"Your training is progressing nicely, Guardian. The call of the Striker is a difficult one, putting us on the front lines of a skirmish. Your heavy fist will turn the tide in many battles to come." —Zavala


A ping of red on his six, swivel, fire. Red at three, fire, reload. Directly in front, punch, scan. Two targets, prioritize the closet while limiting the others field of fire, finish the second and hope your shields hold. Reload, scan, target acquired, fire.

"It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Guardian." The Speaker said.

Three targets, all different directions, clear a path through one and take cover.

Sheepishly he responded, "My apologies for not coming sooner. I had no clue how many messages were waiting. My mentor was angry and practically drug me out to train immediately."

Reload, assess remaining targets, engage.

A soft chuckle sounded from behind the strange mask of the white robbed figure. "Do not fret. I only wished to welcome you to the City. I hope that those you saved, as well as yourself, find peace here."

Fire, fire, fire.

"My people from…before…had thought that under the Traveler they would find a promised land. It seems like their faith wasn't misplaced." He said with a sad smile.

Empty, reload, out of ammo.

"It hasn't always been that way." The Speaker said while turning to looking out of his chamber to the City below and the Traveler above. "There were times when we didn't have walls. Times where we fought each other. Even now the people are still scared. Of the Fallen, the Hive on Luna. They aren't the worst of what is out there. The Darkness is coming back, Titan."

Deploy synth with Ghost.

There were so many questions he wanted to ask and the Speaker turned as if sensing this. "Like the newborns before you, I assume you have no end to your questions. Even more so given the unique nature of your memory. Sadly, I cannot provide all the answers, for even I too have my own questions."

Magazines filled, reload.

"I've been reading as much as I can, trying to understand. There's a lot we don't even know. What exactly is the Darkness? Where is the Traveler from? I'll spare you the ones I know have no answer just yet. What can I do to help?" He asked.

Red on all sides, engage.

It felt as if the Speaker was smiling through the mask. "What you have already done. Your arrival was uplifting for the burdened Guardians, inspiring to the people. A freshly risen Guardian, full of promise. Your Ghost has chosen wisely. Learn well from the others, Guardian, and let loose your Light onto this darkened world."

Not enough time.

Nodding, he began to ask others questions on his mind for as long as the Speaker had time for.

Ralis lost himself in the range, this particular room was isolated from the regular firing lines and set up for scenarios. Targets appeared randomly in all directions and angles, triggering his motion tracker as an alert and starting a timer. If he failed to shoot the target enough times before it ran out, the exercise ended in failure. Because the targets didn't have a fixed pattern, Ralis had attempted and failed numerous of times throughout the week. Now he was determined and practiced. Handling the weapon in his hands no longer felt sluggish or foreign, only an afterthought. The muzzled flashed brightly as he sprayed one of the many plain metal targets till it flipped back down into the ground. A click signaled the empty magazine. Ejecting the clip and loading a new one was smooth, a motion practiced countless times in the past month that no longer needed his gaze to be accomplished. Sometimes the motions felt like a brutal dance that was oddly therapeutic. Ralis often found himself reflecting on the events since he had started his arms training. The meeting with the Speaker and his inspiring words, the many defeats at the hands of his still nameless mentor in sparring, the Rhiner's weekly dinner tradition that had just started.

With the new clip inserted, the Titan rose and rushed down the last few targets, firing frantically to put them down. The clip emptied before the last one fell, so Ralis kept running and knocked it down with his fist. An alarm immediately sounded. Finally.

"Nice work." Bishop said in the helmet.

Ralis took a few deep breaths, "Thanks."

The scenario room was set up with scavenged parts from the surrounding area, resembling a rusted industrial complex one might find in Old Russia. Near the entrance was a box shaped control room with a blackened window. Out of that room walked an Exo, Steel-22, clad in full black armor. The machine was a walking armory of a Titan, wearing a chest plate called The Armamentarium that had ammo secured to all sides of it. In the front of it were two cylinder like devices that Ralis had learned could channel a guardians Light. Instead of hurling an unstable charge that detonated, the devices could hold and manipulate the Light for more…creative effects. Steel was very proud of the apparently rare piece of armor and his modified quick-use synthesizer uplink.

