[i]NOTE: This story takes place concurrently with BraveCole's "Stormballer" story, currently in progress. It details what Dawn and RJ were doing while BraveCole and Ventis were down on Mars playing with arc storms. The "Kinderguardians" concept is BraveCole's invention, not mine. RJ and Dawn are his characters, and I am using them as per an arrangement between BraveCole and myself (he's allowed to use my characters as well). I hope I do them justice in this effort.[/i] DRAMATIS PERSONAE [u]Mr. Oddish [/u]- Human male, in his 240's. Kinderguardian teacher, primary class [u]Dawn [/u]- Female, presumably human. Defender Titan. Age unknown, presumably teenage. [u]RJ [/u]- Male, presumably human. Bladedancer Hunter. About Dawn's age. [u]Gloria [/u]- Awoken female, age 9. Voidwalker warlock. Excellent student. [u]Marshall [/u]- Human male, age 8. Bladedancer Hunter. Younger brother to RJ, same attitude. [u]Petra [/u]- Human female, almost 7. Striker Titan. Insufferably cute. [u]Renfrew [/u]- Human male, 24. Gunslinger Hunter. Serious jerk. Mr. Oddish is sitting in his easy chair when the three kinderguardians enter the room one after the other. They quickly observe that while he still has the Wormwood sidearm he always wears, he's got a scout rifle on his back as well, and a large quantity of other equipment. ODDISH: "Ah, good morning, class. Everybody have their spelling homework done?" MARSHALL: "Why do we have to do spelling? We're training to be Guardians, right?" ODDISH: "Yes, but this is still school. Are you guys ready for today's field trip?" The kids nod. Gloria speaks up. GLORIA: "What are we going to do on Bannerfall? Isn't it a tower just like the one we're in?" ODDISH: "Yes it is. And we're going to tour the place, and then I'll tell you about the history of the Towers, and the great battles that were fought there at Six Fronts, and the noble history of Guardia..." All three kinderguardians groan. ODDISH: "Just kidding, you guys. I wouldn't do that to you. I'm going to teach you guys the basics on how to use your light-based abilities." The kinderguardians cheer. Petra runs over to him and hugs his leg the way little kids sometimes do. With a sigh of vexation, he gently pries her loose. ODDISH: "Sweetie, you know Guardians don't hug other Guardians. Seriously, I don't get why you do that. I'm wearing armor, it's got to be like trying to cuddle a fire hydrant." (he indicates the stuff he's brought) "Speaking of armor, this is called lightmail. It's been infused with the Traveler's power, so you'll be able to do more stuff. Got one warlock set, one hunter set, and one Titan set." GLORIA: "Can we put them on now?" ODDISH: "No, they don't go over your jumpsuits. You'll need to go change in the bathrooms." PETRA: "Do we have to take off our..." ODDISH: "No, please keep your undies on. I have to clean these suits after you're done with 'em. Gloria, help Petra out if she needs it, OK?" GLORIA: "OK, teacher." Oddish hands all three kids their respective armor sets, and they leave the room. At length, Marshall returns, looking decidedly vexed (no, not the machine). MARSHALL: "Where's the cloak? Aren't hunters supposed to have a cloak? All I found is this stubby thing." (holds up a little white rag) ODDISH: "It's Lightmail. That's all it has." MARSHALL: "Well, I want a cloak." (he starts digging through the trunk of war memorabilia Oddish uses for history lessons) "Ah, this'll work." He pulls out a red, white, and black flag and starts to tuck it into his collar. ODDISH: "Marshall, that's a German swastika flag. Not appropriate for a Guardian." MARSHALL: "But it looks AWESOME!" (he runs around the room with the spider flag fluttering behind him) ODDISH (facepalms): "OK... just 153 more years to retirement. I can do this." Gloria enters the room in her downsized warlock garments, by herself. GLORIA: "Teacher? Petra can't get her armor on and I don't know how to do it either." ODDISH: "No great surprise, Titan armor's tricky for noobs. Where's Petra now?" Before Gloria can answer, a deafening frustrated crying emanates from the girls' bathroom. ODDISH: "Never mind, it's obvious." GLORIA: "Uhhh... are you gonna help her?" ODDISH: "I can't go in there; you know that. But I know someone who can." He heads out of the room and across the