[spoiler]You will like this better if you read pt 1 first https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/81128446[/spoiler] ... for some time." The recruits regarded one another uncertainly and then sat, forming a loose semicircle around Lord Shaxx. Once all of his trainees had seated themselves comfortably Shaxx began. "The first story that I will tell you all is the first story of this place. The first battle of Twilight Gap." Shaxx waved his hand broadly at the ruins surrounding them. "The first battle took place here, roughly. Well, it was more of a skirmish than a battle but it helped decide the course humanity would take. It began with three guardians out for a routine patrol who encountered a Fallen scouting party." One recruit raised her hand slowly, wary of upsetting her superior. After a momentary pause Shaxx nodded for her to speak. "If you don't mind my asking, what were their names sir? The ones who made first contact with the enemy." "No, I don't mind your asking. The scouting party consisted of Saint-14, Zavala, and myself with Saint as our squad leader. We--" The recruits gasped, and the female hunter who'd asked the question initially interrupted, "Wait, so you were a member of the group that began the Battle of Twilight Gap?! And you served under Saint-14 the Blinder?!" After her outburst, she remembered who she was speaking to and slapped her hands over her mask's mouth vent. An eerie silence echoed through the ruins in the moments after her outburst. Lord Shaxx held up two fingers with one hand. "One." He ticked a finger off of his hand. "I don't brag nor am I prone to lying, so if I say something about myself you say yes, sir. If I tell you I shat diamond, your only question should damn well be 'how many carats?', understand?" The hunter audibly gulped and nodded, hand still pasted over the mouth vent of her mask. Nodding matter of factly, Shaxx ticked off his remaining finger. "If you ever in your life interrupt me again you will be cleaning sparrows and oiling guns until the -blam!-ING TRAVELER WAKES!!" Shaxx turned back to the rest of his audience. "Now where were we... ah, the patrol. My team was patrolling the area of the Cosmodrome near Twilight Gap. We came upon a Fallen scouting party, which is fairly normal. What made us wary was that this scouting party had two captains and several cloaked Vandals. They were spread out and moving forward in a line, sweeping the area for tracks. We then realized that they were searching for tracks of humans, we decided that we would have to kill them before reporting to Tower." Shaxx pointed to a rocky hill about 300 feet away. "Zavala hung back, about right there to give sniper cover. Meanwhile Saint and I crept quietly towards the enemy, keeping careful track of the telltale shimmer of stealthies. At the signal , Zavala took down all the stealthies while Saint and I gunned down the captains." The Crucible handler took a deep breath before continuing. "After we had killed all of the scouting party, we regrouped here and discussed our next move. We were talking when Saint-14 went down in a spray of oil. Zavala and I grabbed him and ran to cover. While I tended to Saint's wounds, Zavala peeked out to discover that there was an approaching force of Fallen. I heard Zavala curse, and so I peeked out to take a look myself. I am no coward, but I tell you now that when I looked out over that rock my blood ran cold." His audience sat in rapt attention, mesmerized by the story. "Over that hilltop, spread out as far as I could see, were Fallen. Just in that glance I saw a score of Walkers, hundreds of captains, and more dregs than there were humans left in existence. And at the forefront of the army rushing straight towards us was Riksis, Archon the the House of Devils." "I looked to Saint, who was getting to his feet after the shock of being shot was over. The arc missile hit his shoulder. A few inches over, and it might have hit his control core. Once we saw what was coming our way, we pulled ghosts and tried to summon our sparrows. Riksis was too fast for that. We spread out to attack him from three sides, but Saint told us to go. Zavala and I shared a glance and hesitated before Saint told us some very unpleasant things that would be done to us if we didn't follow his orders. He said he'd be damned if we'd ruin the city's chances against the Fallen over sentiment." Shaxx looked down into his lap as he continued speaking. "Zavala and I continued summoning our sparrows as we watched him rush straight towards the oncoming Kell. In the moment before they collided he summoned his Light and purple brilliance expanded from him as he jumped aside. The Kell ran straight through the barrier, roaring at his sudden blindness. Saint started to back away, but the Kell stomped the ground with such force that it took Saint from his feet. Zavala and I were on sparrows, watching the fight and hoping that we might leave with our leader." Shaxx shook his head somberly. "We hoped in vain. Fallen in pikes crested the hill heading straight towards their Kell. From the ground, Saint chucked a grenade and hit Riksis square in the mouth with it. The Kell died badly. Saint hopped to his feet and ran back to his barrier, narrowly evading the arc turret fire from the pikes. As Zavala and I rode away, with pikes splitting off to chase after us, I looked back. Saint's eyes met mine and I knew that I would never see him again. That exo was more brave than most humans and awoken that I know. His sacrifice allowed Zavala, myself and-- more importantly-- the last bastion of humanity to survive. May he rest in peace." Shaxx and his recruits lowered their heads in memory of the fallen Gaurdian. The large man was silent for a long while, lost in the quagmire of memory and regret. After a few more moments, he pulled himself back to the present and continued his tales... -------------- Thanks for reading! There's probably going to be 3 more parts, in which heroicness shall happen. Also I'm gonna make a poll to see exactly what people want to read EDIT: Everything above is my opinion (i.e. a fictional narrative about a work of fiction). I understand that yours may differ from my own. Be aware that this is a story solely for the purpose of entertainment. Bump to share :) Tale of Kabr http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/post/75332648/0/0 The Rose Wilts: Last Word and Thorn http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/75736860/0/0/1 Toland's Legacy: The Forging https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/78149101/0/0 Short story i wrote (not Destiny related) http://www.wattpad.com/54307960-troubled-travels-blind-beggar