It felt weird. Here I was, in my spruced up ship ready to break the Earth's atmosphere and head towards the Moon. The time that I've spent in this world has been relatively short, but it feels like I've done so much already. Going to the Moon was something even I was not expecting to happen in the same week that I arrived here.

I took in a deep breath and found a comfortable spot on my seat. I shimmied a bit and finally gripped onto the sides to get myself ready to launch.

"Umm, what are you doing, Hana?" Ghost asked.

"Getting ready to launch, Ghost. I'm sure that even with a warp drive, the speed that it accelerates at will no doubt cause some discomfort, right?" I replied back.

"Hana, even if the warp drive DID cause you to reel back in shock and discomfort, the light will protect you from such... trifles."

"Are you saying that warping towards the Moon isn't going to make me vomit or anything?"

"Hana, warping to Neptune wouldn't make you bat an eye."

"Wait, we're going to Neptune?" I asked excitedly.

"No. There's nothing out there, Hana. We've scoured the system multiple times and the furthest we've been able to be set up is on Titan. Past Saturn, I'm not sure what there is out there." Ghost said.

"So what you're saying is that we'll be able to go to Neptune, right?" I asked with pleading eyes.

"IF there's any reason why the Vanguard would send us to Neptune, then yes, we can go to Nep-"

"NEPTUNE!"

Ghost stared at me.

And I stared at Ghost.

And Amanda Holliday stared at me. "Uh, y'all are good to go..." She said.

"... I like Neptune." I simply said. It was true. Neptune is my favorite planet.

But setting that to the side, I still braced myself for the warp. Amanda gave us the all clear and with Ghost floating next to me, we eased on the throttle until the ship whirred to life.

Ghost helped me punch in the coordinates to the Moon and with a simple push of a button, the engine ignited loudly. The thrusters seemed to narrow to an almost laser size light and in a flash, we were gone from Earth.

The flight itself was incredibly fast. In a matter of seconds, the planet I've called home for my entire life was shrinking smaller and smaller.

"We gave up the Moon to the Hive to keep them away from Earth. We hoped it would be enough for them." Ghost said somberly.

"It seems that wasn't the case..." I replied.

Our ship slowed down and there, right in front of us was the Moon. But there was something off. There were valleys on the left side, as if it was clawed and wounded by something ferocious. "Ghost... What is that...?"

"That's the Hellmouth, Hana." Ghost said. "I used to look up here at night and wonder what the Hive were doing, but the only activity I could ever pick up was hazy. Like it was blocked, or buried."

The ship brought us close to an outpost. Transmatting onto solid ground, I readied the new scout rifle that Banshee gave me after I left my last one back at the Devil's lair.

Along side with that, Banshee also gave me a shotgun he specifically calibrated to fit my size. Although it shoots a much smaller shell, it fired at a much higher rate. I didn't even have to pump it.

"That came out wrong." I said outloud.

"What was that, Hana?" Ghost said.

"Nothing, Ghost. So, where is our Guardian guy? Please give me some good news and tell me he's alive."

"According to the intel we've got, he simply disappeared. He was searching for a way inside the Hive fortress, but he was just gone. Let's pick up his trail. His last known coordinates are just up ahead." Ghost said.

Following the marker that Ghost laid out, I head on towards some weird outpost that looked abandoned. "The Guardian's last report said he captured this old accelerator from an unknown Fallen house." Ghost said.

"Great. They're here too?" I asked with a grimace.

"Yes. As far as I know, they're on the Moon, Earth, and Venus."

"Ugh... I am not a fan of the Fallen." They were nothing more than the enemy. I cut them down and that was it. But now...

Ghost broke me out of my trance as I blankly walked into the outpost. "Some of this equipment shows recent activity. Must have been the Guardian's Ghost."

I looked around and sure enough, there was already dead Fallen here. Looking at a terminal, I pulled out Ghost. "Alright. It seems like he was looking for the remains of an old colony ship. Not too far from here. Maybe he's still there."

"Here's to hoping. I really would like some good news for once on these missions."

