Chapter 7

*Warning - Some minor gore is in this chapter.*

The morning birds chirped to signal sunrise. Man, that's the easiest I've ever slept in a while. Today is the day when I plan a dual-team mission, just as Cayde said. On mission days, Pyro is always awake and active, and today being no exception. "Good Morning Jason! Have you decided on the other fireteam members?" I stretch out and respond, "Yeah, I've got an idea. Ring up Rev and Jasmin."

Rev Doydles is an ecstatic hunter with a knack for collecting. Anything from ships to sparrows to armor and guns, anything he finds appealing he'll make sure he gets. His armor sets are quite interesting as well. He wears a Bright Guard helmet from SRL, Iron Banner chestpiece, Oryxian gloves, and Bones of Eao. To top it all off, he wears a red Flayer's Cloak. His weapons vary from mission to mission, so I can't be very specific on that. He's a funny guy with a strong will and iron determination.

Jasmin Lee is a Warlock that I met early on during my early guardian stages. We were both assigned a patrol mission, and the story gets pretty extensive from there. She has the snark and wits of a hunter, yet the sophistication and intelligence of a warlock. After our first patrol, we kept in touch to go treasure hunting or mapping. I'm sure she'll get along with Leslie just fine.

I step out into the hallway and was expecting no noise to be heard in the dorm. But boy was I wrong. A bunch of rustling and cluttering can be heard from Leslie's room, which told me she's awake. I knock on her door to make sure she's alright, "Leslie? You alright?" Suddenly the door opens and Leslie appears in front of me geared up and ready to go. She's set in her Bog Wild gear with her Down and Doubt strapped to her thigh, my Chaperone slung around her shoulder, and the Sol Edge sheathed on her waist. "More alright as I'll ever be! I'm super excited about our mission." I stared at her, then was immediately shocked. "How did you find out? I never told you yet." She just smirks and says, "I was watching the transmission from the hallway last night." And here I thought she went to bed. I simply sigh and say, "Well, it looks like you're already set. Take off your helmet so you can eat breakfast."

I cook up some ham and eggs with toast and orange juice. While eating, Leslie turns to me, "So who are the fireteam members?" I swallow a bite of eggs, "Well you're gonna be with a couple of friends of mine. Their names are Rev and Jasmin. They're nice people, so don't be shy, okay?" She simply nods, with me feeling a slight hint of disappointment. "Alright, finish up because we're supposed to meet them in the hangar at 10:30. So that means we have 30 minutes." She takes another bite of eggs and points the fork at me, "You mean YOU have thirty minutes." She smiles at the cleverness of her statement. "Alright fine, but since you're already set, you have to wash the dishes." Her expression shifted from sheer snark to disappointment, "Agh, fine. Meanie."

Later…

"Ah! There's the dynamic duo!" Arc shouts from the meeting point. Rev and Jasmin are already standing next to Alex and Arc, impatiently waiting. We ended up being a tad late due to some minor wardrobe malfunctions for Leslie. "You two are late. Something was holding you up?" Alex asks with a sly smile. I stare at him, "No. Now shut it before I punch you to the Traveler." Not thoroughly convinced, he stays quiet with the smile still on his face. I sigh before I begin debriefing, "Alright everyone, our mission is to scout Fallen territory in New York, America. We will be split into two teams. Naturally, Arc, Alex, and I will be a fireteam. Rev and Jasmin, you'll team up with my friend and roommate Leslie," I pat her shoulder, "So introduce yourselves."

Rev holds out his hand, "Rev Doydles, treasure hunter, collecter. I hope that Jason hasn't given you much trouble recently. He can be quite the hardass when it comes to mentoring new guardians. I would know." Leslie shakes his hand and replies, "Oh certainly not. He's been a great mentor." Rev smiles and nods.

Jasmin holds out her hand next, "Jasmin Lee, Warlock, smartass. Great to meet you." Leslie shakes her hand and smiles, "And the same to you. What's your history with Jason?" She slightly blushes and replies, "I'll fill you in on that later." Quickly changing the subject before more questions are asked, "Alright, that seems about it. Now everyone, let's get to orbit."

