The jumpship's engines eased into a low, steady hum as the Tower came into view. Weiss watched from her seat, arms crossed as she hummed quietly.
Spark hovered beside her, bobbing with proud satisfaction. "I must say, for your first mission involving ancient chittering horrors, you handled the situation admirably. And by admirably, I mean you did not scream nearly as loudly as most new Guardians."
Weiss exhaled through her nose while glancing at Spark. "Thank you… I think."
——
The landing struts met the pad with a soft clunk. The moment the hatch hissed open, a mix of engine fumes, warm metal, and chatter hit Weiss. Mechanics shouting measurements, Guardians returning from missions, frames carrying crates back and forth.
Spark whirred excitedly. "Come, come! The Vanguard awaits! Let us recount your triumphs over both Fallen mischief and your terrifying Hive initiation ritual."
Weiss winced. "Please never call it that."
"Too late! Already filed under 'Weiss: Adrenal Response Study #1.'"
"Spark!"
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She made her way through the hangar, past Guardians polishing weapons or adjusting armor. A couple nodded at Spark, everyone knew "the strange blue Ghost with too many opinions."
Ikora was the first to notice Weiss entering the Hall of Guardians. Zavala paused in mid-discussion with a Titan, turning his steady gaze on her. Cayde leaned back in his chair when he saw her, giving a lazy wave.
"Hey, kid! Back from Skywatch in one piece." He pointed finger guns. "So, how many Fallen did you shoot?" Weiss blinked. "Um… I didn't count."
"Aw, that's okay. Spark probably did."
"Seventy-three." Spark chirped.
Weiss' jaw dropped. "I—what? How??"
Zavala folded his hands behind his back. "Report, Guardian. What did you encounter?"
Weiss straightened, speaking clearly: "The Fallen were locking down the Skywatch area with a multi-node jamming device. Spark disabled it, but when we reached the deeper sectors… we found Hive."
Zavala's eyes narrowed. "Your report confirms our earlier suspicions. The Fallen and Hive are both active in that region. We'll deploy fireteams to secure the perimeter."
Cayde waved a hand. "And hey kid, good job. First Hive contact and you still look normal. Some Guardians puke their helmet seals loose after that."
Weiss turned faintly red. "…Thank you?" Spark chimed in proudly, "I kept her alive!"
Cayde finger-gunned him. "Atta… floating light bulb."
"I am not a light bulb! I am an advanced construct of—"
Zavala glared disapprovingly at us silencing Spark. "We should go," Weiss whispered. "Yes, excellent idea."
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Weiss left the Hall, heading toward the Tower courtyard where Banshee-44 tinkered at his usual station. Frames hauled crates of parts back and forth. Sparks flew from Banshee's bench as he welded something that looked alarmingly like it might explode. He glanced up as Weiss approached.
"Ah, Weiss." He placed an unfinished gun on his bench and turned to her. "You look like you brought me trouble."
Weiss opened her satchel and placed the scavenged Fallen parts on his counter, wire rifle conductors, Arc couplings, Shank servos, bits of plating.
Banshee blinked twice. "…These'll do nicely." Spark hovered forward proudly. "We collected an assortment of high-volatility materials entirely by design! And not because Weiss kept picking things up out of curiosity, no sir."
Weiss glared. "Spark!" Banshee let out a low chuckle. "You're not the first that's been fascinated by scrap." Weiss sighed in embarrassment as Spark continued chattering with Banshee about how many things she likes picking up.
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Weiss stepped away from Banshee's workbench, letting the familiar hum of metal and chatter wash over her. Spark drifted at her shoulder, softly humming some tune only a Ghost, or a very persistent mosquito, could appreciate.
"So! What next, my freshly battle-seasoned Guardian? Perhaps a celebratory calibration session? Or reorganizing your inventory! I do so love reorganizing inventory." Weiss sighed. "Let's just… walk for a minute."
She moved through the courtyard, taking in the warmth of late afternoon light spilling across stone tiles and hanging banners. After the claustrophobic dread of Skywatch, the openness felt almost unreal.
