"Guys!" Asher called as he ran inside the usual meeting hall but he found only Ratchet typing away on his holo-screen thing. The Exo man slowed down, lowering the data pad he had in his hand. "Where is everyone?"

"Optimus and the other Autobots have gone to retrieve energon from the mine you secured. The humans are at their learning facility." Asher tilted his head then jogged up the stairs to where the couch sat. He had just finished reading the information Ratchet and Optimus gave him about them and their war with the Decepticons and had just started on Earth's history.

"Hm, when do they come back?"

"In human time, four hours from now."

"I was hoping to ask more about how the humans live and how they are but anyway; is there anyway I can help around here since there's not much else for me to do?" Ratchet was about to answer but Optimus' voice came through the comm.

"Ratchet, open a ground bridge; we have the energon." said medic did so and Asher grew even more confused at the action.

"Didn't Hunter make it so that a ground bridge couldn't be opened near the mine?" The autobots came in one by one with cubes of blue energy. Hunter appeared beside Optimus as he came through and Asher gave a long 'Oh' in realization. "Been busy while I was reading huh?"

"Hunter was kind enough to assist us, he asked that you not be disturbed while you read the history of this world." Asher nodded to Optimus. Arcee put down her load and sighed.

"The mine was barely enough to raise our stock by a little but it's something at least." Asher perked up and Hunter returned to his side. "Optimus says we have you to thank for that." the Exo shrugged as if saying it wasn't a problem. He placed the data pad on the wooden table and stretched fully knowing it was a human habit.

"I need a drive, can you open a bridge for me please?" Asher walked down the stairs and shooed Bumblebee out of the way, he did so with a questioning beep.

"I'm opening to a more...deserted area." Asher gave a thumbs up as the portal opened.

"This little guy has an alt mode too?" Bulkhead asked. Bumblebee beeped again in answer but Hunter put armor on Asher who took some steps back.

"Nah nothing like that big guy," he broke into a run before jumping up enough that as he went down Hunter summoned up their sparrow and he landed on it, hitting the accelerator so that when it hovered above the ground before it took off. "I'll comm when I'm ready to head back, see ya metal gang!" Ratchet looked to Optimus who sighed.

"We know he can handle himself, old friend." Ratchet looked at Arcee who nodded once and went after the Exo.

"Regardless, he still needs to be watched Optimus. His stories are questionable, not for anyone's safety but for his."

"What do you mean Doc?" Bee gave a questioning beep when Bulkhead asked.

"He's lost everything he's known and unlike us, he has a way to return now but he cannot nor will he be able to in the future." he sighed, turning to the screen as he did. With Hunter's help he acquired his and Asher's unique life signature. "If what I was told is true he is a restless bot. He may have found a reason to continue on but he's also used to moving in and out without a second thought. If he sees a problem or if what information he acquires he sees as a task he will do it without asking us for permission." Optimus gave a hum and commed Arcee.

"Keep an eye on him Arcee; our new friend may require our support until he has healed."

"I will Optimus." the com shut off.

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Asher was uncharacteristically silent and that unnerved Hunter. The Exo sped through the canyon, speeding off higher ledges and doing the flips and tricks that he, Dren and even Imara had done when they found a reprieve on patrol. Hunter began to worry as his flips and jumps became more and more reckless, he knew Asher has done this many times with Imara and Dre but still.

"Asher slow down, you'll hurt yourself." Asher pushed anger into Hunter who shut Arcee out of their communications line in response. On the last jump, the ledge was a high enough cliff that Arcee sped up and transformed; a hand extended out to try and catch him but Asher spun on the sparrow before straightening out. He and the sparrow a few inches apart.

"Asher!" Hunter yelled into his head. Asher opened his closed optics and felt a slight thrill as well as fear.

"Shit!" He reached for the sparrow, intent on softening the landing when his cloak was caught by Arcee and he hung there like a mother cat holding her kitten by the scruff of his neck. He watched his Sparrow fall, it disappeared before hitting the ground. "Dammit, I had it!"

"Had what? A death wish? What in Primus' name were you thinking?" She lifted him up so they stared optics to optics.

"I've done it billions of times Bluebell! I would have made it!" Her optics narrowed, lowering him to the ground enough before tossing him a slight ways. He rolled instinctively before going in a crouch. "What the hell Arcee!" his voice took on a more dangerous edge.

