This chapter begins and completely takes place in the past.

NOTE: To those reading along with the updates, I have changed the time-span of Ren's exile from 6 years to 24 years due to the time certain events take place. It may seem like a long time, but keep in mind Guardian lifespan, therefore time passes quickly and they age slowly.

Chapter Five

"FIRE"

I desperately held onto a soul that has been set afire by an unruly inferno. I've been a gunslinger for years, wielding my ability with skill and evident mastery, but the truth is, you can never truly master the element you are destined to exert.

I didn't admit this to myself.

My conscience held great pride and puissance, no matter the occasional doubt. I was a solid Guardian, so I thought, but we are always learning and discovering more about our capabilities, that it's hard to know who the real adept ones are. And I failed. That evening of the Hive invasion, I failed.

So, as I lay in silence, I couldn't help but hesitate,

Am I dead?

No, impossible. I know what it feels like to be dead: nothing, it feels like nothing. I've encountered death on multiple occasions. This isn't that.

Where am I?

It was dark, but my sensations were working. I felt... hot. Scorching hot, like I was on fire. Not the typical warmth of a solar-wielding Guardian, but more. I literally felt like I was on fire.

I can't see.

"She's overheating! We need to—" I heard voices, but I was too weak to acknowledge who they belonged to.

"No, Zavala! There's nothing we can do. She has to make it through this on her own."

Zavala... I remember him. I listened as the two argue back and forth, but I couldn't hear them for the most part.

"She is awakening," a mechanical voice spoke, who I did immediately recognize as Ghost. The room grew quiet.

My eyes shot open, mouth gaping widely as I gasp for breath. It was as if I just woke up from a coma, or from death.

I can't breathe.

"I can't—I can't," but I couldn't tell them, my throat was so parched I couldn't make out the words. My eyes darted as my vision seemed to pulse.

It hurts—my head—is killing me.

Instinctively, my hands reached up to claw at my face, but as my unclothed fingers came into contact with a foreign helmet, a shriek of pain left my lips, hand immediately retracting. It.. burned me, the helmet. Turning my head over, my eyes met and recognized Brask kneeling beside me. "What's happening to me?" The words came out as a pained mumble, as I whimpered. It felt like I was burning alive. My body shook rapidly, and I could feel the sweat running down my arms. I was rid of my armor, and was left in the jumpsuit that hugged my body tightly for security. They were clothes worn underneath armor to protect the skin from welts.

Tears swelled up in my eyes that eventually fell. I wept aloud, unable to handle the pain surging through my frame. It was as if a thousand needles pierced my flesh. I felt like an animal that was being branded.

My head spun, and my body was on the verge of passing out.

It hurts so bad.

"Help me plea-ea-ease," I screamed, begging as my voice mixed with sobs. I tried moving, but I couldn't, for I was subtly pushed back down upon showing motion. Eyebrows furrowed, my eyes were forced open again to scan the room, no matter my hazy vision. I was lying in the infirmary. The newest Warlock Vanguard, Ikora Rey, stood against the wall adjacent to my lying frame, arms crossed, as she scrutinized me with immense absorption. Zavala, who has just became Titan Vanguard and Vanguard Commander, sat by my side on the cot, as he held the hand that got burned due to my curiosity. My mind was too focused on the pain to retract from the strange touch. And finally, Brask with a look of worry conquering his features. I noticed his hands shaking. I've never seen him so anxious. "Andal!" I cried out. I never called him by his first name, finding it degrading to his title and rank in the system, but at the same time, he was my best friend. He would always ask me to call him by his first, but I would refuse. "Make it sto—op!"

My hand unconsciously gripped Zavala's tightly as I pierced up at Brask with tears clouding my eyes and soaking my face, only to be evaporated quickly due to the mass amount of heat. He wouldn't see, though, none of them could truly see how much pain I was in, for the helmet hid it all.

I was audibly sobbing, now. Brask had to stand and move away from me, hands running through his dark hair, grasping onto his skull so tightly that his knuckles grew to a white hue. Unbeknownst to me, he was angry and upset that he could not help or stop the pain.

We have been through so much together. He was my mentor when I arrived to the initial camps of the last city, and from that we grew closer and became friends. We fought together in many battles, and have spent many evenings together partying and spending time together in general. I can only imagine the pain he must be feeling to see me, a dear friend, in a state like this, to see me on the brink of death.

