This is the second story I've written that takes place in the world of Destiny. This is just my imagination running wild while reading Grimoire Cards. Something to put a little more meat on the bones of the Destiny world. I hope you enjoy! “Order. There will be order!” He spoke in a normal tone, but the Speaker’s voice was touched with annoyance and amplified via his Ghost so that it rang off the walls of the room and silenced those present. “All I’m saying,” Commander Zavala continued more calmly, “is that if we choose to deny the representative from this, this…” he paused and quickly tapped a few icons on the table in front of him, “Dead Orbit, a place in the Tower, we are not only failing the Traveler’s will, we are also guilty of hypocrisy in the face of our very own creeds.” “Oh come now Zavala,” Ikora said softly, “surely it isn't as damning as all that. But I do understand what you are trying to say. We offer a place of shelter for all seeking it. Not just those whose philosophies we agree with, or whose interests align with ours.” “Now you've become just as naive as her!” growled Lord Shaxx thrusting his finger toward Lakshmi-2, the Exo representative from the Future War Cult. “I understand their philosophies,” he continued softly, but firmly, “and can agree with their goals. Preparing for a future we all know will come, eventually, is not an ignoble goal. But their practices put the Traveler and this city at risk. They will cull our numbers here and the Darkness will overwhelm us.” “All the more reason to have a representative here, don’t you think?” came Lakshmi’s cold and chiding answer. “If the Guardians who place their trust in Dead Orbit have someone here they can discuss matters of battle and strategy with, what reason then have they to relocate anywhere else? The City is still the safest place in the system, and the Tower is still home to all Guardians, veteran and recruit alike. Would you turn your back on a Guardian entering the Crucible, just because it was his first fight? Is not greatness found in unlikely places and unlikely people?” Arach Jalaal allowed himself a slight smile at Lakshmi’s elegant way of debate. Always presenting points as questions in order to keep her opponents in a position where they must answer to her. He sat in his chamber some light years distant from the Tower and the room where the meeting was taking place. He was alone, and bathed in the glow from the wall display where he looked in on the Tower Council meeting. Lakshmi had opened broadcasting channels built into her own framework and was allowing Jalaal to both see and hear the discussions. He admitted to himself that when he’d contacted her with this proposal weeks before, he had doubted Lakshmi’s ability to convince the entire Vanguard, as well as the Speaker and Lord Shaxx to let him “set up shop”, so to speak, in the Tower. All of them, as the serving Tower Council, needed to vote to allow it. “Such is the state of things these days” he sighed. But now, he was hopeful. He thought over the last few days watching the debates. Almost all of them were primed to vote in favor. Some had been easy. The Speaker and Cayde-6 had been in favor from the start. The Speaker always welcomes those who intend peace and can contribute to the Tower’s scarce resources. As for Cayde-6, Jalaal was not even sure he really knew the scope of what was being discussed. Even now, he sat with his feet propped up on the table, gazing fondly at his throwing knife and leaning back in his chair. But, as he had counted on, Cayde was known to have an unerring sense of independence, and would almost certainly see any attempt to keep a faction out of the Tower as a form of oppression. And Commander Zavala; just convince that fool that it’s his duty to allow it, and he will fight to the death to see it done. Ikora Rey was a tough opponent though. As tough as she was in her Crucible days, that’s for sure. She’d been on Lord Shaxx’s side in the beginning. She had argued how in just a few short years, the Tower Guardians’ numbers could dwindle to levels not capable of pushing back the Darkness. If Dead Orbit did, as some claim, have worlds beyond the void ready to house our scattered numbers, then surely the Tower was doomed to be overrun. Lakshmi was, of course, the one who had brought Dead Orbit’s request for a Tower post to the Council and had thus necessitated this meeting. As such, she had the right to respond to each point made by the Council members for up to a 3 day period of debate. “And most of it spent on Ikora Rey”, Jalaal muttered to no one, remembering the first day of the proposal meeting. “Dead Orbit has denied such claims publicly on numerous occasions”, Lakshmi had said to Ikora. “It is nothing but rumor and fearful conjecture. These things I think Warlocks are all too familiar with, are they not? I remember when it was your kind that was feared, and those in position discussed your intentions to defend the Tower. The only thing that separates those who hold to Dead Orbit’s teachings, and the Warlocks, is Dead Orbit’s willingness to allow Warlocks into the folds of their beliefs. Are you saying that a follower of Dead Orbit has no right to become a Warlock? To share her knowledge with those who embrace the Void?” Arach Jalaal shivered slightly now, as he had just yesterday when Lakshmi had uttered those words to Ikora, and effectively swayed her to his side of the argument. By the Void, she was good. He certainly did not doubt her ability any longer. Now, just one remained. Lord Shaxx. Champion of the Crucible. Glorious in battle. But preposterous in politics. Jalaal listened as Shaxx continued to hold his position alone. “But Dead Orbit believes that the Tower is lost, the City is doomed, and the Traveler able to help us no more.” Shaxx allowed himself a great sigh. “And while I can’t say I don’t also see the signs, I still say that the last thing we need on Earth is less Guardians.” He was about to sit, but paused momentarily as if struck by a thought. “I’m not even sure why they would want to send one of their own to a place they believe is not safe from the Darkness anyway.” Jalaal sat up slightly, worried that this last might cause a ripple among the Council. Here, on the last day of debate, this was the last thing he wanted. In a few short moments, Lakshmi would be out of time, and the Council would make their decision. “As a show of good faith, Shaxx” came the answer, not from Lakshmi, but from the Speaker. “Dead Orbit may speak as though we are doomed, but in exchange for a place among our vendors, they offer goods and services that aid us in our struggle. Perhaps logic shows them only despair and the end of the Traveler, but hope drives them to seek us out. To offer what they can, and accept what we can offer in return. It is time for differences to be put aside, and for us to look at what we are doing to put this war to finality.” “I thank the Council for hearing my proposal, presented on behalf of faction Dead Orbit.” Laksmi-2 acknowledged those at the table equally. “May the Light of the Traveler be with you, always.” “Bravo” Jalaal said to the monitor as Lakshmi exited the Council Hall. “Now, once the announcement is made, payment will be posted to the account you provided.” Lakshmi said nothing aloud through her frame, but sent her voice stream to Jalaal’s chamber instead. “Post payment and begin packing. The announcement will be made before the day’s end.” --Council Meeting 1772: Dead Orbit request for vendor space (about 25 years before the beginning of Destiny)