Destiny, Side Episode II: The Speaker
Previous Episode: Side Episode I, Mare Imbrium
Next Episode: Episode VII, Forgotten Shores
The Tower, the Last City, Earth
Day 011
The debriefing had dragged on for hours, and Koga could feel his energy slowly sapping away as it got closer and closer to dawn. The Vanguard had bombarded the Fireteam incessantly, asking every question imaginable about what had happened, the strength and composition of Hive forces, influence by the Hive to pre-existing Golden Age architecture, and the like. Basilisk had fielded most of those questions by virtue of being the Fireteam leader, but more than a few had been answered by Koga and Lisset.
As the hours passed, Koga felt his mind begin to drift slowly away, and it took some effort to remain focused on the task at hand. Lisset seemed to be unusually quiet, and while she made a noble effort not to appear tired, her head had begun to sink a centimeter every hour, popping back up only when a question was aimed her way. Basilisk, being an Exo, staved off exhaustion better than the rest of them, but even his rigid soldier's stance had begun to loosen as time went on.
Koga didn't even notice the quiet pause that followed the last question until it was punctuated by Commander Zavala. "That concludes this debriefing." His voice echoed softly in the empty Hall of Guardians, an almost comforting drone. "Thank you for your time, Guardians. You are dismissed." Basilisk gave a smart salute, which was returned by the Commander, while Lisset gave a simple bow. Koga gave a curt nod, and turned to follow his friends when Ikora spoke.
"Not you, Koga." She said, sounding somewhat bemused. Koga spun about to face his mentor, confused. Behind him, the others stopped to watch what was going on, thought the better of it, and continued on their way back to the room. "The Speaker would wish to speak with you."
"The Speaker?" Koga repeated, surprised. Zavala had made a comment when Koga and his Fireteam had stepped off for the Cosmodrome earlier mentioning the man by name, but to be called to meet him in person? And only him? The Warlock wasn't quite sure which was more interesting. "Did he say why?" He tried not to sound impertinent with his question, but Koga couldn't help but ask. Ikora shook her head slowly, but her eyes never left her initiate. If the Speaker had said, she wasn't telling.
"The Speaker's observatory is in the north section of the Tower." Zavala explained, his arms folded behind his back as ever. "You'll know it when you see it." Koga gave a slight bow, not nearly as grandeouse as Lisset's, and turned away. Kita fizzled into existence next to him as he walked, floating along with his Guardian.
"Odd." The Ghost muttered. "The Speaker doesn't typically meet with the newly Risen. Or with anyone, really."
"Then why does he wish to speak with me?" Koga whispered. He could feel the gaze of the Vanguard on his back. "I am hardly worth a man of his stature's time." Kita beeped as he thought about it, but it wasn't until he was stepping up to the Tower Plaza did the Ghost reply.
"Perhaps you're on the way to being so." Kita replied, kindly. Koga stopped climbing and turned to face his Ghost, smiling softly.
"Perhaps." He repeated, before patting Kita on the side. "Let us go meet the Speaker, then."
- - - - - - -
The Speaker's Observatory was a sight to behold. He had seen it before, of course; Koga had tried to see every inch of his new home the day after he had arrived. Going inside, however, was something he hadn't done. The great doors had been closed, locked up for the night. Now, however, despite the hour, they were open. Inside was a great Orrery, some titanic machine with massive wheels of gold and bronze, framing the profile of the hovering Traveler beyond. It was breathtaking, and the way the spotlights in the City below shined upon its alabaster shell made it gleam like some second moon. Kita made only the slightest sound as he floated alongside him, his eye wide.
"There was a time," a voice started behind Koga, old and quiet, "where we were much more powerful." Guardian and Ghost spun to face the source, and both found themselves looking at a man dressed in the purest of white robes, a black cowl covering his head and an ornate grey mask over his face. The man looked slowly down as he thought. "But that was long ago." Slowly he continued down the steps, one foot at a time. "Until it wakes and finds its voice, I am the one who speaks for the Traveler."
"It is an honor to meet you, Speaker." Koga gave a soft bow as the elder Guardian reached the base of the steps. Through the mask, Koga could hear the man give a quiet chuckle.
"And it is an honor to meet you, Warlock Koga." The Speaker spoke slowly, much like Zavala, but there was a softness to his voice that a soldier like the Commander could never quite reach. It was the voice of a scholar, or perhaps even a prophet. "And your Ghost." Kita spun in place, before bobbing his head in the approximation of his Guardian's bow. There was a pregnant pause as the Speaker began to pace past Koga and towards the edge of the space, heading for the railings that separated floor from Orrery. "You must have no end of questions, Guardian."
"I live in a strange new world now." Koga replied, walking with the Speaker. He trailed behind by a pace, a quiet sign of respect and submission to his superior. "While I seek answers, I have found few. I do not even know how I live again." The Speaker came to a stop at the railing, and Koga halted a heartbeat later.
