Light. Exploits; Book I.

Part 23. Affair Of The Heart.

It all began quite some time ago.
Many lives ago.
Sometime near the beginning, I think.
I had seen this Titan a few times around before.
Patrols.
Vanguard Organized Strike Operations.
But the first time I met her was in The Chamber of Night.
The Hive Fortress deep within the bowels of Luna.
Her name was Rei.
Titan.
Defender.
Her Crest of Alpha Lupi solidified her status as Natural Born Leader.
I was skulking around, hearing Hive cries and roars from the shadow. But I didn't fear.
Light had reclaimed the Moon. Enough of it that even fledgling Guardians could adventure deep below the crust.
I noticed odd smoldering in the ground, gouges in the rock, and the smell of rustled dust.
Ghost, keep me posted if you pick anything up. I command.
As I continued deeper, sounds begin to ring out in the distance.
Sounds of gunfire. I could feel Light.
There's a Guardian here. Ghost says softly.
I drew my handcannon, knowing the tight corners.
Then I heard her voice call out.
Any more?! Cmon I'm like a sitting duck! She shouts from deeper within the chambers.
I follow her voice, seeing the bodies and flakes of dead Hiven.
I come to a large chamber, obelisks and statues gouged into the wall, marks and glyphs patterned almost too perfectly in the rock.
I lose myself looking around, as the Titan calls to me.
Hey! Hey Warlock! She says.
I look around, she's nowhere on the floor, so I look up.
She's hanging by her boots, up to her thighs, from some type of sludge oozing from the ceiling.
Hey...she says nervously. Look, this is kind of embarrassing, but can you help me out? My heads getting dizzy. She says almost queasy.
I look around, giving a small nod. Give me a moment, I say as I walk around, looking for a safe way up.
There's no way up to her normally, but a massive stone is jutting up, nearly clawing at the ceiling. I decide that's my best bet.
Hey, be careful will ya? Last thing I need on my conscience is someone getting hurt trying to save me, she says almost laughing.
I sigh softly, noting her worry.
You don't talk much do you? She asks.
I continue to make my way up the rocks, scraping and tearing my coat on the way up. Nothing that can't be fixed.
I remain silent as she continues, Well, if you're curious, I came to the moon to hunt Knights. Titan ways. I'm sure you've done the same thing, from old tradition? She asked.
While a tad bit less quiet than I would have liked, she was well versed in the ways of Guardians.
I had to come to Luna to hunt Wizards. Ikora has a blatant diastase for them. I say to her as I get closer to her.
I stand on top of the flat rock, close enough to see her armor. And take her hand if she reached for me.
Give me your hand, I say as I reach up for her.
But warlock, we don't even know each other that well yet, she jokes, reaching out her hand.
I roll my eyes as I take her arm and start to climb up her body.
You know I can feel that right? She says hiding a laugh.
I could just leave you here, I say as I shine my hand with Solar light. Then I start to cut away at the sludge.
I feel her weight shift, and soon she's falling, yelping as she's trying to grab onto a rock.
I try to catch her, and as I do I blindly reach for the sludge, getting entangled in it.
Soon it's smothering my helmet. I could hardly hear the Titan call out to me.
Warlock! Warlock! She cries.
I shudder and pant as its pressing against my head, feeling more and more pressure. I palm a Fusion Charge and jam it into the sludge. Soon after its beep, it explodes, far too close for me to not feel it's blast.
I shout in pain as I fall to the floor. Why I didn't try to stop myself I'm not sure, but all I remember is hitting the floor.
Hard.
Owwww! Son of a- I yowl and gasp, landing right on my back.
I squirm, trying to roll out of the pain.
I stand up, my back cracking as Ghost finishes healing me.
Little shaky on the landing, the Titan says. But I'll give it a solid 8 out of 10, she laughs.
I sigh and peer over my shoulder at her. Thanks, I guess, I say looking around.
Names Rei, by the way, she says.
Hmm, I nod in agreement.
Well that's usually the part when you introduce yourself. She says folding her arms over her chest.
Mm hmm, I say not paying her any attention, looking around at the glyphs.
Wow, I knew Warlocks could lose themselves in study, she starts. But you're a whole step ahead huh? She laughs.
I tune her out, really just wanting the embarrassment of me falling on my ass to melt away.
I'm not going to tell anyone I found you down here dangling by your legs from Hive goop, if that's what's you're worried about, I said plainly.
Oh, she stammers. I, uh, thanks, she says with a small nervous laugh.
I hold my Ghost, to Tower, I say softly.
Rei, it was a pleasure. I say warmly as I am taken to orbit.
Rei stays behind, kicking at the dirt. Aww c'mon, don't leave a girl all alone.
As I return to tower, I take careful time.
Ghost, what's my agenda?
Ghost beeps and buzzes in my ear.
Well the Arach Jallal still would like to speak to you about becoming a high ranking officer in the Dead Orbit. And... Ghost pauses.
It appears Eva Levante would like to speak to you.
I was puzzled.
Eva? Eva who outfits our Guardians?
Sure she provided a service to us all.
But she never needed us.
Arach could wait.
I was curious.
I followed the air to the Observatory.
Eva in her corner.
Quiet.
But ever present. Ever watching.
She's quite the character; one I'd always wanted to sit down and talk to.
Ahh, Guardian! She says softly.
Madam Eva, a pleasure, I say with a bow.
You requested to speak to me? I say.
Yes... You see, I needed someone who is interested in various curio... Of possible Venetian origin. Vex even.
My eyes widened enthusiastically.
Well, very interested. Venus? Vex? Where do I start?
Eva smiled happily, her wrinkles almost melting away.
First, you'll need a fellow Titan. Do you know any?
And then as if like clock work, Rei walked down the stairs. I looked up and caught her glance.
Looking back on her now, she was beautiful.
Long, flowing hair. Yellow like gold.
Her helmet was off, her face was nothing short of artistic. Strong, feminine jaw, pure red lips, eyes orange, like jewels.
Madam Eva, I've collected the Scales from Hive Knights, she says before she sees me, then she smiles widely.
Hey hey hey, buddy of mine, what're you doin here? She coos.
Eva and I were merely in the middle of conversation, I reply cooly.
Guardian, Eva says, bringing me back to earth.
If you don't mind my suggestion, it seems you have a perfectly fine Titan right here, she smiles.
Well I'm glad SOMEBODY noticed, Rei laughed. But perfectly fine for what?
Eva continued to say that a Titan and Warlock were needed for a puzzle spanning across Ishtar.
The reward was said to be a treasure of insurmountable value to the Vex, and by that account, something the Guardians could only do good with.
Eva waited, however, to tell us exactly what it was unless we agreed to hunt it for her.
Whaddya say cutie? Wanna go questing with me?
I smiled.
Only could smile.
I'd get to explore Venus.
Venus.
The most mysterious planet in our system, not only because of The Vex.
And I'd get to go with Rei.
A Guardian who would soon show me the true value of trust.
In each other as Guardians.
And in myself.