INTERVIEWER: What does leadership mean to you?

VALENTINA: Why do you ask?

INTERVIEWER: Just answer the question please.

VALENTINA: Leadership, to me, is the ability to inspire trust and loyalty from those around you.

INTERVIEWER: Do you feel that Selene has these qualities?

VALENTINA: Why do you ask?

INTERVIEWER: I'm just trying to understand how you would let someone like Selene lead you here.

VALENTINA: 'Someone like Selene?' What do you mean by that? Do you have something against Selene?

INTERVIEWER: We've already had this conversation with Saoirse and we wanted to get your input.

VALENTINA: I don't know what you're getting at, but I don't think I like it.

INTERVIEWER: Look. I'm sure Selene is an upstanding person once you get to know her, but looking back through everything we've been told, Selene is still a very mysterious figure. No one seems to know much about her.

VALENTINA: Selene keeps her cards close to her chest. And you wonder how someone like that could convince me to leave the City, correct?

INTERVIEWER: If you would be so inclined.

VALENTINA: (sigh) It wasn't easy, but then again, things rarely are with Selene. Mostly, I wanted to avoid being a hypocrite after what I had told Doctor Chudnoffsky about running from your problems. Selene spelled out very specifically what she wanted and left the choice up to Saoirse and I.

INTERVIEWER: And how did she do that?

VALENTINA: She appealed to my nature. (stares forward) But back to the leadership thing. You strike me as someone Saoirse would call a 'Suit.'

INTERVIEWER: A suit?

VALENTINA: Yes. Someone who wears a suit to work and hardly, if ever, gets their hands dirty. Everything in your little world is very clean and professional. It must be stressful to keep up that appearance while working yourself to the bone with late nights and long weeks, locked in your towers of ivory, looking down on the unwashed masses.

INTERVIEWER: That's hardly how it is.

VALENTINA: Oh? So it's easier than that? I see. Perhaps I should become a Suit as well. Here's the thing about leadership and bonds that you Suit-types will never understand. Everything you think and everything you think you know instantly evaporates in the heat of battle. Who you can rely on and who you can trust instantly becomes clear in first exchange of gunfire. I've been there with Selene and Saoirse. The battles we've faced and the things we've done have cemented an unshakeable bond between us, a 'Band of Sisters' if you will. It's hard to explain what that's like, to love someone so implicitly, you would sacrifice everything for them. And in those situations, you learn things about each other that you would never tell anyone else.

INTERVIEWER: But wasn't it you who said that a secret isn't a secret if more than one person knows about it?

VALENTINA: I did. But there are other secrets that can be shared between people who care about each other.

Valentina sat in her room and stared at the wall. She had done her best to try and clean up, but fixing the hole that Saoirse made was a bit beyond her ability. She salvaged what she could from the broken speakers and was able to get a few working again, but the rest were useless. Valentina sighed. It had taken a long time and many hours of scrounging to come up with the needed parts. Oh well. She had been thinking about upgrading and now seemed as good of time as any. Valkyrie hovered over the mess, taking inventory. "I suppose I don't have to tell you how bad it is," she said.

Valentina shook her head. "No, you don't."

Valkyrie turned back to Valentina and hovered closer. "Are you still thinking about what happened?" she asked.

"Yes," Valentina nodded. "I still don't understand how it all happened. One minute I was playing the melodies in my head, and the next I was trying to kill Saoirse."

"Oh there was no trying about it. Any longer and you certainly would have killed her," Valkyrie said.

Valentina pushed her Ghost away and turned in her seat. "I don't want to hear that from you."

"Then who do you want to hear it from?" Valkyrie asked, floating back into view. "Ignoring this problem won't make it go away."

"I know that!" Valentina said sharply and gave herself a push, sending the chair around and around. "It's the stupid Void energy influencing me!"

"Maybe, but I don't think so," Valkyrie said. She was getting dizzy watching Valentina go in circles. "Please stop, you're making me queasy."

Valentina stopped the chair with her foot and stared at Valkyrie. "How does that even work? You don't have an inner ear for balance or a stomach for throwing up."

"You're right. I don't. I just wanted you to stop so you would pay attention," Valkyrie said. Valentina huffed and rolled her eyes. "Here's the thing. I could be wrong, but the Void didn't influence you to do anything you already didn't want to do," Valkyrie added.

