I'm back again. First off a huge thanks again to everyone who has been reviewing the story and telling me your thoughts. I really appreciate the positive responses. And I promise after this things will start to get deep and interesting.

As always, please rate, review and enjoy.

Chapter 4: Connections

Kore-44 walked out into the tower courtyard as his ghosted floated beside him. The ghost had a shell that was that colored green and bared the symbols of the iron banner. Kore drew the attention of a few guardians as he argued with his ghost.

"I telling you Ridley, a swallow could totally carry a coconut long distances."

"Kore you're being stupid. It's simple logic. A 9 ounce bird cannot carry a 1 pound coconut."

"Maybe not a European swallow but an African swallow could."

"The type of swallow makes no difference Kore. You're an exo you should be smarter than this."

"Hey I am making a very valid argument Ridley."

"No you're not you're just being an idiot." Kore looked to his left and spotted Aaron talking to Banshee.

"Why don't we go ask Aaron? He'll put an end to this argument and you'll see that I'm right." Ridley sighed and floated along with Kore towardthe gunsmith.

Kore walked toward Aaron as he talked with Banshee about a rifle he inspected in his hands.

"So what does Hakke need me to do with this one Banshee?"

"The usual test. Just kill some Cabal with the auto rifle. I have a sniper that they need to test as well if you're interested. They need to see how it fares against Centurions."

"Sounds simple enough. I just wish they would learn that an auto rifle with an 18 round mag isn't very useful."

"At least it kills things."

"Amen to that Banshee." Aaron looked over his should when he hear footsteps behind him and he saw Kore. Aaron thanked Banshee for the weapons and walked over to meet Kore.

"Hey Kore what's…"

"Ridley and I need you to settle an argument." Kore cut Aaron off which caused the Titan to chuckle a bit.

"Alright shoot."

"Could a swallow carry a coconut for an extended period of time?" Aaron just gave Kore a confused look before he looked to Ridley.

"Kore thinks a swallow can carry a coconut long distances." Aaron scratched his head in thought.

"I would say no. Swallows are small and a bird that light couldn't hold up the weight of a coconut."

Ridley gave Kore a look of triumph.

"Although it really depends of whether we're talking African or European swallows." With that Aaron started to walk off as Kore and Ridley just shared unsatisfactory looks. Kore then jogged up to Aaron to talk some more.

"Ok no more swallows but you have to tell me how it went man."

"Tell you how what went?"

"The date of course. What else would I be talking about? So how did it go? What did you do? Did you make plans for another date?"

"Kore slow down man. You sound like Syd hyped up on caffeine. To answer your multitude of questions, it went well. We went down to that bar in the hanger and we had a few drinks and just talked. No we didn't make plans for another date, but I think that was mainly because she kind of got drunk and I took her home before she passed out. She's actually quite the lightweight."

"Sounds like she'll be having one hell of a hangover."

"Tell me about it." Aaron's eyes widened as he remembered something. "Which reminds me." Aaron walked over to Tess Everis.

"Hey Tess you able to get the package I needed?" Tess nodded before she reached under the counter and held a small brown package out to Aaron.

"Got everything you asked for all wrapped up for you."

"Thanks Tess." Aaron said as he took the package and handed her some silver in return

"Mind if I ask what that is?" Kore asked.

"I'll tell ya later. I have to go to Jewel's apartment."

"Woah woah wait wait wait." Kore said as he grabbed Aaron's should and held him still. "Dude it 7:30 in the morning. If she was drunk last night she probably won't be waking up until 9:30 at the earliest. Besides, don't you think you might be taking this whole thing a bit fast."

"What do you mean?" Aaron asked.

"I mean you met her yesterday in the middle of a Crucible match. And you guys have already gone out on a date, she got drunk, and you took her home. That's like third date level stuff right there." Aaron thought for a moment and sighed.

"Maybe you're right Kore. Maybe this is going by a bit fast. I'll go ahead and take it a bit slower."

"I think that's a good idea. So where are you off to now?" Kore asked as Aaron stared to walk away.

"To Jewel's." Kore slapped his hand into his face.

"Dude we literally talked about this like not even ten seconds ago."

"I never said I was going to slow down today Kore." Aaron said as he took off jogging toward Jewel's apartment.

