Chapter Two is [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/70871162/0/0/1]HERE![/url] "Wait." Narra was interrupted by a member of the council. A human she knew to be named Hideo, a staunch representative of the New Monarchy. She rather liked Hideo. Mostly because he was almost always overt with his intentions, yet the others seemed vaguely mystified by his actions. He obviously wanted to, as any member of the New Monarchy did, restore humanity to Golden Age glory. Under their leadership of course. "Yes?" She rotated her spokes to the left slightly, again. Flashed her central eye and turned it toward him to signal attention as she broke from her tale. A few of the council members had trickled out, but most either returned and asked in hushed voices what they'd missed or sent in subordinates to finish listening for them. The Dead Orbit representative was one such culprit. The Future War Cult representative had given her rapt attention the entire hearing, and she now recognized that it was the Exo who'd spoken earlier. "So they destroyed the station." Hideo felt it necessary to sum it all up. "They reached the armory, found the Archon and Servitor, and rather than retreating they..." "They fought both of them. Yes." "And they didn't win." "No. No they did not. If one considers 'winning' to be a victory in direct combat. They did not best the Archon and the Servitor, they detonate the ammo stores and managed to escape with my help." Hideo drew a slow, bracing breath. He seemed to be mulling over something, or attempting to avoid a painful conclusion. "...why? Why not just... why not, with a ghost, find a way to the controls of the station and vent those compartments into space? Or draw the station safely into the atmosphere for study? Or, I don't know, [b]retreat[/b], bring support, and defeat the Archon while leaving the station in salvageable condition? Wasn't the whole point of that trip to find Golden Age artifacts, and further more to gain reputation so that Tower factions would outfit them with better equipment in exchange for service? Who did they hope to please by exploding the station and then, using their jumpships, assuring that it plunged into the atmosphere to kill a single Archon?" These were all valid questions. These were the questions she wanted the council members to consider before initiating dealings with these particular Guardians. Most, despite vast confusion on the state of the world and the battles consuming the system, fell in line with the current situation and tried to help. Push back the Darkness. Find artifacts. Restore the Traveler. Restore Humanity. Something like that. Her Guardians just didn't quite seem to care. "The Future War Cult is pleased." The Exo from earlier spoke. She did not smile, because Exo cannot smile. Narra heard the smile in her tone instead. "Most pleased." "That is because thirst for destruction speaks to your core processes the way curiosity or true ambition speaks to the rest of us." Hideo fired back immediately. "Or blatant racism." The Exo countered as flatly as always. Narra had to admit that, whatever arena they were in, the inhabitants of Earth had interesting ways of doing battle. With one another, with enemies. It didn't matter. They were entertaining. "This is the sort of behavior that, while of course worthy of the Future War Cult's vapid interest---someone explain to me how an organization calling themselves a cult sits on this council---again causes me to raise the question of why there is no method to strip a reanimated of their Guardianship. The ability to [i]use[/i] the Traveler's light does not necessarily mean that they are... chosen." A murmur of chatter passed through the room. The Exo representing FWC finally moved aside from staring at Narra. She turned her head slowly to look across the room at Hideo, who was gesturing and speaking to someone beside him. He didn't notice. "Ladies. Gentlemen." Narra spoke up. The chatter settled to quiet. "I was called here to answer your questions on my Guardians. I am not here to advertise them. Or defend the virtue of their position. I chose this tale to share as it best embodies them at an early stage, and their habits have colored their actions ever since. Their track record of... extensive collateral damage is [i]not[/i] a list of aberrations, but rather their standard functioning. They will 'solve' a problem. Even if they destroy the problem and the solution in the process." "Tell us more of them, before decisions are made. You [i]know[/i] that we are curious about their origins. Failing that, Ghost, you know that we will settle for a firsthand account of what exactly happened on [b]Mars[/b]." The loudmouth Awoken spoke up again. Another rumble of chatter coursed through the room. There were nods in agreement. The FWC Exo sat forward slightly again, folding her hands before her. Very interested again. Hideo sat back and folded his arms, muttering something to a woman beside him. "Mars." Narra echoed. "Isn't it a bit soon to introduce the supporting cast?" She thought that would be a funny quip. The council was not amused. She decided she'd spent too much time with the team who became the [i]Vanguard Assault Lance[/i]. "...right. Well, Mars. I suppose that will draw some interest, as it has quite a bit to do with Tower politics. A deception or three. A young Titan named [i]Wally[/i], and a crafty Warlock aptly called [i]Fox[/i]." "You are a very good story teller, Narrative Dissonance." The FWC Exo spoke up, her tone fond. "I know." Narra agreed. "Now, where do I start. Hmm. Oh, well... I think it was a Wednesday..."