Min insisted on leaving the infirmary, not wanting to be in that small little room a moment longer. Zavala and Ikora took her down to the Hall to speak to her, chasing some of the other Guardians out so they could speak in private.
Cayde was there as well, looking bored, though that expression quickly changed as he saw them coming. Gen and Kalina followed them down but when Zavala halted them at the door both looked somewhat hurt. Min couldn't look Kalina in the eyes, something she knew probably wasn't helping but unable to make herself do it.
As soon as the door was sealed Zavala focused on her. "What happened?"
"I don't know what caused it," Minerva said. "It may have been just being there, in that pub. I started to have another memory but then it was like lightning hit me. The next thing I knew I was back in my first life, picking right back up in that pub the night before Arrival."
"You did not shoot yourself again to experience the memory?" Ikora asked.
"Wait, she shot herself? And I missed it?" Cayde asked, and was ignored.
"No," Minerva said to Ikora. "I was going to. I drew my pistol, tried to warn Lev, but then…lightning, as I said."
"What did you remember?" Zavala asked. Min felt her jaw tighten.
"Details are not entirely mine to share," she said slowly. "Suffice it to say, I now remember Eris Morn. We did know each other in that life, although briefly. An event happened that was severely traumatic to both of us, and I suppose that the hidden memory of that event is why I've been reacting so strongly toward her. I will say that she was not responsible for my death and I the same for her. I will leave it at that. The only other new bit of information I was able to glean is that I was a medic in the military. I learned far more about Morn's past life than my own."
"A medic?" Cayde blinked, then looked at Ikora. "Explains why she's a bit brainy for a Titan."
Ikora looked at Zavala. "This is deeply troubling," she said. "We still have no answers as to why she can resist the Deathsong, or the other incongruities that seem to flock to our Titan here. Her flashes of memory were one thing, even when it appeared she might be a Thanatonaut, but if they have become so severe as to render her unconscious without warning, and keep her that way for hours or days at a time…"
"We can't in good conscience send her back to the moon," Cayde said, nodding his agreement with Ikora.
"We cannot in good conscience send anyone else," Zavala replied, half glancing at his fireteam. "And the threat from the Hive is too great, too immediate, to wait."
"I'll go," Minerva said, and immediately the three sets of eyes were back on her.
"Minerva," Ikora began, but Min shook her head.
"I'll go," she repeated calmly. "It's my decision. I'm the only one that seems to have a hope of succeeding, even if I don't know why. And I don't want any other Guardian dying because I refused to act."
"You may die," Zavala told her, and she shook her head again.
"Mine is the only life I have any right to risk," she said. "I'll go."
"Kalina and Gen will insist on going too," Cayde told her. "And knowing the pair of them, if you tried to rush off on your own they'd just follow you."
"I know," she said. "I wasn't the only one to survive the moon the first time. We were separated for a long time, and they both held their own. Between them they're smarter and stronger and more skilled than I ever hope to be. I have to have faith that they can survive it again. They'll come with me as far as stopping their little Ritual. If I have to go to the Ascendent plane to kill Crota they will not be coming with me. That I will have to do on my own, and they will have to understand. The Deathsong won't care how smart or skilled or strong they are."
"As much as I love nobility, and as big as I am on working alone, there's no reason to be stupid," Cayde said. "Why not send everyone with her?"
"Everyone?" Zavala asked, first in surprise, and then his face looked thoughtful. "Everyone…"
"Yes, why not?" Ikora said, and looked at Zavala. "An army of our own, to swarm the Hive in their own home? They will put a stop to the Ritual, decimate the Hive's numbers, and ensure that Minerva gets to where she needs to be to access the Ascendent Realm. There is little risk of losing a Guardian permanently in such a scenario."
"The only drawback is we would not be able to prevent Nara from joining them once we send the call out," Zavala said. "And we cannot be certain what happened to her and Blayd will not happen to the others."
"Safety in numbers," Ikora told him. "Just as having an army there will help to prevent any other permanent deaths, having an army there will help to prevent whatever catastrophe befell Nara from happening to anyone else. From my understanding of her first trip to the moon, the Hive very much worked on divide and conquer. It is much easier to divide a half dozen Guardians or so from each other, than hundreds. Especially if those Guardians have no prior warning of the tactic. It may not be foolproof, but it is the best we have."
"Truth be told if it weren't for Nara's sense of duty there is little we could do to prevent her from going to the moon anyway," Zavala said thoughtfully. "Perhaps being able to join the offensive will help cure her of this mad obsession, or expose the cause of it, in which case at least we'd know what we are working with."
He looked at Ikora, who nodded slightly, then to Cayde, who nodded far more enthusiastically, then finally back at Minerva.
"Very well. I will put the call out. Any and all Guardians willing and able will join us in two days for a full-on assault on the moon. We will go ourselves to direct the offensive. The objective will be to decimate the Hive, disrupt the Ritual, and allow Minerva to reach the Ascendent Realm."
"Sounds like fun," Cayde said. "I'll bring the booze."
"I will go as well."
They all turned to see Eris standing there, only a few feet away. For a moment, they could only stare, before Cayde leaned over slightly to Ikora. "Did…you hear the door open?"
"I was not going to ask," Zavala told her. "You have endured enough of the moon, I believe."
