If you missed the last chapter of REEF MOB, you can find it [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/221899791/0/0]here[/url], or if you need to find a previous chapter, you can find them all in the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/218618986?sort=0&page=0]Table of Contents[/url]. Please give a bump or leave a comment if you enjoy this and any other chapter! ***  Imogen’s fire still burns inside. No matter how far I drift or where the Queen’s orders take me, Imogen’s fire always burns. I was little more than a boy when she took me under her wing, but she taught me how to fly, how to fight, how to choose my battles with wisdom. But her final lesson to me was that we don’t always get to choose our own battles – we can give it our all, fight and claw for years, but in the end, we will all fall. Her final lesson taught me how to face death with dignity and honor. I’ll never get to tell her this, never get to thank her for all she did for me, all she taught me – but I can live for her. Her mark is still emblazoned across my chest, her colors forever sewn into my armor. Imogen’s fire still burns, and I will carry its warmth within me forever. The icy grip of space leaks through the ketch’s corridor, threatening to chill the fire inside. With effort, I push it down as I enter the medical bay, a new chill working its icy fingers under my skin. I make my way to the back, entering a private operating room where the young Awoken woman lies unconscious on a gurney. Paladin Zire and Variks are already waiting for me, both of whom are solemn and concerned as they greet me. “What’s her status?” I ask as I approach. “Physically, capable,” Zire responds blithely. “But psychologically….” “Do we know how long he had her?” “[i]Taniks keeps trophies long time[/i],” Variks purrs. “[i]Not even she would know how long.[/i]” He gestures with his staff to the woman, and my eyes zero in on her missing leg again. “Couldn’t fix it?” “Too much nerve damage,” Zire responds. “At least the scans came back negative for SIVA.” “[i]If scans are correct,[/i]” Variks clicks back. “Still,” Zire forges ahead, cutting her eyes from Variks back to me. “The biggest problem now is the ether.” “It’s unbelievable,” I sigh, shaking my head. “I’ve never even heard of other species using ether like that.” Zire’s eyes almost twinkle as she smirks to me. “You’ve never been out to the Impulse Division, have you?” “No!” I scoff with incredulity. “Why would I go there?” Zire just shrugs in response, looking back to the woman. I follow her gaze. “Anybody figure out her name yet?” Variks shakes his head sadly. “[i]Never truly forgotten, but buried, deeply buried. Hard to know if it will be remembered again.[/i]” Zire looks compassionately at the woman, at the pitiful wretch known only by her label: Ia Tanis. “So what do we do with her then?” Zire and Variks turn to me, and I can read from their expressions that they have no idea. “We can’t bring her back to Vesta,” I forge ahead. “Not with her addicted to ether and stealing Fallen masks. Too dangerous to have someone this unpredictable so close to the Queen.” “What would you suggest, dropping her off on the nearest asteroid? Leave her some glimmer and wish her luck?” “You don’t have to make it sound that harsh,” I mumble, already sensing the argument that’s coming. “And we don’t have to [i]be[/i] that harsh,” Zire retorts, scowling at me. “She is still Awoken, after all.” “Could be Earthborn, though.” Zire glares at me. “And an Earthborn woman would still be above any man, no matter his birthplace.” The retort stings, more than I let Zire see. As the only male Paladin for at least a generation, I’ve always had to prove myself more than any of my female counterparts, some of whom often remind me that I was chosen to fill a dead woman’s place, that if not for Pirsis and Bamberga I would still be permanently beneath them. I hear the whispers, that the Paladins have invited misfortune and tempted bad luck by including a man in their ranks – that’s why I have to be better, prove myself more loyal, show them all that I’ll give my all for our home. I have to show them I’m worthy of Imogen’s fire. “Regardless,” I respond carefully. “Her current condition makes her a threat to the Queen and her court.” “Agreed,” Zire says, bowing her head. “Which brings us to the question of where she can be taken.” We all stand in silence for a moment, contemplating this woman’s fate. “[i]She has been checked for identifying marks, yes?[/i]” Variks purrs. “I don’t think the medic did,” Zire responds suddenly, a spark in her eye. “Maybe…” She carefully pulls away the shift from Ia’s body – I avert my eyes as Variks stares curiously. Zire moves along the right side of Ia’s body, finding nothing, moving on – her hands stop suddenly at her shoulder, frozen as Zire pulls the shift away to reveal the dark red mark tattooed onto her skin. Furrowing my brow, I join Zire in looking at the mark, finally asking “What is that?” “Mark of the Mob,” Zire responds seriously, sighing with disappointment. I spit on the deck out of habit – mention of the Mob doesn’t come up in polite company on Vesta. “[i]Could be useful,[/i]” Variks growls thoughtfully. “How so?” Zire asks. “[i]Always good to have something someone else wants,[/i]” Variks responds cryptically. “That’s assuming the Mob would even want her back,” I interject. “What if they don’t remember her?” “Then it’ll be an interesting reunion,” Zire says with finality. Variks meets her eyes, and she looks back seriously. “We have enough to worry about without picking a fight with the Mob.” “Who cares about the Mob?” I ask scathingly. “Just a bunch of junkies and criminals…” “Who delivered relief supplies to the Reef during the Wars,” Zire answers hastily, glaring at me. “People remember that. People who are loyal to the Queen, but still question her motives. Her rule isn’t as absolute as you’d like to think.” “That’s a very seditious outlook,” I growl back. “No, it’s realistic,” Zire responds coldly. “The Guards’ forces were ravaged during the Wolves’ Rebellion. We lose more of the armada daily fighting Skolas. We can’t afford any additional conflicts.” I open my mouth to respond, but Zire holds her hand up with finality. “And I will not be argued against on this point.” Biting my tongue, I nod in agreement. [i]Truly a woman’s world[/i], I think, somewhat bitterly. [i]But if not for a woman, I’d still be stuck on Vesta, unable to climb any higher, achieve anything greater.[/i] “My apologies, Abra,” I mumble, bowing my head again. “[i]Don’t need to deliver to Mob[/i],” Variks clicks in the reprieve. “[i]Impulse Division will do.[/i]” “We can’t just ditch her – “ Zire begins, but Variks interrupts. “[i]Same danger we fear from her in Vesta could occur on Demeter,[/i]” he growls. “[i]Could be useful to ensure Mob remains….preoccupied.[/i]” Zire contemplates the suggestion. “It’s no crueler than the fate that would await her on Vesta…” She sighs, conflicted. “I’ll take her,” I volunteer. “Give me a Corsair escort and I’ll make sure she gets there safe.” “It’s not getting her there that worries me,” Zire says distantly. “It’s what will happen to her after.” “It’s no crueler fate than she’d meet on Vesta,” I repeat back to her. Zire thinks silently, finally sighing again. “Take the forces you need. The Corsairs have been there before, they’ll know the way.” I bow my head in acknowledgement and turn to leave. “Hallam!” Zire calls, and I look back at her. “Be careful with her. Remember all she’s been through.” I nod silently, and turn to leave again. As I make my way back through the corridor, my thoughts drift once again to Imogen, wondering what she would do in this situation. [i]We don’t always get to choose our own battles, but we always have the choice in how we face our death.[/i] From what I’ve gathered about this woman, this Ia Tanis, she faced her death with honor. Strung out, tortured, weak and malnourished, she still chose to face the monster Taniks and fight. Despite my own misgivings, I have a sneaking suspicion that Imogen would have rather liked this woman – so I push down my own doubts, and try to see this as Imogen would. I have a memory to live up to, after all.