The Taken left the battlefield. The sand dunes had all but vanished. Glass was made from our Light, craters formed from the Taken energy bursts. Several thousands of bodies scattered all across the sea of sand-- Fallen, Humans, Taken. The city narrowly survived, but had taken many hits. Buildings had collapsed, the sky was full of ash. The massive walker scrap pile laid against the wall. "Alan?! Why didn't you kill him?! It was Phantom... and you let him get away! Again! A--f***in'--gain!" Dakota shouted as he, and everyone else, surrounded me. "I, uh, it was something he said..." I mumbled. "'Something he said'?!" Dakota snapped. He took a deep sigh of frustration, "What did he say?" "He mentioned a new Hive faction trying to take the Dreadnought..." "So? We've fought like, three or four others... What's one new faction?" Blake asked as he sat down in the sand. "How about a new faction that has the Taken scared?" I asked. "Phantom is frantically gathering people for his King's army..." "Haven't you all heard?" Edward asked. He looked at us, and realized we had no idea what he was talking about, "Oryx is dead! A raid team killed his court... There is no Taken King," he continued. "So... Phantom... He's building his own army?!" I exclaimed, "He is going to wage war on this new faction, he told me." "So, you're telling me, that you let... a Taken warlock general, who plans to wage war for the Hive throne... go?" James asked as he leaned back, using his thrusters to keep him from falling. "Could we please let that go?!" I cried as I looked to him. "Well, if what Phantom says is true-- and he hasn't really given us a reason to think he lies-- then we must get back to the Tower immediately!" Dakota declared. Ta'Chal grabbed Dakota's arm as we began to shimmy down the slope, "My city stands because of the Tower. Because of you all. I fear another outcome would have shown if your support did not come... Tau'la, our people, are in your debt. When you need assistance, remember, you have allies out here..." He stood proud and saw us off. We nodded our respects as our ships transmatted us up. All eight of us landed in the hanger and made quick time to the Hall of Guardians. We had a good raid team going on-- eight guardians. "Was the mission a success?" Commander Zavala asked as we neared the table. "Yes, Commander," Dad said. "The Taken are gone, and I believe a Human-Fallen alliance, or at least a temporary truce might be formed." "Well, not what we expected, but that could be useful in time." Commander Zavala studied the map of Tau'la. "Ta'Chal stayed with his people, but he said if the Vanguard ever needed an ally, he and his people will come to our aid," Dad crossed his arms and widened his stance. "Wolf Pack, anything you would like to add?" Ikora asked. Dakota stepped around Dad, "The mission was a success. That's all I can say about the strike." "Anything else?" Dakota swallowed, "Kourtney Osborne, has requested to join Wolf Pack and I plan to accept her..." I quickly looked over to her. "That'll be six, won't it?" Cayde asked. "A proper raid team, right?" "That is, if Alan returns to our team..." Dakota said with a painful stare down of me. "Alan?" Zavala asked. I looked around, twenty-two eyes all on me. "Yes... I, am still with Wolf Pack..." I bit my lip. Everyone went their separate ways. I continued to play with the Void power coursing through my veins. It felt wrong... but good, too. I knew I couldn't keep it a secret for long, so I walked straight to Tower North, where the Speaker inevitably waited. "Sir," I asked walking up a couple of stairs. "Have you ever heard of Guardians being able to wield all forms of the Light? Is that even supposed to be possible?" I asked as I fiddled with my fingers. The Speaker paused, and slowly looked up from his work. "In theory no. It is not a common occurrence... Why do you ask?" I held out my hand shakily and snapped my fingers, causing fire to rise, "I have been a Gunslinger since I remember... It, uh, suits me..." I scuffed out the fire, then caused lightning to course between my fingers, "I also trained as a Bladedancer... And as you are aware, that didn't go to well," I clenched my fist. My body quickly turned cold. I deeply swallowed then formed a Void sphere in the palm of my hand. "This, this is from Phantom, in a sense. I chased him through the Void... and it stuck with me..." I said as I swallowed again. The Speaker nodded slowly. "Well there is nothing wrong with being proficient in all forms of Light, though it is rare, I must say the last is... unsettling but nothing that one should worry immensely about." "It... Well, to say it hurts is an exaggeration. It feels like an Icy-Hot all over me. It's like the Light is fighting to consume me. I get pissed off and right when I draw a Golden Gun, the Void kicks in and Golden Gun goes out. My body is numb, cold, and I can't move. And then, it... I don't know. It feels... wrong. Why? What's so bad about it, that even myself, my own Light doesn't 'want' to mix it?" The Speaker calmly clasped my shoulder. "This needs to be resolved immediately. If you are in fact experiencing this... then you might not even be under your own control soon." "Uh... What?" I asked concerningly. "What, what do you mean by that?" "Don't ask questions. This is a matter to take straight to the Vanguard." He began to pulled me along. He muttered under his breath, "There should still be time." I stumbled while trying to keep up. "I, I don't understand. I mean, I know touching the void takes concentration, and I'm not the most calm Guardian in the Vanguard... But what's wrong?" I asked. "If your Light is fighting against you, and you were granted that Light from an unknown source, then there is something wrong. An infection," the Speaker dragged me across the plaza. "Oh, great. I got a defective Guardian... Thanks Dad..." Colt mocked. "Colt, shut up!" I yelled as I about tripped down the stairs. "This is no laughing matter," The Speaker let go my arm and let me walk at my own pace. He briskly walked forward towards the Vanguard. "Oh, Alan! How nice of you to show up. Listen, I got a 'thing' down in the City, but I'm stuck with--" Cayde slyly pointed to Zavala, "-- Him... So, if you could do an ol' hunter a favor..." I held up my finger in slight defiance. "Um, yeah, Cayde. I would like to, but--" "Ikora, I need you to examine Alan. Something is wrong," the Speaker demanded. "How may I be of assistance, Guardian?" She asked as she walked over to me. "Well, you see, this hunter is sick, the Speaker doesn't know what to do, so it's bad! We thought a warlock could do something about it..." Colt butted in. "COLT!!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. "I got him..." Monica said. "Ow! Monica, you're pulling my shell! You're pulling my shell, Monica! Ow, Monica! Ow!" Colt cried as he was dragged out of the hall. "I'm sorry about that... Continue..." I said, blushing with embarrassment. "Please continue Ikora... This is serious," the Speaker stated. She, and her Ghost looked me over a few times. "When did you train as a Nightstalker?" She asked. "Nightstalker? Alan, I thought Gunslinging was your passion?..." Cayde asked. "I never did. I chased Phantom through the Void and it stuck to me. Is it bad? Is it reversible? And if it is, should I?" I replied. "He claims the Void has been over taking his Light whenever he uses it. I have a feeling this needs to be dealt with as soon as possible," the Speaker interjected. Everyone stiffened up. "Ok, I take it this is worse than I imagined..." I said as I looked around.