If you missed the last episode, you can find it [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/223072081/0/0]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! *** The Eliksni wheel and jump. I drop my weapon and draw back my hood to try and put them at ease. * [i]Exo[/i], * I hear one of them growl. * [i]The City’s already sent[/i] – * “I’m not from the City,” I tell them. As the one who spoke looks at me curiously, the other grunts to her. * [i]What’s it saying?[/i] * “Tell her I mean you no harm,” I nod to them as they simply growl more deeply. I meet the speaker’s eyes, trying to convey as best I can – * [i]It’s okay,[/i] * she finally tells her companion. * [i]I don’t think she’s here to hurt us.[/i] * I smile despite myself and wonder again how strange the gesture must appear through metal features. “You’re very brave, coming down here,” I tell them. “You’ll need that courage for the road ahead.” * [i]What do you mean?[/i] * “There are things that must be done,” I tell them cautiously, not wanting to tip my hand. “Some things we can change. Others must happen as they were meant to.” She shakes her head in confusion. * [i]I don’t understand – [/i]* “Don’t worry,” I tell her. “You will. But right now, you must follow me. There are things that must be done so that others may be undone.” I retrieve my weapon as I turn to lead the way forward. Behind me, I can hear the Eliksni still murmuring. * [i]Who is she? What is she? * * I don’t know, but right now she’s our only way out. Looks like we don’t have a choice but to follow her. * * Funny how we keep finding ourselves in that position[/i]. * I snicker, careful to keep to myself – [i]If they only knew…[/i] We walk for a time in silence, the atmosphere of the Vault infecting us, as we move deeper into its mysteries. [i]Still, most of those who entered this place came back[/i], I think, trying to keep my spirits up in this dismal place. [i]More than can be said for the pioneers who made even the hope of challenging Atheon possible. Six went down, yet only three were remembered: Kabr, Praedyth, and Pahanin. Only Pahanin returned, babbling about –[/i] I shake my head. [i]Pahanin’s story isn’t important. It’s Kabr’s we need. * Where are we going?[/i] * I turn back to my companions. “We have to meet up with the rest of our team,” I respond. * [i]Team?[/i] * The Eliksni turn toward each other and jabber for a moment, the one who can’t understand me hissing as her friend tells her the plan. * [i]Who are you bringing us to?[/i] * She draws her shock blade and I almost sigh with exasperation. [i]We don’t have time for warriors’ ultimatums…[/i] “The Vex let you pass. Did you wonder why?” They share a confused look. * [i]I don’t understand.[/i] * “I’ll explain everything once we’ve reached the others,” I tell her, turning around before she can retort and walking on – after a moment, I hear them walking after me – [i]Not far now…[/i] I keep trudging forward, leading the confused Eliksni, feeling all the while the one who can understand me keeping the other at bay – however, it won’t be long now before – * [i]No further,[/i] * she growls, planting her feet firmly. I sigh internally. [i]Didn’t take nearly as long as I’d have hoped… * Tell it we want answers! Where are we going and who are we meeting?[/i] * “We won’t make it out of here if it’s just the three of us,” I preemptively tell the one who understands me. “We need at least six. Lucky for you, I’ve already assembled a full team.” * [i]But[/i] – * I hold up my hand to silence them. “They’re just up ahead. Give me two minutes, and I’ll explain everything.” The Eliksni grumble to each other. “Your alternative is finding your own way out of here,” I remind them. * [i]She’s got a point,[/i] * the speaker tells her companion, who glowers at me again, but eventually nods. “Good,” I say simply, turning to lead the way again. “They should be just up ahead.” They follow me forward once more, and within moments we turn a corner and I see the rest of our team – * [i]That’s it?![/i] * one of the Eliksni whines. * [i]One Awoken?!![/i] * The Awoken pirate cocks his head and turns his lip up in disgust. “You brought bugs here? How in the hell is that gonna – “ “She wouldn’t have brought them for no reason,” an artificial female voice answers him as a Ghost shell flies forward to scan the Eliksni. “They must have some value…” One of the Eliksni swats at the Ghost, who hovers nimbly away, continuing to shine a light over her. “As much value as you or I,” the pirate snorts. “Namely, none. This is pointless – “ “That’s because you have a narrow perspective,” I remind him pointedly. “And just like the Eliksni, you don’t have much of a choice, either. How were you planning on escaping the Vault without assistance?” The