through the space ship graveyard. After several minutes of careful manoeuvring, Elissa approached the giant circular space station that served as the Capital of the Reef, not failing to notice the fleet of warships that were docked as well as the AA guns that were dotted around the hull of the station. That the Awoken had managed to build such a place and assemble a big enough fleet to give even the Cabal pause for thought was impressive, and gave another timely reminder to Elissa that this was an opportunity for Humanity that could not be squandered.
"Okay Ghost, I'm going to need you to stay silent for a while."
Her Ghost materialised seemingly out of thin air next to her shoulder and narrowed his optics at her "Afraid I'll say something stupid are you?"
Elissa laughed softly as she turned to face him "That is exactly the reason."
Ghost grumbled and muttered a sullen "fine" before disappearing again.
After setting the Siren's Call down gently on the landing pad, Elissa rose from her seat and slipped her winged helmet over her head and holstered her trusty hand cannon before descending down the ship's ramp. The sight that greeted her caused her to stop mid-step.
Hundreds of armed and armoured Awoken, all marked with the Queen's emblem were marching into the hanger, and stopped to line up parallel to each other in perfect formation. At the end of the row of guards stood a solitarily waiting figure, adorned in dark clothing, arms crossed.
Cautiously, Elissa entered through the line of Awoken and was momentarily startled as they snapped to attention, boots thumping together as they did so. It was with interest Elissa noted that all the guards seemed to be female. It was strange coming from Earth where no stock was placed on gender to come to somewhere that so obviously valued one sex over the other. Approaching the shadowy figure that was stood alone, Elissa internally groaned.
Great, not all female then.
The Queen's Brother did not exactly look pleased Elissa noted, though he had yet to look anything close to content that Elissa had seen so far. Elissa struggled not to snigger at the idea of him genuinely smiling, and instead masked it as a quiet cough. Stopping five yards before him, Elissa inclined her head as a gesture of respect and recited the words she had been memorising for hours.
"Greetings; as a representative of Earth, the Traveler and myself formally extend our deepest gratitude for your hospitality".
There- short, to the point but still respectful, I'm a natural. Seasoned diplomats tremble in fear at my smooth talking.
Unfolding his arms, the Prince of the Reef scowled "I thought your Traveler was lying in a coma. Yet you claim that you speak with his authority?" he said coldly, a mocking inflection to his voice.
Or not.
"The Traveler works through all who embrace the light" Elissa responded neutrally, thankful for her helmet as she gritted her teeth. It was her hope that because the Queen had been the one to open negotiations, her Brother might have granted the Guardians just the tiniest amount of respect while the prospect of an alliance was on the cards, but he seemed just as caustic as the last time she encountered him.
"Indeed" He responded, turning and leaving through the large automated doors "Follow me if you please."
Elissa quickly fell into step, grateful that their interaction was at an end. Mentally though she wondered if anything could be done to win him over to her side. She needed to make friends and fast otherwise she'd be heading home, her mission a failure.
And she never failed.
"Just so you know Guardian" The Prince said, interrupting her thoughts "If you draw your weapon in the presence of the Queen like the last member of your order did, I will send you back to your City in pieces."
Elissa was definitely grateful for the helmet this time, as she flushed at the memory. Seeing the Fallen had spooked her, but snatching a weapon from one of the guards and pointing it in the Queen's direction had been monumentally stupid, which in retrospect she had been lucky to walk away from.
"Understood" She ground out tersely, unwilling to admit openly that he was right.
After ten minutes of walking through corridors, all manned by silent Guards equipped with glistening swords, the two stopped in front of a massive iron door that on closer inspection seemed to have markings covering the entire frame.
Before she could study it further, the door lowered and allowed the two to stride into the same audience chambers Elissa had been in before. The Prince moved past her to stand next to the empty throne while the Queen's Fallen bodyguards stood still, their massive spears held tightly.
"Before we allow you to meet the Queen, Guardian" The Queen's Brother said, breaking the silence "You must remove your helm. The Awoken do not deal with those who hide their faces."
Nodding, Elissa lifted up her chin and pressed the button to release the catch that connected her helmet to the rest of her armour. It popped and hissed slightly as Elissa pulled the helmet off, red hair falling across her green eyes, obscuring her vision; hastily she swept it away from her vision and glanced up in time to see the Prince's face momentarily spasm at the sight of her.
Elissa choked down the laugh that threatened to escape her and stood hands clasped behind her back. Her composure was interrupted though as a honeyed voice addressed the room.
"It returns once more."
The Queen of the Reef descended gracefully from the balcony above, taking each step with care but not taking her eyes of Elissa standing in the centre of the room. She was dressed in a similar attire to the last time Elissa saw her- all tight fitting clothes with contrasting red and black colouring, doing nothing to hide her slender figure.
"Your Grace" Elissa responded, bowing deeply.
"I had assumed your City would send a novice Guardian" The Prince said scornfully "And here you are. Does your Traveler not value your talents I take it?"
"I was competent enough to kill an Old God that threatened us all if I recall." Elissa retorted, irritated at the suggestion.
"Funny, because I also recall you being powerless without our intervention" The Prince snapped back, a sneer on his lips and stepping down from next to the throne towards Elissa. Before she could counter, Elissa was interrupted by that soothing, authoritative voice.
"Please retire to the quarters we have provided you Guardian, we have much to discuss tomorrow."
Elissa stopped her staring contest with the Prince to look at the Queen, who was now leaning back crossed legged in her chair observing the pissing match between the two with luminous blue eyes.
Damn she's quiet; I didn't even notice her sit down.
Inclining her head towards the seated women, Elissa adopted a neutral tone once again "Of course Your Grace."
Backing away from the throne room, Elissa allowed herself to be led out of the audience chamber by the Queen's Guard and resisted the urge to bite her lip in frustration at her outburst towards the Prince of the Reef.
Five minutes here and I already could have kicked a member of the Royal Family in the groin. Not a good start.
After being led to her quarters, Elissa stepped through into the spacious room that far exceeded her own back on Earth, and slumped head first onto the double bed and buried her face in white sheets. Any attempts at peace were quickly shattered by an (increasingly) annoying AI.
"And you were worried I'd say something stupid" Ghost said, far too satisfied with himself.
"Oh piss off."