The Hero's Burden.

Shrouded in the darkness of the forest, the pair approach the site of the glowing fog the hunter spotted. They walk low, mindful of every step, lest they make a noise and lose their chance to strike from the shadows.

Almost at their destination Marin stops Klutz with a strong grasp on his arm. "If they've got Ether out this remote, they've got a Servitor. And if they've got a Servitor I can only imagine there are a good number of them camped here." Her words whispered just loud enough to get her point across. "I'll find a good line of sight. Nearby but out of danger. If any try to flank you or get away, I'll stick 'em." She draws three arrows from her quiver and tucks them in her belt.

With an anxious nod, Klutz breaks away from the woman and slowly advances toward his target.

Marin disappears into the darkness.

A little deeper into the dense woods, Klutz spots a figure and takes cover behind an enormous old log.

A tall armored creature leans motionlessly against a thick trunk. The creature wears a long red cap, almost touching the ground, over its protected back. On its head it wears a tall dual pointed helmet that gives off the impression that the beast holds a high position amongst its kind. Klutz wonders if this was the 'monster' that disfigured the boy's father. He can't be sure as it is turned away from the Guardian's position, making it impossible for him to see if it is missing an eye. Instead, the tall creature is looking over a modest, makeshift camp in a small clearing in the woods. Half a dozen alien hammocks hang between close trees. In each hammock lies a smaller creature. Totally unaware that their location has been discovered.

"They're sleeping…" Klutz says with a troubled voice as he sweeps his rifle sights over the quiet camp. The area is littered with scrap and refuse like a miniature landfill. It smells like one as well. Much of the rubbish is organized in small piles, possibly by their supposed usefulness. Klutz assumes the desperate squatters are likely scavenging anything they can find for equipment or repairs. From one of the hanging hammocks, the sounds of strange alien weezing can be heard. A pitiable invader struggling for breath. Klutz moves his finger off the trigger and lowers the weapon.

Soon after, Spark appears next to him. "They are dangerous, Klutz… One of them almost killed Shahid and his father. I understand it's not exactly… honorable to start an attack while they have no chance to defend themselves… but it's really the safest option."

"I read that they're called 'The Fallen' because of some kind of disaster that happened to their home. That's why they live like this," he says unnervingly.

Spark positions herself infront of her Guardian. "They kill people Klutz. I've been around a long time. I've heard the stories and I've met the victims. Before I found you I would search the aftermath of Fallen attacks. Sometimes it would be nomads looking for a safe place to camp for the night. Other times it was a small settlement, people that were doing what they could to survive. It was always the same. Bodies strewn about, robbed of any useful equipment. No quarter for anyone trying to escape. Not even children… I would always search these places soon after an attack, before any survivors had the chance to collect the remains of their loved ones. I had this idea that maybe, in some ironic twist of fate, one of those victims would be my Guardian. That they would rise up and stop The Fallen from hurting others the way they were hurt…" Her glowing eye seems dimmer than usual. "You made a promise to Shahid. Please don't let them hurt anyone else." She dematerializes leaving Klutz with a full view of the invaders camp.

In the middle of the camp he sees a dim purple glow emanating from a large protrusion under a tarp. "That must be the Servitor." He thinks to himself for a moment before holstering his weapon and conjuring a small orb of violet Void energy in his hand. He builds the energy in his palm for a moment before swiftly leaping over the log and launching the orb at the concealed machine.

A bright violet glow illuminates the camp as the Servitor's screeches pierce through the low hum of the Void vortex. All of the Dregs awake from their hammocks in surprise as their life-giving machine disintegrates in other worldly light. The once resting captain of the group shields his eyes as he stands straight, his movements radiating fury.

The vortex eventually dies out leaving nothing left of the Ether machine but scraps of the tarp that once covered it. Klutz hides behind a wide tree trunk as the Fallen scramble from their cots. "If they have no Ether they can't stick around, right?"

Spark answers through his helmet's communication system rather than appearing physically. "For now at least. They will need to refill on Ether eventually, but I wouldn't count them out…"

"I didn't see any tanks of the stuff so I'm betting they can't last long. They definitely can't make any moves on the village. I'll advise everyone to keep away until we are sure it's safe. If these guys don't get the message after this, if they do come back… I'll deal with them then."

After a short pause Spark replies, "I hope you're right."

Before he can think of an escape route, Klutz hears a cry from the panicked camp. Alien yelping and a strangely satisfying hiss bellow from behind the tree he is using as cover. He peeks slyly to see what caused the noise. It doesn't take long for him to get his answer.

A small Fallen Dreg lays dead on the forest floor. Ether slowly stops shooting from the wound on its neck, around the arrow lodged inside. Almost deep enough to pop out the other end.

"What the…? Marin." Before he can say another word, the whizz of a second arrow interrupts him. Luckily for its intended target, the arrow just barely misses its mark. Instead it skims one of the Dregs' undocked arms and plants itself firmly in the ground.

Klutz hears Marin curse quietly from the nearby tree she is perched on.

The remaining Dregs fire small arms, indiscriminately, in the archer's direction. The Captain dashes behind the tree he had been leaning against and readies a large two handed firearm of alien design.

"Damn! They'll kill her!" he quietly says in frustration.

After the briefest moment of hesitation, he swiftly pirouettes around the tree and into a firing stance with his rifle pointed toward the group of aliens shooting their weapons into the trees.