The rest of his armor scanned as a Spearhead Type 0 model, jagged and not quite as bulky as the typical Titan armor he had seen. It had various pouches containing more magazines and ammo attached at the shoulders and legs. The round helmet had a visor shaped like two interconnecting upside-down triangles, and two swept back wing like protrusions over the ears. Steel-22 was an arms expert, and apparently a friend to his mentor. She had said if there had been anyone she knew of that could help him shoot, it was him. The training had been just as rigorous as the sparring. At one point, Steel was shooting at him while Ralis was supposed to hit another target. The flat and deep voice of the other Titan still echoed in his mind.

"Get used to firing while being shot at or you won't hit anything."

The Exo had made him fire numerous weapons, all which he had failed miserably to perform with. Especially the hand cannons. The recoil was intense, even in full armor. Ralis had tried to adjust with a tighter grip and accidently crushed everything from the trigger on backwards in his hands. Steel hadn't appreciated that at all.

"Be careful with your strength. Field-repairing a snapped trigger is inconvenient."

Steel concluded from the testing that precision wasn't his strong suite and recommended somethings that put out a lot of bullets to make up for it. With the Exo's help, Ralis purchased a fitting weapon for himself. An automatic rifle called, Galahad-E. It had a bulky plated smartmatter frame that was surprisingly smooth and colored blue with an orange under tint. A heavy long barrel extended at the end along with other devices on the sides of the frame. The Exo specified the modifications for the foundry Gunsmith to apply, adding a weighted counterbalance and a Red Dot-ORES sight. Costed a fair amount of Glimmer, but Steel assured him it was worth it. The training there after continued with just that weapon.

"Better a master of one than none."

The Exo said he'd be observing him to see what other armament would complement how he fought. The training had become grueling, constant exercises done over and over till deemed acceptable. In the end, as Ralis stood there catching his breath, he appreciated the drilling. He had finally completed the final scenario in a passing time.

Steel approached, slowly clapping. "Well it's about time. You know this spot is usually for Cruicible training, not newborns. Only get to use it because, well, her." His mentor had avoided naming herself. Why he didn't know, but Steel had been told to avoid using it as well. Was it to frustrate him? It certainly was working. "She decided to step out after a while. Thought you wouldn't make it again I guess."

Ralis rose, stretching. "Figures." It was rare for just the two of them to be alone. He took this moment to pry. "How exactly did you two meet? I can't exactly see her making…friends."

"She had a room in the tower next to me a long time ago. Blew the wall between us apart with her Light." The Exo answered flatly.

He tried not to laugh. "And you became friends from that?"

"Why not? It was impressive, even for an accident."

Blunt as ever. "Is that why your armor is so scorched?" Ralis asked, gesturing to the burns in his plate.

"Oh. Only this one, yeah. This burn's from a slug rifle. That one's a shock blade. This one...ah, yes." Steel chuckled. "Wei Ning gave me a hug."

"You knew Wei Ning?" Ralis exclaimed in surprise.

The Exo nodded.

"Why don't you fix the armor?" Ralis asked.

Steel looked back down to examine it. "I only keep the nicks that mean something. Helps me remember the lesson I learned from them. Plate is still structurally sound." He looked back up Ralis. "Strange that you know about Ning. She's been long gone."

"I've been doing a lot of reading. I like how she put things."

Steel's Ghost, Trigger, transmatted into view from the Exo's extended hand. "Then I think this weapon will be to your liking. Would you do the honors, Trig?"

The Ghost formed a cone of light from its eye towards Ralis and soon a weapon materialized into his hands. A shotgun. Bishop ran a scan through his visor over the weapon, pulling up details. Its model was called Double Nickel, and held a description: A blunt reminder that this particular room belongs to you. Ralis smiled.

"You like to use your fists, I can see that. Sometimes you don't have the time to get close enough. Enter this. Think of it as an extension of your reach. If the first blast doesn't put 'em down, you know what to follow up with."

It felt right. "Thank you."

Steel grunted. "Thank her. She gave me the Glim, I just found something fitting. You can thank me by learning how to use it. Tomorrow, same time."

"Bishop?" Ralis asked, holding the weapon up slightly. His Ghost took the hint and soon his Nickel transmatted away. "Same time then. Do you know where…she went?" He found it ridiculous that he still didn't know his mentors name. Never even shared a channel to reach her at, or even a ID. It's like she wanted to separate herself from him. Maybe everyone.

