Here I Am

Screw me for the title I couldn't think of anything else lol. Anyways, I apologize for the late update, meant to update Friday but after rereading it, I didn't like a certain part so I decided to fix it. Saturday Fanfiction wasn't let me upload for some strange reason and Sunday it didn't let me again until now.

Anyways, thanks to Diamond002, The Great Wolf 117, and DisobeyedBowl6 for the review!

"I just sent out a signal to the others that I had already received aid." Angel turned to face his new 'friend', watching as the latter gave him a raise brow, "So, just you?"

"I was thinking about calling in my team." The human Hunter smiled sheepishly at the frown he received, "Don't worry, they're pretty much like me; they want to find a way to save my friend and if you are the best option right now, they will provide the help." He paused as he sensed doubt, "I promise, I am telling the truth."

Watching as the Titan just gave him another narrowed glance, a shake of the head was all he received before the revenant returned to the infant in his arms, giving Angel the time to hold out his hand and summon Hope into view.

"I already sent out a frequency to the others." Angel shut his mouth before he can even start, "They should be on their way here even as we speak."

Nodding his head in thanks, the human Hunter lowered his hand to allow Hope to hover in place, watching her glide over to her honorary place near his shoulder before he turned his attention back towards the Titan, only to spot the familiar star shaped form of a Ghost.

Much like Crystalline, this one's shell also shifted with a pattern reminisce of the Awoken, although this one's color was a dark violet, almost black, and their optic was a light shade of brown, just like their chosen. Quickly turning his attention back towards the Titan, Angel then said, "My Ghost sent out message to my team, they should be here any moment now."

Receiving nothing else but a nod from the revenant, Angel couldn't help but shift uncomfortably in place, his gaze lingering over the infant's form before he finally sat down and asked, "So, er, do they have a name?"

Pausing as the Titan shifted his attention back towards him, Angel waited patiently as he watched him scowl and then respond, "Only if you give me yours first, and even then, that is a 'maybe'."

Amusement forming in the back of his mind as he saw the protectiveness in the Titan's eyes, the human Hunter replied, "Angel Anand."

He saw the Titan raise a brown, "Anand is your name?"

"What?" Frowning at the human Titan's question, Angel then added, "What do you mean – oh right." He rubbed the back of his name sheepishly, memories recalling several other Guardians who had asked the same; it took a while to settle the confusion, "My name is Anand, Angel."

"Ah," He saw the Titan's head nod in understanding, signaling to the human Hunter to then gesture with his head towards his Ghost, "And this is Hope."

"Only Hope?" Angel nodded, "They not carry the same family name as yourself?"

Reeling back at the Titan's words, the human Hunter parted his lips, only to clamp it shut and turn his attention towards Hope, the latter of which simply shifted her shell up and down, "Doesn't matter to me either way; still your Ghost, no matter what."

Smiling at that, Angel turned his focus back towards the Titan, just in time to see him let out another nod, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Angel and Hope, I am Hashimoto, Isamu, and this," He nodded towards the Ghost near his shoulder, "Is Hashimoto, Hajime."

"And the child's?"

Angel watched as a smile tugged at the edges of Isamu's lips, "Eidr." A soft but sad chuckle slipped from the Titan, "Jora and I have yet to agree on which surname he would take on."

"Jora?" He received a nod from the Titan, "Then, I am guessing Eidr's yours?"

"Ours. Jora and I's." Isamu corrected, turning his attention towards the infant in his arms, the latter of which had quieted and enabling Angel to clearly see hazel in those wide curious eyes.

The infant was obviously hardly a year old, perhaps a few months from the tufts of hair growing on his head – black, similar in color to Isamu's. As he watched the revenant continue to coo and coddle the child – the latter of which smiled and giggled at his attempts – a thought lingered into Angel's mind, causing his eyes to widen, "Wait, I recall Crystalline saying that she and Blaise entered the Vault 'years' ago, but the child, the child looks new, 'fresh' to life."

