The wind had turned crisp in the short time I had spent at the tower, nipping at my tense fingers that were wrapped around my gun. I readjusted it in my hands, hoping to allow some blood back into my digits. The Cosmodrome was eerily silent, not even the chirp of a stray bird to pierce the stillness. My eyes scanned the landscape, regularly flitting to the radar display in my helmet, devoid of movement.
"It's very quiet," I mumble, taking large strides up to the downed Guardian ship. I jostled the gun once again, suddenly hoping to grab some engrams for a better firearm, hopefully one with a little more power. Ghost just buzzed inside my helmet, anxious to get going. I bring him out into my palm and push him towards the wreck of the ship, turning about so as to stand guard.
"The ship's systems are completely catatonic, but I can cull its last transmission," Ghost informs as he twirls back towards me. A garbled noise of what I assume are voices blasts into my helmet before reaching a crescendo into static. I can barely understand the words, but Ghost seems to understand perfectly.
"They managed to bring a system online underground. I'll bring the objective up in your visor," Ghost continues, disappearing back into my helmet.
"So we aren't going to acknowledge the creepy lack of Fallen? Judging from how worried you were before on their hold on this place, shouldn't you be a teensy bit concerned about this?" I ask, jogging towards the objective indicator.
"Reports say something has awoken the Hive in the Earth, causing multiple skirmishes between the two forces. It's likely they killed each other out and reinforcements have yet to be sent," Ghost shrugged, seeming nonchalant, yet I can't help but feel he is just as on edge.
"The Hive?" I inquire as we head deeper into the compound. I can feel Ghost shudder.
"Agents of the Darkness, but evil like you couldn't imagine. Their agents use the Darkness like Guardians can use the like, harnessing dark magic and unimaginable power," Ghost warns. We enter a type of command room, illuminated by a glowing turquois holo-map. Ghost phases in next to me, spinning about the dark core. He floats a little closer, quickly scanning the laser grid on the controls to get the bytes of information.
"A map of the entire Cosmodrome…" Ghost gasps, buzzing in excitement. I gasp, eyes widening in wonder. Judging by the size of the map, the Cosmodrome covers the size of a small state!
"Whoa, I didn't realize how large the Cosmodrome really was," I admit, brushing the wall with the tips of my fingers.
"We need to go back to were we found the jump ship, that's were we'll find the warp drive," Ghost nods, disappearing back into my helmet. I readjust the gun in my hands and climb the stairs back out into the Cosmodrome. The orange sun is just beginning to set on the quiet horizon, creating a shimmering halo around the tops of far off mountains. I silently promise myself that one day, when this war is over, I'll help take the Earth back from the Darkness. I'll get to climb those mountains; I'll hike through the forests… I'll see it all.
Ghost and I arrive at the entrance of the building, buckling steel steps rise to the gaping hole we ripped apart in our hasty escape. I grin slightly, every Guardian made their mark when they came back, and this was mine. A large gaping hole that probably structurally compromised the building, sure, but it was my destructive mark. I take sure steps up the rusting stairs, letting my large boots make noisy clangs that echo around the still deserted foothills. The blood of the Fallen is still visibly splattered about the walls and floor of the building, dark and dry from the time I busted some extra holes in those Dregs. The absence of their bodies surprised me though, as I thought the Fallen would abandon their dead, not take them for some burial. Then again, the crows may have got to them before anyone else could. I rip my eyes from the bloodstains and push through the shattered doors, kicking the one hanging from its hinges to join its pair. The crisp air turns humid and stale as we trek further, my knuckles going sore from gripping my gun. The final rays of sun hit my back and I give them a wordless goodbye, slowing for a moment to feel the warmth seep through the heavy coat Ikora gave me on my way out of the Tower.
Ghost and I come to an area that seemed to have been a garage once, a large hole bored into the furthest wall. A group of Dregs, along with some four-armed Fallen and floating sentry drones, are clustered in the center of the area, avoiding the murky puddles.
"You haven't fought Vandals or Shanks yet, but I'm sure you'll be fine," Ghost reassures, slightly too loud for my tastes, but the Fallen don't seem to notice. I nod slightly and ready my gun, aiming down the sights and lining up a shot. The bullets ring out, popping the head off the Vandal. The remaining Fallen whip around to stare at me, raising their arms above their hands and roaring, sending arcing blue bullets my way. I gulp and start firing, watching as the Fallen drop to the ground, Shanks whirring desperately before exploding.
"I don't want to fight them, I don- aaaaaaAAAAAAaHH!" I shriek as a Vandal leaps for me, electrified knife outstretched. I duck behind the pillar behind the loading doors and crouch, hearing the knife scratch along the metal wall. I jump to my feet once again and lean out around the pillar, shoving my outstretched hand into the Vandal's face, a burst of purple energy launching him backwards and crashing into his comrades. My barrel seems to lift on its own and I'm firing into the dazed group of Fallen, each falling limp and collapsing in their panicked tangle.
"That felt unfair, they could barely take a step," I panted as the final Dreg fell. Ghost hummed in amusement.
"Not wanting to fight? Unfair? You are a strange one Guardian," Ghost chortles. I scrunch up my nose, annoyed. I can't rebut though, as a large Captain emerges through the hole in the wall, roaring loudly as more Dregs and Shanks fill in behind him.