"Have you even thought about the possibility that your team will come for you?" that shut him up. "What would they think if they knew you intentionally did something stupid and got yourself offline by it? How do you think they would feel? They would have come all this way to get you only to find you already dead?" Asher felt anger rush through him and he stood up, ignoring Hunter trying to calm him down

"You don't get it do you? They can't come for me, not unless they look into the darkness that made us come here in the first place! Our hand was forced before but if we willingly turned to the darkness we wouldn't be any better than our enemies!" Hunter grew worried, his arc-light was acting up. It always did when he grew emotional, especially when someone was in deep trouble. "If you're worried about me dying don't; it's not like I'll stay dead anyway." the energy crackling around him began to settle. "Do yourself a favor and don't follow us, we'll come back when we're ready."

"I can't do that Asher, you think I'm going to leave you alone after that stunt you pulled? Either I ride with you or we head back to base.."

Asher burst out laughing, "It's funny how you think I was asking permission." Asher went invisible, and Arcee quickly made to snatch at the last place he was standing but her servo came up empty. She used her scanners but she couldn't see him at all.

"Scrap!" she cursed, she commed Ratchet. "Asher's gone. He used his cloaking device to get away."

"Leave him be then," Ratchet sighed into the com. "He will contact us when he is ready, I'm opening a ground bridge to you. Return to base Arcee." the femme took one last look around as the ground bridge opened before she sighed and turned to walk inside. Asher watched her disappear and he grumbled under his breath. Hunter sent out a soothing warmth into his mind and Asher took the small comfort his Ghost provided. As soon as his partner brought out the sparrow he jumped on and sped away.

"I know it was stupid to do but it's not like I'll stay dead, besides you know I've been trying to perfect that trick." Hunter was silent and Asher knew his friend was giving him the silent treatment for his stupidity so he sighed, "I won't do anything stupid like that again unless I don't have a choice like back on our Earth. I know you won't answer me for a good while and I honestly don't blame you but...just know that I'll fight my way through, like I always do." He drove around for about three hours before a ground bridge opened up behind him as he sped by. He stopped and let his sparrow hover as he turned to face the portal. "Time to face the music huh partner?" Hunter was silent but Asher could feel the nervousness coming from his partner; he did not understand why but when red appeared on his visor's tracker he too began to feel it.

"Four coming through, not friendlies; Asher go!" Asher turned his sparrow and quickly hit the thrusters, his nervousness turning to out right panic. Two vehicles sped out of the ground bridge and two airborne ones, the red on his tracker letting him know he wasn't getting any farther from them. "Ratchet allowed me access to his database regarding the Decepticons, it seems like we have the Second named Starscream, Surveillance/Third named Soundwave, Medic named Knockout and his Assistant named Breakdown on our tail. You can probably keep ahead of their vehicles but not the airborne seekers." Asher cursed quite colorfully. "Incoming!" Asher took a sharp turn, the blast decimating a rock wall.

"Mother of-! Damn the darkness! Get in touch with Ratchet!" Another blast and he grunted when a stray rock hit his left shoulder. Asher began to curse in the languages he spoke fluently, then in the old languages of his Earth before the Collapse. "Any time now Hunter!"

"Communications are down! They managed to duplicate what we did at the Energon site!"

"Are you fu-Scheisse!" another sharp turn, a mistake. Asher found himself in between the two vehicles, one a shiny red and the other a grey blue. "You've got to be-!" guns emerged from their headlight and aimed at the Exo. "Oh I'm so screwed!" he prepped himself and as the weapons charged, Asher jumped off his sparrow and used his double jump to try to soften his landing. He rolled, groaning as soon as he landed on his back. The two vehicles turned and drifted a ways off before stopping altogether. Asher looked at them from his position and decided to pretend he was unconscious, if he died Hunter could revive him when needed; there was no darkness here to stave off a revival.

"Decrypting their coding, hang tight Asher." The airborne vehicles transformed and landed near the fallen Exo, the other two transforming and approached until Asher was laid out in between them all. "The code keeps changing, I found gaps but I cannot send out any voice messages or written message. I'm going to blast your life signal in each burst, we can only hope they'll see it and come find us."