Before he can pick a target another arrow finds itself stuck firmly in the face of a Dreg, just above its mouth. It doesn't scream as it's body collapses. The only noise that escapes is the sound of Ether spraying out from the arrow's entry point.

The leader of the camp lets out a commanding roar from its concealed position. The scattered defenders respond to the order by moving to more covered positions around the camp while firing off bursts of plasma to aid in their retreat.

Still unnoticed by the enemy, Klutz stealthily moves to a flanking position. Stopping when he has a better view of the armored Captain, still readying its weapon.

The hulking beast turns some form of switch on the enormous gun, filling its barrel with fire. The Captain stands tall and blasts two streams of fire into the air in quick succession while it lets out a terrifying war cry.

Klutz trains his weapons sights on the creature's head as it barks. Just as he is about to pull the trigger, his blood runs cold. The monster locks its vision directly on the man as it lowers its weapon from the sky. Its three remaining eyes pierce his soul as it stares at him.

Raising its huge arm it points its clawed finger at him and prepares to direct the others to his position. Before it gets the chance an arrow strikes it squarely in the shoulder. Breaking in two upon impact, the creature barely has time to react before it is stuck again and then a third time. The arrows seem to originate from a different, closer position.

Klutz realizes the opening and joins his companion by popping off a flurry of shots at the towering alien. The Captain slowly steps backward and covers its face to protect itself from the gunfire, but otherwise seems largely unaffected by the bullets ricocheting off its body armor.

Noticing his attacks are not having the desired effect, the Guardian turns his attention to the firing squad, now painfully aware of his location.

Quickly, the insect-like creatures begin assaulting the man with a barrage of bright blue energy shot from their small weapons.

Diving out of the way as quickly as possible, Klutz is only grazed by a few of the blasts before he can take cover behind an old stump nearby.

Another loud roar hisses from behind the Captain's sharp teeth, prompting Klutz to look over the stump and investigate. To his surprise the tall Fallen is nowhere to be seen. Although its subordinates reward Klutz's curiosity with another burst of energy fire. Klutz immediately ducks these blasts rather than put the strength of his helmet to the test.

"Where did it go?!" the man asks with panic in his words.

"It must have activated a cloaking system! It's not appearing on my scans," Spark answers, as best she can.

The man's heart beats fast in his chest. "It could be anywhere…" It beats faster still. "Shit, it could be after Marin!"

After briefly building power in his legs, the man leaps high over the stump and throws a small orb of Void energy at the pair of Fallen nearest to him. Almost instantly, the Dregs are consumed by the vortex and disintegrate in a horrific but brilliant display of power.

The two remaining fighters desperately shoot at the airborne Guardian. For the most part their shots hit their mark, but they are not enough to stop the Lightbearer.

With his left hand, he throws a small, dense ball of energy at one of the Dregs. The ball collides with the creature hard, sending it hurtling backward until it stops suddenly upon impact with a large tree. The impact shatters its slender body. With his right hand he holds his rifle and fires three shots into the last Dreg's' thorax. The dying creature stumbles backwards with a rattling wheeze before falling on its back into a pile of junk.

Smoothly returning to the ground, the Guardian reloads his weapon and turns his head about quickly. Looking for a sign of the remaining combatant. "Spark, do you know where Marin is?" He asks while catching his breath.

"Yes! Her biometric signature is nearby. Marking it for you now," the Ghost says as she highlights a spot about fifteen feet up a nearby tree.

Darkest Before.

Klutz races toward his friend's location, knowing the invisible threat could strike at any moment. "Marin!" he shouts as he approaches the tree she is settled in.

"Whoa, Guardian! I see you," she answers back and stands from a small perch concealed by leaves. "Lost sight of the big bastard. You know where it went?"

With a small sigh of relief, Klutz answers, "I thought it was on its way to you."

"Would have beat you here if it was… Damn. Maybe it ran? Think we scared it off again?" she says as she slings her bow over her back and begins to climb down the carved footholds in the tree.

Klutz remembers the rage he saw in the Captain's eyes. Unconsciously, he moves his hand to a pain in his chest.

"Aww hell, Guardian. You're leaking," Marin says with concern as she joins the man on the ground.

"Huh?" He raises his hand to see it dripping with dark blood. Checking his aching chest, he sees the various plasma burns on his robe. One of which broke through the armor underneath, leaving a deep bloody wound. "Yeah, I took a few hits getting over here…"

Spark quickly appears and moves down to observe the wound. "Don't worry, Klutz! I'll patch this up in just a moment." She floats up above his shoulder to meet his eye. "Although I do have to say, that was a pretty risky move you pulled back there. Pinned down by multiple combatants, yet you exposed yourself willingly."

Starting to feel the pain of his injuries, Klutz grunts and says, "Well, it was a risk worth taking." He looks at Marin with a tender smile behind his visor.

Marin returns a warm, appreciative expression.

"In the moment I understand. Marin could have been in danger so you didn't want to lose any time. But in hindsight we know that the Captain didn't target her. In fact it's still out here somewhere…"

Almost too coincidentally, a series of loud pops ring out from behind the man. Just as quickly, Spark is hit by a burst of flaming projectiles. The impact sends her flying backwards into a large bush.

Shaken by the sudden attack on his friend, Klutz pulls out his weapon and yells, "Spark, hide!"

