Author's Note: Thank you for checking out my story! In case you are unaware, this work is the sequel to another story I posted a while back titled; 'A Spark of Something Greater.'
Both stories are separate, complete works, so neither rely on the other to enjoy. That being said, the first (much sorter) story will provide some context and backstory for some of the content in this work.
I recommend reading 'A Spark of Something Greater' before 'A Spark Is Enough,' but it's definitely not required to do so if you want to delve into this one right away! Anyway, I really love how this story turned out and I hope you do as well!
A Spark Is Enough.
No Turning Back: Part One.
Dim light peeks through the violet clouds of the belt's far side. The subtle glow silhouettes various bits of debris occupying the space between The Reef's many asteroids. A lone jumpship carefully navigates the minefield of space junk left adrift in the cosmic storm. The pilot observes the remains of a massive shipwreck as his comparatively tiny jumpship coasts by. Huge block letters adorn the wreck's side. 'H-O-P-E.' A lurid display of irony. Silently, the pilot watches the wreckage drift out of view as he guides his vehicle around leftover remnants of other ships that met a tragically similar fate to the 'HOPE.'
"From what I've heard, they were part of a colonization effort at the very end of The Golden Age," the pilot's companion chimes in, breaking the silence. "I don't know if anyone knows for sure but from what I gather, not all of the colonists died in these wrecks.
The pilot turns to his companion with a look of curiosity.
She continues, "Some of the colonists survived the expedition but something changed them."
"The Awoken?"
"You know I'm no expert, but from what I've pieced together, I believe you're right," she clarifies before moving closer to the pilot. "The Awoken out here are not like the ones we met back home," she warns in a sten but concerned voice. "Even less welcoming than Eyran."
"I know. You told me about that 'Dread Orbit' rumor before," the man replies, a little annoyed with his friend's warnings.
Sensing the pilot's flippant attitude, she clarifies, "It's 'Dead Orbit' and I heard it directly from the Ghost himself. The Awoken out here are dangerous."
"I believe you, Spark, but this is important," the man says genuinely but dismissively as he pilots the jumpship out of the dense pocket of debris.
Now somewhat frustrated, Spark floats directly into the pilot's view and speaks in a tone that matches her shell's irritated movements. "Your assignment back on Earth was important." She stops herself and moves her small frame out of the man's view.
A deafening silence fills the cockpit for a moment.
"I get why you're upset about it… but I had to make a choice," the man says calmly. "If this pays off, it has got to be more important than some patrol. Besides, if anything else happens while we're gone, I'm sure they can handle it." He quickly checks his navigation system and begins descending the ship toward a tight cluster of asteroids. "They'd probably tell me to get lost if I tried to help anyway," he says with a light chuckle.
"Do you really think that Drifter was being honest?" Spark asks.
"It's worth looking into at least," he answers with a smirk and a quick glance to his unconvinced Ghost. "It's the only lead we have," he continues as the smirk disappears.
"It's not just the Awoken we need to worry about out here. Plenty of Fallen pirates operate in this area as well," Spark warns while looking out the window as they approach a huge collection of asteroids, loosely tied together by large metal cables.
The man brings the ship in to begin looking for a place to land on one of the gargantuan space rocks.
"I just don't want something to happen to us. I don't want you to get hurt, Klutz…" Spark admits somberly.
Klutz turns his attention to his Ghost for a moment but before he can say anything the ship is rattled, violently, by a powerful impact.
Quickly looking out the window Klutz notices the unfortunate sight of dark clouds of smoke trailing from the engine of his spacecraft.
"Significant damage to primary propulsion, Guardian!" Spark exclaims while scanning the ship's internal components.
"I didn't see any debris. What the hell did we hit?" Klutz asks, fighting against the ship's dying thrusters long enough to find a safe landing space.
"We didn't hit anything," the Ghost answers. "Something must have hit us! Likely a surface to air weapon but I can't be sure-"
Suddenly a large frowsy ship, clearly not of human design, appears out of a cloaked state directly ahead and trains its guns on the already damaged jumpship.
"It's a Fallen Skiff! It's probably filled with them…" Spark says while continuing to assess the significant damage. "I think it would be a good idea to make evasive maneuvers, fast!"
"Not sure we have a choice," Klutz replies just before the Skiff fires off a barrage of plasma directly at them.
Klutz dives the ship downward to try and avoid the plasma fire. Nevertheless, a few blasts hit the jumpship's hull causing more stress on its rapidly failing systems. The Skiff follows them downward and readies itself for another attack from behind.
Alarming red lights and warning messages light up the vehicle's dashboard.
The pilot's hands grip the controls tightly as he tries to formulate an escape plan that doesn't end with the pirates picking through both his shipwreck and body for valuables.
