New City.
==Some time before…==
Dozens of vehicles come and go through the enormous hangar. Klutz watches as a battle-scarred jumpship attempts an assisted landing, just before its engines cut out and it hits the floor with a powerful thud. A woman emerges from the cockpit, clad in combat armor. She hops down from her damaged ship and is greeted with a firm hug from an armored man waiting below. The armor-plated pair share a brief exchange of words, their voices joining the collection of chaotic sounds in the bustling room.
As the pair walk by him, Klutz offers an awkward but friendly expression as a greeting. The man gives him a puzzled look and they continue forward through a nearby door.
"I've only been here forty minutes and I already feel outta place…" the newly arrived Guardian says, just loud enough to be heard through all the surrounding noise.
Spark quickly materializes in front of him and replies, "Oh, come on. There is a lot more to this place than one crowded hangar."
"Yeah, I'm sure there's lots of crowded hangars."
"Seven main hangars, in case you were actually curious. This one happens to connect to the Tower. It's where Guardians spend most of their time in the City."
Klutz stretches his back before gesturing toward the nearby door. "Like those two friendly folks in all the armor?"
"Those were Titans. They are an order of warriors united in defense of the city," Spark answers with excitement in her voice.
"So how's a Titan different from a Guardian?" he asks curiously.
"Oh no, Titans are still Guardians! Don't let any hear you say otherwise… They're just a more specific group of Guardians," she clarifies with a little embarrassment over her short explanation.
Still looking for answers, Klutz asks, "Do you think I'll be a Titan?"
Spark lets out a short giggle before stopping herself. "Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean that as an insult. You just don't seem like any Titan I've ever heard of."
Klutz looks at the Ghost with an amused but unsure expression. As if he is unclear if he should be offended.
"In the time we've spent together, you have shown a lot of inquisitiveness and patience, not common qualities in Titans." Spark floats in closer and speaks quietly so as not to be overheard, "They are normally preoccupied with finding the next thing they can punch."
Klutz gives a confused smile as the little machine moves back and softly giggles. Although he does not understand the context, he can appreciate the humor.
"Well, in your educated opinion, are there other 'more specific groups' I'd be better suited for?"
Sparks shell rotates excitedly, "Absolutely! But it's not really my place to say. This will all make more sense after you meet with the Speaker."
"Excuse me," a synthetic voice interrupts.
Klutz and Spark both turn to face the mechanical frame, asking for their attention.
The frame continues, "Your entry authorization is all done. Welcome to the Tower, Guardian!"
Friendly chatter of numerous Guardians and the booming voices of the vendors occupying the many stalls of the Tower's market make for quite a stark change in surroundings when compared to the silent swamps of Old Chicago.
"I'm sure this is a lot to take in, huh?" Spark chimes in to her visibly overwhelmed Guardian.
Leaning against a wall, away from the crowded courtyard, Klutz watches all manner of interactions. Friends reunited after what must have been some harrowing adventure, a shop owner yelling at a frame for knocking over a pallet of seemingly expensive merchandise, even a group of Guardians mourning the loss of a comrade on a recent expedition.
Spark slowly floats into the man's view and speaks in a soft tone, "All the Guardians you see have been in your place before."
He turns his attention to his ever helpful Ghost.
"They were all reborn, alone and confused, unsure of what to do or where to go. It's our job as Ghosts to push them in the right direction. That's why I led you here. Because here, in The City, there are people that can help you answer those questions and give you purpose. Here you can take your first real steps as a Guardian…"
Klutz glances back at the courtyard for a moment and takes a deep breath before asking, "So what's our first step."
Spark quickly looks the man up and down and answers honestly, "My suggestion would be to get some clothes that aren't covered in swamp scum."
The man chuckles and moves away from the wall. "Probably a good idea. Not gonna make the best first impression on these folks if I smell like mud and Hive breath."
"I know of a Guardian outfitter in the market nearby that is probably willing to get you some clean gear, free of charge!" Spark says excitedly as she begins flying away, leaving little time for Klutz to follow.
The sun shines down gently on the ever busy market. Frames move crates through the narrow paths, hawkers do their best to talk up their products to passersby, and Guardians haggle with shopkeepers for better deals on valuable equipment.
Dressed much more presentably than before, Klutz exits the outfitters' small store. "So? Do I clean up well?" He asks as he performs a quick spin to show off his newly acquired outfit.
"The shorter hem was definitely a good choice on the robes. Really shows off the seam work on the pants." The little light swiftly moves around the man to get a better look at his silhouette. "I'm glad you took my suggestion on the taper for the waist! You had me worried you were going to take it 'as is!'"
The cleanly dressed man puts on a small smile. "Well I'm glad you like it, Spark. I'm jus-"
The Ghost's shell shifts forward as she interrupts him, "Well I don't… 'like it' per se…"
"What's the matter? I took all your 'suggestions' in there."
Spark's shell segments spin around and her blue eye lights up with passion. "Yes, but now that we are out in the natural light, I'm having second thoughts on the violet. I'm thinking the burgundy would have clashed less with the darker shades of the boots and to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the glove material. I understand that they need to be durable first, but there must be a better middle ground when it comes to looks, right? Speaking of which, those pauldrons could have just as easily fit under the robe if he gave us a little more leeway when it came to personalization!"
