Zavala stared at the items before him. "Journals?" He questioned Ikora's judgement on the matter. "Ikora..."
"I believe that we only have half of the story. Half the information about our successors." Ikora interrupted. "We know of their deeds outside the walls but we haven't asked ourselves about who they are inside the walls."
The veteran Titan did see reason in his old friend's statement. Most of the information they had on their successors was about everthing they've done to defend the City and/or allow it to benefit. "Very well." He agreed, reaching for one of the journals. "Do I want to know how you managed to get ahold of these?" Ikora smiled, "Hidden?" He questioned. No answer was needed, he knew it was one of her agents.
Zavala opened the Hunter's journal and took a deep breath. He began to read and allow the words to paint everything in his imagination.
Here I sit...The night before I head off to Venus, to the black zone I know all too well. I really, really despise the Vex...Anyways, I'm getting sidetracked and not thinking straight. It's normal for me.
My name is Pantera Shadows and I'm a Hunter. This...Is the start of my memories since I was first rezzed.
It was all so...Confusing, at least at first it was. One moment there was absolute black the next there was life...I woke in a dark place. A very dark place. The only sound was the steady dripping of water as it fell upon the ground. A light fluttered in my face for a second then held steady. Instinctively I held my hand up, hoping to block it...It didn't work. Heh. It really didn't.
My Ghost, before I named him Spectre, chuckled at me. Saying "It's best you get used to the brightness before getting outside. It's still daylight." His robotic voice slightly echoing.
Within a few moments, I stood and staggered, following the floating thing. It was a long, climb and walk to the exit of what I now know was an old subway station in somewhere called New York City. To this day I really don't understand what exactly the place was...
My Ghost floated around ahead of me, searching for something. "Where is it?" He questioned. Flying and darting around in a frantic nature.
"Where's what?" I asked, confused about what the thing was talking about.
"A gun I found." He sighed in annoyance. "It wasn't anything special but you're going to need one."
It took me a good second to understand why...Then again it was the first time a four-armed bipedal creature ran towards me. Within a few seconds, it was very close. Uncomfortably close...And then I died...
I woke and instantly panted, placing my hand on where the thing stabbed my chest. The thing was long gone by the time my Ghost Rezzed me for the second time.
"That's why you need a gun..." He said in regret.
I remember shouting, "That would have been nice to know before I was killed!" Damn floating thing got me killed within about an hour of being brought back to life.
My shout didn't go unnoticed...Loud demonic like barking and screaming came from a nearby building. "Fallen!" My Ghost screamed before...I couldn't describe it then but it released some weapon into my hand. "It's the gun I was talking about. Hope you know how to use it...Don't worry..."
It was a little hard not to worry. I leveled the shotgun and fired at the closest one to me. But more came. After pumping the lever and chambering another shell I squeezed the trigger again, another one of the four armed creatures fell. It's head popping and hissing and the corpse fell and began to twitch spasmodically.
After firing three more times, the gun was empty. The creatures that charged towards me were dead or dying. It was...An amazing feeling at first. I fell to my knees and looked at my hands, they shook so very much...And it was addicting. But the feeling didn't last much longer. I died again...
This time, I woke. No longer naked but clad in a sort of clothing. It was pure white and easily noticeable. My Ghost had crafted it out of nearby materials, at least that's what he had claimed. It too wasn't much but it was far better than the chilling air. I could feel something on my belt, I looked at it then back to my Ghost. "It's a knife. Well balanced and easy to throw." He spoke as if I didn't know...Of course, I knew what a knife was.
What seemed like weeks was only just days as I made my way south. The time passed as my Ghost told me stories of all he had seen, of all the creatures he had knowledge of. And of something called the Traveler. He spoke of this Traveler as though it was some sort of deity... And to my Ghost it was. I really wasn't so sure.
It's funny. I never really spoke but he continued on and on about the Guardians he met, spoke to, even the potential others he encountered...Yet he rezzed me. No idea why but I guess the Traveler had its reasons for picking me. Even if I can't remember who I was before. Bah...Getting sidetracked again.
Honestly, I didn't keep track of the days we had traveled together. Just know the general direction, south. He had passed by a small sanctuary before rezzing me and said it was a good place to at least stop and get some food. Maybe even some rest. I guess just the thought of seeing another person alive was the reason I continued on that path.
As the sun set beyond the horizon, the clouds rolled in. With them came angry rumbles and cracks of lightning. I didn't bother with a fire that night. Just sat under a tree as the storm raged on.
The morning came and so did the creatures... There really wasn't even time to wake up properly. Two small beasts rushed, cursing and barking in an alien language. I paid their curses no mind as I clubbed one with the butt of the shotgun, letting it fall away from my hands. Without thought, I snagged up the alien's small pistol and began firing at the others that sought my death.
As the smaller creatures parished with each shot, I could feel a fire roaring within. A fire of purpose, of the will to survive. It burned brighter than ever as a tall four armed creature approached. Taller than its smaller subordinates I had killed with one of their own weapons.
The small weapon was tossed aside and I stared at the creature. It was at least a foot or so taller than myself. Its weapon, menacing. What appeared to be a sort of shotgun but it's barrel burned with fire. I didn't want to know if it could kill me.