With little in the way of options and seemingly no means of escape, Klutz makes a hard call, "Spark, prepare us for transmat."
She looks at him and her shell separates in surprise.
"Landing ain't gonna be an option while that thing is around. I need you to get us out before the collision," he says with a meaningful look at his partner.
Spark nods and dematerializes.
Grasping the controls even more firmly, the Guardian pulls the ship upward at a near vertical angle, narrowly missing another bright blue burst of plasma fire from the Skiff's guns. Battling the unresponsive thrusters, Klutz manages to turn the ship in a full loop through the air and positions it behind the hostile ship. The Skiff begins to turn its guns to face the prey now at its rear. Before another round of plasma can finish off his half-dead spacecraft, Klutz pushes the throttle as far forward as possible, launching the vehicle as fast as it can toward the Fallen.
Unable to avoid their rapidly approaching doom, some of the pirates opt to leap from the Skiff in the hope of survival. Unfortunately for the desperate pirates, escape is impossible.
Just before impact, Klutz closes his eyes with full faith in his Ghost.
The damaged jumpship violently collides with the Skiff, cutting through it like a great cleaver. Fire and debris rain down as the Skiff is demolished. What's left of the jumpship crashes and tumbles before settling not much further.
Klutz opens his eyes to find himself safely on the surface of the rocky asteroid, just able to see the last of the white glow of transmat energy dissipate. "Cut it a little close huh?" he jokes standing just feet away from the Skiff's burning wreckage.
"You know me. I've got a thing for drama," Spark playfully answers.
Before he can return with another witty remark, Klutz spots a concerning sight. Yet another Fallen Skiff disables its cloaking almost directly above them. Klutz moves to ready his weapon but isn't quick enough to avoid a direct blast from the plasma cannons. His body is hurled backwards from the impact, sending him head first into a nearby rock wall.
As his vision slowly fades to smothering blackness, Spark enters his view through his cracked visor. He worries she will get hit by the skiff's weapons as well. He looks at her damaged shell. He remembers her warnings about the dangers of The Reef. He knows he should have listened.
New City.
==Some time before…==
Dozens of vehicles come and go through the enormous hangar. Klutz watches as a battle-scarred jumpship attempts an assisted landing, just before its engines cut out and it hits the floor with a powerful thud. A woman emerges from the cockpit, clad in combat armor. She hops down from her damaged ship and is greeted with a firm hug from an armored man waiting below. The armor-plated pair share a brief exchange of words, their voices joining the collection of chaotic sounds in the bustling room.
As the pair walk by him, Klutz offers an awkward but friendly expression as a greeting. The man gives him a puzzled look and they continue forward through a nearby door.
"I've only been here forty minutes and I already feel outta place…" the newly arrived Guardian says, just loud enough to be heard through all the surrounding noise.
Spark quickly materializes in front of him and replies, "Oh come on. There is a lot more to this place than one crowded hangar."
"Yeah, I'm sure there's lots of crowded hangars."
"Seven main hangars, in case you were actually curious. This one happens to connect to The Tower. It's where Guardians spend most of their time in The City."
Klutz stretches his back before gesturing toward the nearby door. "Like those two friendly folks in all the armor?"
"Those were Titans. They are an order of warriors united in defense of the city," Spark answers with excitement in her voice.
"So how's a Titan different from a Guardian?" he asks curiously.
"Oh no, Titans are still Guardians! Don't let any hear you say otherwise… They're just a more specific group of Guardians," she clarifies with a little embarrassment over her short explanation.
Still looking for answers, Klutz asks, "Do you think I'll be a Titan?"
Spark lets out a short giggle before stopping herself. "Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean that as an insult. You just don't seem like any Titan I've ever heard of."
Klutz looks at the Ghost with an amused but unsure expression. As if he is unclear if he should be offended.
"In the time we've spent together you have shown a lot of inquisitiveness and patience. Not common qualities in Titans." Spark floats in closer and speaks quietly so as not to be overheard, "They are normally preoccupied with finding the next thing they can punch."
Klutz gives a confused smile as the little machine moves back and softly giggles. Although he does not understand the context he can appreciate the humor.
"Well, in your educated opinion, are there other 'more specific groups' I'd be better suited for?"
Sparks shell rotates excitedly, "Absolutely! but it's not really my place to say. This will all make more sense after you meet with The Speaker."
"Excuse me," a synthetic voice interrupts.
Klutz and Spark both turn to face the mechanical frame, asking for their attention.
The frame continues, "Your entry authorization is all done. Welcome to The Tower Guardian!"
Friendly chatter of numerous Guardians and the booming voices of the vendors occupying the many stalls of The Tower's market, make for quite a stark change in surroundings when compared to the silent swamps of Old Chicago.
