There are places I'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
In My Life – The Beatles
July 24, 2957, 17:24; The Last City, Earth
Snow had finally fallen on the Last City. It dusted everything, masking the soot and oil with fresh white. Ice crystals glittered in the afternoon sunlight and blew in twisting patterns over the concrete. Winter had never been Veera's favorite season, but she had to admit the visual appeal of it. The snow brightened everything. She found herself in good cheer despite the cold.
It was a stroke of luck, really, that the weather hadn't turned a few days earlier- in the City the precipitation had been light, but several of the mountain passes were now buried under feet of powder. It would have made life very difficult indeed for the assault teams. As it was now, it only served to transform the once-depressing view of the City into one of dazzling splendor. The snow wouldn't be staying here for long. The Sun, winter-weak as it was, would soon melt everything away. This was just a preview of the cold season in the southern hemisphere.
Veera found Azra on the Wall, appreciating the view. Surprisingly, the Hunter was on the inside railing, looking over the City, not the wilderness outside. She seemed to be contemplating rather than brooding, at least. Her Light shone steady and strong.
Veera lugged the case she was carrying the last few meters (it was a lot heavier than it looked, but Veera's pride demanded she actually handle it rather than let her Ghost transmat it in). She set it down with a sigh of relief and leaned on the stone next to Azra. The chill air turned both of their breaths to fog. The Warlock hoped the weather would warm for just a few days more- there were still many people sleeping outside. She was sure nobody would freeze, but it couldn't be pleasant spending nights out in the snow.
"I was surprised to learn you had returned to the City so soon," Veera said in greeting. It had been days since she'd gotten anything more than a text message from Azra. The Hunter had been running almost non-stop, ferrying stranded Guardians and Civilians back and forth across the System.
She didn't look too tired, smiling lightly back at Veera as they made eye contact. "There's an inquiry on how the sensor systems failed the night we were attacked," Azra explained. "Dunno why Zavala thought I'd be a good consult on it, but he called me in."
"From my talks with him, he was very impressed with your work on the comms system in the EDZ," Veera said.
"Hawthorne was half of that," Azra said dismissively. "I just helped with the fine-tuning."
Veera sighed to herself, knowing she'd never get the Hunter to accept the praise. "So.. what was your conclusion?"
Azra's smile vanished. "It was… weird." She tapped a finger restlessly on the railing and shrugged. "I've been out helping reset a few critical relays, recent. They're all still there, it's just like they… turned off. Logs showing shutdown 'cause of a communication timeout, but days after the City fell." Her expression darkened. "Whatever made them fail, I don't think it was the Cabal. I don't think the Cabal even knew about it."
"Bad luck?" Veera asked. "It is difficult to believe the Red Legion attacked coincidentally when we were having a sensor blackout."
Azra gestured helplessly. "What can disrupt communication between us and only a specific subset of our satellites without physically touching either or leaving detectable traces?" Veera did not have an answer for that. The Hunter just shrugged again. "There's so much out there we don't know about. I've got no idea what caused this. They're putting in backup relays but I'm not sure it will actually prevent this from happening again."
"Work on the Wall goes well, at least," Veera offered. "The Cabal are in retreat from the general area- though they seem reluctant to leave the system as a whole. They are stubborn even with their leader gone and their victory unreachable." She leaned against the railing a bit more, feeling her weariness. "Recently we have been focused on clearing out the last of the traps their Psions had set and doing physical repairs on the fortifications."
"Pretty standard stuff," Azra said. "At least people can sleep easier at night now."
"The Red War has been hard on everyone," Veera said. "The damage to the City is significant. But we will rebuild, given time. That is Humanity's strength."
"Life goes on," Azra said agreeably. "Hasn't been anything yet that has changed that fact. Not Twilight Gap, not the Taken War, not this. Not even the Collapse, I guess."
The wind gusted, tugging at Veera's robes. The Warlock hugged her arms to her chest and called on her Flame to keep herself warm. Azra seemed comfortable enough, dressed in cold-weather gear meant for freezing Outer System bodies.
"I missed you," Veera said, sliding closer to bump shoulders with her companion.
The Hunter's wan smile told her the lack of contact was not for a lack of enthusiasm. "You know I'd like to talk more," she said apologetically, "but I can't exactly turn down a critical search-and-rescue mission with the excuse 'ah, but I'd really like to go see my…'" she trailed off, looking for the right phrase.
"Girlfriend?" Veera supplied.
"That sounds so cheap," Azra complained. "Like some City teenager and her first crush. Significant other, maybe? No, that's too serious. We haven't even gone on a first date yet." She winked at the Warlock.
"I am happy to be your girlfriend," Veera said, just a little flustered. "Even if it is a reductive oversimplification."
Azra smiled at her again, then turned her gaze back to the view. The grin faded as she studied the expanse, worry lines forming on her forehead.
"I am worried, too," Veera admitted. "The Vanguard are being very coy with their statistics. We have won, yet there are still so many friends who I do not know whether they are living or dead."
