The Other Side, After Life, Heaven, The Light, there are so many names for the world for the dead but honestly, people get their hopes up for no reason. Everything is white and no matter how far you walk, it's just the same thing all around. When a Guardian dies their soul gets trapped inside the Traveller. Other Guardians are there but you can only see the ones that are your friends or that you know. Humans are there too but the same rules apply for them, you can only see the ones you want to see or the ones the Traveller chooses for you to see. It's honestly pretty boring but it's peaceful. Damn. It's really peaceful.

Andal arrived to Tallulah, the Hunter Vanguard who had shown him how to be a Hunter after barfing into the Pacific Ocean a thousand times over and then all these people he's known just joined the party but it kinda sucks when everyone but your best friends are there. As soon as he realised he had died, he couldn't stop himself from falling to his knees as he desperately tried not to cry. Since that moment things were fine, turns out whatever you imagine it can happen or appear. Which was obviously alcohol. He had his moments where he just missed his friends but Tallulah always dragged him up to his feet and told him to pick himself up. Tallulah always spoke about how when you find peace, you go into a new adventure but nobody exactly knows how to find peace.

All of a sudden, snap, everyone and everything disappears. Hes drunkly confused at first and then he spots the figure of the one and only Cayde-6, stumbling into the threshold like he's walking for the first time in a hundred years.

"Well this is not what I was expecting"

"Cayde?" Cayde looks at him and his mouth light flashes orange like he's trying to say something but all he can get out is silence.

"Are you...?"

"This- this isn't real" Cayde ignores the unfinished question but doesn't take his eyes off Andal. Realisation hits him.

"Your not dead..." he could feel him, Caydes soul was here but not permanently. That had never happened before and not to mention how the hell?

"Andal?" Andal grins in return and embraces the fellow Exo. Cayde stays frozen at first but then wraps his arms around Andal. A weight that he hadn't realised he'd been carrying around on his shoulders disappeared and noticed how every saddened thought erased itself, he never wanted to let go.

"I'm so sor-"

"You're not gonna remember this" Andal frowned as he pulled away and looked at his Ghost, Micah who had cut Cayde mid sentence.

"What?"

"Your being pulled back and Cayde, you won't remember this"

"Hold up! I have to remember this and why in the name of Vex wouldn't i?"

"The Traveller won't let you!" Caydes face plates plunged into anger and a wake of dizziness nearly sent him to the floor. Andal went to say something, to do anything but his Ghost floated infront of him and stopped him.

"You have to let him go" he's not dead...

"Can't you just hocus pocus me more time?" Micah turned to face Cayde and narrowed his eye at him.

"I. Can't!" Cayde looked like was holding onto his place here but he was being forced out by the light and nothing can stop that power. Andal forced a soft smile even though he so desperately wanted to shout at his Ghost to just sag into sadness inside of him willing to take over.

"I'll be seeing you Cayde" His bright blue eyes glinted brighter with what Andal has came to decipher as when he has an idea.

"Yeah but not here, sorry bud" Cayde leaped and grabbed Andals arm and then, everything faded into blackness.

——————————————————————————

"What about your Ghost?"

"Turns out he got pulled out too" Andal spread out his palm and Micah appeared above it, to everyone's relief. Although Tevis immediately caught onto the small crack on the Ghosts eye but at least he didn't have a bullet hole and wasn't in pieces, a crack could be fixed. That led him to look at the scarred line on Andals armour. Where Taniks had used Andals own sword to give Andal his last death, except now... he had another chance at life, blessed twice. The Void remained silent inside his head and for that he was grateful, he didn't need grief or guilt he needed Andal. For over 50 years he needed his brother and now he's here. At least, he thinks he is.

"So, where's the rest of the crew?"

"About that..." Tevis mentally winced at how devastating it's going to be to tell Andal that Shiro and Cayde have lost their minds and have been possessed with this.. dark light. Wait a second if Cayde brought Andal and his Ghost back to life then where was he?

"Cayde and Shiro have been taken" Andal raised an eyebrow at Zavala's comment, still trying to work out what sort of 'Taken' he means.Tevis caught on the instant concern swarming Andal's expression and cursed Zavala for his 'comfort'.

"Its under control" He tried to reassure his friend that it wasn't that bad but Andal shrugged off his concern anyway.

"They just can't stay out of trouble can they?" Though he hid it, Andal was devastated. Amanda stuck close to him and Tevis kept his eyes trained on him. He also allowed his mind to open upto the Void in search for any warnings or indications that this was all simply a lie. The Void remained silent.

"We should get going" Ikora looked confused at the fact that Tevis was already trying to get Andal away and behind that confusion was that she was troubled. She had the 'no way' face that Cayde had described her of hav. They just got Andal back and he was about to jump into a risky situation, so he can see why they might think this is a terrible idea. Nevermind, this is a terrible idea.