pirate glowers, but mercifully falls silent. I take the opportunity to look around at the motley crew I’ve managed to put together, and from the look of them even I can’t help questioning their purpose. [i]Out of over fifty simulations we’ve run, they succeeded in just reaching Atheon fifteen times, failed sixteen times, and the remaining nineteen simulations were indeterminate… Still, we don’t have much of a choice. The Guardians won’t remove the relic, and without it, the Reef is doomed – once it falls there’s nothing that can stop the spread of the Darkness – * So how do we escape then? *[/i] I’m pulled out of my meditation by the Eliksni’s question. “By retrieving what we were destined to find down here,” I tell her. “Have you ever heard of the Aegis?” “Whoa, wait a minute, I thought you were helping us get out of here, not take us deeper inside!” I weigh the options in my mind – [i]Do I tell them why they’re really here? What if they refuse?[/i] I look into their collected faces, and make my choice. “You’re here because a series of seemingly disparate events all brought you here so that I could recruit you.” “What the hell does that even mean?! And who the hell are you?” the pirate asks. “You’ve still never told us.” “Who I am is not important,” I press on quickly. “It’s what I’m here to retrieve that is. And you all are integral in helping me get it.” * [i]So you brought us here?[/i] * the Eliksni snarls. “We don’t have time for this,” I insist. “I oversaw events to ensure that you would come, but no, I didn’t personally bring you down here – “ “What’s the difference?” the pirate asks. “Hush, Loren!” his Ghost trills. “Let her explain!” I do my best to calm myself internally, wishing my signal worked down here. [i]If I had some backup still, maybe this would be easier…[/i] But there’s no one else – just me. I have to find a way to pull these misfits together, and I have to do it alone. “Look,” I begin. “Simple truth is, you’re all here because you have a connection to the Reef. Some of you want to conquer it – “ I gesture to the Eliksni. “ – while some of you just want to plunder it.” I shoot the pirate a knowing look, but he just rolls his eyes at me. “But without the Reef, the Darkness will spread. We’ll all die, and there will be nothing left in its wake.” I watch them somberly digest my words. [i]Are these really the ones to save it?[/i] “And I need all of you to help me save it.” The pirate begins laughing. “And why should I care?” His Ghost bumps into his head, shivering in its agitation. “Loren! That’s our home!” He swats at the Ghost, but it just hovers away, almost scowling at him. * [i]He’s right,[/i] * the Eliksni says, her friend nodding behind her. * [i]We have no loyalty to the Reef.[/i] * “And you don’t even have your full team!” the pirate snorts, looking around. “There’s only five of us here, and you said – “ “Perhaps there’s something we can do to incentivize you, then.” The voice speaks from the shadows, and I watch the others jump and spin around to look at our last member approaching, metal hands clasped primly behind his back, chin held high as he observes the gathered miscreants with detachment. The pirate, though, turns pale as he sees the Exo approaching, a hint of fear in his eye. “Oh, hell no, not you, go tell that red-haired devil if she wants me – “ The Exo chuckles. “I wouldn’t suggest that. The Baroness doesn’t react well to obstinance.” The pirate falls silent, but continues to watch the Exo warily as he turns to the Eliksni. “From anyone. We’re prepared to make a deal with you and the Wolves, but we would first need to reclaim what our friend here needs us for.” He gestures to me, and though I nod back to him, I can’t suppress a small shiver inside. [i]He may be useful, but he’s still just so…unsettling. Must be a side effect of the modifications.[/i] “Hey what about me?” the pirate interjects. “Will your continued freedom suffice?” Kenedi says blithely. The pirate and the Eliksni all seem to consider his proposal, and finally the Eliksni who speaks nods and tells the Exo * [i]We cannot promise a deal, only Dra Ge can decide. But we can get you an audience.[/i] * “That will be fine,” the Exo tells them. “Now, what are we to call you?” “[i]Solis,[/i]” the speaker rasps before gesturing back to her friend. “[i]She Anixias.[/i]” “They talk?!” the pirate cries, taken aback, as the Eliksni growl at him. The Exo waves his hand, unperturbed. “Don’t mind Loren, being on the run all his life has left him severely lacking in manners.” Loren rolls his eyes again and huddles back down with his Ghost, ignoring the rest of us. “[i]What is name?[/i]” Solis asks the Exo, pointing to him. “I’m Kenedi,” he answers. “And I very much look forward to working with all of you.”