[b][u]Chapter 4: The Burning Forge (1/2)[/u][/b] Saladin sat in the cockpit of Birth of History, orbiting the planet Mercury for the second time in two days. He was starting to get tired of this planet. He would have already completed his task by now if he didn't need permission from the Sunbreaker's Empyrean Magistrate to reactivate the Burning Forge. Relations between the Vanguard and the Sunbreaker Legion were strained as is, he didn't want to add more fuel to that fire. He sent out another call, patiently waiting for an answer. After two minutes, he finally made contact. A hologram of a female Titan appeared on his dashboard. Saladin could tell she was the Magistrate from the signature helm, the Empyrean Bellicose. "This is Ouros, Third Empyrean Magistrate of the Sunbreaker Legion. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?" she spoke with a honourable tone to her voice. "An old friend. This is Lord Saladin Forge of the Iron Banner." Saladin shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He was probably not the person Ouros would be most pleased with seeing. "Well, well..." Ouros' tone went straight from welcoming to venomous. "Now what would our old commander want to speak about?" "I need your permission-" Saladin was interrupted by Ouros, who snapped back, removing her helmet. "My permission?" she hissed. "Where was my permission when Osiris changed the rules of the contract?" she pointed an accusing finger at Saladin. "Who gave him permission to do so? What could you possibly need my permission for?" "Reactivating the Burning Forge." Saladin spoke firmly, trying to regain his footing in the conversation. Ouros threw back her head and laughed hysterically. "Oh old friend, I was not expecting you to ask that." she chuckled. "Only because I never knew you to be so stupidly arrogant." her gaze resumed it's icy stare. "I'm not asking you or your soldiers to rejoin the city, or to light the forge yourself." Saladin's words were reinforced with iron. "I'm asking you to let me light the forge, to let other Titan's undergo the trials, to prove themselves worthy of wielding the hammer." Ouros frowned, still untrusting. "There are dark forces on our threshold, we need every power we can muster against them." Ouros sighed. "What does the Vanguard say about this?" Saladin shook his head. "They don't know about this." Ouros looked surprised. "Really?" she smiled. "How is Zavala by the way? And Shaxx, haven't seen either of them in a while." "Zavala is doing a better job running the Vanguard then I ever have." Saladin replied. "And Shaxx... well, we had a falling out at Twilight Gap. He runs the Crucible now." She nodded gravely. "A lot of falling out came from Twilight Gap." her eyes had a faraway look to them, like she was remembering the past. "Very well Saladin, I grant you permission to re-ignite the Burning Forge." She raised her hand before Saladin could thank her. "A warning." she said. "The Forge has been abandoned for a long time. The darkness has a strong grip on the place." she smiled. "But i'm sure you can handle it." _______________________________________ The Burning Forge loomed overhead. A vast building covered by a layer of false stone that hid an inner frame of complex technology, the Burning Forge was a magnificent sight to behold. at its front lay a stage shaped like half of a disk, with a large platform at its centre. Saladin remembered his first visit to the Burning Forge. Those who sought to wield the Hammer of Sol would reach into the flames generated by the disk, and the power would take hold. Nigh impossible to do at the moment, as the Forge was dark. He entered into the Forge, and was surprised to find the entire place pitch black, even though the blinding light of the sun should have been seeping through the open doorway. "So I guess the darkness having a 'strong grip' on this place wasn't just a metaphor." he grumbled. He took out his Hammer of Sol and ignited it, raising it over his head like a torch. It would have to suffice. He decided, then ventured deeper into the dark bowels of the Burning Forge. Time had not been kind to the Burning Forge. From the dim light of his hammer, Saladin was able to avoid tripping over broken tools, overturned stones, anything and everything lying around. He raised his hammer up, and was startled to see two Vex Goblins standing at the wall like statues. He visibly relaxed. These Vex must have been dormant for a long time, and if these were here, that meant there was a Minotaur around, following its primary programming of being a mobile foundry. "I need to find that Minotaur..." Saladin thought aloud. "I wouldn't worry about that too much, old friend." Saladin whirled around, and watched as the shadows revealed an armored man who stepped into the light of Saladin's hammer. Saladin whispered the man's name. "Radegast?" _______________________________________ To be continued. Part 2: http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/159569620/0/0 Table of Contents: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/114713352/0/0