"He stays here" Zavala didn't even need to point out that Tevis is the worst friend ever. He knew it already but Zavala doesn't get to make the choices, not now anyway. So Tevis shot him a glare and his eyes glowed a light purple, unintentionally

"He stays here" Zavala stepped up to Tevis and loomed over him, his face was pure seriousness but he needed Andal and so did Shiro and Cayde, he could be the key to knocking sense into them. Andal was out the door without a word and Tevis chased after him. He caught up and yanked Andals arm to the direction of the ship and ran through the doors. Andal ran in after him and Tevis shoved past a speechless Petra to the console. Zavala could shut down his docking privileges with a button so he set the ship to orbit in a flick and turned around to explain their... miracle of a predicament.

"What in the bloody hell is this?!"

"Don't tell me you don't reconise me Veng"

"A lot of people pretend to be someone they're not around here"

"Would anyone else know about our secret stash" She seemed hesitant but something in the way she stood relaxed and she let out a shaky laugh of relief and ran up to him and hugged him heartily. That was probably the nicest thing she had ever done, or she's nice to everyone except Tevis.

"How...?"

"A blue idiot is how" Petra pulled back and smiled up at him.

"I've missed you"

"Trust me I've missed all of you more than you can imagine"

"Your Andal Brask but you're- you're dead" Ghost mechanically gasped and twirled his rods in excitement.

"Uh.." Andal awkwardly looked at the Guardian and the Ghost as they looked back at him in extreme excitement and confusion even though they had never met.

Tevis turned to the console to find a set of coordinates was locked on the ship meaning they didn't have a choice to go there, at least they didn't need to scan the whole solar system for two Exos who can't wait 5 five minutes without doing something stupid. Luckily, it was close enough to transmat to.

"Yeah we're gonna have to skip formalities, who's ready to play search and rescue?"

"I just got out of-a coffin, at least give me a gun" Tevis pulled his mask on and chucked Andal a True Prophecy hand cannon he had retrieved from a strike from his belt. He was more of a Rifle and Bow person anyway.

"Now I'm ready" Tevis was about to hit the transmat button before -

"Wait! wait! I need a cloak"

"Oops!" Tevis smugly grinned and pressed Transmat.

The golden light swallowed them whole and the next thing he knew Andal was doubled over with his hands on his stomach and began to heave, it startled and concerned all of them.

"Is fine it's just- you try spending 50 years in a box and then get transmattedvsomewhere" he attempted to stand up straight but stumbled over his own feet and Tevis had to grab him by his shoulders to steady him.

"Back to the ship you go"

"Woah woah woah! I'm fine, see. Now come on" Tevis felt regret at bringing Andal out here but if he's anywhere out of his sight.. he's gonna lose his mind thinking he never came back to life and it was all some weird dream. Plus, it would really suck to be stuck in the Tower because you and your ghost died but if Brask was gonna be out here they would need rules: rule number 1, no bringing out Ghosts in the open and... that's the only rule.

"So how's things been?"

"Whole crew split up, Cayde blames himself, Shiro thinks he could've done something and I could've been there"

"I notice how you use present tense"

"Yeah well that's just how it goes"

"Yeah well I'm alive now" He swears Andal is immune to trauma, hes been dead for 50 years and it didn't just effect him. It effected all of them.

"You were dead. Permanently. It destroyed everyone and literally only six people know your actually alive"

"You think I don't know that?! It's not like my ghost could rez me Tevis"

"Argue later" Petra hissed at their needed to be resolved business but she was right, that could be sorted later. A vicious gunshot rang through the abandoned town they found themselves in and it sent Tevis back to the mission ahead.

"Duty calls" Andal spared Tevis one last look before calling Micah out to summon his sparrow and then chases after the sound. Petra threw him a disapproving glance and Tevis summoned his own sparrow which she got on the back of considering she wasn't a Guardian so she couldn't do so herself. Tevis went after Andal and the Guardian followed on their own sparrow. Tevis followed him down a street and then he stopped as a pile of dead dregs and Vandals blocked there way forward.

"Well... which one has more anger issues?" Tevis couldn't stop the ghost of a smile that crept onto his lips, he'd missed Andal.

Tevis spread his palm for his Ghost to scan the bodies to see if they are recent but as soon as Cavern appeared a gunshot whizzed right at him. Tevis's mind raced with fear that his Ghost might not spot the shot in time. Cavern swerved out of the way just in time, so instead the gunshot hit Tevis in the shoulder. He quietly groaned and raised his hand to the wound, Cavern disappeared and Tevis mentally told him to stay hidden away as he ducked behind a rusted abandoned car.

