[spoiler]Fun Fact: Cosmo has had 14 memory wipes. Here's the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/205901906/0/0]Master Post.[/url][/spoiler]"So there we were: surrounded by Hive," Avesk narrated dramatically, "It was a scene scary enough to make a grown man wet his pants. But Phantom and I stood strong." The crowd of listeners oohed and aahed. Phantom rolled his eyes. "So brave." One woman whispered. Avesk winked at the civilian. "I know." He replied, as then continued, "Back to back, we fought, as Hive endlessly poured from the doorways. Then suddenly, there was a creaking sound behind us." The crowd gasped. "A third door had opened behind us. Escape! Together, we jumped over the onslaught of Thrall and dashed out of the chamber. We hightailed it back to the Circle of Bones when we heard yelling and gunfire. Our friends were in trouble!" Avesk paused to take a sip of his drink. The crowd leaned forwards in anticipation. "Our friends were up against the wall as the Hive advanced towards them. They each suffered at least a dozen wounds. They were in bad shape," Avesk said, then slammed his fist down into his other hand dramatically, "But a Hunter never leaves a teammate behind! Phantom and I jumped over the Hive, firing rockets down upon them. We must have taken out at least forty of them. Then, we were joined by two more Hunter friends. The six of us stood together against the Hive, destroying hundreds! Although if we're being serious.." Avesk trailed off and then leaned in and put his hand up to his mouth conspiratorially, "Phantom and I did most of the work." He said in a whisper. He leaned back and continued the story. "Then, when all hope seemed lost, our ships appeared and incinerated the entire army, thanks to my brilliant plan. Once we got back to Earth, Patriot turned to me and said, 'Avesk, you're one of the most skilled and brilliant Hunters I've ever had the fortune to meet. If it wasn't for you, we'd probably still be back down in the Hellmouth.’” “That’s total bullshit, and you know it,” A deep Exo voice said, interrupting the story. Avesk glared at Patriot. “Okay,” he conceded, “so I may have exaggerated a few small details, but you know that most of that was true.” Patriot said nothing, but held Avesk’s gaze, the silence becoming more and more uncomfortable by the second. Avesk looked away. Patriot nodded, satisfied he had gotten his point across. “Come on,” Patriot said, “ We’re wanted in the Vanguard Hall for debriefing.” He turned and walked away, each footfall landing with a crisp precision. Avesk watched him leave, before turning back to the crowd. “Well, I may have to go for now,” he said, “But don’t worry. I’ll be around here next week to tell some of my favorite tales from Twilight Gap.” He got up from his seat, set his drink down on the counter, and exited the Tower bar, jogging to the main plaza. Phantom rolled his eyes and followed. Avesk and Phantom were the last two to enter the room. Validus and Cosmo were already standing to the left of the Vanguard table, by Cayde. Avesk was surprised to note that both Guardians were wearing New Monarchy colors. Patriot and Joden stood to either side of Ikora. Zavala cleared his throat. "Now that we're all finally present," he said as he glared at Avesk, "we can begin debriefing." Patriot slammed his hand down on the table. "What the hell was that mission!?" He yelled. Ikora winced from the volume. "Guardian," Zavala glared at the Titan, "this was a matter of utmost importance. The Hive had obtained a shard of the Traveler and were using it to drain its Light." Patriot crossed his arms stubbornly. "Then where was it?" "Um." Cayde cleared his throat nervously, "another Guardian got to it before you guys did." "Why weren't we notified as soon as the Guardian recovered the shard?" Patriot asked. "We tried. You guys were too deep to get a signal." Cayde answered. Patriot clenched and unclenched his fists angrily. "You must understand," Ikora's calm voice spoke out, "the mission was of the highest priority. Losing a full team of Guardians is a small loss compared to losing the Traveler itself." Patriot huffed. "Then why even send us if another Guardian was already there?" "It was one Guardian." Cayde replied, "We thought that they could use some help." Patriot's anger quickly changed to surprise. "One Guardian freed the Traveler's shard by itself?" He asked. Cayde nodded. "We were surprised too. That Guardian is going to do great things," he said, "Anyways, we feel kinda bad about how you all almost died, so here's some Vanguard marks for your trouble." He walked around handing blue coins to the various Guardians in the room. "How much booze can one of these get you?" Avesk blurted out. Zavala turned a withering gaze on him. "They can't." Avesk stared at the coins a moment more before they disappeared from his hands and into his inventory. "Huh. Don't see how this new currency is ever going to catch on if you can't even buy drinks with it." "Guardians, you're dismissed." Zavala said with an edge in his voice. Cayde snickered. "Whatever." Avesk said, rolling his eyes as he turned to leave. The rest of the team followed. / "So," Patriot said to Valudis as the two climbed the stairs to the courtyard. "I see you've joined the ranks of the spacenazis." He nodded at the New Monarchy mark hanging from Validus' belt. "I'm sorry, what?" Validus asked. "The space who?" "Ah, nothing." Patriot replied. "An ancient pre-Golden Age faction. They were a fascist regime who tried to take over the world. Not unlike the New Monarchy." Validus frowned. "They told me that their only interest is helping the people of the City." Validus said. "Oh, it is." Patriot replied, "but their methods are very questionable. They want to elect a single leader of unimpeachable power to rule the City." "That.. doesn't seem like a good idea." Validus answered. Patriot shook his head. "It's not. Whether or not you stay with the New Monarchy is up to you, but you should think hard on what I told you. I know what I'm taking about. I've done my fair share of research on all the factions." He walked away, leaving Validus staring at his Titan Mark, contemplating his actions. / The Exile Kell walked the halls of his Ketch, followed, as always, be his elite team of Vandals. He stooped to pass through a door, coming to a halt in the flagship’s hold. “My Kell, I bring you a report of Frigoris’ raid on the Hive.” A Fallen Captain spoke up from behind. Skoriks turned and addressed the Captain. “Go on, Captain.” He said. “Frigoris and his strike force were killed.” The Captain reported. “He was caught in a crossfire between a Guardian and the Hive. None of the forces made it out alive.” Skoriks growled angrily, “A thousand curses upon the Guardians! We do not need the Hive tech anymore.” He said. “We are nearly ready to progress to the next step of out plan. What is the status on the Prime?” “Mostly functional, my Kell.” The Captain replied. “Already, our stores of Ether have flourished, and all weapons are functional. The only thing we need is to finish linking it to the other High Servitors.” The Kell nodded. “Send out the transmission to gather the rest of our forces. Soon, we march on the City of Thieves.”[quote]Click [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/219607470?sort=0&page=0]here[/url] for the next chapter[/quote]