Waiting patiently as Isamu turned his focus away from Eidr and locked gaze with him, Angel watching as the Titan's eyes narrowed suspiciously, but responded, "Jora and I have spent 'decades' trapped in a time prison." He then turned his attention back to his son, pressing his hand against the glass shell of light as he added, "Although the Vex were relentless, the two of us had plenty of time in between to rest… and to clarify our feelings."

Furrowing his brows together in bewilderment at Isamu's words, it was Hope who had cued in the pieces, her words causing the human Hunter to sputter as she blurted, "So Eidr was born in a Vex prison?"

"If you call it that, then yes, he was." Isamu kept his attention on his child, tapping the surface of the shell to make it shimmer and pulse; Eidr reached out a hand in response, as if to touch the glistening lights, "It wasn't intentional, but being a 'prisoner', there weren't many options of 'protection'."

Flushing at the thought, Angel twiddled his fingers together before he asked, "And that shell?"

"Crafted from glass that we had found during our imprisonment and imbued with light to offer Eidr protection." Isamu answered, "He never leaves it back when we were in that timeline, with the only exception to feed and clean him."

Pondering on the fact that a child was born in the middle of 'danger', Angel's thoughts then wondered over to the twins, imagining if the girls were born in the midst of battle, exposed to the elements of chaos and violence; he shivered at that. Glancing back over to Eidr's form in his protective shell, he was – at least to Angel – unharmed, hardly a blemish on his fair skin as he continued to laugh and coo at the shimmering patterns of light that Isamu continued to form.

"Are you staring for the fact that children born from Guardians are rare?" The human Hunter jumped at Isamu's question, "Or are you young enough that you never even heard of the idea?"

"Neither actually." Angel found himself answering before he could even think, "It is just unusual to see another Guardian with a child of their own."

This caught Isamu's attention, the Titan snapping his gaze towards him, "Another Guardian? A child?"

"Three actually." The human Hunter couldn't suppress the smile at the shocked look on the revenant's face, seeing him slowly turn his wide eyes back towards his son, "Started to become a common theme now, I think." Angel then let out a thoughtful hum, "Rumors are going around of other Guardians having children, but so far, from my knowledge, Akiva, and Neve are the only Guardian pair to sire a child. And so far, the only ones amongst Guardians in general to sire three." The human Hunter then smiled sheepishly, "Well, at least until I met you."

Going momentarily silent as Isamu placed a hand on top of Eidr's shell, Angel then saw his gaze soften, his light brown eyes seemingly drifting in thought, and it was then, he saw a glimmer of hope, of relief. This set a thought off in the human Guardian's mind, "Just, how old are you?"

This earned him a puzzled stare and a raised brow, "Now where did that question come from?"

"No reason," Angel felt himself recalling the haggardness, the 'age' in the eyes of those who were of more years than he – especially in the gaze of those who lived through the Dark Ages, "I just like to ask questions."

"And with his curiosity, expect a lot of it."

Glancing over his shoulder to give the female Ghost a pout, all Angel received was a subtle jitteriness in their connection, a sensation similar to that of a giggle the young Hunter recognizes. Giving Hope a betrayed look, a snort distracted him enough for him to glance back over to Isamu, however, he can easily see the Titan had looked away and his attention back onto his son; although, Angel's keen eyes didn't miss the edges of his lips twitching upward.

This sent waves of surprise throughout the young Guardian, his eyes blinking as the recent events lingered in his mind; with the Titan's violent outburst against the Tower Guardians, Angel was surprised to see how well and seemingly calm Isamu is currently. This made him wonder: were his opinions the same before he and his partner, Jora, were forced into a Vex Gate? Had he gotten along with Tower Guardians beforehand? With his curiosity growing, Angel parted his lips to ask when he felt a soft push bump into his head, prompting him to turn his green eyes towards Hope.

"Just got a message from Akiva. He and Knight are entering the area."

Xxxxx

"Angel said that he has found a way to treat your condition." Hush blinked at Pluto's words, "At least, to make you stable."

