[b]Hello there Guardians, how is life. Mine is going well. Now, enjoy the Chapter. Chapter Index: [/b] https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/128755126/0/0 [u]Chapter 17: [i]Time to send a Message[/i][/u] [i]“He has doomed us all…”[/i] Prelik thought. He was thinking of the Hunter of course, the one that had sent his Kell to his doom. The flames of the destroyed flagship burned behind Prelik. How did he make it? How had a Pike remained undamaged in the Hangar, and how was he alive? The Ether Spear was in his hands…it was the symbol of the Kell, and whoever held it was to take the honor. But he didn’t want that honor, for his house was crumbling. He removed his torn cape from his worn shoulders, and clutched the tattered edges of it with his other three hands. He looked to the cape of Rorixias, crumpled on the ground. It was less tattered, and also bore the honor of Kell. With a growl, he picked it up and compared it to his own. “I am not worthy of the Kellship, Rorixias,” he said to the air. “I will seek the Prime, for guidance, and in time, the Ashes will be rekindled to fulfill your dreams.” Fastening his cape back over his shoulders, Prelik folded Rorixias’ and stored it in a compartment on his utility belt. He turned to the Pike that hovered behind him, and activated it, its engines coming to life with ease. He looked to the burning Flagship once more, and placed his fist over his chest, a sign of honor and respect. Looking forward into the horizon, the sun was peaking over the distant ridgeline, its rays of light dispersing the shadows. Prelik growled, and urged the Pike forward, overcharging its engines, releasing arc energy along the ground as he made his way North, to the location of the Prime’s Lair. The journey to the mountain in which the Prime resided took a mere two days, it would’ve been longer had Prelik not found an abandoned, but functioning, Skiff. He was now walking through a blizzard on Mount Elbert. His cape whipped back in the wind, and he shielded his face with his arms. Despite the freezing temperature, and the unrelenting howls of the wind, the determined Captain trudged through it all to the cave entrance of the Lair. A wide hole carved into the mountain by years of erosion and wear made it visible to Prelik, and he huffed out a low growl, the vapors of his breath seeping from behind his Ether Rebreather. Caked in snow and ice, he made his way into the cave, the sounds of the Ether Spear in his right hand echoed off the cave walls as it came into contact with the smooth floor. It was quiet in the cave, not a single click or shriek could be heard. Prelik thought nothing of this though, and continued walking. He froze when he stepped on a skull, the crunch of the bone echoed beneath his foot, and he looked down. It was an Eliksni skull, and lodged in it was a single bullet. [i]“No, no no!”[/i] Prelik thought as he continued on, seeing more and more Fallen bodies and Guardian bullets. There was blood on the floor, dried, but recently spilled. He walked faster through the tunnel, his heart pounding in his head, the blood rushing quick and his anger rising. He rushed past the tattered banners that concealed the Pit, and out into the arena, he stumbled. The remnants of Sphyxis, the Prime Servitor, lay scattered and broken, its shell in pieces and smoke rising from it; Prelik walked slowly towards it, his four eyes unbelieving. There had been Guardians here. A small team, most likely, had led a strike on Prelik’s people. He walked around the Prime, analyzing every detail of it. His step faltered. Here he was, battered and worn from witnessing the death of his Kell, and now he was looking upon the remains of the Ashes’ Prime. A shroud of Darkness swept over him. There was no hope for the Ash, without the Prime, Servitors would cease to be made, and in turn Ether would be limited until it ran out completely. Prelik fell on his knees, dropping the Spear and planting his fists against the hard rock. [b][i]“RRRRRAAAAAGGGGHHHH!”[/i][/b] he brought his fist up and sent it into the rock, the impact mixed with his mighty roar shaking the mountain. Taking his fist out of the small crater he had made, he roared again. His knuckles were bloodied and scathed, but he ignored it, the rage and hate he felt now was greater than anything before. [i]“They have taken everything from me!”[/i] thoughts of malice and hatred towards the Guardians swarmed Prelik’s mind: ‘Wielders of the Light’ they were called, yet bringers of Darkness and despair, they were. Shaking his head, he stopped as something caught his eye. He picked up the Ether Spear and made his way over to a robotic body, its metallic armor gleaming in the small amount of light that the Helium Lamps gave off. It was Humanoid, but not organic. Its eyes were lifeless and dull, their once bright glow was extinguished, and for how long, it was unknown. This was a Guardian, and Prelik stared at it with hate. He stooped down, clutching the metal skull in his fist and raising the body along with it. He looked at the Exo's expressionless face, wondering how something that was once human could kill so relentlessly. Noticing a strange chain around the Guardians neck, Prelik pulled at it, and off came a chain necklace, with two metal tablets clinking at its end. A symbol of this Guardians oath, he now clutched in his hands. He studied them, then looked back at the Exo, “You, Marcus-3…you will know no peace, no mercy, and your soul, if you posses one, will haunt these walls forever…” With that, Prelik squeezed his hand over the Exo’s skull, crushing it and throwing the body to the floor, bits of metal and wiring tossed aside like nothing. Turning to the exit, Prelik hung the metal tags around his own neck, and walked out of the arena. It was still freezing outside, but the blizzard was over. He climbed to the peak of the mountain, where antennas and communication equipment sat atop the icy rock. Reaching an interplanetary communications device, Prelik turned it on, and stared out into the bleak and desolate mountain range. “Time to send a message…” [b]Stay tuned for Chapter 18, and have a Spooky Halloween Guardians.[/b] Chapter 18: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/173819629