Hello, everybody, here's Part 69 of Into the Hellmouth! Here's [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/218255247?showBanned=0&path=0]part 68 i[/url]f you missed it, or, if you're looking for a different part, here's the[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/209303839?showBanned=0&path=0] master post[/url]! Also, I'm curious where you all are from geographically. I'm from Upstate New York. Also, Part 70 will go live this Saturday! In any case, wherever you are, stay classy, Guardians! Ikora reached the Hall of Guardians again a few moments later. She was about to enter, when she heard the Speaker talking. “-the physical changes, while undoubtedly disturbing, are likely only a symptom of the corruption.” “I agree,” Zavala said. “What was Ikora thinking! Bringing her into the Tower like that? No security, no advanced warning. Who knows what she could have done?” Ikora realized what was happening, and gritted her teeth. They wouldn’t have, she thought. Then, she stepped into the room. “I’d be more than happy to tell you what I was thinking, Zavala,” she said. The Vanguard turned to face her, looks of shock on their faces. “Oh, I’m sorry,” Ikora said. “I was under the impression that I was not going to be excluded from this conversation, and that I would not have to deal with the lot of you discussing my decisions behind my back!” The warlock felt her blood begin to boil. The Speaker looked at her. “We felt that your judgement may be biased in this matter,” he said. “Biased?” Ikora sputtered. “You obviously share a strong emotional connection to this woman,” the Speaker said. “Because of this, you fail to see the potential risks involved in bringing her here.” “If concern for the welfare of our Guardians is bias, then -“ Ikora began. The Speaker held up a hand. “Ikora,” he said. “Tragic as Eris’s story is, you fail to see the obvious problem.” “Enlighten me,” Ikora growled. “Corruption,” the Speaker replied. “Could you not see it? The physical changes, the Darkness that flowed like rivers from her eyes.” He shook his head. “Her obsession with Crota has lead her down this dark path. If we allow her to stay, I fear that her Corruption will spread to others as well.” Ikora snorted. “What would you have us do?” she asked. “Abandon her to the Wilds?” The Speaker was silent. Ikora took a deep breath. “No,” she said. “You can’t -“ she looked around the room. “I gave her my word that she could stay!” “That’s your own fault, then,” Zavala said stiffly. Ikora looked pleadingly at the Speaker. “You can’t possibly exile a Guardian from the Tower - especially not one who’s gone through as much as she has!” The Speaker sighed. “Let me tell you a story, Ikora,” he said. “The story of a noble man.” The noble man stood. And the people looked to him. For he was a beacon - hope given form, yet still only a man. And within that truth there was great promise. If one man could stand against the night, then so too could anyone - everyone.” In his strong hand the man held a Rose. And his aura burned bright.” When the man journeyed on, the people remembered. In his wake hope spread. But the man had a secret fear. His thoughts were dark. A sadness crept from the depths of his being. He had been a hero for so long, but pride had led him down sorrow's road.” Slowly the shadows' whisper became a voice, a dark call, offering glories enough to make even the brightest Light wander. He knew he was fading, yet he still yearned.” On his last day he sat and watched the sun fall. His final thoughts, pure of mind, if not body, held to a fleeting hope - though they would suffer for the man he would become, the people would remember him as he had been.” And so the noble man hid himself beneath a darkness no flesh should touch, and gave up his mortal self to claim a new birthright. Whether this was choice, or destiny, is a truth known only to fate.” In that cool evening air, as dusk was devoured by night, the noble man ceased to exist. In his place another stood.” Same meat. Same bone. But so very different.” The first and only of his family. The sole forbearer and last descendent of the name Yor.” In his first moments as a new being, he looked down at his Rose and realized for the first time that it held no petals: only the jagged purpose of angry thorns.” The Speaker looked up at her. “You know the tale, Ikora,” he said. “Overcome by his corruption, Dregden Yor went on to kill many