Fireteam Eagle (a Destiny fanfiction)

Culture Shock

Sapphire

Culture shock doesn't begin to explain how my mind felt upon entering The Last City. Everything was so... different. Yet, I couldn't remember what it was different from. Maybe it was different from the nothingness I'd felt since falling. Maybe I could remember some of what life had been like before I'd died.
    "The Tower is the home base for all of the Guardians and the Vanguard. Let's go introduce you, and figure out your fighting class."
    My stomach lurched at my Ghost's words. "Fighting? I'm not really big on starting fights. Or ending them." I mumbled softly.
    "The wars we fight are beyond your idea of fighting. We're fighting to save humanity, and the rest of the galaxy from the darkness. We protect the traveller, and we protect the Light."
    I stared at the Ghost blankly. "That means we're the good guys, right?"
    "Yes. I'm sure Zavala and Ikora could explain this much better than I could." My Ghost floated off, leading me towards the tower before I had a chance to ask another question.

   As much as the city itself fascinated me, I found the tower to be twice as amazing. People—and robots were everywhere. They were wearing robes and cloaks and suits of armor of the brightest colors I'd ever seen. They carried weapons on their backs that looked as if they fell directly out of space. Other ghosts floated to and fro, stopping to converse with their Guardians.
   "This is... Amazing." I breathed, looking to my Ghost.
   "Isn't it? The Traveler has given us so much. This is why we fight to protect it." My Ghost replied resolutely. "This way." He hovered off, down a flight of stairs that dropped beneath the plaza's floor.
   I followed nervously, not knowing what to expect, not knowing what I had gotten myself into. Was I going to become a soldier? I didn't know if I had it in me at the time.
   "Zavala, Ikora, Cayde, I've found our newest Guardian." The Ghost announced as he rounded the corner from the stairs and entered into a grand room.
   A huge window took up the entire back wall of the room, overlooking the city. Off to the sides of the room, people and bots worked away, tapping and reading data on transparent screens. The center of the room was dominated by a table, covered in maps, charts and books. Three figures stood around the table, carrying some regal air about them. All three figures had their eyes fixed on me, I realized. I tried not to squirm.
   "Welcome to The Tower. I've never quite seen an Awoken with eyes that shine as bright as yours. You carry the Light strongly within you." The only woman out of the three figures spoke, dipping her head in my direction in acknowledgment. Her skin was a deep chocolate hue, her hair shaved close to her skull. She looked as mysterious as her voice sounded.
   My eyes trailed to the floor. I couldn't remember what I looked like, much less what my eyes had looked like.
   "Guardian, it is an honor to have you within our walls." The largest of the three figures spoke, his voice deep and clear. He had pale blue skin. He's Awoken. Like me. "I'm sure you will fight all of your battles with strength and courage. Men and women like you, like all of us, we keep our world safe. It's no easy job, but it is worth it. I am Commander Zavala, and the Vanguard welcomes you."
   "Thank you, sir." I choked out, just before being cut off by the third person circling the table.
   "He likes the formal stuff, but there isn't anything formal about holding a gun in your hands." He leaned against the table. His voice was steely, yet warm. He was a robot, just like several others at the tower. His eyes narrowed as he looked at me, his metallic blue face going stolid as he looked me over. "You're a quiet one, huh? Well, you wouldn't fit in the best with my Gunslingers, they like to get a little—"
   "Cayde." Zavala cut him off before he could launch into an explanation. I furrowed my brows in confusion, looking between the three commanders. Each one of them carried themselves with such a different air.
  "Guardian, before we can get you out in the field, you need to discover what class of fighter you are. Warlock, Hunter, or Titan." The woman spoke again, her eyes meeting with mine.
  "I... I've never fought before, ma'am." My voice sounded like it had gotten caught in my throat.
  "The Light will guide you. And please, I am Ikora Rey. No need for titles." She assured me.
  "It's time to discover who the Traveler wanted you to be. You were chosen for a reason, after all." Zavala's voice echoed through the great room.