Spark peers through the leaves of the bush. She looks at the blood still spilling out of his body and disappearing into the dark floor below. She pauses for a moment before listening to her Guardian's sound advice and disappearing.

Trying his best to ignore the pain, Klutz pivots around just in time to see the terrifying figure disable its cloaking device. Only a few feet away, it stands proudly with intimidating stature, silhouetted by moonlight.

For a split second, the beast only stares. Its eyes glow with hatred and its weapon wells with flames. Klutz is the first to act, squeezing the trigger of his rifle in rapid succession. The bullets are ineffective as the beast crouches down and dashes forward to close the distance. Its movements appear like a slideshow, illuminated in flashes by the rapid gunfire. Upon reaching the Guardian, it lands a powerful blow with one of its free arms, directly on the man's wounded abdomen. Klutz doubles over from the pain and collapses to the ground, breathless.

Turning its attention to the archer, the Captain looks almost surprised to see she has already increased the distance between them by a good ten feet and readied her bow. Two arrows tucked in her belt and a third one fully drawn, about to be released. The beast is quick enough to shield its face before the first arrow lands. Were the towering creature a moment slower, it would have undoubtedly lost one of its remaining eyes. Blindly advancing, with its vision covered by its armored forearm, the hulking Fallen feels another arrow ping off its helmet. It lets out a sinister, alien laugh. This laugh is cut short by a jolt of pain in its neck. One of Marin's arrows lodged itself deep in a soft gap in the armor covering the area. Ether sprays out dramatically.

"That's right! Bleed, you bastard!" she taunts as the attacker stumbles in place for a moment. Marin reaches to her quiver for more arrows. "Shit… one left," she mutters to herself.

Collecting itself for a moment, the beast tightly grabs the arrow protruding from its neck and snaps it with ease. Fearlessly it lowers the arm covering its face so it can see its opponent.

Marin stands only a small distance away. Her bow lays at her feet. She is unarmed, but she stands tall all the same. She spits a gob into the dirt and scuffs it with her heel.

The Captain points its gun at her. Fire spills from its maw.

"If you're gonna shoot me like a coward, best just get it over with!" Marin shouts loudly and uncompromised.

To her surprise the monster answers.

"No," it says in a horrific, scratching voice, bookended by bug-like clicking sounds. The Captain drops its weapon onto the dirt with a weighty thud. Reaching behind its back with one of its powerful arms, the beast draws a long sword, surging with arcs of electricity. It stands still menacingly for a moment.

Marin holds her ground.

The monster begins walking toward the lone hunter. Anger in every step.

Marin does not flinch.

As the headsman stands before her, the crackling of its voltaic blade seem almost as loud as her pounding heart. It points the blade inches from her throat, small arcs of lightning lick at her chin.

"This is your end," the beast utters slowly.

A wide devilish grin stretches across her face.

For a moment the beast is puzzled by her reaction. Its confusion fades quickly and is replaced by rage. With one of its free arms, it aggressively grabs the woman by the neck, raising her high enough to meet its face. "Why?" it growls.

The beast receives no answer. Instead it is caught off guard by a sudden glow of bright purple light and a strong impact against its back. The impact knocks it forward, almost enough to take it off its feet. After recovering briefly from the strike, the beast turns its massive head to look for the attacker.

Marin seizes the opportunity, and quickly swings the arrow in her white knuckled grasp directly at the monster's vulnerable face. The arrow penetrates deep into the eye nearest to the one it lost only hours prior. Twisting and jamming, Marin revels in her foes cry's of pain.

Just as quickly, the partly blinded alien pulls the woman away from its face and plunges one of its weapons through her midriff and out her back.

The hidden Guardian shouts in shock as the beast pulls the sword from the woman's body.

Unable to scream, due to the tight constricting grip around her throat, Marin clenches her jaw down tight enough to fracture a tooth. This doesn't last long though as the enraged creature then throws her against a nearby tree. After taking a moment to collect herself, she sits upright against the tree and puts firm pressure on the front facing wound. Blood continues to soak her clothes. Trying her best to ignore the pain, she holds back tears and looks up to see the monster stumble toward the Guardian.

Klutz struggles to stand from his concealed position as he faces the injured Captain. He feels lightheaded and his limbs are numb but nevertheless he points his weapon forward and stands his ground. To his surprise the Captain gradually slows down its stumbled steps before stopping all together. He watches as the once mighty opponent falls to its knees, grasping the shaft of the arrow still protruding from its head.

The creature breathes heavily and yanks the arrow from its eye. Ether sprays out violently and the Fallen drops to its side.

With his rifle at the ready, Klutz approaches the now barely moving Captain. He points the barrel at the exposed section of its gaudy face covering. It does not raise its arm in defense. Instead the defeated warrior only lays limply. Struggling for breath as the stream of Ether spewing from its eye slowly dissipates. Klutz presses the barrel lightly against the dying Captain's head. His finger wrapped around the trigger.

"Why?" it asks through desperate breaths.

The Guardian is surprised and loosens his trigger finger.

Working just to stay awake, the Captain turns its two remaining eyes to face its executioner. "Why-why did The Great Machine choose you?" It turns its head toward The Traveler, just visible above the trees. "Why did it… abandon us?"

The Ether stops leaking and the light leaves its eyes.

Klutz holsters his rifle and shuffles toward his injured friend. "Marin? Are you- argh!" He falls to a kneel beside the half conscious hunter and presses his hands on her blood soaked side. Ignoring the pain of his own still bleeding injury.

