Redacted

I'm Here

I actually made it, surprisingly. I apologize for the late update guys, but I do have a good reason for this. Although I feel like this too personal, I feel like I owe you all an explanation.

On May 9th, my grandmother passed away.

It came suddenly and out of nowhere, as my father told me early in the morning as I was preparing for work. Honestly, my grandmother was already frail and sickly when I last seen her in Korea nearly four years ago, and I initially thought I wouldn't take her death so hard. I was wrong. The news of her death sent my anxiety and emotions out of control and I fell into depression, where I spend days lying in bed and pondering how I was going to handle it. Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that I would lose my job, I would have asked for several days off to help cope with her death, but since we live in a world where money is needed to survive, I had little choice but to work, which slowed down the recovery time I need to cope with my grandmother's death.

With my mental stability at a low point, I couldn't bring myself to write. I honestly thought I would be fine within a few days but, I then found that a week had quickly passed without an update to this story. As such, I scrambled to get a chapter out this week and I apologize for the shortness and choppiness of it all. However, I just want you all to know that I have not abandoned this story, and not to be surprised if next week another update is missed. Although I do love writing this series, I do need time to mourn and cope, and the stress of updating weekly isn't going to help. But once again, I am just here to announce that I am not abandoning it. I just need time. Thank you all for understanding.

_Transcript: Why Not?_

Source: Ghost of Warlock Zakai

Alias: [UNKNOWN]

_Conversation between Warlock Zakai [W.Z] and his Ghost [UKNOWN] [U.A]. Topic concerning the Darkness_

[U.A]: We are 'not' doing this.

[W.Z]: Why not? We have attempted this before and it had not killed us.

[U.A]: 'Yet'.

[W.Z]: You worry too much.

[U.A]: Just, think this through. Despite your status as a 'scholar', when it comes to things like this, your calculations tend to be, 'off'.

[W.Z]: Then, what do you recommend?

[U.A]: Well, usually Ianos –

[W.Z]: He is 'not' going to be involved.

[U.A]: Why not?

[W.Z]: We are working with 'raw' Darkness. I am not certain how Ianos will react, especially with his current condition.

[U.A]: But with his input, there is a possibility that not only will we find a way to bring Ari back, but there will also be a less likely chance of us getting corrupted.

[W.Z]: Not when the Darkness is killing Ianos. Who knows, just being in the vicinity of the Darkness might accelerate the corruption process. It is too high of a risk.

[U.A]: … This is not right.

[W.Z]: … What?

[U.A]: Distancing yourself from him like this, when the two of you just lost Ari, and with how Ianos has little time –

[W.Z]: Which is exactly why I am doing this. I can find a way to purge the corruption within Ianos while simultaneously searching for a way to revive Ari. This maybe the only way to save him.

[U.A]: But do you… you do realize the consequences of this, correct? The Vanguard won't allow it.

[W.Z]: Then we leave

[U.A]: Leave? You mean going rogue?

[W.Z]: What else would I be talking about?

[U.A]: But, the Tower won't tolerate a 'Rogue' Guardian, not to mention Ianos will attempt to follow.

[W.Z]: Why would he follow us? Ianos helped build this city. He wouldn't leave this place so easily.

[U.A]: … The two of you recently lost Ari. Would you think he would easily let you out of his sight after such a loss?

[W.Z}: …

[U.A]: He won't survive out in the Wilds, at least, not with his current condition.

[W.Z]: … Then he won't follow us.

[U.A]: Did you not just hear me? The Vanguard –

[W.Z]: They won't learn about us leaving either.

[U.A]: ... You are planning something, aren't you?

[W.Z]: The Vanguard and Ianos won't have to know

[U.A]: … Okay, is it alright for me to say that you are confusing me?

[W.Z]: Let me clarify, the Vanguard and Ianos won't follow us if we are dead.

[U.A]: … You are implying faking our deaths?

[W.Z]: For Ianos' sake and to keep the Vanguard off our trail. It is the best option.

[U.A]: … You do know Ianos won't take our 'deaths' well.

[W.Z]: … I know, but he had lost comrades before. It may take some time, but he will move on.

[U.A]: And when we discover a way to purge the Darkness from an individual?

[W.Z]: Then, I will… reveal myself?

[U.A]: … Seriously, how are you a Warlock?

[W.Z]: … I am a fully capable scholar.

[U.A]: … (sighs) Ianos won't be happy once he discovers the truth.

[W.Z]: As long as I find a cure, I do not care for repercussions. We owe him that much at least.

