Levi's face scrunched up, his nose flared, a strange sensation spreading on his face, he glanced at Void, his eyes narrowed.

"Something...feels off. You doing alright?" He peered over Void's shoulder.

A faint shiver coursed through his veins, Void clenched the hand behind his back as an ahamkara bone appeared within.

"Think you're just feeling the blues, or maybe its this thing?" he presented the bone and spun it around.

Levi backed up slightly as he gestured with a flat palm, "Yeah probably, I just felt an ick. Don't keep those bones around you too long, think they rub off or something. Just gave off a weird whiff to me."

Void shrugged as he tossed it back into the inventory. Internally, he smirked. 'Monstrous bastard. To think he almost detected the ahamkara's blessing through instinct alone.'

There wasn't much to say, Void was still inexperienced in using his new power. On the other hand, Levi was perhaps the second best in the squad.

A sudden thought crossed his mind, Void raised a brow.

"You ever met the old Hunter vanguard?" He asked, a curious look in his eyes.

"Andal Brask? Maybe... a few times. He was good, freaky good with his staff. I didn't know him much, why the sudden interest?" Levi raised a brow.

"Nothing really. The captain doesn't seem to talk about him much. Just wanted to know who he was."

Levi rubbed his nose, memories flashing by. "Probably shouldn't mention it to him though. Might get sentimental and all. It was a hard loss."

Void nodded, "I will keep it in mind. You finished reporting?"

Levi leapt towards the ceiling beams, his ship roared to life. "Nah, I told Cory to take over. I gotta go deal with some shit near The Steppes. Caves full of hive, or so I heard."

Void's eyes turned gloomy, "Hive?" A sudden urge to caution came, but he suppressed it. 'No, it can't be. It's far too early.'

"Well, that's what the city patrol said. Gotta jet, see you around." Levi waved a swift salute with his finger, disappearing, his ship flared up and shot through to the horizon.

Void's eyes traced the skies, the faint silhouette of the moon lingering behind the Traveler's pale white husk.

His face stiffened, "At least I hope it isn't."

-----------------------

[A few hours later, Consensus Hall]

Sudden oppressive aura weighed down the room, Ikorra faced the walls, hands behind her back, with an ashen glare.

Cayde stood to the side, nimbly juggling a dagger between his hands.

Zavala's transponder lit up, he immediately accepted. "Old Friend, I hope you bring me good news."

Saladin's rugged voice resounded, "Hmm, we found them. There were three. It's taken care of, I hope that's all the vanguard needs me for."

Zavala flashed a proud smirk, "Thank you. The city won't forget your contributions....Neither will I." He disconnected the line.

Cayde swiped the dagger and flicked, planting it in the wooden table stretching the across the room.

Ikorra faced the two, faint light spilling from her glare. She nodded.

Zavala wasted no time as a red alert notified the consensus representatives. Calling them all to a mandatory hearing.

Within a matter of minutes, the top brass of the city sat across the table. Faction leaders, squad captains, and the elites had all rushed to reach the hall.

The speaker made his presence known as he descended from his study, joining the table. All sat quietly, a suffocating pressure emanated from the Vanguard trio.

Although it was intentional, the rest didn't dare to speak up. They simply endured. As for those who couldn't, they drove their nails into their palms, struggling to stay upright. To faint now, was simply an insult to their legacy as guardians.

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Zavala spearheaded the hearing, taking charge as he stood up. "Gentlemen, you're all gathered here for one purpose. You define the city, its people and its culture. Your responsibility is the safety of its people, and the light."

His eyes turned heavy, fist scraping against the table. "But it has come to our attention. That perhaps the power and authority given to you, was misplaced. To compromise the safety of guardians and the city, for your own whims. An unforgivable deed."

The air turned sour, all glanced around, gossip and whispers began to echo.

Ikorra's hand balled into a fist, her aura scattered through the room. "That's enough!"

A stiffening silence took over. None dared to break it.

She didn't mince her words, "I will cut to the chase. What he's trying to say is simple."

"The Vanguard gave you permission. But you turned your backs on the city, filling your own pockets. Did you think we didn't know?" Her eyes glanced over the faction heads.

Jalaal and Hideo, leaders of Dead Orbit and New Monarchy shifted in their chairs. Whereas Lakshmi from Future War Cult remained exceedingly calm, her bionic eyes seemed to twitch ever so slightly as Ikorra's gaze brushed past her.

"Failure is not the end. However, your decision to not call for backup endangered the city by releasing enemies we could not hope to finish off later."

