A spark in the dark, Part 1

The Rimskipper Sling left the Siren's Watch for the last time. The methane rain crashed on the canopy of the ship, forming long tears pushed by the wind charged with static. Zara increased the thrust of the reactor and took a last look at the Arcology before entering the clouds. She regretted so much that she did not have more time to explore every corner of it!

The hull shook, fighting against the gravity of the Saturnian moon. Gradually, the scraggy silhouettes of the Golden Age platforms and the dark monolith that watched over them disappeared, and Titan returned to a murky, grayish sphere suspended in the vacuum of space. Zara unfurled her solar sails and the ship headed straight for Earth into a colorful whirlwind.

"And now?" Koryl asked. "We don't really have any place to go anymore..."

"We haven't set foot in the Tower since the Solstice parade." Zara laid down on her seat, her head resting on the backrest, and breathed a long sigh. "Let's stay on Earth for a while. If the Vanguard needs us, they will know where to find us."

Koryl approved in silence. The tips of his shell were slightly lowered, like drooping eyelids. Could a Ghost be exhausted?

The distortion tunnel opened on a patchwork of blue, green, and white. Zara tilted their trajectory, and they descended from Earth's orbit to the Last City. Summer was coming to an end, and the weather was mild despite the falling night.

They disembarked at the Tower Court, and Zara gave Zavala her report. The Titan thanked her with a nod, said a few words of encouragement and leaned against the railing. His gaze fell on the Traveler, and slowly descended to the City below.

His words sounded hollow, but she left him in peace. The duo went through the hangar, greeted Amanda and Saint-14 as they passed, and took one of the elevators that went down along the Wall.

A transport picked them up at the foot of the building and took them to the heart of the City. Since the destruction of the old Tower, the Guardians were housed more or less everywhere: Titans set up camps at the top of the Wall, ready to join the defense posts at the slightest alert. Some Warlocks preferred to stand under the Traveler, while others sought to isolate themselves and lived on the outskirts of the city center.

And the Hunters... the few who remained in the City nested on top of ruined buildings, deserted after the Legion's attack, draped in their capes and with a rifle at hand. However, their numbers were constantly shrinking. They continued to report to the Vanguard, to fight in the Crucible or in the Drifter's games, but they were only seen beyond the Wall. Zara knew the reason for this, as did everyone in the City, but no solution had yet presented itself.

She was still armed when the transport dropped her off downtown. Guardians were not uncommon in this area but were always an eye-catcher. Usually she tried to be discreet to blend in, but she realized she was too exhausted to do so.

Besides, the atmosphere was not much in the mood for chatting: many often raised their eyes to the sky, fearing to see a Pyramid coming. Parents kept their children at home, and the bars, although full, were silent. Zara had seen the dark fleet with her own eyes and found it hard to be optimistic.

Some of the Solstice of Heroes banners had not yet been unhooked. Even if Eva had the best of intentions, celebrating the City's victories during this period almost sounded like a bad joke.

The Warlock went to the half-ruined building where she lived. Emptied of its inhabitants after the cabal attack, a skeleton of scaffolding surrounded the building, patiently waiting for repairs to be completed.

The top of the building was still in good condition; this was where Zara had moved in. She nullified gravity and climbed up the scaffolding, grasping a pipe like an astronaut moving in zero gravity on a space station. Koryl unlocked the window and whirled happily inside, followed by his Guardian.

Their quarters consisted of a small room with a door and a single window. A bunk was built into the wall, topped with shelves covered with books and analysis instruments. At the opposite end of the room, a sober office housed a terminal connected to the databases of the Vanguard. Koryl wrapped himself in the kind of nest he had made between the bunk and the rack where the Guardian laid down her weapons.

"Home sweet home!" Koryl chirped. "Right, Zara?"

"This time I'm not going to contradict you... I could sleep for three days straight."

"Willow is in town. Could we go by and see her?"

"Can't it wait until tomorrow?" Zara yawned, making small tears appear in the corners of her eyes.

"Either way, you have to go get something to eat. Your last meal was yesterday."

"Hmph. Fine."

The Warlock turned to the window and then changed her mind. For once, she could take the stairs. She opened the door and almost tripped over an obstacle in the middle of the entrance.

She cursed and picked up the object: it was a small white box, wrapped with gold paper. A seal representing the sun was stamped on top.

"Koryl?" Zara weighed the box, turned it over to look for a label or some kind of indication. "Do you know what it is?"

"Let me see. "The Ghost floated forward, scanned the object, and let out a chuckle. "It looks like someone made you a gift!"

"A gift? For me?" Perplexed, Zara examined the golden seal. "It is the symbol of the Solstice. Can you check where it comes from?"

"Yes, but only if you open it!"

The Guardian rolled her eyes and carefully untied the ribbon. She opened the box and took out a curious object: a glass sphere filled with a clear liquid, encased in a metal base. Inside was a sculpture of the Traveler overlooking the City. A thin layer of polystyrene was lying at the bottom of the globe. Zara shook it slightly and the particles whirled up, creating a false snowfall on the sculpture.

"A snow globe?"

"There's a note in the box."

Zara placed the object on the desk and unfolded the piece of paper. It contained a clumsily written message, full of mistakes and ink stains:

Hi Zara,

Mrs. Levante had an idea for a game for the Solstice of Heroes: each child in the City must find a gift and send it to a Guardian at random, and the Guardian must do the same thing afterwards. I guess it's to "strengthen the bonds that bind people together," or something like that.

I didn't want to give a gift to just anyone, so I looked where you lived to give you mine. I was told that you don't come by the City very often, so I hope that no one will take it before you.

I lost your arrow, but I had this snow globe that my mother offered me for the Dawning. The thing is that… the Traveler, I see it all the time. The Guardians often leave Earth, so I thought it would be more useful for you. That way, you know there's always a home waiting for you!

Stop by if you have time. My mom is very busy, so I have lots of free time.

Your biggest fan (I suppose),

Orion

Zara reread the letter several times, then held it out to Koryl, who chuckled and gave her a loving pat on the shoulder.

"I have to make him a gift." Zara stared at the globe, where snow was still falling. "Do you have an idea?"

"Uh, I don't think it works that way."

"I'll ask Willow. She knows how to deal with this kind of thing."

The Guardian hurriedly made her way to the stairs, followed by a delightful Koryl. It was going to be a long evening.

It was dark when Zara returned to her quarters. Exhausted, she got rid of her armor and collapsed on her pillow. Despite the help of her Ghost and Willow, she had not found a suitable gift idea. Sociability was not an aspect she had developed much in her life as a Guardian, but it had never really been lacking... until now.

She fell asleep without being able to formulate a single thought.