Chapter 11

I stared at the Warlock, not sure how to respond to her sudden appearance or greeting. The luminescence of her skin shone faintly in the dim light, but was nothing compared to her eyes. The two golden orbs shone brightly, staring down at me. For the third time recently, different emotions warred for supremacy, and it was too much. Celeste seemed to have no similar conflict.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in a challenging tone.

"Celeste. So nice to see you too," Zillah replied.

The Warlock stepped forward and held out her hand in an offer of assistance. I took it, leveraging myself up off the ground. In normal humans, our size difference would have made that difficult for her, but it wasn't only Titans who had received an enhancement of strength from the Traveler's blessings.

"Who's that?" Kana whispered not quite as quietly as she seemed to think.

Tanton shrugged in response.

"The reason you're here," Celeste answered.

"Huh. I can't remember my mom, but I'm pretty sure she didn't look like that," the Exo replied.

"No, I mean the team. Awoken woman that put the idea of forming a team in Claney's head."

"Ohh," Kana replied. "Her."

"Yeah. Her."

"Hello, Zillah," I said finally. "Yes, it has been a while."

Celeste stepped in closer to Zillah and spoke again, "You didn't answer the question. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize I needed your permission to seek out the Traveler."

"Not exactly what I meant, and you know it."

"Celeste," I hissed, causing the Hunter to turn away. I turned my focus back to the Warlock. "It is a question that bears asking. Last we knew, you left with Efrideet."

Zillah nodded. "I did, and I stayed there until the Light was ripped from me. I can tell you more about it once we're in a safer place."

"Safe sounds like a good idea," Kana said. "We've probably stood around here too long as it is."

"Agreed," Tanton spoke up. "We still have to hike to clear the transmat interference."

"I believe I can help with that. It's something in the Fallen tech, here. They were working to make it harder for anyone else to try to claim their prize," Zillah said with a gesture toward the Shard.

"Elgan?"

"On it," the Ghost said.

He flitted away from me, opening up to scan the nearby equipment. I saw other Ghosts emerge and do the same, searching through every pile of junk and cobbled-together equipment the Fallen had lying around. After a few seconds, I heard an electronic trill of triumph.

"That should do it," Elgan announced.

"Get us out of here, then."

"Gladly," he replied just before I felt the transmat grab me.

Once aboard ship, Elgan plotted a course back to the Farm. I waited for confirmation from everyone else in the group before setting off. Thankfully, it was a short flight back. Almost before I knew it, I found myself back on the ground, standing on a low rise facing what could pass for the central courtyard of the refugee camp. The shadows of the buildings stretched long over the grounds as the sun began to set. The others were all taking shape near me. Zillah took a step forward, her head turning to take in the sights.

"Welcome to the Farm," I said.

"Gotta love the rustic charm," Kana added.

"Between the Reef and the Belt, I'm used to being around people scraping by to survive," Zillah said.

The five of us began to walk forward, with no clear destination in mind. Several civilians walked past us, arguing over something on an invoice. Further up ahead, I could see several people playing soccer on the field we had dropped in the first time. That people could relax enough to do something like that in the face of all that had happened seemed to speak highly of their resiliency.

"Claney, can we talk alone for a bit?" Zillah asked.

"Sure," I replied, then turned to the others. "See if Hawthorne is back yet. If not, find someone else who seems to know what is going on and find out where we can help. The Traveler may not need us, but these people do."

Tanton nodded, and he and Kana headed toward the large barn where we had seen Hawthorne before. Celeste lingered.

"Go on, Kiddo," I said. "We'll be along shortly."

She hesitated, then turned to follow the other two. I watched her go, noticing as she kept glancing back toward us before disappearing into the open door.

"She still doesn't like me much," Zillah said, watching Celeste walk away. "I thought things had thawed a bit after the SIVA business."

"Well, that was before you left."

We walked until we reached the worn pathway and turned left. Following the curve of the short hill, we walked toward the dock. Refugees were huddled in clumps over here as well, digging through supplies, helping set up equipment, or discussing plans.

"Why should my leaving bother her?"

"That's complicated."

We passed a large fire pit reminiscent of the ones built at the Iron Temple. Someone was crouched low next to it, trying to light it before night fell. After several tries, the fire caught.

