"Is daddy home? I think I heard a knock, mommy! Can I open the door? Pleeeease, mommy?" The child's voice echoed to her mother, who was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen. The woman, who's skin was fair and beige, sighed as a slight smile formed across her face. The begging of her daughter compelled her to grin, and she playfully rolled her eyes. She took both hands and took her long, brown curly hair and done it up in a pony tail as she walked toward her daughter and passed her, nodding her head toward the door. "C'mon. We'll open it together," The woman spoke, as her excited daughter followed close behind, giggling. When they arrived at the door, the mother put a finger toward her pursed lips; indicating for her giddy child to settle down. She shook with excitement, trying her hardest to play along. The mother looked toward the door and spoke. "Who is it?" She said, rather comically. "It's me, hon." A male voice spoke back. "Me? Who's 'me'? I don't know of any 'me's... Do you know any 'me's, Penelope?" Penelope, the child, shook her head. "Nope!" The mother and daughter giggled, as they heard rustling from behind the door. "Ah, well," the male voice said. "Guess I'll just have to eat all this ice cream by myself then." A laugh ensued. And just like that, the door flew open and Penelope rushed outward, right into her father's arms. "Daddy! You brought ice cream just like I asked! I thought you would forget again!" Penelope said, genuinely surprised. "In all honesty? I was debating on eating it myself and saying I forgot it," The man said with a smug smile on his face, embracing his daughter and kissing her on the cheek. "Daddy missed you, sweetheart." He picked up his daughter, holding her on his left side with one arm, as he handed her the ice cream cone, where she happily started to eat it. "Not too fast, baby, you'll get a brain freeze," The man said, walking in, past his wife. She shut the door behind him and crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "So what? I don't get an ice cream and a kiss?" She smiled. "Can't help you with the ice cream part but a kiss? I think I can do that." The two smiled at each other, before closing their eyes and savoring the moment with a romantic kiss, much to the dismay of Penelope. "Groooossssss!" She whined, causing the other two to laugh. "Sorry, sweetie, you'll understand when you're a bit older," the man then sat his child on the counter in the kitchen as his focused turned back to his wife. "So, dear, how did today go? Still working on those same ships from last week?" The woman said. "Unfortunately. They're taking a bit more work than I expected them too but nonetheless, I'll get it done." The man said, walking by and opening the cabinets and reaching for a jar of peanut butter. He then twisted open the lid and grabbed a spoon, and began eating it. "Mmm. Good stuff," He admired the taste, smacking on the gooey treat. "How has today gone for you, Becky?" Becky shrugged. "Got most of the house cleaned today, but mostly sat around and watched the news. Really interesting stuff, I heard all about this thing that they're building, called a war-something. I can't remember." "War-mind?" "Yeah!" Becky said, snapping her fingers. "War mind. Its supposed to be this super smart robot thingy and it's supposed to devise strategies and whatever based on what's happening. That sounds really cool; and apparently they've got one on every planet." He shrugged. "I think it's stupid. Who needs a war mind when humanity is at peace? Not like we're gonna fight each other, so why have something that encourages tension and violence?" He took another bite of his peanut butter. "Speaking of every planet.. You excited to go to Venus this summer, sweetie?" He said, smiling at Penelope. She nodded her head enthusiastically. "Wait, I thought we were going Freehold?" Becky chimed in. "Hon, we went there last summer." "Yeah, but Venus is so hot and humid and I've heard the mosquitos there are sooo annoying." "But their beaches have nothing but positive ratings! I say we go for it." "Yeah!" Penelope shouted. "I've never been to a beach before!" All of a sudden, the oven went off, signaling that a fast entré was done. "Oh, I'll get it!" Becky said, smiling. BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! "Gah! Oh -blam!