INTERVIEWER: State your name for the record.

SUBJECT: Why? Am I in trouble or something?

INTERVIEWER: Is that what you think?

SUBJECT: I don't know what to think. I've never been in this situation before.

INTERVIEWER: Just tell us you name.

SUBJECT: Fine. Just call me Selene.

INTERVIEWER: Selene?

SELENE: Yeah. Look, just how many names do you need?

INTERVIEWER: Selene will be fine.

SELENE: So do I get to know your name, or is that not how this works?

INTERVIEWER: That's not how this works.

SELENE: Well, now that we've got THAT out of the way...

INTERVIEWER: Just tell us about yourself.

SELENE: (shrugs) There's not much to tell.

INTERVIEWER: You can start by telling us what you are.

SELENE: Well, obviously I'm not human.

INTERVIEWER: Obviously.

SELENE: I am an Exo.

INTERVIEWER: Exo? Is that short for something else?

SELENE: What, like 'Exo-skeleton' or 'Exo-strordinary Artifical Intelligence', or 'Exo-stential Being?'

INTERVIEWER: Yes.

SELENE: No. Just Exo.

INTERVIEWER: Okay. Can you tell us what your primary function is?

SELENE: 'Primary Function?' What do you think I am, some kind of robot?

INTERVIEWER: Well, aren't you?

SELENE: I just told you I'm an Exo. I'm no robot.

INTERVIEWER: Now, now, there's no need to get upset...

SELENE: Upset? If I'm 'just a robot,' how can I show emotions like upset.

INTERVIEWER: Point taken.

SELENE: Now, if you're interested in my job, I am a Hunter.

INTERVIEWER: Hunter?

SELENE: (nods)

INTERVIEWER: What does that entail?

SELENE: Whatever you want it to. Hiding, tracking, killing, scavenging, searching, finding, shooting, whatever.

INTERVIEWER: So like a scout then?

SELENE: Sure.

INTERVIEWER: Can you tell us how you got here?

SELENE: Sure. I tagged along with your guys.

INTERVIEWER: (surprised) And they let you? Why?

SELENE: (shrugs) Why not? I've always wanted to see and explore new places. I'm a Hunter, it's what I do. Too good to pass up. Now as for the others, you'd have to ask them.

INTERVIEWER: We intend to. Now tell us how you met the SPARTAINs.

SELENE: (points thumb at the door) Those knuckleheads? Why? You all are military-types right? Didn't you make them write reports on this whole mess?

INTERVIEWER: Yes, they wrote reports.

SELENE: Well, did you READ them?

INTERVIEWER: Yes, we read them.

SELENE: So why do you need to hear from me?

INTERVIEWER: To hear your side and to corroborate the reports.

SELENE: So you don't believe them?

INTERVIEWER: Certain parts seemed very...outlandish.

SELENE: (nods head) I can see why you'd believe that. Of course, I could say the same thing about what they have told me.

INTERVIEWER: (leans forward seriously) What did they tell you?

SELENE: (puts hands up) Whoa guy, slow your roll. We just talked about our similar experiences. I mean, a 25 year war against a collection of fanatical aliens that spans the entire galaxy? An array of giant hoop-like structures with the capability of wiping out all sentient life in the galaxy? (leans in and whispers) Sounds like a Sci-Fi space shooter if you ask me.

INTERVIEWER: I see your point.

SELENE: Okay then. (looks to the door) Can I go yet?

INTERVIEWER: One last question then. About the thing called a 'Ghost'-

SELENE: No.

INTERVIEWER: But you don't know the question.

SELENE: No.

INTERVIEWER: But-

SELENE: (slams fists into table and stands) I SAID NO! You touch my Ghost, or even THINK about touching my Ghost, I will kill you all.

INTERVIEWER: I would think carefully about making those kinds of threats.

SELENE: (leans forward) It's not a threat. It's a (REDACTED) promise.

INTERVIEWER: I think we're done for now.

-END RECORDING-

INTERVIEWER: Please state your name for the record.

SUBJECT: Saoirse.

INTERVIEWER: Saoirse?

SAOIRSE: Yeah. (looks at camera) Since this is being recorded and probably written down somewhere, it's pronounced Seer-sha and spelled S-A-O-I-R-S-E

INTERVIEWER: That's a unique name.

SAOIRSE: Might as well be. It's the only one I've got.

INTERVIEWER: Is that common where you come from?

SAOIRSE: Is what common? To only have one name?

INTERVIEWER: Yes.

SAOIRSE: (shrugs) I guess so. Some people have do have a family name, but most Guardians don't. It's not really something you remember.

INTERVIEWER: Guardian? Is that what you are?

SAOIRSE: Yep. I am a Titan class Gardian.

INTERVIEWER: A Titan?

SAOIRSE: Similar to those SPARTANS we ran into. First to fight, last to quit. Heavily armored and armed to the teeth. If you need something killed, we're the ones to do it. All go, no quit, and lots of guts.

INTERVIEWER: Sounds like you're proud to be a Titan.

SAOIRSE: (grins) Damn Skippy!

