Day 9

Location: Chemnitz Ruins, Old Germany, European Dead Zone
Time: 19:32, UTC+2

Romanov flits over Soap's journal, illuminating the pages while Soap writes another entry…

Day nine. Second day in Chemnitz, and another day spent looking for gear. Was easier than sleeping. Another night, and another vision of my past. A ramshackle town, covered with rusty plates of metal, and me running from a crowd – or a mob? – with others. A helicopter flying overhead, and the last thing I recall, is my voice calling out "Roach!"

Soap sighs, and shakes his head, then returns to his writing.

Looking through past entries, I can see where these events line up with… who I was in the past. Romanov continues to tell me that it's unusual for a guardian to have any kind of connection to their past, but it's not unheard of.

A sketch of Soap's RSASS is seen here, along with a few new attachments: a hybrid foregrip, one that deploys into a short bipod, a longer one for long distance engagement with a new stud on the butt of the rifle to help maintain a stable platform.

Salvage was good today. One more day here, and then I keep moving towards the coast.

Day 14

Location. Ruins of Erfut, Old Germany, European Dead Zone
Time: 21:36, UTC+2

Day fourteen. Last day in Erfut, thank the Light. I have spent three days here dodging all manner of Fallen patrols. Almost like a damn convention…

A sketch of a group of Fallen, of different houses by their appearances, talking in the ruins of what appears to be a bar. All of them captains, by their size and weaponry

Apparently, there are different Houses in Fallen society. News to me. Curious what they were talking about. Should probably learn their language, if I can get close enough to snoop without being discovered.

Day 18

Location: Town of Fulda, Old Germany, European Dead Zone
Time: 04:23, UTC+2

Early morning of my eighteenth day. And just my luck, a town left alone. So many ruins, and this one place was left intact. So many questions, but I don't have time to ponder them.

Day 19

Location: Town of Fulda, Old Germany, European Dead Zone
Time: 21:48, UTC+2

Started looking for more gear today. Found an old G36C – seems some of the old Bundeswehr lived here, or were stationed here. Repaired it, with Romanov's help. I'll have to keep an eye out for a noise suppressor. Found a decent rucksack too. Should help with ammo transportation, and any food I find.

Day 23

Location: Frankfurt Containment Zone, Old Germany, European Dead Zone
Time: 23:12, UTC+2

I have a tail. Probably been following me since I left Erfut. I'll have to keep a watchful eye. Hoping I can lose whoever is following me in the urban center of… what's left of-

"There you are, human" says a Fallen, aiming a wire rifle at Soap. "You've been careful, making me work hard to locate you"

Soap sets down the journal and raises his hands slowly. "I aim to please. So why the interest? You can't have been following me for no reason"

The Fallen chitters at Soap. "My captain's crew was tasked with finding the perpetrator of an attack on a Devils' Supply Depot. . I have a strong feeling that it's you, what with the pike you've been using to traverse these strange lands"

Soap raises an eyebrow. "Pike? Is that what that strange purple hoverbike is called?"

The Fallen chitters some more, then raises one hand up to her head, pressing a button on a comms device. She chitters some more, then grumbles and sits down across the fire from Soap.
"To answer your question, yes, that's what they're called"

Soap humphs, and leans back against a wall. "You're acting awfully calm for someone tracking me"

The Fallen shrugs. "You kill me, my family comes after you. And then you have to contend with two Eliksni houses instead of one"

Soap leans his head to the side. "How many houses are there?"

The Fallen grins, a smile full of sharp teeth. "Three, currently. Though a fourth may be formed soon, if events play out the way I'm thinking they will"

Soap raises an eyebrow. "Romanov?"

The Ghost appears. "Yes, Soap?"

"Does the Fallen speak true?"

"More or less. They're all in remnants, of course, due to operations that Guardians have carried out in the past two years. But yes, the Fallen is telling the truth"

The Fallen in question had started chittering some more into her comms device as soon as Romanov appeared. After a few moments, she glares at Soap. "So, Lightbearer, why aren't you at your City?"

Soap looks over to Romanov. The Ghost flares her shell in a kind of shrug. Soap exhales through his nose, then looks back to the Fallen. "No ship. I was hoping to get to the coast, and cross the ocean to get to the Last City. That kinda changed when you aimed your wire rifle at me"

The Fallen chortles for a bit. "A Lightbearer without a Skiff. How amusing"

Soap huffs, then lies down. "Well, if we're gonna wait here, I'm going to get some sleep"

The Fallen looks curiously at Soap. "You're not concerned that I might try to kill you while you rest?"

Soap smirks. "What, and give Romanov practice at quick resurrections? About all you'll achieve with killing me is pissing me off. And the last guy who pissed me off got a knife in his eye"

The Fallen blinks. "Okay, sleep easy then"

Soap nods. "Oh, one more thing. You know my name, so what's your's?"

The Fallen chitters, thinking out loud for a few seconds. After thinking, she looks back at Soap. "Mirriskis"