But of course, I didn't know this. I don't know what is happening to me right now, as I writhe in absolute torment.

With the departure of Brask, there was no one directly by my side, besides Zavala, to hold me down if I unintentionally acted out. You would think that he would be enough, from his outstanding musculature to his strong determination, but when a thick wave of adrenaline scuttled throughout my frame, that turned out to be it.

I couldn't take it anymore, I had to do something to stop it, and I didn't know what, but all I knew then was that I had to move. Upon acknowledging this, my body shot upwards with one final shout of desperation. Zavala immediately moved to push me back down, but with all my strength, I raised my arms to his chest and pushed him backwards with great force. I had no time to gape at my sudden robustness, for I had abruptly stood and began making my way to what I presumed was the exit. My vision pulsed and I stumbled hard.

It felt like lightning was striking throughout my frame, echoing down my spine, making my legs go weak and falter, but I did not fall. I didn't know how I found the strength to keep going, but I managed to shove my body against the door, and push it open, escaping from the imprisonment of that infirmary.

I didn't hear it, for I had already departed, but brief dialogue was exchanged behind me.

"Let her go!" Ghost shouted as Zavala had reached out for me as I moved to leave, "She needs to cool down."

"No!" Brask protested, fury and fear in his voice. He retracted his hands and began moving to the exit, ushering the other vanguards to follow. "Ren is very vulnerable right now, she could die! If she loses control during this trial, the exotic will take over and bring who knows what kind of devastation and damage to the city! You saw what happened at Burning Lake when it chose her!" He turned and pointed back at Ghost. "This could result in many deaths including that of the host, we have to stop and secure her! This is not like any other exotic, Ghost, I will not lose another Guardian to that damn Nighthawk!"

The Warlock and Titan were almost so shocked at their fireteam members words and the stern tone of his voice that they halted for a moment, but when he ran out the doors, they quickly followed after him. Ghost also followed

I, on the other hand, had found a balance, and was on a full-blown sprint to find my way out of the corridors. That same static returned to my ear-drums as my blurred vision began to grow red.

What's happening? What's happening to me? I thought I thought, but it turns out that I had verbally screamed those words aloud upon moving towards the light at the end of the hall.

It felt like adrenaline was completely conquering me, but it was actually light. I was overwhelmed with so much light right now, I've never felt such a huge need to release it. It was almost too much light, for I literally felt like I was suffocating underneath this mask that did not belong to me. My body couldn't breathe and the only thing I could do was run.

Upon exiting the corridor, before me stood the Tower Watch. Many guardians took up the space, conversing, returning and acquiring bounties, giving the Cryptarch engrams, and buying weapons from our newest Gunsmith, Banshee-44. So many people, but as I reached the steps and made the first move to descend, suddenly arms wrapped around my waist and I was pulled back. My mood shifted promptly from fear to anger. Anger at who grabbed me. Anger that I was stopped.

But it wasn't me. I wanted to be stopped. This was not my anger, this isn't me acting and moving right now. I felt like a passenger to my own body and mind.

I skirmished, but whoever was behind me did not give up and proceeded to pull me back and away from the stairway that led to the Watch. "Let go of me!" I heard myself scream deafeningly, tone laced in anger and pain, and gaining the attention of many. Elbowing the person behind me with great force, I turned quickly to see Brask behind me, and Zavala and Ikora following him up. But, when he made eye contact with me, and noticed the red-orange hue coming from the eyes of my helmet. . .

"Shit. Grab her! Quickly!" He ordered the other Vanguards. Afterwards, Brask lunged to me in attempt to secure. Upon feeling attacked, my body acted on its own. When he reached for me, I ducked, moving behind him to only send a kick to his back, and making him stumble forward. Not only did my amount of strength surprise me, but the others seemed to hesitate briefly as well. Only briefly, for they afterwards quickly moved to me. Zavala managed to grab one of arms, and Ikora grabbed the other, bringing them behind my back, but what ever was controlling my movement at that moment did not allow that to hold me. I jumped up off the ground, raising my legs to the wall, kicking off it, and shoving the pair behind me against the wall. The impact resulted in my release.

I just overpowered two vanguards.

