Here's part 14 of Into the Hellmouth! FYI, it might be a little spotty for the next few weeks (I'll be busy with school), so if I don't add another part for a few days, don't worry, I haven't given up on the story. Here's part 13 if you missed it: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/201111733?page=0&sort=0&showBanned=0&path=1 If you like it, give it a bump, and tell me what you think! :D A few hours later, Toland and the remaining Hidden had gathered in Ikora’s room. He looked them over with a wry smile on his face, as though they were a new discovery that he’d just made. “So,” he said, “this is the Hidden. Ikora’s pet spy service.” “They’re not my spies, Toland,” Ikora replied, frowning, her arms crossed across her chest. Toland’s grin widened. “My apologies, Ikora,” he said. “Far be it from me to offend your - agents, shall we call them?” He took an exaggerated bow. Ikora was not amused. “We brought you here because we believed that you could help us,” she said. “Tell us what you know of the Hive.” “Ah, Ikora,” Toland said, “always keen to get straight to the point. Never any patience for your studies, always ready to dash off into - “Answer the question, Toland,” she said, “or I’ll throw you out the window myself.” Toland’s grin vanished. “You never were any fun,” he grumbled. “‘Fun’ is not an objective here,” said Omar, “what we seek is information. Give it to us. Now.” “First, I think we should begin with the introductions,” Toland replied. He looked around the room. “I think that you all know who I am. But I would like to know who you are.” There was silence for a brief moment. Then, Eris stepped forward. “I am Eris Morn,” she said. “I participated in the invasion of the moon, alongside Eriana and Sai. Still frowning, Omar spoke. “I am Omar Agah,” he said. Toland looked to Sai. “And what of you?” he said. “What is your name, Hunter?” Sai kept her eyes pointed towards the ground. “I am Sai Mota,” she said. Toland frowned. He could sense that something was wrong with Sai. He opened his mouth to ask what was going on, but he caught a cold look from Ikora. Toland closed his mouth. There were some questions that even a mad warlock found too dangerous to ask. “Very well,” he said. “Is this all of you?” Ikora nodded. “Now that we’ve dispensed with the pleasantries, Toland,” she said, “maybe you could tell us what you know?” Toland frowned. He looked around the room. Then, he cleared his throat. “If it’s alright, I’ll wait a little bit,” he said. “I don’t fancy explaining myself twice.” The room went still. Then, Toland felt a metallic hand close around his throat. He looked into Eriana’s fiery eyes. “Listen, you bastard,” she said, “I went risked exile to track you down, and nearly got myself killed in the process! You will tell me what I want to know, and you will tell me now!” Ikora put a hand on Eriana’s arm. Eriana looked over at her mentor. The Warlock Vanguard gave Eriana a look that was calm but firm. Eriana looked back at Toland. Her eyes still blazing, she let go of his neck. Ikora looked back at Toland. “What do you mean, ‘you don’t want to explain yourself twice?’” she asked. Toland fingered his bruised trachea. “I mean,” he said, “that I’ve read reports about the Disaster. I know that the only reason that anybody escaped from Luna is because of a Titan - Vell Tarlowe, if I’m not mistaken.” Eris frowned. “That’s right,” he said, “he managed to clear an entire section of the Hive, using only a single Fist of Havoc.” Toland nodded. “Exactly,” he said, “if we do this, I want him with us.” Ikora frowned. “Why?” she asked. “From what I remember of you, you aren’t overly fond of Titans.” Toland nodded his head thoughtfully. “Yes, yes,” he said, “they are often single-minded creatures. Far more focused on destroying than understanding. But the Sunbreakers have -“ “The Sunbreakers?” Ikora asked. “You associate with them?” Toland held up a hand. “They have shown me,” he continued, “that Titans can prove useful from time to time. And something tells me,” he said, reaching into his bag, and pulling out a green, glowing orb, “that he knows more than you think.” The orb floated above his hands. Ikora stiffened. “Toland,” she said, “what is that thing?” Toland gazed at the spinning stone in the orb’s center. “Nothing of any consequence to anyone save me,” he said. He put the orb away again, and gazed at the Hidden assembled before him. “Get me Tarlowe,” he said, “and I swear by my Light that you will have your revenge.” There was silence. Finally, Ikora spoke. “I will get Tarlowe,” she said. “In the meantime, you shall stay here, out of sight.” Toland nodded. “As you wish, m’lady,” he said, again making an exaggerated bow. Ikora and the Hidden walked out of the room, Sai bringing up the rear. She didn’t look ahead - instead, she simply walked forward with her eyes closed and her head down. Toland frowned as they left. The young hunter troubled him as few things did. He feared that he might have to either fix what was wrong with her, or find a way to eliminate her from the equation entirely. Sighing, he looked down, and grabbed the orb out of his bag. Once more, he gazed into it’s center, and closed his eyes. He stood like that for a minute or more. But then, his eyes snapped open. He looked over at a corner. “Few can sneak up on one such as I,” he said, “but you nearly pulled it off.” A hunter - Eris, Toland remembered - stepped out of the Shadows. She cocked her head to one side. “What gave me away?” she asked. “The Light,” Toland said. “Even in a city full of it, yours still shines bright.” Eris frowned. “You can sense my Light?” she said. “Not so much sense as hear,” Toland said, “and not so much hearing as living.” Eris looked puzzled. “What do you mean by that?” she asked. Toland waved a hand. “You wouldn’t understand,” he said. The Hunter looked annoyed. “Try me,” she said. Toland ignored her, and looked back at the orb. “You were spying on me for a reason,” he said. “What was it?” “I wanted to see what you would do,” she replied “Why?” Toland said, not looking away from the orb. “Did Ikora want to make sure I wouldn’t wander the Tower?” Eris took a breath. “You know things,” she said, “about the Hive, about their powers, about their leadership.” She gazed at him. “About the Darkness itself.” Toland nodded. “So?” he asked. “I want to know them too,” said Eris. “I want to know everything that you know.” Toland blinked. Then, he looked over at her. The old man’s face crumpled. “Trust me,” he said, “you don’t want to know the things I know. You don’t want to see the things I see. Please, hunter. You don’t want to become a madman like me.” Eris blinked. The warlock suddenly seemed very old indeed. But she persisted. “I don’t care about the cost,” she said. “I want to understand the thing that killed my friends.” “You can’t,” he said. “You won’t.” “Why not!” she shouted. Toland suddenly turned stern. “Catch!” he said. He threw the orb at her. Eris caught it with one hand. Frowning, she held it in her palm. It did not float above her hand. And as she touched it, it made a sound like glass. She looked up at Toland. “That’s why,” he said. “You don’t have the connection. You can’t understand, hunter. He held out his hand, and the orb flew toward his palm. It connected directly with his hand, and then resumed floating. But when it connected, Toland’s eyes widened. His face became blank. Eris frowned. “Toland?” she asked. “What is it?” The Warlock regained his focus, and looked curiously at Eris. He was silent for a moment. Then, he spoke. “Do you still want to learn?” he asked. She nodded slowly. “Yes,” she said. Toland nodded. “Good,” he said. He gazed at the orb once more. “Perhaps you are worthy of my instruction after all.” Edit: Part 15 https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/202426823