"I'm sure this is a lot to take in, huh?" Spark chimes in to her visibly overwhelmed Guardian.
Leaning against a wall, away from the crowded courtyard, Klutz watches all manner of interactions. Friends reunited after what must have been some harrowing adventure, a shop owner yelling at a frame for knocking over a pallet of seemingly expensive merchandise, even a group of Guardians mourning the loss of a comrade on a recent expedition.
Spark slowly floats into the man's view and speaks in a soft tone, "All the Guardians you see have been in your place before."
He turns his attention to his ever helpful Ghost.
"They were all reborn alone and confused, unsure of what to do or where to go. It's our job as Ghosts to push them in the right direction. That's why I led you here. Because here, in The City, there are people that can help you answer those questions and give you purpose. Here you can take your first real steps as a Guardian…"
Klutz glances back at the courtyard for a moment and takes a deep breath before asking, "So what's our first step."
Spark quickly looks the man up and down and answers honestly, "My suggestion would be to get some clothes that aren't covered in swamp scum."
The man chuckles and moves away from the wall. "Probably a good idea. Not gonna make the best first impression on these folks if I smell like mud and Hive breath."
"I know of a Guardian outfitter in the market nearby that is probably willing to get you some clean gear, free of charge!" Spark says excitedly as she begins flying away, leaving little time for Klutz to follow.
The sun shines down gently on the ever busy market. Frames move crates through the narrow paths, hawkers do their best to talk up their products to passersby, and Guardians haggle with shopkeepers for better deals on valuable equipment.
Dressed much more presentably than before, Klutz exits the outfitters' small store. "So? Do I clean up well?" He asks as he performs a quick spin to show off his newly acquired outfit.
"The shorter hem was definitely a good choice on the robes. Really shows off the seam work on the pants." The little light swiftly moves around the man to get a better look at his silhouette. "I'm glad you took my suggestion on the taper for the waist! You had me worried you were going to take it 'as is!.'"
The cleanly dressed man puts on a small smile. "Well I'm glad you like it Spark. I'm jus-"
The Ghost's shell shifts forward as she interrupts him, "Well I don't… 'like it' per say…"
"What's the matter? I took all your 'suggestions' in there."
Spark's shell segments spin around and her blue eye lights up with passion. "Yes but now that we are out in the natural light I'm having second thoughts on the violet. I'm thinking the burgundy would have clashed less with the darker shades of the boots and to be honest I'm not a huge fan of the glove material. I understand that they need to be durable first but there must be a better middle ground when it comes to looks, right? Speaking of which, those pauldrons could have just as easily fit under the robe if he gave us a little more leeway when it came to personalization!"
"Spark… he gave us this stuff for free," the unbothered Guardian says while motioning his hands from head to toe.
"That's… fair. But I really had to negotiate with the guy when it came to basic armor features. I think he may have been skeptical of your 'Guardian-ness.' But I mean, who else has a Ghost speaking on their behalf!" The impassioned light says with a small, slightly frustrated laugh.
"Thanks again for that. I've got no idea what I'd do without you," Klutz says while adjusting his hand in his new and apparently unfashionable glove. "In any case, this gear has gotta be worlds better than the swamp suit I had in that monster ridden hell hole."
Spark flies in close to the man's face and replies in an offended tone, "Hey! That 'swamp suit' may not have been much but 'not much' is what you get when all you have to work with is the materials from a rusted out helicopter and a skeleton's rags! …Also you're welcome."
"Didn't mean to get you worked up, Spark," Klutz says with a telling smirk on his face. "So, now that I'm all dolled up, what's our next move? We gonna introduce ourselves to the Guardians, Shake hands, and put in our adventure application?"
"Sarcasm aside, there is something I want to show you before we really get started," the Ghost says before guiding the man away from the busy market.
She leads him into a tight maintenance corridor away from the crowd. Its only occupants are a couple of frames checking gages and small monitors. They don't seem to mind the Ghost and her Guardian passing through.
"So uh, where are we going?" the puzzled Guardian asks as he follows her through the narrow passage.
Without turning around Spark replies, "Just a little further and you'll see!"
Reaching the end of the hall, Klutz finds a lone door. "Through here?"
"Yep! I'm sure the suspense is killing you!" Spark answers with excitement in her voice.
Klutz opens the door and to his surprise, he finds himself looking off the side of The City's Great Wall. The door opens to a somewhat small balcony on the side of the wall with an excellent view of the growing urban jungle.
Surprised with the sight, Klutz makes sure to watch his step as he walks toward the railing. Lest he live up to his namesake.
Spark floats over the rail and directs her Guardian's attention. "Come on, Klutz. Look up. Look at what I brought you here to see…"
The man takes his eyes off of the precarious platform he is standing on and looks out toward The Last City. Toward The Traveler.