Hearing her papa let out a grunt and a slow nod in response to the Exo's words, Hush found herself reaching out and squeezing the Hunter's arm in an attempt to gain his attention. At first, he seemed unfazed, his gaze seemingly kept straight forward; however, Hush wasn't fooled, the cloth over his optics may made it hard for him to see, but she saw his shoulders shift, his head adjusting just a tad her way.

"Hush, do you need something?"

"No, she is just worried about Ianos, is all."

Snapping her yellow eyes towards her Ghost, all Hush could do was gawk as Pluto nodded once and resumed his conversation with the ill Awoken, prompting the child Guardian to reach out towards Crystalline, Why you stop this one from telling?

Because he is injured and if Pluto figures out that Akiva, Angel, and Knight are siding with a Revenant, he 'will' go after them.

Hush frowned at this, Is that bad?

Like I said before, he is still recovering. From what I can gather, only Isamu made it out. Jora still needs help.

And Pluto can't help?

Where Akiva and the others are going, they are going into Vex infested territory. With Pluto still recovering, he won't make it back if he goes.

Eyes widening at this, Hush slowly nodded, watching as Crystalline let out a sigh of relief before the Ghost resumed her attention back towards her papa, the child Guardian wincing as a wheezing cough permeated from Ianos followed by a heavy gasp; she can see agony in his eyes however, Hush can tell he was suppressing it to fool her. She wished that her family wouldn't treat her as a naïve child.

She can tell that despite his soft smiles, her papa was in constant pain to the point where he hardly speaks anymore; all her requests of him reading 'big books' and information were denied with a wave of a hand and a tired gaze in his eyes. Whatever what Knight and the others had found to make her papa feel better, she hopes that they would finish their mission soon, so he can recover quickly.

That is when an idea popped into her mind.

Crystalline, you go ahead and help Akiva and the others.

She watched the lavender Ghost reel back, "What?"

"Is something the matter?"

"No, no, just, Hush said something that startled me is all."

Sensing a doubtful look from the Exo Hunter, Hush took in a sharp breath as Pluto kept his blind gaze on the female Ghost before she saw his shoulders lax, the child Guardian letting out a sigh of relief as he nodded once and resumed his attention back towards papa.

What do you mean that I go and help the others? She can hear the hiss in her Ghost's tone, I belong here, next to you.

But you know brother's friends, Hush let out a pout, plus, you have been to this Vault before.

They have Isamu!

What better way to help than another extra pair of eyes? The child Titan let out a thoughtful hum before adding, Well, eye when it comes to you.

Har, har, very funny.

Giving her Ghost a smile, Hush then added, Please Crystalline. It would make this one very happy if you go ahead and help the others.

But they already left! The female Ghost gave her a flabbergasted look, How am I supposed to go to Venus when you are underage!?

There are plenty of Protectors heading to Venus, Hush frowned at the blank look she received from her Ghost, any better ideas?

I can just stay here and stay with you?

Crystal…

Ugh! Fine!

Xxxxx

"He is the most adorable thing I have ever seen!"

Akiva ignored the laugh he received from Angel, and instead, his golden eyes brighten at the sight of the infant inside the shell of light in his fellow Titan's arms, "How old is he? What is his name? Is he yours?"

The human Titan had received Angel's call for help but the Hunter had failed to mention a child in the mix; being a father of three, Akiva always found himself gushing over other children – much to Neve's amusement – and the Revenant in front of him was no exception.

"Akiva." The human Guardian turned towards Knight, sensing sort of tightness emanating from Exo Warlock and barely missed the way his voice cracked near the end of his name, "Duty calls."

Giving the Exo Warlock a bewildered look, Akiva then turned his attention towards their revenant comrade – Isamu, if he recalls Angel calling him – only to see a wide eyed uncomfortable look on his pale face; the human Titan released a nervous smile, taking steps back as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "Ah, my apologies. I get carried away when it comes to kids."

"I can, see that." Isamu nodded his head once, "which I am going to take a guess that you are the father of three that Angel had mentioned?"

"Two daughters and a son." The human Titan beamed, only to blink when he saw Isamu's eyes seemingly widen, "What? Too many?"

He earned a shake of the head as an answer, "No, I am just surprised the Tower lets you have children so freely."