-!" I shouted, scrambling awake at the beeping. I had that dream again. That same dream, with my family.. Why must my brain torture me with dreams of a time I can never ever get back? Asshole. I rubbed my eyes, and sat for a moment, processing what had happened. Then, I remembered. "Those bastards! Tricked me and took all my shit! Literally backstabbed me!" I looked around and noticed I was in a patient gown, and I was in a bed. Still in a daze, and a little afraid, I got up and began getting up from the bed and walking. Shk! "Ah! Son of a- hmmmm!!!" I held in my curses. Getting up from that bed so fast, I had realized that I had been hooked up to an IV. That I had just ripped out of my forearm. Blood was now leaking all over my arm and onto my legs and the floor, and I sat back down, my eyes closed and mouth agape in pain. Where the hell was I? Don't tell me that the people who took my shit were cannibals too and were planning on eating me. "Somebody!?" I yelled. Should I really be yelling though? I mean, I should be trying to decide an escape plan. I've been kidnapped for Christ sake. I was getting a bit light headed and panicky from the blood loss, but I had to suck it up and keep quiet. "Somebody help!" There I go again. The room was darkly lit and the walls were concrete. There was a metal door in the front of the room that began to shake. On the other side was either my savior or killer. But the door never opened. Instead a small whisp of something came in and then materialized into a small, floating object with a big blue eye. And to make it even weirder, the damn thing was talking. "What's going on in h- AAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEE!!!!" It shouted. "AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" "AAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEE!!!" "WH-WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU!?" I shouted at it. "I'M A GHOST!" It shouted back. "A GHOST!? OH MY GOD, THIS IS HELL ISN'T IT!? I'M GONNA BE JUDGED AND THEN TURNED INTO ONE OF YOU, AREN'T I!?" There was silence between the both of us for a few seconds. "AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!" "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" [b][i]A few moments later...[/i][/b] I was wrapping a bandage around my arm, one that the "Ghost" had gotten for me. "So.. You're basically a super A.I. in the shape of a small robot that looks like a weird rubix cube?" "I.. Uh.. Yes." "Uh huh.. And who built you?" I asked it. The ghost had a black exterior shell and a feminine voice. "The Traveler." My stomach dropped. "The traveler? Are you serious?" "Very serious. I don't know much about it, bit I do know I came from it." "That's.. Okay, that's news to me. Back in the day, I was seeing all types of scientific advancements, such as exos and what not. But exos still functioned on a human consciousness, you seem to be functioning on technology alone.." The ghost giggled. "And a little bit of light, hon." "Light?" I asked it. Before she could respond, the door opened up. In walked in a feminine figure, one that was adorned in a very heavy looking set of robes. She spoke. "Becky, did you get a scan on th- oh.. You.. You're up." "I'm up." I repeated sarcastically. "And who the -blam!- are you?" "Well, good morning to you too." She said. "I'm Lyra. It's nice to see you alive and well." "Yeah, yeah, thanks. Where's my shit and the nearest exit, please and thank you." I said, getting up. Albeit with difficulty. "Wow, rude. Becky, was he rude to you?" The ghost shrugged, in the best way a ghost could. "I mean, he was asking questions so.." "And also I'm more inclined to trust a damn robot than I am to trust a human. Speaking of, what's up with your clothes? You role-playing as a wizard or some dumb shit?" She chuckled. "You sure use that S word a lot. And you wouldn't really understand. Not yet at least. But.. I heard you were interested in the traveler, right?" I perked up. "Yes. Do.. Do you know how to get to it?" "Haha. Do I. There's people there right now. They're in the midst of building a wall around the thing. What makes you want to get there so bad?" I looked her in the eyes. "The traveler came into my life centuries ago. Back when humans were expected to only live 80 years, it tripled our lifespan and now 80 isn't even middle aged. I'm 436-" "447, actually. You've been in a coma for about seven years." The ghost said. "What? That's impossible! It felt like it was just yesterday that I was stabbed.." "And it felt like seven years ago that I was dragging your naked ass in the cold to get your vitals back up. Calm down, seven years isn't long at all. You can thank me for keeping you alive." [spoiler]https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/225357412/0/0/1[/spoiler]-continued.