Kendrick pushed open the doors into a tavern. Some people turned to him, but most continued to chug down their drinks. Some people were drowning their sorrows in alcohol while others simply enjoyed the beverages.
There was a sign standing in front of the Guardian that read, [i]"Ghost Alcohol Chips Available"[/i]
Oliver read the sign, then he stared up in awe and wonder. "This place... is... AWESOME!!" The ghost shouted. "Gimme some glimmer! Gimme gimme gimme!!" Oliver zoomed laps around Kendrick's face.
"Here ya go," Kendrick said, not really paying attention to his ghost. He pulled out a cube of glimmer and held it up in the palm of his hand. Oliver took the cube then bolted off.
Kendrick took a seat at the bar, then placed his helmet down. He kept looking over his shoulder, scanning the room. Something just seemed... off. A glass was slapped on the counter top in front of the titan. Kendrick snapped his head around, then relaxed.
"What would you like, Warlock?" The bartender asked.
Kendrick looked down at his coat, then chuckled. "I'm not a warlock," he said. He inhaled deeply, "I'll take a Hard Light... And, keep 'em coming..."
"Sure thing," the man said as he pulled a bottle out from under the counter and filled the shot glass. The titan sipped down his drinks, but continued to watch his surroundings.
Finally, the doors swung open again, revealing the silhouette of a tall, thin figure. He wore a long black trench coat that was detailed with a green sash that crossed his left shoulder, and gold plates. The man strutted over to the bar and sat down beside Kendrick.
Kendrick sat his glass down, then turned to the figure. "Ly--"
"Nah, ah, ah! Too many New Monarchists here..." Kendrick and the new figure glanced around the room. "What do you have for me?" The figure asked.
"I found a new Vex stronghold on Venus..." Kendrick slid a holotablet with an image of the place.
"Interesting," the figure said as he looked at the photos. "What's inside?"
"No idea. But whatever it is, it's capable of phasing stuff out of time..." Kendrick said with a snark smile.
"Phasing stuff, out of time? That's very interesting indeed..." The figure stared at the holomap. "What do you need from me, Mr. Frost?" The figure asked, getting straight to business.
Kendrick took sips of his Hard Light before speaking. "I need a raid team, just four Guardians. I already have a partner that's willing to join."
"Partner? Why wasn't your 'partner' not here, today?" The figure asked. Kendrick raised his glass up to stall, but the man took the titan's glass and set it back on the counter. "Why haven't I met this 'partner', Kendrick?" The figure asked again in a more menacing tone.
"He had some work to attend to. He's an archivist," the titan answered.
"Who does he work for?" The man asked.
"No one. He's a freelancer."
"Mmhm..." The man pulled back his coat, revealing a loaded revolver.
"I can guarantee, you, that he has no allegiance to New Monarchy!" Kendrick said, trying to buy himself some time. "He doesn't even agree with their policies."
The figure eased up. "Well! About this team?..."
"I need some Vex fanatics, and some body guards. Some to get us in, and some to protect us..." Kendrick said. The other man thought for a moment. "Do you have the resources?" Kendrick asked.
"Of course, I have the resources!" The figure snapped. "Now, whether I give you my resources, is still up for debate."
"For what it's worth, you can have whatever's inside..." Kendrick said, hoping to strike a bargain.
"What?" The man said with an amused huff. "Then, what will you be getting out of this, Frost?" He asked with some suspicion.
"Fame. Fortune. I couldn't care less for the technology," the Guardian replied.
The man knocked his knuckles on the counter a couple of times in boredom, then stood up. "Meet me in two days, Mr. Frost. Then, I'll decide if I'll give you my resources... or not."
"How will I find you?" Kendrick asked from the bar.
"You will know... Trust me, you will know." With that, the man pushed open the door and was swallowed up by the bright light outside.
Kendrick sat a cube of glimmer on the counter for the drinks, then left as well. He stepped outside and looked around. His benefactor had already disappeared in the crowd of civilians.
"Heeyy, you!! Kornd***!" Yelled a slurred voice. The confused titan looked around as he smiled. Then saw his ghost swaying back and forth across the street. "Ye, you. 'Mere... Nu, wait... I'll 'mere," the ghost said before trying to fly over.
"Oliver?!" Kendrick asked concerningly. How many of those beer chips did you have?!"
"Oh, ya knooowww... two, tree... twity..."
"Twenty?!" Kendrick exclaimed.
"Dumb white, I did! Yeehaw!!" Oliver's core light flickered and faded. Finally, the ghost fell to the ground like a rock. The Guardian looked down at the ghost just laying on the road. He picked up the poor thing and carried it home.
-
The drunken ghost! Ha!