Behold, the chapter to decide them all... [b]Chapter 28[/b] Deuce lay awake in her bed, eyes staring at the fan on the ceiling. She watched as it went around in circles, repeatedly, with no different pattern or sound. Then suddenly, there was a cracking noise, and the fan’s rhythmic [i]whoosh woosh[/i] became a series of squeals and the noise of breaking wood. It still went around though, trying to continue its normal motion, until finally it slowed down and stopped completely. She sighed, rolling over in her bed. She looked at her hand; it was glowing with Taken energy, which burned everything it touched. She closed her hand into a fist until her knuckles whitened. “Why can’t everything just go back to normal?” She whispered to the midnight air. She hardly needed sleep anymore, but still Sanders had ordered some special sheets and mattresses made to resist her Taken burn, which she couldn’t control while unconscious. It was ridiculous, she thought, that she couldn’t even sleep without hurting something. “Why do I always get the short end of the straw!?” She half shouted in frustration, leaping upwards and punching the wall. The wall broke, and she heard several bones in her fingers crack. “I can’t even feel -blam!-ing pain anymore.” She cried, watching as her splintered fingers began to right themselves before her eyes. Her ghost, startled by the sudden outburst, floated upwards lazily. It stared at her with empathy. Deuce patted it lightly. “You can’t even speak anymore, at least not out loud.” She muttered, sitting down with her back to the wall. She hesitated a bit, then began “I guess I’ve got it nice, huh? Superior regeneration powers, almost limitless teleportation,” She gazed at her hands and focused a bit, watching as her ghost-white skin faded to black and black Arc energy transformed her fingers into claws. “These claws, with which I rend.” Her gaze shifted towards the photo on her nightstand, a picture of Ralph, Sanders, and a light-blue skinned awoken with dark blue hair, red eyes seeming to burn into the picture’s taker. Her past self. She looked back to her ghost. “What do I do now? I’ve got power, I’ve got friends,” The ends of her mouth turned upwards a bit. “Hell, I’ve even got someone who loves me. I’ve got a good standing in society (for the most part, she had to be honest with herself), I’ve got victory.” She exhaled, then chuckled. “So why do I feel so empty inside?” She hung her head. |================| Sanders paced the hallway, watching as Ayria packed her bags. “So you’re actually leaving?” He muttered. She merely gave him a smile. “Yep! Places to see, enemies to kill.” She was awfully cheerful about this whole thing, he thought. “So tell me why you’re leaving again?” She took a deep breath, grinned, then “I want to explore places, go where no guardian has been before!” She took a action stance. “I want to see what the Awoken are like, maybe get a job as one of the Awoken soldiers.” Sanders sighed. “And I can’t stop you?” “Nope…” She muttered sadly. There was an awkward silence. Sanders finally just walked over and gave her a hug. “Be safe, okay?” He whined, patting her on the back. She frowned, but returned the hug. “Dear Traveler, stop acting like my mother!” She protested as she was released from his embrace. Then Ayria opened the door and walked out, her future ahead of her. |======================| Ralph twiddled his thumbs nervously, leg bouncing up and down. He recalled his earlier conversation with Sasha. [i]“Ey... umm… Sasha?” He tapped the fiery titan on the shoulder, who whipped around, fist poised to bash his skull in. She gave a breath of relief. “Oh, it’s just you, Ralph. What do you want?” He pressed his fingers together and swallowed his pride. “HowshouldIgoaboutaskingZara-er, Deuceonadate?” He ran on. “Whoah whoah whoah, slow down there buddy. Say it again, only slower.” “How should I go about asking Deuce on a date?” He shot out. She closed her eyes. “Hmmm…” She stood there for a good 2 minutes while Ralph held his breath in anticipation. “You know her best, just do what you know she likes.” The titan said, then turned on heel and began to walk away. “WAIT-WHA-” But the titan was already out of earshot. Ralph cursed and kicked a loose pebble.[/i] He had come to three conclusions; 1) Zara, or Deuce as she now liked to be called, was a morning person. 2) She liked coffee, often in large amounts. 3) She liked the cafe close to their apartment. “So, what are we doing here again?” Zara said lazily, and Ralph nearly jumped out of his seat. “O-oh, sorry, I didn't see you arrive.” She shrugged. “That’s ok, I mostly came because you’re paying for my coffee.” She failed to notice the crestfallen expression on his face. Or so he thought. “I know you like me, you know.” She commented, draining her third cup of coffee. Ralph’s jaw dropped. “I uhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuh….” He stammered, unable to come up with the words. [i]COME ON, THINK![/i] “You’re hot.” He blurted, and Zara snorted. “Why yes of course, dumbass. Why do you think I burn every single damn thing I touch?” He went silent, and she busted out laughing. “I’m just messing with you. You totally fell for it.” His face flushed. “But in all seriousness, frankly, I don’t think I have the energy right now to actually take part in a relationship.” She said factually, setting down her fifth cup of coffee. “I’ve got a ton of personal shit to wade through and clean up, as well as some problems with le past.” Ralph nodded, then extended his hand to Zara’s surprise. “I understand. But when you are ready,” His eyes locked with hers. “I will be waiting.” Zara’s mouth twitched upwards and she shook his hand. “Deal. Now, I gotta bounce, and I’ll catch ya later.” “Cya.” He waved goodbye as she grabbed her backpack and walked out the door. |======================| Sasha frowned. “So who is this person you wanted me to meet?” She asked Zara, who was escorting her down a dark alley in the Last City. “A friend, an accomplice, an ally!” She cheered, knocking on a weather-worn metal door. It opened with a creak. It was an Exo, with green eyes. “Who’s this, Deuce?” She yawned, motioning to the titan. Zara gave a short bow. “Myroni-213, Sasha. Sasha, Myroni-213, or Myra, as her friends call her.” Sasha looked at the Exo in disbelief. She took a step back. “Y- you!” Sasha looked at Zara with watery eyes. “I- I- I knew you looked familiar!” Zara gave her a confused look. “Sasha… what’s wro-” Sasha pushed past Zara and grabbed Myra by the shoulders, and pressed her face close. “HOW MUCH DO YOU REMEMBER?” |======================| Alas, here we leave ya’ll with a cliffhanger. A pretty big one, at that. Well, see you all later! -Zebra, Out- ~The Management, logging off Chapter Index- https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/157266003