Blue was frozen in her seat as she stared at the semi-destroyed arena below. The audience around her was roaring, clapping, and stomping but she couldn't hear them between the sound of her own thundering heart and the ringing in her ears. The Iron Banner was finally here again and the turnout was spectacular. Many seasoned and famous Guardians flocked to the Crucible to participate. Even The Guardian had shown up. The Vanguard favorite, the Vex God Killer, Slayer of Crota and Oryx, Champion of the Red War, Saladin's Young Wolf, the titles went on and on and nearly everyone in the City had shown up to watch him in action.
He was just as amazing as the stories told and up until now Blue hadn't believed many of them. In his first match, he took out his opponents in a just a few short minutes. The defeated Guardians in question were still recovering after being revived. Blue was stunned and it wasn't until she heard her Ghost shouting did she return to her senses.
"Wooow! That was incredible! Can you imagine what it would be like to work with this guy?! Must be amazing!" He fawned, "What a fantastic Guardian, right?! Ah, imagine him out in the field! I bet he can take out a Fallen Walker with one blow!"
Blue grimaced, suddenly aware of her lack of combat expertise. She wasn't a great fighter like The Guardian, she was average at best and at the moment she felt less than that. Blue had participated in earlier Iron Banner matches but after several losses she opted out and now she was glad she did. If she had been in that ring during this fight she would be humiliated. She felt sympathy for the losing team who were limping away to lick their wounds.
Blue gritted her teeth. The last time she felt like this was when-no! She shook her head to try and dispel the images of Red Legion, permanently dead Guardians, and dead Ghosts. Her Ghost continued to cheer, even as she got up and started to walk out of the arena. Eventually, he caught up to her, still talking and raving about the match.
At some point, he must have noticed her sour mood because he stopped talking and observed her as he hovered. Blue had attempted to keep herself looking as impassive as she usually was but her Ghost had learned how to read her long ago.
"What's wrong?" He ventured.
She didn't respond and didn't change her expression. Apparently, that gave it away.
"You're upset about something. Not being a sore loser for being knocked out of the Crucible are you?" he teased. No response.
"Hm…" he wavered left and right in thought, "We haven't been on any hard missions lately...No research reports submitted for assessment...Oh! Did you bet against The Guardian in the Iron Banner? Come on, we both know how good he is!"
Her fists clenched as she walked faster.
"Guess that's not it. Hey, wait, are you upset with me? ….You are, aren't you? What did I do?! Is it because you didn't have any tea this morning? You were the one who was in such a rush to go to the Crucible! But I guess I talked you into it...OH! Is this about-"
Her comm pinged. It was Ikora, Thank the Traveler. The Warlock Vanguard had received a message from Asher on IO that Taken forces were stirring at an alarming rate and also something about Hive but by then he was rambling and had divulged into a monologue on one of his recent books so for all she knew he could just be throwing a tantrum again. Blue sighed. Dealing with Asher was sometimes like dealing with a toddler but the man had valuable information on Vex and Taken. Blue had recently delved into the Books of Sorrow and wanted to look more into Throne Worlds, Ascendant realms, and the Taken. Maybe she could obtain more information on the Taken by studying them on this mission or convince Asher to input his opinion. Although that was a stretch. She was also eager to get back into the field and prove herself if not to her Ghost but to herself. She agreed to take the mission.
Ghost was already getting huffy and anxious. He never approved of her research on the Hive or Taken, no matter how helpful the information could be for fighting against the Darkness. She ignored his loud complaints as she headed back to her dorm to change into her combat robes.