"Legends are carved across history by the brave."

-Guardians Grimoire Card

Prologue

Me, Myself, and I

A week after Moon Base Echo went offline

I sat on top of the lifeless, gloomy wall high above the sleeping city. The ledge that leads hundreds of feet down didn't faze me as I leaned against a stone support pillar, on watch for hopefully the last time. I might be getting a mission. But I needed to focus on keeping watch because failing to stay vigilant could get me killed. Vanguards foster-son or not, I had to follow the laws just like everyone else. I could get away with some things, however. My helmet sat beside me, staring off as if it too was on watch. I'm supposed to keep it on in case I needed to be communicated, but with the dozens of times I've spent up here I've learned that the commanding officer just bullshits you to do the pointless things his commanding officer ordered him to do when he was on watch. My sniper was more than three feet away from me, another rule I don't care about breaking. Didn't have three square meals yesterday, yet another pointless rule I could get away with. If I was anyone else but the son of a Vanguard, (adopted or not) I would have been either punished severely or executed.

But no one would kill me because I'm one of the greatest Hunters alive today. Maybe second greatest to the awoken Hunter that slept beside the pillar five feet away from mine. I should really wake her up before she gets caught, officer dickwad will be here soon. The greatest Hunter getting caught sleeping and with her helmet off on one of the most important jobs in The City would not look good for us Hunters or our fireteam. I'll give her another couple minutes, she needs it.

Some find this job an honor and that the city trusts them, after one night they realize it's a chore at best. My team is getting tired of looking out to the horizon from 2100 to 0600 hours for four days a week. At least the solitude is nice. But I was nervous and stressed. My palms were sweating, my mind was racing. The second I heard about the attack I knew someone would be sent and my team had a better chance at being picked than anyone else. For about a month my team and I have been waiting for a real mission. We deserve it.

I looked over to my friend and examined her the way I have for four days a week this past month. She had skin the color of a woman who has never seen the light of day, hair a common shade of pink dye, and a peaceful face that tricks you into believing she's nice. I needed to wake her up, but doing that meant I'd get the fury of a cranky Hunter. The last time I woke her up before closing time I was threatened to being thrown off the wall.

Despite the fact we are rivals, i feel sorry for her. Her Ghost, the reason she is still alive today, was destroyed by Riksis, a Devil Archon for the Fallen. Every Guardians Ghost is attuned to a single person, the one it revived from the dead. There is no way to repair a Ghost, so every loss is irreplaceable. Ritz lost not only her closest friend but now she can no longer be revived. This ruined her. She could no longer compete in the Crucible against other Guardians, and she is always getting asked by her Foster Mother to stop going on missions, settle down and get married. Being the stubborn and arrogant person she is, of course she refused that. I'm always worried about her, and our other squad mate too, they both don't have Ghosts.

I sighed in boredom and nudged my friend's leg to no success. I shook my head and scooted closer to shake her awake, finally I got to her.

"Fuck off, still your shift." She mumbled, half-asleep. Technically, both of us have to wake up because this is the time when officer dickwad does his morning lap around the wall and I've already used the excuse that I knocked her out so she wouldn't throw me off.

"Get up, it's almost closing time. We have about 15 minutes until we're caught resting." I tried to wake her again, holding back the urge to push her off before she does to me.

"Handle it or else. I'm too tired to deal with your shit." She slapped my hand and resumed her dreaming of all the different ways to hurt me.

"Get over it, and I'm not bailing you out again. Last time I did, the officer almost grounded me for another month, and I'd still have to sit here every week. So get up before we're out of luck to get that mission." I knew once I spoke long sentences like that and I'm acknowledged, she won't be going back to sleep.

"God dammit." She opened her pure blue eyes and lifted one leg up to turn and face me, not sure if to talk or if I'm going to be kicked. Either way, I inched back to my original place. "Why couldn't you give me 10 more minutes? You know officer dickwad is slow as hell, the unlucky ones on the south side have to wait an hour after closing to get released, it'll take him 20 to get here."

"He doesn't release us at a specific time; he's starting to get here sooner." I reminded her since I'm always the one that gets the last shift. I shook my head to end the argument and asked if she saw anything during her shift.

