[b][u]Silence[/u][/b] With the death of the last original Iron lords, the tower mourned. The Speaker prepared a funeral in the tower for the old heroes. Guardians gathered in the plaza around the coffins of Lord Saladin Forge and Lady Efrideet. As the sun went down, the Speaker began the ceremony. The Speaker: Today is a day of mourning. It was this day, when one of our own, murdered two heroes of old. We owe the very founding of this city to the Iron lords. All that we have built was on their shoulders. We should take this as a reminder to not squander what we have been given. They will forever remain in our hearts. If there are any that wish to share their words, you may do so now. The speaker stepped off to the side to allow others to speak, and speak, they did. Some recounted the stories of the Iron lords. Some talked about the lords’ personalities. Some spoke of how the Iron lords inspired them to do impossible things. As the sun went down over the horizon and a guardian finished sharing her words, the speaker stepped up again. Speaker: Thank you everyone. Now, in the same light they were born in, they will return to. The Speaker motioned to two sunsingers. One held an Iron lord axe and the other held Efrideet’s sword. They set the weapons ablaze and placed them on the coffins. Once the pyre died down, guardians made their way out of the plaza. The Vanguard returned to the hall, for they still had work to do. A silence hung over them for a several long minutes. Eventually, Cayde-6 let out a sigh. Cayde-6: So, who’s up for the hunt? Ikora: What do you mean? Cayde-6: Granted, it’s a sad day, but crystal guy is still on the loose. Zavala: Agreed. It’s time to put an end to this. Did he hint at his next target? Ikora: He said his next target was anonymous but known to all. Cayde-6: The stranger maybe? Ikora: She’s not a guardian. Cayde-6: But she is helping us. Zavala: Perhaps, but how would he know where or even how to find her? Cayde-6: The guy’s able to pull a sword out of nowhere. He can probably find wherever she teleports off to. Ikora: It’s not a teleport, or at least not a normal one. Her signal vanishes altogether when she disappears, similar to the vex. Zavala: Either way, there’s not much we can do to protect her unless she comes here. Cayde-6: Well then I’m drawing a blank. The vanguard fell silent and reread everything reported about Umbra. After another long silence, Cayde-6 snapped his fingers. Cayde-6: The Speaker. He’s going after the speaker. Ikora and Zavala looked at each other in dread. The whole vanguard bolted to the speaker’s chambers, but by the time they arrived, they were too late. [b][i][Earlier, Just after the funeral: Speaker’s chambers][/i][/b] Eris arrived in the Speaker’s chambers. The whole atmosphere seemed to be uneasy. The Speaker: Do you wish to speak with me? Eris: I wish I could say I was only here to do that. But the shadows have whispered to me. A dark presence wanders these halls. [i]He[/i] is here, and I feel it is my duty to protect you. The Speaker: Fear not, Eris, the tower has a constant battle frame presence now. If this Umbra came here, we’d know. Eris: He does not walk in the light anymore. He traverses the very same shadows as I once did. No frame nor guardian would be able to stop him from entering. The Speaker: If it will put you at ease, stand guard. Eris: The shadows are louder now, he has arrived. From out of the shadows, Umbra appeared, and made his way up to the speaker’s chamber. Umbra: Eris, you’ve walked in the same places I have. Why do you still side with the light? Eris: I did not use the dark by choice. If I had a choice I would have used it to kill Crota myself. Instead, I used it to stay alive and warn the tower of Oryx’s son. Umbra: Revenge is a very powerful emotion. So powerful that it clouds your judgement. What would you do with the shadows now that Crota and his father are dead? Eris: I would kill you with them. Eris tossed away her rock and started summoning something strange. Her hands glowed green. She opened two small hive portals, and from them, she drew two hive swords. The swords themselves were glowing green. Eris: I still wield the shadows. You’ve killed many of my own, and for that, I will make you pay. Umbra: It saddens me to do this. You had promise. Umbra summoned his blade. The speaker moved to the back of his study. Eris stood her ground and slashed at the air. A strip of green fire flew off the blade and struck Umbra hard. He fell off, under the Speaker’s vitalis. Eris jumped down after him. She slashed with both blades this time. One of the fires actually hit Umbra. There was a green burn in the crystal on his armor. He looked at it for only a moment before standing up and summoning a second blade. Eris: Is that fear I sense? Umbra: It’s too late to kill me now. I’m not afraid, but I am humbled by this cut. Umbra lunged and crossed blades with Eris. They fought for only a while before Umbra finally got the upper hand. Eris slipped up and he used the opportunity to go for a killing blow. Eris Morn fell. Umbra made his way back up to the Speaker. The Speaker: The Shadows fighting the dark. It should not have been. Umbra: It’s time the voice of the traveler be silenced. Umbra was about to bring his blade down on the Speaker but before he could, the speaker took off his mask. His eyes were glowing bright white. After a moment his whole body began to glow. The Speaker: If you wish to silence the voice of the traveler, then you will hear its last words. The speaker turned into a massive beacon of bright white light. Umbra realized what was happening and quickly created a crystal shield around himself. The Speaker’s light suddenly focused itself into a beam and fired directly at Umbra. He fought with all his might to keep his shield strong, but it was slowly fading. Some battle frames noticed the beam and hurried up to the speaker’s chamber, only to be blasted apart by it. After a solid minute, the light beam faded and the Speaker collapsed. Umbra’s shield was on the threshold of breaking, but he survived. Not a moment after, the vanguard showed up at the steps of the Speaker’s chamber. Cayde-6 spotted the lifeless bodies of the Speaker and Eris. Cayde-6: You son of a- Cayde-6 pulled out his hand cannon and fire off a few shots. The first shot shattered Umbra’s shield. Another shot caught him in the arm. Umbra rolled out of the way and threw himself back down under the vitalis. Cayde-6 kept firing, Ikora blocked off the exit, and Zavala summoned a hammer of sol. He threw several hammers. Umbra tossed and turned, dodged and rolled, only narrowly escaping each shot and explosion. One of Zavala’s hammers landed close enough to knock Umbra off his feet. Cayde-6 clipped Umbra in the leg. Zavala ran out of hammers, and Cayde-6 needed to reload. The vanguard surrounded and closed in on Umbra at the edge of the tower. Zavala: Surrender! Umbra: I thought you wanted to kill me. Cayde-6: Oh, yeah, you’re gonna die. But after this, I plan to make your death slow and painful. Umbra looked over the edge of the tower. He looked back at the vanguard, stood up, and raised his hands. Umbra: I- Umbra took a step backwards, over the edge. Umbra: -Will never surrender. Cayde-6 dived to try and grab Umbra, but he was unsuccessful. The vanguard sent a ship to investigate where he landed. The ship never reported back. Cayde-6’s scouts reported finding the ship’s crew scattered around the area, dead. Umbra was still out there, but at least now they knew he can be hurt. There’s hope yet. [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/218218988]Next part: Old Friend[/url] [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/218072480]Last part: The Ninth Falls[/url] [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/217968013]To the collection:[/url]