[b]A Warm Welcome[/b] Preda leaped from his perch in The Buried City, sliding down a leaning steel beam, kicking up the dust on the ground. He crossed the ruined plaza, heedless to any form of stealth he’d ingrained into his movements seemingly since birth. His target lay on the steps to the ancient subway station, which the red planet had retaken in the centuries of abandonment. “What’s your name?” “Micheck.” Here, up close, Preda could tell Micheck was a Titan. He’d shot a human. “You’re going to be OK. Stay with me.” Preda tried to keep his voice smooth, calm, confident, but with the years he’d spent in the wild, speaking to no one, he was out of practice. “Hale! Hale!” Preda cried. Turning back to Micheck, “It’s all right. He’s a Warlock.” Hale approached, his footsteps like wind brushing the earth. “Traveler!” Hale exclaimed. “I heard the shot. What happened?” “In this storm, I thought he was a Fallen.” “If he was a Fallen, he wouldn’t have been alone.” No doubt grimacing under his faceplate, already channeling the Traveler, Hale knelt to evaluate the Titan. Then Hale stopped, sighed, and stood. “Don’t tell me I killed him,” Preda said. Hale extended his hand down to Micheck. “He’s fine,” Hale said. “You just grazed him. Let’s go, big guy.” Micheck accepted Hale’s hand and rose, suddenly towering. “Honestly,” Hale said, “I don’t know how Hunters like you made it on your own in the wild. Lucky you’re a terrible shot.” “It’s Mars!” Preda said. “Visibility is near zero, and the winds never stop. He didn’t have his IFF activated. It isn’t like you can just turn friendly fire off.” Hale clapped the dust off Micheck’s shoulder armor. “What are you doing here?” “The Vanguard sent me to find you. It’s about the Cabal.” “They sent you alone?” Preda said. Micheck glared at Preda, who increased his distance. “He’s a Titan,” Hale said. “You really just going to trust him?” Preda asked. “He’s a Titan.” Micheck finished ascending the ancient subway station’s steps and stopped at the entrance, turning, beckoning. Preda and Hale followed.