"You buffoons!" one yelled. "Lord Megatron wanted this one alive and unspoiled!" the other, a screen for a face, gave out a broadcast of a steady heartbeat.

"He's only unconscious Starscream," the red mech answered. "Soundwave can still hear his heart; anyhow, at least he's alive."

"That is Lord Starscream to you pawn!"

"The red is Knockout, he is their medic. The grey/blue is Breakdown, he is the medic's assistant. The one with a screen for a face is Soundwave, he is their...well spymaster I suppose. He watches and hears everything...almost. The last one is Starscream, the second in command to their leader Megatron. He really sent out the big guns just to get you Asher." Asher gave a mental snort, trying in vain to hide his fear from his partner but it didn't work. "Use smoke grenade in three, two, one..." the grenade appeared in his hand, in a quick moment, Asher jumped into a crouch and threw the grenade. The smoke turned him invisible and he ran away as they all reached down to grab at him, all except Soundwave who turned his head in the same direction he ran.

"Please tell me they're on their way!" Hunter didn't comment and Asher started counting down the seconds until the temporary smoke screen wore off. "10, 9, 8, 7, 6...whoa!" Asher was scooped up and held in a firm but gentle grip, he came face to face with Soundwave. "...3, 2, 1; how did you know?" Soundwave played back Asher's running steps and Asher groaned, his forehead thumping down on Soundwave's finger.

"Good work Soundwave," Knockout commented as he sauntered over. "Do yourself a favor fleshie, remove your helmet."

"Considering you made me jump off a moving vehicle? I don't think so, besides I'm already breaking a rule by talking to you." Asher looked up at them before waving his loose arm around wildly. "Stranger danger! I knew I should have listened to Imara! Don't talk to strangers, she said; they'll kidnap you and we'll have to save you, she said. By the Traveler I should have listened to her. And now here I am being kidnapped by a handsome giant that just happens to be the third in command to the Decepticons, and with no one to come save me; oh the horror!" he snickered at the end at the look Knockout was giving him. "Don't sweat it cool cat, you may not be my type but dayum," His hand went to his chin, doing his best to make it seem like he's looking over the mech. "It'd be a crime not to admire you Hotstuff."

"Flattery will not save you human." Asher gave an over dramatic groan.

"Starscream right?" Asher waved his hand around, "Oh wait Lord Starscream...I can already tell I won't like you much." Asher looked back towards Soundwave. "He's a control freak isn't he?" Starscream's face grew with rage before Asher burst out laughing at something Soundwave transmitted. "You're a riot sweetcheeks!"

"Asher, I'm detecting a ground bridge opening a few meters away. Keep on ranting, you're panic induced defense mechanism is buying time." Asher cut off his laughter and sighed.

"Hey, hey, hey," Asher leaned over to look past Knockout. "Why haven't you said anything Handsome? Am I going too fast for you?"

"You sure I can't smash him?"

"Lord Megatron wants him in once piece, he has technology no other human has and has also managed to kill one of our more...devoted soldiers. Unfortunately he wishes him alive and unspoiled." Starscream answered bitterly and Asher gave a gasp at the tone.

"Got tired of me already Seeker? Aw I'm hurt." he put a hand where his heart would be before looking at Breakdown again. "Seriously though, what's your problem? Or is it that you just like smashing itty-bity people? Wait you're missing an eye?" he exclaimed, he leaned forward in anticipation. "How'd you lose it? Petra never told me how she lost hers even though I asked every time I saw her!" Silence and the Exo gave a whine. "Come one! I bet there's a story behind that!"

"You fleshie's took it." Asher lowered his arm and his hand clenched into a fist. His panic induced playful demeanor gone in the face of acquiring further information on the humans currently inhabiting Earth.

"What the hell do you mean humans took it?" Soundwave tilted his head at the change of tone, it went deeper and more refined.

"Didn't the Autobots tell you? The humans took it upon themselves to take one of ours and proceeded to torture him." Asher looked back at Soundwave, optics wide behind his visor as he stared up at the mech.

"You are lying to me yes? You're faction title would suggest that you would do anything to turn any potential enemies, to you, or allies against the Autobots and humans." Asher tapped the side of his helmet. "Why should I believe anything you have to say?"