Like a great shield, The Traveler rests high above the city's center. Although visibly damaged, the massive spherical being appears impossibly adamantine and totally at peace in its perfect position.
"You were sleeping when we arrived, so I'm sure you haven't had a good look at it yet." Spark speaks softly so as not to disturb the man's experience.
Unable to take his eyes off the spectacular view, Klutz comments, "It's honestly hard to say what's more impressive. The city or… that."
"That's The Traveler. It's where Ghosts like me came from. It's where your Light comes from." Spark turns to face the Guardian but his view is fixed outward. "A long time ago it made its way around our system, performing miracles. But something happened to it during the Collapse. Now it rests here on Earth…"
Klutz manages to take his attention away from the heavenly sight long enough to ask an important question, "What? 'something happened to it?' What happened to it?"
"The Darkness," says a somber voice from behind the Guardian.
Klutz turns to meet whoever followed him to the viewpoint.
A man in a minimalistically designed white mask stands for a moment in the doorway before joining Klutz on the balcony and resting his hands on the railing. He looks out toward The Traveler for a silent moment before continuing, "It was long long ago now and the legends often conflict with each other. Although one thing is certain. The Traveler sleeps."
Klutz returns his attention to the great sphere above the city for a moment before turning to listen further.
"It sleeps… but it has not abandoned us," the masked man reaches his hand toward Spark and she gently floats down to meet him. "Just before its slumber began, The Traveler gave birth to the Ghosts. Sparks sent to give life to those worthy of harnessing The Light."
Spark returns to Klutz and gives him a content look before resting near his head.
Klutz's eyes look down for a moment before asking, "What makes someone 'worthy?'"
The man lets out a soft chuckle and asks, "Do you doubt yourself?"
For a short time Klutz looks as though he is finding an answer but ultimately he offers no response.
"I know you have faced hardships already," the man says while touching the despondent Guardian's shoulder. "You would find it difficult to meet a soul in this city that hasn't." He moves his hand but maintains his gaze. "I also know that worse hardships are yet to come."
Klutz adjusts his posture and turns toward the masked oricle.
"This is the destiny of all Guardians… but it is not for nothing." The man turns back toward the city. "Your sacrifice gives them hope. It gives us all hope. The hope that one day we may return to a time when we could travel our lands, and the stars above, without fear. When our ambitions for the future were about more than just survival. I believe in that hope. I believe in The Traveler. I believe in you, Guardian."
Klutz pauses for a moment with closed eyes. He takes a deep breath before opening them. "How can I help?" Although his face is hidden behind his mask Klutz gets the sense that the man was happy with his question.
"Follow me. Let us talk a little longer. I'm sure you have many questions." The man moves from the railing toward the maintenance corridor. "Afterward I'm sure the Warlock, Osiris, has something you can help with."
After taking one last look at the stunning view of the Last City's slumbering protector, Klutz follows The Speaker away.
New Purpose.
Subtle ripples move across the pond's surface under the light breeze of the evening wind. The surroundings are quiet. Even the animals needed to learn how to survive in the new world that was thrust upon them.
The black card rests in his hand as he sits alone, next to the small pond. His rifle rests against a rock beside him. Lost in thought, he examines the card with no particular goal in his mind as to what he's hoping to find.
A violent splash comes from the water, breaking the man's fixation on the strange card. He looks over to see what caused the disturbance and finds a small fish struggling in the gravel next to the pond. For a moment he remains seated, watching the fish try to flop itself back to familiar surroundings. With seemingly no hope for the small creature to find its way back to the pond, the man gets up and moves in to assist. By the time he arrives the fish has stopped flopping about. Only its gills move, slowly, as it works to avoid suffocation. The man takes the small fish gently in his hand and tosses it back to where it belongs. To his surprise the creature doesn't swim away, happy to be home in its pond. Instead the fish floats on its side near the surface with the same slow struggling movements it had made in the gravel.
"Y'know you're supposed to bring the fish home after you catch it right?"
A little startled, Klutz turns to face the woman speaking to him.
"They probably won't say it, but folks back home would appreciate it if you brought 'em back something to eat when you get done with your 'patrol,'" she says, standing confidently with a hunting bow over one shoulder and a pair of freshly skewered rabbits on the other.
Klutz quickly walks back to his waterside perch and picks up his weapon, "I'm not so sure about that," he says, slinging the rifle over his back and moving to meet the woman. "Your people don't seem to want me around at all."
The huntswomen chuckles. "Of course they don't." A crooked smile on her face.
"I'm sure by now, Eyran and the others get that I agree with them about my position here."
Her smile disappears. "Can't speak for the blue guy, but you've made it loud and clear to the rest of us..."
