Broken Light

Chapter 6

I stopped running long enough to catch my breath. Venus was hotter than I originally thought it would be. It was also more toxic, thanks to my armors built in air filter I wasn't dead. I wasn't used to toxic air and acidic water. I put my hands on my knees and keeled over panting in exhaustion.
"Jean what are you doing? Keep running!" David said as he jogged just passed me. I was so tired and hot, "can't we do something else? Something more, guardian related?" I pleaded, we've been on Venus for several days, our camp was set up in the campus 9 area and it was so boring. I have been told of an evil imperialistic race called the Vex that reside here on Venus but I have yet to see any of them. David circled back around and stopped in front of me, "no you're not ready for a strike or mission. You lack focus and discipline," I grimaced at his words, barely holding my temper, I looked up and took a deep breath, "look, I appreciate what you've been doing but I am tired of running laps, doing scans, taking the night shift," my voice started rising in anger and frustration, "I am sick of checking under every single leaf for some stupid fragment or trace of the Vex! Why don't we just bring the fight to them? I am done doing this....this crap!" I was yelling now. I suddenly felt bad as David just stood there in silence, did I upset him? I was beginning to think of things to say to soften the blow when David lunged at me and knocked me clear down on my back. His blade was to my throat and his arm pinned both of my arms above my head. "If you were ready, you would have seen that coming." David said softly. No way, I wasn't even aware....no I won't let him win. I relaxed my muscles to let him believe he won. To my surprise it worked, he loosened his grip on my arms. Big mistake. I thought before I surged upward, throwing him off me. I lunged after him and pinned him down with my Efrideet's Spear sniper rifle pointed at his head. He grunted and simply moved my barrel away from his face as he stood up, I smiled broadly, "you should have seen that coming haha," it was the first time I've laughed. It felt odd and I stopped immediately. I had come too far to get distracted now. It was amazing that I was able to come across these weapons. My ghost just brought them to me in the night, I recalled how odd it was but it seemed excited to give me good gear. David told me I should give them back but it fit my hand so well I just couldn't. He also didn't like the fact that I was using Red Death, it was a nice pulse rifle and it also made me feel at ease. David warned me that those who used Red Death always died. But my ghost reminded me that it was of their own accord. I was fine so far. David put a hand on my shoulder, bringing me up to face him. His helmet disguised whatever emotion was coursing through him and I was honestly glad because I was afraid he might pin me again, then I'm screwed. But he just simply stood there for a moment, "Jean, I was like you once," I instinctively wanted to push him away, "I know that's not what you want to hear right now but its the truth. I was like you, cocky, restless, dying to live. But you see, it leads to unequivocal pain and anguish. I was not ready, and neither was my team; but we went down into those pits." David tensed up and looked away, "you're not ready Jean," then he trudged off through the marshes. I counted the steps he took, I wanted to ask him more but it seemed too dangerous. I watched him go and I couldn't help but feel I had crossed some invisible barrier and that I truly wasn't ready. I sighed heavily and looked out over the horizon. It was painting the landscape gold and yellow. My ghost hovered up and was silent. I glanced at it, "Do you know what it's like?" I asked the ghost, "to feel stuck...like you're struggling and trying so hard to get somewhere but you end up nowhere." It wasn't a question now but my ghost simply looked at me. "It'll pass Jean trust me, and you can call me Genesis I figured you earned the right to know my name after all this time." I looked at my ghost and said, "you are really bad at consolation." A small smile crossed my lips but it faded quickly. I should head back before X comes and tries to wrestle me again or something, I turned and began making my way through the marsh to Campus 9.
******
I was heading back to the camp site when an abandon hotel of sorts caught my attention. "Jean what are you doing?" Genesis asked. I merely pushed him out of the way and moved closer to the building. There were oddly shaped mannequins standing just outside but my radar was going insane telling me they were enemies. I moved ever closer and reached out to touch one. As if struck by lightening the mannequin burst into being and grabbed my arm twisting it painfully. "Jean!" My ghost shouted but I was alone in this. I twisted with my arm; doing a cartwheel, and threw the thing over my shoulder. "Vex Jean! Shoot them in the chest!" I was perplexed for usually it was the head I would be aiming at but I heeded Genesis's words and shot the chest. The vex stumbled and collapsed into pieces on the ground. I raised my sniper and dispatched the second one that was making its way towards me. My radar showed that there were more within the building. I am going to prove that I am ready right now. I'll bring back all their heads. I thought decisively. David would have to let me tag along on a strike then. I moved into the yawning hole that went beneath the hotel, the path twisted and turned. As I rounded the corner something caught my eye, it was a loot crate that David told me about. Some were still around even after the collapse. I approached it and opened it warily to find glowing blue cubes. Glimmer I was thrilled this was going to come in handy. I knew it was a good idea to come down here! I pocketed the loot and moved down the corridor to investigate the area further. Eventually the ground sloped up and I emerged into what looked like a lobby. There was a decaying statue in the middle and moss was dangling lazily from the second floor railings. Light shone dimly through the faded glass. It was completely quiet. Not much here I thought gloomily. Suddenly there was a sound like metal scraping against metal. A void opened up in front of me and glowing red lights pierced through the darkness and caught me in its gaze. I was frozen in place. Why can't I move?! I thought frantically the void expanded further and two small Vex goblins stood tall. There was another big vex. It stood over the statue and loomed over me. I was terrified, I lifted my gun but before I could pull the trigger, my ghost whispered, "Jean that's a Vex minotaur! You won't stand a chance move now!" I looked around for something to hide behind but the Minotaur, in one stride, slammed into me with its armored arm. It flung me into the high ledge, breaking it. I screamed in agony. Pain reverberated all throughout my body and I fell to the ground. I turned over and stood up slowly, the Minotaur was moving towards me with his goblins but I couldn't move. Suddenly there was a sound like air rushing into a vacuum and a purple arrow shot out from just above my head. It pierced the Minotaur right in the chest and tethered the other two goblins to it. They all strained against the vise-like grip of the void arrow. David and X leaped over the ledge and landed in front of me. X dispatched the goblin to the right and David took the one to the left. They began lighting up the Minotaur when more voids opened up and more goblins and hobgoblins came forth. David and X started shooting as much as they could but I was still frozen. The Minotaur was reaching out to me. Its red eye captivating. "Jean run!" David shouted, I stood fast unable to move. "Jean! Get the hell out of here now!" David shouted again. The Minotaur was nearing us, the arrows power dissipating. David turned around and grabbed me by the collar, he turned me in a full 180° spin and tossed me back into the corridor. I tumbled down into the puddles. I was finally able to move, I stood up and winced in pain. X came hurtling down into the cave and pushed me roughly along. I was too hurt to run, X picked me up in his arms and high-tailed it back through the cave, "What about David?!" I shouted, X ran on ignoring me. I looked over his shoulder towards the sounds of gunfire and metal crashing. I'm sorry David....I'm sorry...my world went dark and I passed out.