Her hands are limp on her lap, slick with red. She struggles to keep her eyes open while slowly turning her view from the still body of the Fallen to the man pressing on her tender wounds. She wants to speak, she wants to say something. She wants to, but the words do not leave her mouth. She closes her eyes and hopes she gets the chance to tell him some other time. To show him.

"Spark! It's safe now, but I need your help," the man says with a shaky voice.

The Ghost appears quickly and begins shining her light on the man's injuries. "Just hang in there, Klutz. I'll have you patched up in a second and then we can-"

The man cuts her off as she begins healing him. "I'll be fine Spark but we have to help Marin!" he blurts out, panicked

Spark continues repairing his body with Light. "If you pass out as well we'll lose more time. Let me fix you first and we'll do what we can for Marin."

Lit up by her lamp, Klutz notices a section of the Ghosts shell is damaged and singed from the attack. "You're right, Spark… I'm sorry." Klutz feels physical relief as his flesh is mendid and life begins to return to his body. Mentally however he feels no such relief as his concern for his friend only grows by the second.

The Ghost gives a final scan over her partner before turning her attention to the unconscious woman. "Believe it or not, she is lucky. The blade was not very accurate, I guess that thing had bigger concerns when it… What I mean to say is the blade passed through her abdomen quite far to the side. It missed her digestive tract as well as any other major organs."

"So she's gonna be okay?" His hands, pressed against her wounds. His gloves, covered in her blood.

Spark slowly shifts her injured shell around. "I can't say that just yet… She has lost a good amount of blood and she is losing more as we speak." She senses the man's heart rate elevate. "Try to stay calm, Klutz. At her current rate of blood loss we should have more than enough time to make it back to the village."

His Ghost's smooth words settle his nerves somewhat. "Call in the ship, Spark." His voice has steadied. He moves his bloody arms around the woman's limp body and cradles her with ease.

"Way ahead of you, Guardian. The landing site is just past those trees, in the field." Spark takes a second to look at her partner. Streaks of red stain the purple robes.

Love and Death.

With the sun beginning to show its soft amber splendor, the village elder watches as the Guardian's jumpship lands nearby. His dark blue lips are pursued tightly and his brow is contorted with aggravation. As the spacecraft lands, he approaches, ready to share his frustration with his most trusted hunter and her Light-wielding companion. The pair appear from the vehicle and the sight of them instantly replaces the elders' anger with horror. "Wha- what- what happened?" Eyran stammers his speech as his menacing gait turns into a panicked scuttle. When he meets the bloody Guardian and the pale body in his arms he immediately reaches out to hold her unmoving hand. The warmth of her palm blesses him with relief but he is still struck almost speechless by the sight of her. "Please, Guardian, bring her to the community hall! I'll summon our surgeon to meet you." He brushes his hand over her messy hair and holds it gently against her temple. For the briefest moment, he seems frozen in time. He quickly collects himself and makes his way hastily toward the surgeon's home.

Klutz carries the woman carefully toward the large building in the center of the village.

Sunlight enters the hall as narrow beams shine through the angled slits in the roof. Bits of dust dance through the shafts of light and settle on the beautifully woven rugs hanging above.

His dark helmet stands next to him as the man weightily rests against a support beam near the entrance. He sits on the floor, his head laying heavily atop his crossed arms. Footsteps creak the old floor boards on the other end of the hall and he raises his head quickly to see who's there.

A visibly exhausted woman slowly crosses the hall. Moving toward the exit. In one hand she carries a large bag, adorned with a faded red cross. Under her other arm she holds a tightly rolled apron, dotted with splotches of red. She notices the man looking at her as she approaches the door. "You're the one who brought her back this way?" she asks dryly.

The man nods and looks away.

"Thank you for returning her to us." Her words are cold but genuine.

Klutz looks back at the surgeon with fearful hope in his eyes. "Will she be okay?" he asks directly.

"She won't pass from the blood loss, thanks to your donation."

"That nurse of yours wasn't exactly gentle with the needle," he says with an awkward half smile.

Ignoring the joke, she continues. "The blade only injured her skin and muscle for the most part. No major blood vessels nicked and no perforations to her organs. However the weapon burned much of the tissue it passed through."

His half smile fades.

"This increases the risk of infection fairly significantly. We have medicine but only time will tell what happens next."

"Is she awake? Can I talk to her?"

"No, she is sleeping now but I'm sure she will be up later today. I recommend she rest for a few weeks, but knowing her we'll be lucky if she sits still for even a few hours once she gains her strength."

Klutz stands up. Leaving his helmet on the floor. "I can have my friend take a look at her to make sure everything's good." He holds out his palm and Spark appears hovering above his hand.

The doctor looks at the Ghost blankly for a moment. "You can have your machine give her a look over if you wish. I doubt it will tell you much more than we already know."

Spark looks at the woman, narrows her scarred shell and disappears.

Adjusting the apron under her arm, the surgeon turns to make her way to the exit. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get some rest myself."

As the doctor leaves the hall through the large creaky door, Klutz leans back against the beam. "Things… could have gone worse, I guess." He says after a small silence.

Spark reappears in front of him. "Can you believe that lady? 'I doubt IT will tell you much!' I'm a Ghost! My primary function is medical care… Well medical care specific to one Guardian, but I know my stuff!" Her shell moves back and forth quickly. "Oh anyway, you are right about that. Things could have gone worse and we are lucky they didn't."