They walk in silence for a moment. The rabbits sway behind the woman's back as she quickens her pace a little.
Klutz notices her change in demeanor and speeds up to match her. "Marin… I've been here over a month now, and you're the only one that's made me feel even a little welcome. I appreciate that… But this isn't really what I was sold on when I took the job. You know 'patrol the surrounding area of a rogue settlement' sounds a lot more interesting than 'bird watch all day and get glared at by unfriendly villagers.'"
She slows her pace to a stop and looks at the man. "I like having you around, Guardian. I get what's out there, better than most people here, and if something were to happen I'd appreciate the help. Fortunately this has been a mostly peaceful place for a long time. Folk have got used to the safety. They don't want The City's help. They don't want your help." Moving her view away from the man and toward the village she continues, "I just wish you wanted to help them…" She adjusts the skewed rabbits and resumes her walk toward the village.
Klutz wants to say something but he can't form the words to match his feelings. He hangs back and allows the space between them to grow.
Spark appears next to the frustrated Guardian. "So uh… how did you think that was going to go?" She looks at the woman shrinking in the distance.
He adjusts the weapon on his back and starts walking. "Didn't do a lot of thinking to be honest."
"Mouth moved before the mind?"
"Something like that." He shakes his head subtly.
"She really has been very kind to you since we arrived. And I don't just mean in comparison to the others…"
"And here I am venting at her like this crap patrol is her fault."
"I know it's been rather uneventful so far… but if Osiris says this patrol is important, then it must be important," Spark says with seriousness in her tone.
"I'm not so sure… The City is what? Two and a half miles away? From what I've gathered, that's well within the safe zone. No bandit or scavenger with any sense in their head is gonna try anything with these folks. I'm thinking the real reason I'm here is to make them 'feel' safe. Give them the idea that The City's looking out for them."
"What's wrong with that?" Spark asks as her shell moves in a concerned expression.
"Nothing really. But Marin is right about them. These folks are tough and they didn't ask for help from no one. It's all for show and I'm just here as a mascot for a city I barely know."
Spark maintains her concerned look.
"My first day at The Tower- hell my second day out of the grave, you said I'd find answers. Said I'd find purpose." His voice trembles very slightly.
"Klutz I-"
"Well I've got a lot of answers to a lot of questions I didn't have and I've been given a purpose I don't really believe in. Don't feel like much of a 'Guardian.'" He pauses to take a breath. "There's gotta be something more…"
Spark thinks for a moment about something she could say to encourage her disillusioned companion. Healing his physical wounds was effortless for her but patching his wounded morale called for skills she had little practice in.
Spark moves toward the low-spirited Lightbearer. Before she gets a word out, Klutz motions her away. She disappears and the man heads toward the village with heavy steps.
With the sun resting over the horizon, painting the sky with tones of amber and soft violet, Marin returns home with her kill. Although not much, the meat will make sure a few people don't go to sleep hungry tonight. She is warmly greeted by an older woman wearing an apron covered in butcher stains. The older woman takes the rabbits and the two exchange words through smiles before parting.
Klutz arrives shortly after, with little acknowledgement aside from a few uncomfortable looks.
Marin sits on the worn wooden step in front of the community hall, the largest building in the village. In smooth, quick motions, she moves a honing stone across the edge of a worn arrowhead. The fletching sits still behind her as she holds the shaft under her armpit. She grips the base of the arrowhead, knuckles braced firmly against her knee. She continues the practiced sharpening for a few moments before raising the head for closer inspection. Approving of the refined edge she adds it to a quiver with the others and begins the process on another dulled arrowhead.
"I do want to help, Marin."
Her eyes don't move from her work as the Guardian approaches her. "That so?" She continues the stone's smooth motions.
"Yeah. Just wish I knew how…"
The stone stops for a moment. The Guardian passes by her.
Call To Serve.
Ornate rugs hang from the ceiling joists in a thoughtful display. Each rug is Intricately designed with patterns and art that must have taken many days of practice to perfect. Small slits in the roof allow soft light to peek through, highlighting the works of art. The rugs farthest from the door show signs of age and wear but are honored with their place above the great hall all the same.
Klutz rests against a beam near the entrance and studies the rugs for some time.
A blue skinned man enters the room from the back of the building, carrying a small tray of hot coals. He takes an extended look at The Guardian. His face does not surrender his feelings. Nor do his bright amber eyes. After a moment he kneels down next to the fire pit, built up with cut logs and kindling, in the center of the hall. After emptying the tray of coals at the base of the pit he rests on his hands and leans close to the heat. Carefully he blows on the embers and they glow bright, heating the kindling surrounding them. He blows again but the flame fails to ignite.
