"So what do I owe the pleasure of being forced into your office..." Viper's tone was very dry and sarcastic as he sat in one of the two chairs facing the big desk and just to further spite who called him in he had both of his muddy boots propped onto the desk as he twirled a throwing knife between his fingers, "Commander Zavala."

Zavala stood at attention looking out the windows of his office staring at the Traveler. His hands crossed behind his back. No matter which way you sliced it Zavala was a soldier through and through and his posture was always on point. Viper hated it to be honest. The seriousness and that tone of Zavala's just rubbed him the wrong way sometimes. But despite that the Exo Hunter easily recognized the skill and talent Commander Zavala had as the Titan Vanguard. Doesn't mean Viper wasn't going to put his feet down though. The two weren't exactly on the most pleasant of terms since The Tangled Shore Incident.

"Viper-7 I've called you-" Viper interrupts, "More like threatened." Zavala sighs before continuing, "I've called you in here for an important assignment." If Viper had eyebrows one of them would be raised right now in curiousity and annoyance, "Every assignment is quote on quote important Commander. I just don't understand why you had to get Amanda to get me to come to your office." Zavala turned looking at the Hunter, "Because you would've ignored me if I came to you personally." Viper chuckles and mockingly answers, "Awwwww, you know me so well." Viper wasn't pleased the Commander used Amanda as a messenger and continues on in that sarcastic tone, "Still I'm impressed you told Amanda that if I didn't come you'd assign me the Hunter Vanguard Position without a moments hesistation." Zavala nodded, "It worked didn't it?" Viper put his feet down and leaned in looking at the Commander with smug smile while waving his throwing knife at the Commander, "You really know how to grind my gears you know that?"

Zavala leaned in matching Viper look for look, "Shall we try this again?" Viper sits back and shrugs, "We could. But, you know I'm not going to make it easy." Zavala ignores Viper's tone and has a hologram display in front of him, "You're needed on Titan. Deputy Commander Sloane is launching several strikes against the Taken Incursion since the Pyramid made contact last week." Viper tilts his head, "There better be more to it then that Commander because this is sounding like grunt work you could've passed to literally anyone." Zavala raises his hand, "There is more so wait. There's been a spike in Hive activity within The Arcology. I want you to investigate. Alone." Viper looks at the map of the Arcology and notices the spot highlighted on the map, "This was Fireteam Calliban's location at the end of that strike mission. You think the Hive are attempting a second summoning at that damn Shrieker of hers?"

The Commander looks concerned, "That's one possibility we've considered. Given what happened to Taeko-3 and her squad we'd certainly wouldn't want a repeat of that." Viper sighs at the thought of his former friend who gave her life for Fireteam Caliban. Viper studies the map and notices something off, "Did you update the map recently?" Zavala shakes his head, "We haven't. Sloane says there are drones that monitor the Arcology 24/7. Why do you ask?"

Viper crosses his arms studying the map, "I see a new tunnel connecting to that Shrieker's nest. Must be recent because if I remember the report correctly there was only one entrance that Caliban used to get into that room." Zavala looks closer at the map and notices the new pathway Viper pointed out, "Hmmm what could the Hive be planning?" Viper turns around getting ready to leave, "Honestly I could care less. I'm heading out then. You just want me to scout right? Don't engage unless I have no choice?" Zavala looks at Viper, "Wait Viper. We're not done yet." Viper has Aria appear and quickly sends her off to prep his jumpship and looks back at Zavala, "I think we are Zavala."

"We need to talk about The Hunters and..." Viper turns around pointing his knife in anger, "Don't you dare utter his name. I'm still pissed off with you if it wasn't obvious." Viper walks up with the only thing keeping the two apart being the Commander's desk which either could've easily thrown aside. Zavala breathes in deeply before answering, "I'm sorry for how I treated you." Viper laughs, "Apology not accepted. You choose to do nothing. You wanted nothing to do with Uldren and if it wasn't for the myriad of Hunters and other Guardians who took action over your inaction I'm pretty sure Riven would've happily been knocking on our doorstep like Ghaul did and Dul Incaru would've succeeded in her mission for her Bitch Queen of a Mother." Zavala slammed his fist on his desk, "And you think your actions didn't have consequences of their own? Look at The Dreaming City now. Stuck in a permanent loop. Our forces are further divided having to constantly having to kill The Fanatic and Dul Incaru's forces routinely to prevent The Witch Queen from reaching The Distributary." Viper chuckles, "Of course the actions we choose had consequences and I don't regret a single one I made Commander."