"Unfair now?" Ghost snorts. I grit my teeth and raise my gun. The Captain points at me and roars. I audibly growl at him, rolling my shoulders and narrowing my eyes. The volley of bullets hit me in the chest, making my vision blank slightly as I leap around the area, returning fire. My gun clicked as I held down the trigger, forcing me to duck behind cover as I shove more bullets into the action.
"Ghost, any grenades? Machine guns? Rocket launchers? Heavy artillery?" I ask, picking off the Dregs and Shanks. Ghost seems to nervously chuckle.
"Everyone goes at least this long without them," Ghost whirrs. I groan and lean out from behind the pillar, strafing left as I nail the Captain. He roars, flailing his arms. I run up while he's disoriented, feeling the strange energy welling up in the back of my mind again. I bring my fist back and concentrate on the energy, willing it into a concentrated strike. Dropping my gun, I leap up and crash my fist into the Captain's face, watching as the Void energy explodes around him. I land in a roll, listening as the Captain's corpse hits the ground behind me. I stand and summon Ghost, leading him out of my palm and towards the fallen Captain. He scans the Captain quickly, before a little circular part appears in his laser grid, levitating in front of him.
"And we've got a warp drive," he exclaims, rotating above my head in excitement. I pump my arm in victory and ask Ghost to teleport us back to the ship. Ghost nods and I feel that tingly feeling of teleportation spreads around me.
Back in my ship, I relax as I watch Ghost install the warp drive just outside the windscreen. We are hovering lazily above the forests, Ghost doing the preliminary installation before we hand the ship over to Amanda Holliday for final installation and a tune up.
"Almost done," Ghost's robotic voice comes through the radio in my ship. I nod and my wind returns to wandering with the fluffy clouds, watching the bright white vapor meander around the sky. My mind returns to the Tower, floating around the terraces and admiring the view of the Tower. I hum slightly, leaning into my palm as I remember the Vanguard. Zavala, he's a nice guy I suppose, but honestly it feels like he always has a stick up his ass. Ikora Rey, as my personal Vanguard she is very kind to me, but I've seen the wrath of her fury. And Cayde-6… I sigh.
"Well if you're done daydreaming about your boyfriend, we can get back to the Tower," Ghost snaps mechanically, causing me to jump in my seat. I guess I was thinking out loud and I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly. Ghost sighs and whirrs, rolling his eye as I engage the hyper drive. The clouds blur around us as we speed up, soaring closer towards the Traveller that is rapidly growing on the horizon.
"He's not my boyfriend, I literally just met him. Like, chill Ghost," I grumble, pulling into the hangar in the tower. I see Amanda Holliday waving us in, a couple of maintenance droids trailing behind her. I shoot a sharp look at Ghost, making him whir and huff, but effectively shutting him up. I teleport out of the jumpship and take a couple bouncy strides towards Amanda, smiling.
"Hey there hot stuff, how's the hunk of junk holding up?" Amanda jokes, grabbing my hand and bumping shoulders.
"Pretty well, considering you fixed her up," I retort, sticking my tongue out. She laughs, waving me to the side as the maintenance droids march over to my ship. I follow her up to her usual post, jumping up to sit beside her on her crate. We chitchat a bit about stuff, about how the Hive is making a comeback, new ships and such. We have been chatting for a good half hour when a little purple Ghost approaches us. The conversation falters as the little Ghost clears its throat.
"Mr. Valence, Ikora Rey and the Vanguard request your presence in the Hall of Guardians," the Ghost says formally, dipping. I look at Amanda and gulp slightly, glancing at the impatient Ghost.
"Well, you better see what they want," Amanda nods, giving a supporting smile. I slip off the crate and follow the Ghost, weaving through the Guardians who dot the halls and gardens. My gait slows to a halt as I see the Vanguard all standing at the end of the long table, looking at me uncomfortably.
"Oooh, you in trouble!" Ghost mocks from my headset. I just gulp and take an unsure step towards the trio. Every face looks solemn as I approach them unsteadily. I stop just below the staircase in the room, trying to meet their eyes. Zavala's glowing irises burn into my forehead as I freeze in my boots.
"Uh, hi?" I try to say, but it comes out as a mumbled "shmuuurr?". Smooth, Ghost says in my head. I refrain from rolling my eyes.
"Guardian. We need to speak with you," Ikora states, taking calculated steps backwards to her normal post around the table. Commander Zavala follows suit, but Cayde stays planted in his spot.
"Did I do something wrong?" I draw out the last word, wincing at the thought. If Ikora didn't rip me apart with a rusty knife, Zavala would skin me alive and wear me as a coat.
"Do you remember that question your Ghost asked us? About Guardians who could use Light abilities immediately after revival?" Commander Zavala inquires. I nod slowly.
"Well, we were checking through the old archives recently and something caught my eye. Something about an old legend," Cayde continued, returning to his map and leaning against the lip of the table, twirling a knife in his hand.
"An old prophecy the Speaker recorded just after the Collapse…" Ikora explains. "One about a Guardian who could wield the Light of all types, even other classes, all at once."
"A prophecy that spoke of a Guardian who could also use the Darkness just as well… someone who could be the savior or destroyer of the Light. Someone, who would become the Ruler of the Darkness or the Herald of the Traveller," Zavala spoke gravely. I felt the blood drain from my face. Someone who could become the Ruler of the Darkness?
"We've spoken with Eris Morn, and we have drawn the conclusion…" Ikora looks at Zavala. He nods.
"We think the Guardian the prophecy spoke of is you," Cayde finished. I inhaled sharply as the trio's gaze fell on me once more. Me?