Registered and itchy to get his freedom back, Alec is taken to the citadel. The Citadel, not the main or best equipped, but it is funded by the Elders. Factions of all sorts gather here, mostly just looking for a rest, ammo, or a place to offload bounties. "I'm tired," Said Simons with a yawn. "And hungry, I haven’t eaten all day. Let’s head to the mess hall. Alec, wait out here in the hallway. Machines have no reason to go into a place normal people eat." Alec waited outside, standing at attention. Alec didn't get it, everything Simons said, Alec obeyed. He wanted to go out and do his own thing, not listen to people who sit in high society. Why hadn't the FOTC contacted him? As people came and went out of the mess hall, Alec noticed a strange figure staring at him from across the hall. He wore a trench coat, had neon green eyes, combat pants and boots, and was rolling up a cigarette. After he lit up, he approached Alec, his boot steps echoed in the hall. "You Alec," Asked the man "Alec Blackwater?" Alec stood there like a statue. "You're him," Said the man. "Listen, take this, place it in the back of your head and don't let them see you do it. I know you don't know me, but if you want to regain your freedom back, do it. When you go to the armory, give them your name and have the armorer put your box in its place. Call me Whisk. See you later Al." Whisk handed Alec a small black object, the size of a checker. Alec didn't budge. Whisk looked at the mess hall doors. In a rush, he put the round object in his hand, and then he was gone. Alec looked at the object, wondering what it would do. He thought about it.....what the heck, why not? A small door opened on the back of his head, he felt around inside, finding a place just the right size for the object. Alec inserted the object...then he collapsed to the floor, darkness is all he saw...then a red "reboot" word flashed. A message began to play as he stood up. "Alec Blackwater," A man in an FOTC officer’s uniform was speaking. “If you are watching this, nice choice on deciding to place the chip in the back of your head, you won’t regret it. Second, you need to lose the mind control that the Elders have had implanted in your mind. This will temporarily disable it, but not your tracker. You need to go to man called Whisk in the slums district near the Elders building. Give him back the chip in your head as "payment" for your freedom. You are not alone, or forgotten. Good luck, end message" Alec didn't have time to think time; Simons came walking out of the mess hall. "Alec," Simons said with a burp. "Let’s get you suited up and armed, you just volunteered for a Recon Op. in the wastelands." Alec was taken to the armorer, Alec told him his name. He brought Alec his armor and a gun case. "It's like Christmas." Simons said. Alec was secured into his armor, tightly; it was attached to his exo-skeleton. A Greek style Spartan helmet (300 style), is fashioned to his head, detachable with the face mask able to be lifted up like a welders mask. The mask was familiar to Alec....in fact, it was his old mask. The gun case was only the big enough to hold a pistol, but it turned out to be Alecs' custom handgun and knife...a shimmer of electricity went down Alec’s mechanical spine. The pistol was a relative of the M1911A1, only it was the modern variant with some mods, gunmetal grey, cherry grips with some textured rubber for grip, and "Classic" etched in the slide. The knife was a classic styled K-Bar, only the blade was black. Alec was also handed a standard issue carbine marksman rifle. Alec was briefed about how he was going on a standard recon op., just to warm him up. They took Alec to the drop off, two-hundred and fifty miles away from the city, to the East, Fallen territory. "Good luck," Simons remarked as Alec approached the back of the ship. "Any last request before you jump, tin man?" Alec just looked at him, and then jumped off. Touch down. It felt good to Alec to be back out in the field. The place was seemed to be in Old North-America. He traveled north than went west, following tracks of all sorts: Deer, Fallen, and even human. Though he couldn't feel it, the wind, the cool air, and the sounds of the wild....it was. At one point, Alec came across a downed Guardian ship, a fresh one, in what looked like a ship grave yard. The Fallen took to investigating it as well. Alec decided it was best to investigate the ship without Fallen support. There were eight of them present, two captains, for dregs, and two vandals, and it was time to evict them. Alec took aim from top a ridge, about four hundred yards away. He blended in by covering himself with the plant life. He set up; he noted the locations of the Fallen. Alec takes aim...one hundred yards, two-hundred, three, three-fifty, contact. In a matter seconds, five Fallen collapse to the ground dead, the other Fallen are now alert. Alec acts quickly to drop the first captain, then the dreg....but where the second captain is. "Here we g-" Alec started to say. From nowhere, the Fallen Captain tackles Alec of the ridge, a sixty foot drop ensued. Alec’s rifle is shattered into pieces as it when it hits the bottom. They both land with a thud. Both are up on their feet in a matter of seconds. The Fallen rushes Alec, Alec rushes the Fallen, they both clash in the center of the circle of ship parts serving as a cage or boxing ring. They struggle, trading punches, kicks, head-butts, and elbows. Alec grabs the Fallen around the waist and tackles him into a large pipe, lying horizontally. Alec then unleashes a combo of punches and elbows to the Fallens face, stunning him. Alec places his hands on the Fallens biceps of its lower arms. "Let’s....even the odds, shall we?" Alec said, ripping off the Captains two lower arms. The Fallen pushed Alec back, roaring in pain and anger. It collapsed to the ground, but soon stood up. He faced Alec, the Fallens yellow eyes burning with pain and fury. The Fallen drew a knife, all black; the edge of the blade grew red. He stabbed the side of the pipe, and cut horizontally, to show what it could do. The Fallen walked forward and drew a line in the ground. The Fallen was challenging Alec to a duel, a duel with blades, to regain the Fallen Captains dignity. The Fallen removed his mask. Alec drew his knife, the edge shown bright from the sun. Alec approached the Fallen. Yet again, they fought. This captain was good, but Alec wasn't about to lose. The Fallen attempted to trip Alec up, pinning him to the ground in a stale mate. Alec forced his blade into the Fallens right cheek bone; the Fallens blade landed in Alecs left shoulder. Alec quickly got up. "Enough of this." Alec said as he stood behind the Fallen, who is now on his knees, being held one hand by Alec, Cut his throat. The Fallen tried to roar, only to gargle in its own blood. Alec looked at him, laying there, slowly bleeding to death. Alec didn't have time to watch, so he curbed stomped the Fallens head. Yeah, blood, brains, and bone went everywhere. Alec started to walk away, but noticed the blade on the ground. "To the victor goes the spoils," Alec said as he picked up the blade. "Now, about that ship; better attend to it." Alec picked up the Fallen corpse; he wanted the captain to rest with his squad. He continued walking to the ship, wondering why there were two Fallen captains in one squad. To be continued..... Chapter 3 http://www.bungie.net/7_Chapter-III/en/Forum/Post?id=62280208#referred-Destiny (Destiny)