"I appreciate that discretion," Eris said. "However, I will go. One does not just step into the Ascendent Realm. It is not accessible by door, nor is it on any map. Minerva will need guidance to reach it, guidance only I can give. As well, I could give invaluable advice on the strategies of the Hive and what to expect."
"We appreciate the help," Ikora told her.
"Then we'd better get to work," Zavala said. "Minerva, are you sure that-"
"No," Minerva said. "I'm not sure I'm all right at all. I am sure, however, that this needs to be done. I will be ready."
He sighed. "I hate that this is necessary. Very well. We have work to do, an offensive to plan. Minerva, go and rest if you can."
Min inclined her head, then turned to leave. As she started to walk past Eris, however, the other woman reached out and caught her arm.
The thrill of fear and revulsion that such contact had sent through Minerva before was now gone; the same revulsion and fear she now recognized had hit her when Eris had been drowning and tearing at her in mortal panic. Instead, she felt only sad and somewhat ashamed, as she paused and looked at Morn.
Eris stepped closer, speaking softly. "Thank you. For risking yourself to try and save me. And for risking yourself now to try and save us all."
"I didn't tell them," Minerva said, just as softly. "If you want to let them know then that is at your discretion."
"I understand, and it is appreciated. I apologize for leaving so abruptly."
"Don't. Remembering that life…it hits you like a steam train. It's a lot to process."
"Indeed it is. We must remember that we are not the people we were then. I regret my over-confidence, my bravado of that life, but I wanted you to know that I do not regret…that evening. However, I know how you feel about the Hunter. I have no want or desire to interfere."
Min's brows went up a little at that; did everyone know her feelings before she did herself?
"As you said. We are not those people."
"No," Morn said, and then released her arm. "We are not."
Min could think of nothing else to say, and so she turned and headed out of the Hall.
Gen and Kalina both were waiting for her, ears nearly pressed to the door, as she stepped through. Before either could speak she said, "They're planning a full offensive on the moon. Two days, as many Guardians as they can get."
"That's a good idea," Gen said, falling in with her as they headed away from the Hall. "The more Guardians there, the more eyes watching each other's backs. The Hive will find it hard to kidnap Ghosts or drain their Light when they need to get through a dozen other Guardians to do it."
"They will not be able to keep Nara away," Kalina said, and Min nodded.
"They know. She wants to go so bad, here's her chance."
"I don't like it."
Gen looked around at her. "I don't like her much either, especially not after she attacked Min, but it makes sense. They can't keep her away anyway, if she's hell bent on going. In battle she's not just a wrecking ball, she's a nuclear bomb."
"That's great for Hive killing," Kalina said. "But that's exactly what I'm worried about."
"Nuclear bombs cause a lot of devastation and collateral damage, and poison everything around them," Binky said, and Kalina nodded.
"Yes. And they don't even need to go off to do it. And they sure as heck can't send an army of Guardians into the Ascendent Realm. Not if that bitch with the Deathsong really is there in their way."
"They're not planning to," Lev said morosely.
"Just Min," Kalina said, and she sounded a bit bitter. They had just reached the plaza, and Min slowed to a stop and looked at her. As she did, the Hunter raised her hands. "I know. I know. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. In fact, I hate it! I hate this whole damned mess!"
Reaching over, Gen put his arm around Kalina's shoulders. "I do too," he said.
"Me too," Minerva said softly. She wanted to comfort the Hunter as well, but that feeling of shame came over her again and she looked awkwardly away.
Her eyes fell on the distant Traveler, hovering silently above the city. Wandering over, she leaned on the plaza railing and looked at it.
It felt like a million years ago she had nervously jumped right off this railing to join a total stranger on a tour of the City. Closing her eyes, she remembered the feeling of wild helplessness, the wind rushing past, her eyes watering. She remembered the knot of fear hard in her belly and how it had suddenly given way, how falling had seemed to transform into flying, and how utterly joyous and free she had felt.
That, too, almost seemed like another person, another life.
She opened her eyes again, gaze still fixed on the Traveler, when an arm went around her waist. It was Gen, the Warlock looking out at the view as well. Then, from the other side, Kalina joined them, wrapping her arm around Min's waist as well.
The Traveler had no answers to all the questions in her mind- at least, none etched upon its surface. Her eyes wandered a bit upward, toward the daylight crescent moon that was only barely visible in the bright blue sky. As she looked at it, she straightened a little, and her arms went around her companions as well.
I love Kalina, she thought, and that thought brought so many feelings up in her chest that she could not sort one from the other, and so she thought it again. I love Kalina.
This life was the one that mattered. However short it may turn out to be, it had certainly been anything but boring.
She looked over at Kal, and was unsurprised when the Hunter looked over at her as well. Her luminescent eyes seemed to say everything that Min was thinking and fearing and cherishing, and more.
I love Kalina, Min thought again.
They looked at each other, a conversation without words, before Min loosened her arms around her companions. Taking hold of the railing, she climbed up and balanced on it, feeling the wind buffeting her gently. A moment later, Gen had climbed up as well. Kalina looked up at her two companions, eyes gloss a moment, before she grabbed the railing and effortlessly joined them.
Min held her right hand out, and Gen took it with a gentle squeeze. She smiled at him, then looked over at Kalina, holding out her left hand.
We are all insane, Kalina's smirk said. And fuck if it isn't wonderful.
She gripped hold of Minerva's hand as well. As one, the three of them tipped forward and into open space.
Sometimes, for nothing more than the sake of joy itself, you just had to take a leap.