Valentina opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it. "Can you explain?" she finally asked.

Valkyrie shook her eye side to side, the Ghost equivalent of shaking your head no. "Not really," she said. "I don't know a lot about influence or coercion, but attempting to deliberately force someone's will is very hard and not likely to succeed. What I think happened was you were made aware of thoughts and feelings that were already present, and the Void just gave you a little push in that direction."

Valentina sighed and turned to face backward in the chair and put her chin on the backrest. "I think I understand what you're saying." She then crossed her arms over the back of the chair. "But who should I talk to about this?"

"Well Ikora comes to mind. You know, the Warlock Vanguard," Valkyrie heavily suggested, but Valentina shook her head. "Ikora is kinda scary. Plus, I don't like the idea of simply running to the Head Warlock with my problems. She has enough to worry about."

"But that's why she's there," Valkyrie insisted. "You're supposed to go to her with your problems. She's a mentor to young Warlocks in addition to her other duties."

"But it feels like such a trivial thing to worry about," Valentina complained.

"Okay. Fine. Be that way. At least go to her. She's a resource that's meant to be used. You'll only make this harder for yourself," Valkyrie said. Valentina leaned back and let out a long sigh while staring at the ceiling. "Okay, fine. Let's go."

Valkyrie said nothing as Valentina put her boots on and got ready to leave. As Valentina walked through the Tower, Valkyrie nestled on top of her head. The days were growing shorter as the seasons changed from Summer to Autumn. It was mid-afternoon, but felt much later. Valentina walked in silence as she tried to sort out what to say to Ikora.

Before she knew it, Valentina had wandered into the Hall of Guardians and was standing at the top of the stairs that led down to the table. "Hey there Warlock. You lost?" Cayde asked. Startled, Valentina looked up and saw the three Vanguard staring at her. "I…um…" Valentina stammered.

"Don't worry, it's okay. We don't bite," Cayde said. Valentina swallowed nervously and quickly looked between them. Her fight-or-flight response was starting to kick in.

"Cayde! You are not helping," Ikora said sternly. She turned to Valentina and her face softened. "I can see that telling you to relax is not likely to work, but take a deep breath," she said and held out her hand. Valentina closed her eyes and took a few shaky breaths and sighed. "I'm sorry. I get kinda nervous when people stare at me," she said quietly. Ikora nodded. "Would you like to go somewhere more private to talk?" she asked and Valentina nodded. Cayde turned to Zavala and whispered loudly, "I wonder what those two are going to do in private?" He did his best to waggle his eyebrows, but the gesture just came off as weird. Valentina blushed furiously and stole a glance at Ikora. Her face remained passive, but the muscles in her jaw clenched.

Zavala sighed and put his head in his hand. "Really Cayde? Is that all you think about?"

"Oh c'mon! Don't say you weren't thinking the same thing," Cayde insisted. By then they were out of earshot and didn't hear Zavala's reply. Ikora led Valentina through a door and into a small circular room. The lighting was low and cushions were arranged in a circle. Ikora lit several candles that improved the lighting somewhat and cast dancing shadows on the wall. She sat on a cushion and indicated for Valentina to do the same. "Now. What's troubling you little Warlock?" she asked.

Valentina fidgeted in her seat. What should she say? If she told the whole story, would Ikora get mad? Would she get in trouble? Would she be locked away in the prison, or cast out of the Tower? "Um…I…recently started…my Voidwalker…training," Valentina managed to say.

"And you are wondering if the Void is having a bad influence on you?" Ikora asked. Valentina quickly looked up and Ikora gave a sad smile. "How do I know? I can see it in your eyes, the questions and uncertainty. You're feeling overwhelmed and wondering what you've gotten yourself into." Valentina gave a short nod in reply.

Ikora held out her hand and formed a ball of Void energy. "I believe that Void is the most difficult of the elemental energies to master. It's not like Arc or Solar. Some would say Void is closer to Darkness than Light."

"I have heard that before," Valentina said. "Selene told me that Void shouldn't be feared, but respected."

Ikora raised an eyebrow. "Selene the Hunter?" she asked and Valentina nodded. "I have heard of her, but never had much interaction with her."

"Is that bad?" Valentina asked. Ikora shook her head. "No. What else did Selene tell you?"

