S1-45
The Tower Vanguard
10:27 AM
02/16/3201
Planet Earth - The last City
Tower Plaza
Music
Destiny - The Tower
With the other Pilots being led throughout the City by other Guardians, Michael decided to try and get some answers. There was a flight of stairs just ahead. He might get something there. As he went along his way, his helmet had been updated with new information.
As Michael started on his path, he came across a strange mechanoid.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Kadi 55-30
Postmaster
"Hi."
Michael eyed the robot with obvious confusion. "Um... Hi?"
"Your reaction tells me that you have never seen a Frame before."
"Frame? What?"
"Frames provide service functions here in the Tower."
"Um... OK?"
"It seems you have no messages waiting. Please come by again."
"Uh... Sure? What the heck is going on here...?"
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Master Rahool
Cryptarch
There was a hooded man with a strange physical appearance near a little stand.
"Uh... What are you?" Michael wondered.
"So, you've never seen an Awoken?"
"A what?"
"Well, during the Collapse, many humans tried to run to the far edges of known space to escape the Darkness. Something mysterious and strange happened to them at the edge of Human-controlled space, which altered them forever, and thus, the Awoken were born."
"Basically, Awoken were once human."
"In simple terms, yes." Master Rahool nodded.
"OK. Good to know."
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Banshee-44
Gunsmith
Another mechanoid was at another stand, selling guns. But this one was of a completely different design. "So, you new here?"
"Uh... Yeah, I am. What are you? You don't look like one of those 'Frames'."
"Of course, I'm not a Frame. I'm an Exo."
"Exo?"
"Exos are self-aware machines developed by humanity during the Golden Age for... something. I don't know what. We were rebooted during the Collapse and now none of us remember what our original function was, and our origins and purpose were lost to time. Whoever built us fashioned us in humanity's image, gifting us with diversity of mind and body."
"That's... interesting, and you sorta sound like a Simulacrum."
"A what?"
"OK, nevermind."
Heading off and down the stairs, Michael saw a very creepy individual.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Eris Morn
Crota's Bane
"Uh... ye- no, not dealing with that."
Continuing down the hall, he spotted two more identified individuals; a Guardian and a Frame.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Lord Shaxx
Crucible Handler
2: Arcite 99-40
Crucible Quartermaster
"You want the Crucible? I AM the Crucible."
"You want the Crucible? Shaxx is the Crucible."
Deciding to ignore them and continue on, Michael came to a room with three special Guardians. A human, an Awoken, and an Exo, all standing around a table.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Ikora Rey
Warlock Vanguard
2: Cayde-6
Hunter Vanguard
3: Commander Zavala
Titan Vanguard
"Uh... Hi." Michael greeted nervously.
"A new Guardian?" Zavala wondered, seeing the Pilot. "Can't tell what type of Guardian he is."
"Hang on, Zavala. Let me figure this out." The Exo approached Michael, who began to grow nervous. "So, you're a strange new Guardian, aren't you?"
"Uh... Yeah?"
"I gotta ask you this, so try and answer truthfully. Are you a Warlock, Hunter, or Titan?"
"You probably don't know what a Titan is back in my time."
"Whatever you say. Just answer the question, I don't have all day."
Michael's Ghost appeared, catching Cayde-6 by surprise. "{Back in his time, Titans were 20-foot machines that could establish a connection called a 'neural link' with a sort of super-soldier called a 'Pilot'. They have three protocols. Protocol 1: Link to Pilot. Protocol 2: Uphold the Mission. Protocol 3: Protect the Pilot. So that's where the confusion is.}"
"So your Guardian is also one of these 'Pilots'?"
"Yeah, I'm a Pilot. And a really good one too."
Ikora's voice was heard. "Cayde, have you figured it out yet?"
"Not yet, Ikora, but I figured something else out. Not even he knows what type of Guardian he is, but he's also one of these ancient super-soldiers known as 'Pilots'. And apparently, he's a really good one."
"Hmm... A Guardian and a Pilot. How would you address him, Cayde?"
"Guardian... Pilot... Might not be the most creative thing I've come up with, but what about a Guardian-Pilot?"
Michael facepalmed. "Really, Cayde?"
"You're right. It's not your best. But it's all we've got."
"Well, until we learn whether he's a Warlock, Hunter, or Titan-"
"Do I LOOK like a mechanical behemoth?!"
Cayde-6 groaned. "Ugh... This is gonna be a long day... The type of Guardian! Not your old machines!"
"I've got a new name for that one."
This peaked Zavala's interest. "A new name for the Guardian type of Titans? Let's hear it." He was all ears.
"How about... Golem?"
"Hmm... I'll think about it. You go visit Banshee and get yourself a weapon, Guardian."
"Already got a weapon. Or rather, three." Michael set his weapons on the table to show the others.
"These don't look like any Guardian weapons I've ever seen." Ikora stated.
"They're not Guardian weapons. These are the weapons of a Pilot."
"Well, one thing's for sure; I'd like to get me some of these."
Zavala was fascinated by Michael's weapons. "If these weapons are yours, Guardi-... Pilot, then you may put them to good use."
"Thank you, Zavala. By the way, the name is Michael W Johnson. Nice to meet the three of you. Cayde, Zavala, Ikora, it's been an honor. I look forward to fighting alongside you."
"Likewise." Zavala nodded.
Michael's weapons vanished, collected by his Ghost. "{Ready to go?}"
"Yeah. Where to?"
"Head to the Tower Hangar and speak with Amanda Holliday. She'll get you a ship."
"Got it, Ikora. And you can expect six other Pilots here. One of them is a mechanical Pilot called a Simulacrum; that one's name is Falco."
"Will do." Cayde-6 nodded.
Michael headed back out to the Plaza and went past Master Rahool, going through a short hall, and ending up in a large garage.
Planet Earth - The last City
Tower Hangar
He eventually met up with who he was looking for.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Amanda Holliday
Shipwright
"I assume you're Amanda Holliday, right?"
"Yeah. That your ship?" The Arcadia-class Jumpship was on a platform and ready for departure.
"That's right. I came here with six other Pilots."
"Really? Well, your ship's missin a warp drive. Can't leave Earth without it."
"Crud..."
"{If we head back to where we got our ship, we can find a warp drive.}"
"OK, I think I should have someone with me."
"How about me?" Michael turned around to see who it was.
"Samus, good to see ya."
"I'm a part of your Fireteam now. You can brief me in on what we need to do on the way."
"Alright. Ghost, bring us onboard. Let's finish our jumpship."
Well, we're gonna see some stuff go on here.
I will see you next time.