"They're close enough, Asher use Blade Dancer!" Asher grunted, the lightning coming forth, before Soundwave was zapped too harshly he released the Exo who landed roughly on the ground below. A high pitched whine came from Asher, "You're leg Asher! Quick, get on the Sparrow." the Sparrow appeared just as the others reached for him but he sent two electrical waves and they flinched back. Asher hobbled onto the sparrow and raced off to the area Hunter marked.

"When we return you are to search through their logs and find me everything on what they said. It doesn't matter what happens you will get on that without delay." Asher growled at Hunter who gave an affirmative. He could hear the vehicles coming after him and the Seeker and Third gaining on him from the air. "We really need to work on the sparrow, we need to be faster."

"Incoming!" Asher swerved, more than once having to slow down to drift around before speeding up; before he was once again pinned in between the two vehicles. Asher glanced at the two, he could jump but that would further damage his leg. "You're boosters are down and your leg, in human terms, is broken. If you jump it won't be good." Whelp! Looks like he's screwed unless...He looked forward again at the rev of an engine. Yes! "Coding has been broken, communications are back up!"

"Bulkhead, Arcee!" Asher called through the comm, relief clear in his strained voice; the pain from his leg was growing, man does having pain receptors suck!

"Keep going Asher! Optimus and Bumblebee are a little ways off!" With that said Arcee and Bulkhead transformed, shooting as soon as they landed. Knockout and Breakdown swerved; Starscream and Soundwave shooting the two before going ahead after Asher. They shot at the Exo, a slight panic creeping up on him again. Hunter did his best keep his partner safe, telling him to keep straight to meet with the others but the two airborne lieutenants had different plans. A large blast had the Exo making a sharp turn.

"Cliff ahead, Asher you need to change course!"

"I'm trying!" but when he tried to more shot were fired.

"Optimus, they're driving us to a cliff. They have Asher backed into a corner!" Asher hit the breaks before he could go over the cliff. The two transformed and stood before the Exo.

"Hunter, we can revive here right?" was that his voice? It sounded a lot more frail than he intended.

"I am not entirely sure..." Asher hovered closer to the cliff. "You're still going to jump aren't you?"

"We have your location Hunter. Asher we are heading through the lower road to make our way up." Asher looked over but didn't spot the autobots.

"You have nowhere to go human roach, surrender quietly." Asher turned his head wishing Starscream could feel the burn of his stare, Soundwave was tilting his head. He could hear a constant buzzing sort of sound coming from the Exo but he couldn't pinpoint where and what is was coming from, this human although high in tech was just that, a human. Asher carefully got off his sparrow, it disappeared and he stood near the edge.

"I think I'd rather die than be taken by you Ice-cream." He jumped, Hunter began whispering soothing words he'd learn helped his partner every time he was killed and brought back. "Any way to make it hurt less?" Hunter continued his stream of words, a ledge jutting out had the Exo curl up in an attempt to soften that first impact. He grunted as he hit, his hand stretched to catch the ledge but it only twisted the arm the wrong way and made him scream. He bounced off the slanted slope and ended up rolling the rest of the way down, the road finally coming into view over that one ledge. "Shit!" was he all he thought when he made out yellow and black at the cliff's bottom before an intense pain and then the familiar claws of death catching him.

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"Optimus, they're driving us to a cliff. They have Asher backed into a corner!"

"Optimus we need to hurry, Hunter has informed me that Asher's leg has been damaged as well as his boosters that would help him soften his fall." Blumblebee beeped into the communicator. "If he's been reading the data on the Decpticons then I'm afraid he would jump."

"We have your location Hunter. Asher we are heading through the lower road to make our way up." They sped through the road but could not get a physical view of Asher. As they drew nearer to the location they spotted something falling; it hit the jutted out portion of the cliff. Bumblebee began to beep in a panic when they heard the scream. Asher rolled the rest of the way down so Optimus transformed as the Exo landed harshly. The Prime stopped the body from rolling over the road's edge, Soundwave listened for the Exo's heart but he found none.

"HuMaN iS DeCeAsEd." Starscream growled as a ground bridge opened behind them.

"Back to base you two, the human is dead. Lord Megatron will not be pleased." Bumblebee was beeping at the silent Exo.