"Need a hand?" the Guardian asks while crossing the hall to where the fire tender sits.
The man continues blowing on the cinders, seemingly ignoring the offer.
Klutz holds his palm upward and conjures a small flame of Solar energy in his loose grasp. "It really wouldn't be a problem. Good practice if anything."
Looking away from the weak embers for a moment, the man finally addresses the Guardian, "No need to bother yourself. I've started plenty of fires in my time. It just takes patience." He turns back to the fire pit. "Do they teach that back in The City?"
Klutz rolls his eyes slightly. "You do understand I've spent just as much time out here with y'all as I have back in The City since I was… Since I became a Guardian?"
"Apologies, Guardian. Sometimes I forget your city sent us a… Hmm what do the Lightbearers call you?"
Somewhat annoyed with the way the conversation has turned he answers, "…A New Light."
"Ahh yes. A New Light, fresh out of his grave to show me how to start a fire in my own home. Marvelous," he says with a shake of his head before blowing heavily on the embers.
"Listen, Eyran. I came here to see if you needed help. That's all. But if you-"
Standing up from the fire to quickly face The Guardian, Eyran raises his voice, "We did not ask for your help! We do not need your help! This village has been perfectly fine on our own for over a hundred years! Why would we…" He stops for a moment and collects himself. "What I mean to say is, I can handle this... this fire, just fine on my own."
Klutz, surprised by the man's outburst, is taken aback for a moment. "Well… That's that I guess." He straightens his posture. "If I can't be of any help it's probably best if I just-"
"Guardian!" The woman's voice echoes through the hall as she crashes through the creaky door. "There's something I need you to take a look at."
Quickly switching gears, the Lightbarer turns to the woman at the door with an expression of equal parts concern and surprise. "Marin? What's going on?"
She moves her gaze quickly between the two men before answering, "Got something that I think could use your set of skills."
Eyran looks worried as he wipes the ash from his hands. "His skills? Are we in danger?"
"Nah… No danger Eyran, just something that could use a pair of hands is all," she says with a nervous cadence.
Noticing something wrong, Eyran presses further. "Marin I just need a moment and I will be free to help."
"Don't worry. I really just need The Guardian here. Besides, you've got a fire to tend to, right?"
"I haven't started the fire yet, as I'm sure you see. So give me a moment and we will see to whatever this problem is together."
Just as the man finishes his sentence Klutz snaps his fingers in a brilliant display of bright sparks and heat. The flame leaps from the tips of his fingers and ignites all the kindling in the pit with dramatic effect. "You can handle the fire, right?" he asks rhetorically as he joins the woman at the door.
The sun has almost set as the pair leave the building. Darkness stretches across the land.
The Vow.
"Hurry, Guardian. This way," she says, leading the man toward one of the hunting huts on the edge of the village.
"What's going on, Marin?" he asks, keeping pace with the woman's quick stride.
"A couple of our huntsmen ran into something on the edge of the woods… Something dangerous."
"I thought you told the old man it 'wasn't' dangerous?"
"I didn't lie if that's what you're asking. He wanted to know if the village was in danger. And the answer is no. Not with you here."
He swallows deeply and continues toward the hut.
Inside the hut a man lays unconscious on a short wooden table. Blood glistens under the dim light of the lamp hanging above. A young man kneels beside the table with the injured man's hand grasped tightly between his own.
"What… what happened to him?" Klutz asks as soon as he surveys the room.
The injured man has his limb tied off tightly above the elbow. Just below the elbow his arm has been severed and seems to be badly burned. Another large burn covers much of his chest.
"Shahid, tell him what happened." Marin calmly prompts the kneeling man.
He looks up at the Guardian with shock still visible in his eyes. "W-we we're on the southern path. Checking the traps. At the end of the woods. I-it came out of nowhere!"
Marin crouches down next to the young man and puts her hand on his shoulder as tears begin to well in his eyes. "You've got to go on, Shahid. Tell him what attacked you. How it attacked."
"I-I it c-came out of… out of…" He closes his eyes to try and stop the tears. Wet streaks run over his dirty face.
Marin stands up patting the boy on his back softly. "I haven't been able to get much out of him. The guy on the table… It's his dad," she quietly explains to The Guardian. "I have a good idea about what did this but I'd rather not go after it blind. Think you can get him talking?"
"I don't know how to-"
Suddenly Spark appears at Klutz's side and floats down to meet the distraught boy. "Your father is going to be alright, Shahid." She speaks softly as she scans over the unconscious man. "He hasn't lost too much blood. You must have got that tourniquet on quick huh?"
He drys his eyes on his sleeve. "I had to stop the bleeding."
"Did he teach you how to do that?"
"No it was our surgeon… Nadia."
