[spoiler] An Introduction, of Sorts Hello! This is my first attempt at a fan-fiction writing, and I believe it’s ready to be put out there. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Without further ado... [/spoiler] —— Even during combat, Sazed wouldn’t shut up. Couldn’t his modulator be... [b]“Okay?” The strange machine inquired. The Awoken groaned. Spots stained his vision like...like...something? He couldn’t remember much. “Where, where is this ag...”[/b] “HAM! BIG BLACK THING!” The man, now much more lively, snapped out of the trance. He cursed and rolled to the right, barely avoiding the blast of pure Darkness. The polished white tile phased black, then slowly faded to its original color. Hammond would have found this interesting, if this damned Captain let up. The Warlock’s pistol came up, and three sharp blasts thudded across the hall. The Taken Captain understood. Ham’s Translation Theory was phenomenal at carrying points across. Death, was, after all, a universal language, and the sidearm was succinct. After a scream (they always screamed), and a brief microsingularity, silence once more enveloped the Blind Well. “Nice shot. Or three. Or, you know, not dying. Mind telling me why you looked like a Taken Ogre there?” Sazed cracked. No response. “Ham?...Ham?” Still nothing. Sometimes silence was the best talker. Sazed disagreed. His shell spun, clicking into place like a rifle’s bolt. “Flashes again, hum? Lujan-2’s started a few weeks ago. Remember it’s only normal for yours to start soon after! Can’t you...” [b]“Trust me. It’s the only way out. This is where you run, I think. Or die heroically in glorified thermals.” Black, heavy fabric materialized around the man’s body. A light buzzing noise emanated from the starlike machine. Was it laughter? His legs shuffled...[/b] “...like a noodle”, Sazed finished. “Did you really just check out again? You missed my noodle joke!” Ham’s frustration rose, boiling over is normally calm demeanor. “Stop getting all flustered so easily!” the Ghost grated. “Losing half your Sparrow in transmat frustrates people. Missing a sniper round frustrates people. And finding your fourth Tractor Cannon frustrates people! Not flashbacks! Now, see, if your rations were burnt...” A Warlock’s helmet contains thousands of small receptors, each attuned to a neuron in its wearer. Sazed had constructed a digital interface that somehow patched these to the little light’s cortex. The result was a one-way empathic bond, and occasional migraines ([i]as a side effect. A side effect![/i]). Not every Warlock’s Ghost did this, but Sazed couldn’t pass up the chance. He had to win at virtual poker somehow ([i]Yes, Ghosts are able to play poker with their Guardian. It definitely wasn’t Cayde’s idea, and Cayde definitely didn’t bring you this tip.[/i])! Hammond scowled. “You know. Saze, all of those things were your fault. Not mine.” “Oh, sorr-ee, Shin Malphur! One day you’ll have the last word!” Sazed chirped. “But, on the serious side...” (“You have one?” Ham mumbled.) “...we have work to do. Just complete the bounty paperwork and we can go toss another Oracle Offering into a glowing orb. We can talk on the scenic drive, huh?” —— The drive was sure scenic, but the Void repeater rounds sort of messed with the atmosphere. Damn Scorn, always... [b]“Pick something! Anything! I’m tired of my name. You owe me! Admit it!” The floating star was beginning to annoy him, but it had saved his life, so he kept it in check. Hoping to shut it up, the new Guardian shook his mind for a name. It was akin to rummaging in your closet for a quarter, but his mind found purchase somewhere. “Sazed. That’s your name now. I think it was from a game or something. Mind shutting up now?” “SAZED? What kind of language is th...”[/b] “This isn’t pressing, boss. But you should jump now.” Ham cursed, snapping once more to reality, and managed to Glide out his free-falling Sparrow to a nearby ledge. An explosion and a Ghost’s soft buzzing echoed through the Spine of Keres. —— The ethereal Oracle Engine continued to spin, but Hammond was stock still, staring at the block of text. [url=https://www.ishtar-collective.net/entries/is-it-you?]It seemed familiar[/url]. Could it be from... “Eris! Hah! That one was too creepy to die a normal death! Let me scan it.” said Sazed. A conic array of blue light paced the screen. The machine’s shell stopped spinning abruptly. “Ham? Erm, I think I’ve found something here. You’re going to like this. But...” “...I see it too. Eris, she remembered! She remembered her last life!” Ham exclaimed. “Yes, but, you see the cost, right?” “...Yes. There’s always a catch, little light. Always.” —— [spoiler]If you could, any positive or negative feedback would be appreciated. Be brutally honest, I can take it! If this gets positive feedback, I’ll continue it with another installment. Congratulations for getting this far![/spoiler] Next installment: [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/249777613?sort=0&page=0]Chapter 2[/url]