We Stand Together

Chapter 4: Guardians, Ghosts, and Their Names

Eden's only taken a few steps out of the Vanguard when the Warlock begins talking.

"Well, first things first, we need to get you moved in."

Eden looks back at him curiously. Uriah, being much like her, looks just as curious and floats closer to them. She expects that he'll begin to question them in a moment. She's proven right as the little Ghost beeps and asks, "Moving in? The Vanguard never mentioned moving in with you."

The Titan chuckles at her Ghost as his optics look over them in faint amusement.

"It's just something we came up with. If you don't want to, you don't have to. But, I'd advise it," The Titan points out, roughly.

Eden and Uriah glance at each other. They spend several seconds going back and forth talking it out. It's only when Uriah points out to Eden that she's new and she doesn't know anything about this world that they both agree it's a good idea. She turns back to the group.

"Alright, but only on the condition that we go do a mission, a bounty, something. I need to get out of here for awhile."

They chuckle at her response and follow her to the Bounty postmaster. The blue frame looks her over and allows her to search the board of missions and patrols. Eden finds one that's situated on Earth in the Cosmodrome. Clear out some Fallen getting too close to the wall. Simple enough.

She takes it off the board, shows it to the frame, and turns toward the trio.

"Alright, got an easy one. Let's go," She speaks, turning to walk away.

The Exo (she really needs to ask their names) grabs her arm and pulls her back.

"Whoa, first off do you have a ship to get there? Second off, do you have a gun? And third off, are you sure you're ready for this?"

She stops to think a moment, debating.

Uriah turns to her. She can feel him radiate confidence. He knows they're ready to do this. He's positive they can do it. If he believes they are, then she does too.

The Titan receives a confident nod before she's off toward the shipwright.

The plaza is nearly empty today. Only a few Titans and Warlocks mill around. The Titans salute her as she passes by and the Warlocks don't even spare her a look.

It bothers her none as she gives them all a wave in passing and hurries on. Eden flies down the hall and steps and almost crashes into Amanda Holliday, the shipwright master. Fortunately, the blonde-headed woman only laughs kindly before saying slow down in her thick accent and walking on. Eden gives an apologetic nod of her head before she's rushing to the ship the Vanguard gave her.

The ship isn't brand new. It's an old thing they found out in the Cosmodrome that's been sitting around for weeks with nobody to take it. But to Eden, it's exactly what she needs. It'll take her where she needs to go and it'll hold her and her fireteam.

She boards it eagerly and goes to the front. When she sits, Uriah hovers up to her and explains how to pilot it. As he is, the trio board. The Titan and Hunter sit in the back and the Warlock sits in the front with her. After a few flipped switches, the ship is up and running. Uriah directs her hand to a lever and tells her to push it forward gently. As soon as she does, they're zooming out of the Tower and into the Cosmodrome.

It's silent as they fly, but not uncomfortably so. Actually, Eden doesn't mind it. She could use this time to ask their names.

"What's your name?" She inquires to the Warlock.

He glances at her ever so inquisitively and she sees the corner of his lips tip up before he looks forward again.

"I'm Lance. My Ghost is Clovis."

From the corner of her eye, she sees the Ghost lift off the shoulder facing away from her and bows its body in greeting.

"And the other two?" She questions.

"The Titan is Axel-2, but he prefers Axel. His Ghost is Slate. The Hunter is Jaren and his Ghost, Lux."

She nods her head and goes back to steering the ship.

"What's your name?" He asks, after a minute.

"Eden. And...."

"And I'm Uriah!" Her Ghost spins and beeps, pleased with himself. Eden laughs at him before she turns back to piloting the ship.

The Warlock smiles at the two and stays quiet this time. The silence lasts until they make it to the Cosmodrome and Eden sets the ship down.

They all begin gathering their guns and putting their helmets on and when it seems everyone is ready, Axel's Ghost speaks up.

"Ready for transmit?" Everyone nods but Eden. She panics and looks toward Uriah. He only has time to shake his shell before Eden feels her body dissipate into tiny molecules. Seconds later, she's standing on the snowy plane of the Cosmodrome, looking over a junkyard of rusted ships.

Her stomach squeezes with uneasiness. Dizziness blurs her vision as she tries to stand straight. Axel notices her swaying a little and puts a steadying hand on her shoulder.

"Sorry 'bout that. Suppose we should have told you the first time is the hardest, but you'll be fine."

She half-heatedly glares at the Exo but he's already walking away.

A sigh escapes her lips as she straightens up and glances at the ship as it zooms off and fades into the sky. It could've been worse.

Lance calls out for Eden and she turns back. They're a little ways ahead, waiting for her.

Time to collect that bounty of the Fallen.