_ End Transcript_

Xxxxx

In all her years alive, Gemini had never seen her twin as happy as he was now. For anyone who hardly spends time around Exo, one would not see a difference as children gathered around the Male Hunter's form, his metallic features seemingly blank of any expression. However, for Gemini, the way his optics brighten, and the way his shoulders were stiff, straightforward, and confident, that he was enjoying himself. The Huntress just hopes the surrounding Revenants do not take it as the wrong way.

Letting her light blue optics linger over the aforementioned individuals, Gemini couldn't understand how her twin can relax with that many eyes on them. Then again, the Huntress also understood their worries; two possible hostiles lingering around their children, she cannot blame the Revenants for being wary. Nonetheless, as she watched Scorpio lift two children in the air before running and followed by a line of laughing progenies, Gemini knows for certain that her twin would not harm the kids. The Huntress then mused that more than likely, Scorpio would put life and limb out for these children, despite the fact that they had hardly known them for half a months' time. Needless to say, judging from the way the children laughed and shrieked with joy as Scorpio continued to elude capture, Gemini wouldn't be all too surprised if they thought the same.

"Oh, why is he being fussy?"

"I don't know? Maybe he's not hungry?"

"He hasn't eaten 'all day'."

"Diaper change? A hug?"

"I did all that. He won't stop crying!"

Turning her attention to a corner in the room, Gemini's optics spotted two Revenants – both female, a human and an Exo respectively – bickering with each other, one of which held Eidr's form in her arms. The infant in question was bawling, arms pushing away at the bottle that the two were trying to force into his mouth. Usually, Scorpio would come running to Eidr's side, demanding the child until the Revenants relented. However, judging from the way the male Exo continuously flashed his optics her way, it was obvious that Eidr's 'second favorite' was needed. Heaving out a sigh at this, Gemini reluctantly pushed herself up from her seat before slowly made her way to the Revenant pair.

"Here."

Seeing the two Chosen snap their attention towards her, Gemini simply ignored their narrowed glances as she held out her arms.

"We have this handled."

Gemini frowned as Eidr's wails rang in her receptors, "Does not seem that way to me."

The scowl deepened on the human Revenant's features, but the Huntress simply kept her hands out, "Well?"

Gemini still felt the glare emanating from the pair, but nonetheless the Huntress couldn't help but be smug as Eidr was promptly plopped into her arms. No sooner had the female Exo felt the warmth of the infant settle onto her plating when Eidr's cries immediately ceased, causing Gemini to grin as the glares hardened from the Revenant pair.

"Bottle."

Holding out a hand towards the Revenants, the Huntress did not have to glance over before she felt the weight of the container settle into her palm. Then, ensuring that she was holding it correctly in her fingers, Gemini tilted the bottle towards Eidr's lips; the child immediately started suckling, his hazel eyes staring into the Huntress'. Gemini couldn't help but smile at this; although she may not like children, that doesn't mean she wasn't satisfied at the fact that Eidr, a child of two Revenants, preferred Gemini and her twin. Anyone else would simply be brushed aside. As such, letting the confidence shimmer within, Gemini quietly listened to Edir suckle.

"You sure you don't want kids of your own?"

Gemini glanced over to see Scorpio standing idly nearby, a child riding his shoulders; the Huntress immediately scoffed at his words, "Have you seen me with kids? You know as well as I do that I don't have patience for them."

That's when she spotted her twins' optics lower down to her arms, "From where I'm standing, I say that's a false claim."

Giving her twin a blank look, Gemini then rolled her optics before turning her attention back towards Eidr, and then frowned, "You going to be alright leaving him here?

That's when a silence permeated between the two Exo, Gemini feeling the eyes of the nearby Revenants on their backs. Moments passed before she then heard Scorpio heave out a sigh, and watched him reluctantly let the child slide off his shoulders, the young progeny running back to the others as he answered, "I hate to admit it, but what else can we do? Bring him back to the Tower with us and say, 'Hey everyone! We found this child out in the middle of nowhere! Can we keep it?" Another sigh then can be heard from Scorpio as he rubbed the back of his neck, "The Vanguard will definitely question the 'authenticity' of 'that' story."

"We don't have to tell the 'exact' truth." Gemini saw her twin blink, 'Say that he was the child of two Guardians, but you don't have to tell them who 'exactly'."

"And what makes you think we'll let you take him?"

Shifting her attention towards the two Revenants, Gemini narrowed her optics as she retorted, "I do recall your 'Preceptor' saying that Eidr was free to leave with us if we choose."

"Let you, a Tower Guardian, take a child of our family?" One of the Revenants hissed, "What makes you think that you are capable of taking care of one of our own?"