Valentina thought and said, "She said that someone once said that unless you had walked in the Void, you could never understand it."

"Yes. Toland the Shattered did say that," Ikora said. "And he wasn't wrong on this point. The only way to understand something IS to experience it for yourself. Experience is the best teacher."

"But how do you prevent the Void from making you crazy?" Valentina asked.

Ikora sighed. "The Void doesn't make you crazy. You decide the level of influence it has over you."

"But how do you do that?" Valentina asked. She was nearly pleading at this point. "I don't want to go mad like Toland or Osiris. I don't want to be a burden on the Tower or the City." Tears were starting to form in the corners of her eyes. "What do I do?"

Ikora's dark eyes were full of compassion. "Dear child, the Void won't make you crazy. Toland and Osiris were indeed powerful Warlocks and a great benefit to the City. Their power didn't make them lose their way, their obsessions did. Toland with the Hive and Osiris with the Vex. Warlocks are more likely than Hunters or Titans to become enslaved by their passions because it is in our nature to seek out knowledge." Ikora leaned forward and looked deep into Valentina's eyes. "I don't want to frighten you, but the Void isn't for everyone." She held up her hand and gestured around the room. "I use this as a meditation chamber. It is a quiet place where I can go and contemplate the mysteries of the Light. It is also a refuge in a time of need."

Valentina sniffed and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound like a whiny girl who can't control her power."

Ikora smiled. "This is the reason I am here child, to offer support and help those who are having trouble." She leaned back and said, "Close your eyes and center your breathing."

Valentina did so and took a deep, calming breath. "Now. Think about what the Light means to you," Ikora said. Valentina thought about pure Light energy she had seen on Io. She pictured it in her mind and it became a vertical beam of white light. "Now imagine yourself becoming one with the Light," Ikora said softly. Her voice had a silky quality that put Valentina at ease. The warmth of the room and scents she hadn't noticed before made her mediation easier. Before her, the light split into three separate beams and changed form. One became a bright star of Solar energy, one darkened and became a cloud of vapor with Arc crackling inside, and the last collapsed into a swirling vortex of purple Void. "What do you see?" Ikora asked.

"I see Solar, Arc, and Void, just like I saw on Io," Valentina whispered.

"And what do the three energies mean to you?" Ikora asked.

"Solar is a fire that burns away the Darkness and purifies all it touches," Valentina said. "Arc is a storm, unpredictable and chaotic. The storm cannot be contained, only channeled, with a Guardian acting as a conduit." She then paused.

"And the Void? What is the Void?" Ikora asked.

"The Void is the in-between, the substance that fills in the gaps between forms of matter," Valentina said. Her eyes furrowed. "It…It whispers to me. Calls out to face my innermost fears, and challenges them. It has great power, great potential, but at what cost? It whispers in my ears, wants me to give in, to pay the price to see my enemies tremble before me." Valentina opened her eyes. "I am afraid," she whispered. "I thought I could do it, but I hurt someone very close to me. I don't know if I want to take that risk."

"Everything has risk. Life itself is a risk. Such a flimsy thing, snuffed out with a puff of wind." To make her point, Ikora blew out a candle. "What matters is how much risk you are willing to accept. Like I said, Void mastery is difficult and not something everyone can do. Don't push yourself so hard. If you feel you are not ready, leave it be for now and come back to it at a later time. Knowing your limits and stretching them is a sign of growth, but knowingly breaking them and rushing headlong is foolhardy and dangerous."

Valentina nodded and thought about everything Ikora had said. "Thank you. I am grateful for your words and guidance. I apologize for interrupting you," she said.

"It really is no trouble. I am a resource for you to use for a reason," Ikora said. "It is in my best interest to help you succeed and become a great Warlock." Ikora blew out the candles and they exited the room. Valentina offered a thankful bow to Ikora and wandered back through the Tower.

"See? That wasn't so bad," Valkyrie said as she appeared over Valentina's shoulder.

"I suppose not," Valentina replied and was quite surprised to see the sun had set long ago and nighttime had fallen. "How long were we in there?"

"I don't know. I while if I had to guess," Valkyrie said.

"That doesn't help me you pest," Valentina hissed and waved at Valkyrie.

"Don't worry about how long it took. Be thankful it took as long as you needed," Valkyrie said while avoiding Valentina's grasp.