"Don't know what much I can offer you there," Azra said. She still pulled up a holographic interface and tabbed through it as she spoke. "Lots of people we've received signals from, but they're inconvenient to pick up and aren't in much danger- we've been focusing on the higher-risk ones. Most of those are settled now anyway, so if someone isn't listed dead, they're probably fine. But we can't confirm people alive until we lay eyes on them, you know?"
Azra gestured to her readout. "Like this. We got a ping from Tapio three days ago, but he's in the middle of the American Plains. Long walk to San Antonio spaceport, but nothing too crazy. He'll probably be picked up in a week or so. Wahida I think is already back in the City…"
"It was Sulla I was worried about," Veera confided. "I heard bad news about Mercury."
"Sulla was found," Azra said, dismissing her projection. "She was in the Outer System. Triton, for some reason. Almost starved to death before the Light came back. But she wasn't on the official Vanguard roster in the first place…"
Veera frowned at the thought. "The rest of the Sunbreakers-"
"She's not taking it super well," Azra admitted. "They identified all of the bodies at the Infinite Forge, but there's still a few MIA. There could be more Sunbreakers out there. But even if she's not the only one left, she'll be one of a rare breed."
"I wonder if they will rebuild the Order," Veera mused. "The Stoneborn Order is gone, too. Defended the wall to the last Guardian."
"I thought Sloane was Stoneborn?" Azra asked. "I guess Vanguard duties pulled her away. They're a staple of the City defenses- I'm sure they'll recruit more. That's one of the benefits of writing everything down, I guess. Them foundations are still there." She looked down and ran her hand along the railing. "I mean, Traveler knows how many Hunter Dens are going to be empty after this. And you Warlocks-"
"The Orders will survive, even if some of the archives haven't," Veera said confidently.
Azra let silence settle once again. Veera wondered if she should pry. The Arcstrider had that disappointed look on her face that meant something important was occupying her thoughts. "The Hunters?" Veera asked. "Is that what you are up here worrying about?"
"I'm not worrying," Azra said defensively. "I'm just… thinking."
"About what?"
"Speaker's dead," Azra murmured. "It's been a whole week? And the Traveler hasn't… done anything. Said anything."
"I imagine weeks are nothing at all to something billions of years old," Veera said.
Azra shook her head and looked back at Veera. "You had a vision, you said. When Ghaul pushed you from his ship, you said you had a vision that led you to the Shard in the EDZ."
"I did," Veera confirmed.
"What was it like?"
Veera struggled to find words. "It was… vivid. And confusing at the time. Looking back on it now, it makes much more sense than it did then. It was images. Sensations. Like the Traveler was dreaming at me."
Azra frowned and scrutinized the giant orb again. That's why she wasn't appreciating the mountain view; she wasn't looking over the snow-covered City, she was watching the Traveler.
Veera scooted a bit closer. She had been comfortable walking around and carrying her load, but standing still in the chill air was making her cold. "Why are you asking about the vision?" the Warlock queried.
"I was caught in the blast when the Traveler broke free," Azra said. "And I…" she paused, at a loss once again.
"You had a vision, too," Veera guessed. "About the Traveler?"
"I talked with myself," Azra said. "Except I was the Traveler. Maybe." She shook her head. "It only gets more confusing the more that I think about it."
"What did you say?" the Warlock asked.
Azra's shoulders hunched in that way that meant she was embarrassed. Her fingers tapped idly on the metal railing. "I may have sassed it a little bit."
"Azra!" Veera gasped, scandalized.
"It sassed back!" Azra exclaimed. "Or… I sassed back. Like I said, it's confusing."
Veera gave her companion a very flat look. "You just used your smart mouth on the Traveler and then left?"
"No," Azra said, sounding like a petulant toddler. "We… talked. About what I wanted."
What an interesting question for the Traveler to ask. "What did you want?"
"I didn't know then," Azra said. "I mean, prestige I have more than enough of. And I refuse to ask the life-granting space orb for a new gun. Never really been interested in the… material side of things, you know?"
"All too well," Veera said dryly. She kicked the case she'd lugged halfway up the Wall. Azra looked at it curiously, then back up at Veera. They sat in silence for a second as the Warlock waited for Azra to ask the relevant question.
She never did. "I knew it. You forgot." Veera accused.
Azra's eyebrows furrowed. "Forgot what?"
The Warlock slid the case over with a grunt of effort. "Look inside."
The Hunter looked at her for a moment longer, half-shrugged to herself, and knelt to pop the latches. Inside was a solid blue prism, refracting whites and pale pinks out of the sunlight.
"Glimmer?" Azra questioned.
"Only fifty thousand," Veera said. "I have the rest, but it will take me time to gather." She waited a few moments, but Azra's eyes didn't light in recognition. "One hundred thousand Glimmer," the Warlock said. "You did not fall from Ghaul's ship."
"Oh," Azra said, underwhelmingly bland.
"It went completely out of your mind," the Warlock chided. "I knew it. Azra, how did you forget a hundred thousand Glimmer?"
"What am I even gonna spend it on?" Azra said.
