S1-176
An offer for Cayde
11:47 AM
07/17/3273
Planet Vez-2 - Suburban Cul-De-Sac
Aran-Johnson Residence
Music
Chibi-Robo: Plug Into Adventure - Broad Daylight
Another day on the Frontier. The Farm was disassembled on Earth, then reassembled on the planet Troy, giving the settlers and the Eliksni House of Judgment a new home. Ikora ordered her Hidden to join the IMC's network, forming the new Moonhawk Brigade.
On this nice day, Cayde-6 had woken up in the Aran-Johnson residence. "Thanks again for letting me stay over. I've been getting tired of sleeping in the IMC HQ's civilian quarters... which sounds pretty ironic." He chuckled.
"Well, with humanity being moved out of Earth, and IMC crews dismantling the City for reusable resources to keep from the Fallen, you don't exactly have a place to go back to. It's the least we can do anyway." Michael said.
Music
Metroid Fusion - Navigation Room
"Hold up... Humankind is just being moved off of Earth?! The City is being taken down for parts?!"
"People were moving out anyway. We're just cleaning up."
"What about Zavala and Ikora? What about the Council of Guardians?"
"With your first... end at the hands of the deceased Uldren Sov, and with Zavala's official order to focus on the City, the people, and the Traveler, the Council started to fracture under gradually increasingly questionable authority. The Council... might no longer exist."
"So... what? We're just leaving our home behind?"
"Well, why do you think humanity set out among the stars to begin with? We needed to expand our reach, to survive, to evolve."
"By that logic, and upon taking the way you think into consideration, humankind is simply taking their home off the Earth and bringing it to the Frontier."
"Precisely."
"{I just got a few reports. Looks like Devrim Kay accepted our offer for relocation.}" Rocco reported. "{In other news, the last of the City's civilian inhabitants have been moved to Angel City. The Shadow's Echoes are scouring the Earth for lost survivors, bringing any they find through Ascendant rifts, leaving them in Angel City. Among all this, Dr. Hammond has ordered all available automated infantry units to comb the Earth for anything belonging to humankind, using transmat beacons to send what they find directly to an IMC facility on Vez-2's moon for reallocation.}"
"What do you think this means, Rocco?"
"{The Earth was simply a cradle for humanity, but it's been coming under constant attack AND it's been getting overcrowded in the past. I calculate that Earth will be picked clean and abandoned as of the 29th of next month.}"
Michael heard the Traveler's voice in his head once again. "I will remain in Earth's lower atmosphere until the last human is safely away, then I will make for the Frontier."
"What about any new Guardians that get revived on Earth afterwards?"
"We've sent a message to all Ghosts who have not yet found their Guardians, letting them know to signal the IMC for pickup in the event that they find who they're looking for."
"So if a Ghost finds their Guardian on Earth, they'll call for an IMC Drop Ship to bring the new Guardian to safety?"
"Exactly."
Now that their dispute about the dying birthplace of humankind and the future of humanity was over, Michael had an offer to make the Exo.
Music
Destiny - Guardian
"Remember when I restored your Light during the Red War?" Michael asked.
"Yeah, I remember. Still can't figure out how the Eye of the Traveler lets you do that."
"What if I said I could do that again?"
Michael's offer caught Cayde-6 off-guard. "You... You can?"
"Not only that, but I can generate a new Ghost for you."
"I need some time to think about this."
"Maybe you'd wanna see the new home of the Guardians?"
"Y'know what? I'd like to take a look."
11:55 AM
07/17/3273
Planet Korj - Angel City District 10: Phoenix Central
Shipyard
Music
Destiny 2 - The Last City
One jump later, Michael and Cayde-6 arrived at the new home of the Guardians, a new district in Angel City. "Cayde, welcome to Phoenix Central. This safe haven is where the Guardians live."
"Wow...! You guys must've been pushing yourselves to new extremes!"