"Oh." Zillah said, realization blossoming on her face. "It bothered her because it bothered you."

"So not that complicated," I replied, which brought a little laugh from the Warlock.

"I do feel like I owe you an apology for my abrupt departure," the Awoken woman said, "but at the same time, going there was absolutely the best choice for me."

We reached the dock, and I looked out over the lake. Sunlight glinted off the small waves. Across the way, I could see other small clusters of buildings as well. It seemed that people had been trying to make a home here well before the Red Legion scattered everyone from the Tower and City. It seemed quite the risk, purposefully staying away from the protection of the Guardians.

"You don't have to explain yourself to me," I told her.

"But I want to," she said. "When we met, I was a little broken. Maybe more than a little. I... well, you know about my attempts to fit in with the Reef-born, my attempts to find the Queen. I told you about my struggles with the Light. I was lost and desperate for a place to fit in. I thought maybe it would be with Efrideet and her group."

"You could have ha-" I started, but she stopped me.

"Please. Let me finish. I thought maybe I could find a place where I belonged. Instead, I found something better. Equilibrium. Balance between the two warring ideas inside of me. Getting so far away from everything helped me see it all more clearly. I was finally finding some peace. Then this Red Legion tore that away from me."

While she spoke, Zillah had walked down the wooden dock. She reached the end and sat, letting her feet dangle just above the surface of the water. I followed after her, taking a seat beside her. My added height meant that the water was just able to splash against my feet. My armor would keep any moisture out, and the water wouldn't affect it at all.

"Did they attack the outpost?" I asked.

"No. Everyone there had sworn themselves to non-violence. Nothing they had or did attracted the Cabal's attention as they pushed into the system. We tried to send messages in toward the planets to warn the Vanguard, but it seems the Legion was too efficient in disrupting the communication satellites. Once we lost our Light, everyone realized something had gone horribly wrong, and many of us set out to investigate.

"The first place I headed for was the Tower. When I saw it in ruins, with the Cabal overrunning the Last City, I realized that I didn't belong with Efrideet and her people. Living a life of non-violence sounds nice, but we are not in a universe that will allow that luxury right now."

I nodded and asked, "Does that mean you are still searching for a place where you fit?"

"No," she said with a strange little smile. "I don't need to find a place where I think I fit anymore, because I am content within myself. That need for someone else to accept me is gone."

"I see."

"Which brings me to you," she said. "You looked more than a little lost and broken when I found you near that fragment of the Traveler."

I hesitated before replying, flexing the fingers of my right hand. When I replied, I was staring at the water, not looking at her. "Not my finest moment, I'll admit. I've had my doubts about myself and my ability to lead my team. Being ignored by the Traveler just seemed to drive some of those home."

"You went and formed a fireteam after all?" There was a note of surprise in her voice.

"Yeah. You saw us there at the Shard," I said, bringing my hand up to point back toward the barn over my shoulder with my thumb.

"Oh. I thought maybe the four you had just banded together for survival."

"No," I said, shaking my head. "We're a team. What's left of it, at any rate. One member, a Titan named Baruch, died right when we lost our Light and Scott-20 was back at the Tower when the Red Legion attacked. I have no idea if he made it out or not."

"I'm sorry for the loss of your teammate," she said, "but I wouldn't give up on Scott just yet. A number of Guardians managed to get out. It's possible he did as well."

"Yes, I know. I guess we'll see," I replied.

An uncomfortable silence settled in. I felt like I had things that I wanted to say, but couldn't find the words. Instead, I turned my head to look further along the surface of the water. At one point, a fish broke the surface, the ripples of its landing spreading over the waves.

"I am glad you weren't at the Tower when the Cabal attacked. When I saw what happened there, I was worried..." She trailed off, not completing the thought.

Turning my head partially back toward her, I noticed that she was looking away from me, staring along the surface of the water in the opposite direction. I could tell that was not an easy admission for her to make.

"I was worried about you out at the colony as well," I said.

She turned her face toward me, and our eyes met. I looked away quickly, clearing my throat.

"So, how was it that you happened to be at the piece of the Traveler at the same time as us?" I asked, shifting in my seat a bit.

