One Quiet Moment

Sometimes survival sounds like laughter

"Spark... you remember when we took that picture?"

"How could I forget? It was the day you got that armor. You went back to where I first found you and screamed, 'I'M SORRY! I WILL NOT JOIN YOU! I'LL CONTINUE FOR YOU, THOUGH!'"

Aurora stared at her Ghost, surprised by how accurate the impression was—right down to the crack in her voice at the end.

"You didn't have to scream it exactly like I did."

"But I did."

Aurora smiled faintly.

"Yeah... I miss them, Spark."

For nearly five minutes, neither of them said anything.

Aurora finally broke the silence.

"I remember trying to get all that water out of my medical suit. You were panicking because I wasn't listening to you."

"I was panicking! The Black Armory was our biggest problem at the time! And guess what? The most important forge was right. Behind. You."

They stared at each other for a moment.

Then they both started laughing.

"Please tell me you have a picture of me from that day."

"I have more than that."

Aurora's eyes narrowed.

"But the Vanguard will kill me if I show you."

Aurora slowly turned toward her Ghost with the intensity of a hungry animal that had just spotted its next meal.

Spark immediately began backing away.

It was already too late.

Aurora snatched her out of the air.

"You know I can disappear, Aurora."

"You know I can make you reappear, Spark. Come on. Don't be like that."

Spark's shell sagged in defeat.

"...Fine."

A holographic image flickered into existence between them. Aurora leaned closer.

"This is... a skull?"

"Yep."

"My skull?"

"Your skull, exactly."

Aurora studied the image for several seconds.

"Fascinating."

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