“How expected; Guardians. Keepers of the peace, protectors of the innocent and the weak...all heroes in the naive eyes of children; and the blind…” The voice sounded eerily similar to the one in Greer’s night terrors, and it sent a cold chill down his spine. The voice was distorted and manipulated. It was deep and scratchy, and it echoed throughout the halls of Greer’s vessel. All of the screens' images changed to a figure sitting in a chair, hidden from the light by long shadows. “A beacon of hope for the hopeless, a glimmering flame of righteousness, a torch that illuminates and brings the glory of Light to the darkest reaches of injustice...a band of courageous warriors...and liars.” The final word bled acid. “Your kind is nothing more than savage beasts who prey on those weaker than your own. Constantly taking advantage of the ones you so desperately pledge your sacred vows to. How is it that no one has ever noticed your tyrannical tendencies before? A planet full of intelligent beings, and not so much as one to stand up and recognize what your order of so-called 'Guardians' truly stands for. How is this?” Finally, Greer spoke, “Who are you? Identify yourself.” Greer delivered his words harshly. They were articulated in a tone that commanded fear and respect, both of which he would receive none of from this intruder. “The answer is simple: you kill them all.” Whoever the maniacal voice belonged to continued to speak and completely ignored Greer’s response as if he had said nothing at all. “Slaughtered and butchered. No questions raised, no heads turned. You strip them of their individualism, you strip them of their personalities and their identities. You beat them and mold them as if they were iron. Bent and shaped into vicious tools for death and destruction. Perhaps you have no one else to blame but yourselves for your soi-disant ‘Collapse.’ ” The voice just continued on; Greer and his crew just stood and watched. “Your ‘Collapse’ was a gift. A gift from the Heavens. A cleansing, if you will. An annihilation of the corrupt and the sinister. Unfortunately, it has served only to give rise to those who are even worse than their predecessors. It is for this reason that I have come. I have come to restore true order and justice to your kind. Do not fear, I will cut the strings to your arms, and you will once again have freedom of will. The glorious freedom of being able to make your own decisions, as opposed to following your puppet masters blindly and performing the same mundane tasks day in and day out of your pathetic lives.” Greer and his crew were helpless to do anything. His mouth and lips were dry, he tried to swallow, but it felt as if his Adam’s apple was lodged in his throat. “...” “It is overwhelmingly pathetic as to how your kind follows. Stop and think a moment. What brought you out here? Why are you here?” Greer stood as still as a statue, his knuckles white from his vice-grip on the railing. Then, his mind started to think back. What was it the Speaker had said to him? A distress call from the Queen? Why would they be answering such a call? And of all people, why would the Speaker choose Geer? The Reef was probably among the first to receive it, why didn’t they respond? Or were they out here and have gone? Or was it something else entirely? Was it, perhaps, a lie? “Do not allow it to unsettle you. It is quite normal for those that have never used their brain before to question authority to have streaking feelings of terror and uncertainty. Fortunately, you will not be feeling these emotions for much longer. You will meet Death. Out here, among the stars, among the planets and constellations. Out here...where no one will hear your screams…” That’s when the first missile exploded into Greer’s ship. [i]Death to the Wolves: Run...(Chapter 3)[/i]: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/184089639/0/0 [i]Death to the Wolves: Contact...(Chapter 2)[/i]: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/167836955/0/0 [i]Death to the Wolves: Chapter Index[/i]: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/184038227/0/0