[b]Finally it is here, only 3(ish) weeks later than I originally said... Yea, sorry about that, anyway. If you haven't read the first three parts I have compiled them into a handy google doc:[/b] [url]https://docs.google.com/document/d/1stlIYx2Q8hzLftGVXeBFgiR4ObjHiJQEbZ43yUK3i6Q/edit?usp=sharing[/url] --The Last City, Earth Rising tall above humanities final stronghold, the Tower gleamed magnificently in the golden sunlight, its shiny metal cladding reflecting the suns rays as it stood proudly above the mess of slum-like buildings; the tangle of homes housing the last of Earth’s dwindling population. A lofty square-paved courtyard sat near the top of the spire like fortress, where it served as a social hub for the hundreds of Guardians who called the tower home. The paved courtyard was framed by three large doorways, the middle of which led to the Hall of Guardians, a large open plan room occupied by the Vanguard, three elite guardians who acted as mentors to newer recruits in the fight against the Darkness, in the center of the room and slightly embedded in the floor a solid metal table sat at about knee height, around it, I, Commander Zavala, Ikora Ray and a thin framed white-clad figure sat, engrossed in an intense conversation. “Speaker, what is going on?” I asked, “We've picked up signs of a massive energy surge in the Cosmodrone, similar to what we picked up when the Vex first occupied Venus, and those two Guardians, Rhel and Lilia, haven’t returned from their kill mission, I knew both of them, there is no way that that baron would take them out. No way. Is there any chance that the energy surge and Lilia and Rhel's disappearance are linked?” The speaker sighed and leaned back in his chair, his snow white robes ruffling silently as he moved. “There is a chance, Cayde, that the two events are linked. The energy surge which you detected was indeed similar to the signals the first Vex confluxes produced when they overran Venus. But, it was modified, the signal altered, as it would seem, to carry organic life, rather than the Vex. But it could have been a coincidence, the pair could have abandoned... Don’t give me that look Ikora, it has happened before.” “A Warlock would never abandon the City to the darkness, such a thing is unheard of.” She snarled. “The Hunter though, I would not be surprised if he had something to do with this.” My metallic exo face transforming itself from worry to contempt as I regarded the Warlock, I shook my head, “Ikora-” “Enough!” The Speakers voice booming over the sound of the squabbling Vanguard. “We have more important things to deal with than old feuds and rivalries. Like, for instance, the fact that two of our best Guardians have gone missing on a seemingly routine kill mission to kill a seemingly routine target!” The Speaker was uncharacteristically angry, and his words dropped like lead on our ears “Right now our priority it to locate Rhel and Lilia. We’re desperate for more recruits and we can’t afford to lose any more Guardians. So, Cayde, I need you and Ikora to work on locating the source of the signal, and hopefully figure out where it has taken them, and Commander Zavala” The speaker turning his attention to the stocky Titan, “I need you to scout out the Cosmodrome. Alert me to any signs of Vex activity! And you two” His attention focus back on me and and the Warlock, “If I hear of any, any trouble, I swear, I will strip you both of your rank and cast you out of the city. Do I make myself clear!?” I hung my head in shame, as did Ikora as we trudged disgraced and embarrassed out of the Hall, Commander Zavala was still deeply engrossed in conversation with the Speaker. -VENUS, Unknown Region I limped, half crouched, half upright from the horrific memory of the outpost. The sight of Lilias abominable slaughter was fresh in my mind, the way her blood had caked the Vex machine as it stood emotionless and uncaring, its murderous hand still hanging in the air as dark red blood trickled down its wrist and settling in a large pool at its feet. A solitary tear carved a wet trail down my face, I never cried. Ever. Through the writhing landscape of my mind one thought managed to force it self through the wall of fury and sorrow. Ghosts. The thought fell like a hammer blow, forcing me to stop my wandering journey, how could I have been so stupid. Through the entire ordeal my thoughts had not once turned to the reviving capabilities of our ghosts. Suddenly I was fully awake, the dark reddy-grey haze that had clouded my vision had lifted. I looked around, on all sides strange twisting trees created walls of greenery that looked almost impenetrable. The only gap in the mess of green was the path I had taken from the outpost. Faint dark red staining in the soft earth marked my meandering trail. I carefully lowered Lilia's lifeless body to the ground, then I sat down heavily, letting out a loud sigh as I did so. I buried my head in my hands, a plan started to form in my head as I sat in the dirt. After a few minutes I pushed my self back to my feet, hoisted Lilia's limp and lifeless body back onto my shoulder and started my journey back to the cave. The walk was longer and more arduous than I remember it being the first time, my distressed boots slipped in the damp soil, my injured legs gushed fountains of blood with each step. Finally I arrived, panting, drenched in sweat and blood, with dry dirt caking almost every surface of my armor, at the ominous cave mouth. It pitch black maw seemed to beckon my inside, I took a deep breath and took a step inside. Inside the the cave everything was as I had left it, the bodies of dead Fallen lay in heaps, covering almost every meter of ground. In center of the cave the two platforms that had imprisoned Lilia and I still stood among the mass of dead. I scanned my eyes around the dark cave, searching for our ghosts, it was then that I noticed something I had not noticed the last time. A cloud of dark green hovered some half meter of the ground, inside it the faint flickering lights of two ghosts could be seen, suspended among the darkness. Their light was almost depleted. Instinctively I grasped for the light, but once again found it blocked. “What the...” I whispered to the darkness. I cautiously walked over to the hovering cloud, I assumed it was thing hindering my abilities. Within seconds I was a nose-length away from the strange entity. This close I could just make out a faint humming sound. I gulped, and plunged my hand into the darkness. [b]Sorry it's short... If you enjoyed feel free to comment and sub, constructive criticism is always nice![/b]