As if to laugh in my face, the ping on my radar let me know we had company. And the worst kind yet. "Fallen... We're being hunted." Ghost said.

"Damn shame that I am not in a particularly good mood..." I readied my scout rifle and took to the opening. Seeing some Dregs, I immediately splatter their heads onto the wall, making sure to keep an eye out for anyone trying to flank me. As if on instinct, I dodged a blast from a Vandal and answered in kind with my out bullets.

They came in droves, but I was not about to have another traumatic death. My heart sank when some of them disappeared from me. "Invisibility? They have that too?" I gritted my teeth and got myself ready.

The glow from the spears made me lock up, but I knew that I did not want to die again. Every single fiber of my being screamed at me to move, and so I moved. Dodging the attacks, I viscously stabbed at them with an empowered solar knife and watched them turn to dust.

I readied myself again seeing a Captain in the back. Cutting down the Dregs that stood by him, I began to gun him down with my scout rifle until his overshield was broken. Seizing my chance, I pulled out my shot gun and unloaded into him.

It took all eight of my shots to take him down, but seeing him dead on the floor made my rage and sorrow dissipate for the moment. "I hate the Fallen..." I said.

"It's evident, Hana." Ghost simply said.

Seeing that the coast was clear, Ghost appeared out from... Right I haven't asked. "Umm... Hana?"

"Yes, Ghost?" I said.

"Umm... How can I put this... Your rage is... Warranted. But I feel that it might be a step in the wrong direction..."

Hearing Ghost call me out like that felt... bad. "I... Uh..." I was at a lost for words. "Ghost, I..."

"I don't think it's wrong for you to take out your anger like that, Hana. Trust me, there have been some times where even I wanted to do awful things to the monsters that have hurt our home and those closest to me, but..." Ghost paused. "I've seen many Guardians let their rage and anger take them over... It does not end well. Ever."

I lowered my gun and took a reflective look at what Ghost just told me. "I see..." I looked around and saw the bodies that I laid waste to. Seeing it all with a more clear mind, I saw that I wasn't just shooting them.

From what I saw, I was only shooting them and cutting them down as fast as possible, but the carnage itself told a different story. Their bodies were littered with bullet wounds, some of them were completely severed with cuts and gashes everywhere.

I dreaded looking at what the Captain looked like. I slowly turned my head, but Ghost stopped me. "Hana... I'm a little worried about you. Do you think you can continue the mission?"

I sighed, knowing that I screwed things up. "I... I want to continue, Ghost. If you see me go on a rampage again, please let me know." I simply said.

"Okay... Sparrow is linked up and ready. The colony ship should be just on the other side of the ridge. Ready when you are." Ghost said in a more chipper mood.

"Sounds good." I replied with a similar tone.

I drove the sparrow over some hills and past some shooting Fallen. I did my best to keep myself from feeling too sick on the ride, but the words that Ghost said still echoed in my mind.

We came across a small tower with a shelter inside. "Looks like he set up camp here. Lets see what he left behind." Ghost said.

"Sure, we can look around." Ghost started to beam the terminal again while I looked around. There was a sleeping bag and what appeared to be a used bonfire. Wait.

"Ghost, how is there a bonfire here? Was this place sealed up before the Guardian left?"

"No, Hana. The Moon has a breathable atmosphere, you know?" Ghost replied dryly.

"Wait. What?"

"Didn't you know?" Ghost had that mocking tone in his voice that made me want to just pinch his cheeks. He's so lucky he's a floating ball of light.

"Nyo..." I said pouting. "So if I take off my helmet, there's gonna be no downside, right?" I said hesitantly.

"Nothing of the sort, Hana."

So I braced myself. I transmatted my helmet off and, sure enough... "Air... Ghost! There's air on the Moon!"

"Yes, there is Hana." Ghost replied.

I jumped up, thinking that I'd float a bit in the air, but as soon as my feet touched the floor, I fell due to not being ready for Earth-like gravity. "Ouch... H-hey what gives? Where's the bouncy low gravity?"

"Scientists in the Golden Age were able to figure out how to adjust gravity on a near planet wide scale, Hana. Every single place touched by the Traveler has similar gravity to Earth."