"Well lookee here!" Saoirse called out. Valentina turned around and saw Steve and Saoirse walking arm in arm and stumbling a bit. Saoirse was smiling broadly and Steve had a slight grin on his face. Valentina frowned. "Are you drunk?"

"Nah, just feelin' good," Saoirse replied and gave Steve a sultry look. "Feelin' REAL good if you know what I mean,"

"Oh I know what you mean. I just don't think you can handle it," Steve replied

Saoirse raised an eyebrow. "Care to find out?"

"You have no idea what you're in for," Steve warned.

Saoirse's smile turned evil. "Right back at cha' cowboy."

"Oh it's on now," Steve said with a chuckle.

Valentina warily watched the exchange. "Should I be worried?" she asked cautiously.

"Only if you wanna watch," Saoirse replied.

"Watch what?" Valentina asked and as soon as the words left her mouth, realization hit her and she started to blush.

"Aww, look at you," Saoirse cooed. She untangled from Steve and squeezed Valentina. "I love you, you know that? Never become old and jaded like me," she said. Valentina winced from being crushed and the smell of alcohol on Saoirse's breath rankled her nose.

"Fear not young maiden! For I have come to free you from the clutches of this vile beast!" Steve proclaimed and pulled Saoirse off Valentina.

"The knight in shining armor! Have you come to slay me?" Saoirse asked with as much flair as she could muster.

"It will be no easy task, but I shall be victorious!" Steve said and struck a pose.

"Then lead on, good knight! To my cave where we shall do battle!" Saoirse said and they walked off, laughing together.

"Um, what just happened?" Valkyrie asked.

Valentina watched them go. "I'll explain it when you're older," she said.

"Coming from you? That'll be the day," Valkyrie retorted.

Valentina spent the next few days cleaning her apartment and meditating on Ikora's words. A little meditation chamber like Ikora's wouldn't work for Valentina, so she rearranged her makeshift recording studio. She put on her headphones, plugged in her guitar, started recording and closed her eyes. All distractions faded away as Valentina opened herself to the Light and became a conduit for its energy. The melodies flowed from her mind and her fingers danced across the settings and began plucking the strings, trying to find the right sounds. Valentina didn't really hear it, she was lost in the process of creation. When the inspiration had run its course, Valentina stopped recording and played it back.

"Ugh. It doesn't sound very good," Valkyrie winced. "Is something broken? It sounds like nothing but static and feedback."

"Hush," Valentina said, and pressed the headphones closer to her ears. Slowly, she began to realize what she was listening to. "At first glance it sounds random, but the more you pay attention, you can hear the patterns," she said, and began to conduct in time with the rhythm. "Out of chaos, order."

"I don't get it," Valkyrie replied.

"You don't have too," Valentina said. "Everyone who hears it will experience something different. You only hear noise, while I hear the intricate layers and patterns of the music." She turned to Valkyrie. "Out of Chaos, Order. That's what the Void is."

Valkyrie narrowed her eye and stared at Valentina like she didn't get it. "If you insist."

Valentina turned back to her equipment and started making adjustments. "I have a new idea for an album," she said.

"Oh yeah? What is it this time?" Valkyrie asked.

"I'll call it 'Song of the Soul.' I will make a series of songs that will invoke feelings of what the Light is. Like this one here," Valentina said and played back the recording. "This makes me think of the Void."

"But not everyone will get that," Valkyrie said.

"I know, and that's the point," Valentina said. "Someone else will hear this and think of Arc or Solar."

"Or noise, which it is," Valkyrie stated flatly. Valentina made a face and waved Valkyrie off. "You're no fun," she poo-pooed. Valentina spent the next few days holed up in her apartment, working on her album. She lost herself in the process of creation and forgot about everything else. Valentina entered a dream-like state and let the Light flow through her and influence her actions.

Valkyrie started to worry about Valentina's well-being. She didn't sleep and forgot to eat. Her eyes had a glazed over, half-dead look to them. Valkyrie tried to reason with Valentina, but to no avail. Valkyrie eventually decided to simply keep watch over her Guardian and protect her when she eventually collapsed.

Valentina finally came out of her daze and slept for an entire day. When she woke up, she didn't feel very good. "Good. You're not dead," Valkyrie said.