Jalaal and Hideo had bitter faces, they had gambled with their personal squads and failed, earning the ire of the Vanguard.

"As such, the Vanguard has decided to restrict the faction authorities. From now on, for any executive decision. Factions must report to the city."

Ikorra's words caused a stir in the room, a mistake this deadly deserved to be punished. Yet, restricting their authority was not something they could easily swallow.

The words struck a nerve for Jalaal, the Arach had tried his hardest to keep growing for his cause. But step and step again, he felt belittled by the Vanguard.

"This is...unacceptable. I know we made a mistake. But I assure you we, Dead Orbit, could have handled it on our own. I cannot accept this decision. I refuse." He blurted out.

"What?" Ikorra turned towards him, her words laced with fury.

Jalaal gulped, "The Vanguard leads the guardians. But the factions cannot be denied. We work for a cause. A free cause. Our squads thought they could do it alone. The price for this failure shouldn't be to stab us in the back. The city should help us grow, and become better."

Zavala felt irked, "The city, owes you nothing. You owe everything to this place. There are no special favors, for anyone."

His face twitched, Jalaal felt his blood rush to his head. "Is that so? That is not what the Vanguard follows. I for one, refuse to believe that this is all fair. After all, you all have your own specialists, is Dead Orbit just supposed to accept this denial to train our own?"

Jalaal got to his feet, preaching to the room.

Cayde put his feet down from the table as he chimed in, "What pray tell specialists are you on about? Can't point fingers this fast buddy."

"Oh please. Do you think Dead Orbit has no connections? No eyes in the city? The Praxic fire answer only to you, so do all your secret keepers." He gestured to Ikorra.

"But what infuriates me the most is the fact that a new guardian, has been shown such favoritism. You cannot possibly deny this, something under your own command?" Jalaal swiped his wrists.

A holographic image enlarged to show Void's profile. Immediately, Zavala's face turned grim.

"You accuse us of forming private forces and currying favor. But isn't that what you are all doing? How is the Vanguard any different?"

Jalaal's words echoed in the room, drawing eyes.

"This guardian has only been active for a few months at best. Yet he served directly under the Vanguard commander. Not only that, I've heard the Praxic fire recruited him for many private missions."

"Is it not true that his own squad captain holds no authority over him? He joins any fireteam he wishes, even now, he joined an external fireteam. Do you really plan to believe that the Vanguard is not growing their own specialists as we speak?"

His eyes turned towards the other factions and elites, presenting his case.

"I find this all very suspicious."

Zavala couldn't hold his anger any longer, his face turned a light hue of red. He slammed the table with his fist. "That is all restricted information."

"There has been no such training of operatives to serve the Vanguard, never was and never will be. I find your accusations to be preposterous at best."

Surveying the room, Zavala took in a short breath, as all leaned towards his next words.

"The guardian you referred to as favored, has risked his life at every opportunity to serve the city, through his own volition. He was neither urged nor forced."

Void's picture shifted to present his mission logs. Many elites nodded with approval.

"As for his involvement in the Praxic Fire and external teams. It is simply the need for a skilled guardian. One that could move freely. Most of you were all present to witness Kabr and Pahanin invite him on their own accord."

Zavala's voice turned gruff, "To slander a guardian who has served the city so freely. I cannot imagine a worse outcome."

The speaker inched closer to the table, his voice soothing the room. "I understand Dead Orbit's frustration. But the Vanguard is right. Full control in critical situations is necessary. A divided command is of no use to the city."

His eyes shifted towards Jalaal, "As for accusing the Vanguard of favoritism. I assure you, that all these opportunities were provided to your faction too. The only difference is, Void actually succeeded."

Jalaal felt his face burn with shame.

"I hope that clears it all up."

Ikorra stepped forward, building on the speakers momentum. "All those in favor of restriction faction movements." She raised her hand.

The majority followed, another voice chimed. "All those against."

A few elites and faction leaders raised their hands, however the vote was evident.

"So the Consensus has decided." The Speaker concluded the meeting decisively, as all members ushered themselves to the door.

Jalaal had a pensive look on his face, regrouping with his members. He shared the news, as morale fell to an all time low.

"I know we failed, but can't we get another chance? The Vanguard is being too harsh." A guardian spoke up.

Jalaal shook his head, "They don't seem to listen." Instantly, his eyes lit up.

"I have no idea why, but there is one man they favor. Keep an eye out for him." He shared Void's profile, passing it around Dead Orbit.

Unfortunately as it was, Void had attracted some big names towards him through this incident at the consensus. His own choices had somehow affected the consensus, earning him new enemies and allies.