"Spark… he gave us this stuff for free," the unbothered Guardian says while motioning his hands from head to toe.
"That's… fair. But I really had to negotiate with the guy when it came to basic armor features. I think he may have been skeptical of your 'Guardian-ness.' But I mean, who else has a Ghost speaking on their behalf!" The impassioned light says with a small, slightly frustrated laugh.
"Thanks again for that. I've got no idea what I'd do without you," Klutz says while adjusting his hand in his new and apparently unfashionable glove. "In any case, this gear has gotta be worlds better than the swamp suit I had in that monster ridden hell hole."
Spark flies in close to the man's face and replies in an offended tone, "Hey! That 'swamp suit' may not have been much, but 'not much' is what you get when all you have to work with is the materials from a rusted out helicopter and a skeleton's rags! …Also you're welcome."
"Didn't mean to get you worked up, Spark," Klutz says with a telling smirk on his face. "So, now that I'm all dolled up, what's our next move? We gonna introduce ourselves to the Guardians, shake hands, and put in our adventure application?"
"Sarcasm aside, there is something I want to show you before we really get started," the Ghost says before guiding the man away from the busy market.
She leads him into a tight maintenance corridor away from the crowd. Its only occupants are a couple of frames checking gages and small monitors. They don't seem to mind the Ghost and her Guardian passing through.
"So uh, where are we going?" the puzzled Guardian asks as he follows her through the narrow passage.
Without turning around, Spark replies, "Just a little further and you'll see!"
Reaching the end of the hall, Klutz finds a lone door. "Through here?"
"Yep! I'm sure the suspense is killing you!" Spark answers with excitement in her voice.
Klutz opens the door and to his surprise, he finds himself looking off the side of the City's Great Wall. The door opens to a somewhat small balcony on the side of the wall with an excellent view of the growing urban jungle.
Surprised with the sight, Klutz makes sure to watch his step as he walks toward the railing, lest he live up to his namesake.
Spark floats over the rail and directs her Guardian's attention. "Come on, Klutz. Look up. Look at what I brought you here to see…"
The man takes his eyes off of the precarious platform he is standing on and looks out toward the Last City. Toward the Traveler.
Like a great shield, the Traveler rests high above the city's center. Although visibly damaged, the massive spherical being appears impossibly adamantine and totally at peace in its perfect position.
"You were sleeping when we arrived, so I'm sure you haven't had a good look at it yet." Spark speaks softly so as not to disturb the man's experience.
Unable to take his eyes off the spectacular view, Klutz comments, "It's honestly hard to say what's more impressive. The city or… that."
"That's the Traveler. It's where Ghosts like me came from. It's where your Light comes from." Spark turns to face the Guardian, but his view is fixed outward. "A long time ago, it made its way around our system, performing miracles. But something happened to it during the Collapse. Now it rests here on Earth…"
Klutz manages to take his attention away from the heavenly sight long enough to ask an important question, "What? 'something happened to it?' What happened to it?"
"The Darkness," says a somber voice from behind the Guardian.
Klutz turns to meet whoever followed him to the viewpoint.
A man in a minimalistically designed white mask stands for a moment in the doorway before joining Klutz on the balcony and resting his hands on the railing. He looks out toward the Traveler for a silent moment before continuing, "It was long long ago now and the legends often conflict with each other. Although one thing is certain. The Traveler sleeps."
Klutz returns his attention to the great sphere above the city for a moment before turning to listen further.
"It sleeps… but it has not abandoned us," the masked man reaches his hand toward Spark and she gently floats down to meet him. "Just before its slumber began, the Traveler gave birth to the Ghosts. Sparks sent to give life to those worthy of harnessing the Light."
Spark returns to Klutz and gives him a content look before resting near his head.
Klutz's eyes look down for a moment before asking, "What makes someone 'worthy?'"
The man lets out a soft chuckle and asks, "Do you doubt yourself?"
For a short time Klutz looks as though he is finding an answer, but ultimately he offers no response.
"I know you have faced hardships already," the man says while touching the despondent Guardian's shoulder. "You would find it difficult to meet a soul in this city that hasn't." He moves his hand but maintains his gaze. "I also know that worse hardships are yet to come."
Klutz adjusts his posture and turns toward the masked oricle.
"This is the destiny of all Guardians… but it is not for nothing." The man turns back toward the city. "Your sacrifice gives them hope. It gives us all hope. The hope that one day we may return to a time when we could travel our lands, and the stars above, without fear. When our ambitions for the future were about more than just survival. I believe in that hope. I believe in the Traveler. I believe in you, Guardian."
Klutz pauses for a moment with closed eyes. He takes a deep breath before opening them. "How can I help?" Although his face is hidden behind his mask, Klutz gets the sense that the man was happy with his question.
"Follow me. Let us talk a little longer. I'm sure you have many questions." The man moves from the railing toward the maintenance corridor. "Afterward, I'm sure the Warlock, Osiris, has something you can help with."
After taking one last look at the stunning view of the Last City's slumbering protector, Klutz follows the Speaker away.