Destiny, Side Episode IV: Paladins

Previous Episode: Episode IX, The Devils' Lair
Next Episode: Episode X, Ocean of Storms

The Tower, the Last City, Earth
Day 021

   Basilisk sighed as the transmat completed and the hard metal floor of the Tower Hangar’s deck clanked against his boots. It was good to be back, the Exo thought as he slumped his shoulders for the first time since he had left. He felt absolutely drained of energy, a fatigue that simply sucked the life out of the old Exo. As much as he hated to, he needed to recharge. As his ship, landed automatically, was lowered on a platform into the depths of the Tower for maintenance, he could hear his comrades land their ships as well behind him. He didn’t turn to look as they transmatted out of their craft and moved to join him.

            It was late, just about as late as when they had come back from the Skywatch that first time. He could only hope that the Vanguard wouldn’t drag them into a debriefing that would drag on until just shy of dawn. This thought was probably why the first word he muttered under his breath when he saw the Vanguard standing at the base of the stairs leading up to the observation deck was a swear. Straightening his posture as much as he could, the Titan marched forward with his team in tow. The illusion didn’t seem to fool anyone, as Zavala’s eyebrow was stuck in a raised position until the three exhausted Guardians came to a halt before their mentors.

            “Welcome back to the Tower.” Zavala started, speaking for his comrades. He didn’t need to raise his voice tonight-the Hangar was practically dead at this part of the night. Most Guardians were either out on midnight patrol or getting rest like sensible people, which meant that the Hangar could stand down for the most part. It left the place eerily quiet, even more so with Holliday’s happy humming gone. “On behalf of the Vanguard, the Tower, and the City itself, we would like to congratulate you for successfully accomplishing your first Strike operation.”

            “Thank you, Commander.” Basilisk replied, nodding slightly. “It was difficult, but my team saw us through.” At that, Zavala’s brow furrowed. Basilisk was taken aback-it wasn’t something he had expected.

            “Yes, your team.” The veteran Titan repeated slowly. He patted his folded hands behind his back before speaking. Basilisk didn’t need to look back at his teammates to know that Lisset’s eyebrow was starting to edge higher millimeter by millimeter as her suspicion grew.  Koga, meanwhile, was probably just clenching his teeth as he waited for bad news to come. When Zavala spoke, his voice was lower than it had been before. “At this point, you and your comrades have been fighting for little under three weeks. You have proven your skill not only to the Vanguard, but also to each other, and for that you are to be commended. However, the time has come for a choice.”

            “What my Titan friend is trying to get across,” Cayde interrupted from over Zavala’s shoulder, the latter’s eyes starting to roll slightly in irritation, “is that we want to know if you’re gonna be staying together or not.”

            “Staying together?” Lisset repeated, surprised. “Aren’t we assigned to each other?” Cayde bobbed his head in a noncommittal fashion, as he was prone to do.

            “Well, yes and no.” The Exo crossed his arms, rapping his fingers against his forearms as he tried to come up with something that sounded intelligent. “We put you together in order to keep the lot of you safe. You know by now just how dangerous it is beyond the Wall. The thing is, though, that after a certain point it’s going to come down to you whether or not you want to go it alone or stick together.” Zavala sighed before retaking control of the conversation.

            “Cayde is correct, though it may have been wise to phrase it another way.” The Commander glanced back at the elite Hunter, glaring, before turning to look at Basilisk and the others. “The legends of Guardians past and present make up a tapestry made of many fabrics. Some choose to go it alone, while others stay with their teams or form new ones. While the decision you make now is in no way final, I have come to believe that making a choice now, before your comrades, is better than leaving in the dead of the night without an explanation.” Another nasty sideways look was thrown at Cayde, who sheepishly laughed.

            No one said anything for a while, Basilisk’s mind racing as he tried to come up with an answer. For him, personally, the choice was quite clear-he was a soldier, and he had always operated best with someone watching his back. Every Titan he had ever spoken to for advice since he had arrived at the Tower so many days ago spoke of the value of teamwork, of their bond with their fellow fireteam members. To operate alone, at least in Basilisk’s mind, was not just inefficient-it could be fatal.

            Of course, he couldn’t very well decide for the rest of his team what would be done. Lisset was a Hunter, or at least ostensibly one. She had talked to Basilisk only a handful of times since she had revealed to him her thoughts that day on the Steppes, but it was clear that she was still torn between her two lives as both Hunter and Corsair. She threw herself into her work in a way very similar to Basilisk did, trying to keep herself too busy to concentrate on how she felt. Working on her own would probably suit her best-she would determine her own downtime, and if she ever felt the need to run away, there was always something that needed hunting down.

