[quote][i]AUTHOR'S NOTE: Although this story uses the kinderguardians as a framing device, it is not really about them. rather, it's set during the time in the Dark Age, when the Iron Lords were just beginning to become established. [/i] DRAMATIS PERSONAE [u]Both Timeframes[/u]: LORD SALADIN, 533 in present day, 86 in the past. Male human Titan. Currently manages the Iron Banner. [u]29th Century[/u]: MR. ODDISH, 250 or so. Male human Titan. Primary Kinderguardian teacher for the past 101 years. Has a Ghost named SIGMUND Assorted KINDERGUARDIANS, ages ranging from 5 to 13. [u]25th Century[/u]: DANIEL, 88. Male Human Titan. Guardian of New Seattle settlement. Has a Ghost named POLE STAR. LADY EFRIDEET, 84. Female Hunter, species unknown. Iron Lady. NIRWEN, 17. Female Human Hunter. Has a Ghost named ATHENA. NEW SEATTLE CITIZENS, non-Guardian humans of various ages. [u]Procedural Note[/u]: the age of adult revival Guardians is tabulated with the time of their revival being scored as zero. The age of Guardians chosen while alive is tabulated from the year of their physical birth. So, while Daniel became a Guardian [i]after [/i]Saladin and Efrideet did, he has a higher chronological age. [u]Historical Note[/u]: Although Bungie retains the right to set dates, they have not done so. Since "Kinderguardians" requires a working chronology, I arbitarily assigned the following eras: 2045 AD - Traveler Discovered, Golden Age begins 2350 AD - The Collapse, Fallen invade ~2375 AD - Dark Age (Age of Warlords) ~2450 AD - Age of the Iron Lords ~2600 AD - Age of the City ~2890 AD - Present Day [u]Chronological Note[/u]: Except as indicated, the following takes place one month after "An Old Friend". [u]Dedication[/u]: To BraveCole, wherever he is, and whatever he is doing. In many ways, the room looks like any other classroom, in either the 29th century or the 21st. It has desks, laptops, a computerized whiteboard, and even some assorted toys and games. A closer look shows some differences, most notably the firing range, the rack full of guns, and the fact that the teacher is wearing heavy plasteel armor and carrying a heavy-caliber sidearm on his hip. For those new to the universe, most Guardians are chosen by their Ghosts from the millions of mummified corpses and desiccated skeletons strewn throughout the solar system. Warriors while they lived, they have been called back to service from beyond the grave. Though they have no memories of experiences, their martial skills are intact. However, some children are born forged in the Traveler's light. Because they were not warriors, they must learn the business of being a Guardian, like any schoolchild. Mr. Oddish is the one tasked with guiding the Primary group. These are children in the second stage of their kinderguardian journey: they have been selected by Ghosts, and some are allowed their own weapons, but they wear jumpsuits instead of armor. The Secondary class, formerly taught by BraveCole, are slightly further along. They have armor, and they carry weapons. They do actual field training, both in patrol zones and in the Crucible. Sadly, an era has passed regarding this particular group: Dawn and RJ and Ventis, the original trio of "[blam]-ing Kinderguardians"... they are all gone. They are in their fourth and last stage of training, assigned to mentors of the same class and learning their final lessons in the field. The rest of the secondaries, Gloria and RJ and David, are visiting the primary class today. A very special guest speaker is coming. the combined group is coloring or doing word problems while they wait. Mr. Oddish is circulating around the room, giving help as needed and trying to keep his youngest and wiggliest pupil settled. Another Titan, this one in richly patterned silver and gold armor and with a Jolder's Hammer machine gun strapped to his back, enters the room. Though immortal as any Guardian, he chose to adopt a middle-aged and slightly grizzled appearance, a couple hundred years ago. This is Lord Saladin, one of the first of the Traveler's chosen. He was nearly 300 years old when Oddish was a bewildered newbie. SALADIN: "Good morning, Mr. Oddish. Am I too early?" ODDISH: "Not at all, sir. We've been expecting you." Saladin nods and hangs his weapon on the gun rack, where it joins Mr. Oddish's trademark Sweet Business, Petra's Cold Heart, Ricardo's Hawkmoon, and assorted training weapons. As he turns and faces the class, another old friend greets him: the furry