Marin returns to the boys' side. "Nadia will be back real soon. She's just gathering supplies so we can take good care of your pa."
He takes a sharp breath to stifle a sob.
"Well, she taught you very well, Shahid," the Ghost says with a kind and genuine voice. "You've done a good job helping your father, but we still need your help."
The boy hesitantly moves his eyes up toward the gentle machine and the huntress.
Marin lightly grips the boy's arms to help him stand. "We can't let something like this happen to any other folk. You understand?"
Shahid looks down at his feet and nods. Tears leave wet spots on his worn leather boots.
Spark moves closer to the boy to guide his attention. "Marin is right. My friend, Klutz is going to help her find and stop the thing that hurt your father so it can never hurt anything else."
The boy looks up at the Guardian across the table. "You'll kill it?" he asks with the slightest tremble in his voice.
Klutz is a little caught off guard by the question. He looks at the injured man, laying in his own blood, living on labored breaths. He answers. "Yes. I'll kill it."
"The monster, it came out of nowhere." The boy's face has turned from fear to anger as he elaborates. "One moment we were alone in the woods, just the two of us, the next it appeared out of thin air, right in front of us, and lunged at my pa."
"What did this monster look like, Shahid?" Marin asks plainly.
"It was tall and its eyes lit up blue. It walked on two legs like a man but it was nothing like any man I've ever seen." He raises his hands above his head. "It had four arms!"
Spark quickly looks to her Guardian and her shell segments move almost erratically.
Marin also looks Klutz in the eye, unsurprised by the description. She looks back at the boy, noticing his quicker breathing. "What happened next, Shahid? Is that when it hurt your pa?"
"Yes…" He lowers his arms and quiets his voice a little. "First it threw fire at his chest. He was not prepared so he fell on his back as the fire hit him. Pa yelled at me, told me to run. The monster carried a sword that crackled with lightning. He swung it at Pa… that's how he lost… how he lost his arm."
Marin can see the boy becoming overwhelmed again. "How did y'all get away? Did it leave after hurting your pa?"
The boy looks back at the table where his wounded father lays. "No. When Pa told me to run, I really wanted to. But I didn't listen. The monster pointed its sword at him, it was gonna finish him off. I loosed one arrow. It landed in one of its eyes and all of this bright steam shot out as it screamed." The boy kneels back down and holds his fathers hand again. "The monster turned at me and roared. I thought it would get me next. But instead it pulled out the arrow and disappeared. I tied Pa's arm and dragged him here."
"Thank you Shahid. You are a very brave man," Spark says before returning to her Guardian's side.
Marin pats the boy's shoulder softly as the surgeon enters the room.
Night Watch.
The huntswoman and the Lightbearer stand outside the hut. Illuminated by the soft glow from the west as it settles below the horizon. Muted cries can be heard, along with the muffled reassurances of the doctor.
"How much experience do you have with The Fallen?" Marin asks, tightening the strap on her loaded quiver.
Spark bobs side to side uneasily.
"I've never been toe to toe with any…" Klutz replies, honestly and somewhat anxiously. "From what I've heard, they don't sound very friendly." He slips a sealed helmet over his head. It lets out a pressurized hiss as it attaches at the neck.
"Hell of an understatement." She inspects the knot at one end of her bow string and signals the Guardian to follow her toward the dense woods.
Spark emits a dull light, allowing the trio to navigate the suffocating darkness of the forest. They creep through the woods for sometime, following a well worn path made by the village's hunters and trappers over the long, difficult years.
Marin slows her pace before crouching down near the edge of the path. Spark moves closer and brightens her lamp toward the ground. Dark red blood is soaked into the earth. The dirt, disturbed by deep boot marks and strange alien imprints. "Here we are…" she says in a whisper .
The Guardian holds his rifle firmly as he surveys the black surroundings. "So what's the plan here?" he asks his guide.
"I doubt that thing would come out here looking for blood just for the hell of it. Especially not alone. It's gotta be camped somewhere nearby. Probably in a group." She observes the direction of the monstrous tracks. They are deep and seem to come from the direction opposite to the village and the forest before fading. "There is a clearing just past these trees. A big open field, lots of visibility. I bet they're holding up someplace around there, but still nestled in the bush. That'd give 'em the best view while still hidden."
Klutz directs his Ghost to dim her light more to give them the best chance at avoiding detection.
Marin moves toward an old strong tree near the edge of the woods, next to the field. She scans over the tree before finding a carved foothold to help her scale the towering feat of nature. Now above the man's head she signals him to follow. "We've got a perch up here. It'll be easier to look for 'em from there."
Klutz takes one last look into the dark surroundings before he stows his weapon and follows her up.