Kore watched Aaron leave and he shook his head as Ridley floated beside him.

"You know Kore. I think we need a swallow that can carry him away."

"Ya I think your right Ridley. What we need is a Russian swallow."

The sun continued to rise from its nest behind the wide mountain range surrounding the city. As it began to shine above the peaks its light shined on the guardian's tower, and one hunter that realized she was in a considerable amount of pain. Jewel groaned as the sun in her eyes caused her to stir from her slumber. Upon her awakening pain shot into her head faster than a bolt from a Vex Line rifle. Jewel's hand grasped her head as she sat up on her bed. She tried to recall the events from the night before but the pain in her head made it difficult.

"What happened last night?" Jewel asked to no one in particular.

"You drank too much." Opal said as she floated over to Jewels bed and phased a glass of water and an ice pack into her lap. "Aaron brought you home and said to make sure you got these."

Jewel reached down and took a long drink of water the cool liquid helping to rehydrate her and sooth the slight burn that still sat in her throat. She then grabbed the ice pack as sat it on her head as the cold feeling helped to dull the pain a little bit. Jewel laid back down on her bed when someone knocked on her door causing her head to hurt even more. Opal opened the door and Aaron stepped in with his package under his arm.

"Good morning sunshine. You look chipper today." Aaron said sarcastically as Aaron removed his helmet. Jewel shot him a mean look.

"What do need Aaron, can't you see I have a hangover?"

"I am well aware of your condition which is why I'm here." Aaron said as he walked into Jewel's small kitchen and started unwrapping his package inside was a small box with various herbs and other substances inside.

"What are you talking about?" Jewel asked as she pushed her head deeper into her pillow in a fruitless attempt to dull her pain.

"Well skipping over a long and boring story I picked up a special little concoction that helps to get rid of hangovers. I'll be honest I have no idea how the hell it works, but I have seen it work." Aaron said as he poured a light blue liquid into a glass of water. He then crushed a few other herbs into the mix and finished it with little bit of a dark brown liquid before he stirred it all together.

"What is that?" Jewel asked. "It looks like something a Thrall would drink."

"Do you want to get rid of your hangover or not?"

"Yes please give it to me." Jewel took the glass and looked at it for a bit. After a sigh she took a sip and started coughing.

"Ewww, it tastes like a black wax idol mixed with Vex slime."

"Ya I know. Don't worry that's totally natural reaction." Jewel nodded and took another sip. "Look Jewel I was wondering, do you think…" Rex appeared next to Aaron and quickly cut him off.

"Sorry to interrupt lovebirds but Lance called. He needs the fireteam to help him on a job for Ikora. Something about an Archon Priest that the Fallen broke out of the Prison of Elders."

"Alright, tell him I'll meet him in the hanger." Rex nodded and then disappeared. Aaron stood and put his helmet back on.

"Sorry we had to cut this short. We'll finish our talk later. See ya around." Aaron left leaving Jewel and Opal by themselves.

"Well that was nice of him." Opal said. "I guess he really cares about you doesn't he." Jewel said nothing. Instead she just nodded.

"Are you alright Jewel? What's on your mind?" Jewel remained silent and looked away from Opal.

"It about Christian isn't it."

"I can't explain it Opal but Aaron reminds of him. It's like he's bringing back memories of what happened."

"Jewel that was almost three years ago. You can't blame yourself for what happened. He made his own choice and it's time that you move on."

"How can I move on when all I know is what the Cabal did to him." Jewel clenched her fist around the glass in her hand hard enough to crack the glass. Opal sighed and moved in front of Jewel.

"Jennifer look, I have some intel that you may want to hear. After what happened to Christian some guardians went down there to look into the Cabal that attacked you two. They didn't find much but they did identify two Cabal leaders that oversaw their operations there. Valus Mau'ual and Valus Tlu'urn."

"Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because they have resurfaced. And they were last seen on the Dreadnaught. They were a part of the crew that was aboard the ship that crashed into the Dreadnaught."

"So you're saying we can take them down." Jewel said as she downed the rest of Aaron drink and started getting her gear together."

"If that's what you want. I'll get in contact with Cayde and well get a team together for…"

"No, this is my fight and If they're going to die. I'm going to be the one to kill them." With that Jewel stormed out of her apartment with Opal close behind.

"Oh dear this can't end well.