Episode 9: Xur's Debt (Finale) Xur disembarked his craft, ignoring the awoken servant who ushered him to the Queen's chambers. He entered the chambers and was greeted by the Crow. "I am here to collect Skolas" he rasped, "my Master's command it" "There has been a slight... complication" the Crow said, uncomfortably. "A rogue group broke into the Prison of Elders... Skolas is gone, but we do have those who freed him in custody" The Crow lead Xur to the cell where the three rogues were being held. "Are these them?" The Crow nodded, and Xur lashed out his hand, and a gateway appeared in the cell, and the Dredgen, Kabr, and Toland leaped through it. "What have you done?" the Crow yelled, his dagger at Xur's throat. Xur stared at the Crow with empty eyes, "I have repayed a great debt" he removed the dagger. "There is nothing that can be done for Skolas, we do not seek his rescuers punishment" He turned, and walked away. _____________________________________ The Queen walked behind her brother. "He is right" The Crow turned angrily "Those were GUARDIANS who freed Skolas, and you know it!" he spoke with venom. "Yes" the queen turned, "the Speaker is more resourceful than I was prepared for, however, there is a Guardian who owes us our own debt" The Crow grinned "Skolas will certainly die, hopefully our 'friend' will as well" The Queen nodded and turned to the viewport, watching Xur's craft leave. "Tell Petra to approach him with an offer" She spoke thoughtfully "The Speaker has displayed his pawns, but the Queen will always dominate the chessboard" _____________________________________ Toland, Dredgen, & Kabr sat inside Kabr's ship, huddled around a hologram of the Speaker. "So Skolas escaped?" the Speaker asked. "Yes... we failed" Toland lowered his eyes, not wanting to hear the fate that they were destined for on return, they were all killers, outcasts, surely they would be killed. "It is no matter, Skolas will no longer be able to give the Nine the process to harvesting the Traveler" the Speaker could have been smiling "you have completed your mission and are all free men, however..." He turned back to Toland "there is one matter, since when does Xur, one of the most powerful entities in the universe, owe you a favour?" Dredgen and Kabr also glanced at Toland, who sighed. "The reason Xur owed me a favour is the reason that he always shows up, I granted him access to the tower ages ago, when I was a young guardian" The Speaker nodded, seemingly unsurprised by the revelation. "Regardless, you are all free to leave, however, you are forbidden to rejoin society, simply on the grounds of the public belief that you are deceased" All three nodded, it would be hard to be accepted back into society, after the crimes they had committed. "However, if you want to continue our line of work, their is a secret project known as Fireteam X, if you are interested" Toland and Kabr nodded in unison, and the Speaker turned to Dredgen, "I assume you are not going to consider this offer, Mr. Yor?" Dredgen shook his head, "This will probably be the last time you hear from me, I work better alone" "Are you sure? Since you three are not part of the Vanguard, you could work on pay?" "Like a bounty hunter?" Dredgen thought hard, "i'll stay on for now, keep these idiots alive" "Very well, then I have your teams first assignment" an image appeared in the Hologram, a Hive Wizard, who was experimenting on an Ogre. "That is Moluk, and her pet, Nycor" Toland explained. "I remember her from my research, she is considered a mad scientist, even by other wizards!" "She is your first target, but there is more" the Speaker turned to Dredgen, "You remember Likisis? His brother Liksor is an Assassin, liar, and thief sent by Skolas along with Likisis to murder the Queen, he is hunting you for revenge" "Then he will die, by my blade" Dredgen growled. "Are you sure you three are up for the challenge?" the Speaker asked. Kabr looked at his new teammates, it has been a long time since he was part of any team. He cleared his throat, "As individuals, we are all rogues, killers and monsters, cast out by society, but together?" he smiled "we are invincible" _____________________________________ The end Book 2: http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/117471789/0/0 Table of Contents: http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/114713352/0/0 (Book 2 is finished as well, click link above to read on!)