"Open a ground bridge Ratchet, we have Asher...Clear a berth." A bridge opened, Optimus gently lifted the fallen Exo into his hand and walked through with Bumblebee beeping sadly at losing a friend, a new friend no less. Once through Ratchet instructed Asher be laid on the berth but before he assessed the damage he scanned for life, any sign of life in the smaller being but he found none. Bumblebee worked the ground bridge for Arcee and Bulkhead as they called in for one once the medic and wrecker left through their own.

"He is gone." Arcee and Bulkhead came through in time to hear it.

"No, he can't be gone!" she femme stated fiercely. "He said he couldn't stay de-!" Asher's body disintegrated into light and Hunter appeared.

"You're right, he won't be dead long. It seems that there are some...residual effects from absorbing Crota's essence. It is fading, it should take the rest of the day for it to completely leave his body." Hunter expanded and a light blinded the five autobots before Asher appeared, he stretched until his was satisfied. "Welcome back Asher."

"Okay that wasn't as painful as the time a Zealot almost cleaved me in two." Asher looked up at the titans and waved his arms around crazily. "Can you believe the nerve of those guys? Where the hell did that sword even come from ya know? Take note Hunter!" he said dramatically. "Don't play chicken with Taken Zealots or Decepticons, it's not fun being dead."

"Noted alongside the new data folder." Asher had Hunter remove his helmet before he sighed, the autobots gathered around him.

"So you know how the Guardians are born from the Traveler's light?" they nodded. "Well we died at one point, our Ghosts find our remains; they bring us back with the light the Traveler granted them. We're revived, some of us are dead longer than most, some go back to the Golden Age while others are more recent. ...the Guardians can die unlimited times as far as I know, and our partner will bring us back and when they do we're in one piece."

"That sounds highly unlikely, bringing someone back and without injuries, however with what we just witnessed I am inclined to start believing again." Ratchet commented.

"Yay, I got top boss' approval!" Hunter sent fond exasperation, "but I don't blame you for the skepticism; have you seen the different scenarios people have for toying around with death and artificial intelligence? My god! All the...'movies'?-yeah movies I've been missing out on!" Bulkhead seemed to be grinning. "I looked up different genres and man! I can't wait to start on that horror selection!"

"Heck yeah! That's what I'm talking about Asher!" Bulkhead held a hand down to Asher before realizing he may not know what it is he wanted but Asher jumped up and gave the big lug a high five with a loud whoop in agreement.

"I hear there are newer ones coming out, there're these short videos on a website called You...uh, scheisse! Um give me a second!" Asher started muttering under his breath, what was the name of that website?

"Wait, hold on there!" Arcee interrupted. "Before you two start gushing over your movies we need to finish the discussion we started."

"Arcee is correct," Optimus added. "You've said that your death will not permanent, is that true in all respects?" Asher's voice returned to its serious state.

"No actually, I can die and stay that way. When Anna didn't return from the Black Garden the Vanguard ordered a search, hoping that her body could at least be found but whatever happened sealed where the Heart laid. Do you know why they held no hope in finding her alive?" Hunter grew nervous and began to hover from one side of Asher to the other. Asher lifted a hand so Hunter could settle on and pulled the ghost to his chest, encasing him between his hands as the 'bots waited for him to continue. "When we die our Ghost brings us back, what do you think would happen if we lost our partner first?"

"You would become...mortal, in a sense that is." Asher nodded to the medic, glad that at least one of them was catching on quickly.

"Our partners make us a priority, they don't feel their own pain...they feel ours. When we die, they feel the cold it leaves before bringing us back."

"What if you die and for some reason they can't bring you back; what happens then?" the grip tightened on Hunter. Bumblebee beeped, Arcee glancing over to the young scout for a moment before continuing her questions. "If your partner makes it priority to protect you do you do the same for them?"

"Yes," he answered straight up. "Our Ghosts believe we are the last line between extinction but Guardians can be replaced by other ghosts. In my time I've been alive I've never heard of a Guardian dying permanently without their Ghost's light being extinguished. Us Guardians are a vessel for their light, a way for it become a weapon and a shield. My team...we-" he let out a breathy sound. "We made a silent pact, a promise that above all else we would not let the darkness take our light. We made it our top priority to protect our partners and shield them from whatever would want to take them. They may not feel pain on their own but they know fear from their partners." a fear that seemed to be creeping up on Hunter, few Guardians see their partner capable of human emotion, just how they see Exos as being the same as the other robot life forms that help in the tower; meeting Cayde usually helped out with that. Optimus was about to ask a question, "Hold that thought." Asher turned his back to them and brought his partner up, his forehead touched the little machine. "Hey, calm down Hunt. The darkness can't reach you here. As far as I'm concerned, this is the best place to keep both of us safe." The 'bots watched, the silence stretching out until Asher let Hunter disappear and turned back to them. He nodded, permission to continue.