That is when irritation settled into Gemini's chest, "For starters, none of you knew who Jora and Isamu were, even as we introduced their child to you," She heard the two Revenants pause at her words, "come to think of it, I don't even think you even knew Eidr's name before now. And if I recall correctly, isn't the Darkness a danger to the children here, so that also applies to Eidr as well?" The Huntress easily sensed the glare emanate from the human Revenant, "So from what I am concerned, my brother and I are the only ones viable enough to raise him, despite the fact that we have only known him for a short while." She then leaned in, letting sparks of Arc light flicker from her optics, "So try and prevent us from taking Eidr back 'home'."

Watching her fellow Exo shrink back from her words, Gemini then turned her glare towards the human of the pair, only to see an equivalent glare stare back. Recognizing the familiar flicker of solar light glow in the edges of the human Chosen's eyes, the Huntress remained undaunted, and instead let a snarl rumble in the back of her throat. That is when she heard a whimper emitting from her arms, causing Gemini to glance downwards, and pause when she saw Eidr pushing the bottle away, his hazel eyes brimming with tears.

"You done?" Lifting the bottle away from the infant's lips, Gemini then blinked when the child's sniffles stopped, and he giggled, prompting the female Exo to slowly turn and give her twin a blank stare. This earned her a grin from Scorpio, "That means he likes you."

Blinking several times at her brother's words, Gemini turned her optics back to Eidr, hearing the child let out a high-pitched giggle before he laughed.

"I'll never understand children."

"And you say we are better off raising Eidr?"

Turning and once again giving her twin a blank stare, Gemini received a teasing smile before she rolled her optics, and simply held the bottle out towards the human Revenant. This immediately earned her another scowl.

"I am not – "

"Considering we are 'guests' here, I have no idea where you 'wash dishes'." The Huntress interrupted, "in other words, I wouldn't be asking 'you' to take this if I knew."

A scowl formed onto the Revenant's face although, the latter reluctantly took the bottle from her hand, allowing Gemini to properly cradle Eidr in her arms. Another giggle can be heard from the infant.

"I don't understand what is so funny!" Turning an exasperated look towards her twin, Gemini's jaw dropped when instead of sympathy, her twin was laughing, "Scorpio! Please!"

Instead of receiving an answer from the male Exo, another laugh was all she earned, although Scorpio was leaning over, a hand to his chest as he attempted to control himself. Gemini gave her twin a glare as he failed.

"Excuse the intrusion." The familiar dark azure form of Nysa materialized into view, the female Ghost's light blue optic glancing between the pair, "However, Ace sent me a frequency."

That is when Scorpio immediately paused, Gemini watching her twin finally recompose himself, "Ace? So, did Ianos finally wake up?"

"Well," A pause from Nysa, "No." Gemini saw her brother's shoulders slump, "But Nine is awake."

Both Scorpio and Gemini perked up at this, "Really?"

"Well, not Nine." The Huntress blinked, "Knight actually woke up."

"So, if Knight is wake, is Nine…"

"According to Knight, he is currently unconscious, regaining strength," Gemini's Ghost answered, "He claims that Nine needs an elongated rest before he regains his senses."

"In other words…?"

"We're going to be staying here for a little while," Gemini's shoulders slumped, "and not to mention Day is still too weak to heal Knight's injuries on their own."

"But we already been here for seventeen days," Gemini frowned at her Ghost, "and thanks to the paranoia of these Revenants, we aren't allowed to contact Pluto all because they believe the Vanguard would intercept our frequencies."

"We are sitting right here."

Gemini ignored the Revenant pair as she continued, "And knowing Pluto, he might be on his way right now, rampaging in an attempt to find us."

"Oh, Traveler no," Scorpio groaned, the Huntress watching her twin place a hand to his forehead "If Pluto finds this place, he won't show any mercy if he figures out what several members had done to Akiva and Lex."

"We can handle any threat."

That is when Gemini paused and slowly turned her attention towards the Revenant, "Clearly you never heard of Pluto."

The human Revenant scoffed, "Now why would I pay attention to Tower Guardian activities?"

"So, in other words, either you're younger than ten years or hardly over ten years."

"… What?"

Gemini heard her twin sigh at this, "Definitely younger than a decade."

"Hey!"

"Don't sound so offended, we're younger than ten years as well," Gemini then rolled her optics, "all I am going to say is stay out of Pluto's way, if you want to live."

Shifting her attention back towards her twin, the Huntress then said, "Let's visit Knight to see if he's alright."

"I'm not done."

The female Huntress blinked before turning her optics back towards her Ghost, "What else do you have to say?"