Klutz looks up at his Ghost uncomfortably.

"We had the jump on those Fallen. You should have struck their leader right away. I understand you were conflicted, but our safety, and the safety of this village, is your responsibility."

Klutz looks away and his shoulders sink.

"Hey, you aren't the only one at fault. I should have been quicker to heal you… If I was, I'm sure you would have been able to stop that Captain long before it got to Marin." Her shell opens wider as she continues. "Speaking of Marin, her behavior was all kinds of reckless! We agreed that she would only take shots at the fleeing Dregs. Oh well. I feel bad blaming her for anything after what happened…" Spark moves to meet the man's turned head. "I'm sorry if this isn't the best time to debrief."

"It's okay Spark. I think we all learned something today." Just as he finishes his sentence, Klutz hears the floorboards creak again.

Spark looks over and then dematerializes.

Eyran walks into the hall from Marin's room. He looks as though he is carrying weight with every step. Eventually he sits down on a short bench near the fire pit. He does not glance at the Guardian.

After a moment of internal debate, Klutz walks over and sits on the bench next to the silent elder.

For a time, no one says a word.

Surprisingly Eyran is the first to break the silence. "The Fallen killed her mother." His words are sad but powerful. "I don't know the full story. Over the years she opened up about some details, but I know how difficult it is for her." He looks into the ashes.

Klutz turns his head to listen.

"It was a long time ago when I found her. Still a child. Alone and scared. This is a… common reality for people like us." He speaks with a rarely seen authenticity. "I brought her here and promised to keep her safe. I promised to watch over her and teach her how to survive in what's left of this cruel world. I felt her pain… I felt her pain because I was in her place, many years before."

"The Fallen… killed someone close to you too?"

Eyran does not look away from the ashes. "Ask that question of anyone you meet outside of your city and the answer is likely the same."

Klutz looks into the ashes as well.

"I didn't lose my family to the Fallen." He slowly turns to look at the Guardian. "I lost my family to one of your kind… I wish for you to understand. So please… listen to what I have to say."

The Guardian looks up, surprised.

With a stern but somber expression, Eyran clears his throat subtly and speaks. "A Light-weirder. A Warlord. Whatever you wish to call them, it matters little. I was still a young man at the time. My mother and father decided to leave our home because they wished to 'return to the roots of humanity' or some such nonsense. They were both warriors, veterans of a war waged long ago. They had little fear of what they would find when they arrived. As I was nearly of age, they let me choose if I was to stay behind with my people or accompany them on their pilgrimage. Ha! What a choice…" He shakes his head of blue-grey hair slowly. "Shortly after we arrived on this planet, we were met by a man. He dressed himself head to toe in dirty, distressed armor, bearing the scars of many battles. He was accompanied by some group of lackeys, although they were ultimately unimportant. The man must have seen our ship land, because he was on us In only a matter of minutes. Without so much as an introduction, the man demanded our spacecraft and supplies as some sort of tribute. My father did his best to placate the men with pleasantries. My mother was more pragmatic and drew her weapon. The moment she realized things were not going to end peacefully, she ordered me to return to the ship and fired a shot. Her aim was true and the blast passed through the front of the leader's hideous helmet and exited out the other end. As he collapsed, my father drew and fired. I was already in the ship by the time they finished shooting. When I looked through the window all of the terrible men lay dead on the grass. My parents were untouched. I felt the most incredible feeling of relief and pride in my parents victory." Eyran's sad expression shifts to subtle rage. "I watched as a small machine appeared. It gracefully levitated above the Warlord's corpse and shined the most brilliant light on him. I'm sure you are familiar with what I'm describing?"

Klutz does not answer.

"I watched as the corpse raised itself and lunged for my mother. It stuck her so hard her head turned the wrong way. My father fired shot after shot but it was no use. The deadman covered himself in fire… and roasted my father alive." His voice starts to shake. "I could do nothing to stop it. All I could do was flee. I grasped the ship's controls and raised it from the ground. To my surprise and horror, the dead man leaped high enough to reach the ship mid escape. It pounded on the glass hard until it cracked under the force. I was clever enough to flip the craft upside down before it had the chance to set me ablaze. The walking corpse fell to the ground from a great height, although I'm sure its machine revived it shortly after."

Unsure if he should say something, unsure of what he would say, Klutz resigns to polite silence. He notices the storyteller's hand balled tightly.

"My vehicle was too damaged to return home and I knew nothing of repairs. I lacked the resources to do so anyway. Instead I flew until our food was nearly exhausted. At home there was no game to hunt so I never learned. Here I had no choice. I met nomads, pilgrims, refugees. Some invited me to join them. I always declined. I'm sure you can understand why I had trouble trusting them. I did take the time to listen to their stories. All of them had faced some kind of tragedy. All of them had lost someone. Whether it was to The Fallen… or the Risen." His hands loosen. "After many years living this way, I happened upon a good group of people, making their way in the world like myself. My ship had broken down not long before so, untrusting as I was, I felt it necessary to find allies if I wished to survive. Eventually we followed the pilgrim's path toward The Traveler. A massive settlement had formed under its light, bustling with noise and hope. Among the inhabitants were many Lightbearers. I was made uneasy by their presence but the settlers told me tales of the great deeds they had done, of the lives they had saved and the villains they had vanquished. Their words did little to calm me, but I thought staying there was my best chance… Less than a week later, I saw it." Anger spills from his mouth as he tries to stay composed. "The monster that stole my family from me. I was moving building supplies when I heard a shout. Quickly I investigated and saw it, clad in the same horrible armor, standing with a group of young men. I was shocked because even after all these years, it looked just as it did in my nightmares. The fiend was teaching the men how to shoot. Barking directions and scolding those that made mistakes. I wanted to confront it straight away, but I knew there was no chance I could defend myself if attacked. Instead I swallowed my pride and reported it to the 'pseudo-leader' of our part of the village. He was a Lightbearer himself and he explained to me that 'Risen live long lives.'"