"Buy yourself a nice dinner," Veera suggested. "And some new clothes. Rent yourself a workspace. Bankroll a Crucible tournament wherein all competitors must wear funny costumes…" She saw a familiar stubborn glint in Azra's eyes. "Azra, no. You cannot donate it."
"Not all of it," Azra reasoned. "I'll buy myself a new Sparrow. And save some for Dawning gifts. But-"
"You earned that," Veera protested.
"People are sleeping in the cold," Azra scolded. "How could I keep it?"
"Glimmer will not solve that problem," Veera said. "Everyone is working as hard as they can. It is not a resource issue."
"Afterwards, then," Azra said with determination.
"This," Veera declared. "This is why you are so hard to buy Dawning presents for."
"This is why I keep telling everyone not to bother!" Azra exclaimed. She shut the lid on the case and snapped the latches shut.
Veera put a hand on her shoulder. "Keep it," she said softly. "A rainy day fund. Donate it if you want, but this money was earned under extraordinary circumstances. Save it for something special."
Azra relented with a sigh. "Fine." She nudged the case against the wall and leaned back over the railing.
The two Guardians stood in agreeable silence for a moment, watching the people bustle around below.
"What did you ask for?" Veera said.
"What?"
"The Traveler's boon. What was it?"
"Praedyth," Azra said simply. "I always worried about him- you know that. I guess it is a Traveler-worthy miracle to pull him to here and now."
"I heard the news," Veera said, "but I have been so busy… Would he even want to talk to me?"
"Probably," Azra said. "He's all sorts of eager to meet up. In fact, I've got dinner with him in…"
"Twenty minutes," her Ghost chimed in helpfully.
Azra shook her head. "Damn, lost track of time." She seemed to get an idea. "Hey, wanna come with? Cayde managed to wheedle the people from his favorite ramen place to set up a stand. Praedyth's bringing a friend- we could make it a double date." She winked at the Warlock.
"I would be delighted," Veera said.
Azra pushed herself off of the parapet and stretched. Her Ghost dematerialized the massive block of Glimmer and retuned over her shoulder with a happy twirl. "I'll even buy," the Hunter said. "We'll count it as a trial run for our first date." The tone of her voice was teasing.
"You will never let me live that down," Veera realized.
"Nope," Azra said cheerily, popping the P. There was a humorous twinkle in her eye. "Coming?"
"Always."
There was a surprise waiting for Azra at the noodle stand. Praedyth was there, in new robes unstained by Vault muck. (He still appreciated his old shade of neon orange, for what reason Azra couldn't fathom.) He'd said in his message that he would bring his old friend Lacedia, who was indeed still alive and well after all these years.
Azra just wasn't expecting to know her already.
She could only laugh when she recognized the woman. Lacedia was dressed in new robes as well, in unfamiliar sweeping blue, but Azra had gotten quite a good look at her face while she had been chiding her from standing up too fast.
From the look in her eye, the Warlock recognized Azra, too. The Hunter made the first move as they approached, sticking out her hand.
She was still too giddy from the sheer coincidence of it all to sound properly remorseful, but she tried. "I s'pose I owe you an apology," she said. "Sorry for making your life more difficult. You were trying to help."
Lacedia took her hand and nodded graciously. "I think I can forgive you, considering the circumstances." She glanced sidelong at Praedyth, who was standing much stronger now that he'd had some rest and proper food.
Azra turned and gestured to her own date. "Veera, the guy in the orange is Praedyth. This here is apparently Lacedia. You know, the friend Praedyth talked about, with the hope and the crack and the Light?" Azra waited for recognition to spark in Veera's eyes before she continued. "She was trying to give me medical attention when I woke up from my explosion-coma, but I wasn't being very cooperative."
"At least you didn't fall and break your head open," Lacedia said. "I imagine Cayde-6 would have been very upset with me."
"Oh, with me, too," Azra said. "Anyway, Praedyth, Lacedia, this is Veera. My… girlfriend?"
"You are right, that sounds wrong," Veera said. She looked at the other couple of Warlocks in turn. "I lead Fireteam Dauntless, the group that conquered the Vault of Glass and killed Atheon."
"And the ones that killed Crota," Lacedia drawled. "And Oryx, and now you can add 'killed Ghaul and freed the Traveler' to your list. In case you forgot."
"I don't think I'll be allowed to forget," Azra complained. "Look, people are already staring." It was true; there were clumps of people gathering who were pointing and whispering.
"We should get our food and leave," Praedyth suggested. "It's cold out here in any case."
"Get it to go and we'll head to my place," Lacedia said. "I'm sure there are several long conversations that should happen."
"I shouldn't stay long," Azra said reluctantly. "There are literally a thousand items on my docket, and most of them are Guardians waiting to be brought back home. But I need hot food."
"There will be time later for talk," Praedyth assured. "For now, let us enjoy a good meal and good company. We have the assurance that tomorrow does exist and that it will be better than yesterday."
"Hear, hear," Azra chimed in. "Now let's please get moving before people ask for autographs?"
Note: Here we are at last. The first chapter of the next installment (entitled What We Might Create) has been posted already. Check there for the news, or check out poorlytunedukulele on Tumblr for information there.
Happy Hunting!