"I certainly feel like it," Valentina groaned. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Did anything happen?"

"Yeah. You nearly killed yourself working on your little project," Valkyrie said. Valentina sighed and rubbed her neck. She felt sore all over and her stomach rumbled in protest. "I suppose I got carried away."

"That's putting it lightly," Valkyrie snorted. "I went out and traded for more ration packs, so that should tide you over until you get some real food."

"Thank you," Valentina replied and got up. She slowly walked to the kitchen and opened a ration pack, which consisted of a tasteless gel that consisted of proteins and other nutrients that could take the place of a normal meal. Valentina made a face and ate three more while chasing it with water. "I really don't like those things," she said.

"Well you should have thought of that before you spaced out," Valkyrie scolded. Valentina went into the bathroom to clean up. After changing into clean clothes, she felt much better. "Did anything important happen?" she asked.

"Well I did receive a message from Ikora," Valkyrie said and Valentina blanched. "What did she say?" she asked hesitantly.

"Here. I'll just play it back for you," Valkyrie said. There was a short burst of static and Ikora's voice was heard. "Warlock Valentina. Our conversation the other day got me thinking and I believe it would be in your best interest if you had Warlock to mentor you. This is not meant to be a punitive measure, rather another tool at your disposure. Go to the Library and speak with Shiera. I will inform her you will be coming. I look forward to your progress in becoming the best Warlock you can be."

Valentina sat down to process what she had heard. "I suppose that would make sense. I'm glad that Saoirse and Selene are there to help, but there are certain things only a Warlock would understand."

"Yeah, like your overwhelming desire to lose yourself completely in your work," Valkyrie said. Valentina wanted to say something, but realized her Ghost was right. It would be so easy to seclude herself and do nothing but work on her projects, but everything would suffer as a result. "I suppose we should go to the Library then," Valentina said.

On her way to the Library, Valentina stopped at a vendor stall and grabbed some real food. The meat was seasoned perfectly and the cool dressing and vegetables added a nice flavor. Everything was wrapped in a grilled flatbread that only added to the experience. "This gyro is quite tasty," she said, licking her fingers. When she was finished, Valentina continued on her way.

Valentina walked in and found the Library to be moderately busy. A Ghost was working behind the main counter, sorting books and other documents. "Excuse me," Valentina said gently.

"Wah!" The Ghost startled and spun about in the air.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you," Valentina soothed.

"N-no worries," the Ghost replied, calming itself down. "What can I do for you Warlock?"

"I am looking for Shiera. Is she in today?" Valentina asked.

The Ghost bobbed up and down. "She is in the back cataloging new submissions. Should I take you there?"

"No need. I can find it, and I wouldn't want to interrupt your work," Valentina said.

"Oh. Yes. Well thank you," the ghost replied and went back to work. Valentina wandered her way through the Library and arrived at her destination. The door was open and Valentina peeked inside the small office. Shiera was sitting at the desk, hunched over a stack of papers. Off to the side was a piece of paper with notes. Every few seconds, Shiera would stop, take a few notes, and go back to reading. Valentina knocked quietly on the doorjamb. Shiera looked up and smiled. "Oh. It's you. Ikora said you would be stopping by." Valentina noticed that physically, Shiera looked to be a few years older, but that didn't really mean anything since Guardians didn't age.

"Yes. I've been busy lately and just now received her message," Valentina said. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Oh not at all," Shiera said and pointed to a chair. "I was about to take a break anyway. Have a seat and we can talk."

Valentina sat in the offered seat and began nervously playing with her hands. "Did Ikora tell you anything?"

"Only that you might be in need of some guidance," Shiera replied. "Would you like to tell me about it?" Valentina proceeded to tell Shiera what happened between her and Ikora. "I see," Shiera said. "And you are worried that exposure to the Void will change you in unrecognizable ways?" Valentina gave a short nod.

Shiera sighed and looked around the room. "I'm a Stormcaller now, but I started out as a Voidwalker," she said.

"Why did you switch?" Valentina asked.

"I suppose I needed a change of pace, something different for a while," Shiera said. "As far as your other question, the easy answer is the Void WILL change you. The long answer is a bit complicated."

"How so?" Valentina asked.

"Void is from the Light, and the Light has already changed you since you're a Guardian," Shiera said. "Void tends to get a bad rap, but it is no different than Solar or Arc."