"Can this ability be used on someone other than the one Guardian?"

"No, like I said each Guardians is a vessel of light. It's because of that light that we can be revived at all; if any human that fell to the diseases the Fallen brought could be brought back by us...we'd be more than just Guardians wouldn't we? Imara tried using her Sunsinger but it did nothing but provide warmth and helped the man pass peacefully. Though from then on, with the worst of them- she used what we use as a weapon on the field as a peace bringer in the city. I think that's when Dren really fell in love with her." the tone in his voice fell into was one of fond remembrance and awe. Bumblebee beeped and the spaced out gleam in his glowing optics went away as he snapped his attention to the yellow mech. "Nah, I'm alright Bee just remembering the good times."

"We can continue this discussion at a later time if you wish." Asher barked out a quick, sharp laugh and shook his head at the notion.

"I'm grateful Optimus but I think it wouldn't be too wise to leave me to my thoughts after I just died." Ratchet turned to his screen, Hunter sent him an overall report about him and dying. "I think the stress of all of this might be getting to me. Huh never thought I'd say that out loud."

"What do you need?" Asher looked up at the Autobot leader.

"Keep talking to me or let me shoot something so I can keep from...from you know what I'm not even sure what will happen. Distract me I guess." and just then a beep came from Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee.

"It's almost time to pick up Miko, Raf and Jack from school." Arcee said. Asher perked up at the thought of seeing this Earth's version of a school.

"Can I come?" and his playful tone returned. "I wanna see this Earth's school, is it in a city too? I wanna see, please?" At the last question he turned glowing optics up to Optimus who paused in consideration.

"I do not think it is wise to leave the base Asher, Megatron sent his most lethal of his army to apprehend you. I fear that the reason is grave." Bumblebee beeped in answer to his leader.

"Well if they think I'm dead..."Asher started, Bulkhead got the idea and so input his own.

"Do you have anything other than your armor to wear?" the Wrecker looked the Exo over.

"Well I have my coat, Hunter can just remove the armor." Hunter removed the armor, the golden chest piece disappeared, as did his gauntlets/vambraces. He changed his golden leg armor for a more inconspicuous black and his gauntlets the same inconspicuous black. Asher did a slow turn, "Is this better?"

"Yes, is the helmet you had before the only one you have?" Asher nodded his hooded head at Arcee.

"The problem is that not only one Decepticon saw you but four and two of those are in Megatron's inner circle." Asher groaned and dropped to sit on the floor. "I am sorry Asher but I cannot take the chance of you being recognized." Asher grumbled to the Autobot leader.

"But they think I'm dead! Besides would they really make a move in the middle of what I'm assuming is a human populated area?" Optimus sighed, moving down to be eye level with Asher who turned his head to look anywhere but at him.

"The Decepticons do not care for human lives like we do, they do not care who is caught in between our fight. If they were to see you are not dead; there is a chance they will make an appearance and take you." Asher looked back to Optimus and gave one nod.

"Maybe I won't miss Imara too much, seems like I got someone like her right here; the voice of reason." Asher crossed his arms, "You do have a point there Swordfish. I guess I'm stuck here indefinitely."

"Again I am sorry Asher but it would be much safer for you here, the Decepticons do not know of our location. They will not be able to find you." Optimus nodded to Ratchet who opened a ground bridge, the three autobots glancing at Asher who sat there looking miserable before going through the bridge in their Alt. mode. As the bridge closed Asher jumped off the high platform causing Optimus to quickly catch him in his large hand.

"Trust fall exercise complete!" Asher turned on his back, head tilted up so he and Optimus would see optics to optics. "I know you mean well Optimus but I can't just be stuck here forever, I want to help you guys!"

