[b][u]Episode 9: Vandals[/u][/b] After assisting with the clean up of the Reef following the Wolves' betrayal, our Guardians transferred our belongings and supplies from the commandeered Fallen ship to a new Awoken ship provided to us by the Queen. All that was left to do was wait for Variks to call on us and give us the details of our assignment. It was just another day, just another mission to complete. We had grown accustomed to the constant struggle throughout the Galaxy. There was seemingly no respite from it. Everywhere we went was another place with another problem that needed solving. The feeling was made all the more familiar with Teddy busy fulfilling his self appointed role of pissing everyone off. [b]Winston:[/b] Oh my god, I GET IT! -blam!-! [b]Teddy:[/b] I really don't think you do. It was like "50 Shades of Grey" and "Star Wars" had a baby and named it after my- [b]Harley:[/b] Teddy! [b]Ratchet:[/b] Seriously. [b]Teddy:[/b] Look, Harley, I know this whole thing is difficult to stomach due to your feelings for me but- [b]Harley:[/b] Let me stop you right there. ........... [b]Teddy:[/b] .....And? [b]Harley:[/b] I didn't have a follow up I just wanted you to stop right there. Teddy broke away from the group and wandered towards a pair of guards busy picking up some debris left over from the day before. [b]Harley:[/b] Where the hell are you going? [b]Teddy:[/b] I'll be right back. Hey! You guys got a Cryptarch around here? While Teddy talked with the guards the rest of us familiarized ourselves with our new ship. It was vastly different than the common ships found back on Earth and required a bit more finesse when piloting. After an hour or so I and the other Ghosts had a good understanding of the ship's systems so we returned to Winston and Harley who had just finished double checking our supplies and ammunition. We disembarked and found Teddy still chatting with the guards. [b]Harley:[/b] Teddy! Come on man, Variks should be calling us any minute now. [b]Teddy:[/b] Hold on a minute! Ok, so back up. You mean Guardians have been here before? [b]Reef Guard:[/b] Sometime we should talk about that date I had with a Warlock. [b]Teddy:[/b] Was her name Winston? [b]Winston:[/b] I heard that! Let's go we got shit to do! [b]Teddy:[/b] Alright guys take it easy. And remember what I told you. You can thank me later. [b]Reef Guard:[/b] If we ever visit the Last City, find a strip club, bring lots of glimmer. Got it. [b]Teddy:[/b] There ya go. ........ ..... ... [b]Teddy:[/b] OK, so what's up? Did Variks send for us yet? [b]Ratchet:[/b] Negative. [b]Teddy:[/b] Holy hell, man. I just wanna get this over with so we can get back to blowin things up. [b]Harley:[/b] Yeah, what's it been like... 12 hours since the last time you shot something? [b]Teddy:[/b] 13 hours, 42 minutes aaaaand 7 seconds. [b]Harley:[/b] ....I'm worried about you. Really. [b]Gibbs:[/b] We need to focus on the mission, guys. [b]Winston:[/b] Yeah I don't know if I'm comfortable with this. [b]Teddy:[/b] What? Your sexuality? [b]Winston:[/b] No, you ass. The mission. [b]Teddy:[/b] What's not to be comfortable with? Track down the bad guys, capture and/or kill the bad guys, go home and drink til we can't see straight anymore. Sounds like a damn good day to me. [b]Winston:[/b] No it's not that. It's just.. we have to take our orders from Variks now. [b]Teddy:[/b] Racist. [b]Winston:[/b] Wha? That's not- [b]Teddy:[/b] Very tolerant of you? I know, right? [b]Harley:[/b] In the name of all things sacred would you two just shut the -blam!- up for once! [b]Merv:[/b] Variks is ready to see us. [b]Harley:[/b] Holy shit, finally. Variks was stationed on the far side of the Reef commons area. He was the only Fallen we knew of who still remained loyal to the Queen. It wasn't altogether too surprising considering he was from a different House and was afforded far more freedoms than his fellow Fallen. Before making our way to his station we stopped at the Reef's resident Cryptarch. [b]Teddy:[/b] Excuse me. I have some engrams I need decrypted. Can you help me out? [b]Master Ives:[/b] Ah, yes. I recognize a Titan when I see one. [b]Teddy:[/b] How observant. You don't miss much, do ya? [b]Master Ives:[/b] -_- Give me a moment........... Here you are, Titan. [b]Teddy:[/b] No weapons? What the hell, man? These are just motes... [b]Master Ives:[/b] You don't miss much, do ya? [b]Harley:[/b] Ha! [b]Winston:[/b] Pffft! [b]Teddy:[/b] Laugh it up, assholes. [b]Harley:[/b] Hahaha don't worry, we are. [b]Merv:[/b] We need to hurry. We're late already. [b]Winston:[/b] Alright let's do this. ........ ..... ... [b]Harley:[/b] Greetings, Variks. My name is- [b]Variks:[/b] Come here.. come quiet. [b]Harley:[/b] Uh.. ok. [b]Variks:[/b] You like my things? I took this staff long ago from Devil Captain, Vajis. Called Clever-Headed. He was not as clever as Variks. [b]Harley:[/b] They're... certainly nice things. But about our mission. [b]Variks:[/b] Yes, yesss. You work for me, and I will help you. You won't find Skolas without Variks. [b]Teddy:[/b] Um. Is Variks always going to be referring to himself in the third person or....? [b]Variks:[/b] You tell Variks if you find Skolas. You tell Variks first. [b]Gibbs:[/b] Kind of seems that way. Variks proceeded by giving us all of the relevant information about our target. It took quite some time but we... well, we got there. [b]Variks:[/b] You have everything you need, yesss? [b]Harley:[/b] We do. [b]Variks:[/b] Good. One more thing, Guardians. You may need further assistance during your venture into Fallen territory. Come forth. Variks gestured to the side of his station. Out from the shadows strode a Vandal. Normally Vandals weren't very imposing, but this one was different. Much different. He was noble in stature, ruthless in appearance and emanating an aura of not-to-be-blam!-ed-with. [b]Variks:[/b] This is my nephew, Guardians. You may call him... Randall.