"And that's why you don't bring your Ghost out in the open" Petra narrowed her eyes at both hunters and crouched down by Tevis. He looked down at his shoulder and saw how his armour had singed around the bullet wound and a barely visible smoke floated from it. It burned like acid had been poured onto his shoulder, it's wasn't some stray Vandal because they're all dead!

"Cayde..." Andal looked at Tevis with an unreadable expression.

"This not how I thought my day would go but all's well ends well"

"You call this 'well'?"

"You call this 'under control'?!" Andal mocked back with amusement and Tevis cradled his Ghost as he healed him. He desperately hoped that this wasn't Cayde, that this wasn't the gun he's always rambling on about because if this is him, it's not going to be a great reunion and if by any chance that this isn't Cayde and someone is using his gun, he's not going to be too happy about that...

"So care to inform me how they've lost their bloody minds!" Andals voice yelled over the increasing amount of gunshots, now they had company. Tevis glimpsed at Andal and saw that he was trying to find away to look over the car he was hiding behind without losing his head. Even though the shots were slow, Cayde and whoever was with him had a good aim. Without another word all shots stopped and Tevis thought they must be reloading but when he looked to see if the Guardian and Petra were okay, the Guardian wasn't there and Petra was running up the outside stairs to a top floor apartment. Tevis looked over to Andal who gave a small nod and then he ran after her, Andal following behind.

This time, Tevis shot without thinking twice and applied pressure to the trigger for another shot.

"Stop!! What if Sundance isn't with him?"

"Feh where else would she be?" Cayde used this chance to kick the Guardian away from trying to strangle him with a rifle and used the Ace of Spades to shoot him in the chest, inevitably killing him. Andal waited outside so he could try his own move on Cayde, despite the point of hiding he leaned in and pulled Petra out fast enough so that nobody could notice.

"What are you doing?" She whispered with annoyance and Andal put his finger up to his mouth and hushed her. Despite the complaints and comebacks begging to be said, she stayed quiet to his surprise. The rancid smell of the Fallen and Taken crept up into the air and their scolding hisses drew closer. The Fallen always had a habit of sticking their heads in things that wasn't their business but the Taken? That was a surprise. Petra chose to make herself useful and jumped down to confront them. She stabbed any that got to close and used the bodies of the others as shields from the bullets being fired at her, Andal and Tevis clearly had some sort of plan so she was just making it easier to proceed with.

Andal pressed his ear up to the wall to listen to whatever war was happening between the two Hunters, the feeling of the cold brick against his temple was like a blessing, after all there was no temperature in the afterlife. It tore him apart to even imagine the thought of his best friend being the opposite of funny, reckless, stupid and caring but it hurt even more to know that this was going to be how he was going to see him after over 50 years (excluding when he pulled him out from death). His death.. Taniks the Scarred wasn't it? That sucker took out three of em, Nian, Andal and Lush's Ghost and overall he hasn't had a chance to think about it. Not a chance to think about the fact that he died a supposed to be final death but now that he does think about it, he doesn't want to because it hurt more than any death he's ever died. He died by his own sword, ha! The bogeyman really knows how to stretch out a death now doesn't he? Or didn't he? Is Taniks dead? Damn, he's got some catching up to do and he'd rather it from no one else than from his good old friends.

BANG!

Either Cayde or Tevis. The chances of it being Cayde are very low even though Tevis is older and most likely stronger but he wouldn't just kill Cayde without making sure he had his Ghost, that's probably what stopped him last time. He prayed that he still had his power to perform Arcstrider because if he doesn't then his plan is out the window, or his charm could knock sense into his bud. He felt that tingling feeling in his chest and palms, he could feel a tiny glimmer of electricity awaken inside of him and just how he planned, Cayde walked out right in front of him. He didn't look like Cayde though, Ikora and Zavala were right about the whole looking like they're Taken thing:

"Now what?" Andal slowly lowered Caydes body to the ground and his eyes took no time to catch onto the red and black cloak he once wore. It suited him, a lot more than it did himself but he does wonder why Cayde took up the dare considering he hated the idea from the start. A conversation for another time and hopefully that 'time' would be after he wakes up. Petra whistled up to him from the ground, stealing his attention.

"I've got a palace to repair, when this is sorted make sure to tell me if your all okay" Petra threw a smile at Andal.

"Don't make me hunt you down Brask" she hasn't said that in years and the playful threat slipped out all too naturally.

"How the hell are you gonna get back?" Andal turned around to see Tevis rubbing his chest and then he spotted the hole in his armour beneath his hands, Cayde got him good that's for sure.

"I'm sure those Guardians wouldn't mind to lend one of their ships" a Fireteam was securing a pile of Glimmer far enough into the town that Andal had to squint to see them. At least he knew Petra hadn't lost her irony.