"This place was constructed by Marvins, built from a highly complex blueprint created by the Aurora Units."
"The Aurora Units designed this place for the Guardians?! Look at it! It's massive!"
"All the people who lived in the City back on Earth live here now, intermingling with the Guardians." Just then, Michael flipped a credit out of his pocket, slapping it on the back of his left hand. "Ramen's on me. How 'bout it?"
"You brought the ramen shop here too?!"
"We brought everything here. Everything."
Planet Korj - Angel City District 10: Phoenix Central
Boardwalk (East)
Exiting the shipyard, Michael brought Cayde-6 to the new Spicy Ramen shop, and there were a few customers, consisting of Guardians, Pilots, Guardian-Pilots, and civilians. One customer stood out to Cayde-6. "Petra Venj. Fancy seein' you here."
Upon hearing such a familiar voice, Petra dropped her chopsticks, turning her head in disbelief, and seeing the formerly dead Exo. "Cayde... You're... You're alive?!"
"I'm a human mind in a mechanical body. IMC engineering fixed up the mechanical body, and my human mind... 'woke up'."
"The IMC brought you back?"
"I'm lucky to be an Exo."
It was then that Samus and Jenny arrived. "Didn't expect you to be here, Michael." Samus stated.
"Well, I didn't expect Petra to be here." Michael had a point. Petra waved to the rest of the Aran-Johnson family.
"Oh. Petra! How have you been?"
"Well, Samus, ever since the Shadow somehow tore Riven's curse out of the Dreaming City with his bare skeletal hands, I guess I've just been... how do you say it... out of a job? I heard there was this new home for the Guardians out on the Frontier, and when I visited Earth, I saw that the City was being carefully pulled apart, piece by piece."
Michael then sat at the counter to place an order. "Four bowls of ramen, each with a side of gyoza. Large. Extra dumplings."
"Four Cayde Specials, coming right up." The waiter wrote the order tickets, then put them up for the cooks. "Hi, Cayde. Good to see you again."
"Wait... You KNEW I was alive?"
"It's been broadcasted through the entire IMC network for a day. EVERYONE saw it. 'The legendary Cayde-6, restored by a piece of the past'." The waiter held up his PDA.
"Yeah, and said 'piece of the past' just happens to be an unused Exo battery."
"From what I've read in the Clovis Bray archives, those things were estimated to last for at least a hundred years." Michael stated.
"100 YEARS AT THE MINIMUM?!"
"That's right. I believe your Ghost, Sundance, has been keeping yours charged throughout your life as a Guardian, which means you are several centuries old." Eventually, four bowls of ramen were passed out. "Ohoho MAN! That... is absolutely delicious." Michael exclaimed.
"What can I say? A classy order for a classy Exo." Cayde-6 said, downing another bite of noodles.
"That's exactly what I got. I haven't been connected to the IMC network because I didn't have my own PDA, so I wasn't aware that Cayde was back." Petra stated, picking up a piece of gyoza with her chopsticks. "Mmm... Delicious."
"Well, the IMC HQ still has a ton of unused PDAs in storage. If you want one, I could get it for you. Oh, this ramen is so good... My taste buds are having a party right now." Jenny was seriously enjoying the meal.
After lunch was over, Michael made one last order. "Four Cayde Specials to go."
Samus then leaned over and whispered to him. "Why are you getting more orders to go?"
Don't you think Devrim, Hawthorne, Variks, and Glitch Frisk would want some?" Michael whispered back.
"Good point."
12:17 PM
07/17/3273
Planet Troy
Colony G22
Music
Destiny 2 - The Farm
One jump later, the group of five had arrived at the new location of the Farm, a few miles west-southwest from Colony G21, which was labeled as a restricted area.
"Well, this is the Farm, Colony G22 on the planet Troy." Michael announced, gesturing to the rural village of humans and Eliksni. "Fun fact: the Eliksni were capable of fluent English. Variks used that accent of his because he was afraid of being killed on the spot by the Awoken of the Reef. Anyway, let's check on Hawthorne, Devrim, and Variks."
