If you missed the last episode, you can find it [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/221803503/0/0]here[/url], or if you need to find a previous episode, you can find them all in the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/220441594/0/0]Master Post[/url]. Please give a bump, upvote, or leave comment if you enjoy this and any other chapter! *** Our jumpship drops out of warp right at the edge of the Reef. Ancient debris, decimated ships and scarred rocks greet us, a sense of unease and isolation growing within as we look at all the wreckage outside. “Where did all this come from?” I ask quietly. “Every ship that could escape fled Earth during the Collapse,” Ghost answers matter-of-factly. “They made it this far. I guess they died out here.” “It’s a graveyard…” We move deeper into the debris field, small rocks and broken parts bumping softly against my ship’s hull. “How did the Awoken survive?” “No one knows,” Ghost replies. Neither of us see the two ships appear behind us until a voice suddenly barks over the comm: “[i]Intruder bearing one-two-seven, you have crossed into the realm of the Awoken. State your business or be fired on by order of the Queen.[/i]” I slowly turn to face Ghost, who’s already looking back curiously. “Don’t look at me! Better say something.” I take a deep breath to calm the quaver in my voice. “We are here from Earth. We’re here to seek the counsel of the Awoken.” I watch the monitors on my control panel, seeing two ships hover in to flank me – the ships are unlike any I’ve ever seen, iridescent hulls extending to form what looks like grasping claws. There’s a moment of silence as the ships consider my words, and then finally – “[i]Conform to my trajectory. Any deviation will be taken as an act of aggression.[/i]” I smile to Ghost. “Looks like we’re in the right place.” “Why is the right place always so terrifying?” he retorts, shivering in midair. A few minutes later, I’m forced to agree. A black-haired, haughty Awoken man holds his knife to my throat, Fallen Vandals behind him, pikes at the ready – “It is afraid of the Fallen,” says a calm, aloof voice from behind the throne. I look to see the languid, self-assured form of a beautiful Awoken woman casually entering before draping herself across her rightful place. “It does not understand these ones are mine.” “Apologies, Your Grace,” the Awoken man says, sheathing his blade as the Vandals relax their pikes. I turn sourly from them to address the woman. “I am a Guardian. From Earth. We’re searching for the Black Garden.” “Why?” the man asks, stopping from walking to the throne to stare incredulously back at me. “We seek to destroy the Darkness at its heart.” “You want to turn it into a battleground,” the man trills, completely blasé. “How unimaginative.” I swallow my annoyance as I flick my eyes to the Queen on her throne – she flicks her white gold hair lightly, watching us talk as though she’s already bored. [i]This is their Queen?[/i] I catch myself thinking. “Do you know where it is?” “Everyone knows where it is,” the man snaps. “The hard part is getting in.” “Can you help us?” I ask with finality, irked by this man’s cavalier disinterest. He fixes me with a penetrating gaze. “And why would we do that?” The Queen leans forward suddenly. “The Queen requests counsel with her brother.” [i]Brother?[/i] I can’t help but think. [i]Not much of a family resemblance…[/i] Her brother glares at me once more, then walks swiftly to the throne, kneeling beside it. The Queen leans down and whispers to him. Unable to hear what they’re saying, I can only watch their faces, their expressions change as they – Her brother smiles widely. “Yes, that’s good,” I hear him say, and the pit of my stomach drops a little. “That’s good. Why not?” Almost dreading what he’s going to say, I nevertheless hold my chin up and face him. [i]I am a Guardian, after all.[/i] “We’ll make you a key. How’s that? All we need is the head of a Vex Gate Lord.” “A Gate Lord?” Ghost squeaks nervously. “Uh, we – “ “Why do you want a Vex head?” I ask, brushing Ghost aside. “Oh, we don’t,” he tells me smugly. “And I doubt we’ll get one, either. But it’s your only hope of getting into the Black Garden.” I nod, knowing this is the best I’m going to get here. “We will return.” I turn to leave as the man calls out snidely, “Or die on Venus. Either way.” Shaking my head, I don’t look back as I exit the chamber – Outside, I allow myself a moment to feel my frustration – balling my hands into fists as I walk, I ignore Ghost bobbing around my head, internally stewing about the reception – [i]Don’t they understand I’m doing this for all of us?[/i] I think ruefully. [i]They don’t even act like they care, like Guardians come waltzing into their chamber every day to –[/i] My frustration reaching a head, I turn and slam my fist into the bulkhead, making a slight dent. “Djido!” Ghost cries. “We’re still guests here!” I keep my fist clenched, but turn away from the bulkhead, still simmering. “Do what the Queen asks,” says a voice suddenly from the shadows. “This is all part of the pattern.” I wheel toward the sound, eyes darting this way and that to find the source of the voice. Out of the shadows, a robed figure emerges, hood covering its face, hands folded together. “Yes,” it answers calmly. “I am what you think I am.” “Who are you?” The figure steps further into the light, and I can finally see it properly – it’s a man, his long and intricately stitched golden robe draped over him, skimming the floor with a whisper. His hood is drawn, his eyes hidden, but his mouth smiles as he contemplates me. “Is it coincidence that brings us together, do you think?” “I don’t understand,” I say warily, already at my limit with the strange and cryptic feel of the Reef. “Who are you?” The man smiles again. “They call me Vance. Nice to meet you.” “Do you live here as well?” Vance shuffles around me, moving like a cloud through water. “A guest of the Reef, like yourself,” he answers as he moves more into the light. “You’re human,” I state with surprise as the light reveals his features more. “I thought none but the Awoken were allowed to remain here?” “We have business of our own with the Queen.” “And what would that be?” Rather than answer, Vance just smiles again. “What brings you out here so close to the Darkness? Can you feel it?” I shiver slightly at his words – there’s something….unsettling about this man. But at the same time… …there’s something….calming about him…. “I have come to destroy the Darkness.” Vance chuckles. “Can it be destroyed?” “We will certainly try,” Ghost offers. Vance shakes his head. “I began as a Guardian, too, once,” he begins, voice trailing, almost wistfully. “I left to follow a different path. Perhaps you will too, one day.” His words give me pause. [i]A Guardian can leave?[/i] “What do you mean?” “It’s been a long time since I’ve been back to the Tower. Does the Speaker still speak of Osiris?” I ponder his question – never have I heard that name at the Tower. [i]Why? Who is this Osiris?[/i] “No,” I answer Vance. “Why? Who is he?” “He is the one true Speaker,” Vance declares with conviction. “He knows that the Traveler will never speak again.” Vance’s words sting. [i]Another Speaker? What happened to him? Why did he leave?[/i] “What do you mean?” Vance cocks his head, considering me. “You’re not one of Ikora’s Hidden, are you? I feel like we’ve met before.” “We’ve never met,” I tell him. “And I don’t speak with Ikora often. I work primarily with Cayde.” Vance smiles. “I think of myself as a hunter, too. In a way.” His riddles both irritate and fascinate me. [i]Who is this man?[/i] “I don’t understand.” Vance smiles wider. “You may, in time. Do as the Queen commands. Bring to us what she requests. We will find each other when you return.” He turns to leave. “Do you work for the Queen?” I shout after him, still confused and intrigued. “Is that why you left the Tower?” Vance continues walking. “Wait! Look at me!” Vance turns and looks back at me, over my shoulder – with a trill I realize [i]He’s blind.[/i] “Ask yourself, Guardian,” he begins quietly. “What would you do if it was proven that the Speaker was a charlatan?” His words hit me like a fist, and he leaves me with nothing but questions.