Enjoy! [b]Five Years Ago [/b] [i]Diary Entry Lorelei Fletcher …What was home[/i] Where are you? You were the shadow to my light, and as you fade away I’m afraid. Was this all just a fantasy? Were you only imaginary? This doesn’t even seem real. I keep waking up and waiting for you to stroke my hair like you used to. I’m lost, faded. I found your ring… that gift you wanted to give me when we got back. I can’t. I’m going to kill him. Voriks. I don’t know how, or when. But I will, my vow to you. [i]END[/i] *** “The moon?” Clio questioned awkwardly. “Yep,” replied Cayde. “But,” Lance started looking down at the map. “Luna has been quiet since Crota’s end.” “Well,” Cayde pulled up an audio file. “This was received this morning.” He played the file. Static hissed and the voice was difficult to make out, but moon and I need help were the clear. [b]Present Day [/b] Lorelei visibly shook as she gritted her teeth. Raze-Lighter erupted into a white singularity. Voriks grinned, his shadow extending outward under the artificial bridge lighting. The tension thickened as Lance backed away from between them, an angry presence snapping at the back of his mind. Lorelei turned her blade toward the Baron, taking the grip in both hands. She charged him, bursting forward focused solely on the monster commanding her to kill. Revenge simply pushed her forward and let her emotions guide the rest. Lorelei swung upward cutting through the air, missing Voriks as he jumped out of the way. The Baron fired quickly in response, burning shrapnel shredding Lorelei’s shields. She could feel the burn as the rounds ate away tiny parts of her armor. She took the launcher, tearing it from Voriks’ grip. Crushing the alien metal and tossing the useless husk aside she bore menacingly into the Baron’s eyes. Quick jabs from his lower arms put a small distance between the pair as Voriks jumped back. Trained on the guardian, Voriks readied his stance, ready to strike. “There’s two of us,” Lance announced as another rocket impacted the Baron. He growled in response, his personal shield barely flickering from the direct hit. “Stay out of this,” Lorelei demanded. Lance rolled his eyes. She charged Voriks, swinging Raze-Lighter down between his neck and shoulder. A dazzle of sparks erupted as the shield reflected the blade and pushed it back. The arc barrier held as the Baron clenched his fist. Landing a devastating blow, Lorelei stumbled, her head spinning. She swallowed the blood in her mouth catching herself before she fell to the floor. Shaking off the dizziness she swung again, with the same result. The force of the arc barrier repelling her blade left her open long enough for Voriks to snicker at her futility and smack her down once more. “Still here,” Lance jumped at the Baron, sparks flying around his body. Voriks was launched across the bridge as Lance unleashed the Fist of Havoc on him. Lorelei stood her ground as the shockwave carried the Baron into the wall. Voriks’ shield lit up and sparked. Drawing his scythe, Lance channeled arc energy into a blade. Lance ran toward Voriks, lowering his blade. Swinging upward, the barrier sparked against the electric blade, then was absorbed into it. Voriks’ eyes widened as his personal shield funneled into the blade. Lance cut down, severing a chunk of armor. “Move,” Lorelei demanded once more. The heat of sweltering steel burnt the air around it, exciting the very atoms of the air and blurring the space around the blade. Lance heard his armor and shields crackle as the blade, mere inches from his left side, plunged into the Baron. Voriks opened his mouth, but only silence escaped. A searing wound climbed through his body as the white blade melted the very wall behind him. Nothing hurt, but he felt light headed. The room began to spin and nausea built a bezoar of charred blood and ether. Voriks coughed, spitting blood across the inside of his helmet. Lorelei removed the blade as the heat died down. Lance furrowed his nose at the smell of burnt flesh. “Call the Vanguard,” Lorelei summoned Atlas. “Are you even human?” Lance spouted. “Not for a long time.” “You just killed a Kell Risen,” Lance shook his head. “Nearly killed me in the process. And you don’t feel anything?” “I made a vow,” Lorelei put her hand over her chest, the ring warm against her body. “Nothing more.” Lance shifted uncomfortably as the silence thickened between them. Lorelei turned to the corpse taking hold of it by the scruff of its armor. Flipping the body over, she examined the cloth that acted as its cape, a banner flown in honor of the Kings. Torn and ripped, the fabric had seen extended combat. It was stained a deep auburn with a golden insignia. Inscribed along the gold fabric was the sigil and proof of history written to honor a Kell Risen. Tearing the fabric delivered an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. Her heart fluttered with each rip of the sewing. Holding the cape in her hand, she held it up just as Vanguard ships floated down hovering in front of the bridge’s glass window. Lance summoned Charlemagne, looking once more over Lorelei. He transmatted to his ship as she folded the cape into her backpack. His cockpit lit up as he settled in his seat. “You know,” Charlemagne started. “You did the right thing.” “Staying and helping?” Lance flipped some switches giving him access to the flight controls. “Not letting your emotions get the better of you.” “I’ll never forgive her for taking Alice.” “It’s not her fault you know.” “Yeah, it is. She took Alice –” “You weren’t there. She took Alice so the Hive wouldn’t.” Lance hit the thrusters, locking in the tower coordinates. Lorelei heard a low sizzle as Lance disappeared. Shoving the fabric deep into her backpack, her heart skipped a beat and her eyes began to water. “I’m proud of you,” Echo materialized floating down next to Atlas. “For?” Lorelei raised an eyebrow. “Not breaking down.” “What do you mean?” “His weapon didn’t look familiar to you?” “Not really.” “The moon, five years ago?” “That wasn’t him, couldn’t have been.” “The ghost was named Alice, and her guardian was Clio.” “I’m going to take us home.” Atlas flashed, transmatting the trio to their ship in orbit.