Akiva blinked, "What? I don't recall…" He paused, "How old are you?"

That is when Isamu furrowed his brows, his eyes gleaming momentarily in thought, "I believe I was resurrected just moments after what you Tower Guardians call the 'Six Fronts."

Akiva heard Angel let out a wheeze at that, "So you're several hundred years old?" He then watched the young Hunter turn his wide eyes towards him, "Even Akiva is like a child compared to you."

"Hey."

"But wait, you just said that you were surprised the Tower let Guardians have children freely." Akiva's annoyance was momentarily forgotten at Angel's shift in topic, "so you were saying that the Tower condemned Guardians bearing children?"

A pause from the Titan, prompting the revenant to glance down towards the now sleeping form of Eidr in his arms, "There was a reason why I left, you know."

Flinching at the sorrow intermingled with anger, Akiva decided it was best to change topics, his excitement over his fellow Titan's child forgotten, "So, Angel told us that you needed aid. What do you need help for exactly?"

Silence permeated between the Guardians as the members of Fireteam Redacted waited patiently for an answer, watching as Isamu simply pressed fingers against the shell of Eidr's cradle, and his face contorted in one of loss and grief.

"You do recall Crystalline telling you about us, correct?" Akiva nodded at Isamu's question, "During Jora and I's imprisonment, we found a way out, however, the time the route was opened was limited. Eidr and I made it out, Jora however…"

"She didn't." Knight finished, causing Akiva to flinch at the thought; so close to escape, only for it to slide right out from underneath you.

"The previous escape route that I had taken shut down and collapsed. That is why I need help. I have to find a way to free Jora from the Vex."

"And the Revenants can't help you?"

Almost instantly, Akiva saw anger flash in Isamu's eyes, causing the human Titan to jump as sickly green overcame the light brown, "Do you not think that was the first option that crossed my mind?" He heard a low growl, sounding a lot more feral than Akiva was comfortable with, "No, the only reason I called off aid from my fellow Revenants was for the reason that your 'friend' begged for aid, pleaded to let them help me so that in return, I can help the individual that you all are desperately trying to save." The green around his vision seemingly glowed brighter as Isamu added, "So do not even start on how 'incompetent' the Revenants are."

"We weren't…" Akiva's voice faded as his fellow Titan shook his head, the sickly green glow leaving his vision.

"Anger begets hate." The Titan blinked at Isamu's words, "Hate begets despair. And despair begets corruption."

That is when Isamu closed his eyes and took a deep breath, Akiva watching with slight interest as the glow left his eyes, the wisps fading from his gaze as the dark Guardian blinked rapidly.

"What. Was that?" It was Angel who asked the question, the human Titan easily sensing the shock emanating behind his visor, "a mantra? A secret code or verse that only Revenants know?"

Instead of receiving an immediate answer, all the human Hunter received was a blank stare, followed by Isamu stating, "If you do not mind, I would actually appreciate 'progress' on aiding Jora escape from the Vex."

"Oh, right." Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, Akiva then glanced over Isamu's form only to pause, "However, one problem." Ignoring the scowl he received from his fellow Titan, the Tower Guardian simply continued, "If you are coming with us, then there is a matter of your armor."

Hearing Isamu go silent, Akiva couldn't help but snort as the revenant glanced down at his arms, seeing him move and shift it around to gain a better glance of the corroded surfaces of his bracers, followed by a sense of sheepishness and embarrassment.

"No need to be concerned about it," Akiva received a bewildered stare from Isamu, "I have several spares in my Vault. A bit big but nothing that your Ghost can't fix." He then gave his fellow Titan a broad smile as Lex materialized over his shoulder and flashed out a screen, "So, choose your pick."

Xxxxx

"Are you certain that you heard this Guardian correctly?"

"I am certain. The Guardian that Aria and I had encountered on Venus, he claims to be a part of this faction called the Revenants."

The name caused Pluto to pause, hearing the familiar hum of Nix hover steadily over his shoulder as the Exo Hunter tilted his head in the direction of the Hall, curiosity pinging within his mind.

