[u][i]Episode 8: No Place For A Hero (part 2)[/i][/u] [i]*POP*POP*POP*BOOM*POP*POP*[/i] [b]Harley:[/b] What the -blam!- was that!? Everybody up, now! As I came out of temporary shut down I could hear gunfire and explosions coming from somewhere nearby. Harley and Winston were already up and fully armored and the other ghosts were frantically trying to spec their guardians' skillsets for close combat. I turned to Teddy's bunk to similarly outfit him and was gripped with immediate shock. He wasn't there. [b]Gibbs:[/b] Teddy's gone! [b]Winston:[/b] What do you mean, gone? [b]Gibbs:[/b] "Gone"... The opposite of "here". [b]Winston:[/b] I know what it means! [b]Gibbs:[/b] Then why the hell did you ask? [b]Harley:[/b] Where is he? [b]Gibbs:[/b] Scanning..... got him. He's somewhere near the Queen's chambers. [b]Harley:[/b] He took audience with the Queen without us? What the- At that moment, Petra burst through the door into our sleeping quarters. [b]Petra:[/b] The Wolves are attacking! We need your help guardians! [b]Winston:[/b] Oh sure [i]now[/i] we're welcome guests. [b]Harley:[/b] Lead the way, Petra. We followed Petra out into the main outpost and through the doors to the Queen's throne room. The sounds of gunfire were coming from somewhere beyond. [b]Petra:[/b] We have to get to the Queen's chambers! Mara must be warned! We sped past the royal throne and into a long hallway. At the end of the hall was a set of large, intricately decorated doors. Petra flung the doors open and began to call out for the Queen but immediately cut her calls short. The scene we beheld left everyone speechless. There in the middle of the room stood the Queen, wearing nothing but Teddy's Mark of the Pilgrim Guard and wielding a large hand cannon which she had aimed directly at the door. [b]Queen Mara:[/b] Petra! How dare you enter my chambers unannounced! Explain yourself! [b]Winston:[/b] Looks to me like she's not the only one with some 'splainin to do. [b]Petra:[/b] My Queen, the Wolves are rebelling! They've already overrun the servant's quarters and taken both the shipyard and the armory! [b]Teddy:[/b] What the hell is with all the shouting? Teddy had come from the bathroom into the bedchamber wearing a bit less clothing than that of the Queen but with a much more proud demeanor. He stood with a broad smile with his fists on his hips and his head held high. Harley looked as though she tried as hard as she could to keep her gaze straight forward but failed, letting slip a quick downward glance. [b]Harley:[/b] Damn, Teddy. [b]Queen Mara:[/b] I know, right? [b]Winston:[/b] Ahem... [b]Teddy:[/b] *wink* Winston. You -blam!-ed up, homie. [b]Harley:[/b] OK umm.. right.. Wolves. M'Lady, we need to get you somewhere safe. [b]Queen Mara:[/b] Nonsense. Petra, my clothes and weapons, please. Let's go blow some shit up. [b]Teddy:[/b] Ugh. Melt. I think... I think I love you. [b]Queen Mara:[/b] Shut it, Teddy. Take your hand cannon and get dressed. We have work to do. [b]Teddy:[/b] Gladly. Gibbs? A little help if you would my old friend. [b]Merv:[/b] Multiple hostiles heading this way. Ratchet, can you slow them down? [b]Ratchet:[/b] Running program... done. I've sealed the doors to the throne room but it won't keep them out for long. [b]Queen Mara:[/b] Winston, fetch my brother. His chambers are down the hall and to the left. His room, like mine, is sound proof so he'll not have heard the commotion yet. [b]Winston:[/b] Yes M'Lady. Merv, come with me. As Winston took off back down the hall I outfitted Teddy for battle as Petra assisted the Queen in doing the same. [i]*BOOOOM*CRASH*[/i] Just as I finished helping Teddy gear up the sound of explosions filled the hall. [b]Petra:[/b] That came from the throne room! My Queen, they've breached the doors! [b]Queen Mara:[/b] Go, now! We rushed down the hall and turned the corner. When we reached the throne room we were met with a gruesome sight. the bodys of dozens of members of the Queen's royal guard were strewn about the floor. There were no Wolves in sight. The Queen's eyes burned with anger but her expression remained distant. She slowly strode forward to find a lone guardsmen still breathing. He was badly injured and wouldn't last much longer. [b]Guardsmen:[/b] Your Majesty... We.... we have failed you. The Wolves *cough*cough* have escaped. The Queen simply stared with a solemn expression and slowly pulled a blade from her belt. [b]Queen Mara:[/b] You have served me well. Go in peace, and know that no death suffered here shall be in vain. She spun the knife in her hand, and plunged it into the man's chest. He let out a long, slow gasp and slipped away. Winston and the Prince came running up from behind us and stopped as they bore witness to the carnage. [b]The Prince:[/b] Mara! Are you alright!? What the hell happened here!? [b]Queen Mara:[/b] We have been betrayed, brother. It seems our Wolves are longer [i]our[/i] Wolves [b]The Prince:[/b] Why you- The Prince pulled a small sidearm from his waist and pointed it at Teddy. [b]Teddy:[/b] Woah, woah, woah! The -blam!- dude!? [b]The Prince:[/b] This is your fault! For years the Fallen Wolves have been our loyal subjects! Until you and your band of haggard Guardians showed up in the Reef! Now we've been betrayed and we're to believe this is just some sort of coincidence!? [b]Harley:[/b] Um, excuse me? Haggard? Says the guy with the greasiest hair I've ever seen. [b]Winston:[/b] Right? Ever hear of shampoo, bro? [b]The Prince:[/b] Aaaaagggghhh! You little- [b]Queen Mara:[/b] Enough, brother. They are not our enemy. In fact, we may need more of their kind here to deal with the Fallen. I showed them mercy. And they met that mercy with betrayal. Petra, open the Reef to the Guardians. Offer the riches of our realm as bounty for these traitors. [b]Harley:[/b] With all due respect M'Lady I think we can handle this. [b]Winston:[/b] Yeah there's really not many things in the galaxy that require more than three people to accomplish. Teddy, when was the last time you had a 6 man fireteam for anything? [b]Teddy:[/b] Atheon, maybe? [b]Harley:[/b] That dude is still alive. Did you know that? It's like no matter how many fireteams go in there and kick the shit out of him he always seems to pop back up. [b]Winston:[/b] Right? Like... dude, you're not gonna win just stay the -blam!- down. [b]Queen Mara:[/b] Enough! I offer you riches beyond your wildest imaginations, Guardians. Find out who leads these traitors. Take him down and you'll be greatly rewarded. [b]Winston:[/b] I'm in. Guys? [b]Harley:[/b] How could I say no? Count me in as well. [b]Teddy:[/b] I've kind of already popped the Queen's treasure chest. But that doesn't mean I'd say no to round 2. I'm in. [b]Queen Mara:[/b] Manners maketh man, Teddy. [b]Gibbs:[/b] I'm pretty sure he has no idea what that means, your Grace. [b]Queen Mara:[/b] Oh believe me, I'm well aware of that. [b]Winston:[/b] Meaning? [b]Teddy:[/b] *smirk* If I were you I wouldn't ask questions I didn't want the answer to, Winston. [b]Winston:[/b] Disgusting.... [i]Episode 9[/i] https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/143508581/0/0