Then she spotted an older woman near a stack of colorful crates and folded fabrics. She was straining to lift one, grunting to herself. Without thinking, Weiss stepped forward.
"Excuse me—do you need help with that?"
The woman looked up, eyes bright and warm beneath silver hair. "Oh! How sweet of you, dear. Yes, yes this one's a bit heavier than I'd hoped."
Weiss lifted the crate easily, surprised at how light it felt after lugging Fallen scrap earlier. "Where would you like it?"
"Just by my table, love. Thank you." Weiss carried the crate over and set it down among displays of ribbons, festival lanterns, cloth swatches, and hand-painted ornaments. She realized she'd seen this woman before, always surrounded by color, laughter, and the soft smell of fresh crafting glue.
Eva Levante. Guardian of traditions, the Tower's heart, if it had one.
Eva brushed dust from her palms. "Such manners. And strength! A new Guardian, aren't you?"
Weiss nodded. "Yes, my name is Weiss."
"What a lovely name." Eva stepped closer, studying her with kind curiosity. "You have that look. The 'I just saw something awful beyond human comprehension and haven't quite processed it yet' look."
Weiss blinked. "I… suppose that's accurate."
Eva chuckled softly. "Come here, dear." Before Weiss could react, Eva reached up and cupped her cheek with a gentle hand, warm, grounding, motherly in a way Weiss hadn't expected.
"You're alive," Eva murmured. "And you came back. That is worth celebrating."
Weiss smiled warmly as she nodded. "Thank you."
Spark bobbed approvingly. "Indeed! She performed quite admirably. Minimal screaming, excellent aim, and a surprising fondness for Arc discharges."
Eva laughed outright. "Oh, I like this one."
She turned back to Weiss, her smile softening into something almost familial. "You remind me of my granddaughter… strong, serious, carrying the world on her shoulders far too early." Eva reached out and took Weiss' hand. "Why don't you call me Grandma, dear?"
Weiss stiffened in surprise. "I—what?"
"Only if you'd like, of course. But I think it suits you." Weiss fiddled with her fingers shyly as she looked at Eva before making up her mind.
"…Grandma it is," she said quietly.
Eva beamed. "Wonderful. Now, be a dear and help me hang these lanterns? My arms aren't what they used to be."
Spark chimed in cheerfully, "At last! A mission truly worthy of Weiss's talents—decorative deployment!"
Weiss rolled her eyes but smiled as she picked up the lanterns anyway.
—————
Weiss spent the next hour helping Eva—Grandma, she corrected herself—organize crates, string lanterns, and arrange folded fabrics along the railings of the courtyard. It was simple work, almost mundane, but there was something soothing about it. No alarms. No gunfire. No shrieking monsters in the dark.
Just color, light, and quiet purpose.
Eva handed Weiss a bundle of lantern cords. "Here, dear. Tie these along the upper beam. Careful one of them has a mind of its own."
Weiss climbed the short ladder with practiced ease, looping the cord and securing the knot. "You do this a lot?"
"Oh yes," Eva said fondly. "Festivals, remembrances, celebrations… even mourning days. The Tower needs these things. Reminds everyone why they keep fighting."
Weiss nodded as she finished the knot. "It's… nice. After Skywatch, I mean." Eva paused, glancing up at her. "Skywatch?"
Weiss hesitated, then climbed down. "It was my mission today. Fallen activity, Hive too." Eva's expression softened immediately. She reached out and squeezed Weiss's hand. "Ah. First time?"
"Yes."
"That never really leaves you," Eva said gently. "But it does get easier to carry."
Spark floated closer, his glow dimmed in what Weiss recognized as his version of respect.
"She performed quite well under the circumstances. Tactical, disciplined, and impressively resilient for someone newly reanimated."
Eva smiled at Spark. "You take good care of her."
"I try! Though she does insist on collecting hazardous debris and emotionally taxing responsibilities." Weiss huffed. "You exaggerate."
"Only slightly."
Eva laughed, the sound warm and unrestrained. "You two make a fine pair."
