[quote]Check out all other Brave Light episodes [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/176320409/0/0]right here[/url]![/quote] [b]Shaxx[/b] [i](over the loudspeaker)[/i]: You're not dead yet, guardian. Pick it up! [b]Zale[/b]: I GET IT ALREADY. [i]Two Warlocks jumped around the corner, firing their fusion rifles left and right.[/i] [i]Once the beams grazed passed him, Zale fired them away with a burst of shots from his hand cannon, barely breaking a sweat.[/i] [i]A zap of electricity lit up the room behind, shining bright blue along the rusted metal walls of the area.[/i] [b]Zale[/b]: Boring... [i]Shortly after, Fist of Havoc colliding with the ground in front of him. Zale jumped and dodged the streams of Arc energy that cracked along the stone floor.[/i] [i]The Titan looked up at his opponent, but by the time he swung out his shotgun, the Hunter had already slashed his shield away.[/i] [i]Zale tucked and rolled down the hall, focusing his light into the tips of his fingers. Moments later, his Golden Gun materialized in the palm of his hand, his finger hitting the trigger.[/i] [i]One second, the Titan was there. The next, it was just his ghost.[/i] [b]Zale[/b]: Piece. Of. Cake. [i]Another wave of lightning glided along the surface from where the Titan's fist landed, slicing straight through Zale and into the wall behind.[/i] [i]One second, the Hunter was there. The next, it was just his ghost.[/i] [b]---------------------[/b] [i]Liz is in the Tower, watching Crucible matches with Janus, just as Lord Shaxx was teaching his class.[/i] [b]Zale[/b]: Aftermath?! Are you kidding me?! [b]Hayden[/b]: It's a good skill! You can't blame someone for using what they've got at their disposal. [b]Zale[/b]: Oh yeah? Watch me! [b]Hayden[/b]: I will, twinkle-toes! [b]Zale[/b]: Tubby! [b]Hayden[/b]: Ballerina! [b]Zale[/b]: Hippo! [b]Hayden[/b]: Pansy! [i]The two were rolling around the floor, bashing each other left and right. Eventually, the other four guardians from the match joined in, and all hell broke loose.[/i] [i]The sound of punching, kicking, and twisting roared throughout the Hall of Guardians. Once a crowd gathered, Cayde started walking around, taking bets.[/i] [b]Liz[/b] [i]to Shaxx)[/i]: You've gotta be joking. They're acting like 10 year olds. [i]After looking around, she realized that Shaxx and Janus weren't even next to her anymore.[/i] [b]Shaxx[/b]: ENOUGH! [i]Shaxx and Janus entered from the other side of the hall.[/i] [b]Shaxx[/b]: Out of everything I would expect from guardians of the Tower, this is the last to even remotely cross my mind! [i]After composing themselves, the Guardians stood up, wiping the dust off their armor, straightening their cloaks and marks.[/i] [b]Shaxx[/b]: You are Guardians of Light! Each and every one of you is a representation of this Tower. Righteous, brave, and privileged with the power to protect this city! If you are so busy fighting amongst yourselves, how can you hope to fight the enemy?! [i]The Hall was silent.[/i] [b]Shaxx[/b]: Now, more than ever, we must stand by each other. We may all be enemies in the Crucible, but in the Tower, we are one. [i]Deep in the crowd, the Hunter and Titan were mouthing Shaxx's to the others, imitating his posture as if they'd heard the same speech hundreds of times.[/i] [b]Shaxx[/b]: Don't let it happen again. Class dismissed. [i]The audience of guardians began to disperse. The Hunter and Titan started to walk away, until Shaxx stopped them.[/i] [b]Shaxx[/b]: Not so fast Zale. You too, Hayden. ------------------ [i]The two approached Shaxx, heads hung low.[/i] [b]Shaxx[/b]: I wanted to commend you both on your performance today. Even [i]if[/i] you were.... Disappointed.... With the outcome. [i]Zale and Hayden rolled their eyes at each other.[/i] [b]Shaxx[/b]: This is Janus, a high-standing member of the New Monarchy and a representative from the Council. He's here with one of his students to recruit you into her fireteam. [i]Liz stepped forward after being mentioned.[/i] [i]Zale and Hayden awkwardly gazed at the Warlock. They turned to look at each other, then back at Shaxx.[/i] [b]Zale and Hayden[/b]: No. [b]Shaxx[/b]: Not an option. There is a high-stakes opportunity that we cannot afford to lose, and this is the best means of getting the job done. Consider it a homework assignment... [i]No response.[/i] [b]Shaxx[/b] ([i]walking away[/i]): Effective immediately. [b]Janus[/b] [i](to Liz)[/i]: There's a shuttle in the hangar for when you're ready. The three guardians were left standing in the middle [i]of the lobby, silently looking at each other.[/i] [b]Zale[/b]: He was joking, right? [b]Liz[/b]: It's Shaxx. I'm not so sure he even knows what a joke is... [b]Zale[/b] [i](stepping away)[/i]: True... [b]Liz[/b]: Where are you going? [b]Zale[/b]: Somewhere other than here. [b]Liz[/b] [i](starting after him)[/i]: Shaxx gave us our orders. [b]Zale[/b]: That he did. [b]Liz[/b]: And you'll so easily ignore them? [b]Zale[/b] [i](stopping to look at her)[/i]: Teams aren't my forte. Plain and simple. [b]Hayden[/b]: Not to mention, I've got better ways to spend my time than doing chores on some guardian's to-do list. [b]Zale[/b] [i](pointing at Hayden)[/i]: Word. [i]The Hunter continued on his way.[/i] [b]Liz[/b]: You're bored of it all. [i]He stopped in his tracks.[/i] [b]Liz[/b]: Aren't you? [i]The two guardians shot her a puzzled look.[/i] [b]Liz[/b]: This, I mean. The training. The matches. Aren't you tired of doing the same thing every single day? Of fighting the same people and completing the same objectives over and over and over? [b]Hayden[/b]: When you put it like that... [b]Liz[/b]: Don't you want to make a difference for once? [i]The Hunter turned around and looked her in the eye.[/i] [b]Zale[/b]: One mission? [b]Liz[/b]: One mission. [i]The three guardians stood in silence.[/i] [b]Zale[/b]: ....I'm listening.