The beast was about to scream something...But I felt the fire within - exploding outward, setting my body ablaze. A massive yet weightless revolver appeared in my right hand. It was like my new found instincts reacted before I could process the situation entirely. The monster's beady eyes widened in terror as I leveled the weapon and fired three times...Then the fire faded away. All that was left of the beast was its menacing weapon.
I remember picking the weapon up and checking to see how much of the alien ammunition it held. For some reason, I knew what to check for, what to touch to release the magazine, what to do with it. I couldn't explain it entirely at the time and to this day, I still can't. To my surprise, the weapon was filled to the brim. Not a single shot had been fired.
"You going to hold onto it?" My Ghost asked as I continued south. I only nodded, not thinking anything of it. "Alright. I'll scan nearby resources to see if I can replicate some ammo for it and a couple spare magazines."
I just shrugged as we continued. Then it occurred to me..."You couldn't do that with my shotgun?" I inquired.
"I could but it was an extremely old shotgun. I'm surprised it worked when it did." He said guiltily. "It was a coin toss on if it'd work or not and it's seriously old..."
I sighed. "If you can somehow grab it up, please do so. I'd rather not just rely on this alien weapon and whatever the hell I just did."
My Ghost silently agreed. He went back to the weapon then returned. We were both silent as we continued south.
/l-
It was nearly sunset as I entered into a small sanctuary. There were several dozen people on my left, all staring at me blankly. The whispers were vague but it was obvious that some were staring at the menacing alien weapon in my hands. I distinctively remember keeping the business end of the weapon pointed towards the ground, out of respect and a show that I knew what I was doing...Even if I really didn't.
My GHost floated towards a building that was right in the middle of the settlement then returned even faster then he had left. I raised an eyebrow at that but he spoke before I could. "They've agreed to feed and house you for a couple days."
"Who did?" I questioned.
"The person who owns that building and manages this sanctuary." He replied. "You haven't eaten since you were first brought back and I'm sorry but I don't count eating random bits of grass as food." He had a point. Every time I felt my stomach gurgle in hunger, I'd snag up whatever bits of grass I could and chew on it for what felt like an eternity before swallowing it. Water was simple since snow covered the ground and that's all snow was. Frozen water.
I didn't get any words out before a woman exited the building and approached me. "Welcome, Guardian." The woman greeted happily. She shook my hand, smiling while she did so. I smiled, as a sign of thanks.
The following hours were spent with me sitting at a bar, eating food I'd never heard of...If it was weird to eat something called a Dreg Sandwich, then I was weird. Because to me, it was delicious. While I ate the women introduced herself as Tabetha. Though she never gave me her last name.
I was left alone for the most part. Some of the children would come up to me and just stare in amazement. Couldn't help but chuckle at the children being so adorable.
"Ya know," Tabetha said before downing some water and setting her cup on the bar. "I've never caught your name. What is it?"
That question made my appetite fade in a hurry. Even I didn't know what my name was, and my Ghost never asked or told me..."I don't have one." I replied, trying to not look embarrassed.
I guess she understood. "Well. While you're here I'll stick with calling you JD."
"JD?" I asked. Confused about the initials.
"John Doe." She replied laughing. "It's what pre-golden age people called the men who weren't able to be identified or had a name."
I looked at my Ghost and back to her. Still wildly confused about what she was talking about. "He didn't tell me about something called a 'Golden age'." I pointed to my Ghost. "Just went on about other Guardians, places he's been and something called a Traveler." I paused as she looked at me in bewilderment. "He did call those four arm things Fallen once though."
"Really think your Ghost needs to meet mine..." She sighed, then looked at us, like she regretted what she had just said. "Oh...Shanks."
"You're a Guardian too?" I asked as quietly as possible.
She made sure that no one was around and leaned in close. "Yes. I am. It's how this settlement stays so safe. Haven't lost anyone in 2 summers." Whispering as the door to her bar-like establishment opened. One of the village residents made his way in. "I'll be with you in a minute." She called out to the other patron as he sat down on the other side of the bar. "We'll finish this a bit later." She said to me as she walked over to the other guy.
I didn't count the seconds or the minutes. Just remained silent and took a swill of the homemade hooch she poured into my cup. It was going to be a long conversation between me and her and for the first time since my rebirth, it felt like I was going to need the alcohol in my system. "It won't phase you." My Ghost chirped as he materialized to my left. "It'll burn away because of your Light."
"What is my Light?" I asked.
"A radiant fire, a calm brewing storm, and the absolute nothingness eating away at your heart..." The words hung there for a long second before he continued. "I can already tell it'll be very special in the Traveler's eyes."
'The absolute nothingness eating away at your heart'...That part troubled me back then and for the longest time, I didn't know what it meant. Looking back and remembering the exact words, I can safely say that it was true. My heart was nothing, just surviving another day wasn't enough. I longed for a purpose that didn't include struggling to fight off Fallen with one of their own demonic looking weapons and a barely functional shotgun.
As the other man left, I was snapped out of my daze thanks to the wooden door shutting behind him. Tabetha approached from the other side of the bar, tapping my shoulder as she passed. "Follow me." She commanded.
It took me a moment but I stood, surveyed the empty bar and followed.
...-...
Unfortunately, I have to stop at that for today. Tomorrow is going to be long and annoying. The somewhat bright side to this is that I'll get to talk to the shipwright when I get back to the Tower. Admiring her from afar is a bit creepy to me, even if I'm the one doing it.
Like I said, different. Hope you enjoyed. Ice out.