Steel shrugged as his Ghost disappeared. "You know her. If she wants you, she finds you. Not the other way around." With that said, the Exo took his leave.

Ralis turned back to look at the scenario range before leaving. He had spent so much time learning here as of late the sight brought on a feeling of annoyance. You can only shoot the same targets for so long. He left the range with a strong desire to relax.

"Bishop, I need you to find me a route."

His Ghost beeped in surprise. "Oh? Not going back to the Tower to read?"

He shook his head. "Not tonight. It's been a rough day, I need to unwind. Find the Blustery Brew for me." Ralis had heard it mentioned from his fellow Titans that they favored that City tavern. Once he had gotten around to viewing more of his messages waiting for him, Ralis had decided upon an order to join. The Pilgrim Guard. It seemed fitting after all he had done. Their Titan order was the oldest of history, safeguarding those who ventured to find shelter under the Traveler before the City age. Many had sought out the Orb for different reasons during that time. Most settlements that were large and prosperous were targeted by the Fallen on their first arrival. Not many of them were able to stand against the scavengers, which caused a large exodus of those that survived to flee towards the Traveler later in the Dark Age.

Some more isolated communities had stayed unharmed for centuries, like the Rhiners. When the Fallen finally did come to pillage, the Rhiners had ran and hid in the metro systems of Old Europe. For decades they and their children lived under the scavengers noses. It was quite remarkable to imagine normal humans lasting so long out there on their own. Maybe there were others like them trapped out in the wilds, or hidden settlements that would willingly come to the City if given the chance. Ralis glanced down on the mark that had been given to him upon joining the Pilgrim Guard. Long strands of cloth hung around the side of his right leg like a tapestry, one bore the Orders emblem of two vertical rows of intersecting diamonds which formed more diamonds inside of them. Six Fronts imagery. He would do all within his power to fulfill the oath he took.

"To those behind the Wall, love and service. To those outside it, fury and fire."

The cloth blended in to match the shader that Bishop had uploaded from someone named Eva. His Ghost joking said he had sensed a theme with Ralis and picked it out solely on the shaders name. Knight-Errant. It colored his armor a glossy brown finish with grey undertones. He accepted the gift happily. Maybe Ralis wasn't actually a Knight, but he could try to live like how he imagined one would when his mentor's grueling training was over. Why was she so determined to make him Legend? What did that even mean? It felt like she was pushing him faster than most others would. At the same time, they hadn't left the City. Others would have at least gone on patrols by now. Ralis decided not to dwell on it.

For now, a drink at the tavern Bishop had just mapped a route to would do just fine. Maybe some of the Pilgrim Guard that had suggested it were there. The Titan began to walk from the Military District further into the City where the builds grew taller, closer together and more people crowded the streets. The Blustery Brew was located at the Core, the section of the City directly under the Traveler and surrounded by its own wall. It was divided up into parts relative to their location, Core East, South and the like. The center of the Core housed the Hall of Consensus directly under the Traveler. Higher end luxurious buildings were common in there like opera houses, galleries, restaurants. A recapturing of humanities lost civilization, a place to remember and forget.

Ralis at first had found himself nervous in such a crowded place, the noise and chaos of motion was overwhelming. Over the weeks it had become tolerable. He made his way through the one of the many numbered smaller districts surrounding The Core. The outer districts weren't quite as well off as those in the center, but it was still a better standard than what he had ever experienced outside the walls. People would quickly glance over in his direction, parting out of his way just slightly.

"Bishop, transmat my helmet off. You can guide me yourself to the Brew."

His Ghost did as asked and appeared floating beside his head. Cool air brushed across his face and he breathed deeply. The smell wasn't as nice as the temperature. This many people in close together created an unpleasant aroma of perspiration and waste. Not excrement thankfully, just trash piles and decaying materials.

"Take a left up here." Bishop said.

Ralis moved carefully through the streets to avoid accidently hurting anyone. A few people would acknowledge him with a wave or smile, some patted his shoulders or wished him well.

Good day, Guardian.

Light be with you.

The City was large, and Guardians were usually busy elsewhere or held up in The Tower. Maybe it was rare to see one walking the streets as he was? All he could do was nod and smile back.

