[i]What's up! Been a while but I'm back! For those just tuning in the link to Pt.1 is above. Special thanks to Venom Sprinter, AlrtoGamingBros, and Oddish for writing with me. Disclaimer, I don't own any Bungie stuff. Now let's begin![/i] Malex looked across the table at Oddish. When Oddish asked if he wanted a rematch in cards, Malex insisted on Black Jack. Oddish smiled and placed down two kings. Oddish: 20 out of 21. Looks like I win [i]goes to take the pot[/i] Malex: I don't think so [i]Places down a queen and an ace[/i] Black Jack, I win. [i]Takes the 50,000 glimmer in the pot[/i] Oddish: Oh you've got to be kidding me. Another round? Malex: [i]Chuckles[/i] I reckon I'll quit while I'm ahead. Malex looked around the Kinderguardian theater set. He smiled as he saw the little guardians running around and having fun. For the past three months Malex had been fighting alongside his fellow Iron Lords in a campaign against the Shadows of Yor. He was back in the city on some well deserved R&R. Paula walked up to the two men laughing. Paula: Oddish our daughter just cracks me up sometimes. Ricardo tried to make some moves on her and she knocked him out. Oh it was priceless. Oddish: Oh yeah, she's definitely my daughter. At that moment Petra and Lillie ran up to them. Lillie: Mr. Malex, can you tell us a war story? Oddish: Lillie! Malex: No it's okay. I have to go back in a few days anyway. Does the whole class want to hear one? As if on cue the entire kinder class ran up and sat at his feet. Malex: [i]sighs [/i] Well alright then, so there I was... [i]Three weeks ago, the forests of North Carolina[/i] A young Iron Lord hunter ran up to Malex. He was the most recent addition to the ten hunter unit lead by Malex. He held in his hand an Old Fashioned hand-cannon and he was frantic with worry. Hunter: Malex, the shadows! They're coming! Malex: Alright boys! Look alive and get ready for contact! The hunters got behind their barricade and made ready. The clicking of hammers going back on hand-cannons. Malex looked down the sights of The Last Word, and watched the waves of Shadow infantry race down a hill towards the ten hunters. Malex: Hold... The shadows got closer Malex: Hold... They were almost on top of them. Gunshots pinged off the wood of the barricade. Malex: FIRE!!! All at once the hunters fired their hand-canons. The first wave of shadows dropped. The hunters continued to fire at the shadows, driving them back. The hunters reloaded as they watched the shadows regroup and make another charge. Malex stood and put a foot on the barricade in defiance of the enemy. He raised his gun, pulled the hammer back and fired, and his rangers did the same. Four two hours they went back and forth, until the field was littered with dead shadows and Malex's Rangers stood. Hunter: Malex, we lost one. Malex turned around and looked to see the youngest of them all, lying dead on the ground. [i]Back in the tower, present day[/i] Malex: We buried him in that field, and the next day Saladin ordered us back to the main line, and you know what happened? The shadows just came back and took some land. Oh they missed gettin us, but Gregory died for nothing. The kinderguardians looked in silence, awestruck. Malex: [i]clears his throat[/i] Well anyway, I need a drink. Why don't you all run along. [i]whispers[/i] Paula made brownies Paula: Wait, what? The kinders charged Paula and chased her throughout the set. Oddish looked at Malex Oddish: Another round? Malex: Sure. Poker? Oddish: As long as the glimmer stays low... [i]To Be Continued...[/i] Part 26: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/252232090