"That... Is such a buzzkill." I simply said. I put on my helmet again and walked over to Ghost. "So, what intel do you have, buddy?"

"His notes." Ghost said. "They're all about a place called the "Temple of Crota." It sounds like a death trap."

"So we're not visiting! Got it!"

"Hana..."

"Right, right. The mission. Hate going into death traps."

I followed the marker Ghost laid out for me. True to his word, this place was rather close. "The ground here is hollowed out for miles. Who knows what's happening under your feet!" Ghost said.

"I'm pretty sure I'm gonna have to find out, aren't I?" I said with a gloomy mood.

We approached what appeared to be a giant wall with a large door in the front. It was sealed with chains and runes that I couldn't make out. They had lines and dots, but that's about all I could tell.

"I think we found the temple." Ghost and I said in unison.

We approached cautiously, keeping an eye out for any enemies that might try to ambush us. Luckily, there were no pings and I didn't catch anyone trying to get the jump on us.

"Up ahead. Guardian down." Ghost said.

The Guardian was a Titan, their armor was red and gold. "There's nothing left..." I said. I didn't sense anything from him. Granted, he was dead, but there was something else off.

"Not even the light..." Ghost said.

"Ghost... Does that mean he can't get revived?" I asked solemnly.

"Not necessarily, Hana. So long as his Ghost is still connected to the Traveler and the light, there is hope. But that does beg the question. Where is his Ghost?"

As Ghost scanned our surroundings, I heard a shuffle out in the distance. I looked behind and there, on top of the hills was an Exo woman. I couldn't quite make out the details, but I could tell her eyes were glowing blue, much like an Exo.

She had a yellow gun and a cloak around her. I was going to ask Ghost if he saw her better, but something distracted me.

There was a hum coming from the giant door. The runes came to life with an eerie yellow glow as the chains began to disappear. "Ghost... What did you do?" I asked.

Floating backwards slowly, Ghost simply replied. "We may want to move back..."

I readied my scout rifle and aimed at the door. They came out all at once like a feral flood. They charged with ferocity and had a single target. "We've woken the Hive!" Ghost said.

It was almost as if every single neuron I had fired at once and reminded me of all the jokes my father would say to his buddies about that. I could laugh about it later with Ghost, but now I had one thing to do. "Alright! Get some!"

I knew I could count on Ghost to keep me level headed. I let myself feel the flow of the fight, shooting off rounds of my scout rifle and shotgun. The rocket on my back paved the way towards the entrance of the temple. On a pedestal, there was the Ghost that must have belonged to the Guardian.

"I'm picking up the dying light of a Ghost inside, Hana." Ghost said.

"Dying?" I gritted my teeth. I did not want another search and recovery mission on my hands. I wanted it to be a search and rescue mission.

Ghost must have sensed what I wanted. "Hurry, Hana!" He said with urgency.

There were still Thrall and Acolytes shooting at me, but if I was going to save the Ghost, I had to gun it. I shot another rocket, creating an opening for me. I ran fast, wishing I wasn't so short so my legs could carry me further along.

I ignored the heat of the moment, my overshield cracking, and the sense of pain on my back as I got clawed and shot at. The only thing that was between me and the Ghost was a Witch. I have had enough.

Jumping over the Witch, I clapped my hands in the air, summoning my Golden Gun. "This is gonna hurt..." I aimed the sniper at the Witch. I knew it was going to kill it in one shot, but there was another reason I was using my Golden Gun instead of just a rocket or pelting it with a shotgun.

I squeezed the trigger and was sent flying. The recoil was already hard on me laying prone, but with me mid air, it could only push me back hard and fast. Fast towards the Ghost...

I turned my body, already feeling catatonic from the immense amount of light being drained from me. I forced myself to keep myself aware and awake.

It all happened in the blink of an eye. I reached out, ready to grab the Ghost in my hands. Once I felt the shell in my hands, I tucked them in my chest and let my black absorb the blow.