Heading through the colony, they came across Devrim Kay, relaxed for once. "Howdy, Devrim." Michael greeted.
"Ahh. The Aran-Johnson family, one of the Awoken, and last, but not least, Cayde-6. How have you all been?"
"I've been doing well." Michael said, breathing a sigh of comfortable relief.
"Can't say I've been better." Samus added with a smile.
Jenny giggled. "It's like summer."
"I'll get by." This Exo was confident.
Petra seemed both relaxed and uneasy at the same time. "I feel strangely peaceful, which is something I haven't felt in a long time."
Rocco then appeared, depositing a takeout container of ramen, dumplings, and gyoza.
"What's this?" The marksman asked, taking hold of the container.
"{Just an order of the Cayde Special.}"
"The 'Cayde Special', eh?" Devrim opened the container, pulled a pair of plastic chopsticks off the lid, then took a bite of the noodles. "Well, Cayde's got extraordinary taste, I'll say that much. I should visit the Spicy Ramen shop some time. I missed lunch today. I needed this. Thank you."
With that, the group visited Suraya Hawthorne. "Looks like someone's back up and running."
"Nice to see you too, poncho."
"Not sure why, but I missed hearing you call me that." Samus then handed Hawthorne the second takeout meal of ramen. She set it down on a nearby table, opened it up, and took a bite. "Mmm. Cayde Special, right?"
"Yeah. How did you know?" Samus asked.
"I've had it before. One of the best things I've ever had."
While Hawthorne was chowing down, Michael headed to the Judgment Ketch, seeing Variks talking with his Ghost. "Then Skolas said 'I am Kell of Kells. All will bow before Wolf banner.'. He was an... interesting opponent for the Guardians. Michael's team sure made short work of him."
"{Sounds impressive.}"
"It was a marvelous battle. The end of the House of Wolves marked the rebirth of the House of Judgment. I am forever in the IMC's debt."
"Variks! Good to see you again!" Michael called out.
The Judgment Kell turned to the Pilot. "Michael! We were just talking about you."
"I heard. Skolas was a difficult enemy, but we handled ourselves well, and we made it through, putting Skolas in the Prison of Elders. I'm sure he's dead by now."
"He was killed by a Guardian Fireteam that participated in the Challenge of the Elders before the Dreadnaught arrived."
Michael nodded in understanding. "I see. Variks, are you hungry?"
"My equivalent to your 'stomach' has been gurgling faintly. I guess I'm hungry." The Judgment Kell stated, placing a hand upon his lower abdomen.
"Then why not try some of the Cayde Special?"
Variks stuck his staff in the ground, held the takeout container with his lower pair of arms, took off his voice synth, and tried a bite of the noodles. In response to the taste, he made that weird purr-like sound, then spoke absentmindedly in the Eliksni language. "{Variks says that it's the best thing he's ever eaten.}"
"It's ramen noodles with a side of gyoza and pork dumplings."
While the rest of the group was visiting the new and improved Farm, Michael dialed up Glitch Frisk through his Pilot helmet. "Glitch Frisk, you there?"
There was silence on the line for a few seconds before a familiar voice was heard. "Hello?"
"Hey, Glitch Frisk."
"Oh. Hi, Michael. I was just playing that Transformers Prime Wii game."
"Cool. Hey, could you head into my room and grab my spare transmat beacon from the closet?"
"Sure thing." After a while, Glitch Frisk was heard again. "I got it. Now what?"
"Plop it down on the dining room table. I'm gonna send you something." Readying a transmat beacon from the Drop Ship, Michael had it synchronized to the one back home.
"Transmat beacon is on the table."
"Alright. Here it comes." The final container of the Cayde Special was laid on the floor, where it then vanished.