There is silence for a moment. Klutz, listening to the tale, is still unsure of the reason the Awoken is sharing his trauma. He feels sympathy for the man but he feels something else as well. A cold suspense. An anxious, itching feeling that the reason this tale is truly being told is less about finding a better understanding and more about justifying prejudices.

"He asked me to forgive that monster's 'mistakes' and move on. The Awoken live long lives as well. I could not forgive but I could move on. I gathered others who had been wronged by The Light and left the fledgling city. We camped not too far away and decided to call it home. Not two months later we were joined by a large group of disillusioned settlers, hoping to join our young community. They told us news of the Warlord. Apparently it had gotten carried away during training and crippled one of the young men in their militia. Another threatened to expose the crime and was quickly killed for his honesty. Of course the other Risen in their camp heard of this soon after and confronted the monster. From what was relayed to me the battle was sudden and uncontainable. Many died in the crossfire. A large tent, housing the sick and feeble, was struck by a stray bolt of lightning and lit ablaze. Not all we're able to escape. Eventually the Warlord was defeated. Its Ghost crushed under the victor's boot. His death did not revive the ones he killed. It did not console those that died in the showdown… It did not bring me peace. This was enough for many to understand the truth I learned so many years before." He stands up and looks down at Klutz. "You so-called 'Guardians' bring nothing but pain and death to anyone in your path. The Traveler did not raise you as protectors. It raised you as weapons. The world of us 'Lightless' is separate from yours. So point yourself at The Fallen or whatever other horrors you find and leave us be." As soon as the biting words leave his mouth, he turns away and walks into a room at the back of the hall.

Klutz sits without a word and looks into the ashes.

Spark appears. Silently, she hovers near the man's shoulder and looks at him with concern.

After a few moments the man stands from the bench and moves toward the exit.

"Don't you want to check on Marin before we leave?" the little light asks softly.

"The doctor will take care of her. I should get started on my report to Osiris, anyway." He picks his helmet off the floor and leaves.

Positive Outlook.

The jumpship's cockpit is quite cramped. The recycled air has a noticeable, although not unpleasant, scent to it. Even when fully reclined, the pilot's seat does not lean backward much. More so, it just sits a little less straight. With the simulated windows turned off, the interior resembles a space age coffin. Dark, cramped, and silent. Nevertheless, to Klutz it is the most comfortable place imaginable. In the seat of his grounded vessel, the man sleeps. The late afternoon sun shines rays over the exterior of the vehicle, but inside the cockpit is near complete darkness, aside from the dull glow of some meters and indicators on the dashboard.

Wearing only his underclothes, Klutz rests heavily with his feet kicked up atop the console.

The tiny room lights up as Spark appears above the man's extended legs. "Klutz? How are you still sleeping? It's been nearly ten hours!"

Opening his eyes only slightly, so as to avoid the pain of his Ghost's bright light in this vision, the man adjusts himself in his seat slightly and lets out an ambiguous grunt.

Spark comes closer, shining her light brightly on her partner's face. "I know you had a long day but I have an important message for you."

Shielding his eyes from the light, the man stretches his back and sits upright. Following an extended yawn he asks, "Osiris follow up on my report already? And people say he's the 'Busiest Man in The City.' Did he mention anything about the uh… transfer request?" He sits back with heft.

"No and no."

"Oh… Eyran then? Did he listen to the instructions I asked you to pass on to him?"

"He listened to me, but he claims 'avoiding the area is pointless if the threat has been destroyed.' I told him our Hunters have run into Fallen scavengers on the sites of recent battles before. He didn't say anything else, so I'm not sure if he will follow your suggestion…"

"Not surprising. Doubt he'll put his people at risk though. Not after what happened…" He moves his hand as Spark dims the light.

"I agree, but the message I have has nothing to do with Eyran."

Klutz looks to his Ghost curiously.

"It's from Marin."

Sitting up from his seat in surprise Klutz asks, "Marin? She's awake?"

"Oh yes! I spoke to her briefly after I met with Eyran. She was obviously still sore but she seemed to be in good spirits, all things considered," Spark beams.

Stopping himself from saying something too quickly, Klutz leans back into his seat and says, "That's good."

Spark spins her shell back and forth for a moment expectantly. "'That's good.' Is that all you have to say? You saved her life, Klutz! The situation may not have been ideal, but this is the best outcome."

He thinks to himself before replying. "…It's my fault she got hurt in the first place."

"That's not true. If you weren't here, those Fallen may have killed everyone in the village. You did your job and protected them."

"If I wasn't here, Marin would have organized the others and handled The Fallen themselves. If other folks are even half as good as she is, they could have taken out the Fallen before they knew what hit them… They wouldn't have froze up like I did."

