We Stand Together

Chapter 1: She Came From Nothing

Disclaimer: I do not own anything! Everything belongs to Bungie! Everything! The only thing I own is my own characters!
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"Eyes Up Guardian."

Those are the first words she hears before everything is thrown at her.

Her body aches and there's a pounding behind her eyes. She knows her name is Eden but she doesn't really know much of anything else except that she feels like she's been asleep for a really long time. Beyond the ringing in her ears, Eden hears the dulled sound of someone trying to speak to her. Slowly, she turns to look up and sees a little white and silver star. It spins it's back half and speaks in excited tones. All she makes out are bits and pieces.

She's been dead a very long time, he's her Ghost, and they need to go. Eden is confused about the first two, but she understands the last part pretty good.

Eden is quick to get up on her feet, running as fast as she can. The sound of growls and gunshots echo closer and closer behind her, reminding her she needs to run just a little faster if she wants to make it out alive. The little star, or Ghost as he calls himself, disappears into the flimsy armor that covers her body and he directs her on where to go and what to do. But he gives too many directions and her mind whirls around so fast she actually has to stop a minute to think clearly.

The Ghost apologizes and slowly tells her that she needs to find cover somewhere. Now that, she can do. With Eden no longer having to worry about doing a hundred things, she finds a small rusted shack a little ways off that looks perfect for her and her Ghost.

She sprints towards it and ducks in it in time to avoid some nasty looking, four-armed creatures. From her place in a far corner, she can see the creatures.

They're tall, taller than Eden by at least several feet, with scaly gray skin. Some, she can tell, are higher up on the command chain than others. The runts are tiny things compared to the rest. They've lost two arms and only hold a small pistol and a tiny dagger crackling with what looks like lightning. The armor it wears looks worse than Eden's own set.

The small creature stops for a moment, its harsh tongue ringing out to the bigger creature behind it.

The bigger creature is taller than its runt counterpart. All four arms hold onto a gun that looks way more secure and trustworthy than the runt's little pistol. Eden notices its armor is thicker, better. She wonders if this ensures that it won't die as quickly as the weaker one, but she really doesn't want to find out. Eden tucks herself further into the corner, both listening and watching closely.

It sounds harsh and cold, whatever it's saying, and the smaller one visibly flinches before moving on with the big one following.

Eden allows herself a sigh of relief until she sees the biggest stop in his tracks and look over at the building she's in.

This one must be the leader of the small, ragtag group of creatures. It's a lot taller than the others and at least twice their size. The gun in its four arms could tear Eden to pieces before she even had a chance to run. And though she had no weapon, one wouldn't help her. Its armor looks like its as thick as Eden's whole arm.

She holds her breath and waits for it to leave. Her heart is pounding out of her chest and her hands are shaking. Fear roots her body in place and all Eden can think is please move on, please move on.

And finally, it does. She waits until the whole group is out of sight before she relaxes and releases a shaky breath. That was too close a call. Her Ghost tells her as much when he reappears. As he's talking to her, Eden begins to shiver and the cold nips at her body. Now that the adrenaline is gone, she's starting to realize that she's in a snowy plain in the middle of nowhere. She's starting to freeze under the frigid temperatures. Her teeth chatter as she stands and peers out of the shack, the Ghost's voice droning on behind her.

"Where are we?" She interrupts, gripping at her arms for warmth.

He pauses and looks over at her, blinking. His singular, blue eye stares at her a moment before he drops to her level, beeping, and chirping.

"We are in the Cosmodrome, in old Russia."

She nods but she isn't entirely sure what this place is still. It seems like her memory is in tatters and that nothing this little Ghost says will actually register with her. Instead, Eden drops her hands from her arms and stare right back at her Ghost.

"Well, where are we going?"

The little Ghost hums and then spins the back of his shell, answering, "We need to get you to the City. The Vanguard will be able to help us from there."

She doesn't know what that is either, but it sounds better than here. Actually, anything sounds better than being stuck in this frozen tundra with nothing but thin armor and a talking star, or Ghost, or whatever he is.

With exhaustion beyond the minutes she's been alive, Eden sighs and takes long strides out of the building and into the snow-covered ground.

"Alright, then let's go."

The Ghost makes a pleased beep and disappears into her armor again, silent but still there against the edge of her mind.

Seconds later, there is an arrow in her helmet's visor, pointing into the direction just off to her right, to the northeast.

Eden lifts her head in the direction and is met with the sight of a seemingly endless plain of snow, broken roads, and blue skies. She sighs and thinks that this could be worse. A lot worse.

Her boots leave footprints in the white powdery substance as she walks in the direction of the City. Every few steps, her body complains that it is too cold and that she is too tired. Eden almost stops every time until her Ghost says words of encouragement and then she is walking again. And when that isn't happening, she has to hide in cover from the creatures. (Fallen the Ghost calls them.)

All sense of time is lost to her as she and the Ghost walk and walk and walk. It could have been hours, or days, or weeks; she doesn't know. Finally, Eden almost gives up until Ghost speaks.

"We're on the grid now. I can summon a sparrow and get us there faster."

She doesn't know what a sparrow is but she'll take it over walking. Her hand lifts up and the Ghost hovers in her palm. Eden watches as he summons a sleek, narrow, black vehicle in front of her. She isn't sure how to drive it but Ghost reassures that she'll figure it out so she hops on.

It takes a few tries and near deaths, but she finally has it and they're speeding off.

The wind nips and bites with a stinging iciness but soon, the cold and snow fade, giving way to warmth and forests and a wall. Above it all is a smooth, white sphere. Ghost beeps in relief.

"There's the Traveler. We're almost there."

The only answer he gets back is the sparrow whirring faster and faster.

Upon approach, Eden begins to feel re-energized as they near the wall circling the City, almost like all her strength is returning slowly. The overwhelming satisfaction of actually making it helps too. Soon enough, she'd get her answers and understand what was going on.

Eden slows the sparrow down just short of the wall and gets off, removing her helmet and tucking it under her arm.

A man wearing a gray, heavily armored uniform approaches, looking over her curiously, but not seeming to be surprised at the sight of her.

Ghost materializes from her armor and immediately begins talking to him as if they were old friends. A few minutes later, they all head towards the wall. Soothing relief floods her aching body as she realizes that they've finally made it.

They made it to the City.