"You said as such before you left," Ratchet said as he typed away on his keyboard. "You're quick thinking when you first arrived helped me save lives. If you wish to learn, I will teach you more about our biology. That material you used on Optimus' wound was a risky but necessary move. If you learned then I would be able to send you out on the field, there are times they cannot make it back to me." Asher's optics went from their dim light to brighter.

"I'd like to learn first aid!" Asher said as he sat up in Optimus' hand. Ratchet gave a rare chuckle at the Exo's enthusiasm. "But you do realize I will eventually have to be let out of here right? I mean, what's the point of me being a medical assistant if I'm stuck here anyway?"

"The boy has a point Optimus." Asher was smug at the medic's support.

"I understand, but for the moment you will be learning and there will be no need to send you out." Asher let out sigh, his "breath" holding a static sound to it.

"You don't know what will happen Swordfish. If I've learned enough and you guys are in trouble I'm going even if I have to broadcast my location to get their attention," Asher crossed his arms. "As a Guardian I act first, that is my instinct. I fight and I protect even if it means losing myself. I need you two to understand that." Ratchet hummed, his gaze scrutinizing. "This isn't a suicide note." he added in.

"From your previous actions, I'm not quite sure." Asher stood up on the Autobot leader's hand and stared defiantly up at the medic, support or not he is no way suicidal. He only miscalculated.

"I know my actions were stupid, heck Hunter was going to give me hell once we returned but he's holding back because I just died and I've only ever died and come back when I'm in the middle of a battle. I never had time to dwell on the lingering cold from death but every time I do die I hate the feeling that grips me before I go under so do you really think I would want to kill myself so often? Those tricks I did with my sparrow I did back home with Dren and Imara but yeah I scrapped up on the last jump, I'll give you that one but I would have made it. With a broken arm or something but I wouldn't have died." they said nothing and Asher closed his eyes for a moment before looking over the side to gauge the distance to the floor.

"Asher," Hunter appeared beside him. "You're boosters are damaged, I recommend working on them until Ratchet has time to teach us. We also have to figure out how to make bullets for your weapons, especially for the fusion rifle."

"Yeah that makes sense," he looked back to Optimus, the mech's gaze was steady but there was a wariness to them so when Asher spoke his voice came out softer than he intended. "Can you please let me down Optimus?" Optimus lowered the Exo to the ground and Asher stepped off the Mech's hand.

"Asher..." The Exo shook his head at the Prime.

"Don't worry about a thing Doll, Hunter and I are just gonna be in our room figuring stuff out." He looked to Ratchet as he started walking backwards. "Let Hunter know when we can start, I'll be needing your advice and input soon. He's also sending you everything the Decepticons said." He waved, "Oh and uh tell the humies I'll be busy for a while so I'll catch 'em when I can."

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"It's been a week Cayde! A week and we don't even know where Oryx ran with his ugly tail between his legs! We don't know if he has Asher or if he's gone and killed him!" Cayde groaned and Locien couldn't help but give a weak grin to his friend. Cayde knew he wouldn't answer for him so he looked to the Titan.

"I told you a billion times already Dren, Asher-8 is too damn stubborn to die, he's like Shiro-4 that way but that's beside the point. Oryx didn't even know you were there until you were right at the entrance to his throne."

"Meaning what?" eyes turned to Laia, a Warlock standing beside Ikora Rey.

"Meaning he couldn't have taken Asher, not if he didn't even see us until it was too late." Dren turned to the Hunter equipped with a yellow cloak, James. "Did any of you speak to Eris regarding the Essence of Crota Vector got? The effects it would have beside our armor becoming Taken?"

"Eris said there wasn't enough for the amount of Guardians that presented themselves to face the Taken King. James," the yellow cloaked Hunter turned to Locien, his brother. "When Asher gave you the crystal did he say he drank in it's essence?"

"He had mentioned he took some while with Eris, that's why she gave the rest to us." Ikora sighed and Zavala gave a muttered curse.

"What?" Dren asked, Imara gave a gasp at the realization so he turned to her with a frantic shake to her shoulders. "What Imara? What happened to him?"

"We needed to become ascendant to go through the portal, we had to convince the rift that we were Taken right down to the core." she answered.

