Weapon at the ready, the door whirled open to enlighten the once darkened room with blinding light. Standing in the opening was a slender shaped figure, a pitch black silhouette lining outer features. The shadow was large enough to obstruct the suns bliss, leaving me yearning for the days when I could feel warmth against my skin. Finger curling around the trigger, I was ready to blow away the potential enemy. That was, until my eyes adjusted.

"You going to stand there pointing that thing like a lost Kinderguardian in the Crucible, or are you going to use it? " Her musing voice was muffled through her Spektar Kallipolis Mask, magenta infused heat sinks emitting a luminous glow. "I know you've been dying for a good fight."

A scoff escaped me, returning my weapon to its worn holster. "My long lost dream, finally coming true. It's good to see you again."

"It's because I'm your favorite, right? " I can't see her face, but I know there's a smirk hiding behind that helmet of hers. "Did you kill the power?" Shifting her weight, the Krokos shaded Hunter folded her arms across her chest. Impatient, foul mouthed, and kick-ass with any weapon you hand her. She truly is the ideal Hunter, personified into an alluring form.

"I've left enough running for the gates and basic communication; vaults are currently locked and electronic transportation is offline." Ikora answered, passing the Guardian and her ghost.

"So we can't get our stuff?" The ghost interposed, his voice distraught. "This is a disaster."

"You're telling me." I muttered.

"You two can complain all you want after we escort the citizens from the city." Ikora commented, her frustration carried over in her words and posture. Every movement seemed to possess more and more than her usual aggression. To be honest, it was quite scary. Passing the two victors with her famous strut, she spoke into her intercom. "Amanda, can you relay a message to the citizens below?"

A second passed, and a crackle of the device emerged. "Of course, what coordinates?"

"57 degrees latitude, 77 degrees longitude."

"Its almost like she hates invasions." The ghost whispered, oh so very quietly, to their Guardian.

"Got it, be careful out there."

"It is not us you should be worrying about." Ikora murmured, turning her device offline and looking back to the established hero that brought us the Age Of Triumph. "Will you join us, Guardian?"

"Like I would pass something this big up. Count me in, but before I forget- " Handing the Warlock her misplaced Invective, she retrieved her Mida Multi Tool. Hoo boy, it was a pretty gun. "-thought you might want that back. With this incursion and all."

"So you're the one who stole my gun."

"I like to use the word borrowed."

"As much as I'd love to see you two throw down," I spoke up, stepping between the two. "- and as much as I hate being the responsible one in the fireteam, don't we have better things to focus on?"

"Of course." Ikora stated, checking the status of her weapon. She really was particular with maintenance, her order of how things should be. There was only so long before the inevitable punishment for touching her things. Especially without prior permission. Another reason why this Guardian is easily one of my favorites. She was such a daredevil. "I only wonder where this sense of leadership was during all those years in the Vanguard."

"Let's just say I've learned from the best."

A remnant of a smirk, and Ikora was off. The Guardian followed soon after, leaving me to pursue them both as they delved into the lower levels. It has been an hour, twenty-two minutes, and fifteen seconds since the initial attack. Most of the population had no doubt fled on foot within that time. Either that, or they were struck down by enemy troops. Fucking pathetic. Cabal were well known for their culture, their honor.

I'm having a hard time understanding what's honorable in murdering hundreds of innocent people.

Walking quickly along the narrow hallways, the Ghost was used as a GPS. Guiding us past the ruined structures and enemy markers. You could hear muffled screaming through the walls, feel the vibration of combustion above. I had already made a mental bet against myself that the Tower wouldn't live to see the dawn, maybe earlier if the Cabal eliminates the first line of defense. Titans. It made me wonder how Zavala was doing...

Worry would be a better word.

"There's a broken elevator up ahead."

"Oh. Great. I love high, potentially lethal drops down an elevator shaft." I replied, my mind riddled with images of Zavala fighting back against the alien invasion.

"You're stressing over a little jump?"

"You don't have the potential of breaking your legs."