"I feel like everyone is telling me the same thing, just in different ways," Valentina said. "I guess it's unavoidable."

"Yes, but change isn't a bad thing. It can certainly lead to bad things, but only if you let it," Shiera said. "Do you have a hobby, or something you are passionate about?" She then shook her head and smiled. "Silly me. I already know music is your thing."

"Yes," Valentina replied.

"Tell me that process," Shiera said.

"Well, this is going to sound weird, but I don't hear voices in my head. I hear melodies and songs," Valentina said. "It could be that it's because I was reborn as a Sunsinger."

"Perhaps," Shiera said. "And then what happens?"

"Well, sometimes I get a thought or a feeling," Valentina said. "It's kinda hard to explain, but the concept forms in my head and I try to express that the best I can through music. I believe that music is the universal emotion because it has the ability to invoke feelings in people."

"I see," Shiera replied, leaning back in her chair. "Do Solar, Arc and Void have different themes?"

"Yes," Valentina said. "I have recordings if you would like to hear them,"

"Please. I would be honored," Shiera said. "Music is your passion, but Art is mine." She stood and walked to a filing cabinet. Shiera opened the drawer, rummaged about, and pulled out an old sketchbook. "These are some of my earliest works," she said and handed the book to Valentina, who opened to the first page. "This is amazing," she gasped. She quickly flipped through the pages, taking note of each drawing. "I feel like if my music had a physical form that could be viewed, this is what it would be."

"Thank you," Shiera said. "That really means a lot to me." She sat back down and looked at Valentina. "Tell me, is there anyone you associate with? People you consider friends, or anything of that nature?"

"There's a Titan and a Hunter I sometimes form a fireteam with," Valentina said.

"No Warlocks?" Shiera asked.

"Not really," Valentina replied.

"I see. While it is good to have diversity in your friendships, it helps to have one or two people who are the same as you," Shiera said.

"That's what Ikora said," Valentina mumbled. "I do get what she's saying. There are certain things only a Warlock will understand." Shiera nodded. Valentina looked up shyly. "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"

"Age wise or how long have I been a Guardian?" Shiera asked.

"How long you've been a Guardian," Valentina asked. Shiera stroked her chin and thought. "Let's see. I was resurrected sometime after the Great Disaster. What about you?" Valentina shrugged. "Sometime in the last twenty years or so?"

Shiera smiled. "You're little more than a baby aren't you?"

Valentina frowned. "I get enough of that already."

"Relax. I'm only teasing," Shiera chuckled.

Valentina sighed. "It seems like everyone I know has been a Guardian much longer than me. I feel like there's no one my age that I can relate to."

"I understand your concerns," Shiera said. "It is true that there aren't many Guardians being reborn. There are those that think that new Guardians should be chosen from the living who possess exceptional Light."

Valentina frowned. "Is that even possible?"

Shiera nodded. "It is rare, but it does happen." Valentina looked down in her hands. "It feels strange. I know that there are those who care about me and would do anything to help me, so why do I feel so alone sometimes? Like there's no one who really understands me or what I'm going through."

Shiera shrugged. "Long ago, they would call that teenage angst. The feeling of utter hopelessness and the whole 'Woe is me, no one understands' bit. I'm not downplaying what you are feeling or going through, but realize that others have experienced the same thing."

"I suppose," Valentina replied. "I'm not trying to sound like an ungrateful child, but I can't help what I'm feeling."

Shiera placed a reassuring hand on Valentina's shoulder. "You don't have to go through this alone. You have others who support and care for you. And I'm here if you just want to talk, Warlock to Warlock."

Valentina rose to her feet. "Thank you. I'm sorry for taking up so much your time. I feel like I was just ranting with no purpose."

"Sometimes that's all you need," Shiera said. "One last thing before you go. It's good to be passionate about things, but don't allow that passion to turn into obsession. That will lead you down a dark path and I think you know what the consequences could be."

Valentina nodded and walked out, departing the Library. Once again, the sky was dark and the Sun had set while Valentina was inside. "I seem to have an unnatural ability to lose track of time," she commented.

"Stay away from the Vex then, or we'd never escape," Valkyrie said. Before Valentina could continue, Valkyrie started buzzing. "Hold on, I'm receiving a message. From Musashi?"