From the vantage point, the moonlit clearing can be seen almost in its entirety. An uneasy quiet fills the area. Even the wind is still and silent.
A few hours pass as Marin scans the tree line for any hint of the dangerous invaders. Klutz rests as best he can on the small cramped perch. He keeps his rifle ready for any sign of their prey.
Spark breaks the silence with her soft voice. "It's very brave of you to come along on this mission, Marin." She speaks quietly with a friendly tone.
Marin's focus doesn't break as she gives a reply. "… 'Come along?'"
Her dry tone surprises the Ghost. "Oh I didn't mean that to seem rude! Obviously this is your mission as well! All I meant was that without you, it would take us even longer to find our target… What I'm trying to say is your guidance is invaluable."
Marin turns to the little Light and chuckles. "'invaluable' is right! Without me you two would be lost in the dark, trying to find any sign of 'em based on 'biometric scans' and 'atmospheric disturbances.'" She lets out another friendly chuckle before looking back out to the field.
Klutz laughs quietly and turns to his embarrassed Ghost. "What's the matter Spark? 'Mouth moved before the mind?'" he asks through a grin.
Spark spins her shell in a flustered expression before disappearing.
Klutz holds his gun loosely on his lap as he lays back heavily on the hard bark of the tree. Pressed closely against his shoulder, Marin continues to watch for any sign of their target. Her mind stays vigilant but her body has relaxed into the Guardian, over the long hours.
"She's right you know?" The man speaks without adjusting his position.
Marin turns her head to meet what she assumes is the man's gaze, through the dark visor of his helmet.
"She may not have got the words out right, but I know what she meant." He sits up straight and lets his feet dangle from the side of the perch. "You are putting a lot on the line out here trying to get this thing. Say it was hidden in the bush while we were down below. If it'd lunged at me, and I wasn't quick enough to avoid it, Spark could patch me up good as new. I'd get the chance to fight again. But if the same thing happened to you…"
"Everyone dies eventually. Even you Lightbearers, from what I've heard."
"True. We are just a little more stubborn I guess." He chuckles softly. "But as long as I don't do anything stupid, I don't see a scenario where I'm not making it home after this…"
Marin looks back out toward the clearing without saying anything right away. In fact she says nothing for some time.
The smile on the man's face fades quickly. He worries he has spoken carelessly again. He worries he has not thought his words through as closely as he had believed. He worries he has offended the only friend he has made in this unwelcoming village… again.
The painful silence eats away at him.
"Alright, Guardian. I see what you're getting at and I get your point."
Klutz turns his posture towards the archer with some surprise.
"When I finally spot the bastard, I'll stay back and let you do your thing. Can't imagine what it'd be like explaining things to Eyran if you brought me back in a body bag!" she says with a laugh.
He winces at the thought.
"You're the one with something to prove, to the folks back home I mean." She looks back at the armored man sitting awkwardly on the edge, above the shorter trees below.
Klutz offers nothing but silence in response.
The woman twists the corner of her mouth. "Hey, like it or not, it's true. You know if you're gonna stick around here for a few more weeks, or hell, a few more months, you need to make good with people. If we get this done right, before anyone else gets hurt, even Eyran won't be able to say you aren't pulling your weight."
Still he says nothing as he stares out into the night.
Marin sits forward and puts a kind hand on the man's hard plated shoulder. "Look at it like this. After we-"
"Quiet a second…" He says sharply as he sits upright in concentration. "Do you hear that? The humming?"
Marin perks her ear up to listen and catches the sound. A low mechanical hum, almost drowned out by the gentle noises of the breeze.
"Can't tell where it's coming from," he whispers. "It's gotta be nearby."
Standing tall on the perch, Marin scans the tree line for any clue as to the source of the hum. She looks carefully for any sign of movement, any indication of change in the environment. Studying the trees for some time, she stands still and silent with absolute focus when suddenly… the hunter spots her prey.
Quickly she tightens the quiver to her back and gives her bow a final inspection. She pats the seated man on the back firmly and says, "Look alive, Guardian. Think I've spotted the source of that hum."
Klutz stands and fixes his rifle to his back. "Where? I don't see anything." He continues to look for whatever it is that caught the woman's eye.
"Nestled in the trees to the right. About a hundred meters from here, hell maybe less than that, I saw it."
"Only a hundred meters from here? Are you sure? I don't see anything."
"Would be pretty easy to miss, but I'm sure of what I saw. A little ways in, past the trees, I saw glow in the air. Looked almost like moonbeams crossing through some thick fog. Maybe on a different night I would believe as much, but tonight… I don't see a hint of fog. Putting two and two together, I'm sure that 'fog' was Ether."
"Ether? That's uh, something like food for The Fallen, right?"
"Something like that. And I'm thinking one of them got a late night snack."