gray wolf who was lounging at Petra's feet. He approaches the grizzled Titan, wagging his tail. SALADIN: "Hello, Growler. It's good to see you again." ODDISH: "Class, this is Lord Saladin. Let's all say good morning to him." KINDERGUARDIANS (together): "Good morning, Lord Saladin." ODDISH: "You all know, I'm sure, that Miss Ikora wants us to do a unit on Guardian history this month. You remember the story we read about the First Kinderguardian, during the Collapse. Well, next up on the list is the Dark Age, which I wasn't around for. Mr. Saladin's going to tell you a story about what he was doing in those days." He nods to Lord Saladin. The burly Titan proceeds to the front of the classroom and begins his story. [u]The Past - About 450 Years Earlier[/u] The year is 2436 AD. Mr. Oddish rests underneath a neatly stacked cairn of rocks somewhere in what was once west Seattle. He died about 75 years ago... and will not return for another 204. Lord Saladin, by comparison, was discovered by his Ghost while the fires of the Collapse and the Fallen assault on the Sol system were still raging. He has witnessed scenes of unimaginable hell over the past 86 years: indiscriminate slaughter of the innocent, both by Eliksni raiders and human psychopaths. People starving and freezing to death by the millions. Bodies lying unburied and cities stinking to high heaven. Civilization gone, and all too many people living under the rule of cruel warlords, many of them Risen like himself. This holding appears to be like dozens of others he's seen, and occasionally been forced to liberate. High walls, concrete barricades, electrified fences. Sentries on the walls and manning machine gun turrets. Impromptu cavalry riding around on salvaged Fallen Pikes. He speaks to Lady Efrideet, who is walking alongside him. SALADIN: "Looks like we have another warlord to deal with." (he sighs) "I always feel bad about when we take down one of these people. Yes, we liberate his subjects, but after we leave, they've lost their protection." EFRIDEET: "Don't jump to conclusions yet. Remeber, we heard about this one from the people who were making pilgrimages for this place. People run away from a tyrant, not toward one." They reach the front entrance, which is blocked by a chain link gate. A heavy steel double door backs up the flimsy barrier, but it serves the function of a castle's portcullis: a barricade for emergencies rather than general security. A middle-aged woman is sitting in the gatehouse. Unlike the uniformed troops on patrol outside and on the walls, she has a sidearm instead of a rifle. WOMAN: "Good morning, and welcome to New Seattle. I'm Lieutenant Evans. How may I help you?" SALADIN: "Who's in charge here?" EVANS: "That depends. For matters of general government, the mayor and city council call the shots. Security matters are handled by Guardian Daniel. He's Risen, like you." The two exchange glances. It has been a long time since they saw a settlement, even a benevolently managed one, where the Risen protector was not also its commander. SALADIN: "Daniel's the one we want to speak to." EVANS: "Well, come in, then. Please familiarize yourselves with our laws. And, if you're carrying any rocket or grenade launchers, you'll need to leave them in storage. We don't really like it when things blow up around here." EFRIDEET: "Understandable." [i]Scroll down for more...[/i][/quote] Qq

SALADIN: "I have a heavy machine gun, and she has a sniper rifle. Are those all right?" EVANS: "Oh, yeah. Machine guns, autorifles, trace rifles, we're fine with it as long as you don't shoot it at anybody. Especially the blue Shanks, since they're ours." SALADIN: "Blue Shanks?" Efrideet, sharper-eyed than he, points. Several Fallen Shanks with dark blue paint jobs are circulating around and above the dettlement. EFRIDEET: "Fallen activity in this area's pretty heavy. This settlement's probably had its share of attacks." EVANS: "And once we defeat them, we salvage and reprogram their equipment. One of our gun shops specializes in Eliksni armaments." Saladin reads the sign posted next to the entry gate in silence. It's straightforward and severe. Crimes are severely punished, able-bodied adults who refuse to work are ejected, and school is mandatory for those between 7 and 14. A number of selections from the old American Bill of Rights are guaranteed. He looks at the settlement in front of him. Men and woman are going about their business, some of them with small children