"Isn't this beautiful?" Bishop suddenly asked.

"What is?"

His Ghost spun around as he floated forward. "All of this around us. Everything. I hadn't been to the City but a handful of times while I was searching for you. Everything else I saw was nothing but death and decay. Here, there is life." Bishop looked up to the Traveler and then added, "And Light."

Ralis smiled. "Tell me more about that time, I'm curious." With all the time spent training, he hadn't been able to ask Bishop some of his lingering questions.

"You're always curious." The Ghost beeped and turned towards him while still floating forward. "It was a long time ago. I honestly can't recall exactly how long. There weren't always Ghosts. When the Traveler sacrificed itself, it also made my kind. It's as much of a mystery to myself as it is to you. But I knew one thing when I was born: it made me to find you."

"Specifically me?" Ralis asked.

"I don't know, maybe." Bishop's shell spun in thought. "It's possible we revive the first being capable of wielding Light we encounter rather than finding a specific individual."

"Does that mean it's possible for someone still living to channel Light?"

"I…I haven't thought of that. I always thought the trait was so rare we were forced to look among the much more numerous dead. No living person I ever encountered had a spark I could sense." Bishop pinched his shell closer as he considered the possibility.

"I was alive after you were made." Ralis mused. "As far as I knew, other Ghosts revived people long dead before the collapse. But thinking about it now means I must have had some sort affinity for the Light while I was alive for you to be able to revive me. I never felt like it though."

"Maybe that's where we Ghosts come in? We could allow you to channel the Light you couldn't naturally use, unlock your potential?"

Ralis nodded. "That's a possibility. But what makes me different? Why can I remember?"

"Like you said, most Guardians were revived long ago. Perhaps you being fresh in comparison to them made my revival react differently? Or maybe I made an error in the process?"

"Do you think you did?" Ralis asked.

Bishop feigned scanning him and joked, "It would explain a lot about you."

"Hah."

The possibilities ran through his head as they continued through the streets. He noticed an overturned grav-cart on the ground with its contents spilled out nearby. Two men were trying to flip the heavy device over with the help of another man wearing a Forces of the City uniform. They seemed to be struggling. Ralis walked over without a word and bent down to grasp the bottom of the cart. The men startled in surprise and stepped back as the Titan carefully lifted the cart up and lowered it down right side up.

Ralis gave them a smile. "Looked like you could use a hand."

The man in uniform nodded. "I didn't believe you all were really that strong. Fuck, am I glad I was wrong. Thanks, Titan." The other two men nodded in appreciation as well, picking up their scattered goods and speaking in another language. He left feeling more positive than exhausted now.

"That was nice of you, sir." Bishop said.

His Ghost had jokingly started referring to him as sir every now and then as if he was knighted. "Yeah, yeah."

"In all seriousness," the Ghost said as it flew into the side of his face to imitate a nudge. "If you're aspiring to be like the knights you talk about, you're doing a good job." There was a pause before Bishop added, "Sir Ralis," and chuckled.

Ralis sighed. He was bad at taking compliments. The thoughts of their previous discussion began to return. "You may be right."

"I know I am." Bishop boasted.

"No, I meant about before. About my revival." Ralis began to pass under a gateway in the wall that led to The Core. "It has to be a defect. The Awoken are said to be created from the collapse. If we have Awoken Guardians now, what difference would time from death make?"

"Awoken are different too, they have visions."

Ralis thought about it. "In a few bits I've read, some Guardians have gone on record saying they have had dreams from their life before, but it's never clear. They don't remember like I do, but they have rare flashes. Not frequent like the Exo's. And not premonitions like an Awoken. Does that mean their memories are locked?"

"Perhaps." Bishop mused for a moment. "But why? What good would that do?"

He tried to think of an answer. One of the few that surfaced was an unpleasant possibility. "Think of how I was when you brought me back. Scared from just dying, an emotional mess. I only remembered being crippled and couldn't even walk. Maybe it's so you're not a hindrance to yourself. So you can focus." Ralis kept the one negative thought to himself. A method of Control. Looking up at the Traveler, the Titan found it very hard to believe that the Orb was anything nefarious.