"I had been watching it for a little while," she answered. "I'd heard about it, and made my way there. Nothing happened for me, either. I wanted to observe and see if others made their way to the Shard, but couldn't stay too close because of the Fallen, so I had position myself a ways back and had my Ghost monitoring the site. I saw a couple other Guardians try it before you, with no success either. It seems the re-gifting of the Light was a one-time event."

"Well, at least it wasn't just me. Guess that means I shouldn't take it personally." I glanced back away from the lake, looking in the direction of the barn. "I should probably go check on the others, see if they found anything to do."

"I'll go with you," she said.

We both stood and made our way to the central area of the Farm. I didn't see any of the others outside, so I stepped into the barn. Inside, a couple ships were propped up, sparks from a welding torch flashing toward the back. I saw Kana carrying something in that direction, disappear for a second, then come back out with empty hands. I noticed the others standing in a back corner and approached, reaching them about the same time that Kana did. I noticed Celeste staring at us hard, her arms crossed over her chest.

"So," I began, "it occurs to me that we didn't have a chance for proper introductions before. Kana-4, Tanton Holter, this is Zillah Arvid. Celeste and I have worked with her in the past. Zillah, this is fireteam Painted Truth."

"A pleasure," Zillah said, giving the slightest of bows.

Tanton nodded, while Kana offered a cheery, "Hi!"

Celeste left without a work, stalking out of the barn.

"She'll come around," I said. "It doesn't help that she was already mad at me."

"You tried to go to the Shard alone, didn't you?"

I just turned away, following Celeste out of the barn, which brought a laugh from the Warlock who followed me in turn.

"I'm starting to get the impression he does that sort of thing a lot. Does he do that sort of thing a lot?" Kana asked, walking along side Zillah.

"Let me tell you about the time that he transmatted me out of the middle of a fight against my will," the Warlock replied.

"Really?"

I let their conversation fall into background noise, focusing instead on Celeste. She was well a head of us, moving quickly. I broke into a jog to catch up to her.

"Talk to me, Kiddo."

"Nothing to talk about," she said, not looking at me.

"Celeste."

"What?" She snapped, whirling to face me, her voice a harsh whisper. "What do you want me to say? Am I supposed to just act like we are the best of pals and I'm ecstatic to see her again? Because I'm not."

"I understand that."

"Do you? She and I never got along, but I tolerated her before because we were working together and because of you. Try to hide or deny it all you want, but I know there was something happening between the two of you and it hurt you when she left. Now she shows up out of the blue and... What?"

"I don't know," I shrugged. "What I do know is that we're all in a rough place right now, and we need each other to survive. I'm not going to turn anyone away who is in the same position."

"I don't like her."

"I know."

"Okay then."

A commotion from the direction of the soccer field drew my attention. A man was running up the dirt path, waving his arms over his head and yelling. Those playing had stopped, turning to face the newcomer. On the bridge over the creek, the guards were standing, gripping their weapons. As the person drew nearer, we could make out what he was shouting.

"Help us! Someone, please, help us!"

I took off running in his direction, and felt my team fall in behind me. A crowd was beginning to move that way as well, mostly Guardians. Sprinting, I hopped over the creek, not bothering to try to make my way to the bridge, which was getting congested. As I drew near, I got a better look at him. His clothes were torn in a few places, cuts and scrapes on his limbs and face.

"There was a large group of us making our way from the City," he said, gasping for breath. "We picked up the transmissions about the Farm and started to make our way here. We slipped past the Cabal, but ran into a Fallen patrol. I ran to get help, I don't know how many are left. Please!"

Refugees in trouble. Once, many years before, I had spent much of my time helping others get to the City, saving refugees from the Fallen. Light or no Light, once Pilgrim Guard, always Pilgrim Guard. "Painted Truth! On me! We have some refugees to save."

…

AN

Thanks to African Ruffle for the story and author follow and story favorite!

Two updates within a week. Hopefully that makes up a little bit for the 2 ½ month gap before the last one. Yes?

I had debated about a few different times and places to bring Zillah back. One iteration didn't have her showing back up until close to the end of the story, but decided I liked this point the best.

Feel free to follow, favorite, and leave comments. Miss my old review crew and all the feedback I got for each chapter during the previous story. I'd really love to know how y'all feel and any areas I could improve.

Marcellasnow231 – Yes, Astrid is quite the handful.

Braveseeker3 – A hug for Claney might be possible at some point...