  After learning the attributes of each class, it was unanimously decided by both the Vanguards and myself that I would fight as a warlock. Though, Cayde heavily protested that I would make a good hunter. He eventually let up.
   "Warlock, welcome to The Tower. Now that we know where you will fight, show us your true identity. What is your name?" At Zavala's words I realized with embarrassment that I'd never introduced myself to any of them.
   "Sapphire." I cleared my throat, trying to speak more confidently. "It's an honor to be considered one of you."
   "Yeah yeah, enough thank-you's and you're-welcome's. I'm ready to see how you can fight out in the field, Warlock." Cayde rubbed his hands together, his bright eyes scanning the map on the table. "Head out and patrol the Mothyards. Some vandals have really been trying to interfere with our beacons out there.
   "Now out in the plaza, there's an exo named Banshee. He'll get you the guns you need to protect yourself. If he's in a good mood, tell him I sent you. If not, then... anyway, I'm sure Ikora's got some gear for you." Cayde glanced over at her, and she nodded tautly.
   "I... don't know where that is." I felt my face redden. I was completely clueless. I hardly even knew what a warlock was, much less, a vandal.
   "Your ghost has the coordinates." He assured me.
   Zavala cleared his throat, catching everyone's attention. "A patrol is a good way to see our new warlock's abilities, but it's not fair to send her out there all alone for her first real mission."
  Cayde scratched his head, and then ran a hand down the plating of his face. "Hmmm..." He trailed off, looking around the room. His eyes widened as he spotted another Guardian enter the room. "Klein!  I've got an assignment for you."
  The exo that had just entered the room looked up sharply, his orange eyes narrowing in a mix of emotions that I couldn't pin down as confused or annoyed. "Send my Ghost the details, I'm still working on dismantling the Vex materials you wanted." The new exo's voice was deep and raspy. "By the way, there's that." He produced an entire robotic arm from the holster on his back and unceremoniously dropped it on the table in front of Cayde.
  "What do you need Vex materials for?" Ikora raised an eyebrow.
   "Not important. And, as cool as Vex arms are, I need you to take a breather from that mission, and take a new Guardian under your wing today." Cayde picked up the arm and was motioning at Klein with it.
  Klein sighed, grumbling something beneath his breath. He turned to face me, his orange eyes narrowing. "She's a warlock. I'm a hunter." He stated simply.
   "We're all Guardians. Take her to patrol Mothyards. Suspicious vandal activity out there." Ikora interrupted before Klein could say more.
  "Very well." His royal blue features hardened, and he rolled his shoulders back, standing up straight. "Come with me."
   Klein towered over me in height, and his legs pushed him forward faster than I was ready to move. "So where are we going?" I nervously questioned.
   "Mothyards. It's an abandoned shipyard near the Cosmodrome, but I suppose you don't know where that is either." He signed, sounding more tired than annoyed with me.
   I shook my head. Klein intimidated me. His size and his sharp facial features were enough to frighten me at first glance, and his demeanor was dark and somewhat distant.
   "Look, I'm not annoyed with you, I'm just annoyed in general. It's a hard habit to break." He stopped as we emerged back in the plaza. "I'm not sure why Cayde put me with you. I haven't been here that long." His voice drifted off.
   "You're new, too?" I smiled at him, hoping to soften his mood even in the slightest.
   "Not exactly... Look, I was gone, and now I'm back at the Tower and I haven't been here too long." He explained curtly. He took a breath to compose himself.
  "Anyway, we'll be able to knock out those vandals faster than you think." He led me towards a table where another exo stood, behind a table full of guns.
   "You and me, I hope we can fight well out there......" He trailed off, looking at me blankly. The realization hit me that he didn't know my name.
  "I'm Sapphire."
  "Klein." He reached out to shake my hand, and his grip was strong, almost comforting. "Let's give them hell, Sapphire."