A considerable amount of time had passed since the fireteam had their fateful encounter with the strange Vex activity, but when they went there the second time, there was nothing there. As if nothing existed before and all that they had reported was made up. However, after they left once again things started turning even weirder, the area had once again started to emit strange readings. But when another team was sent to investigate they reported that there was a barrier blocking their way into the structure.  However, they did report that there was old classical music coming out from the large structure. Esme however was unnerved by the expressions of the faces she saw, Vex can't feel emotion, but what she saw was definitely emotion. She stood at the Towers courtyard, looking out at the city, the two siblings went to check in on Ada on some things about fashion. Esme was never really into fashion, all she cared about was functionality, looks were secondary. All of that reeked of Maya Sundaresh, but she is supposed to be on Nessus, not on Europa, but maybe she migrated. At the same time, this also didn't look like her doing, something about this, it couldn't be her. Something about this wasn't making sense, her friends body, why would they take it. Normally they just leave them laying around or throw them into Radiolaria to convert into one of them. And then, there was that massive hand, it was Vex clearly, but really big. But first, they will need a way to shut off that barrier, whatever is going on there, it needs to be studied.

On the other side, Auctor was feeling frustrated. He had been able to bring his love back, but every time he would bring her from a timeline it would go badly, each time it was a failure. She could not recognize him and would promptly end her life, he does not blame her, he blames himself. This body, while strong and all capable, does have it's downsides. For that reason, he brough back his old one, he will make it work, use the two bodies as the situation requires. One would be for his now life and the other, his original body, for traveling around. He is able to do this because somehow he figured out that transferring his consciousness into his minions isn't all that difficult. They are connected to him, they are his and by that, a part of him. Whilst that was being worked on he brough back one of his backstabbers, the one that murdered the love of his life. Xedrel, his former fireteam friend, an awoken bastard that was always jealous of him. Auctor knows that this isn't the original one, but it doesn't take away the pleasure of torturing him, mentally and physically breaking him, turning him into a husk of a man every time. Xedrels pleas always fall on deaf ears, his body getting broken and repaired, forced into constant simulations of battle, dying over and over. He deserves it more than any of the others because it was his idea, he was the one that did the worst things. If they had just killed her it would have been fine but they did far worse things and that he couldn't simply forgive not forget. 

Taking a break from the satisfying torturing he finishes up his body. It feels strange, to stare at your own body, work on it, lifeless but not for long. With the final modifications made Radiolaria is let into the husk, slowly filling up the inside. The body did suffer lightly from the jump into the pool, right hand not completely turned but the fist definitely did. As the Radiolaria sets in Auctor concentrates his will and in a matter of a second everything fades to black. The strange yet familiar old feelings flood his system, his eyes activating, flooding his vision with colors. Sitting up from the floor he moves his old body. It feels weird, five fingers on each hand in stead of three, legs which if he had not take control of a couple Goblins and Hobgoblins he would have suffered with walking. It is strange, but not uncomfortable. It brings him back to what he was. But he no longer glows in the color of ember, but of white, like the fluid that flows inside of him. Looking up, the towering mass of metal that floats there, idly, awaiting for him to take control of it again. The capabilities are not the same with his old one, he is much more limited, but it does allow him to walk around human settlements without raising too much of an alarm. But there is one problem, not only does he not have any clothes but also, some might recognize him. I create the most basic, beginner gear one could fathom for a warlock and puts his plan into motion. He had explored most of the Last City to the fullest, even the abandoned places and those will be a good place to simply teleport into. There was always one building that never seemed to be close to finishing, dear to many. The old Tower, it was destroyed and never fixed so he simply closes his eyes and thinks of that nostalgic courtyard. 

As he opens up his eyes he finds himself standing at the ruined building, the familiar scent filling his nostrils. There doesn't seem to be any people around which is good. There is material for reconstruction but the works have either completely stopped or the progress is really that slow. Either way, he has to make his way down. Thankfully there are a couple elevators made for the workers to traverse the tall structure which did come in handy and convenient. Upon finally reaching the bottom he navigates the tight passageways and the tall rooftops to the now in use Tower. To see what is going on and what had happened since he had left. The first thing is that the H.E.L.M. is being repaired which is odd, what the hell could have damaged it. Eliksni working on it alongside humans and other robots, it is a nice sight to see. The H.E.L.M. being destroyed not but all of them working together is nice. Finally he reached the fabled and nostalgic Tower, normally it would have looked at the city with the Traveler above, but not anymore. The Tower is bristling with activity, Festival of the Lost is at play, such a sweet thing to celebrate. Many would do trick or treat, laugh  and try to scare their friends some way. One of the two holiday celebrations that he had actually awaited in his life, not for himself of course, but for others. Constantly stocking up on candy just for that festival to give out to those that need it. And then there is Eva Levante, a good woman, sweet old lady. She was and is always welcome, many simply just wish to talk to her and one of the most optimistic people he had met and had the pleasure of talking to. 

