✧ Unexpected Guardian: The Redux ✧

✧ Chapter 3: Tower Blues ✧

After 20 or so minutes, the ship entered the Orbit around Earth. It was a massive blue orb that floated against the black void of space. It had white misty clouds swirling around it like a hug. Apysker could also make out the pieces of land that dotted the blue waters of the planet. The view was absolutely stunning.

The ship started making its descent towards the planet as it started entering the earth's atmosphere. The Captain shifted in the seat he was too big for nervously. He was going to the home of the Guardians as an enemy. No one would know he was friendly until Sol bailed him out. It scared him being there with so many hostile eyes and weapons.

Sol noticed his shift in demeanor. Maybe he was covering himself when he said he'd brave it. In all honesty, he had all the rights to be scared. He was going to a place where he wasn't really welcomed and seen as an enemy, especially being from the House of Wolves which still causes trouble in small groups.

"Hey, it's okay to be worried. Just try to be friendly and if something happens, I've got you."

"Easy for you to say, you can go to this place and I'm seen as a threat."

"Don't think like that. I know the Vanguard well, they might understand."

Apysker just rolled his eyes At his companion's forced optimism as the ship started descending towards a tall building. The place was huge with a main courtyard with two separate wings on the side. Sol directed the ship to the right as he slowed down to navigate into the hanger. The place was loaded with ships that looked like they belonged to other Guardians and ships that looked like they delivered supplies. There was plenty of people going about their duties and daily tasks. Of course when he had to be here, the place was busy.

Sol guided the ship to a docking area with the help of a human waving these glowing sticks that were unfamiliar to the Captain. Once the ship was where the human wanted it, he gave a signal and Sol stopped the engine.

"Wait here, I'll try to cover for you."

Sol disappeared out of this ship and began making small talk with the human. It didn't look like anything too intense, maybe enough to buy him so time to prepare himself. The Ghost came back in a few minutes later and spoke to him.

"Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

The Ghost transported the Captain out of the ship. Everything was fine for a moment until a worker saw the Captain and screamed, catching the attention of all the others in the bay. In no time, they sounded an alarm and made the call that there was an enemy in the Tower. Sol tried to defuse the situation but it was no use.

"Let's just get through this door straight ahead and up those stairs and we might be okay."

Apysker started walking hastily to the door and up those stairs but before he could make it any further, he felt the cold barrel of a shotgun press against his head armor. He froze on the spot, scared out of his mind. He glanced up and was met by the weapon's holder, a woman with chocolate brown skin and a shaved head that dawned a purple robe-like cloak. Behind here were two more figures. One was a tall blue-skinned man with bulky armor and a skinny robotic man with a horn on his forehead and a hood.

"State your business here before I blow your head off."

Apysker couldn't find the words to say anything. He was too frightened.

"Ikora, please relax. He's not going to cause any harm!"

He heard the familiar voice of Sol behind him as he pleaded with the woman.

"Why on Earth would you bring a Fallen Captain here? What were you thinking?"

Apysker heard the smooth but deep voice coming from the man with blue skin. He seemed more ready to speak about the issue instead of acting with violence.

"Can we please go to the Hall of Guardians so I can explain?"

"Fine."

The woman who Sol called Ikora removed the barrel from his forehead as she turned around to walk with the others to this "Hall of Guardians." She made sure to give one more hostile look over her shoulder to signal that there was to be no funny business or out of line behavior from the Captain.

Apysker followed behind as the three walked across the courtyard to a set of stairs that led downwards. Even the walk there was uncomfortable as all of the other Guardians there were staring at him, some even reaching for their weapons.

They began to make the decent down the stairs and through a long hallway that was well decorated. They passed by a few more figures that looked important, like a strange woman who had a black substance leaking from her eyes and a very tall man in white and orange armor with a horn on his helmet. Even they were put off by seeing him here. The man yelled about it but that was really all.

*

After a short wall through the hall, they made it to a huge open room with a large table in the middle. The table was covered with new-age human technology and piles of books and papers. This had to have been the place where these three worked. He managed to piece together that there three were people of power and status in the Tower. Although there was no chairs as the table, one of the three, being the robot with the hood, grabbed a chair out of the corner and set it down on one of the sides of the table.

"Sit."

The blue man made that command and it was sure to be followed. Apysker took a seat and felt even more nervous than before. Were they going to reject him? Were they going to kill him?

He took a deep breath and collected himself for what was going to happen next.

*

Word Count: 1030