I would never do that. Not because this newfound strength wasn't mine and I typically wouldn't be strong enough, but because the Vanguards are very dear to me, as they are to any Guardian. I wouldn't have the heart to fight back, not unless triggered in some way, and whatever was happening to me now, it is absolutely controlling me.

No matter my surprise, as soon as I felt freedom, I once again took off towards the stairs, only to once again be blocked by Brask.

"Ren, listen to me!" My body halted in front of him momentarily, arms raising to push him back, but he beat me to it and grabbed onto my wrists. "You need to calm down, you're not used to your new exotic, this can end disastrously!"

But I didn't listen to him, I literally couldn't perceive what he was saying, not really. The static grew as his grip on my wrists began to make me feel smothered, thus in danger, and so I acted on that feeling. His human, light-green eyes bore into the ignited ones of my helm, and it held something I never thought I'd see.

Fear. Andal was terrified. Of me.

Realizing this and gazing back into his hit something in me, making my shoulders relax and releasing my clenched fists. I let out a shaky breath.

"Good," he commented softly, still holding my wrists. Zavala and Ikora stood on standby.

Looking to the side, past the bars of the balcony, I saw many faces staring, some masked by helmets, others left unequipped, and those who lacked said armor all held the same emotion.

Fear. Curiosity. Bewilderment.

And it was all directed at me and their Vanguards.

"They're scared of you," a dark voice said right in my ear. Upon hearing this, I faced forward briskly, body tensing once again, making Brask tense as well. I stared at him again, thinking it was him who said those words to me. My heart beat was fast and evident and vibrated through my bones. "Look around you, and see how they look back. Don't you feel it?" My eyes gazed at his lips. They didn't move. What is this?

"Stop," I mumbled out to whoever spoke to me in a cry as my agonizing migraine intensified. My eyes and head began to move and turn, but not on my own accords. I scanned the area, back to Zavala and Ikora. They held that same look in their eyes.

Fear.

Back at the Guardians on the main level of the tower watch. At the Cryptarch, the gunsmith, the bounty tracker, even Tess Everis, the Eververse representative left her post, to watch the violent events play out. All of them held it.

Fear.

And finally, to Brask, of whom I began at. My teacher. My friend.

Fear.

Every last one of their eyes pierced me as they met the horrifying eyes of my helm, and yes, I felt it. And I couldn't stand it. I hated the negative attention and it stirred something. It stirred hatred, it stirred rage. I felt like a monster on display.

"But we are not afraid," the voice said as I stared at Brask intently, begging his lips to move to prove me wrong about hearing things, about officially going crazy, "You don't fear your allies, so. . . Who do you think the real monsters are?" My hands shook with great anxiety.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I suddenly asked Andal, voice tremulous. "Like. . . Like I'm the enemy."

"Ren—" He cut me off, releasing my wrists in shock to my question, but I didn't give him anytime to say anything.

"No!" I unconsciously shouted. When he reached out to me, I quickly grabbed onto his own wrist, blocking any planned movement, and sending a brawny punch to his gut. My attacks cause him to lean forward, and as he does, I sent another punch to his skull. Brask falters, but I don't let go. In fact, I proceed to expeditiously drag him to the edge of the balcony, prepared to send him over the edge, but I am stopped by Zavala.

"Enough!" The newly Commander shouts. The Hunter Vanguard clutched onto the railing as I dropped his wrist. Brask was scared, not of me, but for me, and that fear was beginning to prevent him of fighting back. Zavala approached, standing strong, prepared to attack if needed. I turned to face him, feeling as the railing pressed against my waist.

"He wants to kill you," the voice said. "He'll do anything to protect this vile city."

"I'm not the enemy!" I shouted aloud, voice cracking in woe. It was directed towards the stentorian voice, but outwardly appeared I was screeching at Zavala.

Zavala, upon hearing this, transition his furrowed features into sympathy. "We know you aren't, Ren. Listen to me, step away from the railing, it's going to be fine, we'll get you through this."

Get me through this? What is happening to me?

He slowly began to walk closer, which only made me inch backwards, pressing my waist harder against the railing and begin losing balance, shouting, "Get away—Get away from me!" I stammered, only to look over and see Brask raising to his feet.

Zavala proceeded towards me. With Andal to my left, Zavala in front of me, and Ikora Rey off to the right, I literally felt cornered. Whatever was happening to my mind actually convinced me that I was in danger and made me feel threatened.