in tow. Many if not most also have visible holstered pistols on their hips; the law also states that every mentally capable adult must carry at least a sidearm, in case of an attack. Despite the frontier-like nature of the laws, this town is a place of considerable amenities as well. Several stores have their inside lights on, overhead fixtures instead of emergency lamps. Clearly, this settlement has power to spare. A functioning drinking fountain nearby indicates running water as well. It's almost like a pre-Golden Age city except for the lack of personal vehicles, but a few hoverbuses can be seen. At this point, the assemblage is approached by a man in Titan armor. Like Saladin (at this point) and Efrideet, he appears to be in the prime of his life. Risen are typically regenerated at that age, regardless of how old they were when they died. He has a large handcannon strapped to his leg, and an Eliksni shotgun (something similar to the Lord of Wolves) slung behind him. DANIEL: "Good morning. I'm Daniel, Guardian of New Seattle." It should be noted that at this point in history, the term "Guardian" has not been officially adopted. Daniel uses it to describe himself because that is what he does here. DANIEL (continues): "A large Titan in silver and gold armor, you must be Lord Saladin. Your reputation proceeds you, sir." SALADIN: "And what does my reputation say about me?" DANIEL: "That you remove cruel and tyrannical warlords from power, killing them and destroying their Ghosts if necessary. A number of my newest citizens were residents of the Olympia settlement. That was... an ugly affair." SALADIN: "I know, I saw it." DANIEL: "Those people were treated like animals. If I'd known, maybe I could have done something, but..." SALADIN: "No one ever escaped." DANIEL: "Well, see what's going on here. We're not like them. We have a 24-hour power grid, a backup generator for key locations, clean running water, central heating in most buildings, armed security, a volunteer fire brigade, a hospital with a trauma ward, and even public transportation and trash removal." EFRIDEET (indicates a brightly painted building with a canary-yellow hoverbus parked in front of it): "Not to mention schools." DANIEL: "And both child and elder care. And I don't do to the young woman what the Olympian warlord did. I have a wife and three children, the youngest of whom attends that very school you're pointing at." SALADIN: "You have a very impressive community here, to be sure." DANIEL: "Well, you can thank our elected officials, they run the show. I just manage the threats." SALADIN: "How many people are living here?" DANIEL: "Last official count put us at 5812 souls. But that was before the Olympian refugees came, and our maternity wards are usually full. I'd say we're probably over six thousand by now." EFRIDEET: "That's twenty times the population of Olympia." DANIEL: "Well, we've been around longer. And people actually want to come here." SALADIN: "True. Would you believe that we passed no fewer than four different groups of people who were making their way here?" He is interrupted by the arrival of an attractive young lady in her late teens, dressed in armor of tightly woven sapphire wire. Like the other three, a point of light floats at her shoulder. SALADIN: "Another Risen?" EFRIDEET: "Yes, and a Hunter at that." DANIEL: "Indeed. May I present my daughter, Nirwen. If you don't mind, can you give her the coordinates of those refugee groups you passed? Eliksni patrols steer clear of this city, but they're never far off. I'd like to scoop up our prospective new arrivals before anything unfortunate happens." Saladin nods to his Ghost, who transmits the information to Nirwen's. The young woman gives him a thumbs-up and jumps into an off-road vehicle that's been covered with crudely welded plasteel armor, which comes to life and rumbles off across the wasteland. DANIEL: "In any case, you and Lady Efrideet are welcome to stay here as long as you wish, and talk to any citizen, immigrant, or visitor. I am confident that in time, you will realize that your services here are not required. I am a guardian, not a warlord." SALADIN: "We've already realized that, Daniel. We're still here for a reason, but it's a very different one now." DANIEL: "Well, color me intrigued. Why don't we go to my office; we can discuss whatever you need to discuss." That's all for now... Oddish's Index Page: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/228589572