hall, then opens the door to BraveCole's room. He looks around the class. Dawn and RJ are there, but Ventis and BraveCole are not. ODDISH: "Where's BraveCole?" RJ: "He's gone. We're doing study hall until he returns." ODDISH: "Did he say where he was going?" RJ: "Something about doing the Storncaller Ritual with Ventis, whatever that is." ODDISH: "Hmmm... I was wondering why Ikora was so pissed off. Dawn, can I borrow you for a few minutes?" DAWN: "A-am I in t-trouble?" ODDISH: "No, I just need you to go into the girls' bathroom and help Petra put on her Titan armor. Preferably before she completely loses it." RJ: "Sounds like she already has." ODDISH: "Nah. As meltdowns go, this is about a six on a scale of ten." (the yelling gets louder, and the windowpanes start rattling) "Make that a seven. Co'mon, Dawn." Mr. Oddish and Dawn approach the bathroom; Mr. Oddish knocks on the door (but is careful to keep it shut) ODDISH: "Petra? Sweetie?" PETRA (shrieks): "DON'T COME IN HERE!!" ODDISH (soothingly): "I'm not going to. I'm going to have Dawn from BraveCole's class come in and help you. She's a Titan, so she knows how to do Titan gear." DAWN: "It's OK, P-petra. I can help you." She disappears into the bathroom. With one problem solved, Mr. Oddish turns his attentions to the other. ODDISH: "And RJ, I can use your help too. Marshall's being unreasonable." RJ: "So what else is new? I wish there was a way to nerf little brothers." (he looks in) "Why's he running around with a Naz... ah, German flag draped over him?" ODDISH: "He thinks it's a hunter cloak." RJ: "Uhhh... OK. I'll talk with him." ODDISH: "Thanks. I need to get some stuff from the arms locker." RJ: "Why? Where are they going?" ODDISH: "Bannerfall. It's just routine precaution, I wouldn't take them anywhere dangerous." RJ: "Of course not, you're the boring teacher." ODDISH: "And the one who's never lost a kinderguardian in 97 years." By the time Mr. Oddish returns to his class, things are mostly sorted out. Petra has her armor on. Marshall is no longer wearing the swastika. Instead, he's wearing a reproduction of the old "rising sun" Japanese flag. Given the kamikaze nature of most Bladedancers, Oddish decides this is appropriate and lets him keep it. ODDISH: "OK. Dawn, RJ. I understand if you guys would rather just sit in study hall while you wait for Ventis and your teacher to get back. But I could use a couple of spare hands on this trip. Sound like fun?" DAWN: "Where are you going?" ODDISH: "Bannerfall Tower. Nothing to worry about. I took you guys there a number of times." DAWN: "OK. I'll go." RJ: "Beats studying, anyway." DAWN: "Do we need permission?" ODDISH: "Your parents died 300 years ago. Can't exactly get them to sign permission slips, can we?" RJ: "But doesn't Professor BraveCole have to say it's OK?" ODDISH: "Professor BraveCole's taking Ventis to perform a ritual that could easily kill him. I don't think he will object to a quick Bannerfall excursion. If you're going, grab whatever weapons you normally pack and meet us on the observation deck." RJ: "OK, see you in a few." He and Dawn exit; Oddish turns his attention to the younger kinderguardians. ODDISH: "OK, you guys, gather 'round. Bannerfall's a secure area, but it's in the yellow zone, meaning Fallen are sometimes seen in the area. That means all Guardians go in full armor and carry primaries, it's the rules." (he produces three compact pulse rifles) "Try these on for size. Petra, yours is the one with the red P on it. I had Mr. Banshee modify it. It fires pulse rifle cartridges, but semiautomatic only, like a scout. You should be able to handle it just fine." He shows them how to sling their weapons, then leads them out into the courtyard area. They meet up with Dawn, now carrying a shotgun, and RJ, who has his trusty scout. Summoned by his Ghost, a ship comes down and hovers above them. It's larger than most, on the slow side, very heavily armored. It's also bright yellow. GLORIA: "What's that?" ODDISH: "That is the [i]Blue Bird." [/i] DAWN: "But it's... yellow." ODDISH: "To be honest, I don't get the name either. But school transport vehicles have been this color for the past 800 years. Ghost, transmat us up." PART 2 - https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/223483429?sort=0&page=0