As we were flying to Old America, Alex decided to pipe up again, "So how's your residency with Leslie so far? Have you guys slept with each other? Are you guys even a couple? Do you like her? Do you-"

"I swear to the Traveler if you ask one more question I will personally blow your ship out of the sky." Arc chuckles over the radio. "Hey Jason, take it easy. Really we've all been wondering the same thing. You've lived so long alone ever since Arcane moved out. Now all of the sudden you have a new roommate, who's a girl, and a hunter, and – may I add – very beautiful. So naturally we would be interested.

I sigh, "You know Arc, if that wasn't so well worded, I would've made the same threat to you. But yeah, I see where you guys are coming from, but truthfully I don't really see her as a love interest. At least –" "So does that mean I can go for it?" Alex pipes up. "No Alex." I shut down his thought quickly. "Frankly, I haven't really been interested in love. Not that because I can't find anyone – " "Yeah everyone loves titans, with their good looks and muscles and heroic tales…" Alex mumbles. I smile and continue "It's that, I'm afraid of it. Ever since what happened with…" "Vaticus and Stephanie, right?" Arc says. "Yeah…ever since then." I reply.

It was when we were early guardians. It was a fireteam of six to go out and patrol Old Great Britain. It was us 3, Vaticus, Stephanie, and another Titan. Vaticus was an awoken Hunter, very snarky but honorable. He loved goofing around but was always prioritizing the task at hand. Stephanie was a serious but caring person, never took any trouble lightly, and was always prepared for any situation. Those two were lovebirds. They were never separated, even during missions. We were assigned to map out the underground metro tunnels and report back anything we find. It was a simple task, but we all went as a team of six for safe keeping.

I was a striker back then. Solely a Striker. Alex was a Voidwalker and Arc was a Gunslinger. The other three were our alternate subclasses, so the Titan was a Defender, Vaticus was a Bladedancer, and Stephanie was a Sunsinger. We had a well balanced team, we were unstoppable. Upon touching ground, we were attacked by Fallen patrol after Fallen patrol. It was easy pickings for us. The mission felt so easy, until we reached the tunnels.

"Ah jeez, it smells so disgusting down here," complained Arc, "it reeks of hive." I sniff and agree, "Yeah, it smells like the moon down here. Be careful everyone." We walked through the tunnels, carefully tracking which tunnel leads to where. It was mostly quiet, with an occasional thrall popping up here and there. "You know, this place gives me the creeps." Alex said with a slight quiver in his voice. He was right. There was no tunnel lighting so our ghosts served as flashlights. "Hey Stephanie, you can hold on to me if you feel scared." I heard Vaticus say. "Well honey it seems like you're the one who's shaking, not me," replies Stephanie. I chuckle at their conversation. Just a little more and then we can go home.

"Wait." The Titan held out his hand and stopped us. I was about to ask why we stopped until I heard it too. Faint screams were coming from the tunnel – but which way? They got closer and closer. "In front of us! Watch out!" The Titan yelled as he threw a grenade. The flash temporarily lit our enemy. It was an entire army of thrall, charging straight for us. "Shit! Everyone, retreat!" I yelled. We ran, but those thrall were fast. We had to fight, we didn't know where we were going.

"Shit...shit shit shit!" I mumbled to myself. I turned and threw a lighting grenade on the wall, zapping rows of thrall into dust. I pulled out my auto rifle and began to mow down thrall after thrall. We fought and fought and fought. A thrall jumped at me and I punched its head into the ground. Alex looked well due to his life steal ability and his deadly aim with his Vision of Confluence. Arc was holding his own, throwing his seemingly infinite knives at the craniums of the thrall. A small ding was heard, then another knife was thrown. My Shadow Price was helping me stay alive. Everytime a thrall go close I executed it in some way. A thrall flanked me and scratched my side. I turned and grabbed it by the neck, then threw it at another thrall. The Titan was impenetrable. His close-quarter skills were better than mine. Every time a thrall disintegrated from his punch, he would glow purple. No matter how much the thrall scratched at the shield, it would simply recharge. Vaticus was doing amazing. His recovery wasn't letting him fall. His quick blade skills sliced and diced thrall into nothing. I looked for Stephanie and I couldn't find her.

