This takes place shortly after the final shape campaign. A conversation if all of these guys were here (lol) regarding the Nine. Hope you enjoy! [i]The Tower is still, its silence a sharp contrast to the chaos of recent battles. The shattered Traveler hangs above the City, a constant reminder of the cost. Osiris stands near the window, his eyes distant, while Asher paces impatiently near a glowing display. Mara Sov sits poised, her expression unreadable, while Eris lingers in the shadows, muttering softly over Hive runes. The Drifter lounges at the back, flipping a coin between his fingers, always with that irreverent smirk. “The Nine,” Osiris says, breaking the quiet. “They watched the Final Shape unfold and did nothing. We cannot let them remain passive anymore.” Asher’s mechanical hand twitches, his voice sharp. “Passive? They were never with us to begin with! Let them stay in their corner. We’ve got enough to handle rebuilding without worrying about their cryptic nonsense.” Mara leans forward, surprising the group as she agrees with Asher. “Asher is right, Osiris. The Nine have always been elusive. Their goals are unknown, and their involvement—or lack thereof—is often too dangerous to predict. We are weakened from the fight with the Witness. We can’t afford to chase shadows.” Osiris turns sharply, eyes flashing. “You both think we should just sit here, waiting for them to make their move? That’s reckless! We’ve done nothing but wait, and look where it’s gotten us.” Mara’s gaze is steady, though her voice carries an edge. “It’s not about waiting. It’s about not provoking forces we do not fully understand. After what we’ve been through, we can’t afford to engage them on their terms. We are too exposed, too vulnerable.” Eris, stepping slightly forward, interrupts, her voice cold and deliberate. “The Nine are not the only ones we should be wary of.” Her glowing eyes flicker as she speaks. “The echoes that were released from the Traveler… when it shattered—they are still out there. Manifestations of something beyond even the Light or Dark.” The room falls into a tense silence as Eris continues. “These echoes are not bound by our reality. They could attract the Nine… or worse. We must be prepared for whatever forces they draw toward us.” The Drifter, flipping his coin with a grin, chimes in. “Echoes, huh? Always with the spooky stuff, Moondust. But you’re not wrong. If those things are floating around out there, the Nine’ll be sniffing at ’em sooner or later. Question is, who else will?” Osiris glances at Eris, eyes narrowing. “These echoes—do you think they are connected to the Nine’s recent silence? Or are they something more sinister?” Eris shoots a sidelong glance at the Drifter, unimpressed by his nickname, but focuses on Osiris. “I do not know. But I sense they are watching, waiting. They are not idle. They stir things in the unseen realms.” Asher waves them off, his frustration spilling over. “Great. More unknowns. And here we are, sitting in the dark while cosmic forces mess with the balance. I say we let the Nine stay out of it and focus on what we can handle. We’ve barely survived this war as it is.” The Drifter laughs, his voice casual as ever. “You’re not wrong, Ash. But Moondust over there’s got a point. The Nine love to meddle when things get messy. But let’s be real—they don’t owe us a damn thing. Maybe it’s better to keep our distance, see what they do from the shadows.” Osiris glares at him, his voice tight. “We can’t afford to wait for them to make their move. That’s what we’ve done for too long, and it almost cost us everything. We need to take the initiative.” The Drifter’s grin widens, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Careful, old man,” he says, lazily spinning the coin. “Last time you got all impatient, you rushed in without a plan—and we both know how that worked out for Sagira, don’t we?” A tense silence fills the room. Osiris’ expression tightens at the mention of his lost Ghost, and Mara’s eyes flick toward him, measuring the impact of the remark. The Drifter leans back further, unbothered. “Don’t get me wrong,” the Drifter continues, shrugging, “I get it. Time’s ticking, big stakes. Just seems to me you ain’t exactly batting a thousand when it comes to charging in headfirst.” Asher crosses his arms, glaring at Osiris. “He’s right. We can’t afford another reckless move. If the Nine want to show their hand, let them do it on their own terms. We’ve got bigger problems to focus on than some cosmic beings playing games.” Mara nods, her voice measured. “We must rebuild our strength first. Rushing into the unknown will only weaken us further. If the Nine choose to act, we will be ready—but on our terms, not theirs.” Eris steps closer, her voice a whisper. “And the echoes—if we provoke them, if they become part of the Nine’s game—we may not survive whatever answers they bring.” The Drifter leans back again, flipping his coin one last time, grinning. “Sounds like you’re getting soft, Moondust. We don’t survive anything by hiding in the shadows.” Eris shoots him a sharp glance. “You would be wise to heed caution, Rat. Recklessness is what got you into Gambit in the first place.” The Drifter’s grin only widens. “Yeah, but look where it got me. Still here, still smilin’.” Osiris turns, frustration etched in every movement. “So we sit back, again? Wait for another disaster to strike while they manipulate us from afar?” Mara’s eyes soften. “Sometimes, Osiris, the best move is not to play.”[/i]