Tower: Last city Cayde-6: Well I tell you what, if Petra is coming here to talk with us in person. Whatever was on that recording is direly important. Zavala: Why would she waste the time to come to us? Ikora: She said it was something she wished to discuss in person. What concerns me is that she wishes to bring Variks. She never brings the fallen with her. Zavala: I do not trust a that fallen in the tower. Ikora: I'm sure he may be necessary to the conversation. Cayde-6: two against one Zavala, the fallen comes. If you’re so scared of him seeing your homework then stash it under the table. Zavala shoots a look of disapproval at Cayde-6 Petra and Variks land in the tower. Variks looks up in absolute awe at the sight of the traveler. Variks: Never since the whirlwind, has any fallen been so close to the great machine. Petra: That may change after this. Petra and Variks moved into the vanguard hall. They passed by Eris who stared Variks and Petra down as they passed. Shaxx stood in the entrance to the Vanguard’s room with his arms crossed. He focused his gaze on Variks. Shaxx: Give me a reason why I shouldn’t take your head off where you stand, [i]fallen[/i]. Petra stepped forward and gave Shaxx a death glared. Petra: Because he is under my protection. And Let me remind you that my people died by the thousands so that your city would stand. You lost soldiers. [i]We lost much more[/i]. You are in our debt, [i]my debt[/i], and you will protect whoever I claim to be a friend. Shaxx stood less stiff. He avoided eye contact with Petra. Variks moved towards Shaxx and kneeled before him. Variks: I cannot atone for what my people have done. We can never hope to redeem ourselves after everything we’ve done. If you would wish Varik to fall at your feet, then let it be so. Shaxx looked down at Variks. Shaxx: I will not forgive you. I cannot. But never have I witness a fallen with honor like this. You will receive only my pity. Shaxx moved out of the way and Variks and Petra entered the room. Zavala, Cayde-6, and Ikora looked over to the two awaiting news. Petra: Vanguard, I have information that may put an end to our wars with the fallen. Zavala: This is a very bold claim. I expect you have extreme evidence to support it. Petra proceed to play the recording for the vanguard and Shaxx. Zavala: This is….This must be a trick. The kings are known for their tricks. Cayde-6: No, this is genuine. Zavala: And how would you know? Cayde-6: I’ve told you the story of when I got ambushed by hive on the moon with the exile baroness. I’m pretty sure she just wanted to give me a reason to kill her. I wondered for the longest time what she said as ether drained out of her. I thought she was trying to say sorry in our language. I thought I was crazy until I heard this. They truly feel bad about what they did. Zavala: This doesn’t change what the fallen have done to us. We've lost so many to th- Cayde-6: I’m going to stop you right there. You may have lost some good titans to the fallen but I have lost, good friends. Andal was one of them. And let me tell you this, I keep up this cheery attitude because they wouldn’t want me to change to something bitter over their loss. They also wouldn't want my judgment to get clouded in case something like this were to ever fall into my hands. I have a far more personal beef with the fallen, but even I can give them just a little forgiveness. Sure, I'm not happy with 'em but an opportunity like this can potentially be, "for the greater good". You titans are alwas talking about noble you are and, "wish only to better the lives of the people down in that city" but right now, you are openly trying to turn down an opportunity to make [b]everything[/b] better. Zavala looked down and stood silently. Ikora: I'm with Cayde on this one. Making peace with the fallen would reclaim most of Earth and greatly increase our our troop numbers. We would no longer have to live in the shadows of our golden age. If they seek forgiveness, why not give it to them. Petra: Whatever you decide, the awoken will back your decision. I only ask you make a wise choice. A long silence held the room until Zavala leaned over the table and closed his eyes. Zavala: Perhaps you are right. Cayde, how would you go about this? Cayde-6:.....We’ll need to establish contact with the kings. We’ll play them this message and see how open they are to negotiation. I’m gonna send a team to go grab something real quick. Cayde-6 scrambles a team. Earth’s orbit: Fireteam spitfire: Iris - female awoken warlock, Yuri - Male human hunter, Taravax-7 - Male exo titan. Yuri: Guys, Cayde’s calling. Iris: Odd, what does he want? Taravax-7: Patch him through. Cayde-6: Fireteam spitfire, need to you to run a quick eran. You’re going to an old king base. 50,50 percent chance that there’ll still be some kings in the area. Yuri: What are we going into king territory for? Cayde-6: I’m gonna to be honest. If you find the device I’m sending you after, you may very well put an end to our war with the fallen. Taravax-7: We’re on it. Fireteam spitfire, over and out. Setting a course for king base in the African deadzone. The fireteam droped from orbit and landed just outside of an ancient temple. The king banner was hung over the entrance. Iris ran a quick scan on the place to confirm if there were any fallen. Iris: This temple dates back to the days before we could even reach orbit, Astonishing. This was believed to be a temple where ancient humans would practice reaching to their gods and communing with them. Yuri: 1000 glimmer says there’s a rebuilt prime in there. Iris: Not possible, no major ether trails are running through here. Though there seems to have been recent activity. Taravax-7: You should really consider yourself lucky that we don’t call out your bets, Yuri. Yuri: Yeah, yeah, let’s just get this thing and go. The fireteam entered the temple and made their way to the top. They found a large room that appeared to be abandoned. Yuri: hm, no prime. Well that’s no fun. Iris: Do you ever listen to anything I say? Yuri: Yes, I do, but everything you say normally kills the fun. [b]You're a killjoy Iris[/b]. [i]A killjoy[/i]. Taravax-7: Doesn’t matter, we’re here to find that devi- A sudden movement in the shadows cuts them off. Tarava-7: Fallen, captain armor, might be a baron. Tricon formation, hold fire. The team pointed their weapons at the shadows, waiting for the fallen to pounce. The figure slowly revealed itself. It held its hand in the air. The team quickly surrounded the baron. Mystery baron: I know why you are here. Iris: You speak our language? Mystery baron: A long tale that you would not care to hear. I only ask that you hear what I have to say. I am Lokis. I have spent many years mastering your tongue in order to fulfill a promise I made to an old friend. Kolis, baron of kings, wishes to apologize for all that he has done. He does not expect you accept his apology or even respond, but he wishes that you at least might hear his words. *a short pause* There, you may now kill me. Taravax-7 lowered his weapon and motioned for the team to do the same. Taravax-7: We're not here to kill you. That apology is actually the reason we're here. Yuri: What? We’re here for that thing to put an end to the fallen. Taravax-7: Did you read the mission details? We’re here to retrieve a device to contact the higher ranks of the kings. We’re putting an end to the fallen war, not the fallen. Lokis looked at the titan with an expression of hope. Lokis: Is what you say true? Taravax-7: Titans rarely lie. Do you by chance know where that device is? Lokis: There is are a few devices around here. Find what you need, and put an end to this war. I have kept my promise. I have fulfilled my duty. I have nothing else to do now, but wait. The team searched through old fallen crates until they found what they were looking for. Iris: Lokis, if I might be so bold as to ask you why you are alone? Lokis: You guardians tried to assassinate me once. I took advantage of you blowing up my skiff and killing my crew. I let everyone assume I was dead and from the remnants of this temple, I learned your tongue. I assumed you were here to finish me off. They said their goodbyes and quickly returned to the tower with the comms device in hand. With them, they carried hope of a new golden age. [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/212790032]Part 3: The next golden age[/url] [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/212681057]Part 1: a baron falls[/url] [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/212681037]The collection:[/url]