"And furthermore, he doesn't call himself a 'Guardian'. Says he's a 'revenant', a 'returned'. Gets insulted if we even mention him as a fellow brother."

"Sounds like what a Revenant would say," Chuckling at Nix's hushed words, Pluto simply said nothing as the Guardian nearby continued, "And he controls 'Darkness'. Aria and I, we saw it with our own eyes. Arc light flowing with corruption as we fought." Momentary silence followed his words, "Just, who are the Revenants?"

Musing at the age of the Guardian thanks to his question, the familiarity of his comrade's name finally clicked within the older Hunter's mind; Aria, and if Pluto can guess correctly, Matt, a Titan and Hunter respectively, two young Guardians, around Angel's age if he can estimate. The Exo Hunter only met the pair in passing and honestly, he only knows about the two thanks to Akiva. The Titan had met the pair when they were newborns, not long after when he and the others formed the then nameless fireteam. It may have been a while, but he does recall the human Titan talking about them fondly, speaking of the little adventures and exercises alongside Aleeza and Carina.

Melancholy settled into Pluto's chest at the thought of the previous Redacted members, only to shake it to the side when he heard Zavala's voice permeate through the Hall, "My apologies Hunter, however, that information is confidential."

"But Commander…"

"All we can explain is that the Revenants are indeed Guardians who tapped into the power of the Darkness, but, do not try to track them down. They are not kind towards Guardians who reside within the Tower and the City."

"But, why?"

"That is all, Matt, Aria."

"…Yes sir."

Taking steps to the side, Pluto watched as two white outlines of a cloaked figure and an armored form walked past, their murmurs clear to his auditory sensors.

"Not kind towards Guardians who are with the Tower? Is that why he kept calling us Tower Guardians?"

"Perhaps." The voice sounded female, synthetic; Aria, if the Exo Hunter can take a guess, "but I wonder what's with the strong emotions towards the Tower. From what I can guess, it seems the Revenants have been around for 'years'. I wonder what the history between them and the City is?"

"Maybe we can ask a Veteran? They've been around long enough right?"

Smiling to himself as the younger Guardians slowly walked off, he heard Nix glide closer, hovering near his sensors, "Do you remember first meeting the Revenants, Pluto?"

"How can I forget? The confrontation took many lives on both sides, there is a reason why the Tower and the Revenants agreed to a treaty; neither side wanted to lose anymore numbers."

Pluto found himself instinctively reaching up to his neck, flinching as he added, "Nearly died when one tore out my throat and they were utilizing the darkness then."

"You were just lucky that Neptune was nearby to give you aid." Pluto absentmindedly rubbed his neck, "otherwise, I doubt the individual would have shown you mercy."

Nodding in agreement with Nix, Pluto then paused, "Wait, did Matt say that he had encountered this Revenant on Venus?"

"Matt? Oh! The Hunter," A thoughtful hum can be heard from his Ghost, "Yes, I believe he did mention that."

"And Angel sent a transmission from Venus correct?"

"About finding a possible cure for Ianos? Yes-" Pluto heard Nix's voice come to a sudden halt, the Exo Hunter not needing to see the dawn of realization in his broken optic, "You don't think…"

"Knowing Angel, it is a high probability." The Veteran Guardian frowned, folding his arms before stating, "Nix, send a frequency to Gemini and Scorpio. Tell them to head to Venus and trail Angel and the others but keep out of sight. If they are indeed working with a Revenant, the twins have to work with caution. Even with their capability to tame the Darkness, there are still risks."

Sensing Nix nod, Pluto then glanced downwards when he a felt tug on his arm, only for his senses to tune into on a familiar young light, "Ah, Hush, my apologies, I had momentarily forgotten." A smile flashed over his features, "I am guessing you still interested in heading towards the Mess Hall?"

Sensing her nod eagerly, a chuckle then permeated from the Exo Hunter before heading towards their designated area, hearing the child Guardian hum happily near his side.

