"Friendly Zara, a question came to my mind. Why do the Guardians all wear different armor?"

"I beg your pardon, Failsafe?" The Warlock was tightening the straps of her gloves, her mind elsewhere.

("Your armor.") The other Failsafe had taken over. ("Why isn't it the same as the others?")

"I guess it's a matter of habit." Zara sat cross-legged in front of the Black Exodus mainframe. "When our Ghosts find us, we're forced to adapt with what we find. I woke up with a simple bodysuit, and I took my first armor from the corpse of a Fallen."

"I understand. So, it is a custom for Guardians to dress with the remains of their enemies?" ("How charming.")

"It's not... Well, it is, but it's not by choice." She paused, before adding: "Not for everyone, at least. Nowadays, the City's foundries are doing wonders."

"I've heard about them! Dispersing the production among different actors does not seem optimal to me, but everyone I interviewed said it was a good thing. Is your armor from an Ahamkara?"

"What makes you say that?"

("An intuition. You're covered in bones.")

Zara smiled and knocked against her chest plate, which emitted a metallic noise, then caressed the purple fabric flowed with iridescent reflections that covered her legs.

"It's just an imitation. This armor was made on Earth, but I applied a shader of the Dreaming City. I feel quite close to my Awoken cousins trapped in this curse, so... I think it's more reassuring for them to see someone wearing their colors."

"I see. Physical appearance is therefore of particular importance to the Awoken. I will not miss to contact Petra Venj for more information."

Failsafe fell silent for a moment, and a buzzing sound agitated her circuits. Zara realized that she was thinking.

"My crewmembers wore standardized suits. Guardians look socially competitive all the time, and often change their appearance. Do you ever use a manufactured product without modifying it for your convenience?"

"It's quite rare, indeed. Each component of an armor is unique and has its own history." She pointed the helmet with crystal spikes resting next to her. "This Crown of Tempests is of my own making. I also modified a pair of Empyrean Cartographer's boots from the City with Vex technology."

"Are you not afraid of an infection? " ("It's just that the Vex interactions with alien bodies, I know quite well... ")

"I purged the radiolarian fluid. But it's true that I always have a strange feeling when I put them on, as if these soles had already trodden a thousand worlds. "Zara shrugged. "I think they will be able to walk on a thousand more."

"And why do your gloves shine like that?"

The Warlock looked at the pieces of armor protecting her forearm. The metal plates showed elaborate patterns, contradicting the practical aspect of the gauntlets. Fine cracks ran across the surface, and Light flashed through them like tiny northern lights.

"It was during the Solstice. The Tower likes to organize large parades in the streets of the City to commemorate our victories. For this occasion, the Guardians agreed to wear together the same ceremonial armor to show our unity. Shortly after the parade, Zavala sent us on a Strike... and I stupidly forgot to change my gloves. They are not made for combat, and I ruined them by using my Light. When I thought I should get them fixed, Willow told me to keep them like that... She thought they were classier."

Zara concentrated, and the Light-impregnated gauntlets shone more intensely. Failsafe's sensors did not lose a bit of it.

"Sparkling lights are a mark of social distinction. Thank you for helping me in my research on human behavior. I'm sure it will be very helpful! " ("Although... without a body, I'm not likely to see many humans.") "What about your bond? Is it also the result of an accident?"

The Warlock's eyes stared for a moment at the shining Ace of Spades symbol on her arm.

"No... it's a memory."

"I think I remember the Cayde unit displaying a similar symbol." ("Or how to ruin a mood.") "Oh, excuse me!"

"It's okay, Failsafe." Zara got up and smiled at the candor of the AI. "You understand now why all the Guardians wear different armor?"

"Appropriating components based on personality and past experiences allows for individualization and, in a way, brings individuals closer together. Obvious opposition to the standardization of the military structures of humanity's enemies. The correlation between a contest based on appearance and combat effectiveness is uncertain. I think I understand, friendly Zara. Thank you!"