INTERVIEWER: So, we talked to the one called Selene-

SAOIRSE: She's here too?

INTERVIEWER: Yes. We talked to her and-

SAOIRSE: (pounds fists on table, cracking it in half) Good! I have some matters to discuss with her.

INTERVIEWER: Such as?

SAOIRSE: Such as why she dragged is here in the first place? Do you have any idea what it's like where we're from?

INTERVIEWER: No, we never discussed it with Selene. Our previous session ended rather abruptly.

SAOIRSE: What'ya do, piss her off.

INTERVIEWER: Seems that way.

SAOIRSE: (surprised) And you're still alive? Wow. She must be mellowing out in her old age.

INTERVIEWER: Explain.

SAOIRSE: (frowns) I thought we were here to talk about me?

INTERVIEWER: Apologies. Please continue.

SAOIRSE: Now where were we? (pause) Oh right. (slams fists on table, breaking the table) Do you have any idea what it's like where we come from?

INTERVIEWER: No. Do tell.

SAOIRSE: So imagine everything that happened with this whole Covenant thing. You thinking about it?

INTERVIEWER: Yes.

SAOIRSE: Okay. Now imagine all of Humanity reduced to no more than a few million people at most. All your colonies are burned to the ground. Everything on Earth reduced to rubble, reclaimed by nature. Now imagine those very aliens colonizing and scavenging Earth. Imagine the remainder of humanity living in a giant walled city, hidden in the mountains. And the majority of the people live in ramshackle huts, trying to scratch out an existence. And the only thing that keeps this fragile existence from completely falling apart is yours truly.

INTERVIEWER: ...

SAOIRSE: (leans back) I have seen some shit. Now I'm not saying that you all haven't had a rough time. You asked and I told you what I know. (glances at the broken table) Sorry about the table.

INTERVIEWER: I think we'll take a break now.

-END RECORDING-

INTERVIEWER: Please state your name for the record.

SUBJECT: (unintelligible)

INTERVIEWER: I'm sorry, could you repeat that please?

SUBJECT: (unintelligible)

INTERVIEWER: One more time please?

SUBJECT: (microphone slides across the table) My name is Valentina.

INTERVIEWER: Valentina? Is that correct?

VALENTINA: Yes.

INTERVIEWER: Can you try and speak up please?

VALENTINA: (fidgets in seat) I'm sorry, I'm not very good at this sort of thing.

INTERVIEWER: At what? Talking to people?

VALENTINA: (nods)

INTERVIEWER: You seem to get along with your teammates.

VALENTINA: (frowns) I know them. I don't know you.

INTERVIEWER: Not a people person?

VALENTINA: (glares) 'I love Humanity...it's people I can't stand.'

INTERVIEWER: Interesting quote. Who said it?

VALENTINA: (shrugs) Dunno. Someone a long time ago. I heard it once and it kinda made sense to me.

INTERVIEWER: Can you tell us about yourself?

VALENTINA: What did the others say?

INTERVIEWER: About you?

VALENTINA: (nods)

INTERVIEWER: Not much. They hardly talked about themselves. Not that we didn't give them a chance.

VALENTINA: (surprised) Saoirse didn't say anything?

INTERVIEWER: No, she told us plenty. Just not anything we really wanted to know.

VALENTINA: Everyone has secrets, wouldn't you agree?

INTERVIEWER: Yes.

VALENTINA: And if we told our secrets, they wouldn't be secret anymore, would they?

INTERVIEWER: I guess not. Is there anything you are willing to tell us?

VALENTINA: (long pause) I'm a Guardian.

INTERVIEWER: Like the others?

VALENTINA: Yes and no. All of us are Guardians, yes, but I am a Warlock. Selene is a Hunter and Saoirse is a Titan.

INTERVIEWER: Can you tell us what a Warlock is?

VALENTINA: I guess the best way to explain it would be that Warlocks are like battle mages, using knowledge gleaned from study and experience, and harnessing arcane powers for use.

INTERVIEWER: Is that so?

VALENTINA: I can tell you are skeptical.

INTERVIEWER: Would you be willing to give us a demonstration?

VALENTINA: In here? This tiny room?

INTERVIEWER: Yes.

VALENTINA: I don't think that's a very good idea.

INTERVIEWER: Why not?

VALENTINA: I'm still learning to control my powers, and I might cause an accident. Besides, (slight grin) I'd be sharing some of my secrets.

INTERVIEWER: Okay, some other time then. Now, you said you were still learning to control your powers?

VALENTINA: (nods)

INTERVIEWER: Does that mean you haven't been a Guardian very long?

VALENTINA: Yes.

INTERVIEWER: And the others?

VALENTINA: (glances at the door, then to the mirror) Selene is the oldest, meaning she's been a Guardian the longest. Then Saoirse, then me.

INTERVIEWER: How long has Selene been a Guardian?

VALENTINA: I don't know, why don't you ask her?

INTERVIEWER: We tried and she wouldn't say.

VALENTINA: Then perhaps that's one of her secrets?

INTERVIEWER: Perhaps. Let's continue this at a later time.

-END RECORDING-