Xxxxx

Crystalline was unsure how she was convinced to head to Venus but, here she was, trailing after the last location where Angel's frequency had taken place. Like what Hush had predicated, there were plenty of Guardians heading to the secondary planet and it didn't take much for the female Ghost to sneak aboard one of their ships and hitch a ride. Although, the problem now was to make it to frequency safely while avoiding the dangers of the marshlands of Venus, Crystalline recalling the copper form of the Vex and the pale azure colors of Winter. It didn't help that her shell did little to help her blend into the landscape.

"Stay in the tall grass, Crystalline." She muttered to herself, "Stay in the tall grass and stay out of sight."

Although concerned for her own safety, Crystalline also couldn't help the tinge of excitement intermingling into her core; besides the time when she and Hush were prisoners of the Paragons, the female Ghost saw little action and since her first Guardian already had years of experience, she already had the taste of adrenaline, the taste of battle. She wouldn't mind a bit of adventure every now and then.

As the thought of the Paragons of Light lingered in her core, Crystalline couldn't help but muse on the surviving members; after the tussle in their base, many of the members were either apprehended or escaped. Those who were take under custody were quickly tried and punished for their crimes, mainly either imprisoned in a light suppressed prison or simply exiled, forever unable to return to the Tower. Although, the female Ghost wonders if that was a good idea; their leader maybe gone but that doesn't mean he Paragons would easily be scattered. Who knows, they might be rebuilding while the Guardians believe that they are safe behind their walls.

Shaking the thought out of her core, Crystalline continued to traverse through the tall grass, pausing at every single sound that entered her sensors, her yellow optic warily glancing around her surroundings.

"There, comfortable?"

The female Ghost paused, the familiar voice of Akiva ringing her sensors, causing her to stop and glance around; he was nearby, but where?

"A bit loose around the shoulders but, nothing I won't get used to."

That is when Crystalline froze, her yellow optic going wide, "Isamu?" She popped out of the grass, shouting out, "Isamu!"

Feeling all eyes turn towards her, the female Ghost scanned over the three forms before her gaze singled out one individual; despite the out of place color of brown decorated with black, Crystalline recognizes the light and darkness huddle within the individual's chest, causing grief and relief to settle into her core.

"Crystalline?" Her optic flashed over Isamu's shoulder, only to settle onto familiar light brown as her fellow Ghost's optic widened, watching as their dark violet shell dropped, "Crystalline, is that you?"

"Hajime?" Sorrowful glee formed within as the Ghost bobbed, causing her glide forward, nearly colliding with her fellow Ghost before the latter twisted to the side, their shells barely touching. In turn, Crystalline twisted her form, only to see Hajime do the same, but instead of being upset at the Ghost's seeming avoidance, she twirled her shell, familiarity engrained into her mind as they twirled around each other. Sensing joy emanating off of Hajime, Crystalline then took the opportunity to pause in their 'dance', turning her attention towards Isamu as her shell twisted upwards, "You two are alive. Alive 'and' well." She then glanced around, the joy within her fading as she saw nothing, "Where's Jora?"

That is when the air went still around them, Crystalline sensing grief emanating from her fellow Ghost and the Revenant Titan as it finally dawned upon her, "Is she…?"

"No, she is still alive." She heard Isamu hesitate, "I hope she is."

Glancing over towards Akiva and Angel, Crystalline can easily sense the awkwardness followed by sympathy, causing the female Ghost to guess, "This is why you need help? But why-"

"These Tower Guardians agreed to help me as long as I aid them in helping their friend recover." She then heard him scoff as he added, "Only reason I decided not to get the others involved is that many of our numbers do not tolerate even the presence of a Tower Guardian."

Glancing back over to Akiva and Angel, the female Ghost saw that the pair had taken a few steps back but had hunched close together and murmuring, most likely about Crystalline and Isamu greeting each other after 'years' of separation. If they had been any other Tower Guardians, Crystalline would have been upset, angry that Isamu had agreed to accept their help; especially with the circumstances on how she and Blaise had been separated from the others. However, after staying at the Tower, with Hush, she instead nodded, "That is a good idea, although, it would be nice if we had more help."