A couple Guardians bump into him but there is quite a crowd so it is to be expected. There are new faces and familiar ones and then there is one of the legends, a traffic cone of a titan, a travesty of fashion walking around. At least he is original, better than the all black hunters walking around. A piece of candy falls in front of him and as he bends down to pick it up someone hits him from the back causing him to land face first into another persons bottom. To his surprise, rather soft but at the same time, the glare that he got back would freeze a person up. It was a Titan, her tall stature, commanding and radiating confidence, you felt like a mouse standing next to her.

Titan: What the hell do you think you are doing buddy? 

Auctor: I do apologize Ms. I didn't mean to, I was pushed into you.

Titan: So what? You were conveniently pushed into my ass? I do not buy that a single bit. Give me a reason why I shouldn't dent in your face right now. 

Auctor: You can believe it or not, but that is what happened. I wanted to pick up a piece of candy that fell on the floor. 

Titan: Aha, riiight. Well, you better watch out next time. Hang on, where are you guns. 

Now he realizes he forgot something, he forgot to at least carry a gun with him. 

Auctor: Oh, um, I don't use guns. I got two guns right here.

He says flexing his arms. This causes the Titan lady to laugh out loud.

Titan: A Warlock using his fists? Respect dude, respect. Normally only we go in punching everything.

He is able to finally back away and find a clearing where he could think and observe. Next to the memorial of Cayde there is always a clearing, not many visit here, sadly. He stands there, looking at it, he did not know a lot about Cayde, they came into contact a couple times but that is pretty much it. But he was very liked and respected and that says a lot about a person. He spots one person that he didn't expect to see, Mara, as to why she is here, he does not know. He, like many, liked her dominant vibe, the aura of confidence that she emitted, her beauty and character, they were all perfect for those who were really down on their luck. He takes of his helmet to take a breath, that is when their eyes meet and he couldn't help but grin. She however continues walking on towards Zavala who seems to never leave that post. However, one person he didn't want to see was Esme. One of the few people that he had actually talked to. Their eyes locked, her eyes dilated, as if she had seen a ghost. He shouldn't have taken of that helmet, it was a mistake, but wearing them always felt suffocating. She herself is in a dilemma,  the person that stands before her looks so much like her friend but at the same time, the color of his eyes is not the same ember color that she is used to, but everything else is so identical. Auctor lets out a sigh and sits down on the concrete step, tapping the spot beside him. She sits down beside him. 

Auctor: I didn't really want to see you. 

Esme: H-How? What happened to you?

Auctor: A lot actually. But first, from now on you will address me as Auctor. Do you understand?

Esme: What?

Auctor: Do you understand?

Esme: Y....yea. Alright. 

Auctor: Now, you probably have a lot of questions that I can only partially or not answer. 

Esme: What happened to you?

Auctor: Nothing much, you know. Disappeared, killed my own Ghost and that is pretty much it.

Esme: Don't lie. We saw your body getting picked up by something large. 

Auctor: Shit, so it was you who was there. Well aright then, all I can say is, um, I am no longer the man you think I am. What you now see is only temporary? 

Esme: Huh? W-What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Auctor: You can figure out that later. 

Esme: We searched for you and now you are here. Just tell Zavala that you are here and we can figure out what happens next together. 

Auctor: I don't want to. It would not only complicate things but also make things harder for me. I now have a hobby, a purpose. 

Esme: Then I will.

She gets up but he follows suite and grabs her with his right hand. She feels a strange grip, not like your usual humanlike grip, this one is bore boney, weird. As she looks down she sees his fists is not normal, changed. 

Auctor: If you tell him I will be disappointed in you. And even if you do tell him, it won't change anything, I can simply disappear again if I want to. Please don't make it difficult for me. Forget that you ever saw me and we can end it here. 

Esme stares at him and breaks free and runs for Zavala. All Auctor can do is let out a sigh of the purest disappointment. He walks up on the platform above the Eververse shop and sees Zavala, Esme and Mara approach with Guardians staring at them. He gives them a good last stare before teleporting himself away, leaving the whole Tower confused and shocked. What they saw was not a transmat or anything that the Guardians use. It was a Vex transmat effect, the same one they use to bring in and out the enemies. Things have gotten even more complicated for both parties.