She heard Nysa sigh, "And this is why I tell you to stop and listen."

Quickly giving Scorpio a dark look as she heard her twin snort, Gemini refocused her attention back onto the dark azure Ghost, however opted to say nothing. This signaled to Nysa to continue, "before you rudely interrupted me, I was going to say that Lex is awake as well."

"What!?" Gemini's light azure optics went wide, "When!?"

"A few minutes ago," Nysa answered, "He's currently working on resurrecting Akiva."

"Then what are we standing around for? Let's go."

"Eidr."

Pausing at the word of her twin, Gemini then let scowl form onto her metallic features as she glared down at the aforementioned child in her arms, the latter of which stared at her with wide hazel eyes.

"We can't take him out of the Nursery."

Her frown depending at her twin's words, Gemini shifted her optics towards the two nearby Revenants before reluctantly holding out her arms once more. Sensing the satisfaction emanating from the two Chosen, Gemini ensured that she gave them one last dirty look and then turned to her twin.

"Let's go."

Xxxxx

It was strange, he never felt this groggy or numb when waking up. When did he fall asleep anyway? Opening his eyes, green peered through the lids before he squinted, the blurriness fading as muffled echoes rang in his ears.

"Angel? Angel, are you awake?"

Blinking several times to clear his vision, the Hunter let out a groan as he raised a hand, placing it on his forehead; the young Guardian felt an oncoming headache.

"What happened?" Angel managed to slur out, hearing the familiar click of Hope's shell.

"Long story short, you all found Jora and got a face full of Darkness in turn." Angel turned and gave his Ghost a quizzical look, "Don't worry, we were able to put Jora to rest and the others made it out."

Letting relief settle into his chest at Hope's words, Angel then shifted his eyes to his surroundings, only to immediately recognize the white around him, "Medical Wing?"

His Ghost nodded, "Medical Wing."

Angel released another groan at this," How long was I out for?"

He heard a hum emanate from Hope, "Seventeen days."

A pause, "What?"

"Seventeen days." Hope repeated, "The Medics actually expected you to be out longer. At least another week."

Angel licks his lips as he took in his Ghost's words; although unhappy about his current situation, the young Hunter at least knew that being hit with darkness was truth. When was the last time he felt thirsty?

"The Medics said that there would be side effects when you woke up." Angel shifted his attention back towards his Ghost, "I will get you some water, I will be back."

Seeing Hope glide out of sight, Angel then took in a breath before pushing himself into a sitting position. No sooner had he done this when his vision went black and the ache in his head thrummed strongly. Placing his hand back to his temple, Angel squeezed his eyes shut, waiting until he felt the dull thrum in his head fade to open his eyes.

"Aw hell," Angel muttered as he watched the room spin, prompting him to close and shake his head once more.

"I recommend takin' it easy." The young Hunter squinted towards the entrance to his room, seeing Hope gliding in with a glass hovering within the vicinity of her light, "At your age, you should have been dead with the amount of Darkness that you had been hit with."

Angel couldn't help but frown at his Ghost's words, "The Medics figure out how I lived?"

Watching Hope approach his side, he then reached out and took the glass from her light, taking note of the trembling in his fingers as he tilted the water to his lips. As Angel let relief settle in as the water slid down his dry throat, that is when he suddenly realized that he had nearly forgotten the feeling of thirst. Now that the young Hunter thought about it, he hardly remembers the feeling of hunger, and this pushes his thoughts onto the seeming immortality of Guardians.

Angel already knew that sleep is not mandatory for those resurrected by the Traveler; rest is only needed and depending on the light used, majority of the time rest is short. It never occurred to him that eating, and drinking was unnecessary; with Fireteam Redacted, such accommodations were commonplace, especially so with Hush around. The Child Guardian always seems to have a snack in her hands or always wanting to be in the Mess Hall, and somehow, she always gets everyone involved with her meals. And with Akiva, who always seems to have a reason to celebrate, drinking is not uncommon either, the team practically in the bar when they have time after a Crucible match. If any other older Guardian were around, they would have reprimanded the young Hunter for forgetting such detail, however, with all that had been going on the past few years, it just never occurred to Angel. At least, not until now.

"The Medics said somethin' about distance, how you were pretty far when you got hit." Angel snapped out of his thoughts as Hope continued, "Honestly, I was not payin' close attention. I was more focused on keepin' you alive."

The young Hunter flinched at her words, "I'm sorry, you must have been worried."

A soft chuckle can be heard from the female Ghost, although, it was short, and she stopped suddenly before Angel spotted her shell droop. Concern immediately lit up in his chest; the last time he had seen her like this was years back, back when the pair crashed landed on earth, somehow landing in a dark zone, and his injuries were far too severe for the female Ghost to heal on her own.

