Will-23

The sun began to rise over the hills beyond the city. Rays of orange stretched across the buildings, highlighting mainly the tower. The sensors within my body transmitted the signals to me. It was warm. The day begins a most welcome, and warm sight.

My hands lay softly upon the rails overlooking the edge of the tower hub area. I stood on the grass rather than the cemented walkway. The world seems so peaceful from up here, but I know better than to believe the illusion. As if sensing my disappointment, footsteps from behind me grew slightly louder, breaking the gentle silence.

"I often wonder why you come here," a voice began to speak. "Most titans like to stay focused on their duties, and plan for what they can do next with little rest in them, but not you. Instead I find you here every morning watching the sunrise. Why?"

I turn my head to the left slightly to face the speaker, finding Commander Zavala resting his hands upon the metal rails while staring into the sunset, just as I. The question repeated within my head. Why do I come here and watch the sunrise?

I straighten my back, and return my gaze to the sun. "When guardians forget about what they protect, they're not guarding anything anymore. To forget about the good that we sacrifice for is to journey into the darkness. That is the greatest mistake any soldier could make."

Zavala gave me a strong clap on my shoulder, chuckling a little to himself. "You are a wise titan, Will. Perhaps amongst the best all of humanity has to offer," he began to say. "I think it's good that you do this. Not enough people are focusing about what we're fighting for nowadays. Myself, included.

"However, to not defend at all would be to let the darkness triumph," he concluded. His eyes looked downwards toward the city, considering something, and then he straightened himself to face me. "Do you recall our latest recruit?"

The woman that ghost revived on Venus. I nod as the memory of her from yesterday becomes more visible. There's only so many reasons why a ghost would risk itself to find a guardian on another planet.

"Ikora and I have agreed that she should be tested," Zavala continues. "Cayde was fairly certain that she would not fit in well with the hunters, and I agree. However, we cannot determine if she is better fit for the role of a warlock or a titan by what she did in her past life."

Now I got curious. "What did she do for a living," I asked. Zavala sighed, indirectly telling me that the thought of it wasn't the most attractive ones. Whether it was for fear of Ikora getting a new warlock that he desired or debating on whether or not we could trust her I could not know.

"She was an agent," he replies. "I've met soldiers, scientists, and a mix of other things. Not once have I met someone who was an agent. I don't know how they operate in specifics, and I don't know if loyalty and strategy outweighs their curiousness. Still, I feel like she can be trusted as a guardian in general.

"However, she needs to be tested somehow to determine where she'll fit in best. I'd organize it myself if I didn't have missions to advise, tactics to discuss, and more. Shaxx, while he may be willing to assist, would not go out of his way to organize it. I was hoping you could be the one."

I turn my head to him, not with surprise or pride, but with readiness. It's not often when guardians need to be tested where they'll fit in. I suppose all of the former deceivers had to find a place to go when they were dissolved. The ones that didn't abandon humanity, at the very least.

He looks down towards the grass. "I suppose I can try to find another." Zavala turns his back to me and begins walking back towards the Vanguard Hall. I walk up to him and lie my hand on his shoulder pad. The action is responded with a smile.

I turn my head to the elevator. "My report will be ready for you tomorrow." His eyebrows curve, almost as if asking "tomorrow?" We've been thinking about this test-about her-wrongly. There's one very simple way to verify she's not a warlock. A way that is overlooked because it seems so simple to be true: All you need to do is talk to them.

I stepped into the elevator, and turned to face Zavala. My hand grabbed my pad and checked where Eldrandriel was taking up residence. "floor twenty-nine, room 14," I muttered to myself as I pressed the floor's button. The doors shut, and my mind began thinking about what I should begin asking her. What answers to what questions would indicate if they were more analytical or more determined?

The doors opened, and I shook my head. Would I have wanted to be treated to be treated so harshly? Would I have wanted to be looked at as another assignment or waste of time? My feet carried me down the hallway, sensors searching for the proper room number. The old Vanguards never treated me as another problem.

My eyes locked on a door with her room number. I proved that I was worth that treatment. My hand raised, curling into a slight fist to knock on the door. She should be given the same opportunity. I knocked on the door.

Something closed. "Come in," she invited. I twisted the handle and opened the door to find her in a rather small quarters. There was a single bed, that showed signs of use from the night before, beside a small dresser. Eldrandriel sat cross-legged on a chair against a desk, wearing what looked like some warm bed robes.

A closed book lay there. Dusty and old, I observed. "You're the Titan that guarded the Vanguard last night," she began. "Your commander said he'd have someone test me-someone he could depend on-very soon. Is that you?"

I nodded, and the gesture was met with the narrowing of her eyebrows. Her action wasn't out of disgust, but curiousness. Those bronze eyes seemed to study faster and much more effectively than my sensors ever could. "Please, have a seat. I'm interested in hearing about this test of yours."

My head turned to the bed. There was nowhere else to sit, and she turned herself to face me. "Eldrandriel, I hold some very firm beliefs," I stated as gently as I could. "The first is that you must truly understand what you are fighting for to remain strong in the light, and not be overcome by or found as a servant of the darkness. The second, and the one I'd like us to focus about, is knowing your comrades. To understand the people you are working with-"

"-And to feel the bond of friendship that'll drive you to survive," She interrupted, handing me the book. I wiped some dust off of it and examined the title. True Combat by Mathew O'Michael. There was bookmark placed within the middle of it. I looked up at her. "Yeah, I read all of that already."

"This is a fairly large book," I chuckled. "I must admit I've read it many times. Not that often as of recently, but before I was brought back. Us exos have lost our memories. Some lose it various times. The numbers in our names often indicate how many."

She raised a hand to her chin. "I'm sorry, but what is your full name?" That question did not seem to stem from curiousness. Eldrandriel looked slightly concerned about me even. I forced a slight smile and answered: "Will-23."

Her bronze eyes widened, astonished by the number. A hand went to her mouth. She remained quiet for a moment, staring at the floor. "Despite knowing that small fact," I continued, "there are still images and cut up memories of that book. It is odd that you would have this particular book in your possession when I visit. Why do you have it with you, anyway?"

I handed the book back so that she would place it on the desk. There was an object beside where she placed it I had not noticed before. A long and thin sheet of paper with things listed on each of it's lines. Eldrandriel looked at me, noting that my eyes locked onto the list, and handed it to me.

"Ikora thought I should do some research," she stated. "Start to see what I thought would be the better option for me when I have the free time for it. Being dead for all these years kind of eliminates work time, so pretty much just all day."

I gave a slight laugh. My arm buzzed, with my head's projection telling me that it was almost time for breakfast. As if on instinct, I stood up from the bed, and offered Eldrandriel a hand to raise her. "What about that test," she asked.

"Don't worry," I replied. "You just finished it. I'll show you around the tower after we get some food for you to eat, and maybe some power for myself."

She smiled warmly. "Of course. Can you give me a moment to get out of my pajamas?" I nodded, and turned to exit the room. "Maybe you can tell me what you think before reporting it to the Vanguard."

A true smile formed on my face as I closed the door. She seems like a nice woman. Someone I could see myself befriending and fighting alongside with. A thought hit me. My back lied onto the door and the smile vanished. "It's too bad I may never get that chance," I muttered to myself.