Ikora was the first to reach the elevator's closed doors, leering sinistral. Grounding her feet and slinging her gun behind her back, a gesture was made to the open space across from her. "Ready whenever you are."

"Oh. Right." Quickly moving dextral to her location, digits dug into the crevice of the elevator door. Feet spread shoulder length apart, I look up to my partner in crime. "On your mark, or mine?"

"Just pull, Cayde." She grunted through clenched teeth, fingertips already prying at the steel door.

"What about the whole 'One Two Three' thing?" I inquired, joining in the exertion.

"I don't think she's seen too many action movies." The Guardian teased, finally edging over and aiding Ikora. Pulling metal into a new opening, I peer up and down the empty shaft. The elevator car wasn't anywhere to be seen, only damaged hoist cables and darkness below. "Ghost, your turn."

"On it." Ghost piped up, passing its Guardian and entering the shadows. A minute. Two. Three. "Here we go. Yeah, it's not the biggest jump I've seen. Do be careful, the cables have been disconnected."

Coinciding with the little lights words of caution, the female Hunter had jumped, upbringing a sporadic call from within me. "Wait!" A loud boom coincided, leaving me more anxious than I care to admit. "...You still alive there, Guardian?" Radiating light was spotted, emitting nearly center of the pit. Small details of the top of the elevator could be noticed, along with a waving Guardian.

"It's sturdy enough."

"Good enough for me." Ikora said, sweeping off the ground and landing with a thud.

"C'mon Cayde. Do you want me to catch you?"

"Ha. Ha... No. I got it, just move back so I don't accidentally kick you in the face for scaring me like that."

"Aw, you do care."

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Foot over the ledge, I let gravity take over the rest.

"Dude, just jump." The soldier called, his voice barely audible over the roar of the engine. The wind hit hard against my back, almost the same amount of force as my heart beating against my chest. A single hand held onto the bar above me. Looking at the drop below, I try my best to withhold the breakfast I had an hour before.

Grand cities appeared frail, vehicles were the size of ants. The mission assigned to me was almost childs play compared to the thought of my parachute malfunctioning. Falling to my death isn't exactly how I see myself kicking the bucket.

"Give me a fucking minute. Haven't you heard of prep time?"

"Yeah, I have." He replied. "It's bullshit." A swift boot against my lumbar was enough to knock me out of the plane, free-falling into enemy territory.

Landing atop the elevator, I could feel the material bend at the force of impact. The familiar bang echoed for the third time, wiping the ill memory from my mind. "Sturdy my ass." I joked, focusing on restoring stability.

"Shh, quiet!" Ikora hissed, grabbing my arm and jerking me to a crouched position beside her. "Turn that light off." She ordered, her eyes traveling to the entrance we had created. The Guardian's Ghost obliged, cutting off power and keeping close.

"Hear what?" The other Hunter questioned, kneeling down to our level.

"Do you have a smoke grenade?" Ikora whispered, so softly I could barely make out the words.

"Um..." A quick fumble through the depths of her inventory. "Yeah."

"Use it to conceal the three of us. Quickly." There was a lack of lighting, but I was sure the Guardian was just as confused as me. A smoke grenade in the dark? Cabal have slightly better vision than humans, but even they wouldn't be able to spot us down here. However, the Guardian did not question authority. She simply did what was requested, the sound of detonation was followed by a thick fog which covered our bodies with smoke.

A clink. It was faint, but it rushed a sensation similar to skin crawling. I would have held my breath, however Exos have a rather silent cooling system that keeps the structure from overheating. I suppose that is the closest thing to what my allies are doing. The subtle sound grew, becoming a parade of taps and grotesque communications from an unmistakable group of thralls. Climbing through the shaft and passing our hiding spot, their continuous calls reverberated off the walls, shaking my core. What are the Hive doing here? My attempts to count the bodies that passed through the doors above us ceased after three dozen or so. The Ghost muttered upon dissipating smog.

"Well, that was certainly interesting."

A/N: Sorry for the late update, I recently got a new job. To make up for it I made the chapter a bit longer than normal, throwing in one of my three characters upon playing Destiny. Updates should be monthly :)