******

I woke with a start, there were stars glittering faintly through the clouds. Right I'm on Venus I remembered. Suddenly it all came rushing back, "David!" I called and jolted up but moaned in pain. "Careful Jean, you've got some bruises and I expect some fractured ribs. Take it slow." X said from across a burning fire. I looked down, my chest armor had been removed and there was a compress wrapped around my ribs. I sighed and stood slowly, my body reluctant to obey me. X moved to adjust the wood in the fire when suddenly there was intense shuffling through the undergrowth. I tensed up and went to grab my weapon but X shushed me and said, "I wouldn't do that if I were you." I was about to ask why when David came barreling through the undergrowth and nearly pushed me down that's how close he was. "What were you doing in that place alone?! Are you fucking out of your mind Jean?! You could have been killed, or worse!" David was shouting and I didn't need to see his face to tell he was nearly crying in rage. I said nothing, "I made an oath Jean, an oath! To protect you with my life as I passed on my teachings! That's hardly possible if you're dead! When I tell you to run you run. Never freeze like that." David began pacing in anger. I grabbed my chest armor and put it on along with my helmet. I walked up to David and said the only thing I could say, "I just wanted to prove to you that I was ready," I was fighting back tears, "but you were right, I wasn't ready...I'm weak." An intense feeling of self-loathing started to spread inside me and I felt bitter. David stopped pacing and looked at me, "you're a fool Jean. You have so much potential you just need to find it. I can help you. Let me help you. Stop shutting me out." His voice was quiet as if he's said this before, I didn't know what to say so I let my actions speak for me, I went up and hugged him quickly before turning away and limping out towards the cliff-side, I sat down and watched the sun creep up out of the water. Thank you David, I thought. X soon joined me, "he knows you're grateful he just, he suffered a lot of loss before and the thought of losing another person whose under his care really affects him. Just don't judge him too harshly." I didn't know what to say so I just nodded and let the sound of the crackling fire soothe me. "Well, I'm going to start on breakfast, see you in a few," X said as he got up and moved back to the camp. I continued gazing out over the terrain, the pain in my ribs was ebbing quickly must be some high tech medicine I thought idly. I felt another chill all of a sudden and there was a whisper in the wind....I couldn't make out the words...I was focusing so hard when the voice suddenly exploded around me calling my name. I gasped and fell back. Someone helped me balance again and I looked up to find it was David. "Hey, uh...X and I are going out on a mission later today," is he going to ask me to babysit the camp again...I thought morosely, "and we thought you could come along?" He finished. I was thrilled, I stood up slowly and nodded in excitement. David nodded and turned to walk away when he turned back to me,"are you okay? You freaked a bit back there..." Was he referring to the campfire fight or the voice? I didn't know how to answer. David just sighed and turned away, "you can tell me anything, we are a team after all." David said as he rejoined X. I shook my head, you would never believe me....cold bitter feelings were still spreading....I thought I was over it. X waved me down and called my name, I couldn't get rid of the sinking feeling in my gut, can I truly succeed...will I prove myself this time? I joined my team and together we headed out into the jungle.