[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/246624086/0/0]Table of Contents[/url] The Exo Warlord strode down the hall, accompanied by an armed escort. They passed a number of rooms, the last of which were converted into makeshift prison cells. Only one was occupied. A guard sat in a chair beside the cell. When he saw the Warlord approaching, he stood and addressed her, "He's asleep, m'Lady.” "Wake him," the Exo commanded as she and her escort came to a stop beside the cell. On the other side of the steel door the outsider was laying on a wooden pallet, wrapped in a moth-eaten blanket. He had been fed and given time to rest, but the Warlord was done letting him recover. Now he would tell her everything she wanted to know. The man was startled awake by the sharp clang of an armored gauntlet striking the door. He rolled on his hard bed to see his visitors. "You've got company," the guard announced. The man kicked off his blanket and sat up drearily, brushing hair out of his filthy face and rubbing his tired eyes while the guard stepped aside and the Exo moved into sight. "Are you in a talking mood?" She inquired. "I doubt I have a choice," the man muttered, putting his hands down and cracking a small smile. "You made an interesting first impression," the Exo commented, and the man's smile disappeared. “Bet I did,” he mumbled embarrassedly, “I had awhile to think about what I’d say. It kinda got more…um…theatrical…the longer I thought about it. And then I was too tired to say much when you found me…” "Who are you?" The Exo questioned, getting straight to the point. "My name's Derik Magnate, m’Lady," the man introduced himself, bobbing his head respectfully, "I’ve, um, got a story for you. It'll answer your questions, I hope." The Exo took a brief moment to study her prisoner. Derik's personality had begun to recover along with his physical health, revealing signs of charisma. And he seemed trustworthy, with an honest face. But the Warlord knew not to trust anyone, especially a potential assassin. Derik reclined against the wall, seemingly unaware of the Warlord’s suspicious gaze. "Tell me," the Warlord ordered curtly. Derik flashed a grateful smile then began, "I was from a town called Wehwalt. East of here, in a forest, not exactly sure where. Lived there as long as I can remember. It was a small town; a few dozen of us." He shifted against the wall for comfort, still too weak to do much without straining himself. The Warlord waited patiently. "Awhile back, when I was just a kid, some bandits came into town," Derik recalled gloomily, "We called 'em bandits, anyway. Coulda called ‘em Warlords, tyrants, dictators, whatever. They camped outside o’ town. Came by every day, took what they wanted. At first we didn't know what to do. Some of us tried resistin'. Ended up shot an’ dead." He grimaced, staring at his boots, "Eventually we got organized. Not me, mind you, I was still a boy. Some o' the adults had some guns; had hidden 'em from the bandits. A man named Willis led 'em. Killed the bandits an' liberated the town." Derik scowled with apparent distaste, "Liberation, he called it. Took control o' Wehwalt, puttin' it under his protection. Called 'imself Mayor. An' who would argue? He'd just saved us. Then came the rules. Bad rules, makin' life a little more unpleasant at a time. And then who could argue? He had a dozen guns who'd kill us same as the bandits...That's when my Pa died." Derik rubbed at his eyes, "Someone tried petitionin' for a fair government. Give the mayor some limits an' whatnot. My Pa supported 'em. Mayor's guns killed 'em all. Left their families to mourn and obey." He paused and looked to the Exo. She showed no reaction, so Derik kept talking, "I did the rest o' my growin' up like that, takin' care o' Ma until the fever hit a couple winters ago an' took 'er. Mayor Willis just got more power. Bribed more guns. We kept our heads down, let 'em do whatever they wanted for years." He raised his hands innocently, "Now I know this sounds like an anti-Warlord story, but hear me out. I don’t like Warlords, no offense, but I want your help.” The Warlord didn’t reply, so Derik continued, his expression darkening as he recounted his memories, “Then the aliens came. I’d heard of ‘em, we all knew they were out there in the world, but they’d never found us until then. They came in the night, real quiet. I woke up when the screamin' started. Didn't know what was happenin', so I ran out to the town hall. Big buildin’; looked like a wrecked ship with two big pillars in front o' it. It was where the mayor stayed. Had guards. Figured his goons were attackin’ someone an’ that was the place to be. When I got there, there were bodies on the ground. Blood everywhere. Door busted open." He pointed at his eye, scared just by the memory of the Fallen, "That's when I saw their eyes. Glowin' blue eyes. On the roof. In the building. Watchin' me. I'd heard the stories. I ran. By that time e’eryone was out, an' the spiders were done sneakin'. They were e'erywhere, cuttin' people with their swords an’ knives. I ran into one o' my pals an' we made for the woods. There were bodies everywhere. Fallen 'round e'ery corner. I heard a gun firin'." Derik reached out a little with his hand and recalled, "There was a small stretch o' nothin' between the houses an' the woods. I was in front o' my pal. Thomas was his name. The spiders saw us. Or maybe just him, I'm not sure. But I looked back an' saw a bolt hit him in the back o' the head. Didn't make a sound, just fell down and didn’t move. I got to the trees an' kept runnin'." He sniffled quietly, "Kept runnin' 'til I couldn't anymore. Started thinkin', usin' my brain. Didn't have anythin' but the clothes on my back. Didn't have anywhere to go, so I picked a direction. West seemed like the best choice. I'd heard there were more people out this way. An' didn't want to go north; knew I'd only freeze to death come winter. Heard there was a desert east and mountains south, or somethin’. Didn't leave me any options. So I walked. Didn't have any food, but I occasionally found somethin' edible. Plants an' the like. Drank whatever I could. Don't know how long I've been goin'. Not too long, almost a month maybe. Your men found me, and here we are..." Having finished his story, he looked to the Warlord expectantly. He met her calculating gaze and held it. The Exo did nothing for a minute, thinking over what she'd been told. “So…” Derik added, shifting uncomfortably, “I wanted to ask for your help…to fight the aliens.” The metal plates of the Exo’s face shifted slightly, but it was impossible to tell what she was thinking. She moved away from the door with a terse dismissal, "When I return, I'll have questions." She paused by the guard and whispered, "Do not speak to him. He could be a spy." She left briskly, pursued by her escort. Alone again, Derik pulled his legs up to his chest. He rested his forehead on his knees, listening to the Warlord's receding footsteps.