Blank Slate Ch.19: His Grave

Table of Contents https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/225386550/0/0 I sat on the steps in the Tower's courtyard, enjoying the view of the Traveler. A Guardian's ship flew overhead. I watched as the owner transmatted and landed heavily on the ground in front of me. He wore red armor, and was holding a limp body. "Is that..." I asked, stupefied. The Guardian nodded, and began walking towards the Vanguard Hall. I rushed down the stairs ahead of him to tell the Vanguard. • • • The two Titans stood next to the hole they had just finished digging. One wore mottled green armor. The other was small and wore purple armor. "Not to be rude," the one wearing green huffed, "Every Guardian deserves a proper funeral, but why here?" We were under the shadow of one of the Last City's walls. It was the place Salem and I defended during Twilight Gap. More Titans patrolled along the top of the wall, an ever-present precaution for if we were attacked again. "He fought here, during Twilight Gap," Zavala answered. He had checked Salem's files when I brought the body to him, along with mine, then escorted me here at my request. The Titans looked at Salem and I with newfound respect. "Keis-51 insisted on burying him here," Zavala finished, "You may return to your posts." The Titans strolled down the base of the wall. I hopped into the grave, then knelt and set Salem down. I looked at his face one last time, remembering his final smile. Blanc drifted next to me quietly. She softly bumped against me, and I put a hand on her shell before climbing out. "I will help you fill it in," Zavala said, placing a hand on my shoulder, "We all fought at the Gap. He has my respect." We picked up the shovels and got to work. • • • Snow floated through the air, covering everything in a white blanket. It had been below freezing during the day, and was colder now that it was night. Good thing Guardians' armor was insulated and kept a controlled temperature. It was my first time volunteering to guard the Last City's walls. My friends, Natalie and Quintel, had been doing it for awhile. They had pulled a few strings to put me on the same section as them. Natalie and Quintel sat on the edge of the wall, looking down and murmuring to each other. "What's up?" I inquired, approaching them. "Hey, Welkine," Quintel greeted, looking over his shoulder. He shook some snow off of his mottled green armor. Natalie waved her hand, indicating the ground below. Her purple armor flashed in the moonlight as she answered, "The Warlock." Confused, I looked over the edge. A Guardian in red armor sat, covered in snow, staring at the base of the wall. "What's he doing?" I asked. "Payin' his respects," Quintel explained, "Nat and I buried his pal there a few months back." "Why'd he get buried here?" I questioned. "You're about a year old, right?" Quintel inquired. "Yeah," I answered. "You heard of Twilight Gap?" he quizzed. "Yeah," I replied, "Old bags o' bones like Zavala fought off a huge Fallen attack." "Well," Natalie mocked, swinging her feet back and forth like a child, "Those two 'old bags o' bones' down there fought right where you're standing. And Zavala helped bury the dead one." "Fossils burying a fossil," Quintel jested, "They really are old." I dismissed his pathetic joke and studied the Warlock, "How long is he gonna stay there?" "His record is sixteen hours and nine minutes," Natalie hummed. "You've been timing him?" Quintel asked. "Maybe," Natalie evaded, "We should go talk to him." "What? Why?" I questioned. "We could use some advice from an experienced individual," she japed, reaching over and grabbing my gold-armored leg. "Hey, don-" I gasped as Natalie yanked my leg. I tumbled off of the edge of the wall, then landed on my face in the snow with a muffled thud. Quintel crashed down next to me. Natalie landed gracefully in front of us. "Time to socialize," she cheered. "Ugh. You're such a child," Quintel groaned, picking himself up. "One of my many charms," Natalie laughed. • • • "Hey! Bag of bones!" I called, half-skipping to the Warlock. Welkine and Quintel trailed behind me. Our boots crunched in the snow. The Warlock's head lifted and turned to me. Clumps of snow tumbled from his head and shoulders. He slowly stood, and I could hear cracks from ice that had formed on him. More snow plopped down. I was small for a Titan, and he towered above me. "Whoa," Welkine muttered, "You sure he's a Warlock?" I stopped in front of the Warlock and stuck out a hand, saying, "Hi, I'm Natalie, but you can call me Nat. Nice to meet you." He studied me quitely for a moment, then bent at the waist in a small formal bow, "I am Keis-51. Pleasure to meet you." A Ghost materialized next to his head and whispered, "You're supposed to shake her hand." I giggled as he awkwardly gave me a handshake. "I'm Blanc," the Ghost said. "I'm Welkine-2," Welkine greeted. "And I'm Quintel," Quintel sighed, "We're supposed to stay on the wall, guys." "Screw the wall," I chortled, turning back to Keis-51. "You're such a child," Quintel groaned again. He used that phrase a lot around me. "What should I call you, Keis-51," I prattled, "Keis is good. Do you have a nickname? Or are you one of those guys who likes calling people by letters? Quintel could be QT, and I'll be NE. You can be KS or something. W has too many syllables, so Welkine can be LK." "Why are you coming up with my nickname?" Welkine fussed. "Is he alright?" Quintel asked. I looked back at Keis-51. He was staring straight through me. Blanc buzzed in front of him. "Keis. Keis!" She called, then turned to us, "Don't call him KS. Keis is fine." She returned her attention to Keis and bonked into his helmet, "Keis. Keis." He didn't budge. She sighed and turned back to us, "Could you punch him?" "What?" Welkine gasped. "Okay," I chirped. I swung an arm at him. But my fist stopped in front of him. His hand tightly gripped my wrist. "Why did you do that?" Keis inquired, letting go. "You blanked," Blanc explained. He nodded, then released me. "I'm not gonna ask..." Quintel mumbled. "You're such a bore," I teased. "And you're immature," he returned. "If you didn't like that, we wouldn't have been together all these years," I quipped. "I- That doesn't- Well-" Quintel stammered. I let him struggle for a moment before changing the topic. "Here's my Ghost," I told Keis, holding out my hand for my Ghost to materialize over, "Her name is Nora." "Hi," Nora greeted. Quintel's Ghost appeared, along with Welkine's, and they said hello. Neither one of them had names. Our comms crackled to life. "You four down there," a voice scolded, "I don't know what's up with the Warlock, but you Titans are supposed to be guarding the wall." "Crap," Welkine whispered. "Told ya," Quintel sighed. They trudged back to the wall. "Come back next week, Keis," I said, "I have a friend who fought in Twilight Gap. She probably didn't fight here, but she'll want to meet you." Keis stared through me. "We'll be there," Blanc answered. I waved goodbye, then ran after Quintel and Welkine. ________________________________________ Check out Keis's cameo in Timelines, by Feldspar, by following this link https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/226290803/0/0