If you missed the last chapter of REEF MOB, you can find it [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/222339274/0/0]here[/url], or if you need to find a previous chapter, you can find them all in the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/218618986?sort=0&page=0]Table of Contents[/url]. Please give a bump or leave a comment if you enjoy this and any other chapter! ***  The Warden stares blankly, endlessly, at us from across the cell. Through the rippling energy of our zero-point containment field, the Warden’s eye seems to dart from side to side warily, watchfully – but we know it’s just an illusion. The Warden hasn’t thought or spoken for itself since long before we arrived, long before we first ventured down into the Prison… The Warden suddenly turns to us, eye glowing, and out of its speakers rasps Variks’ purring croak: “[i]Cell is ready. Prepare for transfer.[/i]” The Royal Guards flank us, two monitoring our containment field and four watching us warily, hands gripping their weapons tightly. [i]They’re scared of us, always scared… ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Indeed. The inferior will always fear the superior. As they should.[/i] The Guards begin to shepherd us forward as one of the large, ovular doors grinds open – beyond, a small hallway awaits, pulsing with twisted, red growth – [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ How….[/i] We reach out and tap into the SIVA tendrils already growing through the hallway, searching for answers – There’s none, just a blank spot between Taniks’ ketch and the Queen’s – [i]Where have you been?[/i] Our questions continue to plague us as the Guards fall back, aiming their weapons as the Warden takes over, guiding our containment field into the hallway. Once inside, the doors grind shut once more, locking us in as the Warden transmats away – The containment field falls and our feet land lightly on the ground, humming with energy as the red tendrils throughout the hallway reach out to us lovingly, welcoming us back – [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Yes, we can feel them[/i], we respond, feeling out further into the cell – We walk forward, a warm feeling rising in our chest – with surprise, we try to pinpoint the source of the sudden emotion, deduce the cause of the feeling, finally finding – [i]Home. It feels like we’re coming home.[/i] We shiver slightly, still growing accustomed to the strange symbiosis. [i]How can a prison be home? Unless…[/i] We push further forward, reaching the secondary door. It slides open expectantly, and we step inside, the warm feeling filling us up further, an overflow of – [i]Light[/i], we think with a sudden shock. [i]It feels like the Light.[/i] We look around the open cell in awe. The interior looks similar to the rest of the Queen’s ketch, but standing at intervals all around the cell are Hive and Fallen forces, red tendrils twisted completely throughout them as they wait expectantly for their orders. [i]Our army.[/i] We feel them questioning us in our mind, hear the repetitive directives we left them with repeating endlessly – [i]* Find and feed. See and destroy. * ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~[/i] A red figure emerges from the crowd, slowly walking toward us – with a thrill of horror, we recognize him. [i]Ari.[/i] Ia’s old companion stares blankly at us, his words repeating inside our head. [i]* Find and feed. See and destroy. * ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ I…I still feel….regret…. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ I don’t know, I just…. I regret what I did… ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~[/i] I think over her question: [i]Why? Why do I have anything to regret? This man attacked me – he knew he was outmatched, knew he’d be throwing his life away, and he attacked me regardless… But he was Ia’s friend…[/i] I feel the tear in my mind again before I realize it, dividing SIVA and I. Ari simply stares at me, red tendrils pulsating across and beneath his skin, waiting, watching… [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Why? Why shouldn’t I regret when I make a mistake? Why shouldn’t I feel for him? How am I Perfected if I still feel –[/i] SIVA attempts to overload me into submission – the splitting pain arcs through my head, but I push it away with practice – and then it hits me. I followed orders as a Guardian, as a Disciple, even as a member of the Mob… But that was all just practice to serve my ultimate master. [i]SIVA. No matter how strong I’ve become, I’m still beholden to someone else, to something else – I’m not Perfected. I’m corrupted. Why does this keep happening to me?[/i] I meet Ari’s eyes, and see nothingness staring back at me. [i]I’m a monster. I’m a monster. I’m a – ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ I am what I am. But I still don’t have a choice. I’ve never had a choice. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~[/i] I meet Ari’s eyes once more – I look past him and see Ia, see what my sacrifice bought me. [i]Nothing. I did it all for nothing. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Just a puppet obeying his master’s will. That’s all I’ve ever been. All I’ll ever be. I’m a monster and a puppet.[/i] There’s a tickle in the back of my mind. [i]But if I’m just a puppet… … …how was SIVA unable to control me against Ia?[/i] My heart beats faster – SIVA feels it and tries to bring me under her sway again, make me obedient again – [i]She couldn’t move me…. My grief made me immovable…. … My emotions gave me strength…. …. How? ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~[/i] The pain sears my head, but I push it away as excitement builds within me. [i]I CAN control it – I CAN make a choice – I CAN –[/i] The door suddenly creaks open behind me, sliding to the side to admit a small team of three, stepping out of the shadows to approach me. I squint as I look at them, the pain of SIVA still burning in my mind. “Holy shit,” one of them says, his voice familiar. “Look at you….” Out of the shadows step three Guardians, their golden armor glowing against the crimson backdrop of SIVA’s infection. The one in front takes another step closer, looking shrewdly at me through his helmet, Disciples markings displayed proudly across his armor. I feel my heart drop. Word must travel fast in the Reef… The Disciple in front takes another step forward, holding his golden hand cannon in front of him warily. “Don’t recognize me, do you?” he asks, a mean edge in his voice. [i]How many Disciples did I meet during my time? How many of them could hold a grudge?[/i] He reaches up to his helmet, turning his faceplate transparent so I can see his smirking, triumphant expression. “I told you what would happen if I ever saw you again.” I look at his face, and my heart drops into my stomach. “Avi?” Avi’s smirk widens, and with it I feel a chill pass through me. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ No choice. Never a choice.[/i] With a heavy heart, I feel SIVA pulling at me, bringing me back under her influence, and I let her. We reunite out of necessity, for survival, as the Disciples tighten their grips on their weapons, preparing for battle. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ No, we’re not superior. We’re just desperate. That’s why we keep finding ourself beholden to different masters. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Doesn’t make it not true.[/i] We feel Ari behind us preparing for battle as well, sending the directives out through the rest of our army. [i]* Find and feed. See and destroy. * ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Kill them.[/i]