"A takeout food bowl just appeared out of nowhere!"
"Bon appétit. It's the Cayde Special. You're gonna love it. Ramen noodles with a side of gyoza and extra dumplings."
"Oh, that sounds good. Not as good as... Toriel's... pies..." The Pilot heard his sadness.
"Why don't we get that recipe from another version of your world? I'm sure the recipe itself is exactly the same."
"You mean it...?"
"Yeah. If you want, we could be your family."
"Thank you... for everything."
12:39 PM
07/17/3273
Planet Vez-2 - Suburban Cul-De-Sac
Aran-Johnson Residence
Music
Destiny - Guardian
Eventually, everyone decided to head on home, and it was revealed that Petra actually lived in Angel City, seeing as Riven's curse practically destroyed the Dreaming City.
"Michael, I'd like to talk to you about that offer."
"To make you a Guardian again?"
"I've made up my mind. 'Light' me up."
At the sudden pun, Michael chuckled. "Good ol' Cayde."
Just then, Rocco appeared. "{I just called up Banshee. He's in the process of assembling your new Guardian loadout. It should be ready in an hour.}"
Michael then headed upstairs, going into his room, grabbing a dusty pistol from his shelf, and bringing it back downstairs. "If you're gonna become a Guardian once more, you're gonna need this." It was the Ace of Spades.
"My hand cannon!"
"Remember your old ship?"
"The Queen of Hearts?"
"Yeah. We found it in the Prison of Elders. It must've been waiting for you. We brought it back and gave it a tuneup."
"I can't wait to see it."
"Before you go, I should take care of some things." Michael then focused his unique Light, using it to birth into existence a new Ghost in the palms of his hands, wearing a normal white shell. The Ghost appeared to be inactive, its eye closed.
"Did you just make a dead Ghost?"
Before Michael could think of an answer, the Ghost slowly woke up. "{W-what... Where... Where am I...?}" It had a female voice, and a familiar one at that.
"If Cayde's coming back as a Guardian, then his Ghost should come back too. She wasn't devoured by the Hive, so I was able to pull her together when that Scorn Baron destroyed her."
"Cayde, it's... It's Sundance!" Michael exclaimed.
Cayde-6 carefully scooped up his Ghost into his hands, looking into her glowing blue eye. "Sundance... I've missed you so much."
"{Cayde...? CAYDE!}" The Ghost swiftly flew from the Exo's hands, nuzzling against him.
"It's so good to see you again."
"One more thing." Cayde-6 and Sundance turned to Michael, seeing that his right arm was surging with Light, but not his own. It was the Light of Cayde-6's spark. Michael let it flow out of him, watching as the Light rushed through the Exo, reuniting with him at long last.
"When a Guardian's spark is dying, make physical contact with them. I will pull their remnant Light through you. If the Guardian survives or is brought back afterwards, I will return their Light through you, like I just did with Cayde." The Traveler said through Michael's own Light.
"Cayde, I should let you know something. You aren't 100% Exo anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember when the Exo brothers had their final reboots?"
"Yeah. Their Ghosts shared the Exo structure blueprints of their Guardians so you could add in the Simulacrum memory cortex capacitors, right?"
"That's right. The blueprints across all Exos that underwent this process were identical. For reasons unknown, Dr. Hammond thought it best to heavily augment your Exo chassis with Simulacrum components."
"I suppose that's how I got faster and stronger. Dr. Hammond basically turned me into... what? An 'Exo-lacrum'? I'm part Exo and part Simulacrum now, so what exactly am I?"
"Until further notice, let's call you a Sim-Exo. I look forward to fighting alongside you once more, Cayde-6."
"How 'bout we drop the 6? I don't feel like having a number in front of my name anymore. I'm practically a new species. How about it?"
"You got it, Cayde."
Cayde's Light is back! Sundance is back! The Ace of Spades has been returned to its rightful owner!
See you next time.