They continued working, Eva telling stories as they went of past festivals, of Guardians long gone, of small victories that never made it into reports. Weiss listened closely, committing each story to memory. They felt important in a way missions didn't, she also liked stories.
At one point, Eva draped a scarf over Weiss's shoulders—a soft, woven thing in muted blues and whites.
"For the cold," she said. "And for comfort." Weiss blinked. "Grandma, I can't—"
"You can," Eva said firmly. "And you will." Weiss nodded, fingers curling lightly around the fabric. "Thank you."
When the lanterns were finally lit, the courtyard glowed with warm light, casting gentle shadows across stone and banners. Weiss stood back, admiring the work. "It looks… beautiful." she said.
"That's the idea," Eva replied. "The City is built on Light, but it's held together by people." Weiss glanced around the Tower. Guardians laughing, arguing, training, resting. For the first time since she'd been resurrected, the Tower didn't feel like a temporary stop. It felt like home.
Eva squeezed her shoulder. "You're always welcome here, Weiss. Remember that."
Spark chimed softly,
"Noted. Designation: 'Safe Place.' I approve."
Weiss smiled as the lanterns flickered gently overhead.
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By the time Weiss finished helping Grandma Eva, the Tower lights were beginning to soften into evening. The courtyard glowed behind her with warm lantern light, but the day had finally caught up to her. She felt it in her shoulders, in her hands, in the quiet heaviness that settled in once there was nothing left demanding her attention.
She said her goodbyes and made her way back through the Tower corridors, boots echoing softly against stone and metal. She entered her room that was beginning to feel familiar. Weiss set her satchel down by the door and exhaled.
Spark drifted in after her, quieter than usual. "You expended considerable physical and emotional energy today. I recommend rest. Or at the very least… sitting down."
"Soon," Weiss said softly. "I just want to take care of my gear first."
She pulled the weapon maintenance kit Banshee had given her from her pack and laid it out on the small table: cleaning cloths, solvents and new tools that shined. The faint smell of oil filled the room, grounding in its familiarity even if the memory of why it felt familiar was gone.
She started with her hand cannon. Weiss disassembled it carefully, piece by piece, laying each part out in neat rows. Her movements were slow and deliberate, almost meditative. Each wipe of the cloth took away soot, grime, and dried residue from Skywatch. Each careful turn of a tool felt like she was putting the day in order.
Her mind wandered despite her focus. The Fallen. The Hive. The sound of the Thralls rushing her. Cayde's laugh, Eva's hand on her cheek. She paused, cloth hovering over the barrel.
"…Is it strange," she asked quietly, "that I'm more tired from talking to people than from fighting?"
Spark rotated gently. "Not strange at all. Combat is linear. Social interaction is… chaotic."
That earned a small smile from her. She reassembled the hand cannon, checking the slide, the chamber, the weight in her hand. Solid and reliable.
Next came the Arc spear. She wiped down the haft, cleaned the emitter, adjusted the power coupling. Tiny sparks jumped between her fingers and when she finished, she sat back on the edge of her bed, weapons laid out neatly beside her.
Weiss looked at them for a long moment. "I'm starting to understand," she murmured. "Why Guardians do this. Why they keep going."
Spark hovered closer, his glow soft. "And why is that?"
She thought for a moment. "Because if we don't… no one else will." She placed the hand cannon back into its holster, set the spear against the wall, and finally allowed herself to lie back on the bed. Her body relaxed slowly, sinking into the soft mattress.
"Wake me, if you need me," she said.
"Of course. I shall remain vigilant. And quiet." Spark spoke quietly.
Weiss closed her eyes and fell into the realm of dreams.
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Hello folks Saladin here! I deeply apologize for the super late new chapter! I haven't really had the time to sit down and write with my studies. I've been studying for my CDL liecene in order to drive trucks. Everyday I came home from class I was pretty tired and just anxious about it all so I mostly slept or watched tv. I only recently got it and I'm joining with a company soon so I finally had some time where I wasn't busy, tired or anxious where I could think and continue my story.
Thank you for being patient and I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'll do my best to try uploading a chapter per week or so. Have a blessed day/night everyone!