Needless to say, it was the most painful experience I've ever felt. My body slammed against the wall, causing me to reel in immense pain. I felt my bones break, my internal body completely in shock and bleeding, and my vision blurred.

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay conscious enough to keep the Ghost safe. I looked and sure enough, they too had a glowing light just like Ghost. Content enough with the fact that they were alive, I let myself be consumed once again by the sweet oblivion of sleep.

I woke up in my ship. I felt much lighter and not in pain. Whatever happened at the temple, Ghost must have been able to pull me out of that situation. I looked around and there he was, floating as usual. "Heya..." I said groggily.

"Hana!" Ghost snuggled my face and I held him tight. "Oh thank the Traveler you're okay! What were you thinking pulling something like that?"

I chuckled. "Only way I was going to be able to get to that Ghost in time..." I dreaded the question I was going to ask. "Umm, Ghost... Did we... Did I save them...?"

Before ghost could answer, I heard a very loud voice coming from behind. "SALUTATIONS MY FELLOW GUARDIAN!" Hearing such a loud voice made me jump in my chair and scream.

It was the Guardian from the temple. He had taken off his helmet. He had blue skin like Zavala and his hair was cut into a bob. His eyes were honey gold. "SORRY IF MY DEMEANOR HAS CAUSED YOU TO BE FRIGHTENED, BUT HOW CAN I NOT SHOW MY ABSOLUTE GRATITUDE TO MY SAVIOR?"

I felt my heart pounding in my chest. "Why do I keep meeting loud people?" I screamed.

"WELL WHAT IS WRONG WITH ENUNCIATING ONE'S EXCITEMENT WITH VOLUME?" Yet another loud voice made me back away. This time it came from the Ghost that I saved back at the temple. She had a similar shell as Ghost, but upon closer inspection, had the symbol of a lion etched onto their shell.

"WHY?" Was all I was able to scream out.

"WHY INDEED!" The Guardian held out his hand to shake mine. "THE NAME IS SIR ROCKWELL SIMMONS! AND THIS IS MY GHOST!"

The Ghost hovered over towards me as Rockwell shook my hand rapidly. "MY NAME IS LADY PHILBERTA, FIRST GHOST OF THE SIMMONS LINE!"

Philberta hopped on top of our shaking hands and went along with it. I was already discombobulated from just how weird things were getting, but there was one thing that I was grateful for. "You two are alive... You're alive!" I stopped shaking Rockwell's hand and gave him a tight hug.

He must have been taken aback by it, but he returned the hug. "Thank you very much." He said that with so much sincerity, it nearly made me cry. "BUT PLEASE, I MUST KNOW MY SAVIOR'S NAME! IF I MAY BE SO BOLD AS TO ASK TO SEE YOUR FACE AS WELL!"

"Sure, but uh... keep an open mind." I said. I transmatted my helmet off and showed them my face. Rockwell and Philberta were both surprised at seeing my youthful face. "My name is Hanabi Valiente."

I held out my palm and Ghost floated over. "I prefer just 'Ghost'." Ghost said.

Rockwell and Philberta both looked at each other, but they seemed to have accept who I was. Rockwell got on one knee and Philberta lowered her body, both paying reverence towards me. "We are indebted to you, Lady Valiente. If there is ever a time in the future that you require our assistance, we are more than happy to oblige."

I was seriously taken aback and waved my hands. "N-no need. Seriously, I just wanted to save you both." I chuckled nervously, trying to hide the fact that I was tired of having to retrieve bodies and dead Ghosts.

Ghost did take the reigns of the conversation back towards a more pertinent topic. "We came here after the Vanguard lost communications with you. Did you find anything significant in the temple, Rockwell?"

Rockwell stood back up and looked grim. "We did, Ghost. Lady Philberta, if you please."

Philberta hovered over and shared the information she had with us. "The Hive are raising an army here, preparing to invade Earth..."

Author's Note: Thank you very much for reading! As you may have noticed, the outcome of the mission is a major deviation from the original story of Destiny. As this is Hana's story, some story elements may change, but the overall naritive will stay the same. Let me know what you think! A like, follow, and review would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!