Enjoy “You can’t do that again!” Pahanin shouted taking Ikora by her collar and slamming her back against the bookshelf. The loud ruckus started the others in the Hall of Guardians. “Pahanin calm down,” Zavala responded standing. “NO!” Pahanin’s response was absolute and commanding. His rage and desperation burned his face and accelerated his heart. Adrenalin coursed his veins and his hands began to shake. “I’m sorry about Kabr,” Ikora started. “If you cared you wouldn’t have sent us into that Vault! Do you have any idea what I’ve witnessed? Any inkling of what it took away from me? How it destroyed Kabr!” Pahanin felt a metal hand on his shoulder. “Listen,” Cayde said. “No one could have predicted what would happen.” “That doesn’t change what happened!” Pahanin let go of Ikora and stepped back. “I can’t tell you what is real any more. He turned to Cayde, his eyes soaked and grim expression painted on his face. The ability to control what is real and what is not is something no one can comprehend. Imagine hearing whispers of things you don’t know anything about having a machine try and claw its way into your head. I saw it, I saw Kabr’s mental shatter.” “We all understand,” began Cayde trying to lighten the mood. “Listen, it sounds like you need a hug –“ “You’ve always been an ass,” Pahanin responded clenching his fist. Swinging wildly, Cayde was able to move out of the way. “Whoa there,” Cayde raised his hands. “I surrender cowboy.” “Enough!” shouted Zavala slamming his hands on the table. “Pahanin, your report is extensive and… frightening to say the least. Instead of, rightfully, beating on Cayde, show the people the Vanguard is united on this front. Tell me what do you recommend in the future?” “Future?” Pahanin’s voice waivered. “You want to do this again!” “We may have to, if your report is correct, The Vault of Glass is time in and of itself. Things exist according to the Vex will in that place. If Atheon were to return –“ “No less than 6 people to enter the Vault. Kabr’s mind broke because the Vex took control of him. Whispering constantly and continuously, like a virus. They challenge your very knowledge of what is and what is not.” “How can we protect ourselves from the machine influence?” Ikora asked retaking her seat. “They… The Vex…” Pahanin’s eyes widened. “The Vex can’t infect other machines! That’s why they killed his ghost!” Pahanin stood, petrified at the realization. That’s how I’ll know if I am real, me, he thought. He pushed Cayed out of the way and ran out of the Hall. *** “Where can I find these parts?” Pahanin asked Banshee frantically. “Hmm,” Banshee responded in a raspy voice. “Haven’t heard of anything like this in a long time.” “Where?” “Smart A.I. like this only came out of Clovis Bray. Maybe the Cabal left something there…” “Mars? That exclusion zone is terrifying.” “Hunters have found ways around it before.” “The universe is the wild west since the collapse.” “Best bet to find what you’re looking for.” *** The barrens were a desolate place. Iron red, scorching, and dead. Night had come and Phobos still radiated light down on the Martian surface. Pahanin skulked the shadows, his cloak dyed red from the constant infusion of sand. Rocks and dead trees provided excellent cover as the bumbling band of Legionaries marched by. Each step was deliberate, no evidence of a trail left. He could see a collection of buildings that were taken by the sand, Clovis Bray. The Cabal had blown a tunnel through the sand, rock, and metal wall that connected the Barrens with the Lost City. The patrol paused, causing his heart to jump. He ducked back down laying in the sand. The Centurion leader grumbled and looked around. Pahanin held his breath, silence dropping around the area. Every pounding beat of his heart echoed in his head. It’s too loud, he thought. It kept pounding and the patrol did not move. They can hear me. There was another couple of grumbles and the Centurion turned in the direction of the guardian. -blam!-. Pahanin readied his light energy, hand cannon at the ready. There was a loud roar and the creature turned and pointed in the opposite direction. The patrol moved on and Pahanin exhaled panting, praying they did not turn back. He rose and moved forward. Broken, twisted, metal burrowed into the wall of sand. The tunnel was massive, allowing almost too much room. Pahanin slowly maneuvered the twisting corners and not so gentle decline. The mouth was into an open area of the Lost City. A few buildings occupied this area. Advancing to a nearby sand dune, he took cover to review his map. Pulling an old piece of blue paper from his backpack, he examined the layout of the area. Clovis Bray was clearly marked as the building directly to his forefront. There was only half the building showing, the rest engulfed by the sand. Based on this, he thought, I need to get to the research level. A.I. development should have something hopefully. Getting in wasn’t hard, there were no guards. Navigating proved difficult. Much of the interior was broken down or destroyed. It was torn apart by the Cabal. Pahanin worked his way to an elevator shaft. The doors were bent open and a make shift pathway down was made with welded metal and broken elevators. A loud echo sounded with step as his boots clinked on the grating. The lower level opened into a building corridor with arrows pointing down the stairs. Blue walls and chipped paint were covered in a layer of dust while ancient information desks littered the hall ways. Pahanin paused a moment, the silence calming. He reexamined the map trying to pinpoint his location. It took some trial and error but he finally was able to locate the necessary landmarks. The vast auditorium was littered with piles of sand, but aside from the few bent open elevator doors, remained untouched. The map said there was an entrance to the research labs on the other side of the room. Nestled under the stairs that circled around to the upper level of the auditorium, sat a set of closed doors. He stuck his knife into the crease and breathed deep. Exhaling slowly, he pried as hard as his body would allow. The doors inched open just enough for his fingers to slip in. straining his shoulders, he pulled at one door, the metal on metal screech reverberating through the entire building. Staring down the shaft of an unlit elevator, he gulped. His heart began to speed up as he ducked into the shaft. He slid down, almost in free fall. He hit the ground with a solid thud. The lab was smaller than the map let on but was completely untouched. A treasure trove of possibility. Looking around, Pahanin rummaged through the crates he found to no avail. The only place left was the computer terminals on the far wall. Two huge cylindrical machines towered above him. He wiped away the dust from the access port and clicked a few buttons. It took a few moments but the machine actually flickered to life. A pattern waivered on the screen, deep red, alien, Pahanin felt a shiver down his spine but ignored it. The next screen scrolled data and he let it. The load up screen only had a few options. He punched in inventory to see what would come up. The smart system A.I. was the top of the list with one available. Pahanin smiled as he requested the unit. A small door opened in the side of the machine revealing a black mechanical box, a smart A.I. “Hey!” it shouted. “Shut the door!”