She nodded, "A couple Fallen, but you're making the report." She smiled in thought, loving my misery when it came to pain and paperwork. So this is what I get for not getting her killed?

Several minutes later I turned my head at the sound of slowing footsteps, time to have a pleasant chat with officer dickwad. I stood up and nodded at him, a hello to me, and a disrespectful motion to him. Spark and I prepared for the lecture we're going to get for not having our helmets on and snipers not close by.

"Hunter Wolf and Spark, what the fuck is up with you not having your helmets on?" If you want to know what he sounds like, imagine a cliche drill sergeant but in heavy armor and a sniper latched on his back. I hoped Spark would give an excuse instead of throwing me under the bus, which would hurt my chances of getting the mission.

Luckily she took the lead, "Got stuffy in there sir, our ventilation broke the last time we were on Mars. Should we report to F.O.T.C. Armory for repairs?"

"No, you must report to your Titan friend. He said to meet you at the City Center ASAP, especially before the crowds rush in." Officer dickwad started to run away but turned around and pointed at me as if he was accusing me of murder. "You haven't been to Mars for three months, now go before I report both of you to a higher chain of command."

I held back a scoff as he left; report us to the Vanguard? the same that our parents are in? Spark put on her helmet and mumbled what I was thinking. "Jane and Rick would flick this guy off the face of Earth if they heard he threatened us. What an ass."

Spark and I walked side by side to the city center. The city was starting to wake up. If we were going to talk to Brick without having to yell, we needed to talk fast. Store owners and merchants called out like town criers to try and get people's attention. The shops getting the most customers were ones that sold coffee and other thing people need to start the day off. The good thing about being a regular at shops is that they know your face and what you usually order, that saved my morning as we were approached by local café owner who held a coffee and a donut in each hand.

Ritz took it without a word and kept on walking as I thanked him and put it on my tab so I could catch up to her. Now that we had caffeine and a slightly less empty stomach, we can take on the next couple hours. Five minutes of walking and eating later, we finally reached Brick sitting in front of a store. I suddenly felt guilty because I saw he bought us coffee and a donut, so being a regular and having good friends is my advice for life. We sat down with no intention of telling him we already ate, so we started for a second time after I gave an appreciative nod. Brick didn't waste any time trying to get to the point of meeting here.

"I know you want to get that mission, Wolf." He turned his head to Spark and tilted the cup of energy to me. "Do you know how fucking crazy he is?"

Spark smiled and leaned back, "We've known each other for years so yes, I do."

I looked around us and laughed to myself, realizing they're only a couple dozen fireteams with one of every race. It's so rare that people would think we're just friends, but then again the races aren't exactly best friends. Exo's are a self-aware machines who are slightly stronger than the rest of us, because of that you'll find that Exo Titans and Hunters is a common thing; Brick is part Exo part human who doesn't accept his kind's anger towards the Awoken and their supposed link to The Traveler.

Ritz is a rare type of Awoken because she's a Hunter. Awoken's are human-like beings with translucent skin, born with the powers of The Traveler, and colors of hair normal humans would usually have to dye to get. It is said that the Awoken were born in the Collapse, descended from those who tried to flee its wrath. Something happened to them out on the edge of the deep black, in the Darkness, and they were forever changed.

And I'm a human, of course. We are survivors, tough and resilient, descended from those who built a Golden Age only to see it ripped away. Now, after an age of retreat and desperate struggle, we fight to take back their solar system and claim a new future.

There are those who believe the Traveler chose Earth for a reason. Now it is humanity's obligation to prove itself worthy of the Traveler's faith.

"Wolf" Brick got my attention back. "I will not forgive you if you go to the Vanguards and request this mission. In case you weren't listening, there are no reports of survivors after 20 minutes of the attack. 20 minutes! There were hundreds of scientist and guards stationed. Going to the Moon will be suicide.

"I understand that" I responded boringly after the last bite of my pastry, looking up to the Tower, the largest building in the City.

The Tower is the only home many Guardians ever know.

To the people of the City, it stands as a promise that we can endure. The merchants and citizens who fill its plazas and halls are as dedicated to the reclamation of our worlds as the Guardians who venture into the Darkness beyond.

That is apart of my home.

I'd die before I see it overthrown or in ashes.