This is my first story on this forum. Yeah, it's a bit sappy, but I was inspired by the whole "master race" debate. Let me know what you think. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Karim leaned against the rail, watching the other Guardians passing through the main courtyard of the Tower. The warlock had just returned from a patrol on Venus, and, between fighting the Fallen and the Vex, he was mentally drained. It seemed like every time he was attacked out in the Wilds, whether it was from the Fallen, the Vex, the Cabal, the Hive, or the Taken, it did not seem to be significant. It made him wonder what the point of it all was. "Penny for your thoughts, warlock?" a voice asked, snapping him out of his reverie. Next to him were two other Guardians, a heavily armored Awoken titan, his armor gleaming silvery-grey in the setting sun, and an Exo hunter, her armor and cloak a muted shade of slate blue. "Just bored, I guess," he responded, his voice as crestfallen as he felt. "Sounds like you're more than a bit jaded," the hunter added. "Maybe," he said, reluctantly agreeing to the Exo's assessment. "Why do you ask?" "We just received a mission from the Vanguard," the hunter began. "Looks like Sepiks is back, and badder than ever. Ikora recommended bringing you along." "Maybe we should get introductions out of the way first," the titan said as he held out an armored hand. "I'm Indra. Indra Vor. My associate here is Artemis-5." "Karim McIntyre," the warlock said, shaking hands with the titan. "Maybe this team is just what I need." "What do you mean?" asked Artemis. "It's just... I don't see why we're constantly putting ourselves in harm's way on the Vanguard's say-so. Maybe I've been in a rut, but I need to know what it is I'm fighting for." Indra and Artemis shared a look and nodded. "Come with me," Indra said. "There's something you need to see." With that, the trio made their way into a busy section of the City. Karim had never been into the City before. Whenever he was between missions, he was in the Tower, refueling and resting for the next big mission, the next big fight between whatever was trying to kill him. All around him were people living their lives, going to work or school, children playing in a park, or talking about what happened the night before. When they passed by, some smiled and others cheered. It seemed so ordinary to Karim, so he wasn't sure what Indra was showing him. As they entered a small coffeehouse, an older man was telling stories to a group of children. The children were so mesmerized by the tale that they hardly noticed the Guardians enter the establishment. He was telling them about the battle between Solkis, Kell of the Fallen House of Devils, and the legendary titan Saint-14. One of the children turned to see the trio and his face lit up. He tugged on the older man's pant leg, pointing to the Guardians standing in the room. "What a coincidence, Indra," the man said. "I was just telling them your favorite story." "Still telling those old stories, Alan?" Indra said with a smile. The man, Alan, nodded with a smile of his own. "Remember those monsters I told you about, kids?" he asked his young audience. The youngsters nodded. "Well, it's thanks to Guardians like these that our fair City is kept safe from them. It's their selfless courage that shields us from the Darkness beyond." "But, Mr. Alan," one of the children asked, "which ones are better?" A chorus of responses came from the other kids. Some said that titans were the best, while others said the same for hunters and warlocks. "Now, hold on, little ones," Indra said, raising his voice just enough to command the attention of the young crowd. "No single class of Guardian is better or worse than another. It takes all of the Guardians to keep the City safe from the Darkness. Sure, the Titans built the walls, but we would know very little about our enemies without the cunning of the hunters and the wisdom of the warlocks. That's why my unit wears this crest." With that, he turned to show his mark. The crest adorning the mark was a triquetra with the symbols of the three Guardian classes in each section. As Karim looked on, he noticed that Artemis's cloak had the same symbol. "And we're all grateful for all of the Guardians, especially Indra and the Triune Host, as they fight against the Darkness," Alan said. Seeing the children look at him like he was a superhero kindled a flame inside of him that he feared had been extinguished forever. As the three left the coffee-shop and prepared to go to orbit, Artemis and Indra pulled him to one side. "You're not the first Guardian to feel jaded by the fight," she began. "I've been there, as has Indra. That's why we come into the City before every mission: to remind us of why we do it, why we put ourselves in harm's way every single time. "The way those kids were looking at me," Karim said, still taking it in, "it was like Saint-14 himself appeared to them. I was like a hero to them." "That's because you are," Indra said. "Ghost?" The titan held out a hand, and a bond transmatted into his grasp. He held it out for the warlock to take. "Karim McIntyre," he began with almost as much pomp as Commander Zavala, "the Vanguard spoke highly of your actions on previous missions, and we would like to welcome you into the Triune Host. What say you?" Karim had always been a solo Guardian, always working alone. To be a member of their team was different. And yet, he felt that his Light could work with theirs, to help protect people like those children, so that the horrors he's sen would not be visited on them. "I accept," he said, taking the bond. As he replaced his old bond with the new, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. He and his team would bring their Light to the stars, ensuring the safety of the innocent people of the City. As he transmatted onto his ship, the faces of those children stayed with him, reminding him that they depended on him and those like him. Other Guardians, other heroes.