[b][u]Episode 4: Evenly Matched[/u][/b] Toland breathed heavily as he slammed into the ground. The person who had thrown him, a Titan, seemed to be more interested in having a fist-fight then finishing him off, the idiot. Toland wobbled as he stood up, his head pounding from the impact. This was their eighth Trials match, and while they hadn't lost a single round, the other team hadn't exactly gone down without a fight. "Is that all you've got, brickhead?" Toland taunted the Titan, who looked pretty pissed already. This caused the Titan to snarl and shoulder charged right at Toland, who took the opportunity to blink out of the way, twist in midair, and hit the titan square in the back. The sound of the drums told Toland that Dredgen and Kabr had found their respective targets. The match was over. _______________________________________ As they returned to orbit, Toland breathed a sigh of relief, they were nearing the end of the tournament, and the Trinary Star hadn't done any major damage yet, with only a handful of teams here or there, except there was one team which seemed to be doing just as well as Fireteam X. He took a minute to review their strategy. What they had done prior was engage each of their targets individually. Kabr had proven the most lethal in closer ranges, using his modified Vex weapon and his Aegis shield. Dredgen was virtually unstoppable in any situation with his Thorn, each shot hitting their mark with accuracy Toland could not understand, with his knife dealing with anybody who dared to get close enough. Toland himself had taken a different approach, he obliterated his enemies with Vortex grenades, Scatter Grenades, Axiom Bolts and nova bombs, using Bad Juju to hold his enemies at bay while charging his powers. However, something bothered Toland. Despite Fireteam X eliminating all of their competition, they were still not acting as a team yet, something still hadn't clicked, and everybody was going in as a lone wolf. We won't survive in the long run working like this. He thought to himself. "So what do you think waits for us at the end of this tournament?" Kabr set the Jumpship to auto-pilot as the warp drive kicked in, sending them towards their destination. "I'm hoping it's some loot for our troubles." Dredgen sharpened his Knife. "I'm sick and tired of getting a simple thank you. I mean, didn't the speaker promise we would get payed?" "Is that all you think about? Loot? I'm hoping to meet with Osiris again. We have a lot to discuss..." Kabr swiveled back around in his chair and took the controls again. "No I don't think about loot all the time, I just think it would be nice if we got something useful out of this mission." Dredgen went back to sharpening his knife. "Hmm, that's odd." Toland spoke softly as he inspected their next opponents. "What's wrong?" Dredgen looked over his shoulder. "The Trinary Cult's team, Fireteam Gemini... the two mercenaries, Castor and Pollux, are renowned killers, but the third member... his information is classified beyond measure." He and Dredgen stared at each other for a moment. "Like us." "Do we know anything about him at all?" Kabr asked as he piloted the ship to the combat entry zone. "We know his gear, Hand Cannons, the 4th Horseman, standard crucible armor-" "Check his mark." Dredgen snapped, staring at the screen with a sense of anticipation. "If that is who I think it is..." They were transmated into the arena before he could finish. As soon as they were inside, Dredgen rushed towards the alcove, hoping to confirm his suspicion. Dredgen pointed across the map, towards the enemy team. Toland and Kabr turned and gasped, on the other team was the legendary Thalor. _______________________________________ "Split up." Toland yanked Dredgen away as the wall behind him was peppered with sniper rounds. "We do what we did before, we take them on individually and wipe them out." they nodded and split off, with Kabr rushing outside and Toland going around the back. Dredgen went down the middle. "Where are they?" Dredgen's eyes darted back and forth, analyzing everything. For once in his life, he was afraid. His past had come back to haunt him. "Right in front of your face." Dredgen jumped as Thalor approached him, his barely contained rage showing in every step. "I killed you! How is this possible?" Dredgen backed up for a second, then remembered who he was, the destroyer, the warrior, he would not lose. "The Trinary Star saved me, brought me back, showed me what is wrong with all of us! They showed me the true nature of the light!" he pointed an accusing finger at Dredgen, "Yet despite this the darkest warrior in history is fighting for the light! You shall fall and be reborn, as I was..." He charged at Dredgen, who dodged his fist and went in for a knife. They circled each other, waiting for a move. The sound of gunfire burst from a short distance, and Dredgen heard his teammates fall. "You're all that remains... better luck next time!" Thalor smirked as Dredgen charged at him, he evaded, blasting him with the 4th Horseman in the process. _______________________________________ Dredgen gasped as he sat up, Kabr and Toland were lying nearby, they slowly got to their feet. "Vance's Ghosts worked! We're alive!" Toland stood up with a grin. The Disciple of Osiris had provided them with makeshift Ghosts, which would revive them for a total of ten times. They had saved them, waiting for the time where they would actually need them. "Why can't I beat him? Why can't I even get a single blow?" Dredgen was shocked. "He's probably been training a lot more than you have." Kabr cracked his back, stretching his muscles. "It doesn't matter." As the drums rang out, they shared a quick glance as the next round began. It was gonna be a long fight. _______________________________________ To be continued. Next Chapter: http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/140373805/0/0 Table of Contents: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/114713352/0/0