"You're going to be fine, just take my hand," Zavala said. My vision was clouded in a drunken red, skin felt like it was burning. There was nothing okay about this.

"Listen to him," Brask reached to me, moving to grab my hand, but upon seeing this, I yanked my hand back, but the force of the retraction was so strong that I could no longer keep balanced.

After this, everything was blurred. One second, I was standing, the next, falling.

I fell about twenty-five feet, for that is how high the balcony was off the main ground of the watch. That doesn't sound like much, but when you land on your stomach and your head plummets into the concrete, it's a whole other story. It happened so fast, that when I looked up, I couldn't make out anything, shapes and quick movement, all dyed in red. I barely saw the three sprint down the steps and approach me as I tried to lift myself off the ground. They spoke, but I heard nothing. Static, ear-piercing static, I swear I felt blood drip from my eardrums.

"They did this to you," the voice said, being the only relatively real thing I could perceive. "They are the reason you are hurting."

Everything felt like it was in slow motion as I watched them move to me. Despite the pain, all I could feel right now was anger; anger at the vanguards, convinced that I was in danger and that I could die. I wasn't me then.

"Make them pay."

I couldn't control how I was feeling or acting. All the rage and light that was caged in began to build up, and release was imminent. The longer I held on and resisted the light, the more the heat built, and the more my frame was absolutely scorched.

Soon, I managed to get my feet underneath me, standing, only to stumble again, but I was able to place my hand upon the wall of the postmaster and Eververse building to balance. Looking up and noticing the three quickly moving to me. My mind was compelled to react with fear, so in defense, my hand reached behind me to grasp hold of my hand cannon and shakily raise it, "St—Stay away!" I cried out, backing up slowly. They immediately rose their hands in a surrender.

"Ren, put the gun down," Ikora stated.

"We aren't here to hurt you." I heard them, but barely.

"Clear the Watch! All Guardians retreat to the Hanger!" Ordered Brask loudly and sternly, ignoring the necessity of being calm. Afterwards, he turned back to me, "Don't do this, Ren, it's us. It's Andal." Weeping underneath my mask, I couldn't put the gun down. My arms shook with pain, and it felt like every time I opened my eyes, they were being burnt to the skull. No matter what I personally wanted, I couldn't put the weapon down. My brain was convinced by whatever force that I was threatened, and I barely recognized the people in front of me now. With every second, the world around me becomes more and more imperceptible.

A sharp pain hit my head, and my hands rose to it, crying out, legs stumbling once again. "Whats happening to—Where am—Who are—," But I couldn't finish any of the questions, mind being clogged by so many thoughts that I could not properly conclude one. I turned to see many human soldiers arrive to the scene, weapons raising to aim at me. The fury stirred. I saw the Speaker arrive as well. Of course, you can't see his expression, but telling from his body language, I could he was surprised.

But Zavala just had to interject, moving towards me once again, "Ren—."

Silly mistake.

"Quiet! All of you! Get away from me!" I suddenly shouted, voice cracking, all confusion shifting once again to anger, as I felt all of my light officially conquer me, bringing my fire to life in a manner more strict and ferocious than ever.

Flames erupted from my flesh as my vision was cleared, enhanced actually, to locate a target. I could see the flames dancing off every inch of my body, and it was then I knew that my super has initiated against my will.

Hearing the snap of the assault rifles belonging to the soldiers, I abruptly turned, gun raising to the crowd, only for Brask to shout at them, "Hold your fire!" Thus, upon perceiving, I turned back to the Vanguards, barrel pointed at the closest persons skull: Commander Zavala.

They did this to you.

"You did this to me!"

Make them pay.

"I'll make all of you pay!"

And so, my finger moved to the trigger.

Author's Note:

I've been updating so slow, I truly apologize, but I do not have any intentions on abandoning this story. Just want to think everyone who actually stays with Celestial through these long, anticipating days, haha.

Black Armory comes out tomorrow, and I just now (pretty much last minute) preordered. Honestly, I'm not so sure about it, but I'm sure we'll see how this new "content" system works soon enough.

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed Five!

As always, make sure to favorite, follow, and REVIEW if you are enjoying! I'd love to know what you guys think.

Stay tuned for Chapter Six!