"...You know what? Yeah, that's it Drew, that's what happened," Sally said after a long pause. "Hehe, I'm so smart," I smiled at my ability to piece things together. No response. I realized that since we had started moving, Sally had talked less and less, and each time she spoke her voice was more lowered and pinched than before. "Hey, are you okay?" I questioned her. "I am undamaged. Why? Do I seem difunctional?" Sally answered, her voice quaking with worry by the end. "No no, you seem in good condition," I assured her, "It's just, you've gotten quiet, what happened to all that energy earlier?" "Oh...that," Sally mumbled, "I was excited when I woke you up, I kept bursting out with whatever popped in my head. I'm sorry you had to deal with me getting riled up." Halting in my tracks, I cupped my hands together and held them up in front of me. "Come out here," I commanded gently. Sally appeared just above my hands, hovering just barely above them and seemingly trying to shrink back into them to hide herself. The separate bits of her metal shell shifted to partially hide her single eye as she looked up at me. "Yes?" She asked nervously. "I liked it when you were like that; not afraid to talk or express yourself," I told her soothingly, "Why can't I see more of that?" Sally's shell moved away from her eye and she floated up a bit, looking at me with surprise showing in her eye. "You like me when I'm not all nervous?" she asked disbelievingly, "But I start saying what I think when I'm like that, and that can interfere with the task at hand." "What if you see something that I don't or I do something wrong? I'll need to know what ya think then," I stated, "But why do ya get all nervous?" "Well, I guess I won't be able to avoid talking, if you doing something wrong is a reason to speak," Sally sighed, but I didn't react because I didn't understand it was insulting, "I'm always worried that something will jump out and get me or I'll offend someone or someone won't like me or, or...or..." "Hey it's a'ight, I won't let anything hurt you. You don't need to worry about no one liking you, you're great!" I exclaimed. "I'm the only person you've met since revival," Sally pointed out, shrinking back down again, "Statistically your mind would make you like me..." "Hey, no one tells me who to like, not even my brain! You're fun and mega smart, why wouldn't I like you?!" I tried building her back up. "You really think that?" Sally asked. "Yes, now stop hiding under that shell," I ordered, "For real, I want to see your eye while I'm talking to you." Sally giggled a bit at that as she peeked back out from under her shell, but I didn't know what she found to be funny. "Okay, I'll try not to be afraid." "Do, or do not, there is no try," I told her with the wisest tone I could muster. "What does that mean?" Sally inquired. "How the heck should I know? I think some famous dude said it," I confessed. "Alright," Sally said with a little laugh, then disappeared from above my hands in another flash of light, "Let's find a ship." "YEAH!" I shouted, pumping a fist in the air and beginning to jog forward. "You know," Sally began as I started at my quick pace, "I'm already a lot more comfortable around you than I have ever been with anyone else." "Glad to hear it," I replied with a wide grin. • • • I don't know how long I kept up that jog; I don't think I'm very good at telling time, but at least I'm super fit and can run for a long time no sweat. Loving my sweet bod. However long it had been, we now found ourselves immersed deep within the forest of buildings, no way to tell if any path would lead us towards the prize we sought. "There's sand in my joints," I whined as I let my pace slow to a walk, trying to decide which way to go down a three-way fork in the path. "Sorry, but I can't really do much about that Drew," Sally responded. "I can't decide which way to go unless you help me get this sand out," I complained, hoping she would be willing to stop for my comfort. "Okay, I'll decide then," Sally stated knowingly, "Left, star maps show that Cabal have some setups in that direction." "How can you use a star map with no stars in the sky?" I inquired. "I'm mostly using the Sun as reference, but with my optics I can pinpoint other stars in the sky at times when you can't," Sally explained. "Oh...wait, is the Sun a star?" I asked in confusion. "Yes Drew, the Sun is a star," Sally answered, using a tone that one would use while explaining something to a child. Of course, I didn't realize that she was using that tone on me. "But why is it so much bigger than the others?" I questioned further. "Because it's a lot closer to-" Sally began, but trailed off as the sound of thundering engines rose over our voices. A ship shot by overhead, its design rather blockish and painted in light greys and dull greens. It was soon out of sight over the tops of the buildings, but I noted which way it was headed and altered my course to follow it, moving back up to a jog again. "That was a Cabal Harvester, probably heading back to its outpost from patrolling," Sally stated thoughtfully, "Hey, wait a...you're following it?" "We need a ship, don't we? There goes a ship," I explained. "B-But there's going to be a bunch of Ca-Cab-Cabal and they won't want you stealing their Harvester," Sally fretted. "Relax, I'll handle it. I have a way with words," I boasted. "Your way with words isn't going to get us a ship..." Sally sighed. "We'll see," I grinned, "And if that doesn't work we can always go to plan B." "Plan B?" Sally asked incredulously. "B for bash; I'll let my fists do the talking," I told her, punching the air in front of me as I continued forward, "I can't wait to go for a test run." "Drew, the Cabal are much bigger than you, engaging them in close quarters is a bad idea," Sally argued. "The bigger they are, the grander their hall," I replied. "It's "the harder they fall" Drew," Sally corrected me. "That's what I said," I responded quickly. "No it-" Sally started, but was cut off by the sound of engines drawing near again. No ship flew over us this time and the sound remained constant. I came upon a hill of sand in our path and peaked over its crest to see what lay beyond. Before us lay more decaying buildings, but moving amongst them were large creatures bearing thick armor and wielding guns. In a bit of a clearing between a few buildings, a Harvester hovered several meters above the ground, unloading several more of the creatures before slowly descending and shutting off its engines after touching down. "Found our ride," I grinned. "I think we should look somewhere else, there's a lot of Cabal here..." Sally whimpered. "It doesn't seem like we'll find another ship soon," I pointed out. "Okay, we'll have to wait for the opportune moment to sneak aboard though," Sally gave in. "Pfff, we don't need to sneak," I assured her, bracing myself in preparation to charge over the crest of the hill. _________________________________ Link to Pt 1: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/221445449/0/0 Link to Pt 3: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/221445667/0/0 Link to ToC: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/212710816/0/0