            Koga, meanwhile, was about as much of an enigma as you could get. Basilisk wasn’t entirely sure how the man felt about working in the team. The Warlock was more than capable of fighting on his own, as he had proved time and time again on the battlefield. However, he lacked the same isolationist streak that he had seen in other Warlocks on the Tower. In fact, he seemed to quite enjoy working in a team, though the man was so damned polite it was hard to tell if he was just being courteous or if that was how he truly felt.

            The Vanguard, to their credit, had remained silent, letting the three think for a good few minutes. They had asked this question before countless times, and had gotten quite good at waiting. Still, Basilisk couldn’t keep them there indefinitely waiting for an answer. He was about to open his mouth when Lisset beat him to it.

            “I want to stay with my team.” Her voice was low, but certain. It was the biggest surprise of the night, and both Koga and Basilisk whipped their heads around to look at her, mutually shocked. She seemed equally surprised in the violence of their response, which was followed by an increasingly offended frown. She let that emotion fade away-though Basilisk was sure she’d give them both hell when they got back to the room-as she turned to look back at the Vanguard. The frown returned when she saw Cayde standing there, agape.

“I know that I have had issues making the transition to being a Guardian,” Lisset started, her voice slowly growing louder until it reached a normal pitch. As she spoke, Basilisk could see her become more emboldened. It was hard for Basilisk to ignore the faint smile on Koga’s face as she talked. “But these two have been through a lot with me. I could leave them about as well as I could have left my sisters in the Corsairs. I may be a long way from being used to being a Guardian, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Well said.” Ikora replied, smiling in that motherly way of hers. “I was like you once: uncertain, alone, confused. But I found my way in time, and so will you. I look forward to seeing where your path takes you.” Lisset blushed slightly at the compliment, and bowed her head in thanks. If Zavala was pleased, he hid it much better than Cayde did, who currently seemed halfway ready to pass out at the news.

“Warlock Koga, have you an answer?” The Commander asked, his piercing gaze now settling on the scholar. Koga nodded slowly.

“I will stay with my fireteam.” He stated. It was a simple explanation, but his voice was strengthened with certainty so that it echoed in the empty Hangar. Zavala nodded, before turning to look at Basilisk.

“I believe asking you is unnecessary, Titan Basilisk-15, but for the purposes of setting the record, what is your answer?” For a moment, Basilisk could swear the edge of a smile creep on the elder Titan’s face as he spoke.

“I will stay with my team, Commander.” The Exo replied. Zavala nodded again, then unfolded his hands from behind his back, holding one up in front of his chest so that his Ghost would flash into existence above his palm. It hung there, looking at the three of them silently, etching their visage into its memory.

“So it is decided, then.” Zavala said, his voice booming again. “In the memory of the Guardians that have come before, and in honor of those yet to be Risen, it is customary for Guardians to be assigned or choose a designation, so that their exploits may be sung throughout the ages. Have you a name that you wish to be recorded under, or do you wish the Vanguard to decide?” Basilisk to turned to look at the others.

“Any suggestions?” He whispered. Koga shook his head, uncertain, while Lisset simply shrugged. Slowly, Basilisk turned to face his superiors. “We would wish that the Vanguard decided.” Ikora stepped forward, brushing softly past Zavala as the Titan moved to the back. His Ghost floated over Ikora’s shoulder, still watching.

“Then let us decide.” The elder Warlock stated, her voice proud. She closed her eyes and thought for a moment, barely a second worth of thought. When they opened, there was a certainty in them that Basilisk had never noticed before. “There have been many fireteams in our history to bear the designation of ‘Paladin’. It refers back to the knights of Humanity’s long lost past, heroes crusading forth to defend their homelands and their people against foes that would devour them. Each of those teams have passed into legend, serving with distinction against the Darkness. The time has come for the name to return.” With a flourish, Ikora waved her hand. As it moved, space seemed to warp slightly, then increasingly so until the vaguest shape formed. It was a man on horseback, lance in hand, standing vigilant in eternal watch. “We mark you as Fireteam Paladin. Serve with honor, Guardians.”

“We can do that, ma’am.” Basilisk said, saluting. The Warlock smiled, and returned the gesture somewhat in gest. It was not her way to perform such an action, and as her hand moved away, the image faded and space ceased to warp. Zavala also saluted, before extending a hand. Basilisk took it, and the two shook. As they parted, Zavala’s hands folded back behind his back.

“For tonight, you are dismissed.” The Commander said, his tone that of the leader. “But stay vigilant. You will be needed in the days ahead.”

“We’ll always be ready.” Lisset said, smiling confidently. “It’s what we Paladins do, right?”  And for the first time, Zavala smiled. It was a slight thing, thin, but still there all the same.

“That they do.” He replied, proudly. “That they do.”