"What is it?" Valentina asked.

"He's asking for help. It seems Saoirse is in the Hangar lounge drinking," Valkyrie said.

"What else is new?" Valentina asked.

"She's been at it for almost two days," Valkyrie replied.

"Oh. That could be bad," Valentina said. "I don't know what help I'll be, but it wouldn't hurt to go and help."

When Valentina found Saoirse, she was surprisingly quiet and sitting in the far corner. The low table was littered with bottles and empty glasses. Saoirse was wearing the black under layer of her armor, boots and a light jacket. She stared into the bottom of her current glass and would take a sip every now and then. A faint smile appeared on her face when she saw Valentina. "Come to take me away have you?"

"Only if you want me to," Valentina replied. Saoirse tilted her head back and swallowed the rest of her drink in one gulp. She sighed heavily and poured herself another drink. "Come, sit, drink with me. That way I don't feel like an alcoholic."

"How drunk are you right now?" Valentina asked. Saoirse looked around at the empty bottles. "Drunk enough to know I should stop, but I don't want to," she replied, only slightly slurring her words.

Valentina sat in the seat next to Saoirse. Saoirse found a mostly clean glass, poured some liquor and placed the glass in front of Valentina. "I don't really drink," Valentina said softly.

"I know. The illusion makes me feel better," Saoirse said and sipped her drink. Valentina slowly reached for the glass and brought it to her lips. The drink smelled like antiseptic and cleared her sinuses. Valentina tipped the glass up and a small amount of the amber liquid entered her mouth. Her head was filled with a sharp alcohol and smoky wood flavor. Valentina made a face and started coughing as the liquid burned all the way down her throat and into her belly. Saoirse snorted and nearly choked on her own drink. "That's not very nice," Valentina rasped.

"I can't help it!" Saoirse laughed. "That was the best thing I've seen all week!" Valentina frowned and put her glass down. "Aw c'mon, don't pout. I'm just teasing you a bit," Saoirse said.

"I don't appreciate being made fun of," Valentina said softly.

Saoirse sighed. "I know." She added a few ice cubes to her glass and placed it against her forehead. "You know, after our fight the other day, I did some thinking."

"Uh oh," Valentina said.

"Shut up. I'm being serious," Saoirse replied and gave Valentina a swat. "I realized that I probably haven't been very fair to you."

"Why do you say that?" Valentina asked.

"You know, treatin' you like a little kid. Clearly, you are not. You are a Warlock, mighty and powerful in the ways of the Light. But you're still young, y'know?" Saoirse started to sway a little and turned to Valentina. "Youth isn't a curse, but it's not a gift either. It just means people will want to look out for you or take advantage of you. Good luck figuring out which is which."

"So which one are you?" Valentina asked. Saoirse blinked slowly and sighed. "Dunno yet. Haven't figured it out."

Valentina stared at her drink, but didn't touch it. "So the other day, you and Steve?" she started.

Saoirse huffed and took a gulp of her drink. "What can I say? I'm a woman. I have needs."

"I never said you didn't," Valentina said.

"Apparently, super soldiers from another dimension also need to get loose once and a while," Saoirse said with a grin. "I tell you what, I haven't seen anything that crazy in a long time."

Completely unbidden, thoughts of broken beds, smashed walls and utter destruction raced through Valentina's head and she blushed. "Ha! Now yer thinkin' about it, aren't cha?" Saoirse laughed.

"What you do in private is no business of mine," Valentina replied, clearing her throat. Saoirse drained her glass and poured another. "One thing you'll learn as you get older is this job really wears on you, physically and emotionally. It's a wonder we're all not a bunch of nut jobs."

Valentina sat quietly and listened. She got the feeling that Saoirse had something she wanted to get off her chest.

"I'm not saying I don't like being a Guardian, cuz I do, but it's hard trying to reconcile this life with the other stuff that comes with being a woman. Especially a Titan. We're all taught to be big, strong, Defenders of Humanity, heroes to the masses! And that implies being tough and manly. Hormones and lady problems? Ain't nobody got time for that! Get out there! Shoot that thing, punch that thing in the face! Go, go, go!" Saoirse was starting to get animated and spilled a little of her drink.

Valentina had never seen this side of Saoirse before, so open and vulnerable. And some of what Saoirse was saying did make sense.