"Hey don't talk like that! Your empathy is not a weakness. I know it was hard for you to take those lives, even though they deserved it. I don't blame you for hesitating, because you don't know them like we do."

"Thank you, Spark. I appreciate it, but I know I could have done more."

Spark drops slightly and looks up at the man.

"Marin only took me with her because she wanted to give me a chance to prove myself to the folks here. I jumped at the opportunity when I should have taken a step back. I should've asked her to gather more volunteers, I should've asked The City to send backup. Hell, I should've told her to stay behind and let us try to get things done on our own. Even then I would have… I almost lost you Spark." He reaches out and holds the Ghost in a light grasp. "That Captain hit you… If it was a better shot…" He runs his thumb over the damaged part of her shell.

"You can't live your life based only on 'could's' and 'if's.'" Her words are soft but direct. "Marin asked to meet you. Later tonight."

Klutz sits forward and runs his hand over his head. "Did it sound serious? Not something someone else can handle."

"She wants to meet you!" The little light exclames as she dashes up to meet the man's eyes. "I don't know what Marin wants from you, but there is no sense wallowing in your own doubt. It's obvious she cares about you and I know you care about her. I understand what happened was… traumatic. But more than anything, I think you are letting Eyran's pain get to you." She moves closer. "He wanted to hurt you like he is hurting, Klutz… Don't let him."

For a moment there is no response but soon a small uncertain smile creeps across Klutz's face. "You're pretty good at pep talks, y'know?"

"I've learned that the trick is to mean what you say," she says with joy in her voice.

Stretching his back, the man has a visible change in demeanor. "Alright, I'll see what she wants, but I'm not canceling my transfer request."

"That's fine, but until it is approved, you still have a patrol to do here… A patrol you are a few hours late for."

"Better get out there than. Did you manage to get my gear looking a little more presentable?"

In an instant a flash of light particles envelop the man's body and dissipate just as quickly. Looking down at his body he finds himself now clad in his freshly cleaned and repaired combat robes.

Spark gives the outfit a quick look up and down. "The repairs went fine, but I still think we should have gone with burgundy."

Trust.

Cool night air bushes over his neck as leans back anxiously against the wall. Nervously he flicks the black card through his fingers, giving away the feelings hidden by his otherwise relaxed demeanor. This mission does not require his weapon or abilities but he can not seem to calm himself. After a quick look around he lets out an audible breath. "Maybe she didn't feel good enough to come out? Doc said she needs bed rest anyway," he says to his companion.

Floating beside the man, Spark shakes her light subtly. "She said to wait for her here, around this time. I'm sure she will be here soon."

Klutz pockets the strange card and stands away from the wall. "She could have changed her mind or Eyran could have said something to her…"

"Come on, Klutz. I know you're scared, but you need to hear her out. If she doesn't show soon, we should at least head inside and check on her. We owe her that much."

"Don't think I'm exactly welcome in that building anymore…"

Just then a sound catches the pair's attention. A slow creaking, only perceptible in the quiet of the late night.

"Hey, Guardian? You out there?" a woman's voice whispers from around the corner.

Spark looks at her surprised partner and spins her shell before vanishing.

Taking a deep breath, Klutz prepares to face her. He quickly turns the corner and sees the parted shutters of an open window, lamp light pouring out from within. "Marin?" he asks quietly, even though he knows the answer.

"Of course, you son of shank! Now hurry up and hop through this window."

Straightening his robe Klutz looks around the well lit room. The walls and shelves are decorated by a surprisingly large collection of trinkets and strange treasures.

To his left, on a shelf near the door, he spots an old Hand Cannon propped up on a stand next to a pair of large serrated knives, polished to a shine. To the right he sees a tattered cape, decorated with some kind of alien symbol, hung underneath a large imposing helmet that must have belonged to a Fallen warrior, killed long ago. On the wall above the bed, a broken bow is on display. Snapped in two at the limb beneath the grip. When he finishes his quick gawk around the room, he settles his attention on the huntress.

With noticeable effort, she stands up from the bed and stretches her arms above her head. Her raised arms lift her loose blouse enough to reveal the bandages wrapped around her abdomen. "Pretty cool stuff, huh?" she boasts. Mid stretch, she flinches and lets out a stifled grunt before slowly lowering her arms and cradling her injured side.

Klutz reaches out to try and support her. "Are you oka-"

"No I'm not okay… But I'll live…" she interrupts and waves the man away. "Hurts like a son of a bitch if you hadn't guessed." She laughs softly and looks at him with a pained smile. "You don't look too worse for wear. Hell, even your clothes are patched up."

"Yeah, Spark is a miracle worker…" he says a little awkwardly.

Sensing some tension, Marin shifts her tone. "I'm not mad about what happened, if you're worried about that. Ain't your fault how things turned out anyway. I appreciate that you got me out of there, when everything was done and dealt." She releases her aching side and does her best to stand strong. "Enough about that for now. I called you over 'cause I've got something to show you."

Klutz looks at her quizzically.

"Now pass me that cane or you're gonna have to carry me."

Patiently, the Guardian follows the injured woman out the door and into the main hall.

Marin stops for a moment and sweeps her lantern around the room. "Eyran's been at my bedside almost all day. Had to pull teeth to get him to sleep in his own room." She smirks. "Had you come in the window 'cause I'm sure someone would tell him you dropped by if he didn't see you himself." She speaks quietly.

