No one else challenged Akrin or Tac for the rest of the evening, although a few of the Titans who passed their table eyed the Exo with a variety of expressions ranging from respect to wariness. Some avoided the pair altogether. The civilian patrons, however, took a different approach. One bought Akrin another ale, while others smiled as they passed the duo. Tac was glad for the kindness. Eventually, as the crowds dispersed and the tavern grew quiet, Akrin stood and stretched. “I half expected him to come back.” He picked up the pair of ale glasses on the table. “He seemed pretty peeved.” Tac didn’t move. “Is that why you waited around for another hour and a half?” “Of course. I wasn’t going to miss out on a chance to see you get your ass kicked.” The Exo gave her friend a sideways glance. “You mean you wouldn’t have helped him out?” “You kidding? Against you?” Akrin turned and headed for the main bar. He deposited the empty glasses on the countertop, then paced back toward the table. Tac considered walking back to the Tower with him, just to be safe, but then discarded the thought. He wouldn’t appreciate the intrusion, especially if he was returning to his quarters to meditate, as he often did after one of their evenings out. She flashed him a thumbs-up in a show of camaraderie, and he returned the gesture with a brief grin before turning and heading toward the door. Tac turned her attention to one of the television screens mounted throughout the tavern, although she found herself unable to focus on the program; she couldn’t help but go over the evening’s events again. She normally didn’t mind Akrin’s good-natured ribbing, but for some reason, she realized, the Warlock’s humor had touched a nerve. Did he really believe that Mursor could so easily best her? Or, she realized, perhaps it was his support of the Crucible. With Guardians like Mursor taking part in its challenges, it was hard to believe that anyone would come out of it a better Guardian than they had gone in. And yet, Akrin was proof that it was possible. So why were there still Guardians at each other’s throats? “Some people just thrive on conflict, you know.” Tac blinked and shifted her attention to her Ghost, who had materialized next to her without her noticing. “Is that it? Is it really that simple?” Tac tapped a finger on the tabletop, and a tiny flash of Arc Light popped in response. Lumen watched the Light dissipate. “It is. You are an Exo, so you don’t remember much of anything before the Collapse, but I’ve heard stories. You forget I used to relay information to the Speaker.” “And what stories have you heard? What could be more foolish than a person who fights because he can? What sort of person fights without a reason?” “I didn’t say there was anything more foolish. I only said it was possible. Those who fight without a reason-” Lumen paused to think. “I suppose they never tried to do anything different. All they know is fighting, and conflict. The thought of peace and kindness are frightening to them, so they never try.” “Well then I suppose that makes Mursor one of two things. A coward, or a bully. Maybe both. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let him act out against other Guardians. We start squabbling amongst ourselves again, and we’re no better than the Darkness. Leave the infighting to our enemies.” Lumen spun his panels, but said nothing. “Either way,” Tac continued, “we should probably leave. Rin is about to close for the night and I’m not going to be the one he has to kick out.” The Titan rose from her seat and made for the door, giving the bar’s owner a wave as she stepped outside. Lumen elected to remain in his physical form, and followed her. “So,” she remarked, “how do you feel about the scenic route? I could use the walk.” “I’ve already plotted a route through Haven Park.” [i]‘He knows me too well.’[/i] Tac thought. “I don’t know about that.” Lumen vanished in a flash of light. “I’d say I know you just right.” “Oh really?” Tac began her walk toward the park. “[i]I’d[/i] say reading my mind qualifies as knowing me ‘too well.’” “Well, I disagree. I [i]chose[/i] you, after all.” Tac didn’t respond. She was already deep in thought. If Akrin was right about the Crucible, it could help her improve her skills. The Sunsinger had certainly learned a lot from his time in Shaxx’s domain, and the fact remained that he had become a valuable teammate as a result. The minions of the Darkness found it ever-harder to penetrate the Warlock’s guard each time they left the City. Tac knew her place among those the Traveler resurrected. She was meant to protect the Last Safe City and drive back the Darkness, not spend her time quibbling over other Guardians’ skills. Nothing, and no one, would turn her mind from that fact. The Faction Wars had seen to that. She knew that no matter how many times she took up arms against her fellow warriors in the Crucible, she would always consider them allies. Even if some of them were gruff, surly, and taciturn toward their fellows. “You know,” Lumen chimed in, “you come across that way yourself, sometimes.” “I know,” Tac acknowledged, “but it has nothing to do with how other Guardians wield their Light.” The Ghost had no response for that, and the Titan returned to her thoughts. [i]“By turning the Light against itself, we learn its limits.”[/i] Akrin’s argument had some weight, albeit for another reason. Fire is hot. Anyone who had been burned knew that. But those who dared to feed the flames, to explore the limits of the fire’s heat? They learned how to use the fire, to bend it to their will. The first metalworkers learned this, long ago, and their knowledge resulted in the tools that led to humanity’s ability to reach the stars. The same tools that allowed them to reach out to the Traveler before the Golde-. “Tac, duck!” Lumen’s command came so suddenly that the Titan almost didn’t register what he was saying. Nonetheless, the urgency in his voice must have triggered [i]some[/i] instinct in her mind, for she crouched, dove forward, and rolled to her feet before turning to discover who her attacker was. [i]‘Of course.’[/i] The Titan’s helmet obscured his features, but Tac recognized the Pandion Mark strapped to the Guardian’s waist. ~~~~~ [b]You didn't think I'd miss the opportunity to use that "ticked-off-bar-patron-shows-up-for-revenge" cliche, did you? I needed an excuse for an awesome fight scene! Stay tuned for fisticuffs![/b]