Pain, heat, and then light, specifically in that order, as I recall from being revived for the first time. Or any time really. I sat up and looked around; I was in a ship, or the remains of one. Rusted and picked clean of anything one might consider useful, and a small floating drone with a single blue glowing eye.



“Guardian? Guardian! It worked, you’re alive! Thought I’d never find you a few times but here we are now.”

It seemed exited I was awake, not sure why. I don’t recognize it, or my surroundings for that matter.

“And you are?”

“I’m a Ghost, actually, now I’m your Ghost. People call me Spark, but I don’t much care for that name.”

“Uh, ok. Where am I? This-“



I cut myself off as I noticed a puddle in front of me with my reflection in it, it was so strange to see; Two minty green eyes staring out of a plated skull.



“What the-“ I turn around looking to see the metal faced being behind me, but no one was there. “What am?...”

“You are an Exo, a human mind digitized and placed into a mechanical body. It was a thing towards the end of the Golden Age.”
“The what?”
“We can talk more later, but for now we should move. The Fallen frequent this area of Old Russia and it isn’t safe for us.”

"The who?" I asked.



The drone sighs as it responds



"They said everybody asks that-Anyway, we can fill that in later. Come on."

“Alright, lead on Sparky.”



I swear I saw the drone glare.



“Lets just go with Ghost for now.” It said with a short tone.

As my Ghost and I traversed the Cosmodrome area I asked it many questions, about the Golden Age, Exos, and what happened that he had to reboot me.



“So, you revived me because we are a match?”

“Yes, Ghosts search for years, centuries even sometimes to find their guardian, or a potential match as one.”

“Where were you made? You said I was made at a Exoscience facility somewhere. But who made you?”

“The Traveler. It created the Ghosts to find defenders for itself after a near defeat with its enemy.”

“Why don’t I remember anything? If I had a whole life before as a normal human and then who knows how long as an Exo, where did all that time go?”

“All guardians have no memory upon their first revival. We can bring back the body, not the mind.”



So he says anyway. Clearly this Ghost was built for a reason, to create an army. I’d imagen soldiers follow orders better when they can’t remember a time before being one. Seems friendly enough though.

We made our way to the Tower, a location along the wall of the Last City where what is left of humanity reside, and the gathering place for the guardians that protect them. Also, the resting place of the Traveler. First off, we were ‘summoned’ to the office of the guardian commander, Zavala. And I thought I was the strangest sight around. I quickly found out there were things far stranger than Exos. Zavala was a blue shimmering skinned man of a tall and broad build. I could understand why he was the Vanguard of the Titans at the Tower. His eyes were glowing with a piercing blue light. Apparently, he is an Awoken.



“So, you found a match Ghost.”

“Yep, took a while but I got my Light-bearer.”



I felt like a third wheel in this conversation and as such stayed to the back of the office and watched them talk. Every now and then Zavala would look me over, then return to talking with the Ghost.



“Good timing, we need new guardians now more than ever with the return of the Pyramid ships to our system.” The commander said.

“I’d heard about that, but I thought that’s why the other guardians had rebuilt Rasputin’s defense network. To keep them at bay.” My ghost responded, almost as if to remind the commander of this Rasputin’s power.

“The Ai’s effectiveness remains to be seen. For now, I’ll trust in the guardians who have defended this city for centuries.”



Not sure what the distrust was there, but maybe that’s why I was given so may odd looks by Zavala. He doesn’t trust machines I suppose and I’m close enough.



“We still haven’t selected a new Hunter Vanguard so your guardian will be reporting to me then. Most guardians do now anyway.”



Not sure I like being referred to as the Ghosts property. I spoke up finally after they both went silent.



“Well, I feel hungry, as strange as that is. Ghost, you know the way around here, where does a guy like me go to get something to eat?”

“Same as everyone else, I’ll show you.”



With that we left Zavala’s office and took to the streets.

Been at the tower a few days now and met a few other guardians that seemed nice. There was one group I joined in while they were just sitting around in the Tower landing area, had to start making friends somewhere right? Was a good idea too as one of them, Sara, invite me to meet her clan leader as a potential new member. I went and got accepted pretty quickly. Must be accepting anyone who walks by. These clans are interesting things, all guardians are defenders of the Traveler and the Last City. But then there’s clans who fight, best each other and in some cases downright avoid each other to prevent skirmishes within the Tower itself. Strange place this is, I asked Sara about this once.



“If all guardians protect the City then why do they fight and have such fierce rivalries?”

“Because of the events we have. Imagine getting bested year after year by the same 6 or 8 clan members and they rub it in every time. Wouldn’t you start to despise them?”

“Hm, guess I would. I suppose I can look forward to seeing such things in the solstice this year. I hear that’s on the way.” I said thinking what such an event looks like.

“Yeah, that’s right! I forget when those things are at times. I’m usually not around the Tower so much as out in the field.” She said excitedly.



How much time to guardians spend away from the City if they can’t even recall what goes on around here.



“Hm, hope I see you there, and your titan friend too. Jake-3 was it? The gambit mission guy.” I replied trying to filter out the background noise in my memory to hear his name.

“Yeah, Dredgen is just the title Drifter gave him.” She said with a shrug.

“Hm, maybe I’ll get one of those myself.” I said, titles sound cool right?

“Ok, well I hope we see you there Duvain. Try not to die too many times!” She said before turning to go in a different direction.



Guess I’ll get used to that if I stick around long enough.