"Now that is what I call getting out of the dirty work" Petra threw a dagger dangerously close to Tevis's head and Andal smirked at his stupidity to annoy an Awoken, he learned that from Zavala. Petra started to smoothly run after the Fireteam and Andal wondered if they would ever get their ship back when she was done with it. If they did it would no doubt be in pieces. At the thought of ships... what happened to his?

"The chances are he's gonna start kicking off so take Shiro's ship back" Great... Tevis is going solo.

"What are you gonna do? Start a babysitting centre?"

"Me and my friend here have another Exo to track down so you get back to the Tower and deal with him"

"You couldn't track to save your life"

"That's why I have my friend, now get outta here" so if this is what's coming back to life's gonna be like, he's gonna need a lot of alcohol. Particularly Whiskey.

He lifted up Cayde and mentally flinched at the way his head lolled to the side unconsciously. The next thing he saw was the inner workings of Shiro's ship, still as colourful and high tech as always. He lead the Exo on a bench and noticed how he still wore the same armour he wore five decades ago, an identical set to his own. He didn't need to think for a second if he ever cleaned it because Cayde has never cleaned anything in his life except his gun. He knows that after all the messes he's had to clean up after him and all those times he walked into his quarters to have a drink with him. That thought leads him to think if he's changed, well of course he would've changed in that time but... ya know?

Now that it was quiet and that he was basically alone he tried not to feel saddened or freaked out by the fact that he'd been dead for fifty just because of his own stupidity to not speak up about the fact that he'd foun- Taniks had found him even after Nian and Lush's Ghost were killed by him. What was he thinking? He should've guessed he wouldn't have a chance, let alone survive. Back to the task at hand...

His quarters would be Caydes now so that would mean he would have to walk past plenty of Guardians carrying a Hunter Vanguard, that's not suspicious at all! So hopefully Transmats in the Tower aren't still against the rules because having Zavala being angry at him for two things wasn't on his 'This is my first day since I came back to life list' that he just made. There's one thing that definitely needs to be explained, the Traveler and the Tower?! The Traveller is in pieces and the Tower is completely different, he no doubt suspected that things must of gone to hell for the Traveller to awaken. He might as well babyproof everything for what's it worth.

"Did it hurt?" He blankly questioned into the air of the loneliness. Micah turned his bright eye towards him as he stared in thought at the Exo's sheathed Ace carved knife.

"At first... yeah and then everything just disappeared"

"Tallulah told me she wasn't afraid of dying, do you think that's because she had no one to live for?"

"Tallulah was a legend, she had more friends than you've ever had. But, you never asked her so I guess... we'll never know" Andal hummed in agreement and shook off the sarcastic insult but doubted that was the last time he would see the former Hunter Vanguard, death will come again. Not saying he was waiting for it, he just hopes that's a long time away from now. Yet again, everyone hopes for that.

Andal couldn't stop himself from chuckling at the thought of Cayde killing Taniks over and over again, since they learned that the boogeyman possessed light, meaning he couldn't die. How? Is beyond his imagination.

"Come on Cayde, I didn't fry you that bad" Andal ran his fingers through his hair as the Exo remained distant.

"Get ready for transmat"

—————————————————————

Twenty minutes since he got into Cayde's quarters and he was still out like a light with no sign of Sundance, which didn't help with his already jumpy nerves. He wasn't sure to be nervous of excited to speak to him, being dead for 50 years can leave an influence.

To his utter surprise, the place wasn't a total trash sight but... it still held the potential of one. A disgusting smell lingered in the air which he recognised to be from himself, old dried blood and dirt. It didn't surprise him, you know... with the whole 'I haven't showered in decades' thing.

He'd explored the quarter three times already without so much as taking a foot outside and by the looks of it, Cayde didn't spend much time here. Andal had hoped since he first realised he was weaponless that Cayde had retrieved his sword and to his devastating downfall he hadn't or he had it stashed elsewhere. His own sword, the one he was killed with but it was still his sword and damn, it was a magnificent sword. He kneeled infront of the sofa the Exo laid on and reached to take the Ace of Spades from its holster on his waist just in case he woke up in a bad mood. In other words a very not Cayde, creepy, murderous mood which- he has learned to hate in the few minutes he was with him.

"Cayde! Cayde! Wake up you broken pile of scrap!!" The (very familiar) voice etched itself into his mind and he felt his systems kicking themselves back on at the slowest pace possible. He felt his sensors and receptors get powered on with help from Sundance, yet everything remained a blur. The last thing he remembered was Shiro dragging him into some Clovis Bray industry and then... that son of a-!

His optics rebooted on and- holy mother of Vex...

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