[b]Episode Three[/b] “Let us pass!” roared Fourteen, standing at the forefront of his pack of charges. Titans stood atop the massive walls of the City, acting as bulwarks against the alien infestation. How dare they refuse him entrance? He, who helped them drive back the darkness from pulling them all into the fold of its shadows. They would block him? They would block him and innocent people who wish to be protected by the Traveler? This wall was built, if not by his own hands, but by his brothers. “Please, Saint,” said one Titan. “We respect you greatly. Do not push us to violence.” He shuffled, awkwardly. “You have brought a wilderness tribe to our very gates that have not been screened for hostile history, or even weapons for that matter.” Two stepped forward. “If you do not open these gates, so help me—” “Hush, Two,” said Thirteen, voice gentle, much like Ulrich’s. “Do not anger them.” The massive gates of the wall, built for giant gods, opened before the Saints. The Titans started to shout in their confusion, yelling orders at the battle frames and running around like beheaded chickens. It seemed the gate hadn’t been meant to be opened. Fourteen shrugged and raised a hand for his party to resume its march. He would take any opportunity that presented itself. They barely made it into the City before gunfire erupted from the rooftops around them. However, these bullets were not from the guards atop the wall. They wore not the colors of New Monarchy, but of black. These were assassins. [i]Can you tell who these Hunters belong to?[/i] asked Fourteen, directed to the Ghost within him. [i]No[/i], it replied. [i]There's no way for me to tell. [/i] An innocent fell from a bullet between her eyes. Fourteen cursed and activated the helm Father Ulrich had found and provided for him many years ago. It was a shell of silver titanium, with bolts of steel, a strike of violet light adorning its facial plate, and speckled plumes raised across its skull. Ulrich told him it was inspired by armour worn by warriors of some ancient civilization. However, it was not just for looks. The Exo lifted his arms to both sides and unleashed his Light that raged within his body, forming a dome that stretched so far it covered homes and buildings. He watched the assassins fall to the ground disoriented. They moved aimlessly, blinded by his power. They would not stand against him, for [i]this[/i] was his Ward of Dawn. “Saints!” he prompted. The Exos took their chance unblinded, for the helmet seemed to distinguish intent, and Thirteen took the lead, throwing solar grenades into the air. Bolts of fire lashed into the assassins and turned them into piles of ash. Eight teleported through space and reality to cut the throats of the sightless. Six's sniper never missed a head, while Two pounded bones into dust. Soon every assassin fell and their Ghosts dug out of their bodies like parasites. “Should we destroy the Ghosts, Fourteen?” asked Ten. Fourteen shook his head. “No,” he replied, lifting his Ward of Dawn, allowing defenders of the wall access. “Father would not want us to kill them. Besides, it will take a while for the Ghosts to fully revive their Guardians. Instead…capture a Ghost and its dead custodian.” “Who was responsible?” asked Thirteen. Fourteen didn’t have to think. “Concordat.” *** “You never fail to surprise me, Father Ulrich,” said the Speaker, voice more agitated than usual. “Your Saints entered the City without express permission from our guards and, according to witnesses, attacked them. Your Exos physically assaulted our [i]Defender[/i] Titans. Not only that, but buildings and businesses were set ablaze and civilians were killed in the crossfire.” Nam Ra glared daggers. “Some of my Guardians are still recovering,” she hissed. Fourteen wished to shut her rambling trap, but he felt it wouldn’t help their case much. They did not attack New Monarchy. Did she hate them enough to condemn them on lies? Probably. He watched Lysander, smug and satisfied, though when the man caught Fourteen’s eye, he deflated. Damn him. He should have broken a bone or two. If he was anything, Lysander was brave for challenging him. “Again, that isn’t true,” said Father Ulrich. “My Guardians wouldn’t do such a thing. They were the ones attacked, by assassins no less.” His gaze drifted over to Lysander. “And we know who’s responsible.” “Who, then?” asked the Speaker. “Concordat.” Mumbling and whispering upset the forum. Lysander rose, his own Guardians yelling vicious threats. The Speaker waved his hand, eventually beating his gavel into the pedestal stand. They quieted. “Where is your proof, Father?” he asked. Ulrich made a gesture and the doors to the chamber opened, revealing Saint-10 carrying in a heavy sack over his shoulder, and another, smaller sack in his hand that wiggled violently, as if it contained a giant hornet. Ten moved to the center of the forum and shook out a headless corpse onto the pristine floor. Shouts and gasps rose from the assembled factions. “What is the meaning of this?!” shouted the Speaker. Father Ulrich frowned. “This body belonged to one of the assassins.” Ten then let a Ghost out of its bag, and immediately, it began restoring its dead Guardian. The chambers soon quieted again into alarmed whispers, watching the head slowly regenerate bone and tissue. It took longer than usual because the Guardian had been dead for so long. Minutes passed, then there was a face. A tattoo of Concordant’s blue emblem formed on his neck. The forum didn’t say a word. Concordat stood and glared at Great Absolution. The Speaker turned to Lysander. “You and your faction...are banished from the Consensus.” [b][url=http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/90052905?lc=1033]EPISODE ONE[/url] [url=http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/90406891/0/0]EPISODE TWO[/url] [url=http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/91176944/0/0/1]EPISODE FOUR[/url] [url=http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/91747434?lc=1033]EPISODE FIVE[/url][/b] [b][url=http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/93735794]EPILOGUE[/url][/b] [i][b]DISCLAIMER: ALTHOUGH THIS STORY HAS BASIS IN LORE, MOST OF WHAT TRANSPIRES AS THIS SERIES GOES ALONG IS PURE FAN FICTION. TAKE THIS STORY WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. THE EXOS HAVE BEEN RENAMED INTO "SAINTS" BUT HAVE DIFFERENT NUMBERS (AMOUNT OF TIMES THEYVE BEEN SYSTEM WIPED) CONCORDANT AND LYSANDER ARE CANON, FATHER ULRICH AND THE MACHINE SAINTS ARE NOT. NEITHER ARE THE FACTION LEADERS. [/b][/i] [b][url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/100362914]DESTINY FAN FICTION ARCHIVE[/url][/b] [b][url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Forum/823422]JOIN CLAN FOR FAN FICTION UPDATES[/url][/b]