"He didn't take as much of the essence like the rest of you, he purposely did it so that all of you would get through the rift to defeat Oryx." Everyone turned their attention to Eris who stood at the entrance to the hall. "I told him there was a chance the rift would not accept all of you, there was not enough essence from Crota for it to equally affect all of the Guardians chosen."

"So you let him take the least amount knowing it could possibly kill him?" Dren asked with narrowed eyes. Eris stepped further into the room, Locien had his attention to Dren and Imara; her answer may not be one they'll like.

"You're fellow Guardian asked me of the consequences, he knew that what you obtained from Crota was not the amount I had told him to acquire. He took it upon himself to give the rest of the Guardians a chance to defeat the Taken King; Asher-8 stated that his part was over, he did what he set out to do and the rest was up to you." Dren's hands clenched into fists and Imara's Arc energy crackled, she was still trying to get a hold on her newest power.

"Calm down." James said just as Hawke-76 appeared behind Eris.

"I don't a need a little shit telling me to calm down!" Imara took a step forward and Hawke-76 stood in front of Eris, blocking her from the nearly hostile Guardians.

"Enough." Locien uncrossed his arms when they didn't step down. "I said enough you two or are you that desperate for James and I to kick both of your asses?" Imara took a deep breath, her Arc energy simmering down but Dren and Hawke were still staring each other down.

"Asher-8 is not dead he is...misplaced." At that Dren looked back to Imara who nodded. "The rift opened but it sent him somewhere else, a different and yet similar place." James turned away from the riled Titan and Warlock to address Eris.

"Can we get him back?" Dren felt the guilt crawl up his spine, he didn't mean to be so harsh at James not after what happened to Ethan.

"Bringing him back would require us to turn to the darkness you all despise so much." Hawke answered, her Exo features giving nothing away to what she thought of the solution.

"That is forbidden, we will not allow it." Ikora answered. "Better yet the Speaker will not allow it."

"We can't just abandon Asher," Laia finally spoke again. "He's one of us, same team or not doesn't matter; he's a Guardian and our friend."

"Laia's right we can't just leave him wherever the hell he is." Zavala's frown deepened when James spoke his support.

"It would be too risky, what if the darkness kills you instead of bringing back Asher-8? What if we open a rift and something other than our Guardian comes through? We would be fighting another enemy and we're barely recovering from the last one!" Cayde was unusually silent. He was having some sort of silent conversation with Eris who, although was grimacing in disgust, nodded.

"And what if he's fighting a losing battle on the other side? Asher sacrificed himself so that we could kill the Taken King but we haven't even accomplished that. As far as we know, it was Oryx that created the rift meaning he could do it again if he noticed something wrong. He could go to wherever Asher is and start his conquest all over again." The room erupted in loud voices throwing out arguments. Locien looked between Eris and Cayde before sighing, they were going to suggest something completely and utterly crazy but he had no doubt it would be an open suggestion; they would go find him and find a way back from the other side. Eris left the hall and returned to her perch and Cayde looked to Locien who shook his helmet head at the Exo.

"You can't stop us from at least trying!" James roared.

"You can bet your Ghost we can." Zavala returned.

"No," everyone turned to Locien. "As of this moment Hawke-76, James Venator, Dren Walker and Imara Aclissius are under the services of the reef." Both Zavala's and Ikora's eyes widened in disbelief. Cayde leaned on the table, Asher was an old friend...one of the few he remembered and the only one that came back; he had no qualms about this. "Do not forget that your previous lack in communication with the reef ended up with Petra exiled and over 300 Guardians decimated; whether you like it or not...we are going after Asher with or without your help or approval."

"Loc, what about Laia?" Locien looked from James to Laia, her face scrunched in confusion.

"She and the Ravagers will be the link between the Reef and the Tower until we return." Laia nodded, "Petra and Variks will be in charge while I'm away." the as well as Eris, went unsaid but nonetheless was understood.

"That's if you return Locien and not only that, you're dragging along four Guardians!" Ikora scolded.

"Leave them," once again they were surprised, Lord Saladin was walking into the room.

"Lord Saladin-"

"No Ikora, they are thinking as Iron Lords. We never purposely left a comrade behind, if we do not try then we are no better than the Fallen or the Hive." Locien nodded his thanks to the Iron Lord before leaving, the others following in step behind him. They needed to speak with Eris, they needed to find Asher and bring him home.