"In its dying breath, the Traveler created the Ghosts." The Speaker started. As he spoke, Kita flew forwards, flying to the center of the Orrery. He was transfixed by the visage of the Traveler, as was Koga. To see it so clearly, so beautifully framed from the Observatory, was something that no word could ever truly cover. "To seek out those who could wield its Light as a weapon. Guardians, to protect us, and do what the Traveler itself no longer can."
As Kita slowly returned to Koga's side, the Warlock stepped forward, resting his hands lightly on the railing. The scars that marred the Traveler's underside seemed particularly pronounced at night, like some kind of scratch at reality itself. "What happened to it?" He asked. It had been a question he hadn't lived long enough to answer himself, hundreds of years ago.
When the Speaker spoke again, his voice was darker. Gone was the softness of the scholar. There was an edge in it now, subtle but present. It wasn't so much that he didn't want to speak about it, so much as it seemed that what had happened still ate away at him. "I could tell you of the great battle, centuries ago. How the Traveler was crippled." The Speaker began to walk away from Koga, rounding the railing as he talked. "I could tell you of the power of the Darkness, its ancient enemy. There are many tales, told throughout the City to frighten children." There was a pause as the Speaker came to a stop. His voice began to fade to a low murmur, unease suppressing it. "Lately, those tales have stopped. Now, the children are frightened anyway." The Speaker turned, his hand on a pedestal that projected a mirage of floating lights that danced and flicked about like fireflies. "The Darkness is coming back. We will not survive it this time."
"Its armies surround us." Kita interrupted, suddenly. Koga spun his head to face his Ghost, who hovered inches away. "The Fallen and the Hive are just the beginning." Koga nodded, and turned back to face the Speaker. He knew his next question.
"What can I do?" His voice echoed in the empty halls of the Observatory. The Speaker merely watched for a moment before replying.
"You must push back the Darkness." The Speaker began to amble back, a passion returning to his voice. "Guardians are fighting on Earth and beyond. Join them. Your Ghost will guide you." He looked up at Kita, who stared back. "I can only hope he chose wisely." With that, the Speaker gave a soft nod of the head, and turned to the stairs, heading up to the loft from whence he came. Koga bowed again, and turned to leave, Kita floating quietly next to him.
"I did. I'm sure of it." The Ghost replied, confidently. "We're in this together, after all." Koga gave a soft smile to his ward, and gave it another pat on the side.
"That we are, Kita." He said, heading out onto the tile of Tower North. "That we are."
Next Episode: Episode VII, Forgotten Shores
The Tower, the Last City, Earth
Day 011
The debriefing had dragged on for hours, and Koga could feel his energy slowly sapping away as it got closer and closer to dawn. The Vanguard had bombarded the Fireteam incessantly, asking every question imaginable about what had happened, the strength and composition of Hive forces, influence by the Hive to pre-existing Golden Age architecture, and the like. Basilisk had fielded most of those questions by virtue of being the Fireteam leader, but more than a few had been answered by Koga and Lisset.
As the hours passed, Koga felt his mind begin to drift slowly away, and it took some effort to remain focused on the task at hand. Lisset seemed to be unusually quiet, and while she made a noble effort not to appear tired, her head had begun to sink a centimeter every hour, popping back up only when a question was aimed her way. Basilisk, being an Exo, staved off exhaustion better than the rest of them, but even his rigid soldier's stance had begun to loosen as time went on.
Koga didn't even notice the quiet pause that followed the last question until it was punctuated by Commander Zavala. "That concludes this debriefing." His voice echoed softly in the empty Hall of Guardians, an almost comforting drone. "Thank you for your time, Guardians. You are dismissed." Basilisk gave a smart salute, which was returned by the Commander, while Lisset gave a simple bow. Koga gave a curt nod, and turned to follow his friends when Ikora spoke.
"Not you, Koga." She said, sounding somewhat bemused. Koga spun about to face his mentor, confused. Behind him, the others stopped to watch what was going on, thought the better of it, and continued on their way back to the room. "The Speaker would wish to speak with you."
"The Speaker?" Koga repeated, surprised. Zavala had made a comment when Koga and his Fireteam had stepped off for the Cosmodrome earlier mentioning the man by name, but to be called to meet him in person? And only him? The Warlock wasn't quite sure which was more interesting. "Did he say why?" He tried not to sound impertinent with his question, but Koga couldn't help but ask. Ikora shook her head slowly, but her eyes never left her initiate. If the Speaker had said, she wasn't telling.
"The Speaker's observatory is in the north section of the Tower." Zavala explained, his arms folded behind his back as ever. "You'll know it when you see it." Koga gave a slight bow, not nearly as grandeouse as Lisset's, and turned away. Kita fizzled into existence next to him as he walked, floating along with his Guardian.
"Odd." The Ghost muttered. "The Speaker doesn't typically meet with the newly Risen. Or with anyone, really."
