Author's Note: My (Eltyr) Ocs will be making their grand debut in this chapter and serving as Ocena's mentors. Mass Effect fans will notice that I draw inspiration from a certain… precise mercenary ;)
Ch.2
Ocena had wandered all around the Tower but hadn't really found anyone to help her understand things… also it has occurred to her she had no idea who she was and if she had family… not that it would matter Luden had said she had been dead for a long time. So she was alone.
*"Ocena what's wrong? Why are you crying?"*
"I'm alone… I don't have any family… I have no idea what's going on, I had to kill things today…"
The Ghost didn't know what to say. What could he say? Oh he had an idea, he knew two other Ghosts with great Guardians they could help Ocena. They could teach her some things they could maybe be friends to her so she wouldn't be alone. They could help her when she went out on missions. Yes, it was settled he would look for the other two Ghosts and speak to their Guardians.
*"Ocena how about we head back down to the couches so you can rest? You did a good amount a of fighting you aren't used to. It'd be good to get some sleep."*
"Okay…" Ocena slowly made her way back down. Once there she curled up on one of the couches and gazed at her Ghost. "You'll be here when I wake up?"
*"Of course I don't intend to go far. Just rest."* She didn't need to know he was leaving her for a while she likely wouldn't even know. Ocena closed her eyes and was sleeping in minutes. Luden drifted over to a near Guardian who looked up as he came over.
*"Do you mind watching her for me? I need to find some people to help her."*
The Guardian looked over to Ocena then nodded. Luden went off to find the two Ghosts and their Guardians.
Luden found one of the two he was looking for in the main courtyard, and he had to suppress a groan over the fact that he was doing the 'aloof thing' that his class of Guardian was known for doing. In this case, it meant sitting perched in the upper branches of one of the trees that decorated the plaza, glowing lime-green eyes staring straight ahead at the distant Traveler with a vaguely haunted look. His Ghost caught sight of Luden and drifted over, seemingly unnoticed by his Guardian.
*Haven't seen you around in a while,* he greeted Luden. *What brings you here?*
*"I came to ask for your help,"* Luden replied. *"Yours and your Guardian's: I've finally found mine-*"
*That's wonderful!*
*"But she needs… a mentor, someone to take her under their wing and show her the ropes.*"
The other Ghost appeared to consider this for a moment. *What's your Guardian's classification?*
*"She's a Warlock,*" Luden replied.
*She is? Well… I don't mean to sound rude, but wouldn't it make more sense to ask one of the Warlocks to help?*
*"Actually, I had a particular Warlock in mind: you know the one, he helped the two of you find the… 'sinister' hand cannon?*"
*Him? Ooooh…* the Ghost trailed off as comprehension set in.
*"Yeah,*" Luden replied. *"I figured it would be better if I first found someone a bit more level-headed to help him… er, help her."*
*Makes sense. I still think you should ask after him though: Traveler knows there are just some things that Guardians of different classes just don't get about each other, especially concerning Warlocks.*
*"I'm not talking skills… she is fearful… very fearful she had a panic attack earlier"*
The Ghost blinked its glowing eye once. *Oh… oh… I see. Now I see why you came to us first. He's not the most sociable, even for a Hunter, but I'm sure he'd be more than willing to help. Let me just…* The Ghost turned towards the tree, only to glance about wildly when his Guardian was nowhere to be seen in the tree branches. The Ghost let out an exasperated sigh. *I really hate it when he does that… I'll pass the message to him, as soon as I pin him down by that cloak of his…* he trailed off darkly.
*"... Alright."* Luden twitched getting a sense from his Guardian, she woke up before he got back.
*"I may be facing some trouble in a minute."*
*Trouble? What do you mean?*
*"My Guardian woke up, and given how she was with the Fallen and before she went to sleep, she isn't bound to react well upon discovering I'm not-"*
Luden shivered. Yes there was a problem: she wasn't taking him not being there well.
She was making fretful noises as she stirred, but he did not break the silence; he merely continued to observe her with his hands clasped and his elbows propped up on his knees. Her hair was immaculately white like snow and cascaded over her shoulders like falling water while resting at her hip, and her skin was a pale shade common among their people, not unlike his own pale blue skin. He observed that she was dressed in the tattered vestiges of a Warlock, but her garb was of a quality that confirmed his suspicions.
A newly minted Warlock, the Hunter thought to himself. I cannot remember the last time a new Guardian came to the Tower. "It is a good day after all," he whispered softly to himself, unaware that she was awake enough to hear him.
Ocena slowly woke up not feeling rested at all: far too much on her mind. Unknowingly, she sensed her Ghost wasn't near… someone else was and she wasn't sure she wanted to open her eyes.
She knew she was starting to panic like she had when facing the Fallen but she couldn't help it. Then she heard a voice. It was deep, almost a croak, but at the same time it was… like a whisper. There was something hushed about the voice, as if it's owner was very afraid… or very sad.
"It is a good day after all."
Ocena opened her eyes and sat up only to freeze. Who was this? Where was her Ghost? Unbeknownst to Ocena, the air around her was starting to fizzle a little, and tiny sparks of violet glimmering light were beginning to gather around her. The Hunter watching her did see all of this, but did not react.
"Luden?" She called. Nothing.
"Apologies, I believe that my appearance has startled you: please rest assured that I will never mean you any harm." The stranger spoke. She could see that he had pale blue skin, along with white hair and green eyes that glowed like hers. "I do not wish to startle you further," he went on calmly, "but I must ask you to take a deep breath and try to calm down, as it seems that you're distressed emotions are… shall we say, making the laws of physics nervous?"
She blinked, confused. What was he talking about? And why should she trust him? Ocena didn't know… she just wanted Luden.
"Who… Who are you…?" She asked.
The Hunter noted that the light wasn't getting any brighter, but it wasn't dissipating either. "Very well. My name is Thane. I have no last name. None that I remember, at any rate."
Ocena didn't calm. She still wasn't sure of this man… she knew his name yes but…
"What… what are you? Why do your eyes glow?"
Thane opened his mouth to respond, but then froze, and took on a thoughtful expression. "Actually… I do not know why my eyes glow. But it is a common trait shared by those who are known as the Awoken, like you and I. That is what I… what we are."
She frowned, too focused with questions to remain upset. "Awoken..? What is-" She broke off, thinking she must be annoying him with the questions; but she just had so many!
Thane raised an eyebrow, but then nodded sadly in understanding. "I see. The damage to your memory must be severe indeed. Do not fret: it will recover with time, but I can help you fill in some of the blanks. The Awoken are a large group of humans whose ancestors fled into space and spent several centuries hiding out in the remains of space colonies and asteroid belts. Over time, it changed them, so that they look… like us. Other than our appearance, there is no difference between us and a 'normal' human."
Ocena bit her lip wondering how much he could tell her...
*THERE YOU ARE!* Thane winced as his Ghost's sudden voice caused Ocena to jump, and simultaneously caused the air to become charged with tiny sparks of violet lightning. *HOW MANY TIMES..?* Without looking around Thane's hands shot up and seized his Ghost before burying it into his armored chest in an attempt to smother it.
"I know, I'm sorry: please lower your voice, you are distressing a Warlock in a very fragile state, which in turn is causing a general fragility in reality near her. A reality, I should point out, that includes us in the immediate vicinity." Luckily the Ghost got the idea and went silent.
Ocena blinked at the display. Didn't that hurt the Ghost? No from the looks it didn't. Ocena brightened when she saw Luden drifting over to her.
*"You are calm."* Luden said a little surprised.
"Yes… mostly…"
She looked back to the man across from her and tilted her head. She had more questions.