Saoirse continued. "So yeah. Like I was saying. I'm a living person who happens to be a woman. I have urges and a drive just like the men do. I'm not saying it happens all the time, but I'll admit I've had a roll or two in the hay. I mean, that's natural right? People are gonna be people, no matter what the circumstances."

"I'm not judging you," Valentina replied.

Saoirse turned to Valentina. The fog of alcohol didn't lessen the clarity in her eyes. "But with you, it's different." She took a drink and stared into the bottom of her glass. "I knew this Warlock a long time ago, went by the name Valkyrie. For all I know she might actually been one. She was a Sunsinger, and she was super intense and had a raging fire inside of her. She was bold, borderline reckless. And when we got into a fight?" Saoirse shook her head at the memory. "She would blaze across the battlefield, like a bright and shining star, burning away all who stood before her. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen."

"Were you close?" Valentina asked softly.

"You could say that," Saoirse offered. "If things had been different, who knows? But the job always comes first. And in this line of work, you never know what will happen." Saoirse raised the glass to her lips, thought better of it and put her glass down. She leaned forward and stared at the ground. "I always told myself to not get too attached to people. Yes, we're Guardians and sort of invincible, but Death is still a thing. You never know when the Reaper will come knocking. But even knowing that, relationships still happen and when you fly too close to the sun, or chase after shooting stars, eventually you crash and burn."

They sat in silence for a while. Valentina wasn't quite sure what to say as she digested what Saoirse had said. Opening yourself so honestly to another was very difficult and took an incredible amount of trust. This made Valentina feel a little fuzzy inside. "What happened to her?" she finally asked.

Saoirse shrugged. "Not sure. I know she survived The Great Disaster and we both participated in the Ahamkara Hunt. The only thing I figure is Dredgen Yor killed her." She took a large gulp of her drink and sighed. "Losing someone close to you like that is soul crushing. So I did what any other Titan would do. Pushed the pain away best I could, strapped up, and started killing things." Saoirse lazily turned in Valentina's direction. "And then you came along and all I could think about was her."

Valentina's stomach did flip-flops. "I'm not her," she stammered.

"I know. And it isn't fair of me to project that onto you," Saoirse said. "But I still find myself being overprotective of you, and I hate myself for it. Maybe in my own, twisted way, I'm trying to make up for not being there when she needed me."

"But you have no way of knowing if that's true or not," Valentina said. "It's normal to feel guilty for a loss like that, but you can't let that stop you from moving forward and living your life."

"Hmph. When did you become so poetic?" Saoirse huffed. She drained the last of her drink and lay back, resting hear head on the back of the couch. "So long story short, this is all your fault."

"What is?" Valentina asked. Saoirse glanced at her and waved her arm, indicating the mess. "Congratulations. You made me realize what a basket case I've become."

Valentina stared down at her hands. Could this really be her fault? She decided she could be a tiny bit to blame, but this was mostly on Saoirse. After hearing her story, Valentina was curious. Who was this Valkyrie person? What was she like? She must have been very important to have such an impact on Saoirse. Saoirse the Titan: loud, strong-willed, crass, and fiery temper. Valentina liked her instantly, from the first time they met. Saoirse had always been eager to help, now how could Valentia return the favor? "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked.

Saoirse sighed. "Help me get home for starters," she said. Valentina rolled her eyes. Figures. "And learn from me and Selene," Saoirse added. "Being a Guardian is a hard life. Find meaning in something, and don't let this crush you into the ground."

"I'll try," Valentina promised.

Saoirse raised her arm and Valentina pulled her to her feet. The large Titan draped all over the smaller Warlock and Valentina struggled with the weight. "You could make this a little easier you know," she muttered.

"But what's the fun in that?" Saoirse asked. Nevertheless, she stood up a little bit and took some of the weight off Valentina.

Valentina became acutely aware how close Saoirse' body was pressed against her own. A tingling sensation went down her spine and heat started to cover her cheeks. If Saoirse noticed her discomfort, she didn't say anything.

"And one more thing," Saoirse added.

"What's that?" Valentina asked.

"Don't tell Selene how drunk I got," Saoirse said. Her face displayed as much seriousness as she could muster.

Valentina let out a little chuckle. "Whatever you say." Together, the Titan and Warlock stumbled across the Tower to Saoirse's apartment.