"Then why does he wish to speak with me?" Koga whispered. He could feel the gaze of the Vanguard on his back. "I am hardly worth a man of his stature's time." Kita beeped as he thought about it, but it wasn't until he was stepping up to the Tower Plaza did the Ghost reply.
"Perhaps you're on the way to being so." Kita replied, kindly. Koga stopped climbing and turned to face his Ghost, smiling softly.
"Perhaps." He repeated, before patting Kita on the side. "Let us go meet the Speaker, then."
- - - - - - -
The Speaker's Observatory was a sight to behold. He had seen it before, of course; Koga had tried to see every inch of his new home the day after he had arrived. Going inside, however, was something he hadn't done. The great doors had been closed, locked up for the night. Now, however, despite the hour, they were open. Inside was a great Orrery, some titanic machine with massive wheels of gold and bronze, framing the profile of the hovering Traveler beyond. It was breathtaking, and the way the spotlights in the City below shined upon its alabaster shell made it gleam like some second moon. Kita made only the slightest sound as he floated alongside him, his eye wide.
"There was a time," a voice started behind Koga, old and quiet, "where we were much more powerful." Guardian and Ghost spun to face the source, and both found themselves looking at a man dressed in the purest of white robes, a black cowl covering his head and an ornate grey mask over his face. The man looked slowly down as he thought. "But that was long ago." Slowly he continued down the steps, one foot at a time. "Until it wakes and finds its voice, I am the one who speaks for the Traveler."
"It is an honor to meet you, Speaker." Koga gave a soft bow as the elder Guardian reached the base of the steps. Through the mask, Koga could hear the man give a quiet chuckle.
"And it is an honor to meet you, Warlock Koga." The Speaker spoke slowly, much like Zavala, but there was a softness to his voice that a soldier like the Commander could never quite reach. It was the voice of a scholar, or perhaps even a prophet. "And your Ghost." Kita spun in place, before bobbing his head in the approximation of his Guardian's bow. There was a pregnant pause as the Speaker began to pace past Koga and towards the edge of the space, heading for the railings that separated floor from Orrery. "You must have no end of questions, Guardian."
"I live in a strange new world now." Koga replied, walking with the Speaker. He trailed behind by a pace, a quiet sign of respect and submission to his superior. "While I seek answers, I have found few. I do not even know how I live again." The Speaker came to a stop at the railing, and Koga halted a heartbeat later.
"In its dying breath, the Traveler created the Ghosts." The Speaker started. As he spoke, Kita flew forwards, flying to the center of the Orrery. He was transfixed by the visage of the Traveler, as was Koga. To see it so clearly, so beautifully framed from the Observatory, was something that no word could ever truly cover. "To seek out those who could wield its Light as a weapon. Guardians, to protect us, and do what the Traveler itself no longer can."
As Kita slowly returned to Koga's side, the Warlock stepped forward, resting his hands lightly on the railing. The scars that marred the Traveler's underside seemed particularly pronounced at night, like some kind of scratch at reality itself. "What happened to it?" He asked. It had been a question he hadn't lived long enough to answer himself, hundreds of years ago.
When the Speaker spoke again, his voice was darker. Gone was the softness of the scholar. There was an edge in it now, subtle but present. It wasn't so much that he didn't want to speak about it, so much as it seemed that what had happened still ate away at him. "I could tell you of the great battle, centuries ago. How the Traveler was crippled." The Speaker began to walk away from Koga, rounding the railing as he talked. "I could tell you of the power of the Darkness, its ancient enemy. There are many tales, told throughout the City to frighten children." There was a pause as the Speaker came to a stop. His voice began to fade to a low murmur, unease suppressing it. "Lately, those tales have stopped. Now, the children are frightened anyway." The Speaker turned, his hand on a pedestal that projected a mirage of floating lights that danced and flicked about like fireflies. "The Darkness is coming back. We will not survive it this time."
"Its armies surround us." Kita interrupted, suddenly. Koga spun his head to face his Ghost, who hovered inches away. "The Fallen and the Hive are just the beginning." Koga nodded, and turned back to face the Speaker. He knew his next question.
"What can I do?" His voice echoed in the empty halls of the Observatory. The Speaker merely watched for a moment before replying.
"You must push back the Darkness." The Speaker began to amble back, a passion returning to his voice. "Guardians are fighting on Earth and beyond. Join them. Your Ghost will guide you." He looked up at Kita, who stared back. "I can only hope he chose wisely." With that, the Speaker gave a soft nod of the head, and turned to the stairs, heading up to the loft from whence he came. Koga bowed again, and turned to leave, Kita floating quietly next to him.
"I did. I'm sure of it." The Ghost replied, confidently. "We're in this together, after all." Koga gave a soft smile to his ward, and gave it another pat on the side.
"That we are, Kita." He said, heading out onto the tile of Tower North. "That we are."
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