"That could be. As I said, I don't know. Thinking of those early years is all kind of a blur. I had one goal, and anything I did was to further it. Years of searching and finding nothing all just feel the same. I wish I had more answers for you, Ralis. I wish I knew more about Guardians. I should have taken more time in the libraries like you I guess." It was funny how Ghosts could sound so human.

"It's fine." Ralis chuckled. "If you had done that, then maybe you wouldn't have found me."

"Take this right."

Bishop continued to lead him further into the core until his destination was reached. The outside of the Blustery Brew was purposely rugged, giving a façade of age for the novelty effect. The entrance was constructed to look like it was made of mason bricks, with woodened paneled supports and window frames. The Brew's entrance was a pair of large wooden saloon doors that bore the emblem of the establishment. A fist holding a tankard. All along the second story hung banners sporting a large green center and blue trim, the Blustery's colors. He had been told the place had a history and it seemed to carry over in taverns appearance. Outside were patrons sitting at tables on the porch, some armored as Titans. There was laughter and food, sounds of merriment resonating from inside.

"You sure this is your kind of place?" Bishop asked.

"Right now is it."

Ralis strode up to the doors and flung them open.


A faint blur of images flashed by, vague outlines, distant lights. It almost felt like a dream, yet he knew it was real. What was happening? Then suddenly, Ralis awoke. He was on his back, looking up at the ceiling with his Ghost staring down at him.

"Good Morning." The Ghost said. "How do you feel?"

All Ralis could muster for a response was a groan.

"I thought you had learnt your lesson from the last time with Theo."

"Apparently not. What exactly happened?" he groggily asked Bishop.

His Ghost chuckled. "What is the last thing you remember?"

Ralis rose up higher from his small bed, rubbing his throbbing forehead as the room spun. "I walked in, spotted some Pilgrims Guard that waved me over, had some drinks. It gets hazy. They said something about Light burning out alcohol but I couldn't figure out how to do it after already having a few."

Bishop did his equivalent of a nod. "I think it was a rare treat for them to see a Guardian get that intoxicated, they were encouraging it. I hailed a shuttle, led you back here."

"And?" Ralis asked. The Ghost had a strange tone in his voice. "That can't be all of it."

"Oh no, it's not." Bishop said dryly. "I just wanted you to be fully awake first. You've got a big day ahead of you."

Ralis was beginning to feel nervous from his Ghosts vagueness. "I swear, I'd hit you if you were standing still."

"I am standing still."

"Oh." Slowly, he tried to steady himself. "Everything is spinning."

At Bishop's insistence, he began to freshen up. The shower felt nice and rejuvenating, but did little for the after effects of last night's drinking. He'd have to learn that trick before next time to avoid this. The Titan let the water run much longer than was necessary, using the warmth to wake up and stop the dizziness. After the shower he was treated to a freshly prepared meal, curtsey of Bishop's trasnmat. The Ghost must have swung by the mess hall to bring it to him.

Once he had finished, Ralis looked up to the staring Ghost. "Okay, how bad is it?"

"Pretty bad. As you might say, she was…pissed off."

'She' could only mean one person. Ralis awkwardly took a sip of coffee before exhaling deeply. "What did I do?"

A voice spoke from behind, causing him to nearly jump out of his seat. "You mean besides be a drunken fool?" His mentor mocked, stepping into the room, robes and armor as always on.

Ralis didn't even bother asking how she knew where his room was on the tower, overshadowed by the feelings of regret and nervousness. He was frozen.

"You had some choice words to say. Words I assume you don't recall." She continued in, closing the door with a wave of her hand. "All because I interrupted your conversation with that Cryptarch apprentice."

"Nele?" Could this somehow get worse? "Bishop, why was I talking to Nele?"

"You can listen to that all later." Bishop answered.

The Warlock clapped an armored hand on his shoulder. "Right now, it's time to train."

Ralis stared up into her helmets visor in silence before speaking. "Something tells me this isn't normal training."

"Oh no, newborn. This is training for where you'll face the most punishing and grueling of challenges."

"Outside of the City?"

"No. The Crucible."


(( Finally got back to finishing up this bit I had been working on. Baby's are not joke, she demands a lot of my time and attention but she's worth it. I'll do my best to get these out more frequently, I apologize for the wait yet again. As always, enjoy! ))