"You know, I foolishly thought that as long as I was alive, that you would be fine," Angel shifted his thoughts back towards Hope, "that as long as I came out okay, and I can return to your body, you would be fine." The Hunter then noticed her shell tremble, her green optic glancing towards the floor, "But, when I lost you, when I felt your light fade the first time, I felt like I lost a piece of myself, like, a part of me died." There was a pause before Angel heard her laugh bitterly, "Well, it makes sense, considerin' I used my light to bring you back. We are practically one." The young Guardian couldn't help but eye his Ghost worriedly when he heard another dark chuckle emit from Hope, "How cruel of the Traveler. Creatin' Ghosts like me to bind ourselves to a Chosen, only to practically lose a piece of ourselves if somethin' happens to them." That is when Angel saw a look of melancholy settle into the female Ghost's optic, "When Nine brought you here and the Medics explained your condition to us, I honestly thought I was losin' you again. And I couldn't bear goin' through that again." He heard her voice tremble, "I just couldn't bear…"

And for the first time in his life, Angel heard Hope cry, and honestly, the young Hunter didn't know how to react. In all his years alive, Angel had never seen his Ghost break, even back when Salziks and her pack were killed. True, she had shown signs of mourning but never, not once, had she openly grieved (at least, a Ghost equivalent to one). He was told she cried when he died but, Angel had not seen it personally. For Traveler's sake, he had died a second death, there was no way he could have possibly witnessed it himself. But now, listening to Hope openly sob before him, the young Hunter found himself staring wide eyed at his Ghost. What should he say? Promise that he will never get into another life-threatening situation? Angel knows that would be an empty promise. There are many risks when one is a Guardian.

As such, Angel let his thoughts scramble for a solution, any words to help console Hope. That is when images of the older members of Fireteam Redacted flashed into his mind, and although they were their own individuals, the young Guardian came to realize that they all hold the same solution when it came to their Ghosts. It was a simple gesture, one that seems so easy for the veterans to perform to comfort their life long partner. However, knowing this, Angel couldn't help but feel awkward when he held out a hand, even more so when Hope immediately focused her gaze back into his, her optic glancing back and forth between his hand and then his face. The young Hunter hesitated at this; did he make the wrong move?

Moments passed as Angel waited patiently for Hope to react, the silence lingering forever as he continued to keep his nervous stare on the female Ghost. Just as he decided to lower his hand, he then saw his Ghost glide forward, causing him to pause and wait. As he continued to watch Hope tentatively glide closer, it then slowly dawned upon Angel just how little he and the female Ghost actually physically make contact. Yes, there were times where Angel would snatch her out of the air or toss her to get her out of harm's way, but that was during combat. Outside, the young Hunter could hardly recall a moment where they would physically touch, always remembering that they would be at a distance with each other. And as he dwelled deeper into his memories, Angel always realized just how little Hope remained within his mind, how they would speak to each other more often out in the open than through their link. Was that the reason why Hope could not locate him years back? Why she couldn't just help the others locate him after their separation?

The two of you are young, your neural link is still gaining strength, The late Medic's words rang in the young Guardian's ears, perhaps she could not find you for the reason the two of you were inexperienced.

Back then, Angel had taken the explanation easily but, thinking about it now, the young Hunter felt their lack of 'connection' is was nearly made the human lose his life.

Before he could ponder on this further, the Guardian then jumped as he suddenly felt weight in his hand, prompting him to shake himself out of his thoughts, and bring himself to attention in time to witness Hope settling into his palm. Noting the awkward shifts of her shell, Angel forced himself to ignore it as he brought her to his chest, clasping her close with both hands as if to offer her protection.

Usually, he would hear the others murmur under their breaths, most likely speaking words of comfort to their Ghosts as they cradled them in their arms. But once again, Angel was unsure of what to say. Once again, why should he say promises that he would be unable to keep; the life of a Guardian makes it more difficult to even keep the simple promise of staying safe. Nonetheless, the young Hunter found himself shifting Hope's form upwards, bringing the female Ghost to the middle of his chest. Feeling his heart beat steadily near the edges of his hands, Angel wonders if this would help; although uncertain of what to say, a sign of life should at least give Hope some closure, right?

Pondering on this, Angel came back to attention when he felt the female Ghost snuggle in closer, as if to bury herself into his chest. A soft smile formed onto his olive features at this.

"I'm here," He finally decided to stay, hearing Hope sniffle softly in his grasp, "I'm here."