"NO!" I heard her blood-curdling scream. I look further down the tunnel and I see a wave of thrall charge, with Stephanie at the front of it. I crushed a Thrall's skull and yelled, "Stephanie! Get back!" Vaticus turned to see Stephanie stuck fighting thrall, unaware of the horde coming in. "Stephanie! No!" Vaticus screamed and tried to push towards her, but to no avail. "Run! Everyone run! I'll be okay!" She yelled. Alex and Arc nodded and turned. I had to drag Vaticus back while the other Titan was supporting me with cover fire. "No! Stephanie! Let me go! I'm not leaving her!" he struggled and wriggled. "Let me go now! I'm not – " Suddenly, an agonizing screech was heard coming from down the tunnel. Vaticus elbowed me in the side, making me drop him. He took off down the tunnel. "Vaticus!" I yelled his name over and over but he didn't turn.

"Guys! We need to go get him!" I yelled. "Why? He may already be dead!" Arc snapped. "We leave no man behind. At least support him!" Arc stayed silent, and then he told Alex to come along. The other Titan followed with no resistance. We immediately noticed the retreat of the thrall. There was significantly less around. We called out their names, but we heard no reply. We wondered if they got out safe, or they were pushed down the tunnel further. Alex answered that question soon enough. "Guys…look." He pointed to where his ghost was looking. We saw something crouch and slouched over, looking like it was holding something. As we got closer, we realized it was Vaticus, and in his arms was the dead, lifeless body of his lover.

"No…those damn Hive…those cursed Hive!" He yelled in agony. Next to him were two shattered machines. We immediately knew they were ghosts. Literal dead ghosts. "I sacrificed my ghost to try to revive her. No, those savage creatures grabbed it out of the air and tore it up. Similar to the fate of her ghost." He kept his back turned to us. I noticed there was a pool of blood around him, staining his knees and lower legs, along with the bottom of his cloak. I got a better view of her body and I was horrified. Her body was covered in scratches, with many of them bleeding. Her neck and chest were torn open, with some of her innards slightly distanced from its host on the rails. "Vaticus…" I reached out to touch his shoulder. "Get away from me! You abandoned her! You all abandoned her!" "Had we not ran, we would've been dead too!" Alex yelled. "In truth, with my love gone, I have nothing to live for." He put his Hand Cannon to his temple. I tried to stop him, "Vaticus No!" I reached, but it was too late. He pulled the trigger, and his head snapped to the side. He fell down lifeless on the rails, blood seeping out of his head. I immediately took off my helmet and threw up. "I already alerted the Vanguard," said the Titan as rumbling was heard down the tunnels with the sound of boots, "Let's go home." I walked over to the corpses and joined their hands and shut their eyes. "Sleep well Guardians. May the Traveler keep your love strong for eternity." I didn't sleep that entire night.

That next day a funeral ceremony was held. Many guardians came to pay their respects. Many of them talked to us to get some closure from their final moments. I never fully recovered from that experience. I still see their faces. That was the one mission I regret going to. I didn't sleep that night either. Instead I cried silently. I cried and cried. Their faces and corpses permanently burned into my head. Why… why…

"Jason? You okay?" I snapped back into the present. Everyone was staring at me. We were on the ground already, in the middle of a city. Ruined buildings stood all around us, with rusted cars sitting on the streets, many of them still containing skeletons. I shake my head, "Yeah, I'm good." We were sitting around in a circle, which made me notice that everyone gave me a concerned look. "Alright," I clap my hands and put on my helmet, "you all know your tasks. Let's get to work. Good luck and stay safe."

AN: Sorry for the no updates! Testing in school has been rough since its march. But spring break is rolling around so I will update more. Thanks for sticking around!