"Uh, any reason we need to be so discreet? Did he say something to you about… staying away from me?"

She looks back at the man with a concerned expression. "He didn't say anything out of the ordinary. Y'all get into another argument?"

"Not exactly."

"Hmm. I know he's got our people's interests at heart. My interests. He can just be a little… overbearing."

"I'm sure he's got his reasons," Klutz says as he looks toward the ash filled fireplace.

Marin looks at the man a moment longer before continuing. "Well anyway." She guides the man slowly across the hall and stops at a door. "This is why we need to be discreet." She opens the door to reveal a short set of stairs leading down into a dark room. Her lantern lights the way as they descend.

Unsure where his night is headed, Klutz follows the woman's careful steps into the darkness. "So uh, where are we going?"

"Have some patience, Guardian! You'll see in a sec." The steps end in a large celler. Jars of brined vegetables and barrels of salted meats fill the space and leave a strong smell in the air.

"We're gonna steal some pickles?" he jokes.

"Was thinking bacon, but have at it if dill is more your thing." She passes by the full shelves until she arrives at the back of the room. A lone, tall tower of shelves is neatly filled with old dusty boxes. Marin drops her cane, sets her lantern on the floor, and grabs hold of the shelf frame. "Wanna help me with this?"

Klutz grabs the other end and the pair slowly slide the shelves to the side. As soon as they move it far enough, a large sheet of wood that was propped up behind comes falling forward revealing a strange, indented section of the wall and a dim red light glowing above. "Wha-what is this?" He asks after a moment of stunned observation.

Marin leans carefully against the dusty back wall and softly rubs her ribs above the bandages. "I think it's a door. This village was built on the foundation of some old remote town from back in The Golden Age. Door must have been here when Eyran and the other founders arrived." With a half groan, she pushes away from the wall and looks up directly at the red light. "Always been curious what was behind this thing. It's gotta be something worth hiding if they built it to stay powered after all this time."

"I saw something like this before… Back in Old Chicago…" He instinctively grabs for the black card in his pocket.

"Thought you might know something about it." She approaches the door and wipes away a thick layer of dust revealing a large worn emblem decorating its front. The white emblem depicts a tall arch surrounded by three smaller symbols. A hand, a hook, and a butterfly. "When I was young, some of the older folks were still set on getting this thing cracked open. They tried prying at it, tried knocking it down. Hell, one time this geezer named Pete, used an old hand grenade to try and blow the thing open! Didn't work of course but I waited upstairs, so excited for it to pop." She smiles at the thought. "Not long after, Eyran called it a lost cause. He said every few years or so, folk would get the idea that they could get her open. Said all that ever came of it was damaged tools and disappointment. He wasn't wrong, but every time I'd come down here, I'd daydream about seeing what's back there." Her smile weakens. "Not long after you showed up, I saw you fiddling with that little black card. Thought it was a little strange, but city people tend to be a little strange so I didn't think much of it. Then that one night, when we were talking by the garden, I saw it in your hand again. Saw the marking on the front. It'd been awhile but I didn't even have to check. I knew it matched the one on this door."

Klutz pulls the card from his pocket and holds it up to compare.

Spark appears and shines her bright light to illuminate the card and the door. Easily out shining the dull lamp on the floor. "It's definitely a match!" she declares with enthusiasm. "This is all very exciting!"

"Eyran wouldn't want me showing an outsider this," Marin says as she limps closer to the cardholder. "He doesn't trust easy and to be honest I don't either." She reaches out and puts her arm around his shoulders to support herself. "But I trust you."

The Guardian feels warmth wash over him. "Thank you," he says quietly and gently squeezes the hand slung over him. He walks closer to the sealed door.

Marin picks up her cane to stand on her own.

"When Spark and I found a door like this before, it hid some kind of development facility for Golden Age weapons"

"Much more advanced than any Golden Age technology I'd seen before!" Spark points out.

"Inside we found a weapon you'd really have to see to believe."

Marin crosses her arms. "What? Did it shoot rainbows?" She scoffs sarcastically.

"Black holes."

"Close enough," she says with a giggle. "You're right. I really do need to see that."

"Unfortunately, Klutz lost it during our escape…" Spark explains. Disappointed they can't show off the Golden Age wonder.

"Yeah, and believe it or not, I don't think it's worth going back for right now," he says with a disturbed look at his Ghost.

"Think you can get this one open too?" Marin asks with a hopeful voice.

"Let's find out." He holds the card up directly in the path of the red light and waits expectantly.

After a few moments of patient excitement… nothing.

He twists his brow in confusion. After a few more seconds with no result, he lowers the card and inspects it for signs of damage or some other explanation for the unsatisfactory result.

Marin leans in to look at the card herself. "Something wrong with it?"

"I don't know. Last time I just held it to the light for a few seconds and it popped right open…" His voice filled with equal parts disappointment and embarrassment.

"Guess I'll have to wait a while longer to find out what's back there…" Marin says somberly. She steps back from the man and takes an extended look at the door.

Klutz clenches the card tight in his hand before quickly stashing it. "I'll find a way to get it open, Marin."

She looks at him with a vague smile.

"Whatever's in there could be real useful for you and your people." He pauses to stare at the taunting red light. "I want you to have what's inside. I want to help."

Marin turns her eye back to the door. "Right now, you can help me move this shelf back."