She heard Isamu let out another scoff, "From my experience with two other Guardians that had been with Anand, there are others who aren't as 'tolerant' as the individuals before us." He then sighed, watching as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I guess we have to make do." Isamu then paused, "Wait, if you are here, then where is your partner, your returned?"

"She is…" Crystalline hesitated, "She is safe, back at the Tower."

"What?" She easily sensed the frown behind Isamu's visor, "Why would she be at the Tower? Shouldn't she be-"

"She is a child."

A pause, "What?"

"A child." Crystalline repeated, "When I found her, instinct took over, and I brought her back. But if I had known that she was not yet mature, not yet ready for battle, I would have not resurrected her and instead chosen another." She pressed her shell against her core, "Hush is kind and gentle, but, I cannot help but regret bringing her into a life of war, where she does not have a choice in life." Crystalline then fixed her gaze back onto Isamu, "She's too young to help but she sent me here to give you all aid, if you allow it."

"I am… uncomfortable with the prospect of a Chosen child, however." Crystalline blinked, "it would be nice to have you at our side, even without Blaise."

Grief settling into her core at the mention of her previous Guardian, the female Ghost nodded at Isamu's words before she heard a breath, a yawn emanating from his arms; she glanced downwards, "Isamu, is that…"

Watching the Revenant Titan shift nervously back and forth on his feet, she then heard him say, "Yes, an infant." He heard him pause momentarily before he added, "His name is Eidr."

"Eidr." Crystalline repeated, gliding closer over to the shell as her yellow optic narrowed, "Huh, looks a lot like…" Her voice faded, her gaze going wide as she slowly shifted her gaze back towards Isamu, "Wait, don't tell me that you and Jora…"

"We were alone in there for 'years', Crystalline." His answer was immediate, but the female Ghost can sense the awkwardness, the nervousness in his eyes as his shoulders tensed, "In all those years we never encountered another Revenant, another 'prisoner' before we found a way to escape. I…" He hesitated, "I tried Crystalline, for Blaise's sake, but we connected and…"

Hearing his voice fade, the female Ghost was unsure how to take in Isamu's words. Blaise had always liked Jora, in a way where he had subtly tried to woo her; bring her gifts from his hunts amongst the Fallen, repair any weapon or armor that had been damaged along the way, and even invite her on challenging hunts to sate her need for improvement.

Crystalline felt like she should feel betrayed, hurt for her late Chosen; Isamu had been Blaise's friend for 'years', and to hear that his closest ally had formed a bond with a woman that the Hunter had feelings for, Crystalline believes she had every right be angry. But then, she took in the pairs' circumstances; unlike Blaise, the pair were forced through a the portal that took them into the Vex Prison, and they had been wandering alone since. They had the time, the privacy to form a bond, with or without their knowledge; what can Crystalline say to that?

"It couldn't be helped." The female Ghost found herself saying, seeing Isamu's eyes widen at her words, "and it wouldn't have mattered now. Blaise is gone, alongside his feelings for Jora."

"Crystalline…"

"What can I say? That you can't be with her anymore despite him being dead?" Crystalline shook her core side to side, "No, if Blaise was here, he would have said that your happiness mattered more than his feelings. He would have said to move on without him." She then paused, her parts shifting upward into a Ghost equivalent of a wry smile, "So, for Blaise's sake, let's get started and help find a way to free Jora, don't you agree?"

Hearing nothing but silence from Isamu, Crystalline took the time to turn her attention towards Angel and Akiva, the latter of which had remained silent, but the female Ghost can easily sense the surprise and shock emanating from the pair.

"Have any ideas?" She asked, gliding over to the Titan and Hunter before coming to a pause, "a place to start to help get Jora free?"

"Er, well, first, we need to find an intact Vex Time gate," It was Akiva who spoke, the Titan then adding, "Then if possible, find a way to power it."

Crystalline found herself immediately deflating at their words, unable to hold back the disappointment forming in her core; if the team only knew how difficult it is to escape the Vex's grasp. There was a reason why Blaise was unable to rescue Jora and Isamu 'years' after his escape. But, then again, Fireteam Redacted were known for miracles, "Well, it's a start."