Chapter 1: The Crucible
They called me Raider. I can't even remember what my name used to be, but they say they've brought me back from the dead to fight. For some reason I didn't have a problem with that. In fact, it seemed to me to be the most natural thing in the world, and although my eyes witnessed sights and sounds straight out of some science fiction flick, dumped into some world that I had never been apart of, I just sat there completely at ease and nodded politely listening to their dribble about some things called the Fallen. I still don't understand what a Fallen is, or where they came from. No one could really explain that much. But they said they came to kill all the humans in the universe, completely and permanently. I suppose that was enough explanation for me.
After that, they walked me down into a blindingly white chamber. The walls were made of tiles, glistening as if they were polished stones which reached upwards to a high arch at the center of the room. Clean and absent was the impression here, so much so that their words echoed in the emptiness. There was only one window, and on the outside of it was the pure depth of blackness. I was a little curious what was out there, but before I could even think of the words to ask, they handled me and forced a fancy suit of armor on. I didn't mind after the handling. It was the lightest thing I've ever worn really, although the pieces and materials looked like they should weigh a hundred pounds each. They told me I had to wear the helmet pretty much anywhere I went. It was comfortable enough, so I didn't argue. They pressed a button on the wall and several of the giant tiles slid apart. In that gap, directly in front of me stood a massive chest, which they called the Vault. They said I could pick three weapons to carry. Anything I wanted really. I glanced over the assortment, and while they all appeared to be designed to destroy humanity's enemies, the one I grabbed first had a particularly evil disposition. Bad Juju they said.
They told me to try it out. They said shoot something out there and pointed towards the window. I asked them what was I supposed to be shooting at. No answer. I waited a few more seconds before the silence became too awkward. I looked over the weapon. There was a creature's skull, which looked like some kind of reptile or something, shabbily fastened to the barrel of the rifle. It glowed green and radiated outward, while black trails of exhaust billowed out from the cracks in the bone and from the long dead eyes. "Not very tactical," I said to them. They didn't bother responding.
I turned and pointed out the black window and fired off a volley. Three round burst with a single squeeze. Finally they spoke. They called it a pulse rifle, but I've seen things like it before. Strange. There seems to be a million things I don't remember, and a million more things I don't remember how to do, but pulling the trigger is not one of them. It was like breathing. The way this thing felt in my hands...
After that, I picked two more toys and was done. They took me away and said I'm to become a Guardian, whatever that is. But first I must pass their trial, a trial where I will be forged. They call this place the Crucible.