innocents, and murdered Jaren Ward, one of the greatest hunters that the City has ever known. His thorn, once a symbol of hope and goodness, became one of evil and destruction. But he too was a good man once - a great man.” He paused. “Dregden Yor, Rezyl Azzir, Toland: all of them great men who fell to Corruption. Eris is not the first, nor shall she be the last.” “I refuse to believe that she is lost to me!” Ikora shouted. “Much can change in thirty three years,” the Speaker said, “especially when you have been subjected to as much as she has.” “She knows the Hive better than any scholar in our ranks!” Ikora said. “You cannot deny that the Hive are now a major threat!” “Perhaps,” the Speaker said. Zavala spoke up. “I suggest that we put her outside the City walls - somewhere we can keep an eye on her, mind you, but I want her away from the Guardians.” “I agree,” the Speaker said. “Cayde?” The Vanguard Mentor was silent. “Cayde?” the Speaker said again. Cayde sighed. He looked up at Ikora. “Ikora,” he said. “Do you still trust her?” “With my life,” Ikora replied. Cayde nodded. He straightened his back. “Then I’m with her on this one,” he said. Zavala frowned. “Cayde,” he said. “You can’t be -“ “I’ve made my decision, Zavala,” he said. “Eris stays.” The Speaker nodded. “It seems, then, that we are at an impasse,” he said. “Indeed we are,” Ikora said. “Then I say that this is a matter to be decided by the Consensus,” he said. “The next meeting takes place in three weeks. We shall let the Factions break our tie.” “And what happens to Eris in the meantime?” Ikora asked. The Speaker sighed. “In the meantime, I suppose that she can stay with you,” he said. Ikora breathed a sigh of relief. “However,” the Speaker said, “she is forbidden until further notice from interacting with other Guardians. Am I clear?” “Perfectly,” Ikora said. “Good,” he said. “I declare this meeting adjourned.” And with that, he walked out of the hall, Zavala trailing him. Cayde looked up at Ikora. “You sure about Eris?” he asked. “What do you mean?” she asked. “Can we trust her?” Ikora stared at him. “Positive,” she said. Cayde nodded. “Aright then,” he said. “What’s your plan?” “Eris will tell us all she knows of Crota and his army,” Ikora said. “We’ll use this intelligence to assemble a strike team, and end him once and for all.” “Are you sure about that?” Cayde asked. “It seems like an awfully big risk.” “It’s better than the alternative,” Ikora said. “Which is. . . ?” “Destruction.” And then, she told Cayde about Omnigul and Rasputin. Cayde let out a low whistle. “The Hive going after Rasputin,” he said. “That isn’t good.” He titled his head back. “You know, I tried to find him. Back in the glory days. I -“ “Enough reminiscing,” Ikora said. “Will you support me when we take this matter before the Consensus?” Cayde nodded. “All the way,” he said. “Let’s just hope you’re not wrong about her.” Ikora fixed his gaze. “I’m not.” News came in a week later; the Chosen Guardian - that’s what people were calling them now - had at last found the Heart of the Black Garden, and destroyed it. Ikora had frantically sent in her warlocks to secure the site, and the Speaker called for a celebration. Eris watched the preparations get underway from her tablet in Ikora’s room. She was watching it when she heard a noise from behind her. She turned around, and saw an exo female in the doorway. She wore a cloak over her head, and carried a yellow rifle in her hands. She didn’t appear to be wearing any Guardian armor. Eris wondered if she was one of the Hidden; Ikora had already introduced her to most of them, but mentioned that a few of them were away on missions. “Who are you?” she asked. The stranger inclined her head. “So it’s you then,” she said. “This time at least.” Eris was taken aback by the remark. “Wait,” she said. “What do you mean?” The stranger walked away. “Wait!” Eris said. She ran out into the hallway, but the stranger was already gone. Eris frowned, and returned to her seat. She looked at the tablet, and watched as the Speaker stepped up to his platform. “For centuries, we feared the forces of Darkness massing against us.” he said, “We sought to hide and cower beneath a broken God. No more. These Guardians show us who we are. Who we have always been. And what we will be again. We are the remains of the light. And we will not be stamped out.” [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/218666457]Part 70[/url]