Zavala points his finger, "It's Hunter's like you who don't take any responsibility for their actions that have caused so much division amongst the Guardians recently." Viper throws his knife into Zavala's table and slams both of his hands on the table, "You want to run that by me again!?! You constantly try to get any experienced Hunter you see to become the next Vanguard it's no wonder we've all but abandoned The Last City. I know who's on that list of candidates Zavala and I can promise you every single one will give you the same answer because you have no respect for The Vanguard Dare." Zavala looks angirly at the Hunter, "So then what!? We just have The Witch Queen fill the seat." Viper raises his arms up, "Yes! Because you know what? Every Hunter's trigger finger is eager to put a bullet in every damn eye she has. I will happily take my gun personally and walk right on up to her throne world to put down Savathun permanently and take on the position of Hunter Vanguard knowing that I finally killed Cayde's murderer."

Zavala looks stunned at Viper's answer to which the Hunter continues, "What you don't seem to understand Zavala is a Hunter is only as good as their word and we take those promises, those dares, those bets we throw around all the time very seriously. We keep our promises and honor those who've died that couldn't keep their promise by carrying on for them with the Cloaks we wear in memory. So stop trying to force one of us into a position we haven't earned." Zavala is taken aback by Viper's passion.

"I can guarantee the Hunter's will all happily come back to the City if you stop trying to ask any of them to take up Cayde's role." The Hunter puts his Hand Cannon on the desk and points at it. "I promise you when a Hunter finally puts Savathun six-feet under and I guarantee it'll be me and no one else because Savathun has already tried to threaten me and Aria not once but twice already and I will do whatever it takes to see her die slowly and painfully under the heel of my boot. Then and only then after that is said and done I will proudly and gladly take on the duties Cayde left behind. So if you ever threaten me again with The Hunter Vanguard position just to give me a damn mission briefing. Then save us both the time and headache and exile me from the damn city."

Viper picks up his gun and his knife and walks out without so much as a goodbye. Aria was floating outside the door. Viper stood there for a second looking at her before the both made their way silently to the hangar and transmatted onto the ship.

On the jumpship Aria talks to her Guardian, "You know he regrets Cayde's death just as much as you right?" His ghost said bluntly. Viper was flicking a few switches and getting ready for take off to Titan, "Eavedropping were ya Aria? But yeah I know." He answered in a simple tone. Aria bounces in front of him, "So why do you give him so much trouble?" Viper looks at his ghost and sighs, "Because he's always trying to do more than he needs to. Someday's he honestly tries to fill in both Cayde's and his own shoes and he needs to stop. He's not a Hunter and he'll never understand the Hunter's completely." He laughs before continuing on, "You know as well as I do from personal experience Hunters are a fucking mess of chaotic emotions in comparision to the Rules and Regulations Titans and the Logical but Philosophical Warlocks." Aria looks confused at V's answer, "So then why do you antagonize him?" Viper fires the thrusters and the two fly off, "Because one of these days he's going to dig a hole too deep and the Hunter's will never come back. I just decided to show him how bad it can get with just me alone. I did point out every Hunter's answer would be the same and that reaction is not far off from the truth either."

Viper continues on as they fly to Titan, "I honestly have a lot of respect for Zavala Aria. Next to Saint he's the second most ideal Titan you could look up to in terms of sheer confidence alone. But I mean it when I say I can never forgive him for doing nothing to avenge Cayde. I know what I did on the Shore was wrong but I don't regret it anymore and I'd do it again even if hypothetically he died that day instead of Cayde." He looks at his ghost, "You know me Aria. I'm a fucking trainwreck and I don't know what it is people see in me in terms of potential but I can easily see the potential in others and often go over the deepend when I see them trying to do something detrimental to themselves. It's almost compulsive." Aria sighs, "You should try and have a proper conversation with him when this mission is over you know." Viper chuckles, "Yeah. I should. As weird as it sounds I miss chatting with Zavala while he crocheted the most intricate little things with those little